Breaking silence

Things here at the old wargaming blog have been rather silent lately. I've been very busy with other "real life" issues to get much done in wargaming that was worth any note. As the weather was reasonably warm today I was able to spray some sealer onto a dozen Old West gunfighters so that I would have something to show for my efforts during January. I tried taking some photos of them but it was not bright enough, or I did not have the camera settings correct, so there was no evidence to present...

We tested the "skeleton" for a set of gunfighting rules yesterday and, as usual, my ideas during development didn't play out at all as I had anticipated. What I envisioned was close range pistol dueling with figures dropping left and right. What I got was a protracted affair where nobody got put out of the game for about the first 45 minutes or so! I plan on tweaking things to make it more bloody (I was concerned that players would get knocked out too fast and be left with nothing to do before the first game!) with a view towards each player now controlling 3, 4, 5, or even 6 figures in any given game. This should lessen the sting of gunfighters getting killed if you have another figure to fight on with.

That pretty much tidies up January 2009 - with little to report.

February 2009 should see me return to my Great War project of 1914 French Infantry, some 1914 Germans in Picklehaubs(!), and some 1918 Germans. Still aiming for an early April game with these guys!!??!!

And yes, I know I promised a comparative pic of my various WW1 figures from differing manufacturers. Maybe later this week...

Happy New Year 2009!

Well the old calendar has flipped over to begin a new year. This is the time when we make all sorts of resolutions about how we are going to be more organized, more productive, and to become a better person ... blah, blah, blah... who am I kidding? I am disorganized and thus unproductive. As for being a better person - c'mon!

As for wargaming - now thats another story! I've got big plans. I am working hard (as much as one can work hard sitting at a painting table) on finishing enough Old West gunfighters to try out the new rules I have been working on. I think I am close to having enough figures done to run a game for 8 or 10 players.

As soon as I finish this newest batch of cowboys its back to working on my WW1 collection. I have a slew of 1914 French troops to paint up (20th century Napoleonics!) and some Germans to get ready too. After I paint all 120 - 150 figures (by April 1st no less!) I will likely look to buy a few specialty pieces to flesh out these forces - things like artillery pieces and maybe an armored car, or two.

I have been trying to photograph a line-up of Renegade, Great War, Brigade Games, Foundry, Old Glory, and Scarab WW1 figures for comparison. So far my photographic efforts have been terrible. Looks like I am going to have to dig up my manual for the camera so I can take a useful photo.

OK, now you know what I'm doing so its back to painting!

WW1 28mm Figures

Well, I have been completely taken in by the Great War and I have been ordering sample figures from anyone I can find who sells 28mm figures for this conflict. My newest order has been placed with Scarab Miniatures Limited (http://scarabminiatures.com/). Thus far they only offer Austro-Hungarians but they appear to be planning Italians, Russians, and other nationalities sometime in the future. I am eagerly awaiting the arrival of these fellows and I will give a review of some of the various figure lines that I have gotten samples from soon.

Fresh troops for the Emperor

Here is a shot of the newest battalion for Davout's Corps at Wagram
Painting done by Rex Blackwell of Rex Painting Service - all I had to do was base them up and put the flag in the Eagle Bearers hand and presto!

WW1 Wargaming in Palestine

We finally got to have a go at a largish WW1 game using Price of Glory rules this past weekend. Scott Pasha (see his blog), he who leads us off the beaten path, ran a game set in Palestine featuring Germans, Turks, and some native tribesmen pitted against some British Territorial units. I took some photos but they aren't very good - but I never let that stop me.

Here is a picture taken from the vantage point of the German Asienkorps area of deployment.













This picture shows the rapid advance of 3 sections of Indian Lancers, look out!












Here is a later battle shot from just behind the advancing Turkish lines. The area just to the front of the Turks was the scene of a cavalry battle between the Indian Lancers and a section of Turkish cavalry. The Turkish cavalry was destroyed in the melee and the Indian cavalry was shot up by Turkish Infantry fire and was forced to retire.

Alex deploys his giant army

Here is a shot of my nephew deploying his "allied" army before crushing my feeble force from our game in August. He likes to look in from time to time and be reminded of his many victories over me.

See, I am doing something...

Here is some proof that I am working on my WW1 collection. These dusty soldiers are seen in a couple of work-in-progress pictures. Since the picture was taken this batch of Old Glory Germans have been mounted on bases but the bases have not been flocked yet - I am a great procrastinator! I have 'finished' two full sections of riflemen for the Price of Glory rules system. I am looking forward to having enough sections to stage a game soon.

How I lose

This is another shot of my nephew Alexander the Great. In this shot he is busy describing how his massive army is going to crush my pathetic force. It was a tough lesson for me to learn...

Check out Scott's Blog

Scott has a blog on his gaming projects over at...

http://scottpasha.blogspot.com/

A new area of expense... ahem interest

My wargaming pal Scott lured me into doing something with my long standing curiosity about WWI/The Great War/The War to End All Wars... So I have taken the plunge and begun doing a bit of reading, collecting, and painting troops so we can wargame this fascinating era.

For once I have a plan (sort of) for what I wish to collect before I just purchasing figures willy nilly. We will see if I can stick to my plans - I have my doubts. First up will be French (I gotta collect French troops - call me misguided, sick, or whatever...) and Germans. I have completed a small smattering of Old Glory Germans and I have to say they aren't bad looking figures. As soon as I have properly based them I shall have to snap and share a few pics.

Meanwhile check out a new WWI movie that looks positively inspirational:
http://www.passchendaelethemovie.com/Canada_In_The_Great_War/behind_the_scenes.html