Okay, It's summer and my son is at his mother's and it is time for me to get some serious painting done.
25mm Gauls
I have owned these figures forever, okay since 1997/98, but that's 17 plus years ago. The figures were originally purchased to play test Warhammer Ancient Battles before its release in 1998. The figures for years were mounted on 25mm square bases (infantry), primed black and had a splash of color added to them.
I pulled out the box and began organizing for Field of Glory - AKA Fog and slapping some paint on the figures.
16 Figures (one battle group) Javelin
16 Figures (one battle group) Slingers
3 Stands (not quite one battle group) Chariots
32 Figures (one battle group) Geseti Warriors
48 Figures (two battle groups) Hill Tribe Warriors
I have unpainted
16 Figures (one battle group) Slingers - Which I will paint up and sell
10 Figures - Mounted Command
What I need
12 Figures (one battle group) Gesetti Javelin
48 Figures (one battle group) Gesseti Warriors
48 Figures (one battle group) Hill Tribe Soldurii
48 Figures (two battle groups) Hill Tribe Warriors
10 - 20 Figures Cavalry
1 Stand Chariot
1 Stand Chariot Command
I have enough figures painted that I could play a non-legal game but it could be fun.
25mm Caesarian Romans
Again purchased in later parts of 1997 or early 1998 for 'WAB' I have decent number of figures painted up.
64 Figures (four battle groups) Legionnaires
10 Figures (one battle group) Heavy Cavalry
4 Stands Bolt Shooters
2 Stands (one battle group) Elephants
2 Stands Stone Throwers (not legal)
4 Stands Command
Unpainted
64 Figures (four battle groups) Legionnaires
What I need
Slingers/Archers
Light Cavalry
Other Projects currently gracing my table
15mm - 52nd Lowland Infantry Division - WWII - Roer Triangle
Modern Micro Armor - French Armored Division - 1988
25mm Seven Years War - Saxon Prinz Friedrich August Infantry
Thursday, July 3, 2014
Sunday, June 15, 2014
French and Grenzer War - A New Beginning
ReCon! was held at Geek Partnership Society this past weekend and the War of the Jumbo Alliances got its name, The French and Grenzer War. Offered up by the Jeff Knudsen Earl of Garfield (at least that is his title in the War of the Jumbled Alliances), the name has taken hold and I assume will last.
This was the first ReCon! (roughly a quarterly gameday that has been on hiatus for the past year) at the Geek Partnership Society, for much of the past decade ReCon! has been held in Coon Rapids at the VFW hall. The Building had ample lighting and considering I brought in four tables it had enough tables for the people who attended. I am not going to beat around the bush when I say the rooms use provided enough space for the games that were played, but increasing the number of attendees is going to make the space tight.
10 French Piquets
12 Canadian Militia
10 Ottawa Indians
2 6Lbs Canons
36 – Languedoc Infantry Regiment
24 - Colonial Compagnies Franches de la Marine
16 – Canadian Militia
24 – Provincial Regiment
10 – Gorham’s Rangers
36 – Erb Prinz Fusilier Regiment
12 – Hessian Jaegers
British Center Left
24 – Colonial Militia
16 – Mohawk Indians
British Left
36 – Dunbar’s 48th Infantry Regiment
24 – Amherst’s 15th Infantry Regiment
British Far Left
24 – Colonial Militia
10 – Hazen’s Rangers
French Center – Drive the Hessians from the Field
French Right – Take the Blockhouse
British Right – Take Fort St. Jimmy
British Center – Hold against the French Center and assist in taking Fort St. Jimmy
British Center Left – Hold Farmstead
British Left – Drive the French from the Field
British Far Left – Hold the Block House
Rules Questions
Can a unit move full and Shoot?
What’s the penalty for crossing a Chevel-de-Frise?
Who can fight and how can they fight in a wall assault
Who and when can a light unit shoot.
This was the first ReCon! (roughly a quarterly gameday that has been on hiatus for the past year) at the Geek Partnership Society, for much of the past decade ReCon! has been held in Coon Rapids at the VFW hall. The Building had ample lighting and considering I brought in four tables it had enough tables for the people who attended. I am not going to beat around the bush when I say the rooms use provided enough space for the games that were played, but increasing the number of attendees is going to make the space tight.
After Action Report – French and Grenzer War
ReCon! – June 14, 2014
 |
| Fort St. Jimmy and the French Garrison |
Forces
French Left (Fort St. Jimmy)10 French Piquets
12 Canadian Militia
10 Ottawa Indians
2 6Lbs Canons
French Center
36 - Bearn Infantry Regiment |
| French Battle Line |
36 – Languedoc Infantry Regiment
French Center-Right
30 – Croat Grenzers
French Right
36 - Colonial Compagnies Franches de la Marine24 - Colonial Compagnies Franches de la Marine
16 – Canadian Militia
 |
| Compagnies Franches de la Marine |
British Right
30 – Highland Infantry24 – Provincial Regiment
10 – Gorham’s Rangers
British Center
48 – Von Mansbach Infantry Regiment36 – Erb Prinz Fusilier Regiment
12 – Hessian Jaegers
 |
| British Right |
16 – Mohawk Indians
British Left
36 – Dunbar’s 48th Infantry Regiment
24 – Amherst’s 15th Infantry Regiment
British Far Left
24 – Colonial Militia
10 – Hazen’s Rangers
Hessian Jaegers |
Orders
French Left – Hold Fort St. JimmyFrench Center – Drive the Hessians from the Field
French Right – Take the Blockhouse
British Right – Take Fort St. Jimmy
British Center – Hold against the French Center and assist in taking Fort St. Jimmy
British Center Left – Hold Farmstead
British Left – Drive the French from the Field
British Far Left – Hold the Block House
The Action
British Right moved against Fort St. Jimmy, quickly
driving off the Ottawa Indian Allies, had some minor difficulty getting through
the Chevel-De-Frise but by late in the game made it to the wall. The Rangers finally cleared a section of the
wall and storm the fort at the end of the game.
 |
| Hessian Brigade moves on the French Center. |
British Center moved directly against the French Center
which moved forward to meet them. It
was quick and bloody as the French Center pummeled the Erb Prinz Regiment. Von Mansbach attempted to setup a defense
against onslaught of the French Center and was defeated two turns before the
Rangers stormed the fort. The French
Center was unable to move British Right fast enough to save Ft. St. Jimmy.
The Colonial Militia held the farmstead, as no one cared
they were there.
 |
| Karlstädter-Szluiner Grenzer |
On the French Right one composite battalion of Colonial
Compagnies Franches de la Marine moved against the block house with Canadian
Militia Support, while the second composite battalion of Colonial Compagnies
Franches de la Marine held the link between the forests. The Zolton’s Grenzers (named after the
famous Grenzer Zolton who held an Austrian village by his lonesome for a turn
and half against insurmountable odds) moved through the woods and fired on the
Dunbar Infantry Regiment. After most of
the day the French and British forces were exhausted and for all practical
purposes routed from the board simultaneously, leaving the Amherst’s 15th
Infantry Regiment on the field alone.
 |
| Strategic Redeployment of the Erb Prinz Regiment to the Rear! |
View from above
The game was laid out for 8 players, with an option to expand to 10 players; however only 6 players
participated. While everyone had fun
and was challenged by the scenario it would have been nice to have a couple
more players.
The Units are for the most part full strength, or fairly close. The game is getting to
the point of needing setup tables which I think will be a requirement upon completing the last view under-strengthed
units.
 |
| The Erb Prinz Fusiliers in full retreat |
In Batailles de l'Ancien Régime aka BAR one of the unique aspects is awarding battle honors to units that performed beyond the level of expectation on the Table Top. On this day no unit earned a Battle Honor. The Provincial Regiment held strong but could
not take Fort St. Jimmy was the closest unit to earn a Battle Honor.
On the other end of the spectrum the Erb Prinz Fusilier Regiment unit is halfway to receiving a downgrade however.
On the other end of the spectrum the Erb Prinz Fusilier Regiment unit is halfway to receiving a downgrade however.
It was a hard fought game, a minor British Victory that
was extremely costly as 2/3 of the Regulars were pushed from the table or
removed as casualties.
 |
| British Forces storm Fort St. Jimmy |
What’s the penalty for crossing a Chevel-de-Frise?
Who can fight and how can they fight in a wall assault
Rules we got wrong
Fire Modifier for shooting at Chargers.Who and when can a light unit shoot.
Monday, April 14, 2014
French and Indian War - French Piquets
Each French Infantry Battalion had a Piquet Company; permanently assigned to the Company was a Captain, a lieutenant, a second-lieutenant, and a couple of NCO's; all others who were assigned to the Piquet Company was on an temporary basis, usually only for a day or two. In theory each fusilier battalion was responsible for providing 3 to 5 soldiers every day for duty with the Piquet Company. After the term or assignment was up those temporally attached tot he Piquet Companies would be replaced by new soldiers from their permanent fusilier battalions.
In Europe the Piquet Companies were responsible for guarding the camp, providing advanced and rear guard on the March, protecting the Colors, Sentries and various other similar duties. Those assigned to the Piquet Company were exempted from many of the daily duties of the other members of the Battalion, including camp construction, presenting arms, and the like.
In North America soldiers assigned to Piquet Companies were often assigned on a more permanent basis as the use of Piquet Companies was more widespread and strategic rather than tactical.
Detachment of Piquet Companies occurred often as these "temporary" companies were assigned duties throughout Canada, ostensibly to protect, organize and train French Settlers and their forts from the Atlantic to the Rocky Mountains and the Gulf of Mexico. It's estimated by one historian that there were as many as 500 such detachments through New France, I am extremely skeptical at such a number because even with only 10 men assigned to each of those (5,000 total) you are looking at roughly 25% to 50% of all regulars assigned out. While their may have be 500 places that France had forces, the use of Troupes de la Marine, local Militia (Milices Canadiennes) most likely were the forces present. That's not saying the Piquet Companies were not assigned out that way, rather in much smaller numbers, maybe 20 to 30 as opposed to 500.
Another use of Piquet Companies in North America was creating rapid intervention force, along with a Corps de Cavalrie. During the Siege of Quebec Colonel Bougainville command such a force with 1,300 infantry and 200 cavalry and was assigned to watch the Western access to Quebec.
As a gamer the question becomes how does one model this.
As I am painting up Bougainville's force, I am also creating 10 companies of French Piquets, half will be treated as light infantry/skirmishes the other half in two converged battalions (one Regular, one Grenadier) it seems like the best way to model that specific force.
In addition in scenarios with Piquets I will simply be pulling figures from my Bougainville box.
But still I am not convinced I made the best choice.
In Europe the Piquet Companies were responsible for guarding the camp, providing advanced and rear guard on the March, protecting the Colors, Sentries and various other similar duties. Those assigned to the Piquet Company were exempted from many of the daily duties of the other members of the Battalion, including camp construction, presenting arms, and the like.
In North America soldiers assigned to Piquet Companies were often assigned on a more permanent basis as the use of Piquet Companies was more widespread and strategic rather than tactical.
Detachment of Piquet Companies occurred often as these "temporary" companies were assigned duties throughout Canada, ostensibly to protect, organize and train French Settlers and their forts from the Atlantic to the Rocky Mountains and the Gulf of Mexico. It's estimated by one historian that there were as many as 500 such detachments through New France, I am extremely skeptical at such a number because even with only 10 men assigned to each of those (5,000 total) you are looking at roughly 25% to 50% of all regulars assigned out. While their may have be 500 places that France had forces, the use of Troupes de la Marine, local Militia (Milices Canadiennes) most likely were the forces present. That's not saying the Piquet Companies were not assigned out that way, rather in much smaller numbers, maybe 20 to 30 as opposed to 500.
Another use of Piquet Companies in North America was creating rapid intervention force, along with a Corps de Cavalrie. During the Siege of Quebec Colonel Bougainville command such a force with 1,300 infantry and 200 cavalry and was assigned to watch the Western access to Quebec.
As a gamer the question becomes how does one model this.
As I am painting up Bougainville's force, I am also creating 10 companies of French Piquets, half will be treated as light infantry/skirmishes the other half in two converged battalions (one Regular, one Grenadier) it seems like the best way to model that specific force.
In addition in scenarios with Piquets I will simply be pulling figures from my Bougainville box.
But still I am not convinced I made the best choice.
French and Indian War Era - Trapper's Cabin
The body of the house and roof are complete, I still need to fabricate doors and windows.
I have already roughed up the surface so it is ready to be painted.
The roof as common in the era will be covered in dirt and sod.
Once I figure out how to make a chimney it will be added to the back of the cabin.
In the background you can see some of the trees I worked on as well over the weekend. I figure I need about 500 new trees or about 5 times what I made up this weekend.
French and Indian War Era - Trader Fort - Block House
The Terrain Board is laid out so the Trader Fort will be constructed on rise, or small hill, above the surrounding territory.
The Block House will be situated at the highest point as indicated in the picture. There will also be a Barn and a Storage Building located on the level to the left of the Block House.
A Palisade of logs will in circle the remainder of the Fort.
Some additional detail work on the Block House.
Monday, April 7, 2014
Preperations for ReCon!
I spent the weekend looking at my preparations for the "Wars of the Jumbo Alliance" game for the upcoming ReCon!.
I decided I really need to focus on the Map.
The battlefield is 18' x 6', will be a single green sheet with terrain features put on it. The North Side of the tabletops will be along the Mohawk River, the southside in state New York.
Near the center of the battlefield will be a Swamp/Stream with a bridge crossing.
Across the table will be a road network.
On The French Side there is a River Fortifications. I theory the fortifications would be located on the opposite side of the river from the battlefield, but it makes a pretty boring game that way.
On the British Side of the things there is a Frontier Farmstead and a Trader Outpost.
In theory there would be two additional 3' Tables one on each side. I am planning on using my three 5' wide banquet tables for this as set up tables. The British have the advantage of being able to move along the road on this fictional table to counter the French Strong Point at the Center of the Table.
I cut out the couple of pieces that I need for the road network, worked on painting the French River Fort and did the ground layout of the Trader Fort.
So I have the all the buildings and road done short some ground work with the exception of the Trader Fort. Shouldn't take more than a day or two to complete.
Now, how to make 400 to 500 trees.
With the terrain all at least planned out I moved to looking at the Troops Required.
British - Assembling at the Trader Fort
Final gave some serious consideration on Rules.
I decided I really need to focus on the Map.
The battlefield is 18' x 6', will be a single green sheet with terrain features put on it. The North Side of the tabletops will be along the Mohawk River, the southside in state New York.
Near the center of the battlefield will be a Swamp/Stream with a bridge crossing.
Across the table will be a road network.
On The French Side there is a River Fortifications. I theory the fortifications would be located on the opposite side of the river from the battlefield, but it makes a pretty boring game that way.
On the British Side of the things there is a Frontier Farmstead and a Trader Outpost.
In theory there would be two additional 3' Tables one on each side. I am planning on using my three 5' wide banquet tables for this as set up tables. The British have the advantage of being able to move along the road on this fictional table to counter the French Strong Point at the Center of the Table.
I cut out the couple of pieces that I need for the road network, worked on painting the French River Fort and did the ground layout of the Trader Fort.
So I have the all the buildings and road done short some ground work with the exception of the Trader Fort. Shouldn't take more than a day or two to complete.
Now, how to make 400 to 500 trees.
With the terrain all at least planned out I moved to looking at the Troops Required.
British - Assembling at the Trader Fort
- British Independent Company
- New York Untrained Militia
- New York Trained Militia
- Mohawk Indian Band
- New York Untrained Militia
- Ranger Company
- Ranger Company
- Mohawk Indian Band
- 45th Regiment of Foot
- 15th Regiment of Foot
- Highland Regiment
- Virginia Militia
- Languedoc Infantry Regiment
- Artillery
- Ottawa Indian Band
- Marine adhoc Battalion
- Militia
- Ottawa Indian Band
- Royal Rousillon Infantry Regiment
- Bearn Infantry Regiment
- Marine adhoc Battalion
- Militia
- Ottawa Indian Band
Final gave some serious consideration on Rules.
- Decided to go with a completely different initative system. Not totally happy with myself as it takes away from the BAR experience, but.. Each player will be assigned a set of chits, one +3, three +2, eight +1, eight -1, three -2, and one -3. A player chooses a chit and than rolls a d6, adding the appropriate chit modifier to determine the final initiative. Players move and shot from lowest to highest.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)