It's been a bit of a lazy week for me in the blogging department I'm afraid. I seem to be very low on energy at the moment; I'm going to bed tired and waking up tired. All of the strong black coffee I'm drinking to get me through the working day probably isn't helping! Just generally a bit run down after a long winter and football season I think. That and I've had only 2 and a half weeks off work since I started this job 19 months ago! This has largely been in aid of saving up enough leave so that I can go to a friend's wedding in Las Vegas in October. We've got two days in Los Angeles, a week in Vegas and then we're flying to Oaxaca in Mexico for about a week and a half. Really looking forward to Mexico, especially the local cuisine; hopefully my stomach is up to it, I plan on dosing myself on acidophilus yoghurt and plenty of active manuka honey before I go. Probably just a placebo. We'll see. This travel newbie will probably be taught a lesson! At least the lovely A is a bit of a travel veteran!
Anyway, all of this means that I've been having a bit of trouble sitting down to the painting table for any more than an hour on a week night. With the lovely A down for the weekend, fishing in the Hauraki Gulf on Saturday and a bit of a lazy day on Sunday (eating the catch), I haven't got very far with the painting this week. I'm almost done with the mortar platoon, so I will try and finish that at on Monday/Tuesday this week. I'll either then start on a 25pdr or move on to try my hand at basing...I'll see how I feel. It is a bit frustrating to be making such slow progress; hopefully I'll have a bit more energy after my time away.
I've been a bit busy on the shopping front, and I confess that I've broken my resolution not to purchase any more rule books! I've gone and bought the Waterloo rulebook from Warhammer Historical. Now, I'm not the biggest fan of Games Workshop at the moment and the way they run the Warhammer Historical "red-headed step-child" of their business is probably a case in point. However regardless of other criticisms that might be made of Games Workshop, they have great production standards and graphic designers when it comes to books. It really is a huge, gorgeous book. Probably the highest quality rules book in my collection of rules books! As for the rules themselves, well I've been a little daunted by the prospect of General de Brigade as my first foray into Napoleonic gaming, and a little underwhelmed by Black Powder and the philosophy behind it. Hopefully the Warhammer Historical will prove to be a happy medium. Garth and I are familiar with the way in which Games Workshop rules work (though this is apparently derived from the War of the Ring rules, which I haven't played), so this will hopefully mean that we can get up to speed quickly. Did I spin that well enough? To be honest I was really just sold on the big, beautiful book and had to have it!
Once I've had a chance to read through the book ill post my thoughts and some nice glossy photos. It will be a while before I'll be able to comment on the rules in a qualified way; hopefully Garth and I will be able to proxy a game when we catch up over the summer. Garth has also purhased the Warhammer Historical Trafalgar rules and has been making favourable noises so far. In these two rulesets we've got our favourite period of warfare covered. Regarding some extra motivations behind Trafalgar, we're both huge fans of Patrick O'Brien's Aubrey-Maturin series (the source material behind the Master and Commander film for the uninitiated) and the 1/1200 scale miniatures that are available look amazing. We really do have eclectic tastes. I look forward to reading about Garth's impressions of the book some time soon!
As for the near future on this blog, I'll be continuing with a commentary on my meagre painting efforts and terrain/basing for our Flames of War project. I'll also be posting 'un-boxings' of each of my recent purchases as they arrive (Infinity miniatures, Flames of War sourcebook and miniatures still to come). I'll also be talking a little about my Friday night foray into 40k for he first time in 10 years (a mixed experience). Other ideas are a look at the 'wargaming' boardgames in my collection, as well as at what has really inspired me to wargame particular periods or genres.
Enough for now! Cheers!
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| I'm hoping Oaxacan cuisine will blow my mind, rather than something else! |
Anyway, all of this means that I've been having a bit of trouble sitting down to the painting table for any more than an hour on a week night. With the lovely A down for the weekend, fishing in the Hauraki Gulf on Saturday and a bit of a lazy day on Sunday (eating the catch), I haven't got very far with the painting this week. I'm almost done with the mortar platoon, so I will try and finish that at on Monday/Tuesday this week. I'll either then start on a 25pdr or move on to try my hand at basing...I'll see how I feel. It is a bit frustrating to be making such slow progress; hopefully I'll have a bit more energy after my time away.
I've been a bit busy on the shopping front, and I confess that I've broken my resolution not to purchase any more rule books! I've gone and bought the Waterloo rulebook from Warhammer Historical. Now, I'm not the biggest fan of Games Workshop at the moment and the way they run the Warhammer Historical "red-headed step-child" of their business is probably a case in point. However regardless of other criticisms that might be made of Games Workshop, they have great production standards and graphic designers when it comes to books. It really is a huge, gorgeous book. Probably the highest quality rules book in my collection of rules books! As for the rules themselves, well I've been a little daunted by the prospect of General de Brigade as my first foray into Napoleonic gaming, and a little underwhelmed by Black Powder and the philosophy behind it. Hopefully the Warhammer Historical will prove to be a happy medium. Garth and I are familiar with the way in which Games Workshop rules work (though this is apparently derived from the War of the Ring rules, which I haven't played), so this will hopefully mean that we can get up to speed quickly. Did I spin that well enough? To be honest I was really just sold on the big, beautiful book and had to have it!
We are using Lasalle here in Wellington. It's a good ruleset which doesn't get bogged down. You can play a game and get a result in a reasonable amount of time.
ReplyDeleteThanks man. Yes I have been looking into Lasalle lately, I read a great review of it on the miniatures page just last week. Is it currently in print? I seem to remember reading about it in pdf a while back. I may look at picking it up over the summer, at which point we'll have four napoleonic rulesets to choose from!
ReplyDeleteThose were some great photos from your games over the weekend, it looked like a lot of fun! Unfortunately Garth couldn't make it; I shared your posts with him though so hopefully that will motivate him to jump on a train to upper hutt at some stage!
By the way, which rules were used for the naval battle in the photos?
In other news, my copy of Hellfire and back arrived yesterday, along with the first of my Commonwealth Rifle Platoons. Love the models, they're so characterful and dynamic compared to the earlier sculpts. Also there are a half dozen extra figs in the blister, so ill have enough to make my HQ pioneer section!
The Naval battle game was Flying Colours. It involved lots of tables and charts.
ReplyDeleteNot this weekend but next we are playing some Mid War flames of war. A friend of mine will be having his first game of flames with his Italy British army.
I will be bringing some Germans along and could bring another army if Garth wants a game.
Second edition of Lasalle is due soon. look forward to you Waterloo review its the first Warhammer historical book I have actually been tempted by...
ReplyDeleteAwesome, thanks for the heads up! I will definitely take a look at it when it comes out. A translation of which is that I won't be able to resist buying my third Napoleonics ruleset!
ReplyDeleteI'm enjoying waterloo so far. Bearing in mind too that my review will be coming from a position of inexperience!