Small French Revolutionary game testing new rules

 We came across new Napoleonic rules by Keith Flint called "Shadow of the Eagles". 

As we use his SYW rules already for our 15mm figures of the WAS period we though about trying out these for our 28mm French Revolutionary figures and our 15mm napoleonic ones.

So yesterday evening we cobbled together a small scenario and tried out various events of our miniatures battle.
We must say we like the rules but as these SotE rules are of the simpler kind there will of course rise some questions or there will be situations which are not covered but, to be honest, with our first usinf we didn't ave a lot. 

As our tabletop wasn't big we used the suggested organisation of 16 infantry and 8 cavalry figures and liked that scale so maybe we will rebase (or reduce permanently) our 28mm units to that scale even when using other Napoleonic rules. 
As we were used to different strength units (according to OOB of real battles/campaigns) it was  strange to see the units all of the same strength but this has its advantages. 
What is great imho is, that Keith tries to explain his line of thinking as the background of his rules in the rulebook together with campaign notes from French Revolution up to 1815 plus adds some scenarios.

And when that isn't enough, there is always the possibility to ask questions at his forum. 

We will try the rules some more but as said we like them. Great job done.

Some (telephone) pictures of yesterday's refight.

Poldercon 2022

 Again a great gathering of players at Poldercon 2022 in Utrecht.

Trying four unknown rule sets by playing them each for about 1,5 hour together with a very friendly atmosphere and talking to other wargame enthousiasts is a day wel spent.

So a big thanks to the organisers of Poldercon and the game master of each of the games; they did a great job and it will have taken a great deal of effort for a lot of them to organise the whole show, present their game, make the terrain etc. 

As we didn't take any pictures ourselves we just present some taken by others. Starting with the winner of the presented games.

Jan with a General d'armee game

Peter is rolling dice at the Bello Ludi WO I game

Some other pictures 

Part of our wargames as diorama's in Kasteeltuinen Arcen

On the site of the castle of Arcen (South-East Netherlands near Venlo) years ago there were planted gardens as a tourist attraction which attract thousands of tourists from the Netherlands and abroad. It is called the Kasteeltuinen (Castle Gardens).

Peter was asked to put on some displays at the castle of our wargames terrain and figures with connection to the region in which the castle is situated. As this was done already in 2018 he of course was delighted to do this.

Some impressions of the gardens underneath followed by the two displays: 

 the entrancethe  castle in which the displays are situated.

Firstly our wargames table about the battle at Arcen itself in 1511 between the Habsburg army and the army of the Duc of Gueldress

            

Secondly the Siege of Venlo in 1373 (1st Gueldress Succession War):

Townstreet circa 1500; new buildings

 Peter added some self made buildings to our stock of wargame terrain. 

These represent a row of buildings of a town of around 1500. Hope you like them!

Two additions to the Dutch FR army

The Dutch army needed some artillery and some light infantry so Jan finished them last week.

First the artillery; the guns and artillerymen are from Toads, the limber from Eureka.

Secondly a representation of the two Damas Chasseur companies; beloning to the Damas Legion (French emigré in Dutch service until 1795).

As no correct figures are available, these were converted from Austrian 1809 landwehr infantry. Although not correct, we will use them until some firm will make them.

 

Early medieval tower part 2 finished

 As blogged earlier the tower was expanded to a small motte & bailey castle.

After painting and grassing this was the result. Now only some huts etc for the bailey need to be constructed which will be part 3 and last.

  

some infantry in the tower on the look out 

The early medieval tower revisited

As Jan had made an early medieval tower, it make sense to build further a motte and bailey although this last one couldn't be big as it should be fitted on our wargames table.
The total space should be max 60*90cm as we use 60*60cm sheets for the table so the castle would fit in.

So first some gluing of sheets (one 60*50cm and one 60*40cm), making a low motte and low wall for the bailey and then carve out the dry moats around both.

The motte received a palisade (Jans wife is now missing a lot of cocktail prickers (is the an English expression?).

As it is nice to have a gate on the motte which can be opened, this was handmaid with some balsa wood and two ex Northstar pikes trimmed so that it fitted between the balsa as doorposts. 

And lastly as the bailey get no palisade but a simple wattle fence (to enhance the early medieval character) posts are glued to the bailey wall; on the picture are the first ones, the amount is now tripled.
Some bridges are built to cross the moats but again no sophisticated drawbridges; this is early stuff.

And the last step until now is gluing sand on all the terrain as base for painting.

Hope you enjoy!

2016 Crisis report of our table thanks to Wargames Illustrated

Just by accident we saw an old report by Wargames Illustrated of Crisis 2016 in which The Dortmund Amateurs' WW2 game was portrayed and our table of the Guelders-Habsburg Wars around 1500.

To end our blog year we present the youtube link:

Have a great and healthy 2022 and have great wargames in coming year

Alde Garde

Peter and Jan

Some additions to the French League of Augsburg army

In the painting que of Jan two units of LoA miniatures became ready.
The Du Roi dragoons and the La Marck infantry, the last one in their striking yellow uniforms, were finished. Some pictures underneath.

The French army now consist of two dragoon regiments (Du Roi and La Reine) and three dismounted ones (the dismounted versions of Du Roi and La Reine plus the d'Asfeldt dragoons).

Dismounted Du roi on the left, La Reine on the right and d'Asfeldt in the middle.

The 80 Year War; the first figures are ready

These are the first pictures of Peters' foot units set during the early decades of the 80 Years War in the Low Countries (Netherlands).

All the figures are from the Assault Group’s Long War range and is the first range that made me finally start my 80 Years War Project.

They are all wonderful sculpts and also typical for the early period (1560’s and 1570’s), of which besides the invaluable Hoogenberg drawings not so much temporary picture evidence has survived.

All figures are based to suit the Pikeman’s Lament ruleset. And viewing the pictures it seems they still need a layer of matt varnish.

The first 3 pictures underneath show a group of (irregular) Sea Beggars with various arms and a unit of the first regular Orangist militia.

The next 2 pictures show German mercenary troops in typical Pluderhosen or very baggy trousers.

They fought on both sides during the war. Especially the command figures are great.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Next is a picture of a part of the first English unit officially sent by the government under Sir Humphry Gilbert.
They are from TAG’s Tudor range and are well suited for the first decade of the 80 Years War.

Then of course the adversaries to the Dutch units: Spanish troops.

Again beautiful sculpts and once more splendid command figures.

Artillery was in its early stages of becoming a bit more standardized.

The crew are again from TAG’s Tudor range and the horse team and driver are good old Dixon’s.

We are anxiously waiting for the cavalry and Artillery from TAG to come.

Next time we’ll post some pics of cavalry from other ranges that Peter has painted up to now for this period.