A battle - at Wollmitz -

Ordered to be VILE and somewhat aggressive at a recent tabletop battle, I was first distracted by a collapse of my storage/transport system.

A bottom drawer struck a stool that one of my children had inadvertently placed in my path. The drawer on the bottom of the storage unit then promptly let go and fell to the floor, tumbling along the way. It was filled with the light cavalry.

(sorry no pictures...I had already packed the camera in the van for the trip to Jeff's and was not really in the mind to capture this horrid sight)


They were all separated from their bases, no surprise as they are only magnetically attached. The annoying part was that many were now also broken from their mounts and would need repairs. My departure was delayed while I collected them carefully from the floor, the went to find the last of my cyanoacrilate.


Upon arrival at Jeff's I was unable to share in the chit chat as I was too busy re-assembling all of the light cavalry for Stagonia. To my relief there was only one saber permanently broken(lost) and only a few paint chips on an elbow or two. No horses were actually broken off at the ankles, only one was 'bent' and I was able to slowly bend it back into proper position.

Needless to say that these developments did not bode well for the coming battle...in fact they perfectly foreshadowed the final results.

During the 'dicing' for arrivals I lost one of the precious cannon that were few and far between. This after getting the 'extra' roll. Had that 'extra' failed I think my battle plan would have amounted to 'stand in two tight lines and wait around the gun'. IF all the guns had not arrived, I think the defeat was pre-ordained.

As it was I was supposed to be VILE, so in VILE fashion I attempted to cover the entire field, probably the worst plan of action, as there would be exactly 0 reserves. But then this was supposed to be a VILE action, right?

In fine VILE form the first real artillery barrage from the Saxe-Bearstiener's was driected at half of the Stagonian artillery...BOOM...in one moment the entire battery was obliterated, sigh.

After a long look at the battlefield, I decided that the only hope was to bottle-in some maneuvering infantry at the center of the Saxe-Bearstein line.

I shall let Maxwell Smart say it as he does so well...missed it by that much.

The light cavalry had a chance, slim I agree but a chance none the less, to make it into the town before the Saxe-Bearstein infantry could get into formation. Sadly the cavalry commander chose to 'wait' a turn to understand his orders before charging at (sort of) full speed...straight into a death trap.


Pretty VILE stuff...don't you think?


(oh yeah and here's some more tabletop eye candy for your minis' enjoyment)

Austrians move closer to completion and some redcoats

The Austrian formations are nearly done, the infantry got thier gloss coat of polyshade last night after I took some pictures, then got dinner.




Painting progress was halted due to a sick child needing to be held while mommy was out.

Once she got back I was able to fire-up the brushes again and finish all the infantry before dinner.


I was also able to get the first red layer on all the current batch of British Infantry.

Coming this week (during those rare moments) I may be able to finish the Hussars and get more done on the British. At the very least this week I plan to finish the cleaning of all flashing from all the remaining Brits so that in the coming month I can simply get them onto painting sticks and ramp-up production to a fever pitch...only two months to go before the VIMEIRO games.

Organizing for du VILE

Stagonia has a battle coming next weekend and I found myself with some outdoor demand time, which I took to organize the Stagonian forces needed for the coming Battle of Wollmitz.

(if you look at the foreground you can see the effects of leaving a 2 year old with a young sitter for too long during a trip away with their mother...sigh...more repairs)

I have been tagged to command the Stagonian forces and asked by Jeff to organize them in advance of the game.

So here are the coming forces of Stagonia!

General Baron Gaspar du Vile -- (Political, inertia 2, initiative 3 -- 12" command radius -- 2 AdC)
Maj. Gen. Rene de Villars -- (Aggressive, inertia 3, initiative 1 -- 11" command radius -- 1 AdC)

Brig. Yves d'Amours -- (Aggressive, inertia 3, initiative 2 -- 9" mounted command; 5" if foot)
Brig. Lothar Oppenkopf -- (Careful, inertia 1, initiative 1 -- 10" mounted command; 6" if foot)
Brig. Heinrich von Kroll -- (Steady, inertia 2, initiative 2 -- 14" mounted command; 9" if foot)
Brig. Graf Adolf von Voss -- (Political, inertia 2, initiative 1 -- 11" mounted command; 6" if foot)

In addition the following troops have been assigned to General du Vile to fill out the various commands as he sees fit (along with their rating in brackets):



IR von Hirschbock (elite)
IR du Breiz (veteran)
IR du Lepps (veteran)
IR O'Duffy (veteran)
IR von Gruber (raw)
IR von Krinkle (raw)
IR St. Cyr (veteran)




du Coiffard Kuirassiers (elite)
von Waganer Kuirassiers (veteran)
Benzler Dragoons (elite)
Pfeiffer Draggons (raw)
Jailler Hussars (veteran)
Hockdorf Hussars (raw)

Furthermore, Koenig Maurice has assigned some artillery batteries to the Wollmitz force. These are all crewed by veteran gunners:

2 x Medium Gun Batteries of 6 pounders
1 x Light Gun Battery of 3 pounders

Redcoats get their first coat (of paint that is...)

I have a number of 'in-progress' images that I will be transforming into a 'step-by-step' diagram of how I produce large numbers of red coats without much 'bleed' over and still have nice bright colors mixing with good dark shadows.

However daddy daycare has taken over and I do not have the time to finish it all today.


Expect more over the weekend.

Prinz Robert (the) Axe



One miniature has been dispatched, along with some supplies to Der Alte Fritz to gain some experience commanding a few redcoats.

I waved farewell to him before carefully packing him for his journey to the Prince's Troop Depot.

Progress on Austrians.

The last batch of Austrians may be ready to finish this week (provided I can spare the time...)



The muskets are all 'wooded' now and packs etc are filled in. Next up will be barrels & bindings then some metallics.

Then will be the last 'white' layer on the tops of the uniforms and then the collars & cuffs.

Finally will be the minwax 'dip' coat. Something I hope to be doing by sunday!

The redcoats are coming...

I have been very busy with cleaning flash from the 100's of belgic SHAKO wearing British Infantry.

So far I have done 240+/- of them and have 64 on painting sticks with basecoat on them awaiting brush action today.


I like to clean the figs with a pair of flush-cut clippers that I have and then use a heavy metal file to get the bases FLAT.

From there I tend to clean off the bulk flash with the clippers, followed by some blade trimming and finally into the use of my favorite tool a semi-round, diamond cross cut, micro-metal file which I have found most useful for almost all areas of flash detail cleaning.

The slow progress has come due to the need to work a lot suddenly which has taken me away from many of my other projects...for now hobby still has to be rather low on the list.

After finishing a few hours out at the beach with the children I am now ready to focus on revving up the brushes!

Some more progress...at least a little.


With some much more for me to study and do around the house (now that the rains have stopped) I am having the usual slow down in painting progress being combined with a real crunch in work study time.


However I did get in an hour or so on sunday and have the horse ready to take inks (tonight I hope) and have the foot ready for detail layers (lots of small leather and wood bits along with the flagpoles then the metallics). Though the details are not likely to be advanced for another week or so.

I did also get 4 battalions of British mounted to sticks and base coated -> the redcoats are coming!

More progress...

Brush action tonight, at least an hour or so.

Got more done on the Austrian Infantry, did a layer on the Hussars and managed to get 4 battalions of British Infantry mounted to the painting sticks (after cleaning during the week).

The painting spaces have also been re-vamped so I should be able to get in 1/2 hour or so a day in painting time. Something I shall need in order to get the British Peninsular forces whipped into shape in time for Vimeiro (and likely more Peninsular actions afterwards)!

On the BIG Canvas...

Not much brush work recently, as I have had family events to attend to.

Today my eldest son and I went into another game of Napoleon in Europe. Only a simple 'even steven' battle.

Sadly Alex still has not learned the value of "slow and steady" or how to concentrate efforts on the campaign level.

Still, a fun game.

Busy brushes.

Also today I managed to get in a few hours of painting time (though interrupted many times).

The Austrian Infantry must be done this month, I am working hard to get the cavalry done at the same time.


Must clear the project space for all those red coats!

Bright and Shiny!

The entire British force for the Vimeiro game this year is completely cast.

I have assembled them into their fighting contingents and gotten the 'flat' sections bulk cleaned (so that they could stand on their own). The major flash cleaning is yet to come.

As a feature of this force there are is a 'regiment' of Highlanders from the 71st.
(getting a clean close-up picture of the bright metal is really hard)


While putting out the troops I thought that I had a different Prince August casting that had a fore-and-after hat on, I searched the moulds and LO! it was the French Guard Officer that has just such a pose. I shall have to cast a dozen or so of them, should only take one morning and I have plenty of cleaning to do before then.

At least there are no cavalry to do as the brits have only a small force:



Under the watchful eye of 'old nosey'.
I decided once I had laid out the brits to determine if I already had enough french and portuguese for the battle also.



I have enough prussians that I can substitute as the blue coated portuguese and plenty enough french cavalry and enough infantry so long as I use the 'greatcoats' that I made up over the past few years so that they could 'serve' as any nations troops (just by switching the flags). These troops have been in plenty of actions and look to get into more already!

Casting Complete

Yesterday I finished the count and have 21 British units of 16+ men each (I always want extras in case of 'damage' during the cleaning process) and some 'extras' for sale and as gifts (both of the younger sons are now jealous of their older brother -> getting a regiment for xmas has become all the rage!).

Now on to the cleaning, basing, painting process!

Oh yes I suppose I had better finish those Austrians I started last month too...then there is working...keeping my wife happy...so much to do!!!

Markers, Counters & Conversions

A comment by Rafa made me think about how I have used my Prince August moulds and the extra bits that have collected from the castings I have done.

One thing I did was use the shakos, muskets, gun carriage wheels, cut off packs and drums of castings that were otherwise unusable.

These 'bits' were then assembled on fender washers and turned into 'markers'.

I selected a trio of samples from the two dozen or so that I have currently to show you what I mean.

I have also found that I can cast an extra horse for each force of cavalry that I do and use the extra horse as a 'blown' or 'disorder' marker specifically for that cavalry unit and there is little or no confusion about which unit has the 'marker' since it matches the unit. I paint the markers at the same time as the unit so the shabraques all match.

These same horses also work well with minifigs riders, like this one that I got in an eBay collection of minis while I was building up my Russian Horse.

Further advantage to the self-casting method is a willingness to attack the minis in the process of conversion...something that is less likely with a higher priced, though probably better sculpted mini.

And just because I wanted to show them all off, including the minifig in comparison to the others, here is a group shot.

Working Spaces

Hobby time has continued to take hits from real life demands, however a glimmer of time has come about a couple of times this week.

First the weather was great for casting on Thursday so I got out the melter and moulds and did some multi-tasking. I was playing a game of "Conquest of the Empire" with my sons (yes sons! my 4-year old is becoming more interested...) and between my turns and helping the youngest with his actions I poured lead.

I do not have a count (I never count them when I am just pushing hard to produce lots) of how many British Infantry I cast from Prince August moulds, but the mound is a good 8" around and 5" high!

Second I was able to get a fellow gamer helping me to re-organize my office and painting spaces, more to do on that front yet but the parts that have been done will permit me to get in focus time on the painting. The next stage will be good for getting me into the 'production mode' needed for the large numbers of British I need to get finished in time for Vimeiro.

(not so) blazing brushes

I have had a very busy March and rough start to April, taking away all available hobby time.

Wife has gone away for family needs and I have been doing daddy daycare 24/7.

This has really killed any painting time and planning for games, writing, etc, well if any of you have three boys then you will understand. If not then imagine only having about 20 mins a day to do anything you want, then have that taken away time and again by 'daddy!!!' then sounds of fighting and arguing.

The task of settling them (the three boys down) has been done and now I have had a bit of a breathing room.

I got another layer into the Austrian Infantry, and started the 'white underlayer' on the horses for some Hussars.

Other project are looming along with work oh yes and eating...

I shall be continuing here, just not as fast as once hoped.

Fantastic Central European Map!

Rpardo of Project Leipzig (1813) has found the most amazing map of south central europe, centerted around Austria-Hungary.

First published around 1910, so it includes the railways, however the detail is excellent and all place names have their proper Germanic spellings!

If you are looking to have more 'actual' window dressings in your campaign games and your game takes place in the region covered then this site has all that you need!

3rd Military Mapping Survey of Austria-Hungary

More Girl Gamer thoughts:

I had another opportunity recently to interview a 13 year old about her interest in the tabletop games, she has played a few and even outright beat me on occasion.

She liked the imaginary challenge and the colors on the tabletop. It took some time to get a few details as her favourite response was,

"Its fun!"

Still at something of a loss to really nail down what it is that the young lads and ladies find attractive (so that I can do it better or more) in the tabletop games; I shall press on reagardless (thanks Grimsby Mariner!).

Girls and miniatures games.

An interesting question was posed and today I had opportunity to ask it of the young (eight) girl that played in last week's game (and a few others over last summer).

According to her:

"I like to play them because you get to kill [knock over] the men as you play.
I like it that you get to choose your own [coloured] troops.
I like the fun of play where you can imagine the things that are happening."

Some of her thoughts may be coming from the games that she plays with my eldest son (also 8, soon to be 9 [or is that 19?]) and they tend to play using my fantasy miniatures, which is more of a kreigspeil where stories about their 'imaginary' contests are told as they play...

It was an interesting question and one worthy of exploring.

What have been your experiences?

Young Brigadiers take to the field:



The boys chose to all fight together from the same side.

So I gave them two Russian Infantry and one Allied (Russiand and Austrian) Cavalry Division(s) to work with. Total 6 units with three batteries; two horse and one foot. My son cajoled the other two boys into letting him 'command', collectively they worked on the map doodle and deployed troops.

This left me in command of the French forces, one Division of 2 units Infantry, one with 'light' infantry and a cavalry division which I shorted two stands in the Chasseurs.

Once plans were set the action began, our girl player arrived just as the units were all deployed and so she 'joined' my side, I showed her the plans and set her to command the forward 'heavy' infantry which had a foot battery deployed and was not to move forward until turn 3.

The cavalry young commander with the mixed Russian dragoons and Austrian Hussars (chosen because of thier bright colors) ended up doing excellent execution.

His first charge was into a square, but he only lost 1 casting and had to fall back (no surprise and I prepared him for the worst along with explaining why the horses would not 'press home' such an attack into a steady square!), the follow up was with a horse battery, which scored a hit, this after a terrible rally attempt - that killed a man! The Russian Dragoons then broke the square and took the French Eagle!

Meanwhile the French foot gun had been pounding away at some exposed Russian infantry, then at the advancing troops until it was time for the advance...then the French Infantry formed up and charged into the rear and flanks of the mass of Russians trying to reach the crest of the central hillock.

The Russian moves were seen by the French high command who launched the Chasseurs and Dragoons into a rapid flank move to the extreme left of the French position. This resulted in a mass of combined arms, both Infantry and Cavalry arriving at the same time at the top of the central hillock, a vicious hand to hand resulted in half of the Russian Division being shattered and their flag taken, the other half retreated and their commander chose to call for a withdrawl (at least it was not a rout!).

We declared the engagement a draw and parted.



Observations:
Of the young commanders the Cavalry one had the most action and seemed to grasp the game the best, indeed my son withdrew and left the field to his command as soon as the French Cavalry reached the base of the central hillock.

The most colourful uniforms and quickest action is what will draw in the young players, though a good set of descriptions at the start of the game can also 'set the stage' for a good game also.

I think that some new young men may have discovered a different pastime than the 'computer'?

Young Brigadiers

Tomorrow I shall host a few young boys (and perhaps a girl) 6-8 years old at the game table.

Following Grimsby's advice I shall go for colour and action in the plan, with a simple 'combat' system, mostly borrowed from SHAKO.

Look in here on Tuesday night for the after action report.

Coming next week should be the follow-up from the game at Dak-Kon and some thoughts regarding running games for the 'young' crowd.

St Valentines Seige Train on parade.

At long last I have found the time to do a short display of the recently completed 10 batteries of Austrian Artillery - along with six extra 'siege guns' for use in 25mm games.

The 'red' gun is still not quite where I want it to be, having become much brighter in photographs than it looks 'in the flesh'.

Other than this the whole addition is a great new group and it appears that the guns and gunners may see action in a Tricorne Wars game at Jeff's table in April.

While laying out the batteries for display I also recalled that my very first painted Austrian unit, of Hussars, was still not adequately presented here on the blog, so I chose to feature my newest and oldest Austrian units in a single shot.


It also brought to mind the question for other gamers,

"Which do you prefer to organize/play: games based on the action(s) of the great empires or smaller bits taken on by lesser powers?"

Unter-Schweingau "revisited"

At the same time I also did one series during the Unter-Schweingau proxy battle.

Likewise the 'postcard' is available upon request.

Battle of Offenbach "revisited"



I have now gotten off my butt and managed to activate an older computer system that has a very neat 'panoramic' program on it.

I took these pictures during the game with the intention of offering up the images.

Sadly it has taken until now to get them processed.

Hopefully in the future it will not take so long.

If you liked them you might also like a cool little 'postcard' feature I have that alows me to send you the image in a self-executing 'moving' picture viewer that permits you to 'zoom in' and 'pan' the viewing camera.

If you want one, send me an email (check the profile for the address) thanks.

Now that I have this little application running again I think I might re-do some group shots of my available forces!

Gary Gygax, RIP

The original Role-Playing Game creator, Gary Gygax passed away today.

I played the original D&D and some AD&D from 1978 to about 1988 then moved on when 2nd edition became all the rage, still though we have to 'tip the hat' to Gary Gygax for his 'inventing' the modern role-playing game.

My favorite quotes from him are:

Understand the role of the game master and assist its fulfillment.

and

Winners are those who give the most.

Read more about this moment:
here
here
here
here and
here