A new venture?

I am getting a little frustrated at not having the room or storage space, to fight large battles. I only have access to a very small table, with very little chance of that improving.
It is big enough to fight reasonable sized battles with my 6 mm ACW troops, but that is about all. Even One Hour Wargames, and rules such as Lion Rampant, call for a bigger area than I have access to. Anything other than a very small skirmish in 28 mm is out of the question.

I am not abandoning my miniature armies, far from it, they will see the tabletop at home, for lots of battles in the future, I just need something more compact and easy to store, for my present location.

I have been looking at block wargames for some time, and settled on a few that interested me, so did some research.

This one looks really interesting, and has a very unique system of movement and battle. It also has wooden blocks, which I find acceptable. I am certainly not a picker up of cardboard counters with tweezers! The main problem is that it is just one battle, lots of different possible outcomes of course, but still just a single battle.

This series of three games, really does interest me greatly, and I have no doubt that I shall pick up one or more eventually.

A more abstract type of wargame, with control of areas being the key, and small cubes used to represent armies. Not a problem, it looks good and works. The use of a deck of cards is also very interesting for game play. Lots of replay potential.

The three would allow the play through of the birth of America. Very tempting.

Finally on my list, is the Commands and Colors system. I do already own a copy of Battle Cry, the ACW game with miniatures, a game I really like. It is quick to set up, enjoyable to play, and easy to store. The two big sellers in this system are the Ancients and Napoleonic versions, both have a number of expansions.

This time, instead of plastic miniatures, we have wooden blocks with stickers, representing the different troop types. Scenario books to set up particular battles, and all the terrain tiles needed for a reasonably accurate depiction of a real battlefield, or part of one.

As you can see above, the board does not take up a huge area of tabletop, ideal for what I need. In a small area I would be able fight lots of battles with the feel of a huge Napoleonic encounter. Solving the very thing that is currently frustrating me.

So I have taken the plunge and ordered the C&C Napoleonic base game and expansions. If I am going to do something, then it might as well be the whole hog. This game has been on my watch list since it was first released, so it has taken me a long time to actually pull the trigger.

Once it arrives, I will of course report back with photos.

Imaginations Project. - Summer Reinforcements Challenge completed.

Having successfully completed my challenge of painting up four infantry battalions and six mounted commanders, I took the opportunity to muster all the troops so far built and painted.

Walivia have a squadron of cavalry at the rear, three line regiments of foot, two artillery pieces and of course, two mounted brigadiers.

Karacia have exactly the same make up of units.

Cadesh has only two units of foot so far, a third will be added.

Some shots looking along the ranks.

I would like to eventually have five battalions of line infantry for each nation, this would then allow me to form a combined grenadier battalion of 20 figures, leaving five line battalions, also of 20 figures.

I can then begin to add some fusiliers, guards in bearskins etc.

What you see lined up is the contents of two Marlborough Army starter box sets, with the addition of just one extra cavalry squadron.

Now at a more leisurely pace, the first of three more standard cavalry regiments is well underway. Another unit for Walivia.

Once each nation has two standard cavalry squadrons, they like the infantry, will receive some fancy units, Cuirassiers, mounted grenadiers, possibly lancers too. This is after all, Imagi-Nations.

I will post another update when the final two cavalry squadrons are complete.

Imagi-Nations Project. - Summer Reinforcements Challenge.

The project is progressing very well, mainly due to the Tabletop Commanders Summer Reinforcements Challenge. The challenge runs from the 1st of June until the 31st July, I pledged to complete four regiments of foot and six mounted commanders, in that time.

I did purchase two Marlborough Army starter boxes a while back, I had already completed the cavalry and artillery, plus three regiments of foot, so the boxes were emptying quite quickly. However, with the lovely weather, I could find plenty of other things to do, and the project slipped a little.

My pledge would see the completion of every miniature in the two boxes! Once I started, I soon got into a rhythm and the four units of foot were built, primed and painted in short order, I was on a roll.


Four completed units of foot, however, the regiment in sky blue with red facings, was begun before the start date, it was the final foot regiment in the first box, so I am not counting that as part of the challenge. The other three though, have been painted in the last ten days.

I intend to have a mass basing and flocking session when all the regiments are complete.

The final regiment in the second box, is now well underway. Another battalion for Karacia.

The final part of my pledge is the six mounted commanders, they have now been built, both horses and riders, the latter just loosely sat on their mounts for the time being. I shall prime and paint them on completion of the last foot battalion.

I expect the whole pledge to be completed by the 21st of June, so a total of three weeks. I will probably take a break from the painting for a while, as I would love to put some of these on the table and fight a battle or two, using Pikeman's Lament or One Hour Wargames rules. I think I have earned that reward. I do still have three boxes each of cavalry and foot which I ordered after the box sets, once I knew exactly how my Imagi-Nations project was going to progress. I also have of course, those metal command figures and gun limbers from Front Rank, patiently awaiting their turn on the painting table.

I think that the three boxes of cavalry will be the next priority, and maybe I will increase my pledge to include them. We shall see.

Imaginations Project- More work done and command figures.

I recently took delivery of my very first Front Rank figures. I wanted command figures that were a little bit special for my three nations of Culm. They are not cheap, but the quality is amazing, the sculpts are superb. Very little flash and mould lines were cleaned off with a couple of passes with a mini file.

First up, I ordered four limbers for the guns. They came in in at a hefty £6.25 each, but the quality is excellent and if I want limbers, then pay I must.

Although I currently have six artillery pieces, I only ordered four limbers as well as eight draught horses to pull them. The horses are £4 a pair, so the limbers and horses in this photograph came to a grand total of £41. Expensive, but you get what you pay for, and they are simply superb.

I also received a number of the command figures from their War of the Spanish Succession range. So the Duke of Marlborough, Marshall Bouffiers et al, will become generals or even kings, in my three armies.

The figures do not come with horses, you have to order them separately, but I think you will agree, the sculpts are top notch.

I also received the cards and two sets of dice for Mortem et Gloriam, an Ancient and Medieval rule set. I am currently well into the planning stage, with my good friend Nik, for a campaign game set during the Hundred Years War. We have a map, values for regions and cities, as well as a campaign system, which we are tentatively naming 'Point of Honour.' It will allow for numerous battles and should keep us entertained for many months to come. The campaign will be filmed live, so you can watch us on You Tube. The rule set will also be ideal for my Wars of the Roses armies too.

A second infantry battalion for Walivia has also been completed and work has started on the second battalion for Karacia. This is part of the Tabletop Commanders Summer Reinforcements challenge, to which I have pledged to paint up four battalions of infantry for the Imagi-Nations project by the end of July. I will of course post photographs here on my blog too.

Tiny Table equals Compromise.

As regular readers of this blog will know, among the periods in which I wargame, is a Wars of the Roses army in 28mm. Being a solo player, I of course painted up both Lancastrian and Yorkist forces. I have experimented with a number of rule sets for this period, including Hail Caesar, Sword and Spear, Impetus and Swordpoint. For skirmish games, my favourite set is Lion Rampant, it is quick, easy to play, and a lot of fun too.

However, for larger battles, the previously mentioned sets are fine, they each have their own good, and not so good points. I was still looking for the 'Holy Grail' set of rules. Thanks to my good friend Nik, a member of the Tabletop Commanders community and owner of the very popular 'Medieval Miniature Wargaming' site, also on Face Book, I may well have found it. I was introduced to 'Mortem et Gloriam or MeG for short.

MeG is the latest, and possibly least well known of the recent Ancient/Medieval rule sets to be published within the last few months. The rules allow for a number of bases to be gathered together to form TUG's and SUG's (Tactical Unit Groups and Skirmish Unit Groups), A number of these Unit Groups form the army. The rules call for base removal when casualties are sustained. The number of figures on each base is not important, nor is the size of the base, as long as both armies are based in the same way.



A typical TUG of longbows would be eight bases in total, as you can see from the bases I use, that a TUG would occupy a frontage of 340 mm or just a shade over 13 inches. That would be fine on an 8 x 4 foot table, unfortunately, the table I currently have access to is just 1100 mm x 730 mm (43 x 29 inches). Three typical TUG's, side by side, would pretty much occupy the full length, with no room at all for manoeuvre.

This is where the compromise comes into play. Those eight bases are now condensed into a single base measuring 80 mm or a tad over three inches. Each of the figures now represents a base of the TUG. Instead of removing a base, I remove a single figure.

A TUG of foot knights, comprising six bases, or in my case just six figures.

Cavalry are little more difficult, being larger models, but six bases are represented here.

My compromise, though not nearly as impressive as the original, does only take up a frontage of ten inches or 255 mm, compare the size with the full longbow Tug of eight bases in front!

Does it work? As all my figures are based in one's, two's, three's and four's, yes it does, and will allow me to fight some decent sized battles on my tiny table.

I have a copy of  the MeG rules, and have ordered the cards and dice used to play the game. In the meantime, Nik and myself are planning a Hundred Years War campaign, using his figures. With the power of the internet, we will fight the battle over on Google Hangouts, with a couple of camera angles on his table. Planning is already well advanced, and once we have ironed out any problems, it will be broadcast live on YT, links to watch being posted in Tabletop Commanders and Medieval Miniature Warfare face book pages.

A narrative of the above mentioned campaign, to whet your appetite.

May 1424.

London to Dover Road.

Jack Hall had risen early, soon after dawn broke he had taken his short hunting bow and slipped out of the sleeping camp, nodding to Ralph who was standing his turn on guard duty. There were no lurking French here in the fields of Kent, but the donkey carts contained food, weapons and other items of value, for any opportunist thief who happened to pass by.

He had soon bagged himself four plump rabbits and a grouse. On his return he could smell a fire that had already been re-lit, and men moved about the small tents. James Blackwell, the captain of the band, saw him approaching and smiled, noting the animals and bird hanging from his belt.

'A fine morning for a hunt it seems Master Hall, I can see we will not be going hungry with you in the company.' Some of the other men grinned and nodded in agreement. 'There is no time this morning to cook your prizes, we are but two hours walk from Dover,' James continued, 'You will have to make do with bread and cheese like the rest of us this morning.'

Jack handed the results of his hunt to the boy who served as servant to James Blackwell. 'It can join the rest of the provisions sir, who knows when we will be able to hunt again?'

The men set about breaking camp, the simple canvas tents were soon dismantled and rolled up, along with woolen blankets, pewter mugs and other items. All were loaded into one of the two donkey carts. The column was ready to set off on the last few miles of its journey from Yorkshire to the South Coast. Anyone who paid any attention to the small column, would find nothing unusual, a group of farmers or pedlars perhaps, heading into Dover to turn a few pennies in profit. They may have been curious at the sight of an impressive chestnut stallion, worth a great deal of money, that was tethered to the back of the leading cart. A cart which was covered in a tight canvas cover, to protect its contents from the weather or any prying eyes. The second cart was laden with the everyday items of people travelling the road.

James Blackwell, the captain of this small band, had accepted an indenture from the king to serve as a Man at Arms, and to provide ten archers for his company. An army was mustering at Dover, and a fleet of ships would transport the men to Calais. All his men were volunteers, they all were proficient with the bow, and he had provided for all their needs, with equipment for the forthcoming conflict, as well as food and shelter on the journey south.

Each man would serve for six months and be paid three pence per day, when the Royal Commissioners had stopped at the town, calling for volunteers, James was quick to respond, and he had hand picked the ten men he wished to accompany him.

For his service, each of his archers would be paid £4 10 shillings. They had each received the sum of £1 - 2 shillings and 6d in advance. A small fortune to ploughmen and farmers who would be lucky to earn £2 in a year. Once they presented themselves to the commissioners in Dover, they would receive a further 25 percent, another £1 2s 6d, the remainder would be paid at the end of their service, assuming of course, they were still alive to receive it.

The column made its way to Dover Castle, overlooking the harbour. The men were amazed at how many ships filled the waters below the lofty sentinel. It was clear a large army was to be transported very soon.

Once inside the castle, Captain Blackwell presented himself and his men for inspection by the commissioners. He proved he had a horse, helmet with visor, armour, lance, axe, sword and a dagger. Each of his archers was supplied with a Jack, a protective cloth jacket, consisting of many layers, which although soft and comfortable to wear, offered a lot of protection from sword and arrows. Each had a helmet, sword, buckler, longbow and at least 40 arrows. Once the commissioners were satisfied that the indenture had been filled, the men received the promised money.

James Blackwell was informed that he and his men would be serving in a battle commanded by the Earl of Salisbury, and that it was presently camped to the west of the town, with the expectation of sailing for France within two days.

So it was, James Blackwell and his company joined the battle of the Earl of Salisbury, and two days later boarded a cog bound for Calais, their adventure was about to begin...

A month earlier Jamie McNair, a crofter from the Highlands had been called by his lord to pay service. He along with some 6,000 other Scottish troops, under the command of John Stuart the Earl of Buchan, had sailed in Spanish ships from Scotland to La Rochelle in France. The Scottish troops were to replace the losses suffered during the defeat at the Battle of Cravant by English forces.

Jamie had answered the call by his lord, it was his duty, but he was unhappy to discover he would be travelling to France, not crossing the border to fight in England.

The voyage had taken five days, and though the passage was made in reasonably good weather, Jamie, and his colleagues had suffered greatly from sea sickness, to the point, they gladly left the ship and set foot, once again, on dry land. Even if that land was France. They would spend the next days marching through the French countryside to join the Scottish contingent under the command of the Earl of Douglas, so recently defeated by the English.

Jamie carried his pike, and realised with every step he took, he was moving further and further away from his beloved family and the small croft that was his life. He just wanted to get this service over and done with as quickly as possible, so he could return home. The men with Jamie trudged along the dusty roads to an inevitable meeting with the English foe. Very soon, though he did not know it, he would meet James Blackwell and his company of Yorkshire volunteers on the fields of France...

To be continued...

Imagi-Nations. A progress report.

I have completed the third squadron of cavalry to add to my forces. Introducing the unit for Karacia.

The tufts are still wet with PVA and the sword scabbards are still to be added.

A line up of of what I have managed to build and paint since mid March.

 

Karacia.

Cadesh.

Walivia.

This gives me an excellent nucleus to build upon.

I still have three more cavalry and eight more infantry units to build.

They will all be standard line infantry and regular cavalry, the specialist troops will come later.