Re-Flagging my Saxe-Bearstein Infantry

Like many others before me I decided to "re-flag" my 18th Century Saxe-Bearstein Infantry.  Why?  Because larger-than-historical flags just look better on the table top.

What you see above is eight 24-figure single-battalion regiments.  All are based on four-figure 40mm square bases.  Generally these regiments will operate as 20-figure units since their stands of grenadiers (rear row) will be converged into separate units within their brigades.

Not pictured are also a pair of "irregulars" . . . also in six-stand 24-figure units.  However they are based differently and have no grenadiers.  The irregulars are based (as are mounted troops) on 50mm square bases . . . (okay I use 47mm square bases instead so that they'll fit in my display cabinet).

Instead of being based in the two rows of two like the regulars, the irregs are in a "diamond" pattern of 1-2-1 so that even in line they have an irregular look.

As I mentioned, mounted troops are based two to a base on the same size bases as the irregs:

 

Above you see four 12-figure units of Horse and four of Dragoons . . . I haven't yet decided whether or not to re-flag them.

Also not pictured are a couple of Hussar Regiments; and three 12-figure units of foot skirmishers which are mounted on pennies.  In addition  have a generous selection of Generals, Brigadiers and Aides-de-Camp . . . as well as Artillery, of course.

-- Jeff

Flock it

Because once my new cycle of chemotherapy kicks in I will probably not be up to any face-to-face gaming  . . . (the fatigue is really devastating) . . . I have been working on getting my 18th century troops refurbished so that I can have two opponents (Saxe-Bearstein and the vile Stagonians) available for solo play.

This has involved some reorganization, some re-painting, much new painting and a lot of re-basing.  In fact I now have over 300 troop bases to flock . . . and a tedious job it will be . . . but when I'm done I will have a nice pair of armies to use for solo gaming . . . well I will once I've re-written my "Tricorne Wars" rules for solo gaming.

And for those who are interested, no I have not given up on my ECW project.  But there are many hundreds of figures that need to be readied, painted, based and flocked yet . . . and even then I will only have one side (Royalist, of course) so it wouldn't be available for solo play . . . but it will give me something else to do during chemo recovery time.

On another note, my solo "dungeon delves" continue.  I'm finding them interesting since I never know what will happen next . . . and they don't take much time or energy to play out.

Speaking of "out" . . . we need to stay "in" for a while.  Our part of Vancouver Island (off the west coast of Canada for those who don't know) generally only sees one or two snow days a year . . . but we are currently in our third day of continuous snow.  We have about 8" (20 cm) currently on the ground and are supposed to get another 6" (15 cm) today.  Yes, I know that these are not devastating depths for many areas but we are not used to them.

I hope that things are better in your part of the world.

-- Jeff

Troop Dispositions

Today I was reading Malcolm Wanklyn's "Decisive Battles of the English Civil War" and he made a reference to a primary source that showed the planned deployment of troops a couple of days before the battle took place . . . with a comment that that didn't mean that was how the troops actually got deployed for the battle.

Anyway this made me think of all of the times . . . even with a "helicopter" view of the terrain . . . that my deployment sketch had to be adjusted because when I put the figures onto the table there wasn't room to fit the troops in "as sketched".

I can only surmise that this often happened in real life as well . . . particularly when commanders lacked our view/knowledge of the terrain.

Surely I am not the only wargamer that this has happened to . . . am I?

-- Jeff

(off-topic) -- My Solo D&D Blog

While it is neither historical nor involving figures on the table top, I have been running some pen & paper solo Dungeons & Dragons "dungeon delves" over on my "The Laughing Owl" blog.

I am now asking readers to suggest where they think the party should explore next . . . so if you are interested, you might want to take a look through the previous posts at The Laughing Owl and then offer your suggestions.

Here is a grand overview of the explored areas so far (try opening it in a separate window for closer look):

-- Jeff

Old West Terrain for Pulp Game

Well I'm getting ready for a game of "Pulp Alley" set in the "old west", because the western story was a staple of the pulp magazine era.

Can our Players save the lady in red from the Gallows?

More photos can be found on my "On Pulp Street" blog.

-- Jeff

Starting a New Project

The results of my most recent CATSCAN mean that I will soon be entering another cycle of chemotherapy . . . although apparently not as brutal a cycle as the first one.

Anyway since I know how fatiguing this will be I needed to find a project that I could complete and play quickly . . . which isn't painting up several hundred figures for my English Civil War project (although hopefully I will be able to paint while on chemo).

For some time I've been reading glowing things about the game "Pulp Alley" from numerous sources, so I decided to give it a whirl since it doesn't require much of an investment . . . the rules in .pdf form are less than $10 and most "Leagues" (what they call their gangs) are around a half-dozen figures (from whatever manufacturer you choose).

By the way, until early on Jan. 2, 2014, Wargame Vault is having a 25% off sale on many items including "Pulp Alley" . . . click here for link. 

Anyway I've ordered a number of figures from Bob Murch's "Pulp Figures" (very quick service, by the way) and painted up most of them . . . but I'm waiting on bases from Litko.

So I'm going to use some "Old West" figures that I have for a "training game".

The photo at left is one of three "gangs" that I've put together with the clever names of the "White Hat Gang", the "Black Hat Gang" and the "Brown Hat Gang". 

To view these cleverly-named Leagues as well as the unbased "pulp" figures I've painted, please check out my "On Pulp Street" blog:

On Pulp Street.

-- Jeff

Our Outside Tree

Normally about this time of year I post a photo of the Christmas Tree in our house . . . but I cannot do that this year because (due to water damage) the flooring is completely being re-done throughout the house . . . sometime over the next two weeks . . . (at least supposedly -- it keeps getting postponed).

So today my sweet wife and I got our "outside tree" set up on our front porch:

Above is a photo from a little before dusk.  The tree itself is an artificial one about 15-20 years old.  Ornaments are large inexpensive plastics that won't break if a strong wind knocks them off.

The lights in the tree are red and green; while the garland of lights around the porch are a mixture of red and white. 

Thus, no matter when the flooring finally gets done, at least we have one tree up and decorated for the holidays.

May your holidays be filled with the warm comfort of family and friends; and may joy be the over-riding feeling that fills you for the rest of the year (and well into the next one).

-- Jeff