From one form of cat yesterday to another!
I have some really pressing family issues at the moment which means I only have some time to finish off models that have been waiting for a long time for those final touches like basing and flocking.
These two panthers are such models. One is hunting (Jagd) and the other is just hanging around”.
These 20mm tanks will join my German “What A Tanker” assets.
Yesterday tehlulzpare posted on his new kitten and Victoria Miniatures ratling snipers.
This reminded me that two months ago we took on a stray that had been abandoned when some neighbours moved – disgusts me! She was not desexed or microchipped so we could not return her and anyway, she had chosen us by not leaving our doorstep!
SWMBO calls her Possum, but I call her “Fuggly” because she is! Still love her but she is fuggly
Well you know what happened! A few weeks later she turned out to be pregnant! We have a totally cat enclosed garden so this occurred before we took her on.
Instead of an extra one we now have seven! We will give them a good start and makes sure they have their Vet checks, inoculations and microchips, then try and find some good homes for them ALL.
At least that is the plan. I think SWMBO has secret plans to keep the lot! In our Batman games SWMBO always plays Cat Woman for a reason!
“Fuggly is a great mum and her brood have more than doubled in size since their birth on Friday night!
They have provided us with great joy in a week of upheaval! Back to different kinds of pussycats tomorrow!
This one arrived about two weeks ago and it has taken me that long to get through it.
Whilst it is true that the Ottoman Empire was only a minor player in the conflicts of the Napoleonic era, it was still engaged, but more importantly, the period of the Napoleonic wars and the decades either side shaped the future of the Empire.
Throughout this turmoil the Ottoman Army was not only a key military player, but also a key political player. This book written by Bruno Mugnai covers the key components of the development of the new political, and religious structures and institutions.
“Bruno Mugnai was born in Florence, Italy, in 1962 and still lives there with Silvia, Chiara and Eugenio. Active for years as a divulger of history and illustrator, he has published several titles for publishers such as the Historical Office of the Italian Army, Rivista Medicea, Soldiershop and Partizan Press, concerning to the periods and geographical areas of his interest, as the history of the ancient Italian states, central and eastern Europe in 16th, 17th and 18th century and South America after the conquest. As an illustrator he is collaborating with important Italian and foreign specialists. In 2015 he has launched the Web Magazine ‘History and Uniforms’. Bruno is a Rugby Football Union enthusiast, who is still trusting in the Italian Grand Slam in Six Nations tournament.” From Bruno’s publisher.s
This book examines the changes and development of the Ottoman army from its campaigns against the Bedouin in Iraq in the earlier dates of the Napoleonic wars and the Serbian campaigns between 1804 and 1815.
The book also provides a detailed description of the dress and equipment of the Ottoman soldiers of this period and is an essential acquisition for anyone gaming with the Ottomans in this period. Not only that, but it provides a complete overview of the tumultuous times of the birth of a modern state.
Cannot recommend this one more highly – a great historical guide and an excellent gamers guide to the uniforms and structure of the Ottoman Army.
And I am not talking about the person, who shall remain nameless, that Danny Dyer called a “f***ing alien”.
Rather the rest of my “Roswell Xenomorphs” from Slave2Gaming arrived on Friday. I can see my poor old Gotham city being invaded by another group of peculiar foreigners in the near future.
More infantry, heavy weapons dudes* and support dudes*
Heavy weapons alien walkers.
Alien troop carrier walkers.
I also bought some Robin Hood figures as I was not happy with some of the Footsore Miniatures I put together, and a sample caveman.
Some skull piles to use as objective markers.
I was also sent some sample 15mm figures and a set of Slave2Gaming rules to review which I will do together later this week, after a planned play test of the rules.
I will put together these “Dudes”* as a matter of priority.
Two weeks ago I posted on these German Lizardmen from Crooked Dice
These are the human version of the Lizardmen above, without the genetic enhancements.
These will be great additions to my pulp games.
With King Edward and Queen Wallis, ably assisted by Baronet Oswald Mosley’s British Union of Fascists, finally winning the British Civil War, France was now cornered between two major fascist regimes.
In early 1939 and seaborne invasion from Britain and a German Blitzkrieg of the Low Countries saw France fall within just a few weeks. Britain finally had a foothold once more in Normandy and Germany had a Mediterranean seaport at Marseille.
France was divided by their conquers along the provincial lines from Grand Est to Occitaine. Finally linking the three major fascist states of Britain, Germany and Italy.
A combined Japanese sea attack on Pearl Harbour and a Canadian invasion from their North found the United State unable to intervene.
The war on a world wide scale had not gone unnoticed by interplanetary scouts from an alien race intent on the “extermination” of all but their own “superior” species.
The invasion occurs in the French coastal town of Gotham which due to the surprise and nature of their airborne attack had caught the Axis forces completely off guard and the town was only defended by the local inhabitants and what other forces could be mustered at short notice.
The game therefore consisted of this defence of Gotham city from the alien invaders. The defenders consisted of everything from Street Gangs to German Veteran Seebattion, to Elite French SWAT teams. Help may come with a little luck and looking for the hints on the game table.
All that is known by the defenders is that Some British Commandos have been despatched to support them, and that the Doctor had been contacted for assistance.
German Seebattalion and their launch
Street Gang 1
Street Gang 2 outside a subway station entrance
2 SWAT teams at street level
Sights of Gotham City
The Daleks have started arriving, but are finding it hard going against the Elite SWAT Teams, who have decided to hold in position for a short time until they can fall back to fight in depth supported by the other defenders.
The SWAT teams have now decided to fall back as more and more Daleks appear.
Having noticed a “Bat” Searchlight one SWAT team decided to turn on the Bat light, but unfortunately it was daylight and the light could not work, and nor did they have Commissioner Gordon’s permission, who was still in his office in the Police Station. A call on the red phone would have had the Batmobile and Batman and Robin arrive along with Commissioner Gordon and Detective Bullock.
Unfortunately the opportunity for this to occur had now passed as the Police station had been abandoned, leaving Gordon and Bullock trapped inside and unable to get to the “red phone”!
Another opportunity was missed for assistance as the SWAT team ran past a telephone both and did not check who might be changing his clothes inside.
Daleks continue their advance with the SWAT team now falling back to the railway and now in range of the U-Boat’s 88mm deck gun and 20mm anti-aircraft gun support.
Throughout the game the defenders refused to, or forgot about using the sewers for movement albeit it with a high chance they would become lost and not arrive at their desired location. If they arrived at a different destination than they wanted they had a 30% chance of running into Shredder and the Foot clan, a 30% chance of becoming lost and ending up at a different location and a 40% chance they might come across the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles who would aide them after they had waited D3 turns whilst the turtles ate their pizza.
One SWAT squad and a sniper team were being surrounded.
With the U-Boat’s 88mm gun taking out a Dalek at long range the Sniper team were able to escape but alas the SWAT team were “exterminated”.
With the fire support from the U-Boat and RPG support from the street gangs the SWAT teams were able to shore up a defence behind the railway carriages.
Daleks were closing in on the two sniper squads falling back along their left flank.
Falling back behind the train they were engaged in close combat by the Daleks.
Meanwhile the Daleks continued to amass.
With it becoming critical that the Daleks break the SWAT resistance, Davros arrived on site to add his skills to the Dalek attack.
Even with this assistance the sniper teams will still holding the Daleks up.
On the right flank the SWAT riot squad advance with their defence shields to attack the Daleks.
The completely over run Police Station
The concentration of Daleks was starting to tell and they were beginning to take ground from the SWAT team despite the U-Boats fire power assistance.
Daleks moving forward.
Dalek shooting and close combat now had the Seebattalion down to two thirds strength.
The Tramp steamers crew and one of the Street gang teams ready to repel the Daleks should the need arise.
More street gang teams in position on the Gotham freeway.
After a misplaced landing required a correction from the Doctor the Tardis finally arrived to assist the defenders, landing on the Tramp Steamers deck.
At this juncture night began to fall (code for time was up) with the defenders being able to hold on until THE DOCTOR had arrived. A clear victory to them.
A great fun game was had by all.
When I came home from the Post Office today I couldn’t understand why the cats were all over me. Then I realised that the box they were looking at was a Purina Felix Original With Chicken, Fish and Beef sachets inside!
Well not quite but there was certainly beef, chicken and fish awaiting the drooling cats.
The parcel had travelled all the way from the Shetland Isles and for some reason was able to get through all livestock and import rules without a hitch. A whole pile of figures had been sent to me from Maenoferren and it “wasted” a good half hour of my time as I sorted through. You can forget the cats I WAS DROOLING!
Thanks Maenoferren for the parcel it was much appreciated and is all very useful.
There was even Pork and Bacon, Lamb, Goat and some puppy dogs (large and small)!
A fox and a bunny rabbit. Sorry about the pic but these are great figures and am really looking forward to painting them.
Whoda thought Guru would be given zombies!
Ghoulish types with great six packs. My six pack was made the hard way with two threes!
A bird man and another ghoulish type.
The Anderson College, Lerwick’s Prom King and Queen!
The pièce de résistance is the Elk Skeleton. Maenoferren has posted on this model before but I couldn’t find it on his site. Some great items to paint.
I became introduced to this game system via the figures. A few years ago now Phillip Island Gaming Society agreed to put on a Pirate skirmish game at Eureka Miniatures open day “Little Wars”.
In preparation for this I put together some terrain
And some rules (see my rules Scurvy Dogs) available on this blog site for download.
I had purchased a number of Blood and Plunder pirate box sets for use in this game but years later they are still to be finished.
Early last year I had picked up a couple of book on the Sugar wars and decided that this would make a good campaign using those figures.
Another year and a half later (Gurus take some time get their ass into gear) I decided to pick up the Blood and Plunder set of rules and start finally doing something. Another three months later and the rules finally arrived!
Blood & Plunder looks a great game. The core rulebook lays out the rules, provides a solid set of scenarios, and presents a selection of Spanish, English, French, and Pirate factions to play with. The core book is all you need to get going and you can expand into further force building with the excellent online Force Builder.
Brandish your cutlass and musket, and prepare for swashbuckling and adventure on the Spanish Main! Whether you’re marching your pirate army across the Isthmus of Panama as legendary pirate Henry Morgan or terrorizing the Jamaican coasts as the infamous Captain Rivero, Blood & Plunder is a game set in the Caribbean during the 17th century that is guaranteed to evoke thrills and capture the imagination of miniature gamers.
The setting is great and the 30mmm miniatures are the best pirate figures in my opinion on the market.
Any experienced gamer will pick up the very intuitive rules quite quickly and the ease of layout and excellent index (no Games Workshop or Warlord Games problems her) helps you to find things very easily. For the life of me and cannot understand how in this day and age when a detailed index can be easily created in Microsoft Word, I just cannot understand why they are not provided!
This 30mm miniatures game boasts:
The game mechanics are the first that I know of that allow a very seamless transition between land and naval battles which provided endless scenario battles.Consultation from world renowned historian and author Bennerson Little (Black Sails, Fortune’s Whelp) have helped to makes sure all models, scenarios, and rules reflect the period as much as possible. Again I believe this to b e the only set of rules where an historian has been engaged to ensure historical accuracy.
The rules are not only a set of pirate rules but could be used for any skirmish gaming set in the black powder time period.
I have the following box sets partly painted and hope to have them completed by the end of the year..
A word of warning I have only read the rules and have yet to play them but they look well worth the money.
This has been a protracted and winding journey but I plan to have this project back on track soon.
Yesterday I finished my Russian Silver Bayonet Unit. One of them was the human version of Werebear skin changer, but there was no bear!
Given we needed to do our weekly shopping and I needed to get an army ready for tonight’s game at Axes and Ales I only had time to quickly paint up the bear version of him.
I have some skin changers for my Free Folk “Songs of Ice and Fire” and decided to paint up the bear component.
I have already painted one and painted this one up to match so that it could be used in both games systems.
Hope to get a bit more than this done for tomorrow.
As a game of Gothic Horror your team is a group of hand-picked experts in their field. They are individuals and as such there is no real need to follow a traditional uniform pattern for each expert. Die to the Gothic Horror nature of the game I wanted units that reflect they dark insidious environment they are working within.
My Leader is the Russian Aristocrat Baron Ugolev Karl Anatolievich.
A leader is usually your most powerful and most important figure. The baron certainly thinks he is. He has a fearsome reputation as a swashbuckling, fearless, and dashing leader who loves to lead the charge.
Podpraporshchik (Sergeant) Yenotin Alexei Rostislavovich is the best marksman in the Russian Army. He has mastered the rather new and innovative rifle. Small in stature his roll is to pick off the enemies of the faith from a distance.
Gefreiter (private) Olezhka Sergeyevich is the most decorated soldier in the Russian army. Despite this he shuns promotions happy to fight alongside his lifelong companions in the rank and file. Awarded the Order of Saint Andrew for single handedly storming and routing a French artillery battery, the Order of Alexander Nevsky for saving a mother and child from drowning while he was on leave, and the Order for Saint George for rallying a whole regiment whilst its leader fled the field, his courage cannot be denied. He carries his trusty musket awarded as a weapon of Saint George which is encrusted with gold and jewels.
In other times Gribanova Rakhil Valerievna might be tried as a witch but her knowledge of the paranormal and supernatural have been honed during her time as a nun in the Vatican itself.
Not part of any military structure she is one of the first called upon to fight the forces of evil.
The Don Cossack Alexei Gerogiy is an excellent scout for the group and his curved sabre and trusty pistol are always handy in a fight.
His Eminence Bishop Shashlov has such unshakeable faith that he has been known to perform many miracles. He has a strong calling to fight against the hordes of darkness and is a member of the party in an “unofficial” capacity (as indeed they all are).
Although Korablin Ignatiy Ruslanovich wears a uniform he has never been part of the army but is a famous vampire and werewolf hunter. He carries his trusty silver axe as he likes to see the fear in his enemies eyes as he cleaves them in two.
Born in the wilds of Siberia Misalov Yurievich from within a tribe touched by the spirits of the bear he is unfortunate to have the ability to skinshift from human form to that of a bear. Difficult to control his fearsome strength is always welcome in a fight.
The figures are from the North Star box set. Whilst I like the figures, particularly the Russian Orthodox priest, they are not the characters I personally would have chosen but that is the advantage of Silver Bayonet – because you do not have to rigidly paint them in uniform they can be used interchangeably. I have the Spanish and Austrian box sets as well but I am augmenting those with lots of unpainted “standard” Napoleonic figures I already have.
In fact the maximum points value that your unit can start with is 105pts (with the additional leader recruitment bonus), but generally only 100pts. The starting value of the figures in this box set is about 146pts so something would have to be swapped or deleted. It is generally unwise to have both a Werebear and a Veteran Hunter in a starting unit because of their high cost of 30pts each.
