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Tuesday, January 23, 2024

Gaming Picks Up!

After the lull in gaming between the middle of December and the middle of January, gaming is picking back up to more normal levels.  Over the last week, three games have been entered into the Logbook with a fourth game scheduled for Wednesday. 

Saturday saw Kevin hosting a 19th Century China game using his newly painted Chinese figures fresh from Scott's workbench (MacPhee's Miniature Men).  Tuesday saw my return to Graham's remote UK tabletop in a refight of Culloden.  In this contest, I was simply an onlooker as the four player slots were filled with in-person players.  Wednesday finds me hosting another Battle of Madonna dell'Olmo as I introduce the Fields of Honor rules to a curious UK wargamer.  Monday (29th) sees me back at the table hosting a remote Madonna dell'Olmo battle for Postie's Rejects.

Good to see the gaming schedule filling up.  Perhaps I can get back on track?

Following is a selection of photos from Kevin's game on Saturday featuring Scott's handiwork.  Aren't those tigermen amazing?  I sure think so.  The Chinese present a very colorful army.



Now, if I could only get the work at the painting desk back into gear! 

71 comments:

  1. Good to see the gaming picking up speed again Jon:). The Chinese certainly make for a colourful army and those tiger men look superb! However I can't help but think of kids or adults in their Onesies when I look at them;).

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    1. Yes, gaming seems to be returning to a more normal frequency. Even a F2F game slipped into the mix. Scott did a super job on these Chinese. Kevin said he wanted colorful and he got it! The tiger men remind me of the Calvin and Hobbs cartoon strip.

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    2. It's like the school run in some places!

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  2. Awesome looking tiger men, and well done on cramming so much gaming in.

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    1. Awesome, indeed! I did not include our recent game into the mix since that was more than a week ago.

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  3. The buildings in picture 1 are very neat - looks like a gridded game? Which rules were you using?

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    1. The rules in play were a Command & Colors variant played on squares.

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  4. Spectacular looking Chinese figures and game. Did you use Trebian’s rules for the game?
    Alan Tradgardland

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    1. Yeah, the figures are terrific. We didn't use Graham’s rules but a Command & Colors variant.

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  5. Between you and Trebian, you make those Chinese type armies look very good - and interesting, too. I presume those long firearms are the jingals? They remind me vaguely of 'amusettes' but without the wheeled pavise, and I gather the amusette was more accurate over a longer range. At any rate, they seem to add character to an army by no means otherwise deficient in character.

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    1. These armies are not mine. I’m just along for the ride. Yes, the long firearms are jingals and they were a real pain to deal with as the British player.

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  6. The enforced break has been an opportunity to reset and gauge how you want to divide your hobby time, as there was a LOT going on …… seems you are eager to pick everything up (gaming and painting) back to the level of ‘lots’ :-).

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    1. Yes, I am working back toward “lots” but that level may be a bit less than seen in 2024. I am seriously considering working in a multi-player PBEM campaign game that will likely consume “lots” of time as you well know.

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  7. You are going from 0 to 60 now Jonathan. Those are really fine looking figures.

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    1. Yes, and my head is pinned against the headrest as I accelerate. The Chinese figures are really a colorful sight en masse.

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  8. Jonathan, I'm sure the painting will pick up. I'd put it down to recent illness and the time of year (weather).
    Neil

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    1. You provide a good excuse! Painting is picking up, indeed.

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  9. Scott sure made a damn fine job, in painting those figures. Looking forward to our game on Monday!!

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    1. He sure did! I look forward to Monday’s clash as well. Richard has already sent in a list of questions and clarifications.

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  10. Agree those buildings are simple but clever. The army looks beautifully painted. Looking at the British, I'm guessing Opium Wars period?

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    1. Scott will be pleased to see that his work on these Chinese is so appreciated. With the bell top shakos, 1st Opium War seems appropriate but Kevin stated the setting as 1850s.

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    2. I'd have said Opium War in the 1840s. The British weren't deploying infantry on that scale in China in the 1850s as far as I know.

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  11. Well, as the Bell-top went out of service in mid-1840s, there must have been some delay in supplying the new kit to troops in China.

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    1. Supply chain is often an issue on foreign service.

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  12. I am certain that rolling some dice will help get those fingers warmed up for brush-time!

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    1. I like the way you think! Now, if painting would only warm up my dice to improve their behavior.

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  13. Glad to hear your gaming is picking up

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  14. It's really nice to see the Chinese troops on the table! Kevin's buildings look great, as always.

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    1. I am sure Kevin and Dylan were pleased to see them on the table.

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  15. That's a very fast increase from no gaming to full on sledding down the hill at max speed trying to not hit trees.
    At first I was WTF is a tigerman? 4 pics later I was "oh, I get it now." 😁

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    1. Yes, gaming has accelerated quite a bit from the past month. Not heard of Tigermen? You need to get out more!

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    2. Nope. Never. Before now I would of thought tiger men was a fantasy faction like lizard men or bird women. 😀

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  16. Some excellent figures on display.
    Glad that you are recovered sufficiently to get back into the swing of gaming.
    Looking forward to Monday's game.

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    1. Scott is a wizard with the brush. Well-enough but not quite well. I am anxious to see how you fellas contend with the task in front of you on Monday too.

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  17. Great to see you getting back into the swing of things, Jon - and yes those Chinese look great, maybe they will inspire you to get back into a painting routine? I'll be very interested to see how Postie's Rejects get on with Madonna Dell'Olmo!

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    1. Getting back into the swing, for sure, led off by your Md'O game. My painting is picking up too.

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  18. Beautiful figures, especially the tigermen. Great to see the gaming schedule filling up. COVID is a nasty thing and completely wiped out my motivation for a month or so.

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    1. Nice brushwork, for sure. While I may not completely back to firing on all cylinders, I make progress. Yes, good to be back at the gaming table.

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  19. Splendid looking Chinese and Brits, sounds like you're back to lots of games!
    Best Iain caveadsum1471

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    1. Figures are all Scott's handiwork. Back to gaming, no doubt.

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  20. 1840s British are lightly pencilled in for me to wars the end of 2024. They can fight my 1860s Chinese and I might then put together some Sikhs as well. We good to see you back with the group this month, if only as a spectator.

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    1. Who makes 1/72 1840s British in plastic? It was good to join you fellas at the remote gaming table again even as observer.

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    2. Don't know. My figures for this period are 15mm

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    3. I have trouble keeping tabs on which period is in which scale.

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    4. Look, it's quite easy...hang on, no it isn't :-) I have to look at the pictures in the rule book to make sure.

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    5. Seeing all of your armies only through a webcam looking glass, it can be hard to etch scale into my brain.

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  21. Those Chinese, and not just the Tigermen, are flipping awesome!
    The thing that puts me off the post-Napoleonic period is the way the British keep changing their hats every few years!

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    1. Up close and in good light, the figures are even better. Changing headgear every few years is an annoyance for me too.

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  22. Outstanding on all accounts Jon - good that you seem to be returning to rude health! What era was this fight set in - I seem to see Bell Topped shakos as well as possibly the Albert shako on the Brits - so I am guessing 1840-1860?

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    1. Thank you! Yes, you have the time period correct with 1840s the most likely.

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  23. Splendid looking toys indeed…
    Scott is certainly a dab hand with a paint brush…
    It’s good to see that you are getting back on gaming form…

    All the best. Aly

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    1. Splendid, indeed! Scott is a first rate painter. Working my way back into proper gaming form.

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  24. I'm a little jealous because you played Culodden. I've been planning this for a long time. But my potential teammate has stopped painting his Scots. Cheers!

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    1. I can understand why. however you dress it up, the Jacobites are on to a hiding. Fighting at Culloden is the least worst option.

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    2. The Culloden battle rep is up: https://wargaming4grownups.blogspot.com/2024/01/more-culloden-moor.html

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  25. Those are some beautiful looking armies!

    Christopher

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  26. Those tigermen are impressive indeed!!

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    1. Tigermen are great to paint, even in 15mm. The costumes - you can hardly say uniforms - are so bizarre that they are really fun to do, and it is hard to go wrong with them.

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    2. It may be hard to go wrong but I doubt I could replicate Scott’s results with the brush.

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  27. Wow! Those Chinese troops are fabulous - great work by Scott - as expected. Impressive gaming and figures!

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  28. I enjoyed seeing that game. Those Tigermen are the best I've seen to date.

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    1. They are the best I’ve seen too. There are more clear photos on Scott’s blog in the link above.

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