The League of Augsburg
BLB Head to Head #1: Gardes Francaises v Garden til Fods
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| The epitome of a XVII Guard unit for Beneath the Lily Banners |
I thought it might be an idea to explain some of the BLB mechanisms by directly comparing opposing troops types in a gaming context both from a shooting and close combat perspective and adding a little detail on the units involved for those interested in collecting or building a particular formation.
Where better to start than with two...
Bit of a clean up.. Ottoman cavalry go for production
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| It took a ong time to clean and inspect this lot! |
This fantastic range has been dogged by little challenges along the way. Some related to design, some to production, others to me actually having enough time to undertake the fairly mammoth task of cleaning up 151 master castings of various shapes and sizes. In order to get good clean production castings a careful job in necessary in preparing...
Terrain and something out of nothing
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| A rough mock up of a North African harbour. Stuff just placed on for effect nuthin' fancy. |
There is nothing more boring than a plain blue cloth for naval gaming. As many Age of Sail fights took place very close to shore, I wanted to model terrain for coasts from Ireland to the Tropics.
I have made a fair old stab at it over the last week and by accident discovered a very useful purpose for what...
Airborne Museum Oosterbeek
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| Memorial to the Airborne Forces at Oosterbeek |
This trip happened in November 2018 and for some reason I didn't get around to posting some of the lovely photos.
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| British Sherman in the museum forecourt |
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| I am almost certain this is a 17pdr. I don't think Urquhart's men had too many of these to hand. |
We spent an excellent couple of hours in this outstanding museum and finished our trip by crossing the...
Campaign Turn 1 complete - Round up
One turn down and five great games each with interesting results. Apart from the plenary information made available to everyone below, each player received a private breifing of events in their campaign orbit. The table shows the raw points scores after ship repairs but before purchases and upgrades for turn 2. The limit is 200 points spent per turn and players can go into debt and spend the 200...
8 battlefields.... and a wedding!
Is that possible?
In Scotland it is! Between leaving home in East Kilbride and arriving at the Craigellachie Hotel near Dufftown we passed through or within one mile of eight battlefields.
The destination was a beautiful Georgian era bridge over the River Spey at Craigellachie on which three famous Highland...
In Scotland it is! Between leaving home in East Kilbride and arriving at the Craigellachie Hotel near Dufftown we passed through or within one mile of eight battlefields.
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| Craigellachie bridge over the Spey in the heart of whisky country. Manufactured in Wales! |
The destination was a beautiful Georgian era bridge over the River Spey at Craigellachie on which three famous Highland...
Naval campaign game 5: All hands to the oars!
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| Darkness and fog - ideal for an escape bid from a potentially hostile harbour |
November 23rd, 1688: Copenhagen
Chaos reigns supreme in England. The invasion by Willem of Orange less than three weeks previously has caused the army to disintegrate. The naval service is in turmoil, torn between loyalty to its old commander in chief and King, the officers and men weigh the options for their individual...
Lucky connections or coincidence?
Not only did I get to sail across the very spots that Spragge, De Ruyter et al manouevred and battled with their fleets in the 17th century, I managed to make several other tangible connections with my periods of interest during the annual sojourn to Antwerp.
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| Spanish Gate at Breda Castle.. some irony in the title - the Spaniards left a water gap in their defences |
The girls wanted a stop off en...
Naval campaign game 4: Tocht's raid April 1664
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| Set up |
Whiskey in the Jar-oh! Part 6: Characters and stuff
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| Hogan? |
Hogan’s role in this scenario is as a scout and not a fighter. He provides the Jacobite player with some extra options which emphasize his local knowledge and cunning.
· Hogan and the Shannon: Hogan can change the position of the ford! When he writes down the designated crossing point at the start of the game...
Naval Campaign game 3: Baert's Baptism!
March 19, 1689
Scenario name: Schomberg's reinforcements
Baert has word of a troop convoy bound for either Hoylake or Belfast. It is carrying English and Dutch soldiers to Ireland to fight King Louis's cousin James II. His ships left Dunkirk three days ago and are approaching the convoy from the north and windward. He is ordered to sink or capture as many of the transports as possible. The convoy is...
Scenario name: Schomberg's reinforcements
Baert has word of a troop convoy bound for either Hoylake or Belfast. It is carrying English and Dutch soldiers to Ireland to fight King Louis's cousin James II. His ships left Dunkirk three days ago and are approaching the convoy from the north and windward. He is ordered to sink or capture as many of the transports as possible. The convoy is...
Waving some flags! Ottoman, Holstein Gottorp, Brunswick, Celle
If you are into Ottoman flags or the smaller nations participating in the Great Northern Wars and War of the Spanish Succession look no further than eleven new flag sheets now available:
Here they are:
Here they are:
4 Ottoman sheets from my designs as seen here;
Holstein Gottorp Foot, Horse, Dragoons
Brunswick, Celle, Hanover - Foot and Horse
Find them all in the shop here: