Introduction A Tangled Mass is a game of toy soldiers in the old style, set more or less in the middle part of the 18 th century. Our miniature forces are colorful and, we hope, glossy. Although the latter, like so much else, is up to the discretion of the players. But it is the modeling, brushwork, and unit organization of hobby greats like Gilder, Mason, and Robinson that provide our visual touchstone and continue to inform "the look of the thing" even now. Tabletop armies in A Tangled Mass can be historic, semi-historic, or whimsically fictitious, but the more flags and mounted officers, the better. Formations, while bearing some resemblance to their historic precedents, are generic: column, line, or extended order for lighter types. Squares, while possible, are less common than during all of that later Napoleonic madness with its guillotines and Spanish ulcers. And we'll simply choose not to mention patent leather dancing pumps, or that unseemly bedr
Here, we can see the Army of Stagonia as it arrives on the field and begins the complicated process of assembling itself into battle formation. From the look of things, this will be a tough nut to crack for Stollen!
Through a handy spyglass, an officer attached to General von Drosselmaier's retinue across the field spots the Stagonian commander and his staff. Aren't they resplendent in their white coats?
And here's another view of those vile Stagonians as they take their places. 
Stollenian agents have indicated for some weeks that the Stagonian army was large, and this has proven to be the case. Here, you'll note, are five companies of infantry, a large regiment of cavalry, and a full battery of artillery. 
But the Stollenian army has not been asleep all this either! The final drafts of troops ( a drummer, two sergeants, and two officers) have joined a newly raised battalion of engineers in von Drosselmaier's army. They need only two coats of Future/Klear acrylic floor finish before they are finished.
And here is a close-up of said drummer. As a member of an engineer unit, his uniform is not particularly fancy, but his drum hoops are indeed eye-catching!
Comments
The Stagonians look as if they mean business - so much fuss over a sawmill.
Lovely drummer.
-- Allan
Best wishes
Giles
So many beautiful troops. Your collection is a sight to behold.
That is one impressive collection of troops Stokes! I look forward to the blow by blow as you and our Fearless Leader Jeff lock horns!
Set up looks great - I await the battle with interest!
best wishes
Alan
Then breaks into cheering as the Stollenians come into view.
The Soweiter League hopes for a rousing Stollenian victory (or, given recent performances, any victory over them...).
Regards,
Greg
Any chance of a full view of the entire battlefield (say, from off at one side somewhere)? Just to see what the whole table looks like.
Love the figures.
Get stuck in there, and crack a few heads!
Steve.
My computer is down (I'm using someone else's machine.
I'm not sure how soon I'll be back . . . but it will be a few days at least.
Allow me to echo the request for "full table" photos.
Sorry you missed my call on Sunday . . . I'll try again sometime next weekend if I don't have my computer back by then . . . right now I can't get email either.
-- Jeff
Keep doing it !