Friday 23 November 2018

November Nappies

I hope y'all had a Happy Thanksgiving Day, and don't get caught up in any Black Friday crushes!

Now, you may recall I introduced my little (pun intended) 2mm project early in October and I've now managed to get enough painted to start play testing!
These are Corps size formations with each infantry block representing a battalion, cavalry blocks are "regiments" of approximately 4 squadrons, while one gun and crew represents a battery - and there's limbered and unlimbered versions for each.

You'd be forgiven for thinking the armies are French and British with their Portugese allies (and they COULD double for them if I fancy some "Historical" gaming), but they're actually Ferach elves, Albion orcs and Al-Garvey goblins - so no button counting or measuring the width of the epaulettes because it's FANTASY!!

Just for anyone unfamiliar with 2mm, here's a size comparison with a 28mm mini!
This Napoleonique venture is the start of a 'slow burn' project in the lands of Valon, the setting for Alternative Armies "Flintloque" historo-fantasy collection of games.
The rules I'll be using are all from Two Hour Wargames, army size games in 2mm -
division / brigade size battles in 2mm / 28mm -
and 28mm Skirmish action -

Col. Oswald Pebblekettle checks with the sentries for any sign of Captain Sharke and his men, who are away at the quartermasters being issued with new uniforms!

That's all for now, still not back into the groove yet, but definitely getting there!!


17 comments:

  1. That's quite a departure from zombie skirmish games and the obvious way to go if you want to fight large battles. The concept of 24 28mm figures representing a battalion of anything from a few hundred to one thousand does stretch the imagination quite a bit.
    It'll be interesting to see how you get on with the rules and battles, I've tried this sort of game with normal rules and just got bogged down in a bit of a number crunching exercise, 2HW should make this a much better experience.

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    1. Ah, but there will be some "zombie skirmish games" once I get around to tackling the army of the Star Wraith and the ill-fated invasion of the Witchlands ;-)
      It's all prep work at the moment, and I don't expect the Napoleonique shenanigans to kick off properly until after Christmas. Remember, it all started from the idea of a "Travel Battle" alternative for when the gaming table is in use for larger modelling projects (and possibly also for when we're 'on tour') - the current crop of narrative games are the priority atm :-)

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  2. What an impressive project this sounds, Wargames Addict. I was listening to the “Meeples & Miniatures” podcast the other day, and one of Neil’s co-commentators has just started a Napeoleonic project in 2mm as well - it sounded very intriguing indeed, so please post plenty of pics and thoughts on how the project progresses.

    I’ve always liked the “Flintoque” setting myself, I think “Alternative Armies” have just released Wraiths for it(?), but never dipped my toe into the setting as I’ve always thought that if I was going to paint epaulettes and buttons that I might as well do so on real historical minis. However, I’m always willing to be tempted into a new genre, as well you know, so again I’m looking forward to seeing how your 28mm skirmish project pans out. Good luck!! :-)

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    1. Cheers Simon, I'll certainly keep the 2mm pics coming - but please don't judge them too harshly.... most photo's show them MUCH larger than they actually are, and as a result the paint jobs look atrocious!! ;-)

      I did dabble with Flintloque many moons ago, but at the time it didn't match my expectations of what a Fantasy Napoleonic game should be like.
      Older and wiser now, and fueled by all the inspiring articles in "Orcs in the Webbe", I'm hooked!... and the new wraiths are on my Christmas wish list :-)

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  3. Good to hear your slowly getting back into the swing Greg, I'm sure you'd rather it was quicker but take every small victory.
    Interesting look to your new venture, has never been for me but will watch with interest

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    1. Thanks Dave, yep "slow & steady wins the race" - I hadn't expected my mojo to take such a knock after the forced abstention... funny how easily the routines we have (and take for granted) can be disrupted!

      Totally understand how the scale and/or genre won't be to everyones taste, and I'll take "interesting" as a win any day :-)

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  4. 2mm is way too small for me, but if it floats your boat then go for it. As Dave said, I'll be watching with interest.

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    1. Many thanks Bryan, and I fully accept your scale preferences :-)
      To be honest, if I had the space, time and painting ability I'd LOVE to tackle this project in 28mm. Alas, I fear that even 6mm armies of this size would take up too much space and take too long to paint :-(

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  5. To small for making movie's Greg but if you want that big armies feel then it perfect :)

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    1. Cheers Frank, horses for courses and all that - I'm hoping these little fellas will provide the distant, wide angle "battle sequences" while their 28mm counterparts star in the close up scenes.
      Let me know what you think when the first full feature is in the can :-)

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    2. Yep that should work alright, combining the two is a great idea :)

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  6. I don;t mind 2mm figures, save the thought of having to pick them up!
    Personally I'd go the whole hog and have them painted as the "traditional" red and blue blocks of the 19thc Prussian Kriegspiel.

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  7. Picking em up isn't the biggest problem Joe. Finding one of the command elements after you've dropped it on the carpet takes that honour ;-)

    I saw on the interweb that someone has gone down the Kriegspiel route with the mini's from the "Risk" board game.
    Within a week, I'd spotted the game in a charity shop, bought with intentions of doing the same, and it now languishes somewhere in the 'Round Tuit' pile - I really must dig em out and see if anyone wants them :-)

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  8. Have you even considered Commands and Colours Napoleonics?

    Comes with highly attractive full colour blocks of miniatures (no painting required and look super on the table).

    The base game alone has enough in it to keep you happy for ever (if you are happy playing the Peninsular and "Sharpe" type games), and at the very least will keep you busy for months just playing through all the battles in the box: at which point you can think about buying and adding in expansions for Austrians, Prussians, Russians, etc etc, all the way up to the full Waterloo 100 Days campaign.

    If you want that 3D terrain feel to enhance the look, just add in some Kallista tiles and away you go, though the terrain that comes in the box(es) are fine for me, as it is.

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    1. Thanks for the nudge Stevie :-)
      I've often thought about giving Richard Borg's system a try (just his name is appealing - if I got hooked on the game I'd have to consider myself "assimilated"!!), and may well do so after your recommendation, but I'd be more interested in C&C for purely "historical" games.
      What I'm looking for here is just a way of 'nesting' Flintloque skirmishes within the context of larger battles (think "cause and effect"), and since posting my choice of rules for the project above, I've had a rethink........ queue another post to explain what's afoot and report on progress ;-)

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  9. meh, I`ll assimilate you yet into the joys of `the Borg`.

    C&C work really well when played olo against an on line opponent (like postal chess). Each player leaves a game set up and tells the opponent his move, and waits to see what the responding move is...... just saying ^^ not trying to temp you or nothin`

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    1. Solo..... not Olo (Olo sounds like a character from Deep Space 9, probably a relative of Odo)

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