Happy Winter Solstice!

I decided I might as well face the truth, that this blog and project is pretty much over and done. It was fun while it lasted, but my gaming interests lie elsewhere these days.

I dislike leaving things hanging though, so to wrap things up, here follows the rest of the history of the League and the war:

The war between the Soweiter League and the Batrachian Empire raged on for a while, with both sides becoming increasingly exhausted. In the end the hostilities petered out and peace broke out. The Batrachian Empire descended into revolution and civil war (the royal side wearing the traditional tricorne-era uniforms; while the rebels tended towards the new model of uniforms worn by armies of the Napoleonic era). General Soleau tried to establish a "republic", but was ultimately defeated. The Batrachian royal line merged with the nobility of Mayeaux, with Mayeaux and Batrachia combing to become the kingdom of Mayeux. With the pressures of war gone and the need for cooperation greatly diminished the Soweiter League disbanded, with the various states going separate paths. The Germanic member states joined with and were subsumed into a Germanic confederation (the Confederation of Ostphalia). Mayeux joined with Batrachia, as mentioned, to become its own nation-state. The English-speaking states of the former Soweiter League united into a new nation, which was named Freedonia. And Santa Sofia remains on its own as a micro-nation in the hilly wine country somewhere between Germany, Austria, and Italy.

Thus endeth the lesson.

Any future miniatures, games, or other hobby stuff, will be posted in my other blog, Tales of Mirth.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Song of Lace and Tricornes

Actually, Songs of Drums and Shakos. I used those rules from Ganesha Games for a quick little raid (quicker than I expected!). The rules are designed for Napoleonic skirmishes, but I figured at the skirmish level there wouldn't be enough difference between the earlier tricorne era and the Napoleonic era to worry about.

The situation was a corral of cattle being guarded by the Batrachians (using French stats of course), with the Soweiter forces on a foraging mission/raid. This takes place at dusk so visibility is limited. The scenario is taken from the rules. Here is the initial setup:

The Batrachian forces include Captain le Blanc, Sergeant Gaston and 6 line infantrymen inside the tent, 3 more infantry patrolling just inside the hedge (fence) around the tent, another pacing back and forth at the gate to that area, and 2 more standing at the gate to the stonewalled corral.

The Soweiter forces include Captain MacDonall of the Gunderland Highlanders and 6 Highlander infantry (using the Highlander stats, imagine that), and 1 light infantryman from Ballyfoole. Captain MacDonall sent the light infantryman to the south of the road to infiltrate through the woods and try to take out or at least distract the 2 sentries at the corral. Meanwhile the Captain and his squad of Highlanders approached through the woods north of the road to attack the main camp of Batrachians.

In these rules you roll dice to activate figures, leaders like the Captains, can order a group if the leader makes his activation roll. You can choose to roll 1, 2, or 3 dice and 2 failures on a roll of the dice means the action switches over to the other side. This scenario had some special rules that certainly affected the final outcome of this game.

As it turned out the Batrachians moved first, but under the scenario rules that only meant the sentries moving, circling the tent or pacing in front of the gate. Next, Captain MacDonall ordered the Highlanders to move up to the edge of the woods, and the light infantryman also moved through the woods to the south and up to the lone tree. About as close as he could get to the sentries by the corral without being seen.

The sentries continue pacing back and forth and around. Suddenly shots ring out all around! The Highlanders kill one of the 2 sentries closest to them, while the other sentry falls to the ground (diving for cover no doubt).

The light infantryman is still getting set up (failed his activation roll so play passes to the Batrachians).
The Batrachian officer, Captain le Blanc, reacts to the gunfire and tries to rouse his men, but they are slow to act (they failed their activation roll).
The Highlanders reload their muskets. Meanwhile, the light infantryman takes an aimed shot at the closer of the 2 sentries at the corral gate. The sentry dives for cover.
Captain le Blanc and Sergeant Gaston come out of the tent, but the rest of the men fail to followup (failed roll).
Captain MacDonall orders his men to fire a volley at the Batrachian officers, killing Captain le Blanc. Sergeant Gaston's nerves fail him (fails his morale throw) and the Batrachians surrender. The Soweiter forces will have some beef to drive back to their unit tonight.

Like I said, this game played very quickly, due to the scenario rules that specified if the defender's leader was killed and the NCO failed his morale roll it was all over. The other possibility would have been the NCO passed his morale roll, at which point he would be considered the leader with attendant abilities and bonuses to the troops. Then each of the defenders would have to roll for morale. The NCO could've then called on any of the infantry who passed their morale, and would have stood a decent chance against the Highlanders, I think. Sometimes things just go well for one side or badly for the other.
In spite of that, the Song of ... seem like a good fun set of rules for small skirmish and man to man (or other creatures) actions. I bought the "bundle" quite a while ago, including mostly the fantasy stuff, but this was the first time I got around to trying any of them. I think they will be good for "quickies", especially if I play enough to get the rules "down".

The Battle of Zweipfennig

I used Bob Cordery's Portable Wargame 2 rules for this game. That's the version that fits on a single sheet of paper. I don't know if I did things right, but it seemed like the defenders had a decided advantage. It took about an hour to set up and play this, leisurely, taking notes and pictures (although I forgot to take pictures a few times because it moved so quickly), consulting the scenario book and rules sheet, etc.

The scenario is # 37, Night Attack 2 from Scenarios For All Ages by Grant and Asquith.

A force comprised of units from the Soweiter League had occupied two villages and the ridge connecting the two, expecting to meet an attack by a more sizable Batrachian force in the area.

Soweiter League force:
General Jacques Pfennig-Pfarthing
cavalry:
The Ballyfoole Dragoons
The Ballyfoole Hussars
line infantry:
The Muttonshire Musketeers
The Woostershire Muskets
The Soforth Highlanders
The Pfennig-Pfarthing Pfreikorps
1 cannon

Unbeknownst to the Soweiter forces the Batrachians had moved up in the night to attack the Soweiter force in the left flank. The Batrachians had divided into two forces to accomplish this.
The first force under the command of General Finn de Siecle came from the more southerly direction. The other force, under the command of General Soleau, came from a more northerly direction.

The southern Batrachian force:
General Finn de Siècle
cavalry:
The Wild Goose Chasseurs
Infantry:
The Garde N'est Pas
The Musketeers L'Ouef
The Pandours du Pinque
The Pandours San Serif
1 cannon

The northern Batrachian force:
General Napoleon Soleau
cavalry:
The Cuirassiers Royale
The Poupon Dragoons
infantry:
The King's Musketeers
The Queen's Musketeers
The Musketeers de Limbourg
1 cannon

The situation at dawn:

As dawn broke and the Batrachians were able to see the Soweiter forces arrayed in and between the two villages they realized they had not arrived exactly as planned. The force under General de Siècle was heading in the right direction, but farther back than expected. Meanwhile, the force under General Soleau had mistaken another group of buildings to the northeast of the Soweiter line as one of the two villages. As the Batrachians moved forward the Soweiter forces realized the danger and General Pflugnickel re-ordered his line, sending some of the troops towards the northeast buildings and repositioning some of the troops that remained on the hill and in the east village.

The Batrachians retained the imitative and proceeded to advance on the Soweiter position. As the southern force under General de Siècle neared the east village the Woostershire Muskets stationed there opened fire. In the ensuing hail of musket fire the Musketeers L'Ouef were knocked out of the fight (result = destroyed).

As the Batrachians advanced further towards the east village the Soweiter artillery rang out and put paid to the Pandours San Serif (result = destroyed). The Woostershire Muskets fired at the Wild Goose Chasseurs to little effect (result = no effect). As events developed it was a toss up as to which side would reach the northeast buildings first. The Soweiter League won the toss and the Muttonshire Musketeers managed to get there first. By this time the Soweiter forces were mostly in position and firing broke out all along the line. The Soforth Highlanders devastated the  Poupon Dragoons (result = destroyed), but the Pfennig-Pfarthing Pfreikorps, the Queen's Musketeers and the King's Musketeers failed to inflict any significant losses on their opponents (results = no effect).

The initiative seemed to be firmly in the Soweiter force's favor now. More cannon fire and musket fire rolled up and down the line. The cannon fire had little effect, but the Muttonshire Musketeers, the Soforth Highlanders, The Pfennig-Pfarthing Pfreikorps, and the Woostershire Muskets caused widespread destruction and disruption (results = destroyed). This put the Pandours du Pinque, the Cuirassiers Royale, the Queen's Musketeers and the King's Musketeers out of the fight.

At this point, with only his artillery left, General Soleau quit the field. He was followed shortly by General de Siècle, having only the Wild Goose Chasseurs, the Garde N'est Pas and the straggling artillery, so to carry on the attack seemed futile at this point.

Having beaten off this flank attack the Soweiter forces retired back to the villages to rest and recuperate.

Maybe I should've moved the Batrachians slower to give them time to bring their artillery to bear and to inflict some small arms losses on their enemies. As it turned out moving in quickly didn't seem to favor the attackers.

Flags and Heavies

First, a few units have received flags. Starting with the Mongoose Infantry of Djahli.

Mounted hill tribesmen of Ollistan

And the Muttonshire (1st) Regiment of Grand Thidwick

Next, something disturbs a family of wild pigs...

Ah, it's the von Rotten Cuirassiers, the heavies of the Bossanovan cavalry. Also known as the "Black and Blues". Commanded by Colonel von Bruizer.

And finally, the Marquis Maurice l'Oeuf, ambassador from Batrachia.

The Battle of Offenbach Falls

I rolled for initiative each turn, for the 2 sides, not for each force. As it turned out the Batrachians got the initiative for the first few turns. As the battle commenced and the Batrachian forces started closing in von Blunder decided to try and fight his way through the force he had originally been chasing. So rather than trying to change facing he continued on his original course.

Lumiere, commanding the force seen in the upper right of the picture, sent his cavalry ahead, with the infantry and artillery left to catch up as fast as it could.

Meanwhile, Soleau, commanding the force in the lower right of the picture spread out his infantry into a line and started moving them forward.

And de Siècle kept his forces together even though that would mean the cavalry would arrive later than if they forged ahead on their own.

The Soweiter artillery (the Offenbach cannon under Pachelbel) commenced fire at the Poupon Dragoons, who were accompanied by Lumiere, and caused a few casualties. The Mayeux Musketeers fired off a desultory first volley at the Dragoons, also causing minor casualties. The combined casualties were enough to cause the Dragoons to pull back.

The Poupon Dragoons rally. Meanwhile, the Cuirassiers Royale charge the Ballyfoole Dragoons. The resulting melee was indecisive with minor casualties on both sides.

The Fuselli Fusiliers and the Offenbach cannon fire at the returning Poupon Dragoons, destroying them as a fighting force in this battle. The Mayeux Musketeers fire at the approaching King's Musketeers, to little effect. The melee between the Cuirassiers Royale and the Ballyfoole Dragoons continues, with mounting casualties. Both sides pull back. The Jingleheimer-Schwartz Cavalry charge the Royal Batrachian Artillery, inflicting heavy casualties and causing the rest of the crew to flee.

Finally von Blunder manages to to seize the initiative. The Ballyfoole Dragoons charge the Cuirassiers Royale and inflict more casualties. The Mayeux Musketeers charge the King's Musketeers, giving better than they receive. The Jingleheimer-Schwartz sweep around to the rear of the Batrachian force. The Fuselli Fusiliers charge into the flank of the King's Musketeers, inflicting further heavy losses and putting Lumiere out of action (is he dead?). The Offenbach artillery limbers up to move off, with the Saxe-Urquhart Gunderland Highlanders close behind.

Of course, while this is all going on the other 2 Batrachian forces continue to close in.

The melee between the Cuirassiers Royale and the Ballyfoole Dragoons continues. The infantry melee between the Mayeux Musketeers and the Fuselli Fusiliers on one side and the King's Musketeers ends with the destruction of the King's Musketeers. The Hesse-Pfeffernusse Pfreikorps charge into the flank of the Cuirassiers Royale, inflicting more casualties. The few remaining Cuirassiers have had enough and flee. The Jingleheimer-Schwartz Cavalry charge the Queen's Musketeers in the rear, inflicting some casualties.

By now the Garde N'est Pas have approached close enough to fire a volley at the Highlanders, inflicting a few casualties. Then the Wild Goose Chasseurs charge the Highlanders, inflicting even more casualties. In spite of heavy losses the Highlanders hold.

The remaining Ballyfoole Dragoons charge the Queen's Musketeers from the front. The Mayeux Musketeers hit the Queen's Musketeers in the flank, and the Jingleheimer-Schwartz Cavalry continue to attack from the rear. In spite of being hit from 3 sides and suffering heavy losses the Queen's Musketeers hold on. The Hesse-Pfeffernusse Pfreikorps escape to the north, off the field of battle. The Offenbach Artillery and the Fuselli Fusiliers head in that direction as well. The Highlanders hold off the Wild Goose Chasseurs and the Garde N'est Pas who have charged them in the flank, with no casualties on either side.

The Highlanders fight on, but the combined weight of the Wild Goose Chasseurs and the Garde N'est Pas are too much and the Highlanders are destroyed. Did that buy enough time for the other units in the Soweiter force?

The Queen's Musketeers finish off the last of the Ballyfoole Dragoons, but are in turn wiped out by the combined efforts of the Jingleheimer-Schwartz Cavalry and the Mayeux Musketeers. The Offenbach Artillery and the Fuselli Fusiliers make it off the field of battle

The Musketeers L'Ouef fire off a parting shot at the retreating Jingleheimer-Schwartz Cavalry, inflicting minor casualties. The Mayeux Musketeers and the Jingleheimer-Schwartz Cavalry follow their fellows off the field of battle.

Final result:

Soweiter League losses (Batrachian losses don't figure into deciding victory in this scenario) are 9 infantry out of a total of 32, and 7 cavalry out of a total of 12, with no losses to the artillery crew. For a total loss of about 1/3 of von Blunder's forces. He needed to escape with 80% (or about 38 or 39 of his total of 48 figures) to achieve victory. But the Batrachians needed to destroy or capture 60% (or about 32 or 33 figures). So neither side achieved a clear victory.

The Game is Afoot!

A clear summer's morning near Offenbach Falls and the game is afoot.

A Soweiter force lead by the capable (or is that culpable?) General von Blunder has chased a smaller Batrachian force into a corner.

The Soweiter units:

• The Jingleheimer-Schwartz Cavalry
• The Ballyfoole Dragoons
• The Mayeux Musketeers
• The Hesse-Pfeffernusse Pfreikorps
• The Santa Sofia Fuselli Fusilieri
• The Saxe-Urquhart Gunderland Highlanders
• The Offenbach Artillery, Pachelbel's Cannon

The Batrachian units, commanded by the illustrious General Lumière:

• The Cuirassiers Royale
• The Poupon Dragoons
• The King's Musketeers 2
• The Queen's Musketeers 2
• Royal Artillery 3

But wait! There's more! Another body of Batrachian troops appears to the southeast.

Commanded by the ambitious General Soleau:

• The Musketeers L'Ouef
• The Paprikash Pandours
• The Pandours du Pinque
• Royal Artillery 2

And that's not all! A third body of Batrachian troops appears to the southwest!

Commanded by the venerable General de Siècle:

• The Wild Goose Chasseurs
• The Garde N'est Pas
• The Pandours St. Serif

Trapped like rabbits in a snare!

Or are they? Maybe von Blunder and the Soweiter forces can take a cue from the local fauna and ... runaway!

to be continued...

This and That

Hill tribesmen are starting to gather...

under one of their banners.

Some dismounted horses. I added the saddle on the gray horse, using greenstuff.

Colonel Finlayson of Grand Thidwick.

And Colonel Chagrin, one day to be promoted to General Chagrin?

After the current campaign is concluded it looks like the Soweiter League is going to break up. The Germanic states will go their own way. As will Santa Sofia and probably Mayeux. I haven't fully decided, but I want to concentrate on Ballyfoole, Grand Thidwick, and Gunderland (the original name of Saxe-Urquhart, which that state will revert to.). I am thinking I will have those 3 states band together and pursue some adventures in far-off lands. Still trying to think up a name for the combined 3 states (I considered Freedonia, but I think that's been done a bit).

I'm feeling a bit like I hit the jackpot or something - I finally found a local source for 1/8 inch mdf board (a local plywood and paneling store, not a chain or big box store - one of those kinds of places that's a bit rough around the edges, but where the people know their business because they specialize in it.). Probably bought more than I will ever use, but I didn't want to run short again! ha ha

Now I can make some more mountains, river sections, buildings, etc. (funny how something this simple can make one so happy, eh?)

The Garde N'est Pas

The Garde N'est Pas of the Batrachian Empire lined up in the town plaza for inspection. Their commander is Colonel Francois le Comte de la Blanc-Mange.

These are from Foundry's new French SYW range. It's a mixed lot in terms of quality. These garde figures are similar to Foundry's other SYW range, but there are some fusiliers with a decided lean to the right (and I'm not talking about politics - it's more like one leg is longer than the other) and a drummer who has two right hands! When most people turn their hands palms up their thumbs point outwards. The fusilier drummer has his left hand palm up, but the thumb is on the inwards side. I modified him so his thumb is now on the correct side (maybe devaluing him as a collectible? ha ha).

New Troops

Introducing the Pandours San Serif, commanded by Colonel Cliché. Sharp-eyed readers may notice their similarity to the Paprikash Pandour Grenadiers, the main differences being the style of hat and the white cuffs vs. the yellow cuffs of the grenadiers.

I seem to be accumulating a fair number of excess officers and NCOs. They're too full of character to not paint and use, but I don't have troops for all of them at this point. They're too martial for diplomatic service or other duties. I think I'll just have to find more recruits to serve under all of those fine officers.

End of an Era

Following General D'Zastre's abysmal performance in the invasion of the Soweiter League, especially his less than stellar actions at the recent battle of Sachertortenwald, the general has been recalled to the Batrachian court. His replacement is an old soldier and hero of the War of the Boar and the French Onion War, General Fin de Siècle. General de Siècle is well-liked by the common troops and seen as a down-to-earth soldier. On the other hand his recall from retirement and promotion to commander-in-chief of the Batrachian Army in the Soweiter theatre is not sitting well with some of the younger generals. It especially rankles with General Napoleon Soleau, who expected to be appointed to command the invasion after the abrupt departure of General D'Zastre. General Soleau, while honoring the general for past service to the empire, sees the general as well past his prime ("the old man should've stayed in his estates enjoying his quiet life in the country").
General de Siècle arrives with reinforcements, the Pandour Grenadiers de Blasè, commanded by Colonel Boldizsar Paprikash, formerly of the Bossanovan army (Colonel Paprikash had to flee from Bossanova after being suspected of honorable dealings with enemies and underlings). Also commonly known as the Paprikash Grenadiers.

What's Gnu?

Finally finished painting a few minis.
First, Dr. Mont-Blanc, royal physician to the Batrachian court.
Isabeau la Coquette, the Queen's Seamstress, Batrachia.

(There's a rumor that Isabeau is actually a Monte Cristan...)

brief snippet of conversation overheard:

"I'm not really sure... the last time I saw her she was dressed in a more traditional Monte Cristan manner."

"...heart-shaped birthmark on her left..."

(voices fade away)

Next, James "Two Feathers" Pyewacket, of the Stickiwickit Indians, a woodland tribe located in the vicinity of New Thidwick, a colony in the Americas (if you can call a one horse village a colony...). James teaches mathematics at the University of the Soweiter League.

Molly Smith, apple-seller (and secret agent, shhh...)

Watsi-tu-yu & Son of the Futsi tribe, Askaris since 1742. Usualy hired by Pfrank Bach when he is on expeditions in Africa.

Pfrank Bach's latest acquisitions - a pair of lionesses to join the lions in the Soweiter League National Zoological Gardens...

And some gnus...

Heavy Cavalry and Others

Introducing the Cuirassiers Royale of the Batrachian Army. This unit is sponsored by the king's devoted and wise uncle, Jean-Louis, but lead by a younger more active colonel. Coats are red, turnbacks, trousers, etc. are buff. The bugler's coat is buff with red turnbacks. The cuirasses are bronzed.
A rear view of the bugler, to give you a better idea of the coloring.

General von und zum Beispiel of Hesse-Pfeffernusse, Quartermaster General for the Soweiter forces.

A pack camel I've had for years and finally painted. (possible desert adventures in The League's future?)

Soweiter League militia command, for the militia figures previously shown. The guy on the far right is a flag-bearer. I gave him a shortened flagpole made of brass tubing. This way I can slip in various flags if I want.