A look ahead to 2014

After my last post it is time to try and set myself some wargaming goals for 2014. My main aim is that I want to play more games. When it comes to my wargaming hobby I am a gamer first, I get most of my enjoyment from this side of the hobby, pitting my wits against my opponent, seeing a battle unfold etc. The painting of figures and scenery building has always been a secondary part of the hobby. Compared to some figures I see in blog world,  I know my skills in these areas are only modest but sufficient for my needs. However this can often mean a lull in painting when I am not gaming.

So far sometime in May I will have a trip up to Mick's for a re-fight of the Battle of Ramillies, though there will probably be an earlier game to refresh ourselves on the rules and iron out anomalies. I am really looking forward to this as the War of Spanish Succession is a period that is my first love. I am also making it an aim to get down to the club more often.

So on to projects for 2014.

15mm Napoleonics - I want to complete enough troops for both the Austrians and Westphalians to allow me to run some divisional level games at the club. This will equate to an extra brigade of infantry for each side with some supporting artillery and cavalry.

15mm FPW - Once again I am aiming to try and get the Bavarians up to corps strength. I know Mick is painting up the Saxons and with a possible large game at the end of the year would give this project some impetus.

10mm Crimean War - I need to complete 1 more Russian infantry division and some cavalry. That would finish the Russian Order of Battle for Alma. I also have a hankering to painting up a Turkish infantry division.

15mm WSS - The Friedlingen project needs a bit of a kick start this year, I really would like to get it finished, so much so I am going to draw up a painting plan as I did for Ramillies for the required troops. This will give me a progress check and provide some focus for my efforts.

Well you may have noticed that 28mm is missing from my list of projects. This is mainly because I can no longer justify the costs of new projects in this scale. This does not mean I will paint none, I am sure some will cross the painting table but mainly for skirmish gaming or to top up some existing collections. I already have large collections in 28mm for VBCW, F&IW, El Cid, Arthurians, Late Romans, Germanics and Huns.

No doubt I will not stick to this, I never seem to as always something new and shiny will grab my attention.

All that is left is to wish you all a Happy New Year and may the dice Gods bless you in 2014.

2013 review

Well with 2013 nearly over I thought it was about time I did a little review on the progress of my numerous projects and to set myself some goals for 2014. A quick look back at a post from the start of the years highlights my aims for 2013. So how did I do

28mm Greeks – I was determined to get these done, but sadly there has been no further progress made on these. Not a good start, though I do put that down to nobody else in the club showing an interest in Ancients so I have had nothing to spur me on with these.

28mm FIW – I wanted to finish this project, adding some civilians and provincials. I did finish off a few more Indians and some settlers so I could say it is completed, but more could still be added.

15mm FPW – I wanted to add at least one more French infantry division and expand my Bavarians up to corps strength. Well partial success as I have added a 3^rd French division, but I am yet to start on the Bavarians.

15mm ACW – With only a handful of figures to do, these should have been easy, but it took until a couple of weeks before the clubs Gettysburg display that motivated me to get these done.

15mm WSS – I wanted to complete the units requires for Friedlingen, namely the French. Well I did complete 2 battalions but then got sidetracked into completing the British contingent for the Battle of Ramillies. So at least they were for the correct period.

So what distracted me from my targets. Well, apart for the WSS British I can think of a few more. GNW Swedes, due to picking up a bargain from E bay I did a few battalions and squadrons. Next there was the 10mm Crimean War figures for which I blame Neal. So far I have done 2 Russian Infantry divisions. Lastly there were some 15mm Napoleonics. Always a period I have shied away from, but this year decided to take the plunge. So far I have some Austrians, Brunswickers and Westphalians, nearly enough to put on a game at the club using Black Powder.

On the gaming front this year I have seen a significant reduction in the games that I have played. I did manage to get to Mick’s for the Re-fight of Flodden as well as a large FPW game. At either Neal's or Dave's I had some great fun trying out General de Brigade and Black Powder for Napoleonics as well as a few games of Bolt Action. However at the club I only managed to be involved in a few games mainly because I just haven't been a regular attendee like I used to be.

My painting totals for this year have rather exceeded my expectations, though in 28mm I seem to have lost a little enthusiasim for painting these, where as I seem to enjoy painting 10 and 15mm scales.

2013 PAINTING TOTALS

10mm Artillery - 3

10mm Foot figures - 233

10mm Mounted figures - 4

15mm Artillery - 32

15mm Foot figures - 914

15mm Mounted figures - 235

15mm Vehicles - 3

28mm Artillery -

28mm Foot figures - 29

28mm Mounted figures - 1

Bye bye for now, I will post up details shortly of what my plans are for next year.

X-wing and an update

Sorry that it's been a bit quiet on the posting front, mainly down to not having much time or energy for gaming. I blame it on these dark nights, I just want to sit in front of the fire watching TV. I have done some painting, mainly at weekends but haven't gotten around to taking pictures of any of them. I completed 2 more battalions for my Westphalian Napoleonics, some mounted brigadiers and a couple of figures for my F&IW collection.

Last week I even turned up at the club for only about the second time in a couple of months. Luckily they decided to put on a X-wing game which gave us a chance to try out a couple of the new ships, a B-wing and the Tie Bomber. To accompany the B-wing the rebels took an red squadron X wing and the Imperials took 2 extra tie fighters, one academy and one obsidian squadron pilot.

The game did not start out too well for the Imperials as I lost the academy pilot to the heavy payload of the B-wing. I did manage to even the score as a combination of the tie bomber and fighter put paid to the X-wing. The game then settled down to a game of cat and mouse with the B wing. Unfortunately the Bomber took a critical hit which prevented it from using abilities, i.e. no target lock preventing me using its valuable payload.

Eventually the rebels accounted for both of my ships the the B-wing was also reduced to its last hull point. I must admit these 2 new craft add an extra dimension to the game. So much so I went and purchased a B-wing to add to my rebel fleet. I did manage a few pictures of the game.

Tie fighter evades the B-wing

Bomber and tie hunting the B-wing

B-wing fires and misses

Tie fighter fires and also misses