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One of those dreams. . .

A pair of historic British infantry standards, which help to illustrate today's off-topic post rather nicely.


It's been some time since I have had one of those dreams.  Relax boys!  I mean a toy soldier dream that I remember the next morning.  

My dream last night was a little different in that it was actually a painting table dream, and I was painting. . .  A gosling green infantry standard for some Napoleonic battalion with green facings.  Can't recall which regiment, but in the dream I was actually adding lighter green highlights to some of the folds, and there were 50 or so red-coated figures already on the table in the background awaiting their glossy coats of varnish.  That's all I remember.  At some later point, I woke up.

 Profoundly disturbing, and it can mean only one thing.  At some subconscious level, I am thinking of Napoleonics once again.  "Madness" to borrow a word from Young and Lawford's Charge! Or How to Play War Games.  Someone.  Anyone.  Help me!  Please.

-- Stokes

Comments

Independentwargamesgroup said…
Stokes it sounds like you were eating cheese before going to bed. However if you were actually considering the Napoleonic period the question is what scale and what figure ranges would you use?
3:57 PM
Simon said…
Oh don’t do it!
4:53 PM
Martin said…
Hi Stokes!

If you find that your iron will is collapsing into a pile of rust, and you can no longer resist the siren call of Napoleonics, I suggest that you do a side project big enough to scratch the itch, without going overboard and stretching the already slender finances to the breaking point. Say Battalion/Brigade size rather than Division/Corps! It's a HOBBY and supposed to be an enjoyable past time. If you need Napoleonics ... then so be it!

All The Best,

Martin
7:13 PM
WSTKS-FM Worldwide said…
You guys are no help at all! Well, were I to launch into Napoleonics once more, I'm thinking 1/300th so I could attempt at least corp-sized actions. Another possibility might be to use the figures I have already (Minifigs, some AB and Battlehonours, plus a few others), but to reorganize use them as purely representative, abstract pieces rather than attempt to represent the various battalion and regimental formations. Sort of along the same lines of how American gamer F. Patrick Burke based his painting and collecting on the old Avalon Hill Waterloo board game back in the late 80s. He had two articles published on this project in Wargames Illustrated. No, no. I've gotta stay strong and stick to one period. There just isn't enough time for a side project. But. . . If there were suddenly 30 hours in a day and an extra day in the week, well then. . .

Best Regards,

Stokes
8:27 PM
Jacksarge Painting said…
I'd advise you to stick with what you are doing. Something so in depth and absorbing as Napoleonics may result in a dilution of your hobby.
8:51 PM
Wellington Man said…
I stayed clear of Napoleonics for decades, Stokes, for fear of where it would take me. In the end, of course, I capitulated, but chose an obscure and difficult-to-obtain figure range. This has kept a lid on things very nicely - it's practically impossible to build up coherent orders of battle, and they are far too expensive to buy en masse on the few occasions when they do show up! If I wasn't doing Hinton Hunts, Stadden and Tradition would be the ones I opted for.
2:25 AM
Ross Mac rmacfa@gmail.com said…
Ah-Ha! That's who wrote that article. Its been on my mind ever since I read it and it prepared me for the Portable Wargame etc. Eureka still sells the AB figures, the finest miniatures I've ever owned in any scale. I picture a little Portable Peninsula War vacation with little mini-diorama bases like Burke used.

But multiple periods? Well, Featherstone, Asquith and Grant would approve....
6:16 AM
Gonsalvo said…
Bah! at 1/300,how would even tell they had facings, or highlight the folds on the flags. YOu need at least 10 mm, so why not use your existing troops.

You could use your existing figures and Snappy Nappy - at most 4 -6 cavalry, 6 -8 infantry per unit. Or a gridded game. Or skirmish games Sharp Practice. Gosh, there must be at least 60 sets of rules out there if not far more.

Feeling better yet? NO? When I feel off, I just paint another unit to add to the 7,000+ 28 mm Napoleonics I already have. I'm OK. Really.
8:22 AM
Stryker said…
Go on, you know you want to!
9:43 AM
Ross Mac rmacfa@gmail.com said…
PS If you really, REALLY want to avoid doing what you want, there is always the example of the Brigadier himself who included Napoleonic Pavlov Grenadiers and Royal Horse Artillery alongside his SYW armies.... How much room do you have on your shelves and table for more 30mm figures.
11:28 AM
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