The Wars of Wine and Cheese

Charge meets Blackpowder

2012-01-25T21:46:00.004Z

Being of a sad disposition I tend to find myself reading wargames rules for fun. I seem to have aquired dozens over the years.

A month ago I had a couple of thoughts about introducing morale tests to my Charge games. So when I was perusing Blackpowder last night it became apparent that that the 50% rule in Charge might be considered the same point as Shaken occurs in Black Powder ie the moment of crisis when the unit must be tested to see whether is breaks.

Not a 100% sure where this is going but my initial thoughts are that a) a unit takes no more casualties beyond 50% or rather they are not removed but count towards a morale test, b) a "break" test at this point would give a little more unpredictability to Charge.

Time for a snifter and more thought.

"...to war sir"

2012-01-10T19:15:00.013Z

Couriers were swiftly dispatched to the barracks around Weinpfalz and when Count Olaf and General Bojollay reached the river Wein four battalions of foot, four regiments of dragoons and a battery of field guns had mustered on the river bank. Across the river the enemy could be seen. And in superior numbers.

"An attack is out of the question at the moment," said Bojollay. "Until reinforcements arrive at least."

"And if they attack?" asked Olaf.

"We might hold them."

The next morning however it seemed that the problem had gone away for while the fires across the river had been maintained all night the Dukes army was not to be seen when the morning mist rose.

Breakfast was soon spoiled however when a couple of bedraggled dragoons raced into camp, their steeds a lather.

"They've crossed downstream my Lord, and are marching this way."

In the distance the sound of beating drums could be heard. "Sly old fox," muttered Olaf. Then: "Fetch my horse, we'll make a stand here. Sound the drums - to arms"

Fromagere horse and foot advance (very fast hence slightly out of focus)

Ranks of infantry in perfect step - the yellow cross of Fromagere fluttering in the morning breeze

Awaiting nervously the white coats of first battalion Muscat Regiment form up behind the Blue Dragoons.

On the right the Rielsling Fusiliers are supported by two more dragoon regiments

The Duke of Fromagere does not hesitate and the Camembert Cuirassiers charge home sending the Green dragoons off in disarray.

In the centre the Fromagere infantry roll on inexorably although the fine shooting of the Weinpfalz battery takes it's toll.

The long white line of Weinpfalz infantry await the advance and fire.

Which rapidly depletes les Musketeers Morbier, but the Fusiliers de Brie and Roquefort Regiment press on...

... with the bayonet. Two rounds of cannister do not prevent the clash.

and the Muscats are routed.

The long white line crumbles but Olaf and Bojollay manage a relatively ordered withdrawal although the Violet dragoons are sacrificed.

A nice game with slightly amended Charge rules although the 6' by 4' table mean little manoeuvring was possible hence the Duke's head on attack. (Played by son Jack who never fails to beat me).

I noted the rule amendments previously in a previous posting (18/12/11). The adoption of quicker (relatively) melee rules for cavalry worked fine although I am unsure whether the whole of the front line should be taken into account or just the troopers in contact. I took the latter although Grand Manner and (I think) Holiday Centre rules take the whole line whether in contact with the enemy or not.

Saving on 4,5,6 for cavalry and artillery shooting casualties seemed an ideal solution to halving casualties that were already half a dice ( and ending up with quarters and eighths). For the record we always rounded down eg three and a half is three.

As for the adoption of the morale tests - the jury is still out. I am not sure they added much to the game but didn't get in the way either. One to ponder for next time.

Will the Duke of Fromagere press on and claim his bride?

Guard of Honour

2012-01-09T20:49:00.003Z

The hunting party went ahead as planned. It took more than imminent war to stop Count Olaf from a good shoot. The English rifle proving well worth the money. He had heard there were such guns with two barrels but Bojollay maintained that the balance would be compromised.

Lunch was taken late but was worth the wait and the ladies joined them to make a delightful little party in a sunlit dell. Conversation naturally gravitated aound the Fromagere army on the border.

"Apparently Mother, it's a guard of honour," said Olaf. "To escort you to your wedding."

"What is that old fox up to?" wondered Wilhelmina. "He can't be serious about marriage."

"You're still a very beautiful woman, mama."

"How sweet, but also the wrong side of forty and twice as old as his mistresses."

"No doubt he has plans for me after the marriage," suggested Olaf. "That would give him effective control over Weinpfalz."

"Over my dead body!"

"Possibly the plan too."

"An interesting plan," mused Wilhelmina. "I presume the 'guard of honour' becomes the vanguard when we send the refusal to his proposal.".

"Undoubtedly."

"So what to do?"

"Quite simple," said the Count with a grim smile. "Bojallay!" he called. "We ride."

"To where, sir?"

"Why to war, sir."

Rifles & Diplomatic Bags

2012-01-02T21:14:00.006Z

Count Olaf's hunting Lodge

Count Olaf sat at the rough oak table in what served as dining room to his hunting lodge. Before him lay a number of oily rags and half a dozen pieces of what made up his favourite fowling rifle.

It was a very expensive English piece and he made a number of mental calculations as to the cost of equipping a squadron of dragoons with such weapons. Expensive, but a hundred mobile men with rifles accurate to three hundred yards would be a formidable and mobile force. He must mention the idea to General Bojollay.

The sound of hoofs in the cobbled yard made Olaf sigh. Undoubtedly the diplomatic bags for him to plough through: how tedious. He had hoped to be shooting duck at the side of the lake before the courier arrived. Within a minute a footman in shabby green livery entered the dining room with the red velvet bag. At least there was only one bag today.

Olaf emptied the contents around the lock, stock and barrel and immediately picked out the pale yellow parchment with the blue wax seal not much smaller than a saucer. Only the Emperor and the Duke of Fromagere were so ostentatious and Olaf guessed it was not from the Emperor.

He tore open the seal and read the long letter from his hated neighbour. The damned cheek of the man…

The door opened again, this time General Bojollay waddled in. Olaf turned and said: “You will never guess, old fellow, what that damnable Fromagere has suggested.”

“It cannot be good news, Olaf,” replied the general. “For a small army of Fromagere's is massing along the river as we speak.”

The Duchess in Memoriam

2011-12-31T10:29:00.008Z

The Duke of Fromagere stood, head bowed, before the monument. The mass of marble and gilt towered before him; chubby cherubs playing lyres and loosing arrows from little bows. To the side and a step behind the Duke the Archbishop droned an interminable liturgy that echoed around the great baroque cathedral.

It had been twelve months to the day since the Duchess had passed and the unveiling of the great memorial would end the year of official mourning that the Duke had deemed appropriate. Appropriate to the rest of Fromagere of course, excluding his favourite mistress, Catherine, and his second favourite Juliana. And the red headed maid that he insisted bring his breakfast on Sunday mornings.

A gentle touch on the arm brought him back from his thoughts. “Errm now a year has passed,” stammered the Archbishop. “It may be time to find Your Grace a new wife. A man ought not retire to an empty bed.”

“Poor deluded fool”, thought the Duke; but he had a point. Perhaps he ought to take a new wife and a large dowry wouldn’t go amiss. Those Parisian bankers did keep sending debt collectors every couple of months.

That evening the Duke summoned the foreign minister to his palace chambers. "I need a new wife Minister Gaperon; any suggestions?"

Ne're an eyebrow twitched on Gaperon's high brow. After a brief pause he said: "The Countess Dolingen of Gratz has been widowed recently,"

"Again?"

"It's a dangerous world Your Grace."

"Rich?"

"She has a nice palace and a lot of land in Styria."

"Bit close to the Emperor."

"Perhaps, I may be so bold. The Countess Wilhelimina may be a perfect choice."

"Have you lost your senses Gaperon," spluttered the Duke. "Apart from the fact that those damned Mittleweins have been our sworn enemies for three hundred years she must be over forty!"

"But still a beauty. Perhaps it's time to make friends with our neighbours. Besides it makes more sense to acquire a bride with land adjacent to Fromagere."

"But her son, the Count. rules Weinpfalz, Gaperon, or had you forgotten?"

"It is a dangerous world, Your Grace. And the Count has no heir."

".... and possibly not too late for the Countess to bear another."

Gaperon was an excellent diplomat and without hesitation answered the seventy year old Duke. "No, Your Grace."

So that was Christmas

2011-12-30T08:59:00.004Z

...and as usual entailed lots of running about for teenage kids and aged relatives with not much chance of painting or gaming, Ho Hum.

Santa was very kind however with volumes III and IV of Wargaming in History. I'm not much of an ACW buff but I couldn't bear to see I, II, IV on the bookshelves. Touch of OCD probably. Also the man in red provided Osprey's "Battle of Zorndorf". Nasty. The battle not the book. And a couple of nice CDs to paint by: C18 naturally - Haydn and Bach concertoes.

I didn't get nearly enough painted in 2011 nor enough games played so, hopefully, 2012 will be better on those fronts. Mental note not to buy any more figures until etc etc. We all know that mantra.

Although Hat may finally get those marching Prussians into production and 20mm Nostalgic Revival have some very nice new metal to match the Zvezda.

Finally I must get the Wars of Wine and Cheese back on track so a visit to the archives and diaries of Prince Lupus is pressing.

One of the highlights of 2011 was the discovery of "History of Rome dot com". An excellent podcast about - you guessed it - which has kept me informed and amused with 2,000 year old news. As we are now well into the C5th I shall soon need a new diversion - any suggestions?

Merry Christmas

2011-12-24T16:27:00.003Z

From Dave Beagle

Rules & BWS

2011-12-18T17:01:00.003Z

I have been writing up our games at Birmingham Wargames Society on this blog whilst other reports have appeared elsewhere. So BWS have a new blog site where we can consolidate our wargaming story - please follow the link if interested.

The intention is keep this blog for my attempt at creating the world of wine and cheese which I can hopefully (re) kick start over the forthcoming holiday period.

Firstly which rules:

As with many imagineers I started this project with the intention of using the seminal Charge! rules (Young & Lawford) that first revealed to me that playing with toy soldiers didn’t have to end with junior school. A joy just to read but also a simple, fun and subtle set of rules for horse foot and guns.

There is of course a “but” or two about to follow.

Firstly while I love the look of individually based figures it does lead to a lot of messing about. Unfortunately I do not have a permanent wargame space and need to get games over and packed away in less than three hours. I get the impression that the Brigadier may have spent a day or two over his games. Also I am using the lovely Zvezda plastics which even when based on thin steel have a propensity to fall over if the table is nudged.

So the figures are now based up in eights (a firing platoon in Charge). This, of course, leads to the predicament of removing individual figures which I have solved with the use of steel bases and magnetic sheet. Gluing the front rank down and having the second rank on magnetic sheet. Choosing the simple Old Wargames approach of painted bases this doesn’t present too much of an issue. In fact painting the bases the same colour as the wargames table (Wittenburg green) means that you can’t really tell they’re on bases at all. The steel bases do slide easily across the painted MDF too. This does mean that officers and Nco are included in the unit total.

However there is of course the issue of individual cavalry melees. These can be fun but big fights can take an inordinate amount of time. I have therefore decided on new cavalry melee rules based on the old Wargames Holiday Centre Marlburian rules published in a magazine in the early 90’s. Essentially throwing a dice per figure in the front rank and determining total hits from a predetermined number.

Another thing that gives me headaches is the half and halve again after some firing. So while I intend to keep the half casualties at long range I shall adopt the “save” on top half of the dice for targets requiring half effect such as cavalry. While this will balance out over a game it can give more varied results.

Then there is the issue of morale. While the rules as written have the morale built in with regards casualties lost, the use of the 50% rule (ie a unit is fine at 51% but not at 49%) does mean that the point at which a unit will withdraw can, sometimes, be easily judged. Also, following a melee the loser will withdraw, very civilized but I would prefer an option to rout too. Finally one point I don’t like is that a charge cannot be stopped by fire. It can lead to a situation where a cavalry charge on an infantry unit can take a lot of punishment going in and get well beaten in melee and still leave the infantry in a disordered state that has to withdraw. There are many examples of cavalry being stopped short by steady volleys.

So, I’m going to try out the following morale tests. Firstly for units whose losses exceed 50% a dice throw (following firing) less casualties taken above half the original unit strength, a resulting score of 0 or less means withdraw as per rules, a pass allows the unit to carry on. Secondly for units charging in a couple of dice thrown less casualties taken during the charge a resulting score of 0 or less means withdraw before contact. Finally a throw of one or two dice for the loser (one if understrength) less the difference in melee casualties: a resulting score of 0 or less means rout otherwise withdraw as per the rules.

Hopefully I’ll be able to give these a whirl over Christmas. Calls for port and stilton methinks.

Octobers military disasters

2011-11-05T10:10:00.010Z

I keep trying to get my son interested in wargames but to little avail. Not as exciting as Call of Duty or whatever the latest Xbox fad is.

However to keep his dad happy he agreed a quick game of Crossfire which, I told him, needed the same sort of tactical skills as COD.

Unfortunately the battery gave up on the camera so only a couple of shots of the table before deployment.

A typical Crossfire set up with lots of terrain pieces to move between.

We played a simple scenario with Jack (my son) ordered to assault the village with a couple of Italian companies and HMGs. I held the village and surrounding woods with half the number of French. Jack quickly grasped the simple mechanisms of the game and, with pretty poor firing on my part, had quickly outflanked the French and charged in decisively.

In less than an hour the Italians held the village and the poor French were destroyed.

Perhaps I need to get my own Xbox .

I forgot my camera for my monthly game at Birmingham Wargames Society this month but no doubt there will be questions in parliament.

As commander of a large British and native force it should (in hindsight) have been relatively easy to get a wagon train across the veldt. With a couple of cannon and a gatling gun I naively assumed we could simply mow the Zulu hordes down. There were of course "farsands or 'em" but "we are British Old Chap".

The Zulu plan, I discovered, was to draw us into the valley.

However Blackpowder's command system meant that the British really didn't want to move. Bored waiting in the bush the Zulus attacked. The British sent out the cavalry to hold up the impis but even the lancers had little success. Out in the open there were just too many natives and we were over run.

Not an auspicious wargaming month. At least we live to fight another day.
I

Wake me up when September ends

2011-10-03T20:25:00.011+01:00

Long time no post. Summer stuff has got in the way of drivelling on the blog but it's dark at 7:30 now. Winter drawers on? Not quite as it was 28c today. Ridiculous temperatures for October.

Anyway - yesterday we got out Songs of Drums and Shakoes again. We took the scenarios from the main book and supplement (the sensibly named More Drums and Shakoes) and had three fun games with only a few figures. The first scenarios was the Foraging Mission which gave Richard the opportunity to show of his rather dapper sheep. Having more players than expected we stretched the table to six feet by three and had four British squads attempting to run off the Johnny frog and steal the mutton.

Very out of focus redcoats look a bit arty in the woods.

A single French squad hold off the Brits from behind the fold.

The gunfire soon brings reinforcements from the nearby farm and a protracted struggle ensues around the stone walls.

Eventually however numbers tell and the French run away to the farmhouse leaving the redcoats with the meat.

Brimming with confidence Major Gray has no hesitation in following the retreating French ever hopeful of more supplies in the farm.

A wide stream stretches in front of the fenced farmyard. But only one bridge.

Of course the question is always asked "is the river fordable?". The scenario in the book suggests that it should not be but as this was a mulitplayer game the rule was that a soldier may attempt to cross but must throw a D6 to see if he got wet. 4,5,6 meant a successful crossing, 2 or 3 and that meant a slip and damp powder so no firing for the rest of the game. And a 1 would lead to the poor soldier being dragged down stream and drowned. So probably worth a try as we will see.

Two French squads take up positions in and around the farm with the bridge well covered.

Good activation brings a squad of rifles quickly onto the bridge and get a quick kill. Good start by the chosen men. Another British squad follow up in support while a third intend to make a quick dash over the stream to assault the lightly held farmyard.

I suspect Private Boursin smokes too much.

However the French light infantry taking advantage of their cover hold their own around the bridge and quite a few Brits hit the deck allowing the French to charge in.

The outflanking movement reaches the stream. The first brave soldier wades in and Richard shakes his dice with the wry comment "and now he drowns." Of course a 1! Undeterred the next figure takes off his boots and dips his toe.

1!

Another Brit floats face down.

It can't happen again - and doesn't. The third figure crosses the babbling brook.

Now for the fourth figure.

1

Oh dear!

It was about now I was struggling for breath - with laughter - for poor Richard had lost half his unit playing in the water and of course fails his morale.

On the bridge Major Gray leads a charge to break through but is brought down by a well aimed musket!

The rules suggest a game can be quick but this must be a record.

Scenario 3 Baggage Wagon

Wary that the Brits may come back the French load up the wagons and head off to the border.

All they have to is get the two wagons from one end of the table to the other. Given that no one else can be seen this shouldn't be a problem.

The wagons are allowed to move once every turn but the squads must activate as usual.

Due to poor activation the wagon starts to pull ahead from the guard.

The wagon train moves along the road unhindered for half a dozen moves but there is movement in the bushes and a crashing volley is delivered at point blank range.

Fortunately for the French it is Spanish guerillas hidden in the woods and there is no effect.

However at the head of the column the Spanish charge out and with odds of four to one manage to bring down sergeant Boursin.

All seems to be going well for the Spanish until a rash charge onto a wagon by Furia Roja himself leads to him being skewered on a French bayonet.

The resultant morale failure sees the guerillas scurry back to the woods and against all the odds two tired squads of Frenchmen make their wearyway towards the Pyrenees.

Through the streets

2011-06-24T12:24:00.013+01:00

Song of Drums and Shako (cont)

The rules suggest that a game of SDS ought to last up to 45 minutes so I had hoped that in the five hours we normally have at the club would could get through 5 scenarios. However as the first game took us a couple of hours I decided to compress a couple of scenarios into one for the next game.

Having been pushed backs from the town walls the French fall back through the town. The standing orders in case of attack were to make for the church.

So in scenario two all the French have to do is get across the table. A table only three feet across. Of course success of the British assault has inspired the locals to retrieve their old guns, or recently captured muskets, from barns lofts or sheds and make trouble for the retreating French.

French squads enter the table and head for the comparative cover of the central park.

However the locals of San Antonio have a score to settle.

A number of partisans were set up in ambush using the simple mechanism of laying a couple of markers down one being a dummy and the other the actual figure. Activated at will by the Spanish player or when the French move close enough.

Xavi and Pepe await les bleus.

An interesting thing to note with most wargamers is that although the oblective is simply to get across the table as intact as possible the temptation to stand and fire is just too great. Despite the fact that the British are just a couple of moves behind!

A sharp firefight ensues around the central park. Luckily the gunfire brought a supporting squad to the aid of the beleaguered French. Very poor movement dice for the Rifles prevented the destruction of the retreating French and eventually most of them got across the board.

The final scenario of the day ( as that was all we had time for) was the assault on the churchyard.

The standing order for the French forces was too retreat and consolidate at the church if attacked.

One French squad was placed in the churchyard and all the (now) allies had to do was get in take the gold. Of course other French squads could appear down the side streets to join in the fight.

The church of San Antonio under assault by Spanish and British alike.

A bitter battle ensued despite snake eyes Bob (defending) living up to his name. Luckily he didn't have to move much. Again the greencoats seemed hesitant to get stuck in whilst the Spaniards suffered by their impetuosity (or lack of support).

Soon the French support began to arrive.

It wasn't long before the partisans' reckless charges led to too many casualties and they were forced to retreat. Whilst the original French defenders were also whittled down to nought the reinforcing squads proved too much for the attackers who had a foothold arund the gravestones but not in the church itself and the British were repulsed. Leaving the payroll chest intact but and with fewer to pay.

I think most of the players enjoyed the game and indeed further orders have been dispatched to Front Rank to bolster the ranks a little. It made a change from corps or divisional level battles. Fewer than sixty figures were used. The rules were simple but subtle and made for a fun game. With a little thought many scenarios can be devised to create mini campaigns. Brigadier Gerard and Sharpe may yet meet in a little Spanish village.

p.s.
I've now bought the Arthur and Merlin rules so watch you're back Jim, Adrianus of Pant Glas may ride again.

2011-06-18T19:18:00.002+01:00

Once More into the Breach.....

The battered walls of San Antonio.

Song of Drums and Shakos is designed to be played by two players on a 3 foot square table (for 28mm). I wasn't sure how many players were going to turn up - but more than two anyway. So I took along the old sand covered boards; all of which were three feet deep but with various widths so we could choose what size when we set up. The rules suggest that the three feet deep table is used as routing figures with a bad morale throw are likely to exit rearwards. We decided on a five foot wide board for the six players that turned up. Each player got a squad each of 5,6 or 7 figures.

All the Britsh players had to do was get more of their figures on the town side of the wall than the French had. However the frogs began with more figures so some had to be disposed of.

Deploying first the French had to defend three breaches in the wall so were rather stretched. Sensibly Major Gray concentrated his forces on one breach and advanced without hesitation. Despite the victory condition the French squad furthest from the assault ventured beyond the wall to try to catch the British in the flank.

One of the nice subtleties of the game is the activation where one needs to equal or beat the Quality of the soldier on a dice One chooses to throw 1,2 or 3 dice to determine the number of actions allowed the soldier. The sting is that 2 fails means the end of activations allowed to the squad. Throwing one dice means that a fail is impossible but means that a) this leads to slow progress 2) some actions, such as reloading, require two passes.

Fortunately for the Red (and Green) coats the assault was made against the squad of "snake eyes Bob". I believe that chance of throwing double one is less that 3%. For Bob this seemed to have changed to 50%. Despite losing a couple of privates to long range fire the Brits advanced without further loss due to the nervous slow loading French and with accurate rifle fire and a bayonet charge routed Bob's French squad and had made their way into San Antonio.

2011-06-18T18:49:00.011+01:00

Private Boursin mans the defences

Assault on San Antonio

Song of Drums and Shakos

January 1812 - the British march back into Spain and find themselves having to besiege a number of fortified towns and villages on their way. They have the manpower and siege train to do this but Marmont is moving westwards to meet them.

Much to the chagrin of Major Bull, having spent a day digging in a number of his artillery pieces behind some nicely improvised redoubts, the Duke sent new orders for him to rejoin the main force immediately to meet Marmont a few miles away. Only a couple of score shells had been lobbed onto San Antonio destroying half a dozen houses and knocking a few holes in the already ramshackle outer wall.

The Duke had quickly seen that little threat lay within San Antonio and no strategic import. A couple of companies of foot have been left behind under the command of Major Gray (bart) to keep an eye on the few remaining froggies. “May as well just leave ‘em to rot,” the Duke had said. “But don’t let ‘em out.”

However a prisoner, caught trying to escape the town, insists that the regiments pay chest is sitting under the altar of the church in the centre of the village. He also maintains that a number of partisans are roaming the streets cutting the throats of any bluecoats they find and searching for aforementioned strongbox.

Not only having lost his last decent mount to a broken leg but also a large amount of sovereigns to poor luck in whist game French gold does seem quite attractive to Major Gray. Obviously he couldn’t mount a major assault with both companies but a small party could break in and pinch a franc or two whilst the frogs are hiding under their beds from the partisans … and of course Bull had made a few holes in the wall already.

Scenario one: Once more into the breach...

With a hand picked bunch of the stony broke and desperate, Major Gray must lead his troops past the motley French guard and into the town.

The British win if they have more men on the town side of the wall than the French

Bases on the forlorn hope scenario in the rules.

In the rules figures are lost when they are killed, wounded or run away. Over the course of the scenarios the idea was that dead soldiers are lost forever, wounded may recover fully or recover with less ability or may die of wounds. The cowards would return sheepishly.

(more to follow).

Song of Drums and Shakos

2011-06-13T20:29:00.019+01:00

May (and early June) sped past in a whirr of work. I've managed no figure painting for six weeks but I have put together a little Spanish village to fight Song Of Drums and Shakos over. I had a look at the resin buildings on the market and very nice they were too; and pricey. I figured that a nice size village would set me back at least £200.

A quick browse over t'internet led me to the lovely Kapiti Fusiliers site where the clever Roly Hermans showed me how to knock together a foam board village. (I recall similar from the sadly defunct Major Rederring).

So a quick trip to ye olde arte shoppe and for less than a tenner I got a couple of A2 size foamboards. I chose the more expensive black version so I wouldn't have to undercoat. A further visit to the local model train shop got me some splendid pantile roofs. For about £20 I made myself a village in about three weeks, probably 20 hours work. Being a fat fingered Klutz they're not as good as a purchased article but cheap and quick (there seems to be a theme recurring through this blog) and not too bad on the table. I also play with very nice people who are always complimentary.

Song of Drums and Shako are produced by Ganesha Games who produced mostly fantasy or futuristic small scale rules but have released some historical skirmish rules on the same game engine. If fantasy/sci fi players are going to convert to historical gaming I think this could be the way. Most of their rules are skirmish type games where each player has fewer then ten figures each. Based on a simple but subtle activation system with basic combat and morale it seemed right up our street.

The rules suggested that a game should take about 45 minutes so a mini "campaign" seemed in order. Or rather a series of scenarios like those computer game thingies the youngsters play these days.

The rules have a few scenario ideas so I started with these and added a bit of a twist. tbc

Winter ends (official)

2011-05-02T21:01:00.009+01:00

On the medieval bridge of Clun the Green Man defeats the Winter Queen.

With his new bride, The May Queen, the Green Man and his Champion herald the arrival of summer.

A E Housman fans please note that Clun wasn't the quietest place today.

April Painting

2011-04-30T17:35:00.007+01:00

April's always a busy month. Working in finance it usually means year end processes so I wasn't able to take advantage of the long Easter weekend. Having a garden and an allotment I have been a bit busy outside too.

I have tried to set aside half an hour a day to sit in the shed and do some painting. Personally I think I get more done in seven half hour stints a week than in one long sitting at the weekend.

So attached are piccies of the new Weinpfalz regiment.

Being of a lazy disposition I tried to speed up the processes even more than usual and tried a grey undercoat/primer courtesy of Halfords ie for car repairs, which I had seen recommended for 1/72 plastics elsewhere.

It looked excellent but started to flake off from the bayonets as soon as began to add a second coat. I continued with care with a heavy drybrush of light grey and then white. I'm hoping that the Klear overcoat will hold it all together.

The figures are Zvezda GNW Russians - I'm always surprised at how good Zvezda figures are

No more painting this weekend we're off to Clun for the Greenman Festival. Maypole, morris dancing and much beer no doubt.

Hohenlinden(ish)

2011-04-04T21:02:00.013+01:00

French troops tuck themselves up in little village.

This week's game seemed to creep up on us from behind. So we went with easily organised 6mm Napoleonics because we have lots of the stuff tucked away in boxes we can just pick and run with.

A quick browse on the jolly old interweb thing provided "Hohenlinden", Austrians attacking French makes a nice change. However it did seem a bit too difficult for the poor old whitecoats so I made it little bit easier for them, principally by ignoring the nasty weather but also giving them a little bit more oomph.

The French set up between villages and woods.

This was our first game at our new venue after being run out of our previous abode. The Social club we now call home is cheaper, larger, has a bar and the best cheese and onion sandwiches! Silver linings etc etc.

The Austrians advanced at various speeds along the woodland paths. Our Black Powder based command rules can make for a frustrating afternoon. But all is going well. In fact the only blunder leads to a Charge at full speed result speeding up an assault on an outlying village. It did, however, expose a heavy battery that was subsequently lost.

#
Speedy Grenze appear out of woods to outflank the French and walk into an undefended churchyard.

Despite large amounts of Austrian horse being held up on forest paths the infantry march on regardless and on both left and right wings wear down the French; enough to break two divisions - which must withdraw.

Austrian infantry throw excellent dice and push the French back along the line.

After four hours play we called it a day with Hohenlinden still in French hands but with both flanks broken. The position would be untenable.

Good dice and a lenient scenario gave the Austrian too much of an easy time, particularly re assaults on villages but..

an enjoyable game that gave a good run out to our simplified BP rules. A couple more tweaks and they should be okay.

Tiny Zulu

2011-03-16T20:06:00.009Z

When Jim told us that he had painted a complete Zulu army of 1,200 figures in a weekend I should have expected him to bring them in a shoebox.

However a good time was had by all as a beleaguered British camp await a relief force that probably wouldn't make it across the veldt.

The splendid 6mm camp proved more than capable of holding off repeated attacks.

Natal horse valiantly charge the iNdlondlo in a vain attempt to protect the main column.

A game that swung to and fro with dastardly hidden units of zulu eventually over powering the relief column despite it's awesome fire power.

Another airing for Black Powder which gave an unpredictable and fun game. Despite my lancers failing to charge for three successive moves.

Sadly this was Birmingham Wargames Society penultimate meeting at the Community Centre that has been it's home for forty years. Council cuts mean that we can no longer be accommodated at an affordable cost. No doubt we'll find somewhere else to pursue our odd past time.

Not all things are bad in Brum. I spent an extremely pleasant hour at Birmingham University's Centre for Early Music Performance last week. Bach, Scarlatti, Telemann and Purcell - the Duke's favourites - performed by very talented students from all over the world. Nice to hear this stuff played on contemporary instruments.

That was February that was

2011-03-14T18:48:00.008Z

Only just realised that there were nil posts in February. The armies of Fromagere and Weinpfalz once again took a back seat to another diversion. Having had a look at the Songs of Drums and Shakoes rules Richard reminded me that he had a couple of dozen Front Rank Peninsula Brits all ready and raring to fight.

So a quick note to Front Rank and within a couple of days a couple of dozen froggie voltigeurs were on the painting table. Not much flash to remove and I gave them a black gesso undercoat, then a drybrush white. The idea is that when the colour goes on the shadows fall in naturally.

And it does work to some degree. Another dry brush over the top should do nicely.

A few piccies attached of the boys two thirds completed.

I have to admit that whilst putting together the armies of wine and cheese I had some qualms about opting to go with 1/72 plastic when there are such splendid metal figures out there.

Having spent so much time painting up a score of Front Rank I think I was right. I've enjoyed painting the bigger boys but I can't ignore the detail. And there's a lot more lace on a SYW grenadier. I would think it would take me half a year to paint up a regiment of 72 28mm figures.

Of course such a regiment would cost me £75 not a fiver.

WMMS Alumwell 2011

2011-03-13T17:39:00.011Z

A quick trip to Wolverhampton today for the Alumwell show where I managed to restrain my spending to a few paints and a box of Zvezda Black Hussars. And some grassy tufts, And a box of Perry ACW infantry. And some matt varnish. Mmmmm not as restrained as I ought to have been.
Shows ain't what they used to be but still nice to go and see a few games and perhaps get some new ideas and spend some dough without p&p. A few piccies below of the very nice AWI game that fellow Birmingham wargamers Jim and Tony put on.

January 2011

2011-01-30T14:17:00.005Z

After New Year January seems to loom ahead like a dark cloud of cold and, well, dark cloud. Now however it seems to have flown by. It's been a busy month on the work and family front but some wargaming projects have progressed a little; some well and some disappointing.

The year began with a decent multi corps 6mm Napoleonic battle. We played this using a simple set of rules based heavily on BlackPowder mechanisms. They seemed to work quite nicely.

On the workbench four sqadrons of dragoons have (finally) been completed as have another three companies of foot for the forces of Fromagere.

I had hoped to be well into a regiment of hussars for the wicked old Duke. However the priming went sadly wrong. I have been using Plastikote primer for the plastic figures and have had no problem with it. However I did find that a couple or three bayonets of the new infantry had flaked which I assumed was simple rushing the spray job and missing these spots - easily fixed.

The hussars however were a disaster. The plastikote simply didn't dry - they are still tacky after three weeks. I suspect that's a couple of dozen figures wasted. Fortunately they only cost about £7.00 for two boxes. Had they have been Foundry or Front Rank at £2.50 a horseman I might have been upset.

I did wonder if it was the soft plastic of the Hat figures that didn't like the primer but my best guess is that the atmospheric conditions were too poor. Perhaps too cold or too damp or both. Anyway most disappointing.

After extensive research ie browsing the websites of fellow wargames bloggers I went down to the local art shop and purchased a jar of gesso. I have primed the next company with this interesting stuff and while the process is a fair bit slower than spraying I'm hopeful it will be a foolproof method of priming my plastic - and possibly metal too.

As no wargamer can resist a bargain and a digression, I found myself buying Songs of Drums and Shakos, I think for $5 for a Pdf that I received within the hour. These simple but subtle Napoleonic skirmish rules have had great reviews on TMP and other sites. Needing only a dozen figures a side, at most, it shouldn't prove too difficult to paint up a couple of squads to play on the dining table.

Of course as they can, with a little tweak or two, be used for SYW freikorps actions, C18 American wars, Revolutionary wars, Carlist, Italian Independence, Colonial etc etc etc. I suspect a few more wars can be visited for minimum cost. I think I can smell the Vendee not far away!

Happy New Year

2011-01-03T21:54:00.005Z

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Snow has now gone from Fromagere and Weinpfalz but after watching German Art on BBC4 wanted to have a Caspar Friedrich painting.

Holidays almost over but managed a bit of painting last week.

One of the sure things about his time of year is that the camera is out of battery power. So no piccies of the four squadron dragoon unit newly recruited for Fromagere.

Being of a cheesy disposition I chose yellow coats - never again. I hate painting yellow. Figures were the delightful Zvezda Swedish GNW dragoons.

Also a new company for each of the three infantry units are well under way. This will bring the regiments up to 72 men and officers. The aim is to be able to be divide a regiment into two companies each giving a "battalion" of 32 hatmen and 4 officers. (Again Swedish Zvezda).

Santa proved generous this year. Some jolly nice CDs - Bach and Art Pepper (not jamming together but would have been interesting), a few boxes of Zvezda (GNW and SYW grenadiers) and the Duchess bought me a Kindle e-book. Downloaded "Brigadier Gerard" in seconds - for free - and "Barry Lyndon", though that was 74p!

New Year resolution - play more games.

Merry Christmas

2010-12-25T10:56:00.004Z

Merry Christmas!

A whole week off work to come so hopefully I can get back up to speed with the vallejo.

All work and no play...

2010-11-21T21:18:00.005Z

Brandwine

Work has interfered with play this month.

Just a couple of piccies from Birmingham Wargames Society games I've missed.

Normans overrun Saxons

Hastenbeck 1757

2010-10-28T12:04:00.009+01:00

June 1757 had gone well for the Austrians with their first victory over Frederick at Kolin. It was felt that a bit more effort from their French allies could bring a swift victory.

Surprisingly the French were ready and by July two armies had crossed the Rhine. One moved east to distract Frederick from Bohemia. The other quickly overran Westphalia and moved into Hanover where an alllied army, under the Duke Of Cumberland was still being assembled.

Heavily outumbered Cumberland found his army a half decent defensive position on a string of wooded hills at Hastenbeck with an escape route north back into Hanover through the village of Afferde. Before Afferde is a long stretch of stream and marshland

We used the scenario and army lists from the extremely useful Volley and Bayonet Page (although we had to replace the Hanoverians with British units) so have a look there if you want more detail of the set up.

Historically the battle was a bit of a farce for after an hour of bitter fighting Cumberland felt the battle slipping away from him whilst D'Estrees though the position too difficult to take. Both armies began to withdraw but as it became apparent what was happening it proved easier for the French to return to take the field and claim victory.

The resultant treaty led to the occupation of Hanover. Not surprisingly Cumberland was relieved of command.

Using volley and bayonet we tried to make decent game out of the "carry on" battle of the SYW.

The French centre begin their advance.

Allied heavy batteries in hastily erected redoubts await the enemy.

Historically Cumberlands southern flank was defended only by a small unit of Jaeger. A mistake repeated on table.

The French right wing advance through and between woods.

A number of attacks were required before the village was taken and the main infantry attack was replused.

In retrospect the battle was probably lost here for a well timed counter attack by Hussars and light dragoons on disordered french infantry could only be defeated by the throw of a six on their morale test. Of course a 6 was duly thrown, the cavalry defeated and the infantry rallied. The allied flank was broken.

The French advance on the centre was slow and methodical bringing up big batteries to within close range and proved more effective than the allied guns.

Taking a battering from cannister the allies charge down the hill!

... to disaster.

The French heavies charge through the resultant hole.

The allied left flank and centre were effectively smashed. On the right the French had struggled through marsh and emerged disordered to meet a devastating charge. The French left was destroyed allowing what was left of the allies to withdraw successfully into Hanover.

Today's cheese was Delice de Bourgogne - very probably the best yet.

More than 300

2010-09-27T21:28:00.010+01:00

I don't know much about Ancient warfare but I always enjoy the games.

Using the free set of rules Basic Impetus we hadn't determined a scenario. However Ade had brought more hoplites than you shake a stick at and Richard's Persians would have made Darius jealous.

We sorted out a couple of armies roughly from the lists and split each force into three, as there were six of us. Then haphazardly arranged some terrain on a 12' by 6' table.

As generally happens with such a lack of organisation we had a cracking game

Losing the initial dice roll the greeks set up first. With a long front to defend the greeks spread themselves thinly. One wing separated from the rest by a wood, admittedly filled with light infantry, and the other hiding behind a hill. Only the left hand wing had a unit of horse.

With the advantage of setting up second the Persians placed all their mass of horse on the right. In the centre the Immortals and on the left the sparabaras.

Moving first the Persians set their simple plan in motion. Charge in the horse on the right where they outnumbered the greek cavalry then swing them round the back and into the rear. In the centre and left the plan was to adopt hit and run tactics that slightly quicker bow armed troops can make against ponderous hoplites.

Of course the plan did not begin well with the greek horse holding their own although outnumbered three to one. The Immortals bows however began well while the sparabaras moved forward en masse.

The greek phalanx had little option than to simply advance and the initiative throw system meant that it was inevitable that they would make contact sooner or later. However the immortals proved more than a match and saw them off in style.

A phalanx hits the immortals.

In true Basic Impetus style the game swung to and fro but the advantage stayed with the Persians' archery which were able to inflict damage on the hoplites and thus remove the Impetus advantage before melee.

Brave sparabaras charge into a phalanx worn down by archery.

Once the Persian horse had destoyed the greek cavalry and were given free rein (pun intended) the hoplites proved too rigid a formation to deal with horse, bow and spearman and inevitably they were worn down and with very little Persian loss they reached their Demoralisation Value and had therefore lost.

Our group likes BI a lot and play it in preference to the full set, Impetus, a copy of which I think we all own. Definitely a case of fun over substance.

Cheese: le Pies d'Angloys. A little ripe!

On the bench

2010-09-26T19:31:00.008+01:00

Painting in the summer mainly concentrated on expanding my forces to use with BlackPowder; 28mm American War of Independence and 15mm Sudan. Now I'm back on track with the Imagi Nation of Fromagere. The third infantry regiment almost complete with just a bit of furtling and tidying up required.

I have to admit that I do like the light blue.

I painted the unit as quickly as possible without depth or highlights, just a wash of klear with a drop of dark blue on the coat and brown on the faces.

The klear works quite well on the coats but has smudged on the faces which I may get round to amending. From three feet you don't notice.

However yet another diversion has reared it's ugly head - damn those Perry people.

The first dozen of plastic 28mm ACW almost finished. My poor old eyes struggle to get details on the faces. Hopefully they'll be facing the opposition on the table and not running towards me!

They are very nice figures and being plastic a very reasonable price. I think they were about £13.00 for 36 figures.

BlackPowder IV: Relief of El Tel

2010-08-31T20:14:00.021+01:00

The Sudan of the 1880's is an interesting period of history and should provide the basis for a good wargame what with colonial brits in red and grey and marine blue, with camels thrown in for good measure. The odd Egyptian unit, some armoured, and a variety of colourful natives that proved more than capable of holding their own, until the arrival of Mr Maxim's baby. Then there's the Nile with improvised and purpose built gun boats and the option to add a unit or two of French to add flavour.

For those who like to add characters to their scenario then no fiction can equal Gordon, Kitchener and, being the Birmingham Wargames Society, our own Colonel Burnaby.

We've tried Peter Pigs PITS rules and some house grown rules but never had a completely satisfactory game. So as Black Powder has been at the front of our wargame thoughts and the book has some very nice piccies of a Sudan game - "why not?"

The answer should have been "because we don't have enough figures." But a quick note to Mr Pig and couple of weeks frantic painting and another few units were added.

'Eres to you Fuzzy Wuzzy

Historians write of British reluctance to send troops to Egypt in 1882 but they did and when the Mahdi emerged from the southern desert an army was already present. When it became apparent that shipping on the Suez may be threatened intervention became inevitable.

On of the Mahdi's finest generals, Osman Dogma, was proving to be particularly troublesome and in fine British understatement Major General Trepanning ordered that a couple of regiments "should see 'em off."

The Royal Worcester Permains and Braeburn Highlanders played cat and mouse for a couple of weeks under the desert sun. However they weren't aware that they were the mouse. After a sharp encounter with a large force of Hadendowa they were fortunate to fall back into the walled village of El Tel.

Eventually Major General Trepanning noticed they were missing and the RSM suggested that perhaps they ought to go and look for the missing lads. Fortunately the local scouts were top notch and it wasn't long before the relief force could make out in the distance the village of El Tel and Dogma's army.

Ferocious fighter they may have been, but pretty awful with the dice throws. This "brigade" refused to move for three turns.

The Mahdi's forces seemed reluctant to move towards the new threat but the big Krupps guns finally moved into position and began shelling the village with immediate effect. Behind the mudbrick walls the cheering at the sight of the relief column was curtailed as comrades fell and wounded were added to the wagons carrying the sick.

Outnumbered, Trepanning ordered the hussars forward to scout amongst the rock and scrub anticipatin ambush. The foot were formed into two brigade squares, slow but secure and inexorably they advanced.

Dogma's forces on table were split into two principle brigades and while the ansar warily advanced the hadendowah hesitated too long and the Shropshire Blue hussars charged in with great gusto and routed the lead unit. On the right the Wensleydale Hussars took casualties from long range fire which took the sting from their first assault. In the centre the squares rolled on.

Trepanning's plan was proving to be a good one as the hussars kept the natives busy leaving the squares to move forward. The naval gardner gun was initially deadly as it took out the crew of a Krupps gun but with such heat and sand it soon jammed. The remaining Krupps maintained a steady fire and the Royal Worcesters could do little but take what cover there was.

On the left the hussars overran a further unit of fuzzy wuzzies but on the right the going was much tougher. Eventually a square reached the village and under sustained fire the wagons were shepherded into it. However both units in the village were disordered, and therefore couldn't move The square began it's slow march back with the sick and wounded making for even slower going.

Once order was regained the Braeburn Highlanders set forth valiantly from the village. Instantly a unit of hadendowah charged in only to be met with a crashing volley from the irate scotsmen. Surrounded by smoke and fuzzy wuzzies the valiant scots failed to see the camelry until they had charged in to the rear of the line. Unsupported they were massacred to a man.

Charge after charge was made upon the retreating squares but no headway could be made. The remaining Krupps was keeping the Royal Worcester tied in the village and was not moved forward to assaut the square.

And so the sun set red over the village of El Tel. The few remaining Royal Worcesters remained trapped inside the village, the Braeburn Highlanders had been decimated and the Wensleydale Hussars had suffered a great many casulaties. However Dogma had lost half of his army and had found it impossible to break a square. As the full moon rose and the groans of dead and dying haunted the desert both generals pondered what to do when dawn broke.

In square even the Egyptians proved to be invulnerable.

Another go at Black Powder and I'm still not 100% convinced. There's a lot to like but there's also a bit too much faffing about with saving throws and special rules. I suspect a bit of simplifying and streamlining may ensue. Watch this space.

(Jervaulx: all the way from Britanny - splendid)

The Relief of El Tel

2010-08-28T08:36:00.005+01:00

Major General Trepanning sat astride his old grey mare and peered in the blistering haze that is Sudan. A God fearing man, Trepanning had never quite believed in Hell, until now. A never ending vista of sun blasted rock and sand. Whatever managed to live out there had devilish thorns or stings, sharp teeth or sharper swords.

Taking binoculars from his aide he peered into the shimmering heat. On the horizon he could make out the walled village. Was that a Union flag hanging limply from the improvised flagpole?

Beyond the village the vague shape of the Beja camp showed little activity. If the devils are there then the lads must still be alive in the village. He straightened his saddle weary spine and turned to his subordinate officers.

"Send forward the hussars in skirmish order, the foot will maintain column of march until we are on the sand, then form brigade squares. We will relieve El Tel today."

Silently he prayed he wouldn't throw a double six.

Belated Piccies

2010-08-14T19:23:00.014+01:00

A few belated piccies from AWI Blackpowder game (thanks Ade)

Awaiting the redcoats arrival.

The American Second Line take up position

"Down with King George"

They may not be able to shoot very well but they're damned good at fencing.

American skirmishers skulking in woods.

American Second Line falls back

British press forward.

Continentals defend the town

......and the road

Black Powder III

2010-07-30T21:11:00.008+01:00

.... and the irony is that we have the prettiest table ever and I forget the camera.

Imagine a verdant green sward of teddy bear fur, bespoked clumps of birch and beech, snake fences, rocky outcrops, cornfields and a delightful Virginia town.

With a scenario loosely based on Guilford Courthouse the British/German force consisted of a dozen line and guard batallions, a couple of cannon and four skirmish units including one of injuns. These were divided into four brigades. Two in the first line and two immediately behind.

The American force was fifty percent larger and had the advantage of three distinct defensive lines including the ultimate goal of the town. However twelve of the rebel units were militia with poor or very poor morale.

We began with a brigade of North Carolina Militia, of four units, behind a snake fence a couple of feet from the British end of the eight foot table. British skirmishers began in range of the yankees (8" using the 2/3 movement scale). The Militia's opening fire was poor - having no effect upon the redcoats. On the British turn the majority of the advance brigades moved into long range and opened fire, adding a dice for first volley. A half a dozen hits - all but one saved by the lucky militia! With the militia's poor morale they required sixes to save; it must be noted that this was done with Adrian's blue dice (and we all thought they had no sixes on them).

On the right the Hessian's were finding it difficult to move forward but a British cannon laid low a regiment of mounted dragoons with one fine salvo of grape and the unit of indians was sent through the woods to outflank the second American Line. Their "bloodthirsty" bonus was used to good effect and they broke a militia batallion.

On the left the second British brigade were advancing smartly forward towards the second line of militia and were hit by a smart volley at long range by Kirwoods riflemen. A valiant charge however broke though the militia and the belt of wood and scrub into the open ground before the town. Similarly on the right the British-Hessian brigades proved too strong for the Virginians and they fell back towards the town to form a new line behind redoubts

However now the government forces were facing the cream of Greene's army, Maryland and Virginia Continentals. Firefights, charge and countercharge ensued but no breakthrough was made before we had to call it a day and the damned rebels claimed victory as they still held the town and pike road.

The first line of militia had proved very obstinate and while it was inevitable that they would break, the four moves it took cost the British too much time and while they were still relatively fresh at the end of the game the Continentals too had plenty of fight left in them.

Had we had time to continue for a couple or three more moves any victory would have been pyrrhic. A true reflection of 1781 when Cornwallis's tactical victory ultimately cost him his army.

Today's cheese was Jervaulx.

Battle of Freeman's Farm

2010-07-04T19:38:00.025+01:00

Washington ponders the news that the British are a coming.

Another attempt at the Black Powder rules.

We took the scenario from the Black Powder book but as we were using half size units
we adopted the 2/3 movement and range play sheet (thanks Jeff).

The British/German army had a couple more battalions than the Rebels and also four guns whilst the American's had none. Moreover the British troops were deemed to be "steady" and "crack", effectively enhanced morale.

Initial dispositions had the first British brigade (Hamilton's) marching along the road and a picket were wandering over to have a peek at the farm and woods. No pesky rebels in sight. The Brits get to move first, in theory, as a throw of 11 on Command prevents Hamilton's brigade from moving. The second Brigade however marches onto the table and along the road. The picket is (not very) surprised to be fired on from the woods as Morgan's brigade reveal themselves.

(piccies look better when enlarged than shown here)

With an excellent Command throw Poor's Brigade of Rebels advance between the farm and woods to Morgan's left hoping to reach the stream before the British.

The second British Brigade, Fraser's, enter the table in column of march with a skirmish line of injuns covering their right. In the centre the pickets engage Morgan's brigade in a long range firefight and Hamilton manages to bring one battalion forward before another Command failure.

Fraser manages to advance (slowly) on the right but in the centre Hamilton manages to turn column into line but then fails to advance following two Command Failures. The Yanks however pour forth along woodland paths and find an excellent defensive position with stream in front and between woods and farm.

Eventually the Germans arrive following Fraser along the road. Two excellent command throws see them in line and pouring fire into the rebels while the British continue with poor Command throws and struggle into battle line. The Picket and the lone batallion in the firefight with the American right are routed but the Americans hold their line.

The Americans have an excellent defensive position behind the stream and although this deters the charge with cold steel the British/ German firepower enhanced with artillery is proving superior. The "steady" and "crack" rules prove invaluable to the Brits in the firefight. Eventually the poor morale of the Americans begins to tell and they begin to withdraw.

Regimental mascot assists in British interrogation of a captured rebel.

The result was pretty much as that played out by the authors of the rule book and given the breakdown of the armies seems alomost inevitable. Given the poor Command thorws of the Brits more agressive tactics could have paid off for the Americans. However given the poorer troop morale levels and the excellent defensive position on offer it would have been a very brave and fortunate commander who could beat the British in this scenario.

Regimental mascot eats colonel's tricorn!

Washington ponders defeat with faithful friend.

The game started off quite slowly as we tried to get to grips with the rules again. While they are a good read they are not the easiest to pick out the relevant bits.

I want to like these rules but I'm not yet sure if we'll persevere. As players we make enough mistakes so do we need to be slowed down even more with Command rules. The argument is that this is realistic. Firstly how realistic is it that a brigade of professional British soldiers of 1777 would not be able to deploy in time to participate in a fight with rebels a few hundred yards away. The fact that we all know an example or two proves how rare this was. Secondly I play for fun not for a faithful reenactment of warfare.

Otherwise I like the mechanics of the rules and if we used them more then I think we would get used to the special rules such as "crack", "steady", "marauders", "blodthirsty", etc etc.

The self inflicted problem is that we never play the same rules two games running and rarely play the same rules two or three times a year. This tends to mean we go for the simple rather than the detailed. Mmmmm watch this space.

Todays cheese was Vignotte.

Rossbach Revisited

2010-06-20T19:58:00.012+01:00

It's always difficult to wargame a military disaster because rarely will a player make the same mistakes or the strategic situation be contrived.

I have had a French 15mm SYW army for a while and we have a enjoyed a number of interesting western theatre games. However when Richard put together a nice Prussian force there was one battle we had to get out of the way.

French and Reichsarmee cavalry advance with confidence

Following the disastrous summer (for Frederick) of 1757, which saw the Prussians defeated at Kolin and Gross-Jagersdorf, the French decided to have a go at the bluecoats and a motley mix of French, German and Austrian troops headed for Berlin. Heavily outnumbered Frederick repeatedly tried to manoeuvre himself into a decent defensive position but Prince Soubise was not too enamoured with the idea of a frontal attack into the teeth of Prussian musketry.

On 5 November Frederick deployed in another nice position on a ridge between two villages. With lines of communication stretched Soubise was keen to get to grips with an enemy force he esimated to be half the size of his own army. He decided on a enveloping manoeuvre to get around the flank and rear of the Prussians in four great columns. However the ponderous movement was observed by the Prussians who, concealed by the heights, swiftly about faced and redeployed. A devastating cavalry charge swept away the allied horse before it could properly deploy and the Prussian infantry and artillery made short shrift of the enemy foot. In an hour and a half the Allies had lost eight thousand men and their army was shattered. The Prussians lost a few hundred.

We set up a 6 foot by 4 foot table covered with Richard's effective teddy bear fur terrain mat.

The Prussians set up in three lines, two feet away from one short edge of the table stretching from one long edge, on the village of Brauesdorf, two feet across to the centre of the table and Rossbach village and a wooded area. This was the extent of one short side of the ridge.

Unfortunately the camera's batteries went after this piccie.

Columns of Reichsarmee outflank the Prussians on the ridge

As umpire I was fortunate in having the perfect Prince Soubise. I guessed correctly that Adrian, our resident Ancient's expert, may not be familiar with this C18 battle and also that being a nice chap wouldn't be too upset at being set up. No doubt he smelled a rat but saw the idea wasn't too bad on paper.

The contrivance sat with the Prussians, who I gave the opportunity of having a double move in any one of the first three moves. As we were playing Volley and Bayonet this could give the heavy cavalry a forty inch move!

Having the first move the Allies probably assumed that the outflanking manouvre was reasonable and charged their cavalry ahead in an attempt to reach the hill before the Prussians could redeploy. The bluecoats shuffled around in apparent disarray for two moves but on the third, just as the Allied horse reached the foot of the hills General Seydlitz unleashed his Cuirassiers and Dragoons down the slope with their double move.

Using the follow up amendments we have adopted for SYW Volley and Bayonet and Adrian's ability to throw badly on all occasions the Allied horse first column was pretty much wiped out in the third move.

Doggedly Soubise began to deploy his foot into reasonable order. At this point there was a cavalry reserve to arrive and the Prussians were still heavily outnumbered. However this Prussian army was possibly the most highly trained force the western world had seen since the Romans. In the next two moves their better morale ratings proved too much for the Allies and effectively the game was over as the French commands became exhausted. They had no choice but to withdraw, fortunately the Prussian horse was also exhausted and no great damage could be inflicted on the retreating force.

As umpire I was pleased with the recreation of a battle I have been fascinated by since reading Duffy's Army Of Frederick the Great. The result was never in doubt but the timing of Richard's use of the double move was crucial and Adrian played the role of Soubise perfectly, throwing a one in all the right places (sorry Ade).

Today's cheese was Reblochon

Life stopped play, for a while

2010-06-19T20:35:00.006+01:00

Real life has tended to interrupt playtime quite a bit over the last couple of months; but I did manage to complete the regiment I was speedily painting in the last post. Moreover I have managed another unit as well.

With the three feet rule I've spent about ten hours actual work on each unit.

While the painting may leave a lot to be desired I have to say how please I am with the Zvezda figures. Very nicely sculpted in realistic proportions with no flash and few (if any) wasted figures in a box.

I wondered weather the magic wash would have any effect on plastic figures as they don't have the exagerated folds and creases found on most 28mm. After a little experimentation however it did create a very pleasant effect. One drawback I found was that it dissolved the black ink I used on the gaiter garters (rotring pen) - black paint henceforth.

I used a black wash all over the first regiment which was okay, but on the second I used a blue wash on the light blue coat and clear over the gaiters and head. I had already put a brown wash over the face. The blue wash was much more effective.

On the shelf is a half painted dragoon regiment for L'Armee de Fromagere.

Slow, slow, quick, quicker

2010-04-27T20:29:00.015+01:00

When I started my ImagiNation project last summer my intention was to paint one unit a month. Not an unreasonable aim, and for a few months all went well. Then other things got in the way; not least other wargame projects. American War of Independence, 6mm Napoeonics, Crossfire WW2, Samurai (why!!)
Anyway I needed to get back to the wars of wine and cheese.

Now, I don't get that much free time to paint but I wondered just how quickly I could get a unit painted. Not in a ridiculous vallejo-fest marathon but with a steady 45 minutes or an hour a day.

So last week I began on a new unit for the Duchy of Fromagere using the nice Zvezda Swedes. A total of 54 foot. I think Zvezda are making the best 20mm plastics at the moment. (These are in fact about 24mm) with almost no flash and cisp features. I bought four boxes of these but will need a couple more boxes to get units of suitably matching figures. There are three pikemen in the set but these will make splendid standard bearers. The only downside is that there are only three of the first rate grenadiers in the box. Perhaps an attached company will accompany a regiment.

The aim is to paint simply with the three feet rule in mind and with the intention of the magic wash with the tinted acrylic floor wax to finish off. So no shading in the paint job in the hope that the final wash will give a bit of depth.

Tuesday: wash the little devils in warm soapy water and remove from sprues. 45 minutes.
Wednesday: glue down to a few lengths of wood 30 minutes (all times approx)
Thursday: spray with white plastic primer 15 minutes

Friday: thick light blue wash, the colour of the coat and breeches, 40 minutes.

Saturday: day off.

Sunday: gaiters, muskets, hats and shoes. During the first football match so just under two hours.

Sunday: straps, hands, faces and facings, another couple of hours

Monday: I completed the white hat lace, an hour.

So a little over seven hours so far and I suspect another couple of hours to furtle up scabbard, hair and other bits then the final coat of Klear. Should be done by Saturday with perhaps ten hours all told.(tbc)

On the Shelf

2010-04-11T18:34:00.012+01:00

Where is 2010 going. Already well into April and no additions to my ImagiNations armies this year. Yet the Work in Progress shelf groans under projects half done.

On the right half a dozen heavy cavalry divisions for 6mm Napoleonics painted years ago and now to be rebased on 5cm squares.

In the centre a half painted regiment of Zvezda Swedish Dragoons about to become the first horse regiment of the Duke of Fromagere. Three Italian tankettes and a couple of Vickers mkVI for a Greek 1941 army. (Next club game - Crossfire.)

And I have to admit being sucked into coincidences. I was half way through reading Shogun when I came across a glowing review of Zvezda's plastic samurai. Naturally when I found a couple of boxes in the model shops out came the wallet. £5 for a box of forty odd, really nice, figures is a bargain but the cost in time ...oh dear.

They are based on 12cm by 6cm for Impetus rules but I haven't decided what to do with the base yet. Sand and flock or simply paint?

"...you may be tempted to build up wargame armies of several periods. This is enticing, but it is madness!" wrote the Briagdier - Charge! page 116

Enticing. madness and irresistable!

1780 - Black Powder

2010-03-08T20:44:00.013Z

Had a first look at the new rules from Warlord (courtesy of Generaljimbo) this weekend and even got some American War of Independence figures on the table. As with all new rules the first moves were a bit slow as we got to grips with the mechanics. Probably more a reflection of our brains than the rules.

The rule book is a splendid production with lots of lovely piccies in it but is a bit expensive at £30.00. The game mechanics are relatively simple but were not loved by all. The main bone of contention being the command and control rules based, I think, on the Warmaster system. Are they a requirement in a game or not? I think they add to the realism but can lead to a slow game for individuals in a multi player game. Undoubtedly we make enough mistakes on our own not to need them. The mechanism here is a bit strange due the use of two D6 determining actions slightly altering the odds from what might be expected, the use of a twelve sided die might be better.

One aspect I particularly liked was giving verbal orders to a unit. “The regiment will advance in column along the road and form line at the edge of the road.” Naturally they were a bit slower than anticipated. I need to be more authoritative.

Anyhoo the scenario of The Battle for Ashland Ferry began with a mixed brigade of British grenadiers, light troops, rangers and a gun holding the town and ferry. Naturally the rebels needed to capture the aforementioned and began to enter the table on move one along two roads. Being forced to be in road column a round from the light battery did quite a bit of damage on a militia unit as it marched along. Once on table the command and control mechanism kicked in with one brigade unmoving on the hill and another unable to shake out of road column. As the redcoats entered from the opposite side further artillery fire put paid to a Maryland regiment.

Light Dragoons lead the redcoats out of the woods.

Marylanders guard the pub.

The New Yorkers eventually find their way down the hill.

Due to further poor dice throws both the British supporting brigade and a Hessian brigade began to picnic in the woods rather than advance to meet their foe. The light dragoons being lost to long range fire before being able to charge.

The token French brigade proved much more able to throw low and as if on manoeuvres marched forth and into line very nicely. By the time the Hessian managed to emerge from the undergrowth the French were there to meet them and being caught in column of march (a bit of a theme seems to be emerging here) the Hessians took quite a beating. A squadron of hussars enjoyed the German confusion and taking out one unit proceeded to hit another in the flank. Much to the chagrin of Jim all hits were actually saved and the Hessian survived.

Hessians advance in column

...and are caught by the French.

French Hussars threaten the Hessians.

In the centre the Americans eventually got moving and charged into the grenadiers holding the hedge (lack of fences in the terrain cupboard) and after a prolonged melee even the strength of the grenadiers failed against overwhelming odds.

Despite the assistance of a large green ball the grenadiers fail to hold the centre.

As far as the group is concerned the jury is still out with regards the use of Black Powder. Personally I liked them and would persevere with them. They are very open to tweeking, in fact the authors suggest it. For our small units perhaps reduced movement and ranges might be beneficial. (a full move could be 36” for foot!) whilst long range fire is 18". Also I would reflect the better control of “professional” soldiers over militia, but having redcoats I would say that.

Todays cheeses were Little Derby and Shropshire Blue. (I am assured from a dairy in Shropshire).

Wine and Cheese

2010-01-31T15:52:00.003Z

I hope noone has been offended by the Wars of Wine and Cheese. The use of cheesy and winey names for my imagiNation regiments are a result of gaming with the cheese loving and freely drinking Birmingham Wargames Society and not intended as an "Allo Allo" type slight on our continental friends. Wine is not aften an accompaniment to our afternoon games (usually an ale or two) but is not unknown. The last wine I recall being an indifferent red called "Rorkes Drift" bought specially to accompany the game. Cheese and biccies have however been mandatory for a number of years now - cheers Richard!

I was pleased to see the first entry on the new BWS forum was not game of the month but Cheese of the Week. Which was, unfortunately, Stinking Bishop - not recommended!

http://hubpages.com/hub/Stinking-Bishop

The Butler did it!

2010-01-27T13:11:00.014Z

Yet again the bane of the wargamer stalks Castle Vallejo. Project dispersion!!!

January has seen no recruitment to the imagiNation armies, too cold for the press gangs of Colonel Boursain no doubt.

Instead an old club project has raised it's head in the form of 28mm American War of Independence.

Many years ago we started this and it petered out due to a lack of rules we liked. However we going to try again, possibly using Will's AWI rules from freewargamerules or even a variant of Volley and Bayonet.

Either way it's splitting out the old twenty man units into twelves, not a natural division.

As always some bare lead turned up in the dungeons (ie a box in the shed) and I have sploshed some paint on it to give me a unit of Butlers Rangers. Not the prettiest unit in the world but no doubt will throw just as many dice as their more attractive enemies. Co-inkadinkally there were eighteen figures in the box giving a formed unit of twelve and a skirmish unit of six. Serendipitous.

I calculate this will be our tenth "tricorn" project in all conflicts and scales. Is this confirmation that the C18 is the "best" period for the wargamer?

The Battle of Spatlesse Bridge

2010-01-24T20:15:00.016Z

The beautiful and wiley opponent General Bojallay, my daughter Georgia. Having arrayed the forces of Weinpfalz.

the tale continues................

Count Olaf placed both hands flat on the large oval table and looked at his generals. "There must never be a bridge between our land and the frightful Fromagere," he said. "The pontoon at Spatlesse must be destroyed before the cheese-eaters have time to fortify the town and encroach into the water meadows." General Bojollay was first to his feet. "Give me the honour my Lord, and in ten days I will have the bridge in a million pieces." "Thankyou Bojallay." Count Olaf bowed to his youngest general. At only 53 General Bojallay had not suffered the ignominy of most of Weinpfalz's military tradition. "Very well, take two regiments of infantry and a battery; and please bring the pontoon back in fewer pieces than a million. It may prove useful." "and perhaps a few horse sire?" "Yes, yes. Bring the pontoon back in a weeks time Bojollay and we'll hold a ball in you honour." "Fail, and he hold your balls in a vice," whispered witty General L'Ambrusco.

Within two days Bojollay led his small force down onto the watermeadows of Spatlesse only to find that he was expected.

Being out of focus may account for the totally ineffective fire of Fromagere arillery. No casualties are inflicted in move one.

Rashly, the Fusilers de Brie march over the cause of the conflict to meet the Weinpfalzers.

Patiently the Weinpfalz dragoons wait for the Fusiliers to form line.... and then charge. Huzzzaahh!

A less than withering fire takes only a couple of dragoons from their saddles and the resulting melee proves indecisive and goes on for a second round. The dragoons cut down a few poor infantrymen but with artillery support for the Fusilers honours are even and both units must withdraw to rally

(at long last I get to play with a set of rules bought in 1977)

On the Fromagere left the Roquefort Regiment are more cautious and form up along the riverbank. The Spatburgunders march up in fine order and receive a volley at short range. A furious firefight ensues.

With an evil laugh of triumph General Bojollay follows up the retreating Fusilers and takes control of the bridge head. A wild volley from the head of column lays down three more Fusiliers and brings their total casualty count over 50%.

With one regiment retreating with fewer than half of it's men remaining and the other also near that mark the forces of Fromagere declare discretion the better part of valour and make their weary way back to the city of Roquefort and quite possibly a year's latrine duty.

As the pontoons were loaded onto their wagons General Bojollay wondered whether a triumphal arch on the small hill in his country estate would be too ostentatious. Perhaps he might even get to dance with Countess at the celebratory ball

Odd time of year

2009-12-30T19:40:00.005Z

...between Christmas and New Year is always an odd time of year. I usually go into work but the past few months have been so busy I thought "*** it," I'll have the week off.

Naturally I was hoping to paint for the December unit is way behind schedule Of course Christmas has got in the way, visiting, eating, visiting, drinking, visiting, eating etc etc. Also new books in one's stocking. I received "Slaughterhouse Five" which I hadn't read since a student - so that was Christmas evening sorted (with a nice Stilton and glass of port). Even better than I remembered.

Today however I was rebasing Napoleonics and 6mm to boot. I think the fourth rebasing that these guys have been on. Now on regimental bases of two inches square, quite a change from Charge!. A couple of corps in an A4 lever arch box file! Piccies will follow once complete.

Even worse I was perusing Plastic Soldier Review and the Impetus site whilst digesting another ample lunch. Mmmm interesting; now what period/continent have we not tried? And there was a review of Zvezda Samurai. Very pretty too and a 9/10 review from PSR. Perhaps a little look at ebay wouldn't hurt, Aaaaaaarggggghhh caught again. Now I wonder if Amazon has an Osprey on XVI century Japan, 'cos I don't have a clue.

Christmas begins

2009-12-13T21:14:00.009Z

The family tradition, when I was a child, was that the Christmas tree and decorations would only begin to appear after December 13 - dad's birthday. This year was the old man's eightieth so the great day has taken up even more of our thoughts than usual. And began with a game of golf on a frosty Saturday morning!

Today we made our way to Birmingham to visit the Frankfurt market! Odd but true.

Gluhwein and pretzels in the English Midlands.

Bunker Hill (again and again)

2009-11-22T19:32:00.007Z

Unfortunately my camera has gone awol so no piccies of a fun afternoon with Birmingham Wargamers.

General Jimbo set up a very nice interpretation of Bunker Hill terrain so with 15mm armies and a set of Volley and Bayonet we set about changing history.

We began the first game at 14:45. The main force of red coated Brits advanced manfully through the disordering terrain ignoring the inaccurate fire of the light guns in the redoubt. The British grenadiers and light troops moved around the flank of hill.

14:55 hours - two British regiments assault the corner of the redoubt to bring two line units against one militia. With a morale rating of 5 only a throw of 6 could fail; of course Jim throws two 6s. With sterling defensive throws against the now disordered red coats the initial attack is repulsed. On the rebels' left the fire of the Grenadiers and light troops prove ineffectual. The militia however prove to be good marksman and the Grenadiers take casulaties.

15:00 hours - two more British regiments charge forward to assault the redoubt, only a throw of 6 on their morale test could prevent a break in on the redoubt - Jim throws... two sixes. The melee goes with the yankees and two more red coated regiments are routed. Derisive laughter can be heard from behind the breastwork. The grenadiers also charge and push back one of the brave colonial units but do not break them.

15:10 hours - An heroic militia regiment charges into the flank of the Grenadiers and with musketry support destroy the already weakened Brits

15:15 hours - Game Over

At this point we usually set up again and swap sides - however Richard and Jim are determined to reverse the embarrassing performance. Red Coats and Red Faces.

Always funny to see four consecutive morale failures. Quote of the day paraphrased from Dame Edna; "God has given me the gift of laughter ... at other peoples' misfortune."

The next game lasted a little longer as the Brits manoeuvred onto the flanks and blasted the poor colonials with well aimed musketry and long range artillery before charging in. Even the rebels gave a good account themselves before being overrun.

We agreed to swap sides for the third and final game.This led to much manoeuvering and hanging about by the Brits who hoped for better results from a thin skirmish line and a couple of cannon. Eventually a charge from one side of the redoubt managed to rout the weak and weakened militia. Equilibrium was restored.

Today's cheese was a very tasty Caerphilly.

Remembrance Sunday

2009-11-08T19:31:00.004Z

A drizzly grey morning for the annual procession up the High Street to our local cenotaph. Led by a bagpiper and a couple of drummers the procession was the largest I can remember. While the ranks of veterans from WW2 and Korea progressively thin the general populace feel the need to pay their tribute to the fallen of more recent wars as well as the C20th conflicts.

Artillery

2009-10-31T20:09:00.016Z

September was not a good painting month so I decided to make more of an effort in October.

When I started this project in June my aim was a, reasonable, unit a month. At the end of October I am back on target having completed the infantry regiment started in September and also a couple of batteries of artillery.

I purchased a couple of Strelets GNW boxes which were a bit of a disappointment. So after a quick visit to Plastic Soldier Review I went out and bought a box of Zvezda GNW artillery. The artillery men were much, much nicer, although I did have to stick some arms on. Even with my lack of dexterity it didn't prove too difficult and I have managed to prise my fingers apart. The first piccie shows Alpha Battery of Fromagere in the purple personally chosen by Duchess Sophia, with largest gun in the Zvezda box, a six pounder. The gun itself is a nice model though a bit fiddly to put together (yes I am major klutz so it's probably not really) and I am a bit concerned as to it's ability to stand up the rigours of wargaming.

The Strelets artillery men were not very good figures but the guns themselves are a doddle to push together and a nicely robust. Not the most accurate replicas of C18 cannon being a bit chunky but I like their generic "cannony" look and are certainly tough enough to stand up to being knocked about to and from wargame tables. The artillerymen of Fromagere man a battery of Strelets cannon above. There are only two cannon per box however.

The Zvezda box may be twice as expensive (in our local model shop anyway) but you do get a lot of nice artillery men, five cannon as well as a limber and horses. If I was hypercritical the cannon aren't the most useful for wargamers feeling a little fragile and also three of the guns are "gallopers", very light cannon pulled by one horse. The other two are a heavier six pounder and a nice howitzer. While neither The Wargame nor Charge discriminate between heavy and light artillery I think I might introduce this to our games, possibly giving a regiment or two a battalion gun.

Left shows a Weinpfalz artillery officer lining up a light galloper gun. Nicely modelled as all Zvezda seem to be.

On a slightly larger front my Great Northern Army has gained an artillery piece. I think cannon and crew are courtesy of Front Rank and very nice they are too, painted by Jim of course.

We're not quite sure what rules to use for these yet, with Impetus Baroque being mooted.

I'm not convinced with that idea yet.

Whilst I am back up to speed with my one unit a month target I am well underway with "November's" unit already.

Half painted Revell SYW dragoons charge across the painting desk in Castle Vallejo. They will be the first mounted unit of Weinplfalz.

Oh - I also purchased a couple of boxes of Hat Prussian Hussars 1806 which look emminently suitable for the wars of the mid C18. Hopefully I can get these painted up sharpish and get these guys in the field.

The New Bridge

2009-10-11T08:49:00.003+01:00

Not since the rape of the Palatine by Tilley had there been a bridge over the Weinbach, which suited both the Duke Fromagere and Count Otto of Mittelwein. For this little river was the natural border between bitter enemies WeinPfalz and Fromagere and trade and communication between the two was negligible.

However following the death in battle of Otto in 1709 the pleasant water meadows and the town of Spatlesse were seized by the forces of Fromagere on a misty morning in early autumn. The only casualty being Mayor Traubensaft who was summarily hanged after hitting the colonel of the Camembert Cuirassiers with his ceremonial mace.

In anticipation of having to relinquish his prize fairly quickly Duke Reynard hesitated and then forgot to improve communications with his new enclave over the river. For over twenty five years the only way to transport goods and livestock into and out of Spatlesse was by the little foot ferry.

During the campaign of 1735 however a harassed clerk in the war ministry misread a request from General Mozzarella and sent a company of pontonniers to Spatlesse. Once there they did as pontonniers do and within a couple of days a fine bridge was awaiting an army to cross it. At Spatburg a very irate colonel of chevaux-legers was getting his feet wet.

In Weinstadt, after a good breakfast, the war council convened. Undoubtedly Fromagere was preparing to attack. And the best form of defence is..

tbc

Indian Summer

2009-09-28T21:44:00.006+01:00

Summer 2009 was looking like being a bit of a washout but September has proved to be a glorious month. Unfortunately, while I have been walking the dog, golfing and gathering in the harvest, wargames and more specifically painting have taken a bit of a back seat.

However winter draws on, as my grandma used to say, and the dark nights will be filled with the clatter of dice and the splash of paint. A nice little radiator has been installed in Castle Vallejo (aka my shed) although I do need to invest in a couple of daylight bulbs. A necessity for tired old eyes particularly after a day staring at a spreadsheet.

At the weekend I made the mistake of buying a couple of boxes of Strelets Great Northern War artillery before checking out Plastic Soldier Review. Not the best figures I have ever seen. Perhaps the heads will prove useful. I also got a couple of boxes of Zvesda GNW Swedes which look splendid and who will make up the main infantry units of the Duchy of Fromagere. Looks like I’m going to need eight boxes to get five decent looking regiments. Unfortunately there are only three grenadiers to a box.

A while ago we started a “real” Great Northern War project but this is still a work in progress as so few of the range we chose have been completed. After two years still no officers to go with the nicely painted privates. (NB I have my mate Jim to thanks for the lovely paint job)

Russian Guard awaiting sand and flock.

I’m not a great watcher of TV but I did catch Brian Sewell’s Grand Tour in which he follows in the footsteps of many a young Englishman of the Eighteenth Century in their search for culture (amongst other things) in Italy. Interesting to note what an impact the young British tourists were having on the Med even then! I think it was John Humphries who said that Brian Sewell is the only person who could make the Queen sound common.

Regiment Spatburgunder

2009-08-14T17:58:00.008+01:00

Weinpfalz almost has it's second regiment of foot.

The Regiment Spatburgunder just needs a little furtle and it will be battle ready.
I find painting over 50 figures a go quite tedious and also a literal pain in the neck. But I set myself the reasonable target of one unit a month and after ten weeks I have two regiments and one half done. I think an artillery battery might be next though.

Regiment Spatburgunder in line.

A while ago I lost "The Wargame" by Charles Grant to a wargame friend who promptly left the country. "C'est la Brie" as they say in Fromagere. However good old Amazon came up trumps last week with a second hand copy for £10.00 from a library in southern England.

While I am a "Charge o phile" The Wargame is a good read full of lovely OSW piccies and an idea or two I might adopt to fill out the lack of morale rules in Charge.

Also in the last week I have received some nice samples of Wodensfeld Seven Years War figures from John Cunningham of Vintage 20mil. Not true 20mm more like 24mm and anatomically realistic.

I have just given it a quick paint job to show it compared to a Revell of the Spatburgunder Regiment (with a Musketeer Miniature GNW Russian as a comparison to "28mm").

Almost a perfect match. Unfortunately only French infantry at the moment but there are 36 poses in the range.

Things get Shorter....

2009-08-02T20:06:00.013+01:00

... and a little later.

Contrary to popular belief today was in fact 2 December 1805. And that can only mean one thing - Austerlitz. (Most of it anyway)

Ironic quotes of the day :

Napoleon: "How long will it take you to move your divisons to the top of the Pratzen Heights?"
Soult: "Less than twenty minutes Sire..."

Using simple rules derived from Volley and Bayonet, DBA, 2 by2 etc we expect to reach a conclusion within three hours.

Looking from the north.

In the foreground V Corps under Lannes cross the stream and begin to climb the Zuran while a light cavalry division has crossed the stream.

On the left Liechtenstien moves his heavy cavalry divisions forward past Blaswitz. Beyond Bernadotte and Soult perpare to cross the Goldbach while the French Guard and heavy cavalry reserve wait patiently. The Pratzen Heights swarm with Russkies and Austrians and the Guard lie behind.

Lannes outflanking maneouvre moves on apace unaware that Bagration is about to appear on table.

The Pratzen heights early in the morning

Bagration moves forward, courtesy of a giant hand. Despite early success the French light cavalry can make no impressionon the Russian heavy cavalry divisions. While...

the French Reserve waits patiently.

Bored with Soult's inabilty to break through Bernadotte crosses the Bosenitz stream.

Not French cheerleaders but the devastating effect of Russian heavy batteries upon Lannes infantry. Red is not good.

Liechtenstein's heavy cavalry unleashed upon disordered French hussars of Bernadotte.

Oh Dear! poor old Kellerman division is ridden down.

Beyond Bernadotte's infantry share the suffering.

The inability of the French to even reach the Pratzen means that the Reserve is not activated.

Consequently the lack of heavy cavalry to combat the devastating Russian cuirassiers leads to the units disordered by artillery fire becoming sitting ducks to the big men on horses and are wiped out piecemeal.

History is changed and Napoleon returns to Corsica to run a small corner shop. Oh the irony.

A Short Interlude

2009-07-26T17:44:00.010+01:00

If you consider 15mm to be short.

The Battle of Moselle (July 2009) was a thinly disguised Lobositz (1756) scenario using Volley and Bayonet rules.

Three Allied columns advanced down from the hills to face a French force stretching from the walled farmland on their right across the valley to the marshy stream. A Saxon force held the village of Sullowitz and a Reichsarmee force was behind the stream.

The Allies outnumbered the French by about 15% in base numbers but almost all bases were one strength point stronger and their morale one or two points better.

On the hill British light dragoon swept aside French Hussars with ease. Generaljimbo commanding the French prophesied that it looked like it was to be a quick game. The foot however could make little impression on the French behind the stone walls.

On the Allied right the Prussians did not hesitate in attacking the village held by the Saxons although the artillery proved ineffective even at short range. Two well placed dragoon regiments threatened any possible Reichsarmee movement over the stream.

In the centre the British pressed on. Too quickly it proved as both their batteries were lost to enemy light cavalry before even unlimbering. The British cavalry charged forward and pushed back the French horse but with little damage done to either. There proved to be no movement into the resultant hole however and Louis' horsemen rallied and the British repelled with heavy losses.

The hole in the centre was swiflty plugged as the Allies attacked along the line - but to little effect. In fact the French (as stationary troops) were dishing out a lot of punishment as 6 followed 6.

Almost simultaneously the morale of the Prussians and the British centre collapsed and the red and blue swept back whence they came.

The outflanking movement on the hill proved too little too late and against the odds the French had won a famous victory. Generaljimbo's prophesy proved to be correct but not quite as expected.

(photos courtesy of Generaljimbo, honorary captain of the Black Tower)

2009-07-19T10:18:00.005+01:00

Riesling Regiment

The first regiment of MittelWeinPfalz is almost complete. The regiments of WeinPfalz will of course be either red or white with perhaps a Rose Hussars regiment. As you can see they are Revell plastic 1/72 (Austrian SYW). I pondered for a while as to what figures to use for this project. There are some absolutely splendid figures available to the wargamer now, Front Rank, Foundry, Minden etc. However I have always had a fear of beautiful figures because I am a dreadful painter. I can be neat (given time) but I do feel that these figures deserve better and occasionally I have been fortunate to get a friend to paint some 28mms for me. The ease with which Jim produces little masterpieces makes me despair of my own skills even more.

Of course I couldn’t ask him to paint up a couple of dozen regiments fit for Charge! which would be about 1200 figures. I looked at professional painters and at around £8 to £10 per figure I thought I might have better things to do with twelve grand, if I had it, which I don’t.

I used to have a lot of Spencer Smith plastic and had some fun with them and I bought a few of the new metal figures from SSM. They were okay and not too expensive, about £30 for a regiment. Garrison and RSM looked pretty good too. Coincidentally however I came across a couple of really nice blogs that were creating armies using plastic 1/72 and on the same day I was in my local model shop when the discussion came round to my choice of figures; he showed me a box of Revell Austrian Infantry at £3.50 a box. He had six left. I could buy 6 boxes of 48 men for £21.00 – nearly 300 men. Of course I bought the lot. On further examination I discovered that almost all were useable and would give me enough figures for 5 regiments. That’s most of one army’s foot.

They were nice figures, you could see what they were meant to be but there wasn’t too much detail to get bogged down on. I wouldn’t get hung up if I didn’t paint in the grenadiers earrings. I planned to adopt the three feet rule, ie what do you see when they are the table and get the damned things done as quickly as spare time allowed. Now the first unit is almost done I am not unpleased with the result and the next unit can only get better. Once a couple of small armies have been knocked out in plastic I intend to start filling in with some metal. Not sure what yet – any suggestions?

And while I’m at it does anyone recognise the figure on the left of photo one. It’s a true 25mm and thinner than the usual. It says RN7 on the base and I would guess that it’s a French Revolutionary figure of the 1790’s (but could be 1780’s). The middle figure is a Garrison and I think the other if minifigs.

Conscription Begins

2009-07-13T21:36:00.007+01:00

The years of respite since 1709 seem to have erased the memories of war.

1 January 1735
Mobilisation begins at the Castle Vallejo.

Within it's ancient walls troops recalled to their colours are rewarded with splendid uniforms.

Why?

2009-07-12T23:24:00.003+01:00

As a child I spent my weekly sixpence pocket money on a toy soldier, US cavalry, second world war infantryman, cowboy, sometimes a knight. With friends, father or often alone I would line them up and fight mini battles on my bedroom floor. There must have been hundreds - I wonder what happened to them all.

Of course teenagers don't play with toy soldiers do they? But when I found "Charge! or How to Play Wargames" in the local library (between chess and football) it was a revelation. Playing with toy soldiers didn't have to end with primary school and short trousers. But of course other things got in the way, music, girls, football etc etc. And despite attempts at painting up an army of airfix, and later Spencer Smith's plastics I never actually got round to playing a game using Charge rules. And yet every so often I would pore over the games and friendly banter of Mr Smith and Mr Jones as described by messrs Young and Lawford (I actually bought the library copy for 20p).

Wargaming didn't go away and University provided a few opponents mostly in the revolutionary new, cheap, easily stored 6mm. Later Birmingham Wargames Society provided a friendly place to fight. Keeping up to date with the latest innovations armies appeared and grew and were sold, rules came and went 10mm, 15mm, 20mm. WRG, RFCM, Volley and Bayonet, Crossfire, Impetus, we tried them all. But none had what Charge! had. Je ne sais quois?

But now, courtesy of internetland, I find I'm not alone in this mini obsession with a 1967 games book.

This blog is my incentive to creating two armies and two imagi nations to fight table top games in the manner of messrs Young and Lawford. The nations are Fromagere and Weinpfalz; the Wars of Wine and Cheese.

The Wars of Wine and Cheese

2009-07-04T19:10:00.001+01:00

A brief history of The Duchy of Fromagere and the Counties of Weinpfalz

1648-1735

The branches of the family tree of European royalty and nobility cross and scrape like a badly pruned thorn. No more was this friction felt than between the rulers of the neighbouring lands of Fromagere and Weinpfalz.

Exhausted by the wars of religion the fortunate geography and hardworking population of Fromagere ensured that their towns, churches and palaces were rebuilt swiftly. Silver livres, gold marks and pounds sterling rolled in as the barges full of butter and cheese made their way up the navigable Rhine. The flower of Baroque bloomed magnificently in the principle city of Roquefort and more than one Bach enjoyed the massive organ of its cathedral.

The three counties Of Lower, Middle and Upper Weinpfalz however found the latter half of the seventeenth century less fruitful. With many vineyards abandoned in the thirty years war combined with the sudden popularity of beer the wine business was not flourishing. Not until the wars against Louis XIV did Weinpfalz discover its most profitable business – mercenaries. The hardy little men bred in the harsh hills proved indomitable soldiers and soon found favour in the armies of Marlborough and Eugene. At the beginning of 1709 one in five of the adult male population were under arms by the end of 1709 one in five of the adult male population were under the Flanders soil. The body of Count Mittelwein was borne home on the one remaining gun carriage and the beautiful Countess Wilhelmina became Regent to her one year old son.

Not one to miss an opportunity the sly Duke of Fromagere thought this an ideal opportunity to annex the border town of Spatlesse and it’s rather pleasant water meadows that lay across the Weinbach, the natural border between Fromagere and Weinpfalz. His attempts at annexing Wilhelmina were less successful.

As always only a generation passed before the drums of war rolled along the Rhine Valley and old warhorse Eugene recalled the marshal nature of the Weiners. Once again Imperial gold rolled into the coffers and the little army of Weinpfalz marched along the roads of Europe. March and counter march, but little fighting ensued and while the soldiers trained the young Count, along with Erbprinz of Prussia, followed in the wake of Eugene listening and learning. And once, from the tower of Wachausel espied the standard of Fromagere amongst the ranks of the French enemy.

In 1735 most of the soldiers returned home, Lorraine was given to Stanislas and a new king crowned in Poland.