Test of Honour Chobei’s Renegades

Banzuiin Chōbei (1622–1657)

Hero to the common man, Banzuiin Chobei was fictionalised in a 1974 prime-time television series, “Banzuiin Chōbei Omachi Nasei”, starring Mikijirō Hira as Chōbei.

Banzuiin Chōbei

Chobei is a historical character from the Edo period, remembered as a Robin Hood-type figure who protected the oppressed common-folk from the uncaring samurai and other threats, but is more probably just a common street thug who ran an “employment” agency for out of work Ronin, and a protection racket fighting for control of the Asakusa markets against the Hatamoto gang.

Chobei was eventually cornered by his enemies while visiting a bath house. A great swordsman with amazing stamina, he defeated every attacker and was only killed when they set fire to the building.

From a gaming perspective this boxed set of Chobei’s rag-tag band is represented with mixed-weapon groups, bringing you some interesting new tactical choices.

The set includes 10 metal heads and 18 brand new cards including ‘Lead from the Front’ and ‘Ultimate Sacrifice’, which boost the prowess of your commoners.

Prezzies!!

One of the advantages of being a senior citizen is that you are hard to buy presents for. If you are a collector or have a hobby this means friends and family are more likely to think of buying you something that is associated with this rather than the “socks and jocks” alternative. The advantage is that you are more likely to receive something you like. Yippee!!

This birthday also fell on our normal gaming night which meant the guys not only came around early for dinner but stayed for a game as well (Battle Report tomorrow). You would think that they would let you win on your birthday wouldn’t you, but…… nah!! Anyway back to more important things like the prezzies.

The Wizkids Viking Hall was something that my son knew I was interested in. He gave me a pile of Dark Age Wizkids scenery that he didn’t want some time ago and this will make an excellent addition to those.

Back in February I put together a Viking Hall which was actually a distraction from another project. This prezzie will mean I need to re-visit it and decorate the inside to accomodate the Jarl and his retinue from this set.

Now for the books. I will do a full book review on them in due course but here are some comments from a cursory glance. The topics cover areas that I am reasonably familiar with.

With my sojurn into “Test of Honour” this was a great get. I am familiar with the folk lore from Hollywood but was also not surprised to find out that these guys were not quite the heroes depicted in the cinema so I am looking forward to finishing this one.

The next two books have the same things in common. Dunsterforce which is a very interesting, little known, WW1 campaign; and Stan Savige, Gallipoli veteran, WW2 General, and founder of the “Legacy” charity for returned soldiers. He is also the Great Uncle of a good friend and wargaming colleague.

The biogaraphy is written by Roland Perry who has authored a number of similar titles. He has the happy knack of being historically accurate as well as providing footnotes, excellent index, and an extensive bibliography to assist any further research that you may want to do on your own. his style is very readable.

The “Secret Army” is a book about the Dunsterforce campaign. All were hand picked volunteers from across various nationalities and armed forces. During this campaign Stan Savige was also awarded the DSO.

The author is a journalist and like all journos doesn’t seem to like revealing his sources! The book seems very readable but has no referencing and very little in the way of Bibliography. From someone who knows this campaign very well, at first glance, there appear to be some minor errors in the sequence of events, but I will look in to this further.

All in all all, the four gifts were great birthday gets.

First there was “Exterminate”…….

and then there was “mass exterminate”!!!

Last Wednesday a package from warlord games arrived following their “sprue” sale. Among a few other things I purchased 10 sprues of Daleks giving me a further 60 Daleks to add to what was a modest collection. BUT NOT ANYMORE MWAHAHAHAA!

These sprue sales often means the end of their license so I will have to get a wriggle on and order the few bits and pieces of Dr Who stuff that I want like some Galifreyan Guard and a few more Doctors.

There may be a lot of Daleks but they go together and paint quickly. I started them on the Thursday night and finished them by Sunday.

The sprues of 60 Daleks still in their bag

The first two sprues of 12 daleks put together.

Glued on to a 30mm X 40mm mdf base. This helps protect the “fragile” bits.

Spray can sprayed with bright copper.

Minor detail added.

Washed with Agrax Earthshade.

Now for the big job – painting the 3360 embosses on the Daleks gold and then flocking the bases.

Lastly the matt varnish to dull down the wash and fix the basing.

Then one does what all good card carrying manical dictators do and that’s organize a parade!

Reviewing the troops

Now all we need to do is “EXTERMINATE”!!! MWAHAHAHAA!

You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.

No “normal” post today for obvious reasons – mates around for dinner with recipes from “Heroes Feast” thanks to SWMBO, then our normal Wednesday night game (a re-fight of last week’s but with rule books this time!), both washed down with copious quantities of Dwarven Mead and Orc draught.

Guru say “There is strong emprical evidence that Birthdays are good for your health. The more you have the longer you seem to live”.

Bavarian Napoleonic Infantry (3) 4th “Salera” Line Infantry Regiment (1806)

This is the last of the Napoleonic Bavarians today with the 4th “Salera” Line Infantry Regiment (1806). There will be some Prussians coming in about a month and there will always be additions to my Austrian army, but I am hoping to give the Napoleonic period a rest for a while and try and complete some other projects that are almost finished.

Fourth Infantry regiment for Sharpe Practice Photo 1

Fourth Infantry regiment for Sharpe Practice Photo 2

Infantry Section 1

Infantry Section 2

Infantry Section 3

Status 1 Leader

Colour party

Musicians

Regimental Colonel used as Status 2 Leader

Fourth Infantry regiment for Sharpe Practice Photo 3

Bavarian Napoleonic Infantry (2) 3rd “Prinz Karl” Line Infantry regiment.

Back to the Bavarians today with the 3rd “Prinz Karl” Line Infantry regiment. In 1799 there was a maqor reorganisation of the in fantry which aboloshied the “Rumford” uniform and reintroduced regimental titles rarther than n ujmers, although numbers were aghain reitroduced in 1806 as the primary form of identification. Despite this both forms of identification continued.

Third Infantry regim ent for Sharpe Practice Photo 1

Third Infantry regim ent for Sharpe Practice Photo 2

Infantry Section 1

Infantry Section 2

Infantry Section 3

Status 1 Leader

Colour party

Musicians

Regimental Colonel used as Status 2 Leader

Bavarian General used as Status 3 leader

Third Infantry regiment for Sharpe Practice Photo 3

Napoleonic Cavalry Regiments (22) Danish Jutland Heavy Cavalry

The Danish Heavy Cavalry wore red jackets, blue overalls, with the Jutland unit having green facings piped white. The blue overalls were replaced in 1810 by grey due to the war preventing the blue dye from being obtained.

The lack of uniform decoration after 1807 reflected Denmark’s approaching bankruptcy. Twelve member of each squadron were armed with rifles and trained to skirmish.

Portuguese Napoleonic Infantry (4) 21st Valencia Line Infantry Regiment

Progressively a british style of uniform was introduced. While still retaining the distinctive blkue coatee the stovepipe shako was in troduced from 1811 onwards. This was for two reasons, namely the Portuguese army was clothed from Britain, and secondly with their blue colouring the stovepipe helped to distinguish their silouette on the battlefield from the French.

With my Bavarian cavalry and infantry completed, tomorrow I hope to start work on their infantry.

The Saga of Gralmarlun Barrelborn

This is the saga of Gralmarlun Barrelborn;

The loss of his great ancestral home he did mourn.

The Orcs would pay for their theft and their plunder;

As left and right he would tear them asunder.

To the great caven he and his followers did go;

With great axes and weapons and tankards in tow.

And when the sound of the great battle did cease;

Great Orcs Nick and Dave were both boiled in hot grease!

In the aeons of time the huge network of caverns was once the home of a thriving Dwarven kingdom. As the Dwarven party clambered over fallen rocks and centuries of detritus the cavern stank of the green horde. It was now time for Gralmarlun (pronounced “grail marlin”) Barrelborn to claim back his families birthright.

Gralmarlun Barrelborn on his throne.

Having reached a vast central amphitheatre Gralmarlun Barrelborn found what he had been searching for. Descending from his throne he fell down before the structure and wept…..he had discovered the old stone hut that was revered as the birthplace of his ancestors.

Assisted by the Great Runesmith Gustrock Runebane and their small band of warriors they sought the source of the great stench which filled the cavern.

Gustrock Runebane on his Anvil of Doom

Razmorli Windmail and his group of Heavy shooters

Josef Bugman and his fellow brewers.

Fornubella Honormail and her clansmen.

It is debatable what is more dangerous – Muzzer Merrystone’s food or his band of troll slayers great axes!

After lighting the great lanterns that had been dark for centuries they noticed an abomination – a great statue of Bahgtru one of the Orc pantheon of Gods. Could their ancient abode have been turned into what the Orcs call the plane of Ishrek?

With axes and tankards at the ready Gralmarlun Barrelborn and his followers advanced on the idol. As they prepared to take it down the sounds of horns and drums could be heard in the distance…………….!!

The orc horde approach.

Gralmarlun Barrelborn threw himself into the boar riders that had been thinned out by Razmorli Windmail and his group of Heavy shooters.

The result was never in doubt! Well it did take two charges with the first being repulsed!

Next he was confronted by stone ogres – opposition different – result the same.

It should be pointed out the Bucko never ever rolls good dice unless it is a system or gaming period he knows nothing about. He couldn’t tell you an Orc from an Ork so was right at home rolling high when he needed to and low when it was also required. There is a lesson there Bucko!!

Meanwhile as Gralmarlun Barrelborn was “left and right tearing them asunder”, on the other flank Runesmith, Gustrock Runebane, unleashed a massive fire bolt on the “weedy” Orc Shaman who had just slowed down the Muzzer Merrystone and his band of troll slayers with a spell of his own. There was a great flash, a loud bang, and then nothing as the spell was successfully cast but fizzled out.

Muzzer Merrystone was then rather rashley attacked by the Great Orc leader. The result was a forgone conclusion as outnumbered he was force fed Muzzer’s food by a troll slayer and recoiled in dismay.

Gralmarlun Barrelborn then attacked the Orc Shaman. With might and right on his side the Shaman was quickly dispatched by the Dwarven leader.

Sensing that all was lost the Great Orcs, who were sent on an outflanking manuever, returned to see the slayers filling their leader with more and more of Muzzer’s food. Not even an Orc could condone such torture and so in a desparate attempt to rescue their leader they attacked and routed the slayers. They were last seen carrying their leader, wirthing in agony, back to their camp.

A great fun night which was not even diminished by the fact that we all forgot our rule books. I only had a quick reference sheet and we muddled through and although we were getting much wrong, at least we were consistently wrong.

I sense a re-fight with rule books in hand!

Bavarian Napoleonic Infantry (1) First Light Infantry Battalion

I have three Bavarian infantry units that I am now working on for Sharpe Practice. They are the Ist Light Infantry Battalion, the 4th “Salera” Line Infantry Regiment (1806), and the 3rd “Prinz Karl” Line Infantry regiment. Today I have finished the Light Infantry, with the others to follow over the next few days.

There were originally two units of Field Jaeger, both wearing the “Rumford” style uniform in green with black facings.

In 1799 they were split to form independent battalions wearing light green (dark green following 1809) with black facings. The distinctive Raupenhelm was still worn.

A Tyrolean jaeger battalion was formed in 1807 and disbanded in 1811. They wore a dark grey or green uniform, with blue facings, and black leather equipment. They wore a French style shako rather than the typical Corshut.