The Ball

It was just another of those interminable balls thrown by the close friends of the Landgraf, the Graf Nicklaus and Grafin Nora von Spanielberg. Most of the guests had arrived already, and Landgraf Bogey was just about to walk away from the receiving line when the majordomo made another announcement.
“The Countess Jodylynn von Kolich-Hrvatska, and her escort, Major Edwina!”
Bogey stepped back between Nora and the Landgrafin. Looking at his wife, he asked, “Slim, is this the one you you have been wishing to meet?”
“His Excellency forgets He is in public!” Landgrafin Lauren snapped at the use of the nickname she disliked, just as Nora, having accepted the curtsy of her guest, turned to Bogey.
“Your Excellency, Countess Jodylynn von Kolich—err…”
A vision of blonde hair above a brilliant and amused white smile were quickly lost as the Landgraf’s attention was drawn to an imposing valley of décolleté. The smile never faltered as she said in a strange, Eastern accent, “von Kolich-Hrvatska, Your Excellency.”
“I am pleased to meet you, Countess,” Bogey said as he kissed the proffered hand and remembered just in time to look the newcomer in the eye. As he did so, he felt the Landgrafin’s heel dig into his foot.
“And may I present Landgrafin Lauren to you, Countess?”
Never losing her smile, the countess turned to the Landgrafin. A quick narrowing of eyes informed the countess that her beauty and figure did not impress Bogey’s wife.
“Charmed, Countess. What brings you to our modest little country? I’m sure the glittering capitals of Europe are more to your…bent.”
A quick curtsy, just deep enough and no more, and the countess replied, “Thank you, Your Grace. I am afraid that I have fled my small estate in Kentukevania. I was hoping that—.”
Just what the countess was hoping was interrupted by a great shout from Graf Spanielberg. “By Jove, Major! You’re a WOMAN!”
Silence descended in the hall as every eye turned to look at the entrance. Standing in a rich brown coat with coral smallclothes and facings at cuff and collar, the officer next to the countess was now seen to be just that:  a tall, athletic woman wearing a military uniform.

Nora, never at a loss, spoke quickly. “Major, welcome to Schloss Spanielberg. Have you met our Landgraf?”
As bows were exchanged, the countess completed her sentence. “I was hoping, Your Excellency, that you would honor me by allowing my escort and her legion to join with your army. You will find them to be, shall we say, an exceptional BODY of troops?”
The countess and major walked into the now buzzing hall. Nick cleared his throat. Nora, searching for something to add, quickly commented, “The countess was wearing such exquisite earrings, do you not think so Lauren?”
Nick answered, “Yes, most impressive.”
Nora rolled her eyes. “Dear, the earrings were higher up than you were looking.”

----------------------------------------------------------
And thus Countess Jodylynn’s Own, a legion of lithe, blonde, Slavic warriors joined the Army of Hesse-Fedora.

Ladder Campaign

Over on Emperor vs. Elector and on his own blog at Saxe-Bearstein, Jeff has challenged people to make up a ladder campaign from the Charles Stewart Grant's book Scenarios for Wargames.

Brigadier Grant has published several books, plus he and his father have published many magazine “teasers.” So it happens that I have already made a ladder campaign using the Scenarios for the Ages book and the first Teaser published in Battlegames magazine, issue #1. At Jeff’s suggestion, here is the campaign. As usual, click to “embiggen:”

Creaking Along

I had hoped to have the entire SYW backlog finished up this weekend, but don’t. [Insert various lame excuses here.]

However, I did get the bases for all these fine fellows base-coated. My technique, shamelessly stolen from a White Dwarf article a few years ago, is:

1. Cover base in glue (white/PVA) or similar, then dunk in sand. I use Woodland Scenics fine ballast.

2. After thoroughly drying at least over night, paint with Apple Barrel “nutmeg brown” and again allow to thoroughly dry.

3. Drybrush with Apple Barrel “antique white.”

4. Stipple with white glue, then dunk in Woodland Scenics blended turf.

5. Optionally, add one or two tufts of static grass.

It ends up looking like this shot of Landgraf Bogey reviewing his troops:

What I’ve accomplished is up through step 2 for the following:

Dutch:

Musketeer Regiment Crommelin, 54 figures
Musketeer Regiment Walloon, 54 figures
Grenadier Regiment van Pallandt, 54 figures
Regiment te Paard Roncour, 24 figures
2 x 3pdr with 8 crew
5 mounted generals

Saxon:

Chevaulegers Regiment von Bruhl, 24 figures

French:

Arquebusiers de Grassin, 18 figures

Austrian:

Infantry Regiment de Ligne (IR 38, Netherlands), 66 figures
Infantry Regiment Fürstenberg (Swabian), 66 figures

Obviously, the Imperial forces are receiving a large reinforcement! So what does that work out to? About 320 foot and 53 mounted figures. So I’ve been doing something! Now I need to base my Napoleonic Portuguese brigade, too (another 120 infantry, 24 mounted, and 4 guns with 20 or so crew).

This week’s purchases were the new books by Charles Grant and company: The Annexation of Chiraz, The Wargamers Annual Volume 1, and Wargaming in History Series: Charles Grant's
The Seven Years' War Krefeld, Sandershausen and Lutterberg – 1758. My Eureka order arrived, with “Ragged Continentals” and the various new SYW vignettes—wonderful figures! I’m looking forward to the new Battlegames, which hopefully will arrive Monday.

The lead pile stirs

Note to self: No more saying/writing/blogging/thinking that things are getting better. It is best not to tempt fate that way.

That said, I have come to the conclusion that painting big battalions is just not going to happen any time soon. I'll be doing good to get the ones I have based!

So, the lead pile was raided today. My Eureka Arquebusiers de Grassin and two regiments of Austrians from Minden Miniatures are packed and will head off for painting on Monday. That reduces the pile by 152 figures. Although I need to order some mounted colonels from Frank.

Sending off this order leaves a regiment each of Minden Prussian fusiliers and musketeers, and two regiments of Old School Miniatures Prussian musketeers from Fighting 15s. Oh, and the newly-arrived Eureka Saxon horse.

Once these all get done, I would love to get more of the Minden Miniatures of various flavours, and some more Crusader Miniatures too. Of course, there are always plenty of other options out there, so we'll see. Checking the relative sizes of the Homburgers and their allies compared to the Landgraf and his allies reveals that the Electoral force needs more cavalry, the Imperials need more white-coated infantry of several flavors, and both sides are fairly even in the artillery arm.

Blogging about my armies just reminded me of one of those "Doh!" moments I recently experienced.

I was reading Charles S. Grant's various new books, The War Game Companion, Battlegames Table Top Teasers Vol 1, and Raid on St Michel. I was pondering how I could use them for some games, and was wondering the best way to represent the militia units in the books. (Quick summary: the militia units are half the size of regular units.) I contemplated ordering some of the Eureka "Ragged Continentals" and painting them up in various colors; that way they could stand in for any country that needed them.

That's when I realized that I already HAVE half-strength units (other that the obvious ploy of splitting "regular" units): my collection was originally for 24-figure units, and I have combined them into BAR-sized big battalions or purchased new ones at larger size. But I have four old units that were only 24 figures strong that I never up-sized. Voila! Instant militia! One is a Prussian Freibattalion, one is the Wurzburg Red battalion, and one each generic French and Spanish units. That was a satisfying discovery.

Which reminds me of my next game purchase: more bases. I must go count how many I need to order for the Dutch.

Cheers,
Ed

Blog? What blog?

I think we have finally reached a modicum of stability in the realm of family and health issues. No boring details here, though, since this is an ImagiNation after all!

So, what has the Landgraf been up to on the gaming front? Plenty of different things with no guiding principle.

First and most enjoyable, Ray came and visited. In the weeks leading up to his visit, something got us directed at Memoir '44. This WW2 board game with miniatures is a lot of fun, but I had not played it in years and Ray not at all. Well, we took care of that!

Ray now owns everything put out for the system, and I'm not far behind. During the weekend he was here, we played at least 12 games (six scenarios, swapping sides after each game). We thoroughly enjoyed it.

M44 is one of Richard Borg's Command & Colours series. I had bought the C&C version of Battle Cry at Cold Wars 2001 after playing it under Mr. Borg's guidance all afternoon. So I pulled it out for Ray and I to try.

Somehow, eight years later, the game is still mint: figures on sprues, counters unpunched, heck even the dice stickers are still on their sheet. Ray informed me that the game is being sold on Ebay and other places for a tidy sum. So, punch out and play or save and sell?? We decided to leave it for now.

But that led to all kinds of C&C-related excursions. We went looking for Napoleonic versions, especially ones we could play using our 28mm miniatures. I almost bought myself a set of Kallistra Hexon for my birthday to make into a miniatures game. Ray and I are still discussing it.

Our interest in GW's War of the Ring faded quickly. Even though I actually sat down and painted a dozen figures or so. Really!

I have made several book and terrain purchases (the Landgraf's pontoon train arrived today from PMCGames, for example), including the reprint of the classic His Britannic Majesty's Army in Western Germany by Eighteenth Century Press. And now I'm anxiously awaiting the third and final volume of Jack Gill's history of Napoleon's 1809 campaign.

On the ImagiNation front, my preorder of Eureka Miniatures' Saxon cavalry has arrived. Beautiful figures! The Empress will no doubt be please by this accession to her strength: 8 squadrons of cavalry, two each of cuirassiers, dragoons, chevaulegers, and hussars, plus a dismounted squadron for each of the two light regiments.

I did run my Le Petit Empereur game at ChimaeraCon 2009. It looked good, but only played through once or twice. See a couple of pics here.

I am working on some plans right now for the rest of the year. My Saxon cavalry, Mittel-Nirgendwo infantry, and various Minden Miniatures are all crying out to be painted, but I am sorely tempted by my Napoleonic lead pile. Hopefully, another post will follow soon with real progress to be noted.

Thanks for stopping by.

Ed v. H-F

Mustering for departure

The two columns converging on Frankfurt both have taken the opportunity of a small defile to have a quick review of the troops. They have been told off into their brigades, and various contingents have been combined to form grenadier battalions, horse grenadier squadrons, and the like:

The Imperials:

And the Fedorans and their allies:

All in all, it took 14 boxes, most of them with two infantry or one cavalry brigade in them, to prepare the armies for the march north to Millenium Con!

Sorry for the blurry pictures...someday I'll figure out how to take a clear picture.

Raising a new unit!

For those of you who haven't picked up on it yet, I really don't like painting. Sure, the figures I have actually painted don't look bad, and I am usually happy in the end. But the process is not usually pretty.

But, hold your breath now, I'm going to paint a brand new unit in time for Millennium Con in November. I've had the Fedoran Landgrafin's Fusiliers staring at me for too long, but they're moving to the back of the line. The Imperium needs help!

So, I will paint up a 66-figure regiment of Minden Austrians. By the way...FANTASTIC figures, Frank!!

Here they are in their naked, just mustered-in glory:

They will be painted as the Furstenthal Regiment of Graf Prosper von Furstenthal. Who, amazingly enough, has this interesting red-vested look going for them:

Wish me luck! I will post updates as to their progress.

Soldiers of Gallia

General Chevert-Protz has ordered Louis Renault, Comte de Maison-Blanche, to take charge of a column and move into Mittel-Nirgendwo. Renault's orders are to offer his assistance to the Imperial general von Blei-Sammeln, and to sustain his soldiers from the bounty of those lands.

Although the Comte de Maison-Blanche was not himself able to attend, his units paraded before departing.

Regiment Conde























Regiment La Sarre























Regiment Royal Allemand






















Regiment Raugrave























Royal Artillery

The Britannian Contingent

Major General Sir Harald Dawes reviewed his command on this hot Sunday afternoon.

11th Foot, with Sir Harald.




















20th Foot is reviewed by Sir Harald.




















The 37th Foot gets their turn with the commander.




















The combined grenadiers--the cream of this little army.




















And finally, Sir Harald looks at the artillery.

37th Foot and Fedoran Hussar Patrol

Just a couple pics to see how the set up looks.

Two New Brigades Ready for Action!

Over the weekend I was able to finish rebasing my British and French units for BAR. Well, apart from the French cavalry. Those are based with some unknown rock-like immovable substance from the UK and short of sawing the horses off at the feet, they are NOT coming off!

I hope to add some pics this weekend:

Brigade of Major General Sir Harald Dawes

• 11th Foot, 36 figures
• 20th Foot, 36 figures
• 37th Foot, 36 figures
• Grenadier Battalion, 36 figures
• Artillery Battery, 2 6pdr, 8 gunners, 1 officer

Brigade of Louis Renault, Comte de Maison-Blanche

• Conde, 1 battalion, 48 figures
• La Sarre, 1 battalion, 48 figures
• Royal Allemand, 1 squadron, 12 figures
• Rougrave, 1 squadron, 12 figures
• Royal Artillery, 2 4pdr, 8 gunners

The Army of Hesse-Fedora

The Army in Review

Infantry

Leib Regiment, 1 bn and 1 grenadier co

Musketeer Regiment von Blaine, 1 bn and 1 grenadier co

Musketeer Regiment von Earle, 1 bn and 1 grenadier co

Musketeer Regiment von Spade, 1 bn and 1 grenadier co






















Each musketeer battalion has 4 companies of 12 figures (10 privates, 1 NCO, 1 officer), plus a staff of 6 figures (1 private, 2 drummers, 2 standards, 1 officer)

Each grenadier company has 12 figures (10 grenadiers, 1 drummer, 1 officer)

Total 66 figures.

Normal-Infanterie-Regiment (Fusilier Regiment Landgrafin Loren), 1 bn and 1 grenadier co




























Battalion of four musketeer companies of 12 figures (10 privates, 1 NCO, 1 officer), one grenadier company of 12 figures (9 grenadiers, 1 drummer, 1 NCO, 1 officer), and a regimental/battalion staff of 6 figures (2 drummers, 2 standards, 2 officers)

Total, 66 figures

Grenadier companies of the first four regiments are converged into Grenadier Battalion von Dobbs; grenadiers of Landgrafin Fusiliers are not converged.












Total force = 6 battalions, 330 figures.


Heavy Cavalry
Garde du Corps, 1 squadron

Karabinier Regiment von Marlowe, 2 squadrons






















Each squadron has 12 figures (9 troopers, 1 trumpeter, 1 standard, 1 officer; 2nd squadron of Karabiniers replaces trumpeter with trooper)

Total force = 36 figures


Dragoons
Dragoon Regiment von Gunn, 2 squadrons






















Each squadron has 12 figures (10 troopers, 1 standard, 1 officer)

Total force = 24 figures


Artillery
Artillery Company

The artillery company has 20 figures and 4 guns

The artillery company supports each infantry battalion with a 4pdr battalion gun





















Total force = 4 guns and 20 figures


Light Forces
Jägerkorps, 3 companies

Hussar Regiment von Steele, 2 squadrons

Each company has 10 figures (1 officer, 9 jägers), no colors

Each squadron has 12 figures (all troopers), no colors

Total force = 54 figures

Mittel-Nirgendwo

I plan on doing some housework and tidying up on the blog over the next few days.

I have decided that, among other changes, the links section is getting a makeover.

Originally I planned to link to all of the ImagiNation blogs, but that just isn't working. Besides, Emperor vs. Elector is doing it already! So, except for some personal favorites I will give just the link to E vs. E.

There are a few sites that I feel compelled to keep here, for various reasons. Mostly, though, they are the ones that most fire my own ImagiNation:

Stollen
Pils-Holstein
Hesse-Seewald
Battlegames
and some others

Personally, I am using Google Reader as my main blog source. Since it automatically tells me when there are new posts plus has folders for keeping things organized, I find it very useful. Now, if someone can just tell me how to read blog comments in Reader...

Since I use Reader, I can export my full blog list to anyone interested.

Also, I will be doing Army-specific posts showing each ImagiNation's order of battle with embedded uniform templates from the Not By Appointment plates, and also digipictures of the corresponding miniatures as they are completed. This will be an ongoing work for a few weeks.

In the meantime, here is my working map of the Imperial Circle of Mittel-Nirgendwo, where all of this lace and thunder is taking place.

Cheers!

Awarding Battle Honors (Honours)

So far I've only been able to get in two (2) games of BAR. The first was a solo run through, the second was the game I hosted at ChimaeraCon 2008. Several units had noteworthy performances, and I was writing up some fluff for battle honors when it occurred to me: the Hesse-Fedorans LOST at the second battle.

So, what to do? No army wants to memorialize a defeat that served little purpose. But two units of the Fedoran army distinguished themselves during the battle. (We won't mention one that, ahhhh, did not.)

So, are "honours" just for the unit, or must the army do well in order to recognize the individual?

Two months?! And a request for help

Wow, where in the world has two months gone? I've got a bunch of troops based up over the last few weeks, but not much else has been accomplished on the ImagiNation front.

I wrote up a post on my favorite wargames articles, but must have left it on the other thumb drive. I'll post it tomorrow.

In the meantime, does anyone have a copy of Military Modelling Manual 1983? I would like to get a copy to peruse Charles Grant's article, 'Generals, their Personalities and Staff in Wargames.'

Also, I'm looking to get a copy of Practical Wargamer, September/October 1994 for the article on 'Mainz 1792.'

Finally, can anyone give a comparative review of Don Featherstone's "Solo Wargaming" to Stuart Asquith's "The Partizan Press Guide to Solo Wargaming?" The Asquith version is much more accessible, and I'm looking for some pointers in this direction.

Thanks,
Ed

So...to which "Saxe-Gotha" are you referring??

During my collecting of Seven Years War miniatures, I have somehow managed to pick several units that are all identified as “Saxe-Gotha.” Having just recently noted this, I thought it would be interesting to see if these units were all, in fact, named after the same proprietor (Inhaber or Chef depending on country).

Here are the units I have discovered with the name Saxe-Gotha. In German, it would be Sachsen-Gotha, but I will use “Saxe-.” Actually, at the time of the Seven Years War, it was technically Sachsen-Gotha-Altenburg.

The ruling Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg in 1756 was Frederick III, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg. His consort was Luise Dorothea of Saxe-Meiningen. Their only son of military age, Frederick, died on 9 June, 1756.

Austrian IR 30, Saxe-Gotha Infantry Inhaber ?? Raised in the Netherlands

Austrian DR 28, Saxe-Gotha Dragoons Inhaber Field Marshal Prinz Johann August prince of Sachsen Gotha, brother of the ruling Duke

Hanoverian IR 9A Infantry “Herzogin” von Saxe-Gotha Originally a Saxe-Gotha unit, then under British subsidy, then absorbed into the Hanoverian army in 1759. Later known as Saxe-Gotha von Wurmb.

Electoral Saxon IR Prinz Gotha Infantry Inhaber Johann Adolf, Prinz von Sachsen-Gotha youngest of the Duke’s brothers; captured at Pirna; reformed 1757 in Hungary and then transferred to French service

IR Saxe-Gotha Infantry Diocese of Münster Inhaber??

Ducal Saxon Regiment Infantry Upper Saxon Circle Inhaber??

DR Saxe-Gotha Dragoons Upper Saxon Circle Inhaber??

I have been unable to find a list of the full names of the Austrian Inhaber, to confirm which “Saxe-Gotha” was Inhaber of IR 30.

Any help, on any of these units, would be appreciated.

Da Lead! Da Lead!

It certainly can build up when one isn’t paying attention, can’t it? As usual, my ambitions and toy soldier-acquisition have far outstripped my painting speed and contract painting service budget!

My Brunswick/Fedora project is mostly complete except for the Landgrafin’s Fusiliers still are unfinished, and some basing is left for other units. However, my other projects are not so far advanced.

I have been rebasing my figures from six figures in two ranks onto single bases. That way I can play any of several rule sets simply by using movement stands. Most of the Austrians and roughly half of the Prussians are rebased, but the British and French are not even started.

Then there is the Pile o’ Lead. On top are the Landgrafin’s Fusiliers, which are at least started. Next is a company of Eureka Arquebusiers de Grassin.

After that, I have three battalions of Eureka Saxons with guns, a Minden Prussian battalion that shall become the first battalion of the Prince-Bishop of Zwischen-Andere, a Minden battalion for Hesse-Homburg, and a newly ordered brigade of Venture Miniatures Hanoverians. That’s around 500 foot and over 50 mounted.

Plus I have my Eureka 100 club figures that will be delivered over the next few months: 4 regiments of Saxon cavalry and a big force of Dutch.

So much lead…

ChimaeraCon 2008--San Antonio, Texas, USA

ChimaeraCon 2008 is over, as far as “The Big Battalions” are concerned. And it was a complete success! Unless you are a Fedoran, that is.

C-Con has a larger portion of the Crossroads Mall Convention than last year, providing plenty of space for all of the various events. Sadly, turnout looked to be down. My guess is that Spring Break started this weekend and lots of people left town.

I showed up plenty early to see the sights and visit with the club members. My game wasn’t scheduled until 1400 but in another unfortunate turn for C-Con, the games scheduled for my table were cancelled due to the Game Master being injured. I took advantage, however, and set up my game early--by 1100.

My idea was that I could take my time and visit with passers-by. I also hoped to recruit some players since there was not a single person pre-registered for the game. Soon, the table looked like this:



My plan worked wonderfully. Maybe too wonderfully.

The scenario was indeed CS Grant’s “Table Top Teaser 3: Advance Guard.” I planned on 4 players initially, but had units for all of the possible reinforcements. Each side had 5 infantry battalions, 4 cavalry regiments, a jager or grenadier detachment, and a couple battalion guns. Infantry had 48 figures each, and cavalry had 24.

A number of club members stopped by, and a surprising number of non-historical gamers did also. I attribute that to the sheer “Wow!” factor of big battalions of “28mm” figures. One of the con’s guests, actor Marc Singer of “BEASTMASTER” and “V” stopped and asked a few questions.

At least nine people decided to play. My first reaction was “Uh oh!”

So I threw out the scenario and just threw all my troops on the table. There were two small brigades of cavalry on each end, with two infantry brigades in the center.



None of the players had played BAR before. Two, Lloyd of the Zolms-Braunfels blog and Rusty of the local club, had copies of the rules. Rusty even brought his Austrian battalions and a couple guns…but there was no room on the table!

At 1400 I gave an overview of the rules. That took 20 minutes, and the one thing I learned later was that I did not give enough information about the methods to change facing and formation as given in the “Drill Manual.”

The game began at 1425 after a brief planning session by the players.



Things went quickly due to the small size of the board. The sheer size of the movement rates and firing ranges is daunting, even on a table 6.5 feet by 10 feet.

Both ends of the field had traffic jams, due partly to terrain, partly to set-up, and partly to not explaining as mentioned above. But the players worked it out soon enough, and the game quickly started with Fedoran and Germanian hussars tangling with Imperial dragoons. You can sense the scale of losses by the amount of bare magnet visible on the movement trays!



In the center, the infantry engaged in some horrific firefights. Most of the units held their fire and caused around 15 casualties per volley…and that is AFTER the saving rolls!

We had a few questions come up, but the rules answered most of them with a little digging. The cavalry scrums ended up in Imperial victory on both ends, with about one squadron surviving out of four. These two squadrons were preparing to intervene in the center when the Fedorans withdrew.

In this photo, Germanian IR 9, which was the Fedoran reserve, is moving up to fill the hole left by the rout of a Fedoran battalion. In the middle distance you can see the melee which ended in the destruction of the Imperial Esterhazy battalion, and in the far distance you can see a fresh Imperial battalion preparing to drive the Leib regiment away from Balcones.



The Imperials held both victory objectives (Balcones town and the Olmosbach bridge), and also inflicted more casualties.

Overall, the players seemed pleased and I may have recruited a few new BAR players. One, Sherrill, is soon moving to Illinois and I have already aimed him at Herr Alte Fritz and company!

Some more eye candy, and then it’s off to bed. Thanks for stopping by!

First pics of the Fedoran hordes

Just a few snaps. I am NOT a photographer!

The von Steele Hussars




















The grenadiers of Regiment von Earle



















Generalmajor Norris' pride and joy: the Jagerkorps!

Back home...and packages were waiting!

Hello, and thanks for still dropping around.

I have just returned from a week visiting with my mother to help out while she recovers from a fall. She's doing well, although she has little short term memory and becomes confused when she's tired.

On a MUCH more cheerful note: there were packages awaiting my return:

1. Eureka Saxon infantry (the Duchy of Saxe-Jungbach's recruits)

2. A BUNCH of painted RSM Brunswickers...I mean, Fedorans. Yes, I "outsourced" to get the troops done quickly!

3. A check I made out to a painter. Oops. I was so excited about getting the troops (Crusader Miniatures Austrian dragoons and horse grenadiers) that I forgot to put a stamp on the envelope.

More pics and info to follow.

Cheers,
Ed v. H-F