tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31662406880568592192024-03-13T06:23:02.249-04:00The Monkey that Walksfireymonkeyboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05833974263127787678noreply@blogger.comBlogger450125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166240688056859219.post-76609077709609302342023-01-09T11:15:00.002-05:002023-01-09T11:15:42.160-05:00Happy New Year!<p> Hi all,</p><p>It's been a busy year in Monkeyland, In addition to a range of life events (back to work in-person, promptly getting Covid, the birth of my nephew, the addition of a kitten to the household), it seems like it was also a pretty busy year in terms of hobby. Rough totals for the year include:</p><p>Minis Painted: 286 28mm (foot, horse and assorted "large" models), 5 6mm units, 12 15mm "units" (mostly vehicles).</p><p>Minis Sold or Traded away: @240 28mm</p><p>Minis Bought or Traded in: 401 28mm, @50 15mm infantry, @15 15mm vehicles</p><p>Some of the sales were painted minis, so there was a net growth in the lead pile, but I'm pretty happy with the level of productivity this year. I'm averaging better than a couple dozen 28mm figures a month, which is pretty good for me.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/52617494979/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_6223"><img alt="IMG_6223" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52617494979_79e27334eb_5k.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Playing around with basing 15mm ww2 stuff. PSC T-34, Battlefront infantry.</td></tr></tbody></table>
<div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/52617230206/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_6216"><img alt="IMG_6216" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52617230206_97f5ec6536_5k.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'd like to dip a toe into larger scale WW2 actions, probably using Rommel, so this style of dioramic basing becomes an opportunity.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p>Numbers this year were thrown off slightly by me jumping on a deal for close to 300 Warlord Pike and Shotte infantry. I'm basically set for the period (for infantry) for the foreseeable future. Another factor impacting numbers involved me dipping a toe into 3d printing for the first time. I bought into the Turner Miniatures 7YW kickstarter, and now have pretty much all the .stls I'm going to need for the conflict. Prussians might be a project for the new year, as they're the one remaining army out of the "core" nations for which I lack figs. </p><p><br /></p></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/52617718173/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_6217"><img alt="IMG_6217" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52617718173_e26ff2669e_5k.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One project that saw some headway this year was the Lion Rampant 100YW. English now have a core of three units to face off against the French.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/52617717973/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_6219"><img alt="IMG_6219" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52617717973_2b94c609e2_5k.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All figs for the HYW so far are the Perry plastics.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/52616717642/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_6221"><img alt="IMG_6221" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52616717642_c4bfd48b23_5k.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There's a fair amount of cross-compatibility between kits. Archers on the left made with French bodies, to give a little more animation.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/52617664755/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_6222"><img alt="IMG_6222" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52617664755_0fa1995a57_5k.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I need to add a banner on the front stand. </td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div><div><p>While I've been tempted by any number of new and shiny things, I think the pattern for this year will be to continue to consolidate projects, and focus on painting stuff I have. Likely contenders for 2023 project include:</p><p>1) 28mm Successors. I've made a good start on these, and picked up some elephants before Christmas, which I've been puttering away at. This is definitely a long-term project, and something I dip into from time to time, but it's not unreasonable to think I'd at least clear the minis I have by end of year.</p><p>2) 28mm ECW. I am closing in on about three "batallia" between my Covenant and Royalist forces. The Scots have the edge in numbers, but I'm working towards bringing the Royalists up to par. As a local gaming buddy has some reasonable numbers of ECW figs as well, I think a bigger game of this (Pike and Shotte) is a reasonable goal by summer.</p><p>3) 28mm Hundred Years War. Very close to small but playable (Lion Rampant?) 28mm forces for the HYW, with 3 units of French, and 2.5 of English (and the other .5 being assembled). That's enough to get some games of Lion Rampant in (or Dragon Rampant with the kids), and room to grow both at a more leisurely pace once they're playable.</p></div><div><br /></div></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/52617717458/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_6224"><img alt="IMG_6224" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52617717458_100c3002e2_5k.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ze French. Also Perry plastics.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/52617664340/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_6225"><img alt="IMG_6225" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52617664340_595c8b514b_5k.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heavy spear. As I noted, the French infantry tends to be a little more animated.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/52616717032/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_6226"><img alt="IMG_6226" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52616717032_88a7adb6d0_5k.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Genoese crossbowmen. The pavises don't help when you're ridden down by your own side from behind.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/52617717133/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_6227"><img alt="IMG_6227" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52617717133_7a96fbdeeb_5k.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready to ride down some Genoese.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div><p>4) 28mm WWW2 Desert. I have a "core" force of these for the British (force minimum for Bolt Action) along with about half the equivalent of DAK. The goal will be to get the latter into playable shape, and then mess about with some smaller scale WW2 rules. BA is an obvious choice, but I'd also like to mess about with some of the 2 Fat Lardies options, and know a couple people I can rubber-arm into games. The absence of an opposing force kind of stalled my 28mm Soviets, but I'm hoping the ability to offer both sides will make organizing games easier.</p></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/52617664035/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_6228"><img alt="IMG_6228" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52617664035_170cd9a366_5k.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Core of a Brit desert force. 2 infantry squads, HQ, and the forward observer.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/52617663925/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_6229"><img alt="IMG_6229" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52617663925_e075dfc67c_5k.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Painting up from black definitely gave these a grittier look.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/52617716733/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_6230"><img alt="IMG_6230" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52617716733_3e3be6a9d6_5k.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They're also "finer" sculpts than some of the alternatives. Perry minis here as well.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/52617716633/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_6231"><img alt="IMG_6231" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52617716633_4e57b0b2ac_5k.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Having watched Rogue Heroes, I think these boys need some SAS support ;)</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/52617663480/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_6233"><img alt="IMG_6233" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52617663480_69978063ea_5k.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And a Start to the opposing Germans. Also Perry, and in need of some trucks, and possibly an Ark.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
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</div><div><br /></div></div><div><p>5) GW games. Gaming at the local shop has resumed, and I've been going semi-regularly for a few months now. AoS and Lord of the Rings are likely to be my main focus (Ogors just got a new book, Beasts of Chaos are supposed to get one soon), and LotR SBG remains one of my favorite games to play. 40k will likely feature as well, but mostly with the Cub, with the occasional casual game in shop. I have stuff to paint for all the factions I play, and so activity here will mostly involve chipping at the lead (plastic) pile, and getting in regular casual games with friends and the Cub.</p><p>6) WW2 15mm. I've recently been messing around with based vehicles for my 15mm WW2 stuff. I got in a game or two of early east front in 2022, and would like to do more of this over 2023. I'd particularly like to try out a higher-scale game like Rommel, and may end up rebasing some of my stuff to accommodate a more dioramic set-up (see pics above).</p><p>I've also been nosing around the idea of a couple of other "big" projects, particularly doing Russians in 28mm, either for the 7YW or the Renaissance (I've considered Napoleonics, but that's a rabbit hole of epic proportions). While I did dive in pretty hard into my Successor list early in the year, that project has stalled a bit for me. Turns out, there's only so much linen armor I can paint before getting a tad bored. I don't think that project is shelved, by any means (I'm painting up my first elephant now), but I'm not sure it's going to be the "last big hurrah" project I'd imagined. What I'm really looking for, I guess, is something that would serve primarily as a painting project, something with plenty of character, both in the ranges available, and in the conflict itself. Time will tell.</p><p>Until then, stay safe, be well, and happy New Year!</p></div>fireymonkeyboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05833974263127787678noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166240688056859219.post-2349882674379179022022-12-24T06:57:00.002-05:002022-12-24T06:57:53.767-05:00Happy Christmas<p> Hello all,</p><p>It's been a busy year in Monkeyland. While I've been able to get in a few games, and do some painting, finding time to grab pics and do blogposts seems to have been at a premium. Despite this, I do try to check in on the various blogs I follow, and perhaps after Christmas, will be able to get up some kind of year in review post to catch up.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhZR5TsFv21fatPlBX83DgIMtID-K97krUQWOBdnRxS3E_fP3QH05oFy4q7cyxKjSDP3ULNFoRK9wdT4kYP5BOt8I7_zlOcPJiPZ8xJhBUt2M9uOFdJ_69IEzkM9WT3gy-l0KOW-pl4kOFRns8siI138Ehx1ew1BQh1EoKIHFlOgpmtvNtu1H3-lR7n" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhZR5TsFv21fatPlBX83DgIMtID-K97krUQWOBdnRxS3E_fP3QH05oFy4q7cyxKjSDP3ULNFoRK9wdT4kYP5BOt8I7_zlOcPJiPZ8xJhBUt2M9uOFdJ_69IEzkM9WT3gy-l0KOW-pl4kOFRns8siI138Ehx1ew1BQh1EoKIHFlOgpmtvNtu1H3-lR7n=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p>Until then, I wish you all a Merry Christmas, and the very best of the season.</p><p>FMB</p>fireymonkeyboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05833974263127787678noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166240688056859219.post-12278136782403283992022-05-26T07:08:00.001-04:002022-05-26T07:09:05.997-04:00Muskets for Vicky<p> Hi all,</p><p>Last year, Queen Vicky's day saw a solo game of Pikeman's Lament. This year, we have a (slightly belated) game of Maurice against an actual opponent! Having a rare sunny, but not too windy, day here in the wilds of Atlantica, I lured the Juras up to Casa Monkey for a trial game, using my old 6mm stuff. I took the glorious French, he took perfidious Albion, and the fife and drum played while the dogs chased each other around the back yard.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/52100286468/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="PXL_20220525_141130882"><img alt="PXL_20220525_141130882" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52100286468_993d9dc9ed_k.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photos generally taken from Albion's perspective - thanks, Jura!</td></tr></tbody></table><p>As this was a learning game (he'd played some of Sam M's games before, but not Maurice), I kept it simple. We skipped the set-up phase, I put his Brits in a defensive position with the French attacking, all units were Trained, and we limited ourselves to one National Advantage and one Notable apiece. </p>
<div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/52100499119/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="PXL_20220525_141140704"><img alt="PXL_20220525_141140704" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52100499119_86d922fa47_k.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">British and Hanoverian lines</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/52100499104/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="PXL_20220525_141146031"><img alt="PXL_20220525_141146031" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52100499104_7132590c17_k.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The glory of France arrayed</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/52100286378/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="PXL_20220525_141151672"><img alt="PXL_20220525_141151672" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52100286378_6037b9e54b_k.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">B&H horse. I think these were the impetuous ones.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/52100286373/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="PXL_20220525_141156939.MP"><img alt="PXL_20220525_141156939.MP" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52100286373_414ef8c67c_k.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Highlanders, garrisoning a random town.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
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</div><div><br /></div><div>With a selection of notables from which to choose, Jura opted for Cameron von Muller, whom he promptly attached to his artillery, and familiarized himself with his NA, which gave him an advantage on defense. Handy, as he was defending ;)</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/52100286338/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="PXL_20220525_141335493.MP"><img alt="PXL_20220525_141335493.MP" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52100286338_c651d3de54_k.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I took my old stand-by Augustus von Thiesling</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/52100286313/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="PXL_20220525_141344169.MP"><img alt="PXL_20220525_141344169.MP" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52100286313_faba1e27e3_k.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And for the French, a la Baiyonette!<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div>Opening moves of the game, after an indecisive bombardment by both sides, was a lumbering advance by the French infantry towards the nearer of the two villages, countered by what should have been an entirely predictable event.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/52100757910/in/dateposted-public/" title="PXL_20220525_144603895"><img alt="PXL_20220525_144603895" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52100757910_d3d705843b_k.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>As long-time readers of the blog may recall, it's become something of an institution that whenever I play Maurice, I inevitably have the "That's not on the Map!" card played against me. The tradition was upheld this game, in that Jura used an Intelligence card to pluck it from my hand, and promptly played it against me, dropping a rather inconvenent bog right in front of the advancing French infantry.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/52100498894/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="PXL_20220525_144648287"><img alt="PXL_20220525_144648287" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52100498894_6d6befd8e6_k.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That card. That damned card.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/52100498859/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="PXL_20220525_150030448.MP"><img alt="PXL_20220525_150030448.MP" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52100498859_f48fe628e3_k.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now we have to do it the hard way. And under fire.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div>This rather suddenly stalled what would, no doubt, have been a epic to be sung for the ages, as my infantry now had to negotiate the bog on their way in. Activations in Maurice are by "forces", which are composed of the same class of unit (eg., infantry), in the same kind of terrain. Dropping the bog meant that every time a unit advanced through it, not only did that unit become disrupted (which would require activations to rally), but also that the said unit would now comprise a different force. This slows things down quite a bit ;)</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/52100257791/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="PXL_20220525_153152624.MP"><img alt="PXL_20220525_153152624.MP" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52100257791_b1bd9fc378_k.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cavalry move to threaten the flank</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/52100285978/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="PXL_20220525_154706766"><img alt="PXL_20220525_154706766" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52100285978_290a63e18f_k.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But are repulsed</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div>I got a bit of revenge when Jura advanced his cavalry to threaten my infantry milling about in the centre. I played a "Heat of Battle" card on them, prompting a rather rash charge through rough ground (a ploughed field) into the front of my infantry. Bear in mind, Maurice is an 18th game; these are NOT Napoelonic cavalry, and disrupted horse (because of the bad going) attacking a prepared infantry line (pew-pew), don't tend to fare well. His didn't, anyways ;)</div><div><br /></div><div>I then made the cardinal error of NOT removing that card from the deck (which is an option), and on the reshuffle, Jura drew it, and played it to make one of my infantry attack his garrisoned unit. Not quite as disastrous a result, but it still threw me off ;)</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/52100757650/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="PXL_20220525_155427411"><img alt="PXL_20220525_155427411" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52100757650_b8f6288da0_k.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sauce for the goose</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/52100757595/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="PXL_20220525_161008323"><img alt="PXL_20220525_161008323" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52100757595_5aeee44bef_k.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trying to bring more fire to bear on the garrison. Didn't help</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div>After the attack on the garrison degenerated into a musket duel (with the advantage to the dug-in troops), I finally managed to negotiate the bog with a few infantry regimaents. With the day coming to a close, I pushed forward a poorly coordinated attack in the centre (mainly because I wanted Jura to see what an infantry clash would look like).</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/52100257621/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="PXL_20220525_162410446"><img alt="PXL_20220525_162410446" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52100257621_42d50cf0c0_k.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I believe the officer in command of this attack was a certain "LeRoi Jaunquins"</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div>Battered and disrupted on the way in, raked by musket fire, my poor lads were no match for a counter-charge by the English, who dispersed the two leading regiments. While we still had some time in the game, and both armies were some ways away from breaking, real-world time constraints, and the lack of tactical options (it would take a while for me to coordinate a cavalry attack) led me to ask for terms, which were offered in a most gentlemenly manner by my opponent.</div><div><br /></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
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</div><div><br /></div><div>Jura seemed to enjoy himself, and has been searching out a copy of the rules, which has me hopeful of more games. If so, I'm delighted, as the SYW / 18th c. is one of my favorite periods (possibly my favorite), and I love Maurice. We'll start layering in some of the additional elements - more varied units, the set up phase, and ideally, a campaign, but for now, I'll settle for a potential regular opponent. Many thanks to Jura for the game, and fingers crossed there will be more in the future.</div><div><br /></div><div>I've got a bit of a backlog of painting stuff to post - nothing major, but small updates to a number of projects. I also lucked into a large lot of on-sprue Pike and Shot infantry from Warlord, and am cudgelling my brain over what to do with them. The logical thing would be to use them to add to an existing project (most obviously, the small Royalist force I did for Pikemans' Lament), but I've visions of a 30YW force dancing in my head. From what I gather, the Warlord figs are really designed for ECW (they lack the flamboyance of the French or Spanish of the period), but maybe some Swedes or Dutch? My sympathies in the 30YW tend to lie with the Catholic powers, however, so I'm not sure. any advice or suggestions will be considered.</div><div><br /></div><div>FMB</div>fireymonkeyboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05833974263127787678noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166240688056859219.post-43841355563565372072022-05-03T08:51:00.000-04:002022-05-03T08:51:19.522-04:00French Progress<p> Hi all,</p><p>It's been a relatively productive month, albeit one where I didn't seem to manage to grab many pictures, and throw up a post. Part of the aforementioned progress has been on the HYW French for Lion Rampant, as I've now got full units of Crossbow, Spear, and Horse to show off:</p>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/52046260312/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_6174"><img alt="IMG_6174" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52046260312_969596160b_k.jpg" width="640" /></a><div><br /></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/52047551624/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_6179"><img alt="IMG_6179" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52047551624_fb17958c95_k.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Such is the retinue (to date) of Sieur Jean de Cerf. It's a bit of an homage to my old buddy in NFLD (who ran the <a href="http://geektactica.blogspot.com/p/historical-gaming.html" target="_blank">Geektactica</a> blog). T'was he who put me onto Impetus, mostly via his inspirational 15mm HYW stuff.</div><div><br /></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/52046260047/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_6177"><img alt="IMG_6177" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52046260047_cb6dfb534f_k.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/52046259572/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_6182"><img alt="IMG_6182" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52046259572_f527df8532_k.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><br />I've played around with basing a little, with cavalry mostly single-based (although there's one in there that's double), and infantry based between 1 and 3 to a base. Lets me do a little bit of vignette play, while still giving me lots of flexibility on casualty removal, etc.<div><br /></div><div>I did my crossbowmen as Genoese. Digging around for colours on these proved challenging, at least in terms of "official" colours and livery, but I did find there's a close association between the cross of St George and Genoa, so went with that, white smocks, and leggings in colours that would tie them to the rest of the army.<br /><br /><br /><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/52046260137/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_6176"><img alt="IMG_6176" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52046260137_070c04df73_k.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/52047307086/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_6180"><img alt="IMG_6180" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52047307086_e79913dc0d_k.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Spear were done in a range of colour combinations, but with their livery tied closely to the men at arms in Jean's immediate retinue.</div><div><br /><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
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</div></div><div>These are my first Perry plastics, and I'm in love with the kit. Loads of variety, and the figures are realistically human proportioned. Looking forward to playing around some more, and maybe working up some heavier infantry for the French, or more knights.</div><div><br /></div><div>Short term, I think the plan will be to try and get a few units together for the English, so I can get in at least some small games over the summer. I've been picking away at other projects - some 6mm, some more ancients and ECW, and finally got around to grabbing the most recent Ork codex, so they likely see some time in the queue, along with on the painting table. Until then, stay safe and well.</div><div><br /></div><div>FMB</div>fireymonkeyboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05833974263127787678noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166240688056859219.post-50315658527354863262022-04-02T08:02:00.000-04:002022-04-02T08:02:05.737-04:00Beginnings<p> Hi all,</p><p>Been a busy month or so. Work has accellerated into its usual end of term crescendo, and I am knee deep in papers to mark. Another trip round the sun has been marked for both me and the blog, and despite it all, I've managed to get at least a bit of painting done - some more French HYW, a few vikings, and some assorted odds and sods.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51976845036/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_6165"><img alt="IMG_6165" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51976845036_adec3f6c6f_k.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Including these lads. Seeing a few spots to touch up in the pics.</td></tr></tbody></table>
<div><br /></div><div><p>Birthday loot included some books (on Antigonus, the Hastenbeck campaign, and Isabella of France) possibly to be reviewed later), a box of HYW english to go up against the French, and . . . drumroll please . . . a bag of Victrix successor cavalry. Turns out a localish store (<a href="https://www.lantzalotgames.com/" target="_blank">Lantzalot games</a>, check them out if you're around the South Shore of nova Scotia) is now carrying most of the Victrix line. This is exceedingly dangerous, in that I pass by the store (they're just off the highway) on an almost weekly basis when I go to pick up the Cub from his mom's. </p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51976919168/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_6167"><img alt="IMG_6167" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51976919168_bc65ab8dff_k.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rear view. Pics I got were so-so, but this one turned out okay.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div><p>As some of you are no doubt aware, I used to have a <a href="https://themonkeythatwalks.blogspot.com/search/label/Antigonid" target="_blank">successor list in 15mm </a>for Impetus, but have been toying with the idea of doing it in 28mm for a long time. Antigonus is my boy for the Diadochi, and the fun part of successor lists is that they readily morph - get your core of heavy cav and phalanx, and then Bob's your uncle, depending on what supporting elements you want to bring.</p><p><br /></p></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51977124754/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_6160"><img alt="IMG_6160" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51977124754_ac98767810_k.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chuffed with the banner. Freehand, and totally stolen from <a href="http://wabcorner.blogspot.com/2020/09/victrix-macedonian-heavy-cavalry.html" target="_blank">Dean at WAB corner</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div><p>I very nearly pulled the trigger on this a ways back, but opted for Carthaginians, instead. While some progress has been made on the latter, it didn't grab me the way I expected, and after the first burst of effort, I've done nothing on them. Probably should have gone with my gut, and just opted for Successors then. As it is, I picked up the bag of figs last Friday, and have knocked out the first 6 Xystophoroi models in a week.</p></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51976845206/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_6161"><img alt="IMG_6161" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51976845206_4a911d284f_k.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Only put the cloak on the officer. Saving them for Lykian conversions.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div><p>The Victrix kit is fantastic. Like most of their sculpts, the figs are on the chunky / heroic side, with well defined detail. Loads of options - the kit on its own can make companion-style early lancers, later lancers, thessalians, and Hellenistic javelin and shield cavalry. Mixed with some of their other kits, I imagine the options expand even further, and I'm already thinking about using some bits from here with their persian kits to make Lydian or Carian cavalry.</p><p><br /></p></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51976924893/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_6162"><img alt="IMG_6162" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51976924893_f8dbff31a7_k.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Main limitation of the kit is the horses - only 3, and no mix and matching for variety.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div><p>The plan is to make this a steady-but slow-grow project. Maybe pick up a bag a month, start with the core bits, and then branch out. After some humming and hawing, and consulting of the oracle via the internet, I've opted to start with 120mm unit frontage, in two 6cm square bases. It's big enough to jam 3 horses on a base, I can pack 2-3 ranks of infantry on there, and they can readily be expanded - either into deeper units, or wider, by adding another base and bumping the width to 180mm.</p></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51976845071/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_6164"><img alt="IMG_6164" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51976845071_dee95d0d10_k.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The horses themselves are great though, lovely sculpts.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div>12cm frontage works as a starter size for my most readily available table (6x4), and is compatible with Impetus, Hail Caesar, or To the Strongest, the rules that I'm most likely to play. The numbers of models I'm able to cram in don't rally work visually for the "mass battle" effect, but this is very much at the "toy solder" end of the project spectrum for me, rather than "wargame", so I'm not too concerned. If I wanted mass, I'd have gone 6mm.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51975834707/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_6163"><img alt="IMG_6163" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51975834707_c30ea5b42b_k.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These guys will hit like a truck.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
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</div><div><br /></div></div><div>I am, needless to say, stoked about this project - to the point that I very nearly broke my own guidelines and bought more yesterday. Managed to resist, however, and will stick to my planned schedule. I'm not sure what to do with the other 6 horse (the bag makes 12). The various sources I've tracked down suggest that at his height, Antigonus would have had access to satrapal and colonist cavalry, and Demetrios (his son, co-king/vice-regent, and most trusted subordinate general), would have had access to lots of allied greek cavalry.. Much of the former would have been "persian" style cavalry, but some from the Ionian coast would have been Lydian / Carian, and closer to the greek type, while the colonists would have been, I think, Macedonian colonists, rather than persian. I might just opt for the heavy javelin and shield type common in the later successor lists. </div><div><br /></div><div>Next up is likely to be some more French, and then possibly vikings, as progress has been made on both fronts. Until then, take care.</div><div><br /></div><div>FMB</div>fireymonkeyboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05833974263127787678noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166240688056859219.post-44723958919866858022022-02-23T12:31:00.001-05:002022-02-23T12:31:24.604-05:00Big bada-boom<p> Hi all,</p><p>Been in a bit of a productive slump over the past month. A combination, I think, of work, the soul-crushingly grey weather of mid-winter in NS, and just general weariness has had me spend most nights curled up and getting caught up on shows, rather than beavering away with a paintbrush. I seem to be slowly coming out of it, however, and hopefully will be back on track soon.</p>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51898635017/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_6147"><img alt="IMG_6147" height="441" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51898635017_8dda7347f4_k.jpg" width="640" /></a><div><br /></div><div>That said, I did manage to knock out a project that's been lurking in the back of my mind for a while, namely, the first of the "proper" guns for my Scots covenanters. The gun is, I believe, a "saker", which is to say, a light field gun, but still a legitimate cannon, as opposed to the man-portable frame gun I've done up before.<br /><div><br /></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51899589066/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_6148"><img alt="IMG_6148" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51899589066_02f4cc5133_k.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I have to admit, I had quite a bit of fun with this. The artillery poses from OG are a little more dynamic than the usual rank and file, but with the element of character that I find common in their sculpts. It made them fun to paint. </div><div><br /></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51900244365/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_6149"><img alt="IMG_6149" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51900244365_0b2c3cc919_k.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Add in that while this isn't exactly art, the more element / dioramic bases like this (or commanders) do allow for a bit of composition. for example, if you look in the first picture, you can see how the horse holder and rider line up, so that it gives the impression they are looking at / talking to each other. I also like the older fellow with the stick, overseeing the operation, and the helmeted fellow offering judicious advice to the man with the fuse.</div><div><br /></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51899919284/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_6150"><img alt="IMG_6150" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51899919284_4b5953bb12_k.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Odds and ends (fence, bucket, cannonballs) were scratch-build, but the rest is OG, with the exception of the man with the fuse mentioned above, which is from Perry. OG and Perry, by the way, seem to be a decent match for scale, and go together on a base just fine.</div><div><br /></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
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</div><div><br /></div><div>I've been picking away at some more scots dragoons, and have some farm animals prepped for when I get through that lot. Progress may still be a little slow, but I've at least had brush in hand over the last few weeks, so fingers crossed, I'm out of the doldrums, or at least the worst of them.</div><div><br /></div><div>FMB</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>fireymonkeyboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05833974263127787678noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166240688056859219.post-11781801691848348972022-01-16T09:55:00.000-05:002022-01-16T09:55:10.866-05:00Experimentation, Calculation, and some French<p> Hi all,</p><p>Bit of a mixed bag today. Some pictures of the test figures I did for my Perry French (loosely based on the livery colours for Jean de Bethencourt, more on him in another post), along with some hobby rumblings about productivity, project planning, and realistic expectations.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51824337784/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_6130"><img alt="IMG_6130" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51824337784_645eea398c_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First "test" minis for the 100YW French. A man at arms, and some scruffy spearmen.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>I've been caught in a bit of a loop lately, with the Magpie very much in the picture, thinking about possible projects. In addition to the ones that are at least semi-active (currently 6mm Naps and 7YW, 28mm French HYW, Vikings, and Covenanters, 28mm Bolt Action, and at least 4 GW projects), I am pondering 28mm English HYW, Saxons, Successors, my much ignored Carthaginians, and god knows what else.</p><div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51824714910/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_6131"><img alt="IMG_6131" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51824714910_a0043c07a5_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I quite like the Perry kits. Tons of options, cross compatible, and with a little attention, capable of tremendous variety.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div>The reality is, of course, that I can't possibly do all the things. I am probably trying to do too many things already, if I'm being honest. Or at least, too many things at once ;) So, I figured it might be worth thinking through what I could realistically accomplish over the next few years, and compare it to what I might want to do.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51823996591/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_6132"><img alt="IMG_6132" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51823996591_06bccd9b86_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The figures are, in terms of proportion, quite "fine". Slimmer and more human than the chunky, heroic style you often see.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div>Last year, I managed to paint something on the order of 200/50 foot/horse 28mm or equivalents. That's pretty productive, at least for me, and represents a kind of "peak" opportunity. Despite the various dislocations of Covid, working from home, the lack of a commute, etc., meant that I actually had more opportunity to paint than under "normal" conditions. So, say around 200 figures as a reasonable, productive, but not overly ambitious production for the year.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51824714720/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_6133"><img alt="IMG_6133" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51824714720_a824500662_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even compared to some older Perry sculpts (I was hoping, for eg., to mix in old Bretonnian models), they're not a good fit - at least side by side.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div>While I'm not temperamentally inclined to long-term planning. I can at least sort of imagine a state 5 years from now. Given the estimate above, it's reasonable to think I could produce about a thousand figures in that period. Vikings and French HYW account for about 120 of that total (figuring a Lion Rampant force at about 60 figures per). I probably have the same number of GW figs waiting for paint, across all those projects, or a bit more - say 150. I'd like to bring my Royalist force up to the same size as the Covenanters, and grow both. That's another couple hundred figures. I'd like to finish off my 6mm Russians, match them with French, and add to my SYW. Call that another hundred or so.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51824103628/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_6134"><img alt="IMG_6134" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51824103628_23d8d7f757_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I've been experimenting with multi-figure basing on rounds. A few people on the Lion Rampant FB group put me on to it, and I really like the effect.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div>So, just the projects that (at least right now) I'd be really interested in pursuing, total up to between 550 and 600 "figure equivalents", give or take. Realistically, about three of my five years. Just the Lion Rampant forces alone would take up a significant proportion of the next year, with any balance easily absorbed by Covenanters and GW. Adding any additional project (like the successors army I keep thinking about) would thus either have to wait a couple years before I could reasonable expect to begin work on it, or would have the effect of stringing out existing projects over a longer time frame. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51823996316/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_6135"><img alt="IMG_6135" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51823996316_f0a60686f9_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Spearboss. I figure he's a little older, a little richer, and has had time to get some decent armor.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div>The latter, at first glance, seems like death to a project. Pretty much every one I've ever abandoned has ended up in boxes or sold because I stretched it out over too long a period, and never got enough done to really game with them (something I'm concerned about with the Carthaginians). However, as I look back, quite a lot of my "active" projects have stretched over multiple years, and have gone through fallow periods.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51823996271/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_6136"><img alt="IMG_6136" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51823996271_8ef09e4dae_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If nothing else, this will be a chance to work on my metallic techniques. Aiming for some smoother finishes over time, I think,</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div>If I started something new, say successors, it's probably realistic to say I might devote half of my remaining "5 year potential" to the project, maybe 200 figures (with the rest eaten up by expanding existing forces, new shiny things, etc.). With smaller units to start - say 16 figures, that's about a dozen or so. Which is actually not too bad. Possible, anyways.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51823050477/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_6137"><img alt="IMG_6137" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51823050477_4899794ca9_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Assorted scruffy lads</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51824714315/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_6138"><img alt="IMG_6138" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51824714315_4529019b43_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The side my opponent will never see ;)</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
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</div></div><div><br /></div><div>Overall, I think the lesson is a new, major project isn't realistic in the short term, at least without it displacing something I'm currently using, and want to accomplish. But in the medium term, it's viable. So maybe the goal is to stockpile resources towards that possibility, look for deals / sales, etc. and in the meantime, enjoy what I've got in front of me? What kind of crazy advice is that? ;)</div>fireymonkeyboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05833974263127787678noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166240688056859219.post-43484166297347571882022-01-09T07:41:00.000-05:002022-01-09T07:41:41.977-05:00Ochone! Ochone!<p> Hi all,</p><p>My nefarious, Skeletor-worthy plans are showing fruit. Actually managed to get the Cub to play some historicals, at his suggestion ;) Broke out the Scots and Royalists for some Pikemans' Lament. 24 points. We both had Pike with Shotte wings. He had good dragoons and gallopers, I had okay trotters and dragoons, with an edge in numbers rather than quality. As it was his first game, we played the simplest scenario, Ga Pa, which is basically about taking out opposing units, and protecting yours.</p>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51807134432/in/dateposted-public/" title="007"><img alt="007" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51807134432_990b18842b_o.jpg" width="640" /></a><div><br /></div><div>The Cub is rapidly emerging as the terrain maker in the family. He spent a chunk of the Christmas holiday putting together stuff for the old GW Bretonnian jousting game (which he played out with the Puddin'). The Windmill was a kit he put together, and the the house he scratch-built. </div><div><br /><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51808205058/in/dateposted-public/" title="008"><img alt="008" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51808205058_d15d0df781_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The game unfolded in three phases. The first involved the Cub charging his elite gallopers into the guts of the Scot infantry (deployed on the right).</div><div><br /></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51808090281/in/dateposted-public/" title="009"><img alt="009" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51808090281_1c04418f00_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51808204623/in/dateposted-public/" title="011"><img alt="011" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51808204623_3b34e33a46_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>This turned out to be a pretty good plan, as he managed to shatter one shotte wing, and generally put the bulk of my Scots on their back foot.</div><div><br /></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51808089821/in/dateposted-public/" title="013"><img alt="013" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51808089821_d2ea5bd71c_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51808825430/in/dateposted-public/" title="016"><img alt="016" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51808825430_cc36650255_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51808089406/in/dateposted-public/" title="017"><img alt="017" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51808089406_5259d75f94_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I was able to drive his cavalry back, but he made morale rolls with distressing frequency, and was able to keep hammering them in on a regular basis. This had the effect of both keeping me more or less on my side of the table, and getting some decent hits on my infantry.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51808089561/in/dateposted-public/" title="015"><img alt="015" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51808089561_8da54e66c8_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>In the meantime, he drove his infantry forward on my left. We'd had a quick chat about how pike and shot units worked together in the period, along with game mechanics, and he'd clearly taken the conversation to heart, as he used his pike quite effectively to block my cavalry from his shot wings.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51808824890/in/dateposted-public/" title="021"><img alt="021" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51808824890_9e7662c931_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51808088771/in/dateposted-public/" title="022"><img alt="022" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51808088771_5c6728d8e2_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>On the right, the remnants of his gallopers continued to stall a good chunk of my army, despite my swinging a unit of trotters across to reinforce.</div><div><br /></div><div><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51808203633/in/dateposted-public/" title="018"><img alt="018" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51808203633_e88b7c0c60_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51808825065/in/dateposted-public/" title="019"><img alt="019" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51808825065_7858290f84_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>At this point, the game swung solidly in his favour. A couple of abysmal morale rolls in response to shooting sent my cavalry fleeing from the field, and the Cub was free to swing his infantry over to put more pressure on my right.</div><div><br /></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
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</div><div><br /></div><div>There were certainly some things I could have done better (particularly in the use of my dragoons and terrain), but it was a solid game, and the Cub played well. He's familiar with the core mechanics from Dragon Rampant, and used his units together quite effectively, coordinating his shot with both the pike and various horse units at different times in the game. I thought he did quite well, and earned the win.</div><div><br /></div><div>It was such a delight to get to play historicals with him. SciFi, and so some degree fantasy, remain his main interest, but here's hoping I can tempt him into the occasional game in future. I suspect working up some more Vikings and French for a Lion Rampant game might help in that regard, so I will see what can be done there.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>fireymonkeyboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05833974263127787678noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166240688056859219.post-45655190344015725912021-12-28T14:39:00.003-05:002021-12-28T14:39:55.946-05:00Almost . . . there . . . .<p> Hi all,</p><p>We are well into the post-Christmas fugue state, in which the passage of time blurs, days become unknowable, and only the slowly-dwindling pile of leftovers marks the looming presence of real life. Sooner or later, I'll snap out of it, and realize how much work has piled up over the holidays, but for now, I'm enjoying denial. </p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51783354343/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_6018"><img alt="IMG_6018" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51783354343_bb91814426_o.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Most of the haul. Missing are some tins of preserved fish, and new whisky glasses.</td></tr></tbody></table>
<div><br /></div><div><p>Christmas was low-key, but fun. We had a delayed Christmas dinner, as the Cub didn't join us until Boxing Day, but we made the most of it once he was here. The kids, as usual, ended up with a pile of stuff, the Beloved got a mess of books, a rather snuggly sweater, and some films, and I even got a bit of geek-related gear in the form of a couple of Perry 100YW boxes.</p><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51783737299/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_6057"><img alt="IMG_6057" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51783737299_f29d0dc0a6_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Burgeoning Scots.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div><p>As far as the year goes . . . it went. We continue to be (knock on wood) ridiculously fortunate here in Monkeyland, as we've had work that was both safe and secure throughout, and no one has caught the plague (despite a couple of near misses). I can't pretend that going on two years of working from home, and relative-but-real social isolation, haven't taken a toll, but compared to a range of entirely probably "might have beens", we're doing okay. I can only hope that we'll keep doing as well in the coming year.</p></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51782287302/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_6058"><img alt="IMG_6058" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51782287302_4273d1e453_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bulked out the Horse to 12 figures. Or 2x6 for Pikemans' Lament.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div><p>Hobby's been fairly productive this year. I've been more or less sticking to my "do what you feel like doing, and don't push it when you don't" approach, and have gotten a fair amount done as a result. As predicted, ECW and 40k took the lead in terms of both gaming and painting, with AoS and 6mm showing some production, but less than expected. Flames of War mostly fell off the radar (a lack of gaming opportunity meant a loss of interest), and some of my historical projects ended up advancing less than expected (notably Carthaginians).</p></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51783103161/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_6059"><img alt="IMG_6059" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51783103161_038a5b57c3_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dragoons join the fray.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div><p>That said, I ended up close to 40 28mm cavalry figs, almost 200 28mm foot, and a selection of other things (itty-bitty ships, 6mm units, terrain, etc). For me, that's pretty good productivity. I may even have whittled down the lead pile slightly, depending on how one rates "non-standard" painting, like large figures and 6mm units.</p></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51783353968/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_6060"><img alt="IMG_6060" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51783353968_197a916568_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The "full" unit of P&S, with bulked out pike, and be-flagged shotte.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div><p>I imagine this coming year will be much the same. Likely projects include:</p><p>1. ECW. This remains a strong contender for both painting and games. I seem to able to maintain sufficient running interest in these that I basically alternate between them and other projects. The Scots have been the primary beneficiaries, now that I have enough Royalists for an opposing force, and I've been both adding units, and expanding the ones I have. I'm within striking distance of a Pike and Shot multi-unit batallion, and will treat myself to a command stand when that milestone is achieved. Pikeman's Lament continues to give fun games, and I've begun exploring options for larger scale gaming in the period.</p></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51783353873/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_6061"><img alt="IMG_6061" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51783353873_f310f4da68_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More Dragoons, and another pike unit should finish the first batallion off.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div><p> 2. 40k/AoS remain games I'm likely to get to play, and continue to enjoy to paint. In addition, if you believe the internets, this year might be my GW annus mirabilis, as a number of the factions I play are expected to see new rules and figures. These include Beasts of Chaos, Ogors, and World Eaters / Khorne, with prospects of a dedicated faction book for the latter. I've begun cloning my organs in preparation for the financial hit, so am hopeful that the rumors pan out. Failing that, the Cub remains an ethusiastic opponent, and I'll get in games with him while I can.</p></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51783102871/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_6062"><img alt="IMG_6062" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51783102871_69e2d5c937_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Going to need some more command bases.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div><p>3. 28mm Medievals. There's a couple of variations here, but grouped together they make the period a likely prospect. I continue to pick away at my vikings, and there's some local guys interested in gaming early medievals, so the prospect of some summer raiding is good. I'm looking forward to getting some of the just-aquired Perrys done up, but gaming with them might have to wait until I can also get some opposition painted. Depending on how the year goes, 100YW could feature largely, but it's hard to predict right now.</p></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51783353688/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_6063"><img alt="IMG_6063" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51783353688_fbed1ce66c_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Royalists. Didn't really grow past the "starting opposition" stage, but who knows?</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div><p>Less likely, but still possible, include:</p><p>4. Bolt Action. I've got more than 500 points of Soviets painted up, and have enough bods left over to expand to 1000 points. Action here will likely depend on gaming opportunities. There are some local players, but getting games in will be very much dependant on the plague receding. As we are (locally), at what is hopefully the height of an Omicron-driven case spike, prospects for games seem a little gloomy right now, but fingers crossed this year goes smoother than last.</p></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51782286807/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_6064"><img alt="IMG_6064" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51782286807_a2b18e825b_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Royalist dragoons. Same figs, twice the floppy hats.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div><p>5. 6mm. Blucher saw a fair bit of productivity at the start of last year, and I'm only a few units away from a small, but complete and playable, force of Russians. I've also been thinking about digging into my SYW stuff of late. The 6mm bug seems to strike me randomly, but I wouldn't rule it out.</p></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51783736554/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_6065"><img alt="IMG_6065" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51783736554_896de3c199_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They probably deserve the "bulking out" treatment. I mean, the feathers alone . . . .</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
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</div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><p>Beyond that, who can say? As I think I noted around this time last year, I'm learning not to look too far ahead these days. There's enough instability flying about that predictions seem less useful than a willingness to adapt to what may come. In the meantime, here in Monkeyland, life is pretty good; my family are here, we're all well, and I still have the opportunity to not only indulge my hobby, but to natter on about it to the ether ;)</p><p>As I'm not likely to post again before the New Year, best wishes to you all. May the New Year bring you health, joy, and prosperity.</p><p>FMB</p></div>fireymonkeyboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05833974263127787678noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166240688056859219.post-5510147616476071002021-12-22T13:45:00.002-05:002021-12-22T14:24:47.206-05:00Merry Christmas<p> </p><p>Merry Christmas all,</p><p>We are well into Christmas mode here in Monkeyland. Most of the baking is finished (I have one more batch to do tomorrow), shopping is done (except for a grocery run tomorrow),the tree and house are decorated, and I am slowly coming off the roof from work, and the accumulated insanity of the last year.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51766697870/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Tree"><img alt="Tree" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51766697870_0cbcfb3829_o.jpg" width="411" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The aforementioned tree. It's there, under all the decorations, somewhere.</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p>
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<div><br /></div><div>Cub is at his mom's for the day, but I should be able to pick him up on Boxing day, plague permitting. We're jowls-deep in an Omicron-driven case spike here, and restrictions are changing by the day, it seems, but fingers crossed all will be well. We are all, knock wood, healthy, and have been pretty vigilent about doing what we can to reduce risk, so I'm hoping our plans will unfold as intended (more or less).</div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51766460094/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Me"><img alt="Me" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51766460094_4c9a747dae_o.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Got the gronkasaurus to hold still for a pic, but she remains unconvinced.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><div><br /></div><div><div>Hobby has slowed, what with the holiday business, but I'm hoping to carve out a little time over the next few days. Until then, stay safe, enjoy your families, and I wish you all happieness, and the joy of the season.</div><div><br /></div></div>fireymonkeyboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05833974263127787678noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166240688056859219.post-21366680072047296132021-12-16T13:31:00.004-05:002021-12-16T13:31:53.092-05:00Vikings. Also thoughts and plans.<p> Hi all,</p><p>Been a busy month or so in Monkeyland. End of term, the onset of winter, and escalating plague numbers have meant that while some hobby's been accomplished, probably less than I'd hoped, and there's been little motivation for blogging. That said, my grades are in, I've made at least a start on Christmas baking, and I've had a chance to take some pics and think about the coming season.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51751861860/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5932"><img alt="IMG_5932" height="416" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51751861860_bc01a999d9_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First of the Victrix vikings. Good variety of poses, great variety of heads and arms.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><p>I have it on reliable authority that Santa will be bringing me the makings of a 100 Years War French force, by way of a box of Perry Agincourt French Infantry, and Mounted Cavalry. This will likely be my new project for the new year, and I'm fairly stoked. I'm fond of the period (via the usual books and movies), and am keen to do up some French (which seem woefully under-represented on the table; everyone does the English, can't imaging why?).</p><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51751861990/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5931"><img alt="IMG_5931" height="471" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51751861990_91ce31ab94_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little dark, my apologies. Sculpting is clean, nice details, not a lot of flash or lines.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div><p>Prospects of a new project have me going through the usual mental gymnastics of thinking about rules and basing. There was an interesting podcast from the Plastic Crack boys the other day, where in the process of discuss "ancients" (which also seemed to include medievals), they made the point that rules preferences are very much driven by a couple factors; the kind of game you like, and the kind of game you can get local players to play with you. While that's a bit of a truism, it hit home pretty hard for me, and I think solidified some of my thinking on the project.</p></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51750158387/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5933"><img alt="IMG_5933" height="455" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51750158387_a0a150a1c4_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loving the Santa hat head. Definitely going to play with the set to make a proper Santa.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div><p>Anyone who's followed my meanderings over the last several years (we're in year twelve, for those counting), knows that I've played around with ideas for a "big" ancients project for a while. I picked up some Victrix carthaginians a while back, eyeball their successors line on a regular basis, and have repeatedly made plans for huge, sprawling projects in a range of scales. But they never seem to get off the ground.</p></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51751229513/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5934"><img alt="IMG_5934" height="420" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51751229513_3ac5390609_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Decent mix of armoured and unarmoured bods. I made a mess of regular dudes with helm, shield, and either axe or spear. Saved the swords for hearthguard types.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div><p>The problem is, I think, that those huge games require years of dedication to pull off. I'm a hobby magpie, usually have multiple projects on the go, and even when I do manage to amass a large collection of something, struggle to find opponents with comparable collections, and time and space for a massive game. Case in point, the Cub and I are planning a BIG 40k game for the holidays, but realistically, this is a once, maybe twice a year undertaking, and the armies involved have taken more than 5 years to amass. The thing is, however, that I've been able to play with them along the way. This is less possible with a lot of the historical armies I'm interested in. Small unit pike actions just don't make a lot of sense, and if I'm doing Carthage or Antigonids, I'm aiming for big battles anyways.</p><p><br /></p></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51750989391/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5935"><img alt="IMG_5935" height="452" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51750989391_35b25cbbea_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Also gave the elites the bigger shields. Some really dynamic poses with these guys.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div>With medievals, however, there's a sweet spot. The same troops show up in small actions as big battles, and so collections can be gamed as they grow. I've noticed this with my vikings (which I've been picking away in in between other projects), and think it will also apply to the French. When I start them, I don't need to aim for anything huge. Two or three dozen foot, and a dozen or so mounted figures, are enough for a game of Lion Rampant, and I can add units as I go. Moreover, even if I can't find someone with another medieval force, painting up opposition isn't that hard, because of the numbers involved. This has worked out pretty well with the ECW stuff I've been messing with for the last year or so, and I think is the way to do for me in the future.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51750158062/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5936"><img alt="IMG_5936" height="456" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51750158062_04ff0927db_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kept the mail dark, but might break down and brighten it.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div>The big question that remains, is the perennial one of basing. When I did the ECW stuff, I went with square, Warlord style basing, with the assumption that it would be compatible with Pikeman's Lament, but suitable for larger games in the future. I think with the 100 Years War project, I'll invert that logic; I'll base for Lion Rampant, and deal with "big battle" compatibility if and when that possibility arises.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51751636434/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5937"><img alt="IMG_5937" height="442" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51751636434_5fe6f623e2_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Berzerkers mandatory. For Khorne! . . . oops, wrong game.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div>There was a fellow on the Lion Rampant Facebook page who recently posted his War of the Roses stuff, based on rounds, in a style inspired by <a href="https://dalauppror.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Dalauppror</a>. Infantry based 1, 2, or 3 to a base, and cavalry generally 1 or 2. It looked really good, and I think works for medievals in a way it might not for more coherently linear periods. Cavalry on rounds is something I'm used to from Lord of the Rings, and always thought it looked well. I'm going to try the "multi-figure on rounds" basing for the next batch of vikings I put together, and see how I like it, but I think it'll be the way to go.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51751636309/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5938"><img alt="IMG_5938" height="429" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51751636309_85dcbe7e23_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Probably should add a little more depth of color to the furs.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div>There's been some other stuff finished up, both historical and fantasy/sf, and no doubt I'll be able to claw out some time to get caught up on posting. Hopefully, the plague won't cancel Christmas, as I'm really looking forward to it. We won't have the Cub Christmas day (he's at his mom's), but he's supposed to join us Boxing day (aka St. Stephen's), and Puddin' will thus have Christmas morning to herself. I'm staring down a week of power baking, and then hopefully a few days to relax. If I do this right, I'll have enough leftovers that I can simple point the hungry towards the fridge for several days following . . . .</div></div><div><br /></div><div>FMB</div>fireymonkeyboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05833974263127787678noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166240688056859219.post-91989010633767696932021-11-14T08:30:00.002-05:002021-11-14T08:30:44.182-05:00Inter-generational conflict<p> Hi all,</p><p>Have gotten in a few games with / against the kids over the last couple weeks, including a ripper of a 40k game against the Cub, and a multiplayer Dragon Rampant game against both the Cub and the Puddin'</p><p>The 40k saw me taking 75 PL of World Eaters against the Cub's Salamanders, and it was a solid game. Cub is a far better player than he was even a few years ago, and the last several games we've played have been pretty tight. This one was a neck and neck race until half way through turn 4, where I managed a couple of clutch plays that put me ahead to take the game.</p>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51666189526/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_5885"><img alt="IMG_5885" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51666189526_7978244271_o.jpg" width="640" /></a><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51666877384/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_5887"><img alt="IMG_5887" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51666877384_5bc6e6ce2b_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>There were also some solid cinematic moments, including a clash between his dreadnaught and my hellbrute, in which the latter reamed the former with a multi-melta shot, was in turn charged and destroyed by the imperial, and then blew up, taking out the Astartes dreadnaught in the conflagration. Unfortunately, I got so caught up in the game, I forgot to take pictures ;)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51679338134/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_5888"><img alt="IMG_5888" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51679338134_47521b0715_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Dragon Rampant saw Puddin take a list made up of some of my old Bretonnian figures, a couple of heroes from the Reaper pile Cub's been painting, and a Gold Dragon (a D&D fig?) the Cub got for his birthday.</div><div><br /></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51679548095/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_5890"><img alt="IMG_5890" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51679548095_14ab8eb4d6_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Cub took a similar mix of figs - some of my Bretonnians, some Reaper figs he ran as vampires, some kobolds, and a GW OG Daemon Prince ;)</div><div><br /></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51677863347/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_5891"><img alt="IMG_5891" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51677863347_e7301e5303_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I took a bunch of Beastmen, which I ran mostly as bellicose foot, scouts and light missiles.</div><div><br /></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51678918478/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_5892"><img alt="IMG_5892" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51678918478_20a3d4d0be_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>We played a modified version of the Ringbearer; basically, each of us designated a unit as carrying a McGuffin, and there were bonus points for eliminating that unit. However, if anyone's force was reduced to just the McGuffin unit, everything blew up. Not to foreshadow anything.</div><div><br /></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51679547845/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_5893"><img alt="IMG_5893" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51679547845_85b1599c1b_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Cub and I advanced out, and began to tangle, eventually whittling down each other to a couple of units.</div><div><br /></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51678667106/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_5894"><img alt="IMG_5894" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51678667106_0a2eb926d3_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Meanwhile, Puddin' decided to play it cagey, and hid her force behind a bunch of terrain, encircling her dragon with everything else. Not at all telegraphing what her McGuffin unit was ;)</div><div><br /></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51677863027/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_5895"><img alt="IMG_5895" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51677863027_810812cae4_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>When we asked her why she wasn't coming out to fight, she quite matter of factly informed us that she was waiting for the two of us to tear each other up, and then would swoop into scoop up the win. Kid is savage.</div><div><br /></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51678918078/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_5896"><img alt="IMG_5896" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51678918078_d0d4b099e2_o.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div>What actually happened is that I managed to take the Cub's force down to one unit, which turned out to be the "ringbearer", which blew up the game. We were limited to points scored for side quests (the Cub picked one up for doing 3 strength points damage in a turn), and kills. Cub and I tied on the latter, and his single point from quest completion gave him the win. Puddin', who'd finally emerged from hiding to sweep us off the table, was left with none. Her plan was sound, but she needed to work on the timing ;)</div><div><br /></div><div>It was a fun game, and it was great to get to play with both of the kids. While Puddin's not as enthused about mini-gaming as the Cub, she does seem to enjoy DR, especially the ability to pick and choose minis from the household's growing collections. Games of Dragon Rampant also make for a nice break from the two of them ganging up on me in Munchkin, so there's that ;)</div><div><br /></div><div>FMB</div>fireymonkeyboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05833974263127787678noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166240688056859219.post-42234414046664793962021-10-23T12:37:00.002-04:002021-10-23T14:29:20.559-04:00Za Rodina<p> </p><p>Hi all,</p><p>As I mentioned in my "summer vacation" post, our annual summer trip across the peninsula to the "fossil beach" is often accompanied by a stop in at that side's FLGS. The latter traditionally produces some kind of sudden, yet not-unexpected new project, usually centred on a heavily discounted big box. Last year it ended up being chaos marines (which, along with those from the Shadowspear box, now comprise my pretty much painted World Eaters force).</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51622304508/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5863"><img alt="IMG_5863" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51622304508_439d398b73_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">About to become a hero of the Soviet Union</td></tr></tbody></table><p>This year, the new project has turned out to be Bolt Action. I've played this <a href="https://themonkeythatwalks.blogspot.com/search/label/Bolt%20Action" target="_blank">before</a>, as it was pretty popular for a while in TO, and it was something the Cub showed interest in a while back. Those games, however, were 1st edition, and I used 15mm figures; collecting Soviets for Flames of War on and off for years, I pretty much always have some kicking around, and it was easy enough to base them individually. I quite liked BA at the time. It plays well, gives a decent amount of flavour, and like most of the Warlord-backed games, is relatively easy entry - in the sense that you don't need to do a lot of pre-work to jump in, and can pick up the history etc. as you go. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51456061025/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5775"><img alt="IMG_5775" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51456061025_7880f2369b_k.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Assembled riflemen. The infantry sprue gives a range of weapons options, but I started with the most basic.</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51455105286/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5776"><img alt="IMG_5776" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51455105286_625c9087e4_k.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lots of customization options in terms of heads, gear, etc.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>I'm finding lately, however, that 15mm is getting harder for me. My eyes and my hands aren't what they used to be, and it's getting harder and harder to paint 15mm to a standard I like. 28mm, on the other hand, I can still manage, along with 6mm, oddly enough (my style there is almost impressionist anyways), and I find I've been gravitating towards more projects of that scale / size.</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51621249177/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5856"><img alt="IMG_5856" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51621249177_fefecfd33e_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bolt action Soviets get a free squad of basic infantry. This one, in fact.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51622945605/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5861"><img alt="IMG_5861" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51622945605_54358bdc64_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plus, every force requires a fearless-ish leader.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Then I discovered that some of the local (mostly) GW crew are dipping in a toe, along with a regular gaming buddy who's doing Finns, and even before I dropped in at the FLGS, I'd been pondering jumping up to 28mm. Stumbling across a Soviet starter box at 30% off simply sealed the deal.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51622305138/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5859"><img alt="IMG_5859" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51622305138_203ce831e5_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They also need to take the usual minimum compliment of 2 infantry squads. It's an infantry game, really.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>The Soviet box is crammed full of goodies - enough for 60-something infantry in a range of configurations, along with command, a medium mortar, and a T-34/85. According to the inter-tubes, these are relatively old sculpts in the range, and get a bad rap compared to some of the newer BA kits, but I was fairly impressed. There's plenty of options, the kits are flexible, and a modicum of patience and low-grade kit-bashing allows for a fair bit of character in posing, etc. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51622731254/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5858"><img alt="IMG_5858" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51622731254_1a4781c028_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Although SMGs seem to have been toned down a little, even a small squad of veterans armed with them are murderous at close range.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>I put together a 500 point list, and powered through block-painting and washing them in time for a first game against the afore-mentioned buddy. He took the win, primarily through sound forethought in where he brought in his reserves (although I maintain having my veteran SMG squad FUBAR two turns in a row played a factor!), but it was a ripper of a game, and I've been going back through the Soviets to pick out highlights etc. While the figures are reasonably details - belt buckles and pockets all accounted for, they are relatively simple, and it's been a pleasure to knock them out.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51622404563/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5809"><img alt="IMG_5809" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51622404563_fa8a711e2a_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From the test game</td></tr></tbody></table><p>I'm hoping the game gets some traction beyond the initial buy-in. While f2f gaming for me is probably coming to a close for a bit, there's some hope in the prospect of the local delta wave burning out as our vax rates climb. In the meantime, I can start to think about expanding the force. The T-34 is an obvious option, but the /85 is limited to the latter stages of the war, and tanks in BA are pretty expensive - it's going to make up about a quarter of a thousand point force. There's also some specialized units, like artillery observers, that I'm keen to add, and Christmas might provide the opportunity for a matching German force - at which point, dragooning the Cub into a game should be pretty easy.</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51622947145/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5852"><img alt="IMG_5852" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51622947145_d8f99ba6be_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">AT Rifle. Not great at killing tanks, but can pin most, and is great for half-tracks, guns, etc.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>In other news, I continue to pick away at my ECW pile, expanding some of the existing units to Pike and Shotte sizes. 6mm seems to be on a break for me, right now. I've had a unit of cuirassier primed and ready for months, but haven't felt the urge, and I've finally learned not to "push" hobby stuff. I might turn to some of the Vikings after that, or maybe some of the Bloody Miniatures ECW figs I pick up a little while back. They're not a great fit for the Scots, but I can maybe either convert them, or find a role for them in the Royalist force.</p><div>FMB</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>fireymonkeyboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05833974263127787678noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166240688056859219.post-52054203416269832762021-10-07T08:41:00.003-04:002021-10-07T08:41:58.872-04:00Last of the sun?Hi all, <div><br /></div><div>September has been a busy month, with work ramping up again, the kids back to school, and much scurrying about getting the house ready for the 8 months of inclement weather we enjoy here in sunny Nova Scotia. That said, I have been puttering away at the Bolt Action soviets when I can scratch together a few moments, and am getting close to 500 points of painted figures. Once they're done, I'll throw up a post showing them off, along with a starter game I managed to cram in.</div><div><br /></div><div>More recently, I was able to take advantage of a rare day of decent weather to get in a backyard game against Jura, once again taking the Covenanters and Royalists out for a spin with Pikeman's Lament. Covenanters had two shot, and a unit apiece of trotters, dragoons, pike, and a regimental gun. Royalists had two shot and a pike, and elite or veteran gallopers and dragoons.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51560915361/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_20211006_114318"><img alt="IMG_20211006_114318" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51560915361_91dc220473_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pictures courtesy of Jura, so from his side of the table. Covenanters to the top, Royalists at the bottom.</td></tr></tbody></table>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>This was one of those games where the activation mechanic of PL was visible. For those of you unfamiliar with the system, units activate on a two-dice roll, different actions have different degrees of difficulty, and failure on a roll ends one's turn. </div><div><br /></div><div>Early in the game, Jura couldn't get his boys moving for love nor money (in point of fact, his gallopers opened things up with a blunder that sent them running away from the battle for a turn), but this evened out later in the game, when I had the same problem - I couldn't get my guys to attack on a couple of turns where it was critical for them to do so.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51560915141/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_20211006_114346"><img alt="IMG_20211006_114346" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51560915141_d53566a09b_o.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Festivities opened up on the right, with a clash of horse. The Royalist elite gallopers had an advantage over the Covenanter trotters, who were sent packing on a bad morale roll.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>As it happens, I quite like both PL and the "Rampant" series of sister games, in part because of this command friction mechanic. That said, it can be mind-bogglingly frustrating at times, when your opponent presents you with a perfect opportunity, and your units Just. Won't. Act. ;)</div><div><br /></div><div>I imaging this kind of hair-pulling frustration isn't entirely unknown to actual field commanders. What I like about the PL system is it's much more about managing a force, rather than controlling it. You are constantly reacting to events and frictions in game, while still actively trying to implement a plan; there's an adaptive process throughout that keeps one thoroughly engaged.</div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51561607739/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_20211006_120752"><img alt="IMG_20211006_120752" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51561607739_9e6d8c0493_o.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Infantry begins to close. Royalists have already sent packing one of the Covenanter shot wings.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div>We've been playing infrequently enough that we're still sticking to pretty basic scenarios, and haven't really brought in the more campaign-focused mechanics (like commander traits and experience). I'd love to do that at some point, but as it goes right now, we often struggle to remember the point of the scenario. The one we played, Patrol, was supposed to have us trying to get across the table, with a time limit. We pretty much forgot about the latter element, and aside from Jura's dragoons, generally abandoned the "moving across" bit in favour of a slugfest.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51561607514/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_20211006_122825"><img alt="IMG_20211006_122825" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51561607514_02053e8fb6_o.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Covenanters have some success in the middle, as they push back and rout the Royalist pike, but they're now flanked by a unit of Shotte.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div>By the end of the game, we were down to a couple of damaged units apiece, with everything else either routed or otherwise off the board. Not to worry, however. It was great to actually get minis on the table, including a couple of units that hadn't seen action yet (the dragoons on both sides, for eg.). </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51561161178/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_20211006_122841"><img alt="IMG_20211006_122841" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51561161178_7a7ec5d105_o.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">End game. For a scenario that was supposed to be a running battle, it turned out to be a meatgrinder.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
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</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm more or less satisfied with the Royalist opposition force for now, so I think my ECW efforts will refocus on the Covenanters, with an eye to grow them to something closer to small Pike and Shotte scale games. With the Bolt Action Soviets close to playable, ECW will likely return to the painting queue, along with the victrix vikings I picked up a while back. There's a few folks in town with vikings, and the Cub has inherited both my old Wargames Factory stuff, and added to them some fantasy elements for use in Dragon Rampant. Vikings and Scots will likely see me busy through Christmas, at which point, no doubt, Santa will be the Magpie enabler he so often is. Normans in Italy is something I've thought about for a while (and those new Victrix normans are looking AWFULLY nice), and there's always the prospect of some other craziness. Victrix adding Persians to it's range is making it harder to resist the idea of an Antigonid force, for example . . . .</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>fireymonkeyboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05833974263127787678noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166240688056859219.post-50816303275904293002021-09-05T07:44:00.000-04:002021-09-05T07:44:42.029-04:00Dragon Rampant<p> Hi all,</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51404929157/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5757"><img alt="IMG_5757" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51404929157_b0ce9cd3e7_k.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">D&D dragon, I think copper(?), that Cub picked up a while back, along with some Reaper Bones kobolds</td></tr></tbody></table><p>So, as occasional readers may have noted, I seem to have fallen down the Mersey-hole of late. In addition to Pikeman's Lament, I've also come by copies of his "Rampant" games, both Lion and Dragon. For the former, I've begun putting together some vikings (and am eagerly anticipating the soon-to-be-released viking supplement), but it's the latter that seems to have gained real traction in Monkeyland, mainly via the offspring.<br /></p>
<div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51404929232/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5756"><img alt="IMG_5756" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51404929232_4b3a3a914e_k.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Puddin' moves these around the table by, I kid you not, picking them up in a handfull. Kobolds get no respect.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div><p>Dragon Rampant uses similar core mechanics to Lion Rampant; IgoUgo, but with command friction, a broad set of generic troop types, standardized unit sizes, and a range of special rules that can be applied to distinguish units within the same troop type. With DR, there's a much larger range of the latter (to accommodate the usual fantasy tropes), along with the option to take reduced or single model units. As an example of the latter, when I used my GW ogre models, I ran them as heavy infantry, but with four, three-wound models per unit, rather than the usual 12 single-wound option.</p><p><br /></p></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51406659860/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5755"><img alt="IMG_5755" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51406659860_91be456674_k.jpg" width="427" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dad's ogres line up for a thumping.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51406438429/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5753"><img alt="IMG_5753" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51406438429_8fbf2080c6_k.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The cub, using my FEC ghouls as a stand-in undead horde.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div><p>The Cub and played a game of it early in the summer, and he was quite taken. The rules are simple enough to pick up quickly, but allow for massive customization of one's army. Add in that they are figure-agnostic, and you can put together pretty much any force you can think of. Some long-time readers might recall that I bought into the original Reaper Bones kickstarter. Between that box of minis (which the Cub has been steadily painting over the years, especially this summer), my collection of GW AoS stuff, odds and ends of historicals (when I bought a bag of the Victrix vikings, I gifted the Cub my unpainted wargames factory vikings - he put skulls on them, and runs them as Draugir), and the minis he's started collecting on his own, and we are spoiled for choice.</p><p><br /></p></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51406660280/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5721"><img alt="IMG_5721" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51406660280_173a4e6e03_k.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think this was the first game Cub and I played - my Brets hit the table for the first time in years.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51406438874/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5720"><img alt="IMG_5720" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51406438874_94162674ed_k.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was great to get a game with them.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div>Where things really took off was when Cub dragooned the Puddin' into playing as well. The latter has shown occasional interest in minis, mostly painting, but never much in play. By her own admission, she played the first game with him to humor him ;) It seems, however, that a game where she can simultaneously play both a fire-breathing dragon, and use both her My Little Pony figures, AND her LEGO unicorns, is right up her alley. They played multiple games over the summer, including one where the two of them ganged up on the old man in a three-way brawl (which Puddin' won, straight up ;) ).</div><div><br /></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51405950793/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_5719"><img alt="IMG_5719" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51405950793_7783fe75ba_k.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
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</div><div><br /></div><div>I am, needless to say, delighted by all of this. While I don't know that Puddin' is about to make a deep dive into tabletop miniature gaming, finding a game she likes to play has been fantastic. Finding a fantasy game that Cub likes is equally delightful; while he's always down for some 40k, and has shown a tentative interest in some historical play, his fantasy interests have been mostly limited to D&D. As I write this, however, he's working on putting together a mixed undead force, made up of the aforementioned Draugir, some Wargames atlantic zombies he picked up, a D&D lich, and odds and ends from the Reaper box. I'm generally cautious about "pushing" the kids into gaming; much as it's nice to share hobbies, I've always been leery of being one of "those" dads. I have to say, though, seeing my kids enjoy something I love, getting to play a game with the two of them, has been a highlight of the summer. Can't wait for more.</div><div><br /></div><div>FMB</div><div><br /></div></div>fireymonkeyboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05833974263127787678noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166240688056859219.post-24130995033026740612021-08-30T17:26:00.000-04:002021-08-30T17:26:40.542-04:00More fighters from a divided landHi all,<div><br /></div><div>As I mentioned in the last post, I've been doing a bit of painting for my ECW stuff. First up were some command stands for my completed shot wings. When I did these initially, I just had them as troops, with flags and command elements in the pike core. I like flags, however and am always looking for an excuse to get them on the table, so decided to add some to the shot as well.</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51414428804/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5772"><img alt="IMG_5772" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51414428804_0c9872a7af_3k.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51414428669/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5774"><img alt="IMG_5774" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51414428669_b75e040e66_3k.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table>In the process, I also discovered that along with the large core of Old Glory figs, I also have some Perrys in the mix. The latter are a scootch bigger, but not enough to interfere with mixing, even on the same base.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51414428874/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5771"><img alt="IMG_5771" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51414428874_48941d5f8b_3k.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51413675306/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5770"><img alt="IMG_5770" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51413675306_8c1120da26_3k.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><br />I also did up a unit of Dragoons for the covenanters. I went back and forth on the possible basing options for these. In Pikeman's Lament, there's no rules distinction between dragoons on foot or mounted. Effectively, they're assumed to be mounted when moving, and afoot when shooting. Pike and Shotte, on the other hand, does distinguish between the two "modes". As I'm effectively building "towards" a P&S force, I thought about doing both mounted and dismounted versions, but I quite liked how the mixed basing looks, and in the end, opted for that (with the use of a marker if/when I get to a larger force.</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51414660355/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5765"><img alt="IMG_5765" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51414660355_27599e4210_3k.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51412932317/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5767"><img alt="IMG_5767" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51412932317_0942d3fe18_3k.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><br />I also did up a unit for the Royalists. Both are made from the Warlord dragoon box, with hat swaps to distinguish them. I rather enjoyed these figs; they're nice sculpts, and the abundance of gubbins on the saddle packs reminded me quite a bit of the old Bretonnian questing knights.<br /><br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51414429469/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5763"><img alt="IMG_5763" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51414429469_8e16fef1f6_3k.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51413675941/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5762"><img alt="IMG_5762" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51413675941_e3e076f1dd_3k.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51413675836/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5764"><img alt="IMG_5764" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51413675836_d589502705_3k.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr></tr></tbody></table><br />A while back, I also finished up some Royalist horse. They were completed in time for my backyard game earlier in the summer, but as they'd not had a close-up yet, it seemed overdue.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51414429774/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5758"><img alt="IMG_5758" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51414429774_e8677d7527_3k.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51414660620/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5761"><img alt="IMG_5761" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51414660620_0343cf0756_3k.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51414660695/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5760"><img alt="IMG_5760" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51414660695_88911f1b34_3k.jpg" width="427" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><br />I've now got a "complete" force of covenanters for P&S, and am a base of shot away from the same for the Royalists. Once the latter are done, I think I'll treat myself to a heavy gun, before moving on with more troops for the covenanters. <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div><div><br /></div><div>FMB</div>fireymonkeyboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05833974263127787678noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166240688056859219.post-70262181988840066302021-08-27T08:43:00.004-04:002021-08-27T08:43:51.137-04:00(Hobby) Things I did on my summer vacation . . . <p> </p><p>Well, that was busy.</p><p>The absence of posting here on the blog has not been a reflection of lack of activity, but rather quite a lot of it. Summer is always busy for us; we have the Cub in residence, and tend to try to cram in as much as possible, whether hobby related or not, while we have him. That's meant a series of day trips, an actual, for-real trip out to see family before while case counts were low, and a mess of both figures painted and games played. The one thing I didn't make time for was the blog, so there's some catching up to do.</p><p>(Hobby) Things I did on my summer vacation:</p><p>1) Introduced the Cub to Dragon Rampant, who promptly introduced the Puddin' to same. The two of them have now played more games of it than I have, facilitated by a hard copy of the rules from my esteemed sister. They have free reign of my AoS stuff (providing they take care of it), and Cub has spent a good chunk of the summer painting up stuff from the big Reaper kickstarter box. I'm pretty sure some LEGO unicorns hit the table at some point.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51406438339/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5754"><img alt="IMG_5754" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51406438339_5b2a99ded6_3k.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Puddin' unpacks her secret weapons.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />2) Painting more ECW. I decided "the hell with it", I like flags, and have been painting up some command bases for my shott wings. Also painted dragoons for both Royalists and ECW, and the Pikeman's Lament forces are closing in on "playable completed", without having to fuss with unit upgrades to make up the points. Starting to think in terms of making the jump to larger scale games, and what would be involved.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51199738862/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5396"><img alt="IMG_5396" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51199738862_fa9d3e0258_3k.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This needs more flags.</td></tr></tbody></table><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><p>3) Painting (a bit) and playing (a lot of) 40k. With Cub in residence, 40k has been the major game of the summer, and I've both been picking away at stuff (mostly Khorne Marines), and playing several games. Cub's started up a small eldar force, and we've played some small games with those, along with the first two stages of the Glazier's Creek scenario (third might have to wait until the Fall). We've a big game planned before he heads back to his mom's / school, but as we'll still see him weekends, this is likely to continue.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51406438689/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5735"><img alt="IMG_5735" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51406438689_a515b230e0_3k.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With berzerkers in charge range, the eldar are about to have a bad time.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>4) Played some backyard games. Not as many as I'd have liked, to be honest. We've had an extremely wet summer, and backyard play kind of relies on having a dry environment. Sunny days have been at a premium, and tend to end up being family outing days. Add in some scheduling difficulties (lining up a free day for me, a free day with a potential opponent, and good weather), and it's been tricky. Despite that, there was the PL game from my last post, and an AoS game with one of my before-times regular gaming buddies.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51312462510/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5681"><img alt="IMG_5681" height="360" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51312462510_9702167961_3k.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love how this is starting to look.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>5) Jumping into 28mm WW2/Bolt Action. This was unplanned, but not totally unexpected. I've played BA <a href="https://themonkeythatwalks.blogspot.com/search/label/Bolt%20Action" target="_blank">before</a>, enjoyed it, and have always been tempted by doing it in 28mm. The other day, we took a trip over to the "other side" of the province (as NS is a peninsula, this is about an hour by car) to check out the fossil beach, one of our usual summer trips. Said trip usually includes a stop at the FLGS on that side, which more often than not has a discounted box of something that catches my eye. Last time it was a big box of 40k chaos marines (which are now pretty much painted, thank you). This time, it was a Bolt Action Soviet starter box at 30% off. I've spent the last several days happily gluing my fingers together, watching campy films in Russian (with subtitles), and planning the downfall of the facist invader. Add in that some of the local crowd are sticking a toe in - including a buddy doing Finns - and this has some potential.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_ASfp6Xn6vQ/YSjcc8qCG0I/AAAAAAAABQI/C34c9DkQ2C0ZnHrdrAD8Uk1OwVHcg8K2gCLcBGAsYHQ/s480/Come%2BComrade.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="379" data-original-width="480" height="316" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_ASfp6Xn6vQ/YSjcc8qCG0I/AAAAAAAABQI/C34c9DkQ2C0ZnHrdrAD8Uk1OwVHcg8K2gCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h316/Come%2BComrade.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>The Fall, with all that it brings (kids back to school, work heating up, Covid resurgence) is looming rather threateningly as I write this. Work meetings have started back up, and once Cub's back at his mom's I'll have a rather busy week rushing about getting ready for Fall term. It's kind of hard to predict what gaming opportunities will be like this fall, what with the potential of a Delta surge, but I've continued to play Command and Colours on a regular basis via Vassal (which has been rather fun), and there's always painting and playing games with the kids. Blog-wise, the plan is to do a more detailed post on each of the topics above. In terms of hobby, I suspect the current usual suspects (ECW, Soviets, GW) will feature largely in the immediate future, but since I've got the attention span of a magpie, who knows?</p><p>FMB</p>
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<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>fireymonkeyboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05833974263127787678noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166240688056859219.post-33125555634093967592021-07-14T14:48:00.006-04:002021-07-14T14:48:59.372-04:00Action at Sackville Creek<p> Hi all,</p><p>Stop the presses, hold the ketchup, and pass the parcel, because an honest to gum, real-life, against a human with miniatures, HISTORICAL game just went down in Monkeyland.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51312463685/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5671"><img alt="IMG_5671" height="360" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51312463685_526b1166ab_3k.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Early stages. Royalists attempt to seize the bridge.</td></tr></tbody></table>
<div><br /></div><div><p>Jura (with whom I've been playing C&C online, among other things) came over and we played a 20-point game of Pikeman's Lament. It was particularly fitting, in that the bulk of the ECW stuff I have (all the Scots, and about half the Royalists) came from him in The Big Trade last fall (? I'm losing track of time . . . ). Having spent the winter beavering away, and finally finding a day that was both conducive and sunny, we set to in the back yard. He took the perfidious Royalists, whilst I took the staunch defenders of Kirk and Covenant, i.e., the Scots.</p></div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51312463585/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5672"><img alt="IMG_5672" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51312463585_f887f9beb9_3k.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another angle of the early stages. That one unit dragging behind just would not move.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51311462156/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5673"><img alt="IMG_5673" height="360" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51311462156_2246e7773c_3k.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">While the Cavaliers are facing a fair whack of angry Scots.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div><p>We played the river crossing scenario, which I tweaked a little by adding a second crossing to our river (more of a creek, really), so we ended up with both a bridge and a ford. Hills and forests made up the rest of the terrain, and I appropriated the Cub's house for the look of the thing.</p></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51312184439/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5675"><img alt="IMG_5675" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51312184439_118a1257ed_3k.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Their first time on the table painted, however, so you can't blame them for being eager.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51312462890/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5678"><img alt="IMG_5678" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51312462890_451557deed_3k.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A certain amount of back and forthing left both units of horse somewhat battered.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
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</div><div><br /></div><div>We deployed in opposing corners, and set to. The objective was to get as many units across the river as possible, whilst preventing the opponent from doing the same. Forces were more or less mirrors, except that the Scots traded a shot unit for a small unit of commanded shot and a frame gun. Game ended when one side got all of their surviving units across.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51311663733/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5679"><img alt="IMG_5679" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51311663733_c423827227_3k.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Scottish right pushes on to seize the ford.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51311461511/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5680"><img alt="IMG_5680" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51311461511_d9ca9bc965_3k.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the other side, the Royalist foot pushes to the creek.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div>There's a fair amount of "command friction" in PL, in that each unit must dice to activate, and any failure end one's turn. This leads to a certain amount of predictable, if amusing (for the opponent) frustration, as that one key unit you need to do one key thing won't. Persistently. Case in point, one of Jura's Shot units simply would not advance for the first several turns of the game. We eventually decided they were drunk.</div><div><br /></div><div>The mid game had the two of us ranged across the creek from each other. Basically, whoever pushed into the creek was going to sacrifice a couple of turns of offensive action for movement, and leave themselves open to shots or attack - the latter at a disadvantage while crossing. Much maneuvering took place, along with some shots fired, as we jostled about looking for an advantage.</div><div><br /></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51312462510/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5681"><img alt="IMG_5681" height="360" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51312462510_9702167961_3k.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scots horse got bogged down in the creek, and ended up being cut to pieces.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div></div>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><div><br /></div><div><div>Eventually, I forced the ford, and Jura got his boys across the bridge and creek. We each more or less lost a flank, and though I ended up getting some reserves (lucky result on a very good activation roll), they were too late to affect the outcome. We had each gotten three units across, but Jura's Royalists had the edge on points, and that, plus a few extra his officer had picked up along the way (again, a lucky roll, but we attributed it to his rather fancy hat), the Royalists won the day.</div><div><br /></div><div>It was great to get the minis on the table and get in a game of Pikeman's Lament. It's the first time I've been able to play against another person (as all games to date have been solo), and it's super fun. Jura and I had a chat about how the different units performed, and we'll likely try another game soon-ish. I the meantime, I'm feeling quite charged up to paint, and with a few points remaining for a "normal" sized game, I've got some Royalist Dragoons in the queue. We'll see how they turn out.</div><div><br /></div><div>FMB</div></div>fireymonkeyboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05833974263127787678noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166240688056859219.post-63418538085646795202021-07-04T12:03:00.004-04:002021-07-04T12:03:33.564-04:00Review, long past review<p> Hi gang,</p><p>Finished up a couple more units of Russians for Blucher, a second unit of grenadiers, and the last of the line. With these two finished, I've now got eight units / brigades done up - the planned infantry core for my initial 200 points of Russians, so I figured it was worth getting them all out for a review.</p>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51290331900/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_5544"><img alt="IMG_5544" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51290331900_4df98a0b8f_3k.jpg" width="640" /></a><div><br /></div><div><p>This leaves me with another unit of heavy cavalry, one of cossacks, and two batteries of guns to finish up, which is relatively easy striking distance. I've been slightly sidetracked by some GW stuff (as I noted last post, there's a new edition of Age of Sigmar in the pipeline, and the Cub is here for the summer, so 40k is once again a thing), but I should get to these in the foreseeable future (the Cuirassiers are staring at me intently from the painting queue as I write this). </p>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51290041469/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_5545"><img alt="IMG_5545" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51290041469_307796bbd6_3k.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>In semi-related news, I spent a rather enjoyable morning loitering about the Virtual Joy of Six. This is the UK based wargames show focused on 6mm that I drool over each year, but don't get to attend (what with the inconvenient ocean in the way). This year, they did an on-line version, due to Covid. While I missed some of the morning sessions (time zones are a thing), I did manage to catch the main panel, some painting and trader discussions, and lurk in the background of some great-looking games. Saw a number of "faces" that are familiar from the 6mm scene and the blogosphere, and generally had myself a delightful time. Many thanks to those who organized the event!</div><div><br /></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51290041399/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_5546"><img alt="IMG_5546" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51290041399_95916ec11e_3k.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>We've had some odd weather here lately (stonking hot, then a week of rain) which has put a bit of a damper (HA!) on outdoor gaming, but it looks like we've got a break next week. If I can clear the decks of some work stuff, I should be able to get in a Pikemans' Lament game against a real-live opponent. </div><div><br /></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51288572037/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_5548"><img alt="IMG_5548" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51288572037_f103dddcf5_3k.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The Cub and I have also played the first of our traditional summer 40k bonanza, and I'll get up some pics of that in a bit.<br /><p>FMB</p></div>fireymonkeyboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05833974263127787678noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166240688056859219.post-52693216327704170152021-06-22T14:30:00.002-04:002021-06-22T14:30:13.035-04:00A new Age<p> Hi gang,</p><p>Monkeyland has been quiet of late. After a hiatus while the Cub was away (our region was in lockdown, so we kept him at his mom's), life has resumed with some degree of normality. While I've been picking away at a number of projects, impetus to get up posts has been low. On the plus side, that means I have a backlog of stuff I can photograph and get up. Add in that GW, in their infinite wisdom, are launching the 3rd edition of Age of Sigmar, and I actually have some enthusiasm to natter about hobby stuff.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51265270070/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5482"><img alt="IMG_5482" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51265270070_244a70ecba_3k.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The two side face off. Goats vs. Ogors, what could go wrong?</td></tr></tbody></table><p>My initial impressions are that the game has added a bunch of elements that, while they have the potential to slow down play a bit, also make the game as a whole resolve faster. It took my about two hours to play two turns, including set up and break-down of the table; given I've not played in around a year, and there are LOTS of changes to the rules (so I was constantly looking up both general and army rules), the game moved slowly. However, by the end of turn two, the game had also more or less resolved, with the Ogors clearly in a winning position.</p><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51264421343/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5483"><img alt="IMG_5483" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51264421343_10c1bbb4f7_3k.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Still need to finish painting the Ironblaster, but getting awfully close to 1000 points of painted meat.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div>Some notable changes involve command points. You now get more of them, to the point where, especially at the start of the game, I had 4-5 on my turn. That said, there's a lot more you can do with them, now, and I always ended up wanting more. I think the judicious application of CP is going to be critical in the new edition, even more than before.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51264421233/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5484"><img alt="IMG_5484" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51264421233_6aa3a320e0_3k.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Never enough goats.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div>Part of what moves the game along are the changes to points, unit sizes, and playing space. Units generally got more expensive, while there are now more restrictions on unit size (you can have a small number of "big" units, but they're limited), and the table size is smaller. I played on a 4x4 at 1000 points, which is about what the recommended size would be. With two fast moving armies, I had contact turn one, and my sense is that this wouldn't be unusual.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51264229826/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5485"><img alt="IMG_5485" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51264229826_6c808e64a5_3k.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More goats. Still not enough.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div>The change to coherency is subtle, but will have ripple effects through the game. Models in a unit need to stay within an inch of two other models - which means practically speaking you're looking at loosely ranked formations now, rather than long lines. This also limits the frontage units have, hence the number of attacks they're throwing at the opponent, which means less dice, less time, etc.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51265269615/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5486"><img alt="IMG_5486" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51265269615_05c0909556_3k.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ogor gluttons. AKA, the meat wall.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div>This also impacts the relative utility of troops. Anything with a reach weapon, that can fight in multiple ranks, has a massive advantage. Units that concentrated lots of attacks into small bases are also solid (looking at FEC ghouls here, thank you very much). Ranged troops, especially ones with a GOOD ranged attack, will be dominating, I think - because the whole unit can "see" and shoot, you'll get maximized effect from that shooting.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51264229626/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5487"><img alt="IMG_5487" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51264229626_5ceba01626_3k.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Turn two. Goats have ambushed, and are putting pressure on the objectives.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div>In terms of my relative experience of the two armies, my sense is that they were what they were before, but more so, if that makes sense. Beasts of Chaos (or at least, the kind of goat + monster sort of list I tend to run) are still crazy fast (core units can easily move 16", charge up to 13", and then pile in 4"), but lack any kind of staying power (mediocre to poor saves, mostly single wound, low bravery), and are poor to mediocre in combat. Some of the tweaks to command abilities help here (+1 to hit, re-rolling charges, etc.), but the opposition has then as well. Beasts must choose the terms of engagement, must kill what they attack, and can't really afford either mistakes or bad luck. Their summoning remains strong, but if games resolve in fewer turns, which I suspect will be the case, the advantage that brings is diminished - and summoning multiple units over a game was their main avenue for attrition play. I definitely made mistakes in this game (as I'm super-rusty), but Goats remain what they've been for a while - hard mode AoS.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51265269370/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5488"><img alt="IMG_5488" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51265269370_ab4920b1f5_3k.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some units definitely benefitted from the changes. The ability to give monsters +1 to hit makes the Ghorgon way more reliable.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div>Ogors are also what they've always been. Elite heavy infantry, with solid core warscrolls. A unit of 12 gluttons (rendered immune to battleshock) stood off chump attacks from a large, buffed Gor unit, a Ghorgon, and a Beastlord, and were still swinging and dishing out damage 3-4 rounds of combat later. Ogor Tyrants kill things. Ironguts murder everything. They're fast when they need to be, super hitty, and reliable. They're also going to run fewer units and heroes than most armies, will need to put their limited number of units in the right spot, and once committed, will struggle to redeploy. If I'd played my Beasts smarter, I could have picked off the smaller ogor units before they'd gotten in their hits, and been in a position to dominate the table. Ah, well.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51263498757/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5489"><img alt="IMG_5489" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51263498757_2b43634073_3k.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Herdstone. Where you kill your own things, for a change of pace.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div>I think the learning curve in the new edition is shallow, but long. The basic changes will be pretty simple to internalize within a few games, but the tactical implications of those changes will take much longer to figure out - and will vary considerably between armies. Part of me is tempted to commit to the Beasts, as I think they'll take the most learning, and their basic mobility will be powerful in an objective-based game, but there's something to be said for taking a simpler army initially to learn the system a bit.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51264420523/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5490"><img alt="IMG_5490" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51264420523_01e45137b4_3k.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ironguts, about to give some Ungors a really bad time.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div>I want to try out another test game with my FEC vs. Khorne. Priests work a little differently this edition, and there's some new monster abilities that I didn't get to explore with this game (only applied in one turn, and I forgot ;) ). It'll also be interesting to see how a magic-heavy vs. anti-magic force works.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51263498422/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5492"><img alt="IMG_5492" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51263498422_3e81b943db_3k.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ungors, having just a terrible day. </td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51264420433/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_5491"></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div>Next post, I'll likely get up shots of some 6mm napoleonics, and then we'll see what comes. Summer is close upon us, so hopefully I'll be getting in some outside games of various kinds, along with some games with the Cub (who'll be with us for the summer in about a week).</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51264228941/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5493"><img alt="IMG_5493" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51264228941_eddd72285e_3k.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leadbelchers on an objective, having smugly seen off a pack of chaos hounds.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>fireymonkeyboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05833974263127787678noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166240688056859219.post-34225245058200050152021-05-24T15:02:00.000-04:002021-05-24T15:02:00.100-04:00Pikes for Vicky<p> Hi all,</p><p>It's Victoria Day here in Canada, also known as May two-four. This was, historically, the occasion upon which my grandmother (who I've come to realize was eccentric, though to me, she was just Nana), would ritually intone the following:</p><p style="text-align: center;">The 24th of May,</p><p style="text-align: center;">is the Queen's burthday.</p><p style="text-align: center;">We shall have a holiday,</p><p style="text-align: center;">or all run away.</p><p>The beauty of May two-four, is of course, that while it is a beacon of tradition, precisely what tradition one follows seems pretty flexible. Based on the super-abundance of memes on my social media feed, this is the weekend that many of my fellow Canadians traditionally devote to getting pie-faced and piloting Sea-Doos. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Q_kfK6svq7Q/YKvoLuhkeOI/AAAAAAAABNc/IyEOl8Mi_yUGJNleG-VW-Q0OHx2v9GbRACLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1440" height="472" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Q_kfK6svq7Q/YKvoLuhkeOI/AAAAAAAABNc/IyEOl8Mi_yUGJNleG-VW-Q0OHx2v9GbRACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h472/image.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>I know it more as the weekend after which one traditionally can plant with only reasonable risk of frost, aka, the weekend I spend digging out the garden. These days, since I do much of the gardening, live in a place where it rains 3 days in 4, and am married to someone with Olympic-class pollen allergies, I managed to duck that traditional duty, and instead spent a pleasant couple of hours playing Pikeman's Lament. While the garden will still need digging, I'm currently enjoying a nice glass of Dewar's, and writing this, which seems a far more civilized way to commemorate Queen Vic than either spreading diesel waste or digging in the mud ;)</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51199741542/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5377"><img alt="IMG_5377" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51199741542_5a109348bb_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the Royalist side. Pay no attention to the night-camo unit.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>It's the second game of PL I've played, and I opted, perhaps unsurprisingly, for the second scenario, Patrol. This has the two forces attempting to pass by each other, to exit the table on the opposing side. It has a turn limit, based on the slowest movement on the table. Basically, enough turns that the slowest moving unit could travel across the table, in a straight line, along the shortest path. For my game, it was 10 turns. It quickly became clear that actually getting units, particularly Foot, off the table would be tricky, but the scenario did impact game choices; in the end, you win based on the units that "escape", and that gives you reasons to try and evade where possible.</p><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51201233044/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5378"><img alt="IMG_5378" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51201233044_fbdf327fb1_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My self-painted Royalist continent continues to grow, if slowly.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div>I used different lists this time around. Although the core of my Scots remained more or less the same (Pike, 2x shot, regimental gun, Trotters), I dropped the unit upgrades, and took a unit of dragoons. I was impressed last game with their utility, and will likely turn my hand to updating the ones I have. My current supply of dragoons arrive painted as part of the Big Trade, and while they're nicely done, they don't fit in as well as I'd like with what I have. Some TLC and rebasing are likely in order.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51199741172/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5379"><img alt="IMG_5379" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51199741172_78411c4f89_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Scots horde arrives on the table.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div>The Royalist side was a significant departure, in that I built it around a core of the Warlord figs I've painted up since last time. The Royalists took 2x Pike, 3x Shot, and a unit of Gallopers. While PL seems very much oriented towards the Petite Guerre elements of the ECW/W3K, this would be a clash of more conventional forces.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51201521165/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5381"><img alt="IMG_5381" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51201521165_0281bd48c6_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Royalists advance.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div>Scots won the roll to be the attacker, and deployment commenced. There's a nice element to PL in which slower units (foot, basically) deploy before faster ones, or scout units like Dragoons, and defenders deploy before attackers. This leads to a staggered, alternating deployment in which one gets to respond to one's opponent - and presumably might influence force selection for a more analytical player than I am ;)</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51200661458/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5382"><img alt="IMG_5382" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51200661458_9af4fb92f9_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scots push forward. Dragoons move to secure the fords.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div>After a slow start (Scots rolled a blunder to activate their first unit of the game, causing them to lose their turn, and the unit itself to waver), the Scots pushed forward. The Trotters moved out to the flank, while the Dragoons pushed up to try and cover the fords. I'd set the table up with a creek running across it (difficult ground). While crossable, it would slow progress, except at the fords.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51201520920/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5383"><img alt="IMG_5383" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51201520920_3ccc11773d_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Royalists continue to press forward.<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div>The Royalist side, at this point, caught a bit of a break, when their Gallopers rolled a double 6 to activate. I seemed to roll a surprising number of both double-1s and double-6s this game. Don't know if that was just the odds, or if the Auld Queen was looking over my shoulder. In any event, the Royalist horse (which I'd just put together the other day), surged ahead on a double activation.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51200661198/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5384"><img alt="IMG_5384" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51200661198_835be96e05_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51201520555/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5385"><img alt="IMG_5385" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51201520555_fd08d42e31_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This game actually looked "proper", at least to my novice eyes.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div>There were a few turns of manouevring at this point. Both the Royalists and Scots pushed forward, shaking out into lines in an effort to both block the opponent, and bring their forces to bear.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51199740162/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5386"><img alt="IMG_5386" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51199740162_894e2802f2_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Royalist pike advance. Wish I'd gotten the last bases finished in time ;)</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div>The festivities opened when the Scots frame gun, which had struggled to activate for several turns. managed a beauty of a shot at the approaching Royalist horse, which was followed up by a volley from the Scots Shot at the Ford. Riddled with shot and cannister, the Royalist Horse recoiled.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51201520135/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5388"><img alt="IMG_5388" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51201520135_496d7e49ef_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scots horse cross the river, and prepare to charge.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div>This gave the Scots horse the chance to cross the river (leaving the ford open to the infantry), and set themselves up for a charge. At the other ford, the Scots dragoons and second Shot had established a defensive line, but the Royalists had seized the hill, and their Pike were pushing down the road.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51201231584/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5389"><img alt="IMG_5389" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51201231584_46df05e640_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dragoons in the woods, Shot at the ford.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51201231314/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5391"><img alt="IMG_5391" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51201231314_35145b5254_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pike and Shotte, together at last.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div>The Scots horse charged, scattering their Royalist opponents, but effective fire from the Royalist lines withered the Scots dragoons, and drove them back from the copse of woods in which they were hidden.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51200453346/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5392"><img alt="IMG_5392" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51200453346_23557d37df_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">State of the battle from the Royalist side.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div>In the meantime, the forward Royalist units, particularly the shot, continued to pour fire into the Scots pushing towards them.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51200453231/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5393"><img alt="IMG_5393" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51200453231_b7aba3bf18_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Royalists on the hill.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51201519350/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5394"><img alt="IMG_5394" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51201519350_2565479db9_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scots at the ford.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div>The Royalist pike block on the right flank surged forward. While they'd have to weather a turn of fire, they were poised to smash into the Scots shot defending the ford.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51200659763/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5395"><img alt="IMG_5395" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51200659763_e733b61866_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Royalist pike charge, and push back the Scots.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div>The charge of the pike was enough to drive back the Scots shot, who wavered, but rallied in the next turn. While they'd be able to stand, they lost the turn reorganizing themselves. </div><div><br /></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51199738862/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_5396"><img alt="IMG_5396" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51199738862_12b7df1422_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>On the other flank, the Scots horse pushed forward, looping around the woods to threaten the Royalist flank.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51200659368/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_5398"><img alt="IMG_5398" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51200659368_af372284d9_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The game was winding down now. The Scots charged the Royalist shot unit, drove them back wavering, survived the next turn (when the Royalists flubbed their activation roll), and then made haste for the table edge. They were the one unit with a chance to get off table before the game ended.</div><div><br /></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51201518655/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_5399"><img alt="IMG_5399" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51201518655_88a71a299e_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Meanwhile, on the other flank, the Royalist pike kept driving back the Scots shot, which, while taking casualties, held on, and managed not to break.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51200659068/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5400"><img alt="IMG_5400" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51200659068_2929231602_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Discretion, rather than valour.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div>With the Scots horse off table, and the Royalists pushing hard on the right, the game more or less wound down. No other unit was going to make it, and with each side having dedicated the bulk of it's strength to the right flank, had the game continued, they'd likely have been free to either push past, or need to significantly redeploy to engage.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51199738147/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5402"><img alt="IMG_5402" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51199738147_d551108f49_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Royalist right. Might be a fight brewing across those woods, but then again, maybe not.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div>The Scots took it, essentially 1:0. This was a much more even fight than the last game, and the scenario, while perhaps not determining, did matter. It meant that fighting was more about breaking a hole for other units to follow, rather than the point itself, and affected some choices directly (for example, the Scots pike kept pushing to the flank in an effort to evade the barney in the middle of the table).</div><div><br /></div><div>I quite like Pikeman's Lament. Given the small sample I've experienced, the game moves well, the scenarios impact play, different units play clear roles, and it looks good on the table. While I suspect there's a fair bit of learning curve to go, this game went much smoother than the first, and I'm looking forward to many more games to come. I'd been losing a little steam on painting the Royalist opposition, but I'm now looking forward both to getting the horse finished, and adding some options to the Scots.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>fireymonkeyboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05833974263127787678noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166240688056859219.post-42024205559048027772021-05-16T18:03:00.002-04:002021-05-16T18:03:11.689-04:00The big boys<p> Hi all,</p><p>I found myself needing a beak from painting 28mm, and turned, perhaps predictably, to 6mm, specifically my Napoleonic Russians. </p>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51183768753/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_5363"><img alt="IMG_5363" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51183768753_2cd327c261_b.jpg" width="640" /></a><div><br /></div><div>I painted up a brigade of grenadiers. The Russians fielded both dedicated grenadier regiments, and converged. This brigade is made up of battalions from the Moscow and Kiev grenadier regiments.</div><div><br /></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51183551826/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_5364"><img alt="IMG_5364" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51183551826_9102ace0a4_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Along with the grenadiers, I also painted up my first brigade of cuirassiers, made up of squadrons from the Little Russia and Novgarod regiments.</div><div><br /></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51182866782/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_5365"><img alt="IMG_5365" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51182866782_156aa41e06_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>As with all of my units, these are based off of those that operated in the 1813 campaign.</div><div><br /></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51183551686/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_5366"><img alt="IMG_5366" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51183551686_27a4706195_b.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div><div><br /></div><div>As I was wrapping these up, the Victrix Vikings arrived, and promptly took over my hobby desk. I've put together several, and will have a post on them soon.</div><div><br /></div><div>FMB</div>fireymonkeyboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05833974263127787678noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166240688056859219.post-75142053428040115322021-05-09T15:18:00.006-04:002021-05-09T15:18:52.478-04:00Plans, progress, and painting<p> Hi all,</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51169340310/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="005"><img alt="005" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51169340310_3e3481d84e_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Still getting darker pictures. I must live on the coast, or something.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>I've been plugging away at the ECW stuff, mostly the Royalist opposition for the Covenanters in Pikemans' Lament, and have been making reasonable progress. Pike is 2/3 finished, along with a sleeve of Shotte, and I've got pics to prove it.</p><div><p>I've also found my attention wandering a bit to other projects, new and old, which has got me thinking. Add in that I've now got time to listen to podcasts (as I'm getting in solid blocks of painting time, rather than snatching 15-20 minutes here and there), and a general sort of hobby rumination has been going on in the background.</p></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51167573232/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="007"><img alt="007" height="405" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51167573232_9aaa070035_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I quite like the Warlord pike and command figs, but the muskets are so-so.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><p>Two podcasts I've been listening to quite a bit have been the <a href="https://godsownscale6mm.podbean.com/" target="_blank">God's Own Scale podcast</a>, and the <a href="https://kenrtai.podbean.com/" target="_blank">Yarkshire Gamer's Reet Big Wargames Podcast</a>, which share a passion for the hobby, and more or less diametrically opposed visions of what that hobby can and should be ;) What I find interesting is I rather enjoy, and to some degree sympathize, with both. That, in turn, got me thinking about my own sense of the hobby, what I want out of it, and what I'm willing to put in.</p><p>I've been mildly surprised by the level of focus I've been able to maintain on the ECW project. It's what I've worked on, pretty much exclusively, since before Christmas, which is almost unheard of for me. Compared to how quickly I stalled out on the Carthaginians, it's shocking, and I've been trying to figure out what accounts for this relative success.</p></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51169340115/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="008"><img alt="008" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51169340115_fb88044697_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bit of a departure on these guys - tried a white basecoat and lots of washes.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div><p>I think a major factor has been the "intermediate" scale of Pikeman's Lament; not so much the game itself, but rather the force "scale" (maybe 4 dozen figures a side), and the flexible approach to basing. PL means I can hit a "game-able" number of figures, while still maintaining basing designed for larger games. I can build a range of units, and use them, but still fantasize about the "big game" somewhere in the future, without having to build exclusively for that theoretical future goal.</p></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51167573087/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="009"><img alt="009" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51167573087_3d142dbdfd_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Turned out okay, but I can see a few places that might need a little more shading.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div><p>What I'd somehow managed to overlook, up until a couple days ago, was the applicability of PL's sister game, Lion Rampant (and the open architecture of the "fantasy" variant, Dragon Rampant) in that role. Although designed for medieval games, the core mechanics are readily adaptable to earlier periods. This realization seems to have triggered a burst of energy; in addition to painting up some Carthaginians for the first time in ages, I've finally caved and ordered a box of the Victrix vikings as well.</p></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51169339935/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="010"><img alt="010" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51169339935_ee948481db_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lybian skirmishers. Focal depth a little off here, apologies.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div><p>L/DR is perfect for the kind of ancients / dark ages "petite guerre" I'm interested in. On the Carthaginian side, it means I can also build their hodge-podge army while doing historically relevant gaming at the same time (Carthos vs. Numidians, Cartho-Numidian vs. Spanish, CNS vs. Gauls, etc.). On the viking front, I can start even smaller with Ravenfeast, and have some locals interested in games as well. Once they're hooked, I can introduce Lion (or Dragon) rampant, and Bob's your uncle.</p></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51169025049/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="011"><img alt="011" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51169025049_e2c74fc310_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Honestly, I'm just happy to get these guys done, they've been dragging for ages.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div>This puts me in the happy position of having multiple projects on the go, all of which I'm interested in pursuing - 28mm Carthos, Vikings, and ECW, 6mm Nap Russians, and 6mm SYW (which I've not forgotten about, never fear). Happy days.</div><div><br /></div><div>I've spent a chunk of the weekend putting together a couple of tester dark ages houses. Once they're done up, I'll post some pics. Until then.</div>fireymonkeyboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05833974263127787678noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166240688056859219.post-91940176138444341552021-05-01T13:56:00.008-04:002021-05-01T17:13:50.962-04:00Old Friends<p> Hi all,</p><div style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">I sing of Haemar inn Haegi,</span></i></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">gift-giver, sword-weilder.</span></i></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">I sing of his glory,</span></i></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">his deeds are remembered.</span></i></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><i></i><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51151476824/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5329"><img alt="IMG_5329" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51151476824_4ced98c918_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">So, I made the mistake of watching the "Little Wars" <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=macRgkAACBQ" target="_blank">viking episodes</a>, including the one where they debut their <a href="http://www.ravenfeast.com/" target="_blank">Ravenfeast </a>game.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><i></i></div>
<div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Haemar, friend-feaster</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">gift giver, mead bringer.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">To his hall, his huscarls,</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">his hirdmen he called.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51150923868/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5330"><img alt="IMG_5330" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51150923868_e3af7e9235_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">This, of course, prompted me to dig out my Wargames Factory figures, and try out the rules.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>Fast friends he feasted,</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">great logs were burning.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">High heat in the Hall,</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">mead-tempers flared hot.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51151795400/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5331"><img alt="IMG_5331" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51151795400_b4d9fa82d0_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The scenario I played was "Fight for Honor", which has two leaders square off, with a chance of their warbands piling in to the fight.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Proud boasts were shouted,</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">hot words were cutting.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Like sword blows exchanged,</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">no shields to bar harm.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51151476469/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5332"><img alt="IMG_5332" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51151476469_6ab78636e5_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The figs are serviceable, but don't really compare to some of the other options. They were, however, cheap as chips, as I got a good deal on them at the time.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Hot tempers flaring,</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">to night air were carried.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Harsh words to harsh blows,</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">brothers now foes.</span></i></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51150016127/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5333"><img alt="IMG_5333" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51150016127_6e2e4a7b3f_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">I did spend some time on them, back in the day, so they generally look okay on the table.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Haemar our chieften,</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">swift striking, quick witted.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">The first blow he struck,</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">the honour was his.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51150690121/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5334"><img alt="IMG_5334" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51150690121_cd2d467dd5_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The opening rounds of the fight saw Haemar tear up his opponent pretty well. In Ravenfeast, leaders have 3 wounds - one more, and Haemar's nameless opponent would go down.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Jarl's men close-watching,</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">his life's blood saw spattered.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">In wrath they strode forward,</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">our chieftan to slay.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51151794960/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5335"><img alt="IMG_5335" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51151794960_fed237cb89_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">In the scenario, if the leader takes a hit, and fails morale, his men pile in. Haemar's in trouble!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">At Haemar they struck,</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">sharp spears hard-piercing.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">His heart's blood they sought,</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">to spill on the soil.</span></i></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51150689736/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5336"><img alt="IMG_5336" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51150689736_e4f3b8a349_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Attacked by multiple foes, Haemar fights at a disadvantage, and is badly wounded.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>Against many stood Haemar,</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">proud-fighter, sore wounded.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">As waves against sea-rock,</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">the foe-line did break.</span></i></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51150922903/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5337"><img alt="IMG_5337" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51150922903_336561c7fb_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">However, Haemar's men rush forward. Can they relieve him before he falls?</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">To Haemar we rallied,</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">gold-giver, war-leader.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Hearth friends and hirdmen,</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">to his side we strode.</span></i></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51151475354/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5339"><img alt="IMG_5339" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51151475354_dc15388d6a_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The first rush of Haemar's men takes out some of the opposition, but they don't quite break through to the man himself. </span> </td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Fell blows were given,</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">false friends struck down.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Many hewed Haemar,</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">though he would not fall.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51151475239/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5340"><img alt="IMG_5340" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51151475239_ee964b9bcb_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The fight starts to even up. Snorri, one of Haemar's Huscarls, draws off the opposing Jarl, while Haemar deals with the man left on him</span>.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Hearth-friend of Haemar,</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">strong Snorri, quick killer.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">The foe-jarl did battle,</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">While Haemar slew men.</span></i></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51151794250/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5341"><img alt="IMG_5341" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51151794250_247040dc9d_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Behind the duel, more drama. Arne, a hirdman (i.e., a grunt), duels and kills one of the opposing elite troops - a multi-attack berzerker.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Young Arne, axe-wielding,</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">struck down the bear-sarker.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Great honour he won there,</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">from Haemar a ring.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51151474924/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5343"><img alt="IMG_5343" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51151474924_1a00edb813_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Haemar re-engages the opposing Jarl, with assistance from Snorri. I'm missing a pic here, where the loose enemy Hirdman on the far left moved over to attach Haemar. Snorri ended up dueling the opposing Jarl solo.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51150015002/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_5342"></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Brave Snorri, stout hearted,</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">to Hel sent the false friend.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Who's death-stroke killed Snorri,</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>he feasts with the gods</i>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51151793950/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5344"><img alt="IMG_5344" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51151793950_af3851d8ba_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">With the opposing Jarl dead, Haemar rallies his surviving men, to drive off their erstwhile friends, now foes.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Brave fighters of Haemar,</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">drove false-friends, quick fleeing.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">From hearth's hold they drove them,</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">to feast there no more.</span></i></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><i><span style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><i style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></i></div></span></i></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"></blockquote><div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51150014752/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5345"><img alt="IMG_5345" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51150014752_c5a9a27ee5_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Ravenfeast. Odin's hall has many new warriors tonight.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">The ravens fat-feasted,</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">the corpse-reap was hearty.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Odin was happy,</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">his war-throng swells more.</span></i></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>So, that was pretty fun. Ravenfeast seems pretty accessible, lets you take a range of fighters, is absolutely character-driven, and seems to produce a fairly engaging game. Although the mechanics are pretty simple, I can see them becoming a little unmanageable if you tried to run much more than a dozen models or so - but it would probably work quite well as a multi-player game.</div><div><br /></div><div>As it happens, between the Little Wars stuff, trying the game, and a little late night perusing, I ended up springing for a box of the new(ish) victrix vikings. Kind of looking forward to them, though I suspect it'll be a few weeks anyways, with the mail the way it's been.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51150689466/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5338"><img alt="IMG_5338" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51150689466_422047c66e_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Gratuitous shot of the Fenris-cat, who took an interest in the battle. Also, how about that house? The Cub's work - he's developing a real knack for terrain.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div></div>fireymonkeyboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05833974263127787678noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166240688056859219.post-68952401421890770612021-04-28T11:11:00.002-04:002021-04-28T11:11:15.471-04:00Progress<p> Hi all,</p><p>The semester is over, grades are in, I have several months to look forward to in which I can focus on revamping courses and writing . . . and we've gone into lockdown. The main impact in Monkeyland is likely to be a few weeks without the Cub, as he's at his mom's, and we're not bringing him up into the lockdown zone. Skype and email will serve for now.. He's shifted well into teenager mode at this point, which means we generally have to lure him out of the basement with food, but still, I'll miss him.</p><p>In hobby news, I finished up the bases for my first unit of Scots cavalry. Cav units in Pikeman's Lament are six strong, so that's where I started. I figure as the collection grows, I can either supplement existing units, or combine them into larger 12+ bunches.</p>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51145380625/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_5304"><img alt="IMG_5304" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51145380625_da9d7272d9_b.jpg" width="640" /></a><div><br /></div><div>Pics are a little dark, I'm afraid - I struggle to get decent ones in the office, despite my best efforts. Next time I get them on the table, I'll see about some glamour shots.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51145054474/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5309"><img alt="IMG_5309" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51145054474_f7fa87747b_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table>I've based them on the Pike and Shotte standard of 25x50mm per figure. Double basing for some, single for others (and casualty removal).<div><br /></div><div><div><br /><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51144276886/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_5317"><img alt="IMG_5317" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51144276886_ae5ff5d256_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51145054024/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_5318"><img alt="IMG_5318" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51145054024_605154e002_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>In addition to finishing off the cavalry, I made a start on a few opponents for them, and broke open the warlord box I received at Christmas. A couple of stands of shot and one of pike were enough to get a feel for the figures, and how they compare to the Old Glory figures that make up the Covenanter force.</div><div><br /></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51144277191/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_5311"><img alt="IMG_5311" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51144277191_3f0663c548_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Generally speaking, the warlord figs (all plastic) are a little taller and slimmer than the Old Glory. Not enough of a difference to matter on the table, certainly, and the varying height seems well within the kind of range you'd normally see among humans.</div><div><br /></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51144494313/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_5312"><img alt="IMG_5312" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51144494313_31d362b55a_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The Warlord plastics seem to fall somewhere between "old school" GW, and their newer plastics. They're more refined than the old plastic kits (I'm talking about the old multi-part, mix-and match), with fine details generally well picked out. They do require a bit of fiddling, however (I've found arms especially so), and there's a limited amount of mixing and matching you can do without breaking out the hobby knife.</div><div><br /></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51145054189/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_5314"><img alt="IMG_5314" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51145054189_c22c6c2a40_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>You get quite a bit of variation in head-gear, and my sense is that's one's greatest option for customization. I'm sticking to a majority of floppy hats, and some Montereo and stocking caps for variety for the Royalists I'll put together.</div><div><br /></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27621452@N06/51144494148/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_5315"><img alt="IMG_5315" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51144494148_9d1613db4d_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>While I'm generally a fan of plastics, for reasons of durability, storage, etc., I'm finding that the figs are already getting a bit "same-y" to paint. While metal figs can be a paint, I found the OGs to have a ton of character, and like most of their range, they "take paint well".</div><div><br /></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
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</div><div><br /></div><div>That said, they'll do just fine as opponents for the Covenanters in Pikeman's Lament. The nefarious plan is to get a couple of forces together by summer. That will give me the opportunity (weather, plague, etc. permitting) to have some folks over for games in the backyard, and perhaps spur some local interest in the period. I'm reliably informed there's at least some folks out there with the makings of 28mm ECW armies, so anything to get folks out and interested would be great.</div><div><br /></div><div>FMB</div><div><br /></div></div></div>fireymonkeyboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05833974263127787678noreply@blogger.com14