And yeah I have a piece in it!
Wednesday, June 25, 2014
Tuesday, June 17, 2014
Chain of Command Home Guard List Version 3
Some tweaks based on play tests and updates with the Coculator. Still not perfect and overly complex but there we are ;)
Chain of Command Home Guard Version 3
Chain of Command Home Guard Version 3
Thursday, June 12, 2014
A little painting
One of the groups I loiter around at ran a low pressure "contest" to paint up an infantry unit. The prize - motivation and a finished unit.
Last year a friend dropped by for some gaming and very kindly gave me a box of these:
And this is my take:
Unfortunately the point and shoot camera I have was acting up and of the dozen or so pictures I took these were the only two that worked and even then I had to tweak the brightness and contrast. The actual colours are not quite so toy like and the finish is not quite so shiny.
With the exception of the resin bear traps and the leaping figure, all were re-based onto the steel washers I use. I just don't like the big display bases. On the whole the figures were very nicely detailed sculpts. And as usual, my painting doesn't do them justice.
Unfortunately, Spartan's caster might be pushing their molds a little too hard. There were a couple of fiddly arm joints - more of a design problem - and some fairly serious gaps in the dogs' hind legs that needed to be filled. The axe head for the leaping figure was completely missing. The rounded end where is should have been suggests the mould didn't fill properly. A couple of rifle barrels also came up a bit short. The leaping figure had a significantly arched back, so much so that his rifle is decidedly curved in ways it shouldn't be.
Overall I enjoyed painting these figures and will happily put them on the table - especially the dogs, Pepe - the skunk hatted hunter and of course those bear traps.
Last year a friend dropped by for some gaming and very kindly gave me a box of these:
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| Spartan Games Dystopian LegionsFederated States of America Wilderness Section |
Unfortunately the point and shoot camera I have was acting up and of the dozen or so pictures I took these were the only two that worked and even then I had to tweak the brightness and contrast. The actual colours are not quite so toy like and the finish is not quite so shiny.
With the exception of the resin bear traps and the leaping figure, all were re-based onto the steel washers I use. I just don't like the big display bases. On the whole the figures were very nicely detailed sculpts. And as usual, my painting doesn't do them justice.
Unfortunately, Spartan's caster might be pushing their molds a little too hard. There were a couple of fiddly arm joints - more of a design problem - and some fairly serious gaps in the dogs' hind legs that needed to be filled. The axe head for the leaping figure was completely missing. The rounded end where is should have been suggests the mould didn't fill properly. A couple of rifle barrels also came up a bit short. The leaping figure had a significantly arched back, so much so that his rifle is decidedly curved in ways it shouldn't be.
Overall I enjoyed painting these figures and will happily put them on the table - especially the dogs, Pepe - the skunk hatted hunter and of course those bear traps.
Monday, June 9, 2014
What did you do in the War Grandad?
June 6 has come and gone and the sacrifices of D-Day have been rightfully recognized. However June 9th is more important to me because of this:
The Mulberry Harbours set into place 70 years ago today. Grandad and his brothers came from a long line of ship builders. Working out of Harlan and Wolf in Belfast and Cammel-Lairds Liverpool, they worked on many fighting ships and merchant vessels.When grandad shifted to working on the Mulberries, it had follow on effects felt up to this day (it is in part why I am Canadian and not Kenyan). He also served as an ARP.
I should also mention Pop, my other grandfather who was a foreman at a gas works for the duration. Important but not very exciting work until you realize that part of his job was to pull incendiaries out of gas storage tanks. He was in the Home Guard and stood watch over one of the first V1s to land without exploding. A great aunt worked putting together fuzes until she asked to be moved because she was getting lonely working all by herself in a little shed far away from the rest of the plant. It wasn't the danger you see, she just wanted to chat with the other girls.
And then there is my father in law, a Malta Gunner before the war, he did not take well to military life. He spent much of the war as an electrician working on Hurricanes and Spitfires on airfields around Malta. To give you an idea of what that was like, the whole island was given the George Cross.
So today, I raise a toast in memory of those who served at home in whatever capacity to ensure the fight was brought to the enemy.
The Mulberry Harbours set into place 70 years ago today. Grandad and his brothers came from a long line of ship builders. Working out of Harlan and Wolf in Belfast and Cammel-Lairds Liverpool, they worked on many fighting ships and merchant vessels.When grandad shifted to working on the Mulberries, it had follow on effects felt up to this day (it is in part why I am Canadian and not Kenyan). He also served as an ARP.
I should also mention Pop, my other grandfather who was a foreman at a gas works for the duration. Important but not very exciting work until you realize that part of his job was to pull incendiaries out of gas storage tanks. He was in the Home Guard and stood watch over one of the first V1s to land without exploding. A great aunt worked putting together fuzes until she asked to be moved because she was getting lonely working all by herself in a little shed far away from the rest of the plant. It wasn't the danger you see, she just wanted to chat with the other girls.
And then there is my father in law, a Malta Gunner before the war, he did not take well to military life. He spent much of the war as an electrician working on Hurricanes and Spitfires on airfields around Malta. To give you an idea of what that was like, the whole island was given the George Cross.
So today, I raise a toast in memory of those who served at home in whatever capacity to ensure the fight was brought to the enemy.
Sunday, April 6, 2014
Mad Padre's 100k contest
The winter has been long and busy with sadly little modelling done. I am opening 2014 with a contest link: It's A Contest! Celebrating 100K Page Views For Mad Padre Wargames Crass opportunism on my part? Not exactly. The Padre does great work with his gaming. While I have never been a believer, Padre and those like him put their asses on the line to take care of the mental and spiritual well being of the soldiers, sailors and air force personnel who put themselves in danger.
Captions:
Napoleon: I hate playing IgoUgo rules with Wellington, he always drags his feet measuring the ranges.
Captions:
Napoleon: I hate playing IgoUgo rules with Wellington, he always drags his feet measuring the ranges.
Hanna Reitsch: 0
Yvette: 1
Ichi-sama's chances with Ilsa plummeted when he thought she asked for a "pint-sized perfect head" and not a "pint with a perfect head".
Monday, November 11, 2013
Remembrance Day Ottawa - 2013
Just a few pictures to show some of my overseas friends how we do things here.
The was just after 10 looking into the down town core. On a better day, you can see the Peace tower on the parliament buildings just up and left of where the bus is. There was a cold wet snow falling.
The War Museum. An imposing bunker like building. More of this later.
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| Ottawa |
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| War Museum |
Not all business were closed - like this hipster juice bar.
But some get the idea. Incidentally this is a German deli.
Looking up Elgin Street toward the cenotaph. Usually packed with cars, you can see the crowd gathering before the service.
But first a side trip. This is Cartier Square Drill Hall, home to my old regiment the Governor General's Foot Guards and the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa.
The Cut Knife Hill memorial. William Osgoode and John Rogers of the regiment were casualties. Actually a defeat for government forces, the battle is commemorated every year by the sergeant's mess. This memorial has gradually been pushed further out of the public eye as political fashions change.
The South African War memorial. Now in roughly the position the Cut knife Hill one once was, it too is being pushed out of view as Canada forgets its Imperial past.
A relatively recent addition, commemorating animals in war.
A close up of a rather fine first aid dog.
Next up the First Nations memorial.
Built by public subscription, it honours veterans of all First Nations peoples. First Nations men were specifically exempt from any sort of military service but many volunteered anyway. Some for three square meals a day, others for a bit of land of their own and others simply to get the right to vote.
For my UK friends, if you are lost or in trouble in Ottawa this is the place to go - The British High Commission.
In the crowd. The site slopes up gently towards the cenotaph, making a good view tough to find. But the view is not what it is about.
Screens are placed around the venue (just to the right of the purple hood).
Actually after the service proper during which the camera was quite rightly put away. With all the speeches done and all the dignitaries departed, the crowd moves toward the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Old connections not quite forgotten.
The press before the tomb. In typical Canadian fashion the crowd circulated through with much polite language and no official queue needed.
At the foot of the cenotaph.
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Placing poppies on the Tomb is a relatively recent occurrence. A spontaneous demonstration of remembrance, it lacks some of the hypocrisy found in parts of the official activities. This is early on, the tomb will be covered by the end of the day.
The crowd around the tomb after I left.
The Canadian Parliament Buildings - Centre Block. A bit like Westminster but smaller and colder.
The War Museum coming the other way - from the east. November 11 is one of the few free days. Veterans and serving members are brought in for special programming. Many school groups take advantage of the opportunity.
Inside the Memorial Hall. Tucked away to one side of the museum entrance, it contains the headstone of an unknown soldier from the Great War. At 11 am on November 11, light from a window shines directly on the headstone.
Diorama work:
First Nations intertribal conflict
Plains of Abraham - Quebec even smaller than a certain bear's 6mm
The Great War,
Full sized depiction of a WWI battle field.
One of the artists models for the Vimy Memorial. The gallery is slightly off level and a subtle haunting sound track gives it a surreal mood.
One of our underappreciated treasures - a Bieber minisub retrieved from the Netherlands after the war.
M29 Weasel - a product of British eccentricity and Canadian - American cooperation. Note the 79th Armoured insignia.
Canadian madness - the Land Mattress. The rockets didn't always leave the rails before detonating.
War Winners - T-34-85 and Sherman Firefly. A Panther cowers in the background.
Something for the detail obsessed - a Sherman power train teaching model with its underthings on display.
More US-Canada cooperation. A reconstruction of a Six-Ton tank. Based on the FT-17, The US sold several of them to Canada at the beginning of the Second World War as scrap metal. That they were completely refurbished and in good running condition was not mentioned on the bill of sale. They were used to train Canada's infant armoured forces.
Tucked away in the dark in the exit corridor from the vehicle gallery are some very fine and very large canvasses. Above is William Nicholson's Canadian Headquarters Staff
This one I do not immediately have a name for. Both were well over 8 feet in length and height.
From a later war and in a more down home style:
Leaving the War Museum the provincial flags were still at half mast:
Like so many maple leaves......
We will never forget the fallen.
Blighters
Blighters - Siegfried Sassoon
| THE House is crammed: tier beyond tier they grin | |
| And cackle at the Show, while prancing ranks | |
| Of harlots shrill the chorus, drunk with din; | |
| ‘We’re sure the Kaiser loves our dear old Tanks!’ | |
| I’d like to see a Tank come down the stalls, | 5 |
| Lurching to rag-time tunes, or ‘Home, sweet Home’, | |
| And there’d be no more jokes in Music-halls | |
| To mock the riddled corpses round Bapaume. |
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
A Matter of Tactics - Soldier's Companion
Oh'ktava'an reached into the bowel of roasted pier worms and plucked out a particularly plump one. He slid a thumbnail under the carapace and flipped off the shell revealing the smokey golden contents. He chewed contemplatively, savoured the chewy morsel and tossed the empty shell onto an ever growing pile on one corner of the planning table. Pier worms were an affectation, no a habit, picked up from his days as a young band commander posted to a remote village beyond the end of the canal as the expression went.
Out there, they were the only reliable food source that wasn't marsh root. In the city, they were the food of the poor and the canal rats, too plain, too simple and too basic for city tastes.
That was the problem laid out on the planning table. Since the Red Devils had arrived the forces of Mars had forgotten the basics. What worked for beating down a rebellious hill tribe wasn't going to water the crops here. These off-worlders knew what they're doing and with arms better than any seen on Mars since before Seldon. Far too often, brash warband leaders had charged the Red Men head on, trusting force of will to overcome force of arms. Far too often they had failed - cut down by measured rifle fire. That many of these officers were militant members of the Ground Cleansers was something of a bonus - there is no room for fanaticism on the battle field.
He picked up a sheaf of papyrus covered with rows of figures. They covered every battle and skirmish since the arrival of the Red Men that his agents could find data for. The solution to the off worlder menace was somewhere in those numbers. He had sent a house servant down to the human quarter to purchase an assortment of toy warriors - in metal no less. To live in a world where good metal was wasted on children's toys...
No matter. Beginning with what was known, he laid out the first problem: A head on charge into the Red Men's line.
Unlike the massed unit tactics used in the old wars between the city states, the Red Men usually formed their men into a line two deep facing the enemy
This was vulnerable to being broken through in melee, but allowed all of the rifles to fire.
The Red Men's guns had so far proven to be most effective starting at about 320 paces* This was just beyond the distance a regular cutter column could be expected to charge in one battle phase. So a measured move of just under 160 paces would be required to stay out of the most effective range. (regular foot move is 18", close range for rifles is 16") He shuffled through the sheets of reed paper. There it was: with the normal unit of 20 Red Devils firing against a column, there was a 1 in 6 chance of each red man hitting something but also a chance each hit would be harmless. (base hit 6, long range +2, target in column -1 for a final to hit of 7 which is 6 with saves on a 1 or less = 20 x .167 (1 in 6) = 3.34 less save of 3.34x.167 (1 in 6) = .5 therefore 3 hits ) So that would be... about 3 warriors taken out of the battle. Having taken casualties, trained troops can be expected to falter in the attack.... (morale 8 - 3 hits = morale 5 2d6 for 5 or less =27.8% ~30% ) a little more than 2/3s of the time and stand idle and possibly receive round after round of fire until they break and run. (Check on a 6, or 7 - 29% combined, Shaken on an 8+, 41%)
Not good. But running away might be their best option anyway. If the Red Men gain the upper hand, that is another round of fire for another 2 warriors down and another chance to for them to break and run. Even if the warriors keep the initiative and charge in... that's 20 rifles with those infernal magazines at point blank range... (base hit 6, target in column -1 and charging -1 for a final hit of 4 or .667. 2 dice per rifle at short range so 40 x .667= 27 hits ) and the warriors are completely wiped out. An inglorious and pointless death whatever the Worm Priests might say.
Now where are those reports - ah here. For open order after the first move we have can expect: (base hit 6, +2 for long range +1 for open order is a to hit of 6 with saves on 3 in 6. This give around two unsaved hits. Morale 8 -2 hits for final morale 6 ~41.6% . As above check on a 7 or 8 ~30% and shaken on 9+ ~28% ) two warriors injured and a failed attack 3 of five times. And these numbers are for Canal regulars, the mercenaries would be less steady in the fight. As expected, frontal assault was not the way forward.
The temple bells sounded across the city marking the midday meal and prayer. The pungent smell of smoked river eel drifted up from the kitchen below. Oh'ktava'an neatly stacked the reed sheets. There has to be a better way, but first lunch.
*Yes, I am throwing a 0 on the end of the range in inches and calling it paces and changing turn to battle phase just to make the story work. ;)
Out there, they were the only reliable food source that wasn't marsh root. In the city, they were the food of the poor and the canal rats, too plain, too simple and too basic for city tastes.
That was the problem laid out on the planning table. Since the Red Devils had arrived the forces of Mars had forgotten the basics. What worked for beating down a rebellious hill tribe wasn't going to water the crops here. These off-worlders knew what they're doing and with arms better than any seen on Mars since before Seldon. Far too often, brash warband leaders had charged the Red Men head on, trusting force of will to overcome force of arms. Far too often they had failed - cut down by measured rifle fire. That many of these officers were militant members of the Ground Cleansers was something of a bonus - there is no room for fanaticism on the battle field.
He picked up a sheaf of papyrus covered with rows of figures. They covered every battle and skirmish since the arrival of the Red Men that his agents could find data for. The solution to the off worlder menace was somewhere in those numbers. He had sent a house servant down to the human quarter to purchase an assortment of toy warriors - in metal no less. To live in a world where good metal was wasted on children's toys...
No matter. Beginning with what was known, he laid out the first problem: A head on charge into the Red Men's line.
Unlike the massed unit tactics used in the old wars between the city states, the Red Men usually formed their men into a line two deep facing the enemy
This was vulnerable to being broken through in melee, but allowed all of the rifles to fire.
The Red Men's guns had so far proven to be most effective starting at about 320 paces* This was just beyond the distance a regular cutter column could be expected to charge in one battle phase. So a measured move of just under 160 paces would be required to stay out of the most effective range. (regular foot move is 18", close range for rifles is 16") He shuffled through the sheets of reed paper. There it was: with the normal unit of 20 Red Devils firing against a column, there was a 1 in 6 chance of each red man hitting something but also a chance each hit would be harmless. (base hit 6, long range +2, target in column -1 for a final to hit of 7 which is 6 with saves on a 1 or less = 20 x .167 (1 in 6) = 3.34 less save of 3.34x.167 (1 in 6) = .5 therefore 3 hits ) So that would be... about 3 warriors taken out of the battle. Having taken casualties, trained troops can be expected to falter in the attack.... (morale 8 - 3 hits = morale 5 2d6 for 5 or less =27.8% ~30% ) a little more than 2/3s of the time and stand idle and possibly receive round after round of fire until they break and run. (Check on a 6, or 7 - 29% combined, Shaken on an 8+, 41%)
Not good. But running away might be their best option anyway. If the Red Men gain the upper hand, that is another round of fire for another 2 warriors down and another chance to for them to break and run. Even if the warriors keep the initiative and charge in... that's 20 rifles with those infernal magazines at point blank range... (base hit 6, target in column -1 and charging -1 for a final hit of 4 or .667. 2 dice per rifle at short range so 40 x .667= 27 hits ) and the warriors are completely wiped out. An inglorious and pointless death whatever the Worm Priests might say.
Now where are those reports - ah here. For open order after the first move we have can expect: (base hit 6, +2 for long range +1 for open order is a to hit of 6 with saves on 3 in 6. This give around two unsaved hits. Morale 8 -2 hits for final morale 6 ~41.6% . As above check on a 7 or 8 ~30% and shaken on 9+ ~28% ) two warriors injured and a failed attack 3 of five times. And these numbers are for Canal regulars, the mercenaries would be less steady in the fight. As expected, frontal assault was not the way forward.
The temple bells sounded across the city marking the midday meal and prayer. The pungent smell of smoked river eel drifted up from the kitchen below. Oh'ktava'an neatly stacked the reed sheets. There has to be a better way, but first lunch.
*Yes, I am throwing a 0 on the end of the range in inches and calling it paces and changing turn to battle phase just to make the story work. ;)
Saturday, September 28, 2013
RAFM $1 Figure Sale II - How I Think It Works
How the deal works seems a little unclear. Below is what I posted over on TMP - I think I have it right. ;)
My understanding and the way I did my order: A "pack" is a SKU – basically the RAFxxx number. For non-1889 lines that usually means 3 Cav with riders or 6 foot figures.
Space 1889 figure SKUs are per figure. A "pack" then is 6 foot figures of the same SKU or 3 Gashant (remember riders are separate).
I do NOT think it reasonable to expect RAFM to honour the 20 figure SKUs – canal martians, high martians and soldiers of the queen as a "pack".
Ok now we know what a pack is we can move forward. You go to the special sale page and select the package of 4,8,12, or 16 packs that you want. Pay for it through the usual methods. Then you open up your email and create an email stating the name and shipping address you just used in your order. Then you list how many packs of each SKU you want. e.g. RAF1817 x 1 will get you 6 Canal Martian Infantry figures and RAF1817 x 2 will get you 12 Imitation Legionary figures. Send that email to onlineorders at RAFM.com and you are done
I hope that helps. :)
Friday, September 27, 2013
$1 Figure Sale at RAFM!
RAFM is having a $1 per figure sale on all their historical lines. This
includes the Space 1889 figures - always high on my list but also their
Ancients, ACW, French Indian, Colonial and other lines. Well worth
looking at.
Follow this link for details
Follow this link for details
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
As Found in Great-Uncle's Trunk
The lads and ladies over at WD3 have been mucking around with black and white painting and playing with Photoshop. So I thought I would fire up Gimp and see what I can come up with.
While cleaning out an old trunk that family legend says belonged to one of those familial "Uncles" who so spoken of quietly but with admiration, I came across a faded photograph hidden behind a torn piece of paper lining. While Uncle Ned was known to have served on the North West Frontier and in the less savoury parts of Africa, where this strange picture was taken is a mystery. From whom or perhaps from what the blood spatter in the corner came is an even greater mystery.
All good fun.
While cleaning out an old trunk that family legend says belonged to one of those familial "Uncles" who so spoken of quietly but with admiration, I came across a faded photograph hidden behind a torn piece of paper lining. While Uncle Ned was known to have served on the North West Frontier and in the less savoury parts of Africa, where this strange picture was taken is a mystery. From whom or perhaps from what the blood spatter in the corner came is an even greater mystery.
All good fun.
Thursday, September 19, 2013
Home Guard for Chain of Command
On last year's wonderful trip to the UK, I picked up some of Wargames Foundry's rather nice Home Guard figures. I tried them out with I Ain't Been Shot Mum but the company+ level of the game didn't really fit with the HG's intended role. Then Chain of Command came out. Platoon level, limited troops on a reasonable table - Perfect! Along with a platoon of Fallschirmjaeger, I was ready to go - but... All the lists in the book were for Late War Normandy and Eastern Front - Not my cup of tea.
The Lardie's Rich Clarke said he was open to player produced lists so rather than mope around and wait for someone else to make one I got stuck in. Ross Bowrage from the Yahoo group was kind enough to send some information my way and gave some really good feedback. The early drafts in true open source fashion came fast and furious and were posted up on the Yahoo group. Now I am ready with the first final draft* Sadly, the space on Yahoo has run out so I have had to put it up on Google drive - so why not share it as widely as possible? So here it is:
CoC Home Guard List Final Draft 1
Enjoy, comment, criticise :)
*Yes final draft 1. I have worked with enough documents over the years to know that "final" never means exactly that.
The Lardie's Rich Clarke said he was open to player produced lists so rather than mope around and wait for someone else to make one I got stuck in. Ross Bowrage from the Yahoo group was kind enough to send some information my way and gave some really good feedback. The early drafts in true open source fashion came fast and furious and were posted up on the Yahoo group. Now I am ready with the first final draft* Sadly, the space on Yahoo has run out so I have had to put it up on Google drive - so why not share it as widely as possible? So here it is:
CoC Home Guard List Final Draft 1
Enjoy, comment, criticise :)
*Yes final draft 1. I have worked with enough documents over the years to know that "final" never means exactly that.
Thursday, August 29, 2013
Thoughts of a Depressive Diplomatist - Prize Draw
I would like to point those of you kind enough to follow this blog to the Depressive Diplomatist's current prize draw to celebrate the blogs anniversary and other momentous things. Delayed Prize Draw (Yes, There are Prizes!)
The prizes are cover almost all my areas of interest including ancients, airships, Victorians and Edwardians, naval battles and the North West Frontier (the one in India that is). And it is an excellent blog to boot. If you have ever wondered what all the different gongs and ribbons are on various Royals attire, you can find out here.
Go, browse and enjoy!
The prizes are cover almost all my areas of interest including ancients, airships, Victorians and Edwardians, naval battles and the North West Frontier (the one in India that is). And it is an excellent blog to boot. If you have ever wondered what all the different gongs and ribbons are on various Royals attire, you can find out here.
Go, browse and enjoy!
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