Wednesday 26 July 2017

Now is the Winter...

The title of the post is nothing more than a reference to the fact that we recently went to see Richard III (the play) performed at Leicester Cathedral, wherein rest Richard III's remains...

 

An excellent production, by Antic Disposition Theatre Company. Highly recommended.

Meanwhile...

Latest preparations for Partizan have included a vignette of von Rankl, who will command the Astrovian contingent...

 

Figures are conversions, and flag is linen. Painted by myself.
I'm also working on a Prussian command vignette.

I've just finished the Prussian campsite (there are just a few figures to be painted and added to the scene).
The basing production line has been in full swing, and by the weekend should be complete.

I'm starting to put together Display material, such as handouts and the like, and suddenly started wondering "why bother?"
Do you like to take away information about the games you see at shows?
Or are you happy to simply see a brief description of what the game is on a display board by the table?
Or something more?
Thoughts welcome in the comments box below.


Thursday 13 July 2017

Grounds for a Fight

I've been working on the terrain for my display game for Partizan in August.
I wanted to create something that has base boards, hills, and stands of trees that all match.
I've never made terrain in this style before (using textured paint and drybrushing) so took a few risks, and through trial and error produced something which, though fairly basic, is to my mind appealing.
Here is just a quick sample image of a base board (with a small stream/ brook), a hill (adapted from  Last Valley hill), and couple of stands of trees.


And, just as I finished, official notification came through from the Partizan organising team, that I've been allocated a table. So, the game's afoot, and I've got loads to do - the basing depot on my workbench is now overcrowded with horse, foot and guns, amongst other items!

So, back to the storyline...
It's 1747, and in the peaceful Pils-Holstein town of Neerfuncken, tavern gossip is centred around the latest news from around Europe, brought by the merchants and travellers who have descended on the small town for the seasonal summer market.
Tipsi Pipsi has returned to Pils-Holstein, and far away in Astrovia the traditionalist lobby is calling for revenge for her defection. Rumour has it that Brigadier Von Rankl has been ordered to mobilise a strong brigade of Astrovian infantry to support a likely opportunistic French incursion into Pils-Holstein.
Ferdinand-Adolphus of Pils-Holstein is besotted at Tipsi's return, and some say he has taken his eye off the ball. But his trusty adviser, Professor Klickstich, has been busy activating his network of spies and messengers, appealing to Prussia for support. Under normal circumstances, Prussia would make it a standard policy to support Pils-Holstein, but as students of the 1740s will know, Prussia and France are allies in the War of Austrian Succession, and therefore Prussia would not openly operate against France.
However, our parallel world may prove somewhat different. Perhaps Prussian dark blue uniforms will
come to the aid of Ferdinand Adolphus.
Perhaps.
Time will tell...