Command & Colors + ECW Books

Kevin is hosting a Command and Colors: Napoleonics (CC:N) session on Saturday. Scott and I are planning to attend. The Command and Colors system is a fast playing and eloquent system. My impressions of the Napoleonic version are limited to only a couple of playings but the ancient version is first rate. I have found in the Napoleonic sibling that play is much slower than its older brother, ancients. Part of the speed decrease could be due to the more nuanced tactics in the Napoleonic set. Rather than a unit maintaining the same firepower regardless of losses, CC:N has a unit's firepower degrade as losses mount. Another nuance that requires further test games is that it appears that melee is a preferred tactic for the French over British. Anyway, looking forward to an enjoyable day of gaming.

With the introduction of CC:A and CC:N into our gaming rotation, actual miniatures' gaming has been reduced. Looking back at the Events page, I may have only played six or so miniatures' games outside of my solitaire activities in 2011. Still, that yields more than one game per month. For me, that's about the right pace. Once I get the hex map created, I plan to give CC:A in 6mm a try.

I popped over to Scott's on the 26th to pick up my portion of the Old Glory order and get in a few games of CC:A. I think we got in four games with each of us winning two. The highlight for me was skunking Scott in the Battle of Marathon with the Greeks sweeping the Persians from the field. Scott is a very good CCA player but I was able to repeatedly pressure and drive back the Persian right flank forcing a collapse of the Persian line. Of course, as the victor, I get to write the historical account of the battle.

New Shipments of ECW Books:
Over the holidays I received a number of ECW books at sometimes bargain prices via eBay and AbeBooks. These new library editions include:

Haythornthwaite, The English Civil War 1642-151 an Illustrated History

Wanklyn, Decisive Battles of the English Civil War (gift from my daughter!)

Atkin, Cromwell's Crowning Mercy, the Battle of Worcester, 1651

Sherwood, The Civil War in the Midlands 1642-1651

Foard, Naseby, The Decisive Campaign

Denton, Cromwell's Soldiers, The Moulding of the New Model Army 1644-1645

Atkin, The Civil War in Worcestershire

Clark, Marston Moor, English Civil War - July 1644

I have much reading to do!

18mm SYW Project: 
As mentioned above, I picked up the Old Glory order. In the order were Blue Moon packets of AWI Hessians (fusiliers and jagers) to be fielded as Prussians for my SYW project. The BM fusiliers are smaller than their Eureka Prussian counterparts but match closely with the size and heft of the Eureka Austrians. I bet when painted and fielded on the table, no difference will be noticeable.  Also in the order, were sample packs of Blue Moon British FIW infantry and Napoleonic French infantry.

2011 was a very productive year wrt the SYW project. As shown in the 03 JAN 2012 post, nearly 600 figures were painted last year. That brings the totals for the project thus far, to about 2100 figures and 18 guns. That's quite a sizable collection awaiting their initial baptism by fire. One goal for 2012 is to host a game and (finally) get these figures onto the gaming table. The project is approaching optimal scale but I could add more guns and bolster the Prussian OB. Nevertheless, the SYW project is likely 90% complete. Painting towards this project in 2012 should be greatly reduced. 

For books, I recently picked up copies of Summerfield's Austrian Seven Years War Infantry and Engineers and Dorn/Englemann's The Infantry Regiments of Frederick the Great, 1756-1763.

15mm Second War of Italian Independence Project: 
Resupply of Mirliton miniatures from CGM in Spain arrived just after Christmas. In addition to more Piedmont artillery, cavalry, and bersaglieri, I also ordered samples from Dermot's Napoleonic line of 18mm figures. In 2012, I would really enjoy getting this period onto the gaming table. I think I made the same statement last year too.

Monthly and Annual Painting Totals 2011

Scott, gave me one pack of BTD 28mm Germans in greatcoat several years' ago. BTD announced a 50% discount over the holidays on many of their figure lines so I took advantage of the sale. In anticipation of the delivery, I finally got these eight figures onto the painting table. Germans in greatcoat painted very quickly and I tried the "dip" method of using Minwax as a wash. I used a very light coating so the result is muted on the flesh.

28mm Ancients (2nd Punic War):
Two, 12 figure units of velites were completed in December. All figures are Renegade.

December was another good production month with 155 figures making it to completion. For the whole of 2011, I managed to paint about 1,500 figures across a wide assortment of scales.


Monthly Painting Tally for DEC 2011

Unit_Name	Nation	Era	Scale	Figure Cnt	Equip Cnt
Line Regiment in Bicorn w/Mtd Cmd	France	Bonaparte in Italy and Switzerland	18mm	13
Line Regiment in Bicorn w/Mtd Cmd	France	Bonaparte in Italy and Switzerland	18mm	13
Scottish Regiment of Foote 3	Scotland	English Civil War	30mm	27
Velites	Rome	Punic Wars	28mm	12
Velites	Rome	Punic Wars	28mm	12
Browne IR#36 Grenadier Bn	Austria	Seven Years War	18mm	8
Browne IR#36/1 w/mtd cmd	Austria	Seven Years War	18mm	23
Cuirassier Regiment #5/5 von Brandenburg	Prussia	Seven Years War	18mm	6
Dragoon Regiment #1/2 von Normann	Prussia	Seven Years War	18mm	6
Musketeer Regiment #25/1 w/mtd cmd	Prussia	Seven Years War	18mm	27
German Infantry in Greatcoats	Germany	WWII	28mm	8
		Totals		155

Annual Painting Tally for 2011

Era	Scale	Type	Figure Cnt	Equip Cnt
American War of Independence	15mm	Infantry	19
Bonaparte in Italy and Switzerland	18mm	Infantry	78
English Civil War	30mm	Infantry	54
Italian War of Independence	15mm	Cavalry	12
Italian War of Independence	15mm	Infantry	166
Napoleonic Wars	15mm	Artillery	12	4
Napoleonic Wars	15mm	Cavalry	12
Napoleonic Wars	15mm	Command	10
Napoleonic Wars	15mm	Infantry	82
Napoleonic Wars	28mm	Cavalry	8
Napoleonic Wars	28mm	Command	6
Napoleonic Wars	28mm	Infantry	80
Punic Wars	28mm	Cavalry	10
Punic Wars	28mm	Infantry	96
Punic Wars	6mm	Cavalry	12
Punic Wars	6mm	Command	30
Punic Wars	6mm	Infantry	212
Seven Years War	18mm	Cavalry	108
Seven Years War	18mm	Command	12
Seven Years War	18mm	Infantry	455
WWII	15mm	AFV		11
WWII	15mm	Infantry	40
WWII	28mm	Infantry	8
			1522	15

AB FRW Austrians

AB Miniatures' French Revolution Austrian infantry are well-sculpted figures and some of my favorite AB figures. The face detail is exquisite.

Below are photos of two of my 18mm early Austrian battalions.

Republique+

The postman dropped off a package from Multiman Publishing Friday afternoon. In the box was one copy each of the games Guadalajara (SCS series) and Baltic Gap (OCS series). Although I have been active in reducing my wargame collection, MMPs Black Friday sale tempted me to pick up these two offerings at 50% discount. I haven't played either of these series in at least ten years and have been wanting to revisit the updated, OCS series. My recent visit to Spain and a reading of the Spanish Civil War (SCW) conflict whetted my appetite to try a SCW game at the SCS level.

Republique+:
I have made several changes to Republique since the last time the group gamed the rules. In fact, most of the original rules have been supplanted by additional mechanisms to the point that I think it fitting that the current version ought to be deemed, Republique+. Much of the original game engine is still under hood somewhere but changes were made to better reflect my view of grand tactical, Napoleonic combat.

Recent additions include:
All die roll resolution has been converted to D6. In assault especially, the use of 1D10 resulted in too much randomness for my tastes. Of course, entering into battle on the Napoleonic battlefield was quite risky but the old opposed 1D10 roll could really skew the results even if one of the participants maintained a decided superiority in modifiers. To reduce the impact of a potentially devastating DRM of +/- 9 'random' element, I have downgraded the random component to an opposed roll with 1D6 each.

Assault Results table has been condensed; narrowing the spread of results slightly.
All measurements have been converted from inches to 'Base Depths' (BD). My intention is to increase play speed by having all measurement in units with less granularity. Since all bases are 1-1/2 inches deep, one Base Depth equals 1-1/2 inches. Measurement sticks will be constructed to eliminate the use of tape measures.

With the change to measurments reported in BDs, all movement rates and ranges have been converted into BD equivalents.

Artillery fire modifiers now include an asymmetrical (-1) DR modifier for firing up one or more elevation levels or down two or more levels.

Artillery fire points are halved if the battery moved or changed formation during the turn.

Artillery fire modifiers now include adverse modifiers dependent upon morale status of the firing battery. Before, batteries could either fire or not fire depending upon morale status. Now the battery may still fire but with diminishing effect as the battery loses cohesion.

Another change to speed play was to make units in disordered morale state automatically rally. Before, much time was lost resolving rallies for disordered units when in most situations (unit has morale grade of Average or better), the unit would successfully pass its Rally roll and return to Ordered status. For solo play, I modify this by adding the restriction that disordered rally is only automatic if the unit is outside of either unopposed skirmisher range or artillery arc of fire.

28mm Ancients (2nd Punic War):
Two, 12 figure units of Renegade velites are on the painting table and nearing completion. For basing, each figure pair will be based on one 60mm x 30mm stand.

Projects Update

Scott and Kevin came over on Saturday for several hours of Command and Colors: Ancients and a good bit of kibitzing. I lost count on the number of games played but I believe the total may have been around a dozen. Twelve games in four hours including a break for lunch is quite an impressive feat. Most of the games were real nail-biters coming down to the last banner. Great fun and a system we should put into rotation more frequently.

With the ECW collection pictorially documented, I ought to consider tackling another collection to add to the documentum. With only a few units of 28mm Punic War Romans completed, perhaps, that would be an easy, next step.

30mm ECW Project:
Work is finished on the final Scottish foote regiment. Painted in hodden grey, this Renegade regiment can be fielded with either combatant. Although Scott commented that the Renegade figures look a little squashed, I like the look of the Renegade ECW line and they are a pleasure to paint.

What I found in the ECW Ironsides' games played is that the size of my current collection is at the "sufficient and complete" stage. That is, twelve units of foote and nine regiments of horse (per side) deployed the length of a twelve foot table not only "completely" covers the length of the table but keeps two players per side "sufficiently" engaged. Actually, this force size allows four or five players per side assigned as:
2 cavalry commanders - one for each wing
2 infantry commanders - one for each infantry brigade (or first line and second line)
1 Lord General/Master of Ordinance

18mm SYW Project:
Ordered a few Blue Moon figures to add to the collection. My plan is to add Hessian Jaegers from the BM AWI range as Prussian jaegers and Hessian fusiliers as Prussian fusiliers. Since the BM French fit in nicely with the Eureka range, I am hopeful that the BM Hessians will fit in with the Eureka Prussians. To my eye, the Eureka fusiliers' mitre is too big with respect to the grenadiers so I am hopeful to use the BM Hessian fusiliers for future, Prussian fusilier battalions.

Battle of Albuera:
The Battle of Albuera is slated for 17DEC2011. I changed the earlier initial deployments to begin the game at the 0800 turn rather than the 0930 turn. The French will now have the options of attack points and not be forced into initial assaults on the Allied right. The Spanish will still be in their initial north-south deployments on the heights and will have to maneuver into positions to counter any French attacks or redeployments. Godinot is still poised to assault la Albuera at the start.

Projects Update

18mm 1799 Italian Project:
Two additional French line battalions were added. Both battalions are composed of AB figures. Of course, the eagle would not have been present but you use what you have.






28mm Napoleonic Project:
I recently ordered eight Brigade Games' early chasseurs a cheval as a sample of Lon's horse. I have several battalions of French and British line and like them very much despite their rather high-end price. The French chasseurs have much character and are equally as a nice as the infantry. These eight horsemen are painted as the 5th Chasseurs a Cheval.




30mm ECW Project:
Photos of the ECW collection have been posted under the Projects section. The Project_ECW page contains a photo of each unit in the collection. On the painting table is the last unit of Renegade Scots. If I could acquire two more Scottish pikemen, I would have enough figures to muster one more Scottish foote regiment.

MMP Black Friday Sale / Projects Update

While I have recently been in a selling-off mode for a couple of months with respect to my boardgames' collection, I used MMPs Black Friday sale to pick up two games. I chose one OCS game (Baltic Gap) and one SCS game (Guadalajara). I had fond experiences with OCS from 15+ years ago and wanted to see a more recent version of the rules and, perhaps, refresh my memory on the mechanics. I sold Hube's Pocket but still have Tunisia, Guderian's Blitzkrieg, and Enemy at the Gates. I was looking for an OCS title that wasn't too big and hope that BG will fit that requirement. MMP has a France 1940 OCS game in Pre-order that interests me, I will wait on that title until it is released. Boardgames downsizing seemed justified since my stacks of games have been languishing on the shelves for many years. That, and my focus has gravitated towards miniatures games almost exclusively.

November is shaping up to yield another productive month covering a wide range of sizes and periods. Details will follow with my month-end painting tally.

6mm CCA Project:  
Jake stopped by on the 11th to drop off the remaining 6mm ancients that we bartered about one year ago. Included in the delivery was an assortment of Baccus foot and horse with enough figures for the following:

• Two stands of Roman cavalry (2x7 figs).
• One stand of command (3 figs).
• Six stands of Moorish/Numidian light cavalry (6x5 figs).
• Seven stands of Ballearic slingers (7x4 figs).
• Eight stands of Spanish scutarii (8x12 figs).
• Two stands of Roman triarii (2x32 figs).

 All of these figures have been based and flocked during the Thanksgiving holiday.

In addition to the above figures (courtesy of Jake), I painted two stands of Celtic/Gallic warbands (18 figs each). Added to the primed inventory box are 4 stands of Carthaginian citizen infantry. Based on discussions with Scott, these will be based as medium infantry; each stand holding 24 figures per base.

30mm ECW Project: 
Having only enough Renegade figures to complete two more foote regiments and not having completed any regiments for 2011, I put 27 figures into the painting queue. These figures will muster as the Queen's Regiment of Foote. The flag is from GMB Flags. A picture of the completed regiment is below.

I spent a couple of hours on Friday taking photos of the ECW collection on a unit by unit basis. Now, I have pictorial evidence of each unit in this collection.  My photo session really helped quantify the units present and I may attempt adding the pictures into the Miniatures Painting Log database. Once I resize all of the photos, I plan to post them in the Projects folder.