Thursday, January 1, 2015
FOGN
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Playing Favourites
... a cracking post at the Too Much Lead blog [click here] inspired me to take up his challenge to document my own favourites..
In summary, we all have favourite games, periods, inspirations and so on, the challenge then is to document what they are so that we can all see what drives each of us...
Wargames Period
Where it all began for Steve the Wargamer
Way back in the day I played Napoleonics (good old Airfix!) as it was about the time they were bringing out all those gorgeous boxes of new figures - British Hussars, Royal Horse Artillery, they were works of art. I also played WWII - 20mm, Airfix, Western Desert, with rules taken from "War Games" and modified to include those vehicles and AFV's that didn't feature..
Since then I must have played almost every period except the Russo-Japanese War (there's still time...), but if I'm forced to make a decision then my favourite period would be either the American Civil War, the War of Independence,the War of the Spanish Succession, WWII or Sudan Colonial.... and yes I know that's five - spooky that they should also turn out to be the same as my current projects though..
If I was forced to make one choice then, probably Marlburian - it has everything....
Scale
So difficult as to my mind certain scales fit certain periods... easier to say what I don't like (1/300 or 6mm, as it happens - gah..... why don't you just use cardboard counters and be done with it.. )
I have this twisted view that the lower the organisational level of the game then the bigger the figures should be... for brigade level games then 20mm or bigger is perfect - but Newline are my benchmark - if I was starting the AWI project again, then 20mm would be my scale of choice (if the range was available)... the bigger the battle, then the smaller I go... so 15mm is ideal for Marlborough ie. multi-brigade games just seem to need a smaller scale... WWII however is made for 10mm - it's a range & space thing that can't be met by 6mm (see previous comment!)
If I was forced to make one choice then probably 15mm - it is so ubiquitous...
Rules
This one's easy... Will McNally's American War of Independence and Seven Years War Rules... these two sets of rules have given me more fun games over the years than any other set I've used apart from perhaps the Don Featherstone WWII rules from War Games
An honourable mention goes to DBA... DG and I must have played it every other work day lunchtime for years at one time...
Boardgame
Chess - I love it and play every day on one of those correspondence chess web sites... absolutely rubbish at it but I still love it... I occasionally win, but as I never read those hideous strategy/famous chess openings books, the win is always a pleasant surprise!
Other than that I would put my vote on Scrabble which I like to play with the family (but we don't score so we never have a winner or a loser...)
Despite having a fascination with wargame based board games (I love the maps/boards) I've never found them to be a satisfactory alternative to seeing little metal men on a wargame table...
Figure manufacturer
Some of Front Rank's finest..
No plastics feature - sorry, been there, done that, moved on..
So in the metal ranges...
15mm Dixon Marlburian Cavalry
20mm Newline American Civil War
15mm Minifigs Marlburian Infantry
Front Rank American War of Independence range
Club
"I don't care to belong to a club that accepts people like me as members". Groucho Marx
....'nuff said... I tend towards solitary endeavours - except when DG is down....!
Opponent
Easy... DG - but to be fair he's my only opponent unless you also put a vote in for.... errrrr... me....
Inspiration
"Last of the Mohicans"
Film
"Waterloo" was the defining wargame related film for me - as an 11 year old I remember going to the cinema three times to see that film in the same week (DG has a cracking print of the aerial shot of the French cavalry attacking the squares on his wargames room wall)
Other than that I would put "Last of the Mohicans" for it's fine flavour of what it must have been like to have fought with black powder musket and tomahawk in the French and Indian Wars - Daniel Day-Lewis, and Wes Studi as Magua, are superb...
Book
"War Games" started it all for me - and that's a hobby that's lasted almost 40 years now so I guess that can be classed as inspiring...! From "War Games" I moved on to "Battles with Model Soldiers", "Advanced Wargames", and all Don's other titles but the book I subsequantly pored over more than any of the others was "Solo Wargames" - there's not a duff page in it...
On the fiction front it's easy - Aubrey & Maturin, and Matthew Hervey have no competition - all other military fiction is mere fluff....
A very honourable mention however, goes to Ronald Welch - when I was a spud his series of books about the Carey family were read again and again (and again).....
Art
William Stobbs illustration..
Three artists seem to convey my view of military activity better than all the others.... in no order
Bob Marrion does fantastic depictions of the common soldier in uniform - I particulalry liked his work in the Marborough books Charles Grant did for Partizan
Don Troiani - just superb pictures of the American Wars and fighting men - makes you want to reach for a paint brush whenever you see them...
William Stobbs - a little known illustrator but he provided the pictures in some of the earliest Ronald Welch books...
The Interweb
If I ignore GoogleReader (which is where I keep track of an implausibly large number of blogs) then my favourite web sites are Red Hot Pawn (that's a chess site!) and Blue Max (for playing Blue Max and Wooden Ships & Iron Men) oh, and I couldn't live wothout Google.....
Miscelania
favourite table size: 8x6 feet (an despite mine being 6 x 4 I haven't changed my mind..)
favourite tank: Panzer IV with Grant as a close second
favourite colour to paint uniforms: deep blue, perfect colour for inks..
..can't think of anything else....
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New diggs in 2014
Pictures to follow
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Friday, January 20, 2012
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
I really must update this Blog more Often
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Friday, September 18, 2009
Ogre Kingdoms Army background
THE ARMY OF ONEIDA KHAN 
The assertion to power of ONEIDA Khan to Under- Tyrant commenced after the eating of his still warm father’s heart. In Man’gol tribe culture, true enlightenment is achieved by force of will and bravery that stems from, not the gut, as many tribes believe, but the heart.
The Man’gol tribe has had perhaps more contact with the thinling’s of Cathay than any other Ogre tribe. This has, in turn, had influence on their spiritual beliefs that have stemmed from watching and observing Cathayan culture. (It was also seen as bad form to eat the Cathayan Warlord’s royal entourage)
Having become mercenary in nature, due to constant chaos incursions into their hunting grounds, the remnants of the tribe, after one particularly devastating invasion, found their way into the lands and subsequent pay of Cathayan Warlords. These Warlords saw the potential for large, murderous Ogres, in support of their main battle line troops. Over time these Ogres became well trained and lost some of their “raw” qualities. Not that one can take the Ogre out altogether.
One famous Cathayan warlord, Sin’Tsu, utilized the Ogre elite as his personal bodyguard. During this period of employment the Ogres, then led by OB’DEI, learned weapon skills and martial prowess beyond that of normal tribal ogres. Tactics became a decision process and the utilization of smaller but faster units in combined attacks was practiced. It was taught that defeat of the enemy was not just a process of bludgeoning the enemy with big weapons, but by also breaking their spirit with flank attacks and by surprise.
Many battles have been fought against chaos incursions into the northern reaches of Cathay and ONEIDA has learnt to mistrust the dark arts of Magicians. This mistrust was enforced by the reasons behind the demise of his father OB’DEI. At the Battle of Wung Chu pass against Chaos, a foul worshipper of the pleasure Prince, struck OB’DEI with powerful magics. The Tyrant writhed and swayed and fell to the ground dead, but not before crushing the sorcerer’s head under the blow of his Tenderiser.
ONEIDA Khan has learnt, like his father before him, to put contempt and mistrust aside for a sole purpose. The reading of magics’ has escaped all bar those granted the abilities of the arts. ONEIDA, when needed, always keeps a Butcher or two handy to read the Cathayan scrolls of power. In addition, magic endowed equipment, able to be utilized to better strike and defeat the enemy is also maintained albeit in limited quantities.
Gnoblar Trappers have become an essential part of ONEIDA’s retinue both for assistance during the hunt, as scouts prior to and during battle and as a staple food source when times are tough. The current unit of Trappers of ONEIDA’s force has led a reasonably long life, all considering. The one main reason has been their continued success during recent battles against Chaos.
Their flank presence has disrupted Chaos battle plans and forced the enemy units to slow their approach to battle. The trappers have also been, at times, used as a screen for the main Ogre battle line. In this task they have died well, one might say.
ONEIDA has a large force of heavily armored Iron Guts units. As a consequence of their successful employment with the Cathayan Army, many riches were to be had after each battle. This has led to an abundance of armor and 2 handed weapons. Cathayan blacksmiths have also managed to create huge 2 handed weapons fit for an Ogre. Young Bulls, bought up in the traditional methods of strengthening and physical stamina, have bolstered the ranks of ONEIDA’s Iron Gut forces. One of these units traditionally carries the Tyrant’s personal banner.
During the long campaigns against chaos, ONEIDA learnt the true benefits of well-placed black powder weapons. Rockets and artillery, much favored by the Cathayan warlords as weapons of war, has led the Under -Tyrant to utilize captured cannons in small support roles. Those manic enough to “volunteer” for such service get paid handsomely after each battle, if they survive. Let it be said that there aren’t too many rich Lead belchers. Currently the force has enough to field two small support units.
During their employment under the command of Sin’Tsu, and because orders had to be given to units, OB’DEI’s forces were issued with blue streamers so as to tell them apart from other Ogre troops. Over time this was changed to woven blue silk pants. It was found, due to the poor hygiene of most Ogres, that it was easier to issue new trousers than have the old ones washed. (the stains wouldn’t come out). It was also seen as bad form in Cathayan high court society to have the Warlords personal bodyguard stink enough to have the food turn within 5 minutes of being served.
In respect for his now dead father, ONEIDA carries on the tradition of having all, but himself and his Butcher, wear blue silk trousers. ONEIDA wears the traditional Imperial red to signify his rank whilst his chosen Butcher wears red so that ONEIDA can observe where he is at any moment in the battle.
After many years of loyal service to the Cathayan Warlords, the Ogres were declared redundant. A Usurper to the Cathayan thone, NU Ming took power and declared all not born of Cathayan decent outcasts. Nu Ming paid the Tyrant in gold, fine silks, ornate Armour and heavy weapons so they would leave quietly and without too much fuss. Under the watchful glare of 1000 crossbowmen the Under- Tyrant agreed, rallied his tribe and set off.
This now sees the Under- Tyrant and his large caravan returning to where his ancestors once called home. The Baleful Desert has been crossed and Mount Thug is in view. Only time will tell of the exploits of ONEIDA and his Man’gol tribe.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Introductions
I am a Wargamer and Father to boot.
What does this mean to me - Family first so my hobby is unfortunately a grim second.
My Wargames collection consists of Flames of War Germans, Warhammer Ogres, Warhammer 40k Black Templar, Seven years war Hanoverians, Napoleonic French (in dire need to repair) and Ancient Rus in 15 mm.
My favourite wargames rules
