Sci-Fi Find

Not a lot to report this week. I hoped my cold would amount to no more than a sniffle, but it turned vicious for a couple days, with full-on streaming eyes and bursting sinuses. Thankfully I feel better now, but I'm still under the weather. 

In between times I found more of my SF collection, including some terrain pieces. The figures are Ground Zero Games 25mm "Kra'Vak," with a Predator from another maker (the name of which escapes me at the moment). My take on this larger figure is it's a Kra'Vak which was fed an equivalent of royal jelly to make it bigger and meaner than the average grunt. 

The Sub-Leader points the way to his patrol in their search for nice, crunchy humans. 

An Over-Warrior brings up the rear to maintain march discipline. 

The blue conical terrain pieces were made by filling a cake-piping syringe with a gloopy mix of spackle and PVA, squeezing it out into a kind of "Walnut Whip" shape. With a coat or two of paint and ink for shading, they become strange rock formations, or alien growths, or weird mud vents from a volcanic fault line.

These figures will go toward my Keynes County game world, which I've slowly developed over the years. I have a set of home-grown rules for SF gaming in this scale, which work well enough. Exposure to the Too Fat Lardies way of doing things has made me rethink them, though. The card activation system used in Sharp Practice appeals to me, as it's useful for solo gaming. When I get time to think things through, I'll post some ideas here.

An Undergraduate's Survey

I once was a student, and have stepdaughters in university, so I'm fully aware of the vital importance research plays in completing a degree. This is why I'm posting a survey here, via Rich Clarke on the Too Fat Lardies' list:

I met up with a very pleasant young chap the other day from the War Studies Department at KCL who interviewed me as part of his thesis (presumably entitled "What do fat old blokes know about studying war?"). Anyway, he has sent me a questionnaire which he would like as wide a sample of wargamers as possible to answer. So, in the interest of helping a pleasant young fellow I thought I'd invite the boys and girls here to have their say. So here it is:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ToySoldiersAndArmchairGenerals

I invite readers of this blog to take part. The whole process is painless and takes about 10-20 minutes. 

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My eldest stepdaughter caught a cold during the past week, came home and "shared the wealth," so I'm a bit off-colour at the moment. Since I'm excused social calls and so on, and my eyes aren't streaming (Thankfully! They usually do, when I catch a cold) I'm taking the opportunity to paint more figures. Currently on the block are Darkest Africa civilians, animals, and a small test batch of 15mm 12th century figures. Progress is being made.

 

The Anarchy - Castles Tour '13

No, it's not a reference to a punk group on tour. My wife and I are doing the tourist thing. We visited three of the medieval castles here in Norfolk and Suffolk - Orford, Castle Acre and Castle Rising.

All three were built during or just before the civil war (rather erroneously known as The Anarchy) which followed the death by shipwreck of Prince William, son of Henry I and heir to the English throne. The war lasted the eighteen years from 1135-1153, and involved English, Scottish, Welsh and French armies, as well as Flemish settlers and powerful knights and barons. 

Some of the latter two turned marauder, bringing terror to the surrounding countryside, especially the area bordering the Fen country of East Anglia. Peasant, lord and Church were not spared from looting and burning. The war ended with a compromise that saw Henry II become king - the first of the Plantagenet line that ended with Richard III at Bosworth Field in 1485. Many aspects of the war remind me of the Very British Civil War - although the VBCW is far more civilized in comparison! 

Orford Castle on the Suffolk coast is perhaps the best preserved of the three we visited. Built in the 1170's by King Henry II, it was designed to guard the developing port of Orford, and to keep a watchful eye on Hugh Bigod, the powerful Earl of Norfolk. The Earl owned extensive holdings nearby in the shape of four castles, and he had already caused problems for Henry. He once said to the Earl of Norfolk "By God, Bigod - If I had two men like you in my Kingdom, I'd hang one as a warning to the other!"  

The designer of Orford is unknown, but he seems to have been a very astute chap who put a lot of forethought into his plans. It's adequately provided with fresh water supplies, kitchens, living accommodation, chapel - and garderobes! The castle is unique in the shape of the keep, which is cylindrical, within a polygonal outer shell, and has three turrets. 

The castle was owned by the Crown for two hundred years before passing into private hands. It had a circuit wall, which, like many a castle across the country, once it fell out of use became a source of ready-cut stone and other building material. The last remaining part of the wall collapsed on 4th July, 1841 with a crash that woke the entire village. Extensive earthworks remain, and a program of archaeology is gradually piecing together the shape of the defenses. In World War Two, the tower keep served as the platform for a radar mast, and a concrete roof was built to support this. I don't think many other 900 year old structures have served their country for so long or so well.

Castle Acre in the north-west of Norfolk was built by William de Warrenne, Earl of Surrey, to guard his own interests in the area. It has a well-preserved motte and outer earthworks, and fairly substantial keep walls. The defensive position is a good one, with excellent views all round. During The Anarchy the defenses were enhanced, but as far as I know it wasn't seriously threatened.  

Castle Rising isn't really a castle at all, more of a fortified and highly decorated hunting lodge. When we arrived I looked at the surrounding terrain and thought "This isn't the right location for a castle." The motte is high and steep, and commands excellent views of the approaches to the north and east. South and west, it's dominated by higher ground. A besieging force would've been able to set up their artillery there and drop whatever they liked into bailey and keep, without the defenders being able to do much about it.

As it happens, the castle never had to suffer a siege. It was built by William d'Albini as a country house from the first, and it later became the dowager house for the mother of Edward III following the assassination of Edward II. His eldest son, the Black Prince, used it as a hunting lodge. It passed to the Duke of Norfolk, and a branch of the family owns it today. 

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So, all this exposure to the era of The Anarchy has had a result - I'm now tempted to develop a wargames army of the period. Luckily my recent trawling through my lead pile turned up a batch of 15mm figures ideal for the period! Using the basing system in Impetus rules, I think I have enough for a moderate-size army, or perhaps two.

These are Minifigs, acquired second-hand for free in the late 80's and left untouched since. A bunch of them were already painted in what appears to be enamel. Some I think I can live with - after giving them a touch-up. Others, like the mounted knight on the right, should really be stripped and repainted. If anyone can suggest a method of doing so, it'll be appreciated.  

Minfigs are something of an acquired taste due to the lack of animation in the figures - although I'm not refusing a freebie here. My first metal wargames figures came from the company back in 1978, so I have a touch of nostalgia for them too. The poses in this collection are what you see in the photos. I have three knights on foot, two types mounted, two kinds of archer, a crossbowman, and sergeants on foot with spear and falchion. In the fullness of time I'll add command elements and perhaps a few more poses to give units a more irregular appearance.

I've not forgotten the Colonial era, but I'm likely to be busy for the next few weeks before we head back to America. 

Friday club night.

My family and I went to our club for the regular Friday night gaming. This particular evening was spent getting to grips with the ACW Rally Round the Flag rules. I last played these four years ago, but never had a chance to actually run them as umpire. We did get some nice photos, including this one of the 2nd South Carolina wading through a wheat field. 

Over on the other table a WW2 North African encounter was fought between a mixed German-Italian force vs. British, using some superb desert terrain.

The British deploy. In the distance, Valentine tanks move out against Italian M13 and Semovente SPGs.

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I plan to put my 1st edition copy of The Seleucid Army 168-145BC Vol. 1 up for sale soon. This is an excellent reference work, full of history, clear organization charts and the late Angus McBride's superb illustrations throughout. If anyone would like to buy this from me directly, please drop me a line.

* * *

Thanks to Jeff, I have an idea how to paint the early ACW figures I unearthed a few days ago. His suggestion of German colonial/WW1 era colours is a good one. I've decided on a name for them - The Ukraziland Provisional Volunteer Constabulary (UPVC). A lot of gamers in the UK will be familiar with the term "Plastic Plods..." These could be their ancestors.
 
 

Possible recruits to Daftest Africa

We're off to the club tonight. My ACW brigades will get an airing after languishing for almost four years. We're planning to fight the action to Rally Round the Flag rules, a club favourite. 

Among the figures uncovered in my perpetual hunt through my work shed were these Dixon Miniatures early ACW-period figures in Havelock caps, armed with percussion cap rifles.

The Havelock always puts me in mind of Africa, what with its associations with the French Foreign Legion and various explorer types. These chaps are really surplus to requirements as far as my  ACW collection goes. I've a mind to re-purpose them as a kind of constabulary or foot yeomanry along the lines of the Cape forces that served in the Zulu War. Thoughts and comments about what kind of uniform colours they should have are welcome...

...but spammers, don't waste your time. This blog is moderated. The twelve (count 'em) messages left yesterday were deleted unread.

Gonna Wait 'til the Hussite Hour

Apologies to Wilson Picket, but the Hussites certainly had their hour in last night's game. The Hussite War was a new period of gaming to me, and the game provided plenty of enjoyment, even if my Hungarians got beaten like a gong in the end. The Austrian side of the Imperial reactionary forces did much better, but the game rightly went to the opposition. My wife enjoyed it too - she commanded the Hussite center!

The prominent feature of the Hussite army was their use of Wagonbergs - a horse-drawn cross between a wooden fort and an armoured personnel carrier. These are tough beggars to tackle, being stuffed full of missile troops, all tucked up nice and cozy behind their wooden barriers. About the only weapon that can crack them is artillery, and we had little of that.
 

The Imperial Austro-Hungarian army was so impressed by the wagonburg they began copying it for their own forces. An example can be seen in the photo above. Also featured here are Hungarian noble knights; Serbian light cavalry; the earliest form of Hussar in the shape of bow-armed light cavalry; armoured infantry, and bowmen.

The game was fought to the club's favourite Impetus rules. My plan was to try and feed my hussars through the woods beyond the hill in an effort to get behind the wagonburg and destroy the supporting infantry. Unfortunately my initiative rolls were not of the best, and the saving throws allowed when a unit gets hit by missile fire or combat almost invariably rolled "six." Under Impetus, the lower the die roll the better.

The dreaded wagonburg. I had visions on the night of lines of these forming up opposite each other and blasting away, like the old sail of the line in Nelson's day. 

Thanks to Stuart, Steve and Chris for letting us play with the wonderful figures.  

Back to Daftest Africa

Today, I got the new brushes and paints out to slap pigment on some worthy recipients from my Darkest Africa collection. These figures have languished long enough. In the case of the wildlife - two wildebeest, three hyenas and a vulture - it's been several years since I bought them at the Salute show in London. I mislaid them, but now they're safely gathered in and undergoing a paint job. I'm lacking a few paints - most of my stuff is in the US, and the local shop was out of a decent brown - but I'm getting there.

The wildlife look a tad large for their nominal 28mm figure scale to my eyes. I'm afraid I forget which make they are. Even so, it's my campaign world, and if the creatures in it are bigger (and fiercer) than their real-life counterparts, that's for the player to worry about, not I. 

Next up is a platoon of those sons-of-fun, the Belgian Force Publique. These are Foundry Miniatures, bought as a multi-pack discount lot back in the day before that venerable company Saw the Light and became reasonable to their customers again. 

    

Commandant Bertram de Wooters, aboard his mule, Ludmilla, boldly leads an advance. 

These chaps will certainly make an appearance in my campaign world. Historically, the Belgian Congo was friendly to the British Empire. In my world, I think they might prove a headache to the new British colony of Ukraziland - and vice versa.

I've also uncovered around thirty or so Zanzibari slavers and two dhows, so it looks like the wily Sheikh Yabhouti will make an effort to retake his lands... 

* * *

Lastly, I'm afraid a pernicious outbreak of spamming has hit this blog in the last few weeks. There were four posts yesterday alone. In deference to those who detest the code system used to weed out the spambots - and seriously, who doesn't find those blurry numbers and spidery texts a pain to read? - I'm imposing moderation of comments until farther notice.

From the archives

The bad weather across the UK has led to the regular Friday night club meet being cancelled for safety's sake. I'm taking the chance to update my blog, sadly neglected for a couple of weeks for various reasons.
 
Another foray into my shed turned up some Darkest Africa figures along with my ACW collection. The six naval ratings and officer will be welcome as crew aboard my Colonial vessels, and I have a hunch there might be a few more sailors lurking somewhere. These are Reviresco figures. As much as I admire the company's ship fittings range, the crew figures aren't the best I've seen. Even so, they have a certain charm and they'll be put to use.

I'm not sure how the three British infantrymen came to be overlooked when their fellows of the Barsetshire Regiment marched off to America. I'll put it down to an administrative mistake instead of desertion. Two officers of German persuasion also appeared, along with a solitary seebattalion chap. The rest of their troop was sold last year, but I'll press these fellows into service as adventurers in the service of the Kaiser.

The explorer's camp is 25CL9 from those fine folks at Frontline Wargaming, built onto a thin ply base, with the cooking pot being part of 25CL8 African village. Some of you may be familiar with Frontline's excellent 25CL1 "African Princess" steam riverboat.
 
Next up are my Killer Angels, the 2nd, 3rd, 7th & 8th South Carolina regiments of Kershaw's brigade, McLaws' division, 1st (Longstreet's) Corps, Army of Northern Virginia. These fine fellows have won every game they've taken part in, putting to flight a regiment from the famed Irish Brigade and taking a battery. The cannon is a 12pdr Napoleon.   

Up against them is a largely generic brigade of Union troops, the sole named regiment being the Garibaldi Guard. Composed of Italian immigrants, often recruited straight off the ships in New York harbour, they saw extensive service. They wore the distinctive Bersaglieri-style hat, and fought under a tricolour in the Italian national colours with the legend Garibaldi Guard in the centre. I made the mistake of accepting one pundit's view that the flag had horizontal stripes. I found out later they were vertical. It goes to show the value of extensive research...

The Union cannon is a 10pdr Parrot rifled piece. All figures and models are Dixon's Miniatures.

We did get good games in at the club last week. In a French-Indian War game, my better half took command of a native American force allied to the French. Being of Blackfoot and Cree descent, she's probably better qualified than most gamers in the UK to handle such forces! Much to her delight, her side won the game, completing their objectives of destroying the British blockhouse and several settlers cabins. The rules used were Musket & Tomahawk.

Over on the other table, my fellow commanders and I had difficulty leading the Macedonian army to victory over the Indian army of Poros. Our canny opponents used their infantry to soak up the brunt of the Macedonian attack in the centre, giving them a chance of weakening the phalanxes to the point they'd be easy meat for their elephants.  

The phalanx and hypaspists crushed the poor quality Indian infantry quicker than our opponents expected, but I balked at taking on the elephants until the closing moves, when victory hung on a whisker. A number of poor dice rolls on both sides led to interesting results at times, but in the end Alexander's personal leadership saw a win for his army. The end of the battle presaged the victories of Pyrrus by a good few years! The game was fought to Impetus rules.

More in a few days, as farther figures come to light...

 

First Game of the New Year

After an easy trip spent mostly on expensive public transport, my ladies and I arrived at the New Buckenham club for our first game of the New Year. Up for grabs was a Roman vs. Gauls game, and a SCW game run by Nigel of View from the Duck Pond blog, using some of his excellent collection.

My stepdaughter and I opted for the ancients game, me donning a Roman commander's mantle, and Amanda the war garb of the Gaul. In honour of the occasion she was given the new nickname of Boudicca, a local girl. Yes, I know she wasn't Gallic, but anyway... 

The rules are Impetus. Both sides were apportioned forces. According to the rules, the Romans began the game light by one ballista and some cavalry. The Gauls chose to deploy first. Somewhat surprisingly they chose to form up on the table side with the most difficult terrain, which took up their right flank - where Amanda's force deployed.

 Opening Deployment. My cohorts are from the top of the hill running to the left.

The center lay pretty much open to all comers and saw the most action. Our legate adopted an aggressive policy and the Roman line surged forward with a steady tread.

I was a bit surprised by this. Under Impetus rules, as in real life, attacking a Roman legion is like sticking your face into a buzz saw. Romans can attack, but lose some advantages when they do. Oh well, te morturiti, etc. No doubt the lack of some units drove his decision.

The Gauls came on and commenced aggressive attacks on the Roman center and right wing. A to-and-fro battle between auxilia and warband ran through most of the game, with the Romans rolling plenty of dice compared to the Gauls, but failing to get any significant advantage in scores.

 Auxilia and legionary cohort alike take the brunt of the fight in the center.

On the Roman right, cavalry came to blows in a long-running engagement that saw the eventual destruction of the Gauls.

Over on my flank I continued to advance, whilst Amanda struggled to extricate her forces from the marshes. Finally, her cavalry freed itself and advanced handsomely. The lead auxiliary infantry came under ineffective fire from skirmishing tribal youths, but a swift charge destroyed them.

My cavalry attacked their lead tribal counterparts, but were flung back. Another attempt to close went the same way, and, although I managed to shake off the disorder, the Gauls charged and stomped my cavalry flat.

In the center the battle had definitely gone in Rome's favour. The whole issue hung on just a few farther contests.

The end of it all. 

The accusing finger of an angry Celtic deity wags from on high at the victorious Romans.

The Gallic cavalry had emerged victorious but bloodied from their battle with my cavalry. They lay exposed to my archers, who promptly shot them to pieces. Simultaneously two warbands attacked my auxiliaries in the woods. The combat stretched for two moves and resulted in the auxiliaries emerging triumphant. Break point had been reached and surpassed. The Gauls decided to retreat to fight another day.

Thanks to all who took part. My commiserations to Amanda, on her first loss in a wargame.

* * *

Although I was busy with our game, I did manage to get a shot of the Spanish Civil War game over on the other table. Nigel will no doubt write it up on his blog later.

  Somewhere in Spain. Republicans nearest the camera.

I would like to thank the Academy...

Well, if this doesn't make a great start to the New Year! Out of the blue I received this nomination for the Liebster Blog Award from 'Wardi-la' of By the Orders of the Great White Queen blog.

I'm flattered, especially as I've not been able to post as much as I'd like these last few months. It's a pleasure to get the award and I hope all who visit this blog take something useful away with them.

Now, by the rules, I must nominate five others for the award. In no particular order they are as follows...

1/. The Duchy of Saxe-Bearstein. Jeff has been at the forefront of the Imaginations movement and his current determination to continue in the hobby we love whilst battling ill-health is inspirational. 

2/. Land War in Asia. Donogh McCarthy's excellent blog covers an eclectic range of periods. 

3/. Confessions of a Blonde Writer. A great author of fiction, reviewer, wargamer, wife of a wargamer, and mother of a wargamer. 'Nuf said.

4/. Lead Gardens. "Little John's" blog covering a wide range of topics, including his latest pre-Dreadnought scratch built project.

5/. Axis of Naughtiness. 'Dr. Vesuvius' and his great blog also cover a wide range of topics of a VSF nature.

My thanks again to Wardi-la for the nomination. Here are the rules for others to follow.

Copy and paste the award on your blog linking it to the blogger who has given it to you. Pass the award to your top 5 favorite blogs with fewer than 200 followers by leaving a comment on one of their posts to notify them that they have won the award and listing them on your blog.


Sit back and bask in that warm fuzzy feeling that comes with knowing you’ve just made someone’s day!