It was during the work on this battalion that I contemplated my present skirmisher situation. Should skirmishers remain an abstraction in the rules or revert to an explicit skirmisher function? Do I really want to tackle rebasing all of my skirmishers? After completing the 15th, the two skirmishers were pulled aside for a trial. To ease my mind into the new thought process, the two skirmishers for the 15th were based upon the hex stand. After painting, flocking, and tufting the stand, I decided this was the proper way forward. Many hours later, the task was finished.
What this exercise demonstrates is that I can be easily distracted from the task at hand. What began as fielding one more French legere battalion for the project took a sharp turn into a rethink and rebasing of all of the skirmishers present and fit for duty. With initial intention only to add one more battalion, those plans were confounded by rebasing nearly 100 individual skirmishers into pairs. In addition, a dozen new skirmishers needed to be pushed into the painting queue to bring all of the battalions up to the proper complement of skirmishers. Sometimes, I make a mountain out of a mole hill.
Gorgeous French legere! Splendidly colourful chaps!
ReplyDeleteBest Iain
You are very kind, Iain!
DeleteOverly work Jonathan. The skirmishers question is a challenge and one i am wrestling with for my AWI. For the ACW i do have separate figures and rules with figure s individually based, in ACW they have the benefit of being able to play as dismounted cavalry etc....cant really do this with Napoleonics tough. I am pondering the same approach for AWI ?
ReplyDeleteThanks, Matt! It is comforting to see that I am not alone in wrestling with the "perfect" approach to dealing with skirmishers.
DeleteA lovely looking unit Jonathan... I am looking forward to getting some French light troops painted for my own Napoleonic project...
ReplyDeleteAfter seeing yours I may just go for the 15th...
All the best. Aly
Thank you, Aly! I very much look forward to seeing your handiwork on a battalion or two of French Legere. They will be shiny and beautiful!
DeleteLooking good, Jonathan. The troops definitely look the part!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Steve!
DeleteLovely job as always on the 15eme Legere Jonathon. Do you intend to field one or two of the hexagonally based skirmishers per unit?
ReplyDeleteMuch appreciated, Keith! The current plan is to field one such such stand per battalion. The combat effectiveness of the stand will vary depending upon the parent battalion's unit type and combat effectiveness. I prefer moving fewer pieces to more.
DeleteVery nice. they are such splendid fellows, I think they make a good visual splash, working in pair
ReplyDeleteThank you, Norm! Since skirmishers tended to work in pairs, for me, basing skirmishers in pair seems right.
DeleteI agree and base my skirmishers as pairs across a variety of rulesets. They also stand out when on the table, which helps in the heat of a game.
DeletePossible confusion in the heat of battle is another reason to base skirmishers on a distinctively shaped base.
DeleteI do love the simple elegance of the French Legere uniforms... and the wide variety of gaudy embellishments possible for them!
ReplyDeleteMe too!
DeleteOnce again a lovely looking unit and I'm glad you're happy with the skirmisher basing you went with.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Steve. I am satisfied with my skirmisher decision...for now.
Delete"... for now"
DeleteHmmm, two small words to strike fear into the heart of us gamers;)
I know!
DeleteLove your lights, that rebasing thing is the bane of all wargamers ;-)
ReplyDeleteIan
Glad you like them!
DeleteI am glad to see granularity won. It presents as many more toys of yours that I can ogle.
ReplyDelete..and skirmishers are fun in the right context.
I will be pleased to see these once abandoned skirmishers formed up and back onto the gaming table.
DeleteManeuvering skirmishers and gaming the "small war" is often a game within a game.
Thanks for your comment!
The unit looks great Jonathan and I agree Front Rank figures are a pleasure to paint!
ReplyDeleteChristopher
Thank, Christopher! Painting FR figures is easy on the eyes.
DeleteGorgeous unit Jonathan. And yes, I agree, FR are definitely tops!
ReplyDeleteMike, you are too kind!
DeleteGreat unit Jonathan!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteGorgeous work sir.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteGreat work Jonathan.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteA classic case of mission creep there Jonathan, but well worth it. Front Rank are terrific figures - just the right amount of detail and very easy to pick out. Great work.
ReplyDeleteYep! This was a classic case of mission creep. Thank you for your comment.
DeleteBeautiful Legere, Jonathan. Love them in full dress.
ReplyDeleteMuch appreciated, Dean! I enjoy seeing legere in full dress too.
DeleteA very fine bunch of gentlemen.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteNice painting there Jonathan. It’s a cracking looking unit.
ReplyDeleteAt least while painting napoleonic line troops you got distracted by napoleonic skirmish troops which is the same ball park. Some people paint napoleonic line troops and get distracted into star wars... the mind is mysterious. 😀
Thanks, Stew!
DeleteSome minds are more mysterious than others...
Great looking unit Jonathan.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mark!
DeleteCracking job Jonathan, congrats!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteLovely light infantry. I always liked the short gaiters.
ReplyDeleteThey are so much easier to put on! And they are looking very cool.
Glad you like them!
Delete