After another swift passage from Scot's Land, the following letter was received by Major General Seamus Campbell, currently in the service of the Margrave of Carpania.
Dear Cousin,
I have just a few minutes to dash off this note to you. Siggy and I are readying ourselves for an upcoming action between between the forces of the Britannian government and the Jakobite rebels. At present, we don't know whether another attempt will be made on the fortress of Carmudgeon or if there will just be a large scrum between the two armies. Intelligence received in the government camp indicates that two new clan regiments have joined the Pretender's army - one from Atholl and one from Clan MacDonald. There is also word that the Gallians may have sent some more reinforcements but that has yet to be confirmed.
I expect that by the time you receive this note that a fight will be in the offing. As soon as I can after the battle, I will write you with the results.
Please pass our felicitations to the Margrave and his family (especially my friend, Princess Buttercup).
Your affectionate and devoted cousin,
Alistair
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As Der Alte Fritz prepares for a Jacobite battle tomorrow (see Der Alte Fritz Journal ), Alistair Campbell and Siegfried Hapnich get ready to assist the government forces. Meanwhile, Count Mikhail Pavlov is doing the same on the Jacobite side. I think that it is probable that after this battle, our "gentlemen adventurers" will be returning to Mississippi to impart their tactical knowledge to their respective statelets.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Further Update from April
I realized today that I had not made any postings lately - last one was over two weeks ago! So let's bring things up to date.
Almost all my hobby time these past weeks has been concentrated in getting ready for the first of a series of loosely linked games that will culminate in a convention game at our regional Bayou Wars convention (see link for more details). This mini-campaign involves an Anglo-Indian expeditionary force advancing into the vale of Swat in the north central frontier area to punish the Haddabiera tribe for its more recent depredations. We will be using the venerable The Sword and the Flame (TSatF) rules for these games.
I finished the fourth and final 20-figure Pathan infantry unit for the Haddabiera tribe, the three mounted leaders, including Emir Tubeir himself, the eight gunners, and the 12-figure cavalry unit. So all of the Pathan forces I had planned for my game on May 16, are completed. Now to the Imperials - the thirteen British gunners have been completed except for a few splashes of paint on the rammers, etc. and putting the terrain effects on the bases. I've begun the 12-figure mounted/9-figure dismounted troop of British cavalry but haven't completely decided if they will be hussars or lancers. They will probably be hussars as I have a troop of Indian Bengal lancers already primed and waiting in the painting queue. Now I just have to figure out how to do the swords.
I've also done four hill masses for part of the terrain. They will match up with some hills I did earlier to make the battlefield look like the rolling foothills common in the southern part of the Vale of Swat.
I've also been doing a little gaming with our local group. We've fought the Assyrians versus the Egyptians in ancient times (and that is a game I would like to forget - my die rolling was abysmal!), the Carlists versus the Isabelistas in sunny Spain in the 1830s, and the Germans and their askaris versus the British and their askaris in German East Africa in the Great War. The ancient games were played with Jay Stribling's 20mm figures using a set of rules he developed. The Carlist games were played with Mark Steven's exquisitely painted Perry figures using Larry Brom's To the Sound of the Guns Napoleonic rules (slightly modified), and th eGerman East Africa game was played with Jay Stribling's 20mm figures using a set of rules by Tom Dye of Game Figures, Inc., which Jay slightly modified. Even though I was soundly beaten in the ancient game, on the defeated side with the Isabelistas, and was the one success in a German defeat in East Africa, the gaming was enjoyable and, most importantly, FUN! Battle reports will be available for all these games on our group's web site - The Jackson Gamers .
Well, back to the work grindstone!
Almost all my hobby time these past weeks has been concentrated in getting ready for the first of a series of loosely linked games that will culminate in a convention game at our regional Bayou Wars convention (see link for more details). This mini-campaign involves an Anglo-Indian expeditionary force advancing into the vale of Swat in the north central frontier area to punish the Haddabiera tribe for its more recent depredations. We will be using the venerable The Sword and the Flame (TSatF) rules for these games.
I finished the fourth and final 20-figure Pathan infantry unit for the Haddabiera tribe, the three mounted leaders, including Emir Tubeir himself, the eight gunners, and the 12-figure cavalry unit. So all of the Pathan forces I had planned for my game on May 16, are completed. Now to the Imperials - the thirteen British gunners have been completed except for a few splashes of paint on the rammers, etc. and putting the terrain effects on the bases. I've begun the 12-figure mounted/9-figure dismounted troop of British cavalry but haven't completely decided if they will be hussars or lancers. They will probably be hussars as I have a troop of Indian Bengal lancers already primed and waiting in the painting queue. Now I just have to figure out how to do the swords.
I've also done four hill masses for part of the terrain. They will match up with some hills I did earlier to make the battlefield look like the rolling foothills common in the southern part of the Vale of Swat.
I've also been doing a little gaming with our local group. We've fought the Assyrians versus the Egyptians in ancient times (and that is a game I would like to forget - my die rolling was abysmal!), the Carlists versus the Isabelistas in sunny Spain in the 1830s, and the Germans and their askaris versus the British and their askaris in German East Africa in the Great War. The ancient games were played with Jay Stribling's 20mm figures using a set of rules he developed. The Carlist games were played with Mark Steven's exquisitely painted Perry figures using Larry Brom's To the Sound of the Guns Napoleonic rules (slightly modified), and th eGerman East Africa game was played with Jay Stribling's 20mm figures using a set of rules by Tom Dye of Game Figures, Inc., which Jay slightly modified. Even though I was soundly beaten in the ancient game, on the defeated side with the Isabelistas, and was the one success in a German defeat in East Africa, the gaming was enjoyable and, most importantly, FUN! Battle reports will be available for all these games on our group's web site - The Jackson Gamers .
Well, back to the work grindstone!
Sunday, April 19, 2009
More Photos of Barry Minot Figures
Some weeks ago, I acquired some Barry Minot sculpted tricorne era figures from an eBay seller. At the time I mentioned that I would take some more pictures of them. Well, I finally got around to it!
Both pictures show a comparison of the three poses (firing, at ready, and advancing) of the Minot figures I received to some other manufacturers' figures. The Minot figures appear to be Prussian, but they will probably become another regiment in the army of the Margraviate of Carpania.
From left - Sash & Saber Russian, Minot firing, Minot at ready, RSM95, Minot advancing, and Old Glory Prussian gunner.
You can see that the Minot figures are very similar in size to the Sash & Saber, RSM95, and Old Glory figures. Since all I was able to get were Minot hatmen, I'll need some command figures, which will probably come from RSM as these appear to be the best match in style and size.
Both pictures show a comparison of the three poses (firing, at ready, and advancing) of the Minot figures I received to some other manufacturers' figures. The Minot figures appear to be Prussian, but they will probably become another regiment in the army of the Margraviate of Carpania.
From left - Sash & Saber Russian, Minot firing, Minot at ready, RSM95, Minot advancing, and Old Glory Prussian gunner.
You can see that the Minot figures are very similar in size to the Sash & Saber, RSM95, and Old Glory figures. Since all I was able to get were Minot hatmen, I'll need some command figures, which will probably come from RSM as these appear to be the best match in style and size.
April Painting Update
As I prepare for a two game mini-campaign on the North Central Frontier in Victorian India, I have added another unit to the Haddabiera tribe who inhabit the Vale of Swat. This mini-campaign will culminate in the 2nd Annual George Carr, Sr., Victorian Colonial game at our regional convention, Bayou Wars, held in late June in New Orleans ( Bayou Wars ).
These are the venerable Ral Partha Pathan warriors. Although not readily apparent from this picture, all the warriors are armed with rifles of various types. It will join two other Haddabiera units that were painted many years ago. A fourth infantry unit, a cavalry unit, some gunners, and some mounted command figures are in the painting queue.
These are the venerable Ral Partha Pathan warriors. Although not readily apparent from this picture, all the warriors are armed with rifles of various types. It will join two other Haddabiera units that were painted many years ago. A fourth infantry unit, a cavalry unit, some gunners, and some mounted command figures are in the painting queue.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
The Ambush!
The Reich Duke and Duchess and young Basil are on their way to the Persipality of Monte Cristo. Soon they will pass the ruins of Castle Valkenhayn, former ancestral home of the Counts of Valkenhayn, whose last surviving member commands the Hapnich Dragoon Regiment of Carpania. [As always, please click on the pictures for a larger view.]
But what is this?!?
The coach, with its Cossack escort, passes the castle ruins.
Can they not see the dervishes hiding in the woods?
Suddenly the ambush is sprung.
Screaming dervishes dash towards the escort and the coach.
Escorted only by the Cossack color bearer, the coach flees down the road.
The rest of the Cossacks bravely sell their lives to protect the ducal party's escape.
But what is this?!?
Agents of the Deylicate of Bizercca have gathered the whirling dervish tour group to issue final instructions on the ambush of the ducal party and the kidnapping of young Basil.
The coach, with its Cossack escort, passes the castle ruins.
Can they not see the dervishes hiding in the woods?
Suddenly the ambush is sprung.
Screaming dervishes dash towards the escort and the coach.
While the coach outriders jerk the horses off the road,
the Cossack escort charges the ambushers.
the Cossack escort charges the ambushers.
Escorted only by the Cossack color bearer, the coach flees down the road.
The rest of the Cossacks bravely sell their lives to protect the ducal party's escape.
But what will this mean to relations between Morea and the Deylicate? Or between Carpania and its local foes - Courland and Sachsen-Wachsenstein? After all, the attack took place in Carpania against an Imperial Reich Duke and his young guest. And the dervishes were guests of the Carpanians at Potzdorf. Surely diplomatic notes will be exchanged. Stay tuned!
Friday, April 10, 2009
Departure of the Reich Duke
As the evening festivities drew to a close, young Basil danced many dances with Princess Buttercup, daughter of the Margrave of Carpania, his host. The older guests commented about what a striking couple they made.
But the two youngsters were oblivious to the gossip as they just enjoyed each other's company. Buttercup, being a staunch Lutheran, knew that her father would never consent to a marriage with a Roman Catholic, and a supporter of the Emperor to boot! But he cut such a fine figure and was such a good dancer that she decided to ignore the incipient scandal and just have a fun evening.
Buttercup and Basil enjoying the night air and each other's company.
But the next morning came all too soon. The Reich Duke and Duchess and young Basil must depart to continue their regal journey.
The Margrave and Margravine of Carpania and Princess Buttercup, Major General Campbell, OT, and the Dukes and Duchesses of Courland and Sachsen-Wachsenstein join to wish adieu to the Reich Duke and Duchess of Beerstein and young Basil, King of the Romans.
The coach approaches, accompanied by the escort from the Timofievich Cossacks of the Army of Courland.
Finally all the god-byes are said and the ducal party clatter away from Potzdorf en route to their next stop, wherever that might be.
But will their journey be a safe one? Or will it be fraught with danger? Only time (and the machinations of Stagonia and the Deylicate) can foretell!
But the two youngsters were oblivious to the gossip as they just enjoyed each other's company. Buttercup, being a staunch Lutheran, knew that her father would never consent to a marriage with a Roman Catholic, and a supporter of the Emperor to boot! But he cut such a fine figure and was such a good dancer that she decided to ignore the incipient scandal and just have a fun evening.
Buttercup and Basil enjoying the night air and each other's company.But the next morning came all too soon. The Reich Duke and Duchess and young Basil must depart to continue their regal journey.
The Margrave and Margravine of Carpania and Princess Buttercup, Major General Campbell, OT, and the Dukes and Duchesses of Courland and Sachsen-Wachsenstein join to wish adieu to the Reich Duke and Duchess of Beerstein and young Basil, King of the Romans.The coach approaches, accompanied by the escort from the Timofievich Cossacks of the Army of Courland.
Finally all the god-byes are said and the ducal party clatter away from Potzdorf en route to their next stop, wherever that might be.But will their journey be a safe one? Or will it be fraught with danger? Only time (and the machinations of Stagonia and the Deylicate) can foretell!
Monday, April 6, 2009
The Party for the Reich Duke
I've tried something new with this entry. I created these slides using PowerPoint and then converted the presentation into individual jpg formatted images which I downloaded into the blog. If this works OK I will plan on using it in the future for battle reports and other purposes. I would appreciate your comments. Please click on the image groupings for a larger picture.
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