Soon...

Soon i shall have a camera! So finally i can take some pictures of what i've been painting up recently!

=D

After the little hiatus, it's time to get back into the saddle of blogging i think, this time with images. Starting from next week, expect more posts around here, it's been all too quiet lately (except for the spam comments, at least 15 recently! Ridiculous).

Fallout Chain of Command anyone?

After being used as a target in a few games of Magic (the  card game) i decided to think about wargames instead.

I've been rather interested in post-apocalyptic settings at the moment, a bit dark i know! But i really like quite dark and gothic sci-fi, such as the Inquisitor part of the 40K universe. As such i created Normedra to allow some creation in this genre, and also i've been playing on Fallout 3 recently too.

For my Normedra setting, i'm using the Chain of Command rules and, having a mad imagination that considers everything that goes through it, i thought of possibly using these rules for a Fallout out setting, or smaller scale actions with other figures (WWII included).

The idea is to basically lower the size from a platoon game to use it with a few less figures (a dozen at least perhaps). This will allow me to use my Normedra figures without having to paint up another platoon, and maybe create a few Fallout characters in 15mm.

I also thought of adding a wound system to CoC, based on skimming through the Stargrunt II rulebook. This could be added to a normal CoC game however.

So, here are some ideas and notes i have for the moment:

-Forces are organised into squads and teams as normal, just less squads or each one with less men.

-Perhaps a leader to spend 2 command points to activate a team or squad twice (or could be a force special rule).

-Specialized military weapons (machetes, axes, swords...): +1 d6 in assaults per man armed.

Wounded men:

When a man is taken out of action by a kill result on the effects table, he might be only wounded. Roll another d6:

-On a 1-3 he is dead and removed as normal.

-On a 4-6 he is wounded and laid down. He may not move or fight.

Wounded men can be carried by 2 fit soldiers. They can also be treated if friends in 2" do not move for a phase and is not activated. Any number of men may be treated in a single phase. Roll another d6:

-On a 1-2 he is gravely wounded and dies. Remove from the table.

-On a 3-5 he is stabilized and although he cannot fight, he will live and must be evacuated.

-On a 6 he is only stunned and may fight as normal from the next phase on.

If a medic is present, +1 to these rolls.

This system is far from perfect, and adds a few more dice rolls to the game, but i thought it might be interesting. In campaigns a force might suffer a moral loss if it leaves wounded friends behind (or no in the case of an unpopular leader!).

Fallout

In these games each player will lead a band of adventurers, raiders, legionaries... While units would be smaller, the lack of machine guns might make less of an impact on game play. While some missions might be the usual patrols or attack/defend missions, some could be searching and securing supplies and salvage.

Weapons would stay pretty much the same maybe with reduced firepower except at close ranges to conserve ammunition), power armour represented by either adding one level of cover to the target or the possibility of converting a kill to a point of shock on a d6 roll (5+, 4+ depending on type). Again more rolls, i know.

Just realized... 2 years of blogging!

It's only just struck me, but i've been blogging (more or less!) for 2 years now!

I'm in the process of adding some background fluff for this strange place called Normedra, i have an AAR to post up too so the end of December and beginning of January will see some more posts, more than in the past few months perhaps!

Anyhow, thanks to all who read this blog, and bring on 2014!

Quick, before 2013 is over!

Christmas loot!

It seems as if i've gone full circle. The first historical figures i got for Christmas were Flames of War Germans some years ago. Since then i've been on and off several different things, but now i'm back to the beginnings with a box of Volksgrenadiers, though not for World War II.

These figures will be used as a band of mercenaries or bandit raiders for Normedra.

I also went to a figure shop in Agen yesterday, and they must of known i was coming for all the Flames of War stuff was at 25% off. I also had a 10% off for a loyalty card, so i treated myself to some T-34's, 3 half-tracks and some universal carriers.

I think i have enough to get a few forces done for my sci-fi post-apocalyptic world (yes, that's the genre i'm calling it!).

I also managed to get a couple of Chain of Command games in while here at my parents, but i took no photos. I'm hoping to get in another one however and there will be pictures!

Normedra blog launched!

Here it is, the beginnings of the Normedra blog:

Normedra

In the next few days hoping to get some posts about the 'fluff' up so i can flesh out the setting, without forgetting to keep updating here from time to time.

Now i can get back to Runissians and Kaliads here!

Breaking out, breaking down

Also the name of a Bullet for my Valentine song...

Anyway, what's this all about. Well, two things, the first breaking out and the second breaking down (in a way).

First up for breaking out, i built something! Started another horseman, perhaps another Kindarrian to accompany the lord shown a couple of posts ago. It is perhaps the worst picture i have ever taken as i'm using my computer's web cam (really need to go into town and get myself a cheap camera!!!) but you get the idea, at least sort of.

Perry mounted body on Fireforge legs, cut up and added a mail hauberk showing below the breastplate. The horse also has the rear covered to show he is part of the lord's household retinue, but i might give him his own symbols, using blue as a common colour though. Hmmm...

I also have another on the workbench, being the Fireforge body on Perry legs, either to make a lighter Kindarrian or a mounted crossbowman for the Kaliads (i need a second to make a light horse base for Dux Bellorum).

Also breaking out, i have been thinking about ordering just ordered the Bolt Action book. Although i haven't played WWII for a time, i was tempted for a couple of reasons;

1. I've wanted to try them, and i have a German and Soviet force for Flames of War that i could use. I have enough for a small force in FoW but should be a lot bigger in BA. They're multi-based, but that's not a big deal. I have German paras, grenadiers and plenty of panzers while for the Soviets i have a small battalion/large company with snipers, AT rifles and some tanks, not enough for FoW but in BA you only have a tank or two at most so that's no problem.

2. If this Normedra idea flourishes, i thought of using BA for the games. As for figures, i have some spare Soviet infantry, badly painted and not based so they will be found, cut up and converted with miliput to create some men for this new world of mine. I was thinking of using FoW but decided against it (i could still use FoW later though, as i have the rules already).

This means i'll be playing in 15mm, which i prefer. Seeing other blogs who have done this (such as firemonkeyboy at http://themonkeythatwalks.blogspot.fr/) i like the look, distances are better (not perfect, but better) and i wanted to try something smaller. At the club i go to, most people use 20mm minis, my 28's look like giants next to them! I also wanted to test out converting and painting on some smaller guys/

And 28mm tanks are ridiculous to me!

And breaking down because i've got a nice shiny idea in mind, and i fell to temptation and got these rules! However, i will not be buying more figures just yet, but when i do i'm thinking of getting some plastic soldier company tanks and converting them for my Normedra setting. All this and still continuing my Runissia setting, of course.

Normally i loath doing two ideas at once, but then again staying stuck on one think can lead to 'having too much of a good thing' and spoil it. We'll see.

I should perhaps begin this Normedra blog then? Or at least start a brief intro here? Next post perhaps.

What i've been up to

Not much, at least in a wargaming sence!

I've been at uni for a couple of weeks now, getting use to the long days and having to cook your food and wash your cloths. It's all good but in the evenings i've mostly listened to music, watched videos or played on the computer to wind down. I've painted a Kaliad horseman and started two foot figures, but i haven't been feeling that motivated to get the paints out.

I did, however, go to the Bordeaux wargames club!

I played in a couple of games, one two weeks ago and the other yesterday. The first was a big (very big!) ancients game using rules for a board game that the club members converted to use with figures. I was on the mycenian's side against the indians in a 2 vs 2 game. I was tasked with holding the right flank against a bunch of indian cavalry, easy!

(images stolen from Didier's blog http://spqr-figs.blogspot.fr)

What's that? You can move twice in a turn?

My lack of knowledge of the rules (or tactics?) led to this...

Which then led to this...

A great big hole in the line!

Yesterday i played a game of Necromunda, a warhammer 40k skirmish game where each player controls a gang and fights for supremacy. I took an Orlock gang against a small band of Van saar (10 vs 5) and i was confident in winning, even if the van saar had 2 missile launchers!

The table, looking towards my enemy's deployment. I had to go for him, under fire from the missile launchers, and somehow dislodge him even if he was hiding and on overwatch. Later on the van saar ran out of missile ammo but i was battered and bloodied, failed to kill his leader twice and bottled out.

Stephane, on the left, was my opponent, me on the right

Luckily though, none of my men were killed so i'll be back for some more soon! And this time for a win!

Even if i haven't painted much, i've been doing some idea creating though (always creating!).

The world is called Normedra, an ice world colonised by humans during their reach into the stars. However, after natural disasters and economic failure, the planet is pulled back to an early-mid 20th century sort of technology level and fractured into smaller nations. I concentrated on a continent, the Vikula Continent, particularly on the Brovdo Plain where bands of adventurers and nomads seek out lost settlements, mining towns and farm land, and fighting off rivals at the same time.

Just (another) idea for the moment, i thought if i can be bothered to start a new blog about it then i would continue it, if not note it down and leave it for later.

10 000 'proper' views!! Huzzah!!

11 000 views! Who'd of thought that little Max in the depths of Lot-et-Garonne would have over 10k views on his blog. Admittedly this was helped by an oddity where a post had over 350 views, so i waited until i got to 11 000 to count as 10 000 'proper' views.

Thanks to all who read this blog, and also to those who wished me luck in my exams. I'll know how i did on Friday, fingers crossed for something good!!! Until then, the painting table beckons...

I would post a Dux Brit battle, but i'm ashamed of my trees and stream (they just look ****). When i look back at the photos, i wonder how i could have been happy with them for so long. Just lazy i guess.

Enough blabbering, time to get to work.

Update, but not a lot

Thank goodness, exams are over!!!

Well, they've been over for almost a week now, but i haven't blogged until then. During the week of exams i did nothing linked to wargaming, which is normal (must get priorities right after all) but now they're over and i can concentrate on some hobby stuff (as well as signing up for uni, finding an apartment and all the other not-fun stuff).

I have some battle pics to unload onto a post soon, and in the meantime i have updated the Dux Britanniarum in the 15th century page. I realiased people were actually looking at it and i could imagine their disapointmen when they got onto the page as it was rather poor, so now i have grouped my changes together and added a couple of new ones.

Painting continues too but my figure still have not arrived. The shop doesn't even have them yet, bloody post! So in the mean time i'm finishing off the Runissians and Kaliads and continuing my 15th century figures, such as Ormond's archers.

Speaking of Ormond, you may have noticed my Mortimer's Cross project has slowed and to be honest i'm not really bothered. While doing my Runissians i realised that it was funner just to invent retinues and use my imagination. Although i might add some historical retinues to my collection they will not be doing any battle.

Oddity

Bit surprised this morning.

I noticed my views went over 10 000 recently, what i didn't realise was that the last post had over 300 views, over a 100 at 8 this morning.

Slightly bizarre, i think it must be a bug, or perhaps my blog is just very popular (keep believing Max!)

Anyway, figures this afternoon, stick around.

Long time no post

The day in June 7th and my last post was May 25th. Almost 2 weeks without a post, time flies by when your having fun!

The lack of posts was nothing to do with lack of hobby productivity, i just really didn't want to take pictures, load them onto the net (especially with our amazing connection) and some time spend away from the games table was spend on work, as i've got exams in 2 weeks!

I have not been idle, however, for i now have a total of 42 converted figures, 10 painted with the rest

 either base coated or still in plastic. Pictures will soon appear, but there's no light left now so it will have to be tomorrow.. It also gives me time to do the bases.

What have i got to show then? Nothing much, just some drawings that i do to get ideas for my conversions. They're a bit un-animated, but i only use them to remember armour and dress. I might draw them in a pose i need to remember, but i'm getting good at doing standing men quickly so i rely on making the figures to bring them to life.

  

Some have been built, some are waiting to be done. As you can tell, i was too lazy to get out the scanner so took some pictures quickly.

Some earlier drawings i did, these were the initial drawings before i began my mad milliputting rampage.

Tetlys tea and custard creams

Hello all.

A while no blogging, and even longer that I've not been around my little men. I'm still in England, enjoying tea, sliced bread, fish and chips and biscuits. I also went to a gameswork shop yesterday and was horrified to see the new lord of the rings rule book was £50! No thank you, I'm sticking with the old school first edition I got for £2!

Anyway, I've been sans figures but not without my ideas and musings, mostly on Runissia and possible armies for the setting. I might be getting some figures soon-ish, even thought I have loads of perry plastics still. Ah well, that's what it's like to be a wargamer!

As you might know, I'm planning on doing my Runissia in 15mm for a change of scale and also so I can make full scale castles, forts and towns. This is really hard in 28mm for space reasons so I really want to go smaller to go bigger.

So, I've been drawing building plans, taking inspiration from many sources. I bought a book on British castles the other day for 2.99 (instead of 14.99!) and saw Eilean Donan Castle (above, image from Wikipedia). This is the sort of look I want for Runissian castles. Kaliad places might be similar, but more round and smaller.

I could also do this in 6mm, meaning even more space, so it is a possibility and means I could have even more castles for less space. And it's cheaper and easier to hide...

Right, time to go raid some blogs for links!

Going away

Just a quick post to ask if anyone knows of any wargames clubs/shops in the Southampton area. I'm going over there next weekend to see my brother and, although i know that there is a Gameswork Shop there, it doesn't sell historical figures :(

Any help would be appreciated!

Sample is here

Got my sample pack of Legio Heroica in the post today!

I asked for some Feudal and crusaders, and a Swiss pike man to create some Runissians and Kaliads for Norvarje, my fantasy world.

Here they are. I also have three shields and spears for all, but they don't make for good pictures.

I need to clear them of some mold lines and flash, then i can get miliputing. I plan to add boots to some, and convert a spear man to carry a pole arm in both hands. I thought about creating a feudal force for a moment but decided to stay focused, as if i don't make Runissians now i don't think i ever will.

Below is a quite comparison. Legio Herorica in the center, Museum Miniatures on the left and Warrior Miniatures on the right.

I have a plan...

Well, not really, more like some ideas.

Nothing spectacular on the wargames front this week. Being back at lycée, i'm trying to get back into work state of mind. I've also been doing some writing, a story that i might post here as it goes along. Maybe?

I have been thinking a bit about wargames, mainly about an idea i had with a sort of modified Dux Britanniarul rules. I had the idea to create a new fate deck, using nobles' traits to build the hand. Example; a noble is a brave, knightly sort, so in the hand you add Hero of the Age, the one for boosting status (never can remember the name) and one or two of choice from a list. A cunning mercenary leader can have cards that allow him and his troops to move through certain types of terrain, and keep them in line through fear and respect.

I also tried making some new cards for different characters. One is sustained charge, like aggressive charge but over both rounds. Some allow men to move through woods with no penalty, others hills or water (rivers, marshes...), also one where a unit becomes Stubborn and ignores all shock inflicted that turn. Some are also designed for fast, hit and run cavalry, like the Huns.

They're just ideas and thoughts, like lots of things on this blog!

In other news i bought a good magazine with lots on the Hundred Years War (medieval? me? Never...). Plenty of good pictures to look at. I've also been tempted to consider a 15mm army using Legio Herorica figures. They look really nice, and seeing them on a couple of blogs gets the grey cells thinking. Only the pile of Perry Minitaures makes me hesitate; not sure how my parents will react if i order even more figures.

They'll have to wait.

I also made a start on 4 more militia men, but they're not in a state to show yet. Just skin, metal and coats done. Right, time for some tea.

BTW: If any one is interested in some of the card ideas for their Dux adaptions, i can post some up.

Bring on 2013!

I was going to post on the pictures of the first retainers for the Mastons, in their fancy black and green, but i was drafted in to help clear bamboo and by the time we called it a day it was too dark to take photos. So they'll have to wait for next year :)

I have also decided on the forces for the Mastons and the Walkers:

Mastons:

Richard, banner, squire and 3 or 4 mounted retainers.

Sergeant and 11 archers

Sergeant and 9 billmen

Walkers:

Nicolas, banner 1 or 2 squires and 2 men at arms

Sergeant and 11 archers

Sergeant and 11 billmen

Of course, billmen include some men at arms, included in the general mass.

I also have a small band under Woode, a local gentleman:

Woode:

Woode and 5 mounted retainers.

Sergeant and 5 archers (or remove and add 3 mounted men)

Work has begun on the militia, well, a base coat. These will be started shortly, but so does my schoolwork :(

2012 was pretty good for me, seeing my collection start with my Vikings and Saxons, and expanding to a horde of Perrys and buildings! I won't be buying more for some time, except maybe some peasants, animals and wagons. Or a gun...

Next time, there will be pictures!

A bit of blabbering

Hope everyone had a very merry Christmas yesterday, with plenty of presents, which may or may not be wargames associated. I got the rest of the Perry miniatures (some of the 102 men mentioned the other day, in my last post), as well as 2 men at arms books, one for the Wars of the Roses (bizarrely) and Scandinavian  Armies 1300-1500. Read a bit, they seem like good books. I do like the men at arms, for they explain things quite simply, and lay good foundations to further, more complete reading later.

From Guerre Miniatures i also got a free tape measure with the shop logo on, and a business card with a little note wishing me a happy Christmas. It was nice to read it, i'm now a regular customer!

Plans for 2013? Nothing special, just continue chipping pleasurably away at the plastic mountain. I have made a start on the Maston's retinue (the mounted commander from the last post). They are in black and green, with their badge a sort of flower or wheat head. It is rather similar to a badge of another lord, but it looks good, so why not!

As for the Walkers, i'm still pondering on colours. Their badge will be a stag's head.

Right, next post will be the current Maston retinue, let's hope it's as sunny tomorrow as it was today (the joys of France, sun on Christmas in the middle of December)!