This time, I return to a fledging Star Wars Legion project meant as an occasional distraction for my nine year-old grandson. He has a keen interest in all things Star Wars so we thought this might offer up a chance to try out some simple and small miniatures games together. We have yet to attempt such a challenge but now, at least, I can field opposition for a couple of handfuls of Stormtroopers.
Off the painting desk today are 15 Rebel fighters broken into two groups of seven with Luke Skywalker leading the way.
Unlike the Strelet's WSS dragoons in the link above, these figures are about 40mm and molded in hard plastic. Great figures that my grandson was excited to show-off to a friend this week.
As a reminder, figures mustering out earlier include,
On the gaming table this week is my interpretation of the ECW Battle of Cropredy Bridge. Next battle outing is scheduled for Monday.
Some very nice work on these SW figures Jon....I am sure you could come up with super simple rules to get a game on the table with your grandson. Cropredy Bridge table looks good, will be interested to see how it all goes!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Keith! I suspect I can come up with some simple rules. I ought to at least read through the rules that come with the base set.
DeleteCropredy Bridge is not your standard ECW battle. Should be an interesting contest.
A fun game, Jon. Thanks for putting it on.
ReplyDeleteRegards, Chris.
You are welcome!
DeleteBack to 28 mm stuff! Wooooow :-) Well done sir!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Michal!
DeleteVERY sympathetically painted, a nice diversion for you and an obvious pleasure for your grandson - he will certainly have had his wargame button pressed with these, a good hobby hook :-)
ReplyDeleteVery much looking forward to Cropredy Bridge. It reminds me that I have the new Musket & Pike English Civil War boardgame module (re-print in GMT’s ‘Deluxe’ style of ‘This Accursed Civil War’) that deserves some commitment to get that series to the table.
Norm, I am not sure what you mean by sympathetically painted. Is it because I diverted my regularly scheduled painting projects to push out some figures for the grandson?
DeleteGMT's Musket & Pike Dual Pack is one of the games I picked up in GMT's recent 50% Fall Sale. Hopefully, the package will be arriving soon.
No - I mean sympathetic to the subject, looking natural and accurate i.e good job!
DeleteUnderstood and thank you!
DeleteA nice distraction and lovely work Jonathan.
ReplyDeleteMuch appreciated, George!
DeleteHi Jon - try FUBAR. It’s simple, free and has a Star Wars variant.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the suggestion! I am off on a search.
DeleteKey things to remember in any set of Star Wars rules
ReplyDelete1. Stormtroopers couldn't hit a barn door at 10 paces.
2. Stormtroopers have only one tactic - run headlong at the enemy shooting inaccurately.
3. Storm trooper NCOs have helpful orange markings on their uniforms to help rebels identify them and pick them off. But, then, command and control doesn't seem to be a stormtrooper strong point.
Key points noted, Anthony! I think you have been watching too many Hollywood productions.
DeleteKinda inevitable when movies are the main source material. But I have expanded onto TV series on Disney+ to increase my database. :)
DeleteInevitable, no doubt. Good to see you expanding your scenario source material.
DeleteA splendid way to engage the next generation of wargamers, very nicely turned out toys too.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Phil! This effort is also a means of distraction to reduce the fighting between he and his older sister during their after-school visits.
DeleteGreat job! But.....I'm just going to try to pretend I didn't see these....... so many good scenario possibilities in Rogue One.......
ReplyDeleteSomethings seen cannot be unseen. Good luck scrubbing this from memory.
DeleteReally lovely painting on these figures Jon! Not my sort of thing at all and, shock horror, not really a Star Wars fan at all. The first film was great but the rest not so much IMHO. I'm sure I will get plenty of Death Star threats for this;)!
ReplyDeleteAs for rules, how about the recently release Xenos Rampant by Dan Mersey? Sci-Fi rules using the Rampant games engine.
Thanks, Steve! Not really my genre either but we make sacrifices for family, no? Besides, very difficult to pass up a chance to paint some cool miniatures especially when I can claim that “really, these are not for me but my grandson.”
DeleteXenos may be an option. I asked this very question of Peter at Grid Based Wargaming earlier today. I was thinking a variant of Rebels & Patriots might be easily pressed into service.
I'm sure you could easily tweak R&P to suit your game needs with your grandson. After all the basic game mechanics are similar throughout the Rampant rules, so just some Sci-Fi names etc might be enough to start with.
DeleteAnd drafting up weapon stats for all of those big blasters and whatnot.
DeleteThese Rebs seem to be serving on Endor rather than Hoth or Tatooine...
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed the first three movies; thereafter, watchable but forgettable, unlike the original.
Yes, it must be Endor...
DeleteI know I was standing in queue at the theatre for the opening of Star Wars in 1977. I bet you did too.
Absolutely, I was a senior in college then, and had actually read the book first; another guy on the same floor of my dorm, who was a good freind, had bought it before evening knowing there was a movie coming out. It was mentioned in the book, with a few stills from the film, so we were pumped to see it ASAP!
DeleteAh, those were the days.
DeleteI remember buying the book in our local village shop and it had stills from the movie in the middle. I'm not sure if the film had been released at that point in the UK. I didn't see it until it was released on tv a couple of years later and was blown away by the special effects. Sometime after there was a documentary on how they made the film which was brilliant:).
DeleteOh, and I am looking forward to Cropredy Bridge as well!
ReplyDeleteGame on Monday. If I survive then (hopefully) battle report will follow.
DeleteNicely done on those Rebels, You could give 1 hour skirmish a try, simple mechanics you can adapt
ReplyDeleteThanks, Neil! Good idea on the rules suggestion.
DeleteIt must be a great pleasure to share those Star Wars minis with your grandson, particularly as Xmas rolls around.
ReplyDeleteHe had a friend visiting after school this week and he was excited to show off the Star Wars figures.
DeleteHis friend saw the game table laid out for Cropredy Bridge. He showed great interest in the figures. He looked up at me and asked, “are these all 3D printed?” Kids!
The Star Wars figures look great. I envy you having a grandson to share them with as we seem to have a run of girls in our family at the moment. The Cropredy Bridge table looks great and I have heard of the battle but can't remember the details. I'm off for a quick refresh now.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Lawrence!
DeleteOne never knows if wargaming will stick but I will give it a try and see if it can hold his interest. Maybe you can convince one of the girls to take an interest in your hobby?
I did not know much about the Battle of Cropredy Bridge until I began studying it. I learn more with each passing game.
Lovely looking star wars figures,as you know I'm a big fan of the battle of Cropredy !
ReplyDeleteBest Iain
Glad you like them, Iain! Hope you enjoy the battle report once fought.
DeleteLOL re the 3-D printing comment!
ReplyDeleteI handed a stand of cavalry to him and let him feel the weight of three, 30mm cavalry. I explained the the figures were made from metal. No 3D printing here.
DeleteThe weight of a stand of 28 mm metal cacvalry is impressive to be sure!
DeleteIt is!
DeleteGood way to introduce kids to the hobby even though SW is not the best place to kick off from, if you ask me. Still…
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to the ECW game, maybe I can learn a thing or two on the period.
Star Wars may not be our choice as a starting point but if the interest is there, you foster it whatever the genre. Besides, he enjoys sticking the figures together.
DeleteExcellent paint work, and the table looks fab.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Richard!
DeleteNicely done Jon and an interesting distraction. I Can see the grandson enjoying playing although the youth of today have too many distractions of course
ReplyDeleteThank you, Matt! It is a tough sell getting the kids away from video games and the iPad.
DeleteNice work on the Star Wars figures Jonathan…
ReplyDeleteAnything that gets youngsters playing with toy soldiers is a good thing to me…
I look forward to seeing how the game plays out.
All the best. Aly
Much appreciated, Aly! I agree with you! Anything getting youth looking toward toy soldiers offers up a bit of potential.
DeleteI'm really looking forward to the Cropredy Bridge reports! And of course to our follow up game sometime after; hope to get a few pointers too. ;-)
ReplyDeleteCheers,
David.
Good! David, you provided the inspiration for tackling Cropredy Bridge. I hope both battle report and your encounter prove satisfying. Four players in line for Monday’s game.
DeleteEven though they are dirty Reb's, this newest Star Wars batch is rather fetching mate.
ReplyDeleteI hope the grandson takes to wargaming with gusto!
Thank you! My hope is that gaming will at least improve his reading, arithmetic, measuring, and critical thinking skills.
DeleteI had the same hope with my son when he was younger, but his attention span at the time was just not up to the task. He's about to turn 18 now and whilst I don't think he wargames, I do know he at least plays DnD with his mates, which is at least something I can claim credit for! :)
DeleteWell, you have successfully planted the seed.
DeleteWow I love what you've done with these Star Wars figs!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Vol!
Delete