WWg(X)

WG41 - Indian rathamassaula
https://www.museumminiatures.co.uk/classical/indian.html?p=2

As some of you may know DBMM v2.0 army lists have made a number of alterations.  One of which is the downgrading of Chinese warwagons from O to X.  There has been some discussion on the DBA Fanaticus forum.

OK, so this means a new battlefield role - no more shooting platforms to block off a flank.  WWg(X) are hand-pushed carts - they can make contact and are not easily beaten by elephants.  Don't know quite what to do with them at the moment.

Another problem is a lack of suitable models.  I'm still searching. 

Whilst at Vapnartak I was talking to the (always helpful) proprietor of Museum Miniatures and he suggested the Indian rathamasaula as a starting point.  So where do I go from here?

. 

Two of these illustrations suggest a single, central wheel but I suspect that this is more artistic convention than reality.  They are also considerably larger (9 crew !!!).

The final two are of more conventional carts (3 crew).

 In order to get from the Indian to the Chinese I need to change the crew (more oriental looking) and the wheels (spoked).  After that it's down to scratch-building.  It's likely that the screens were paper anyway.

Weekly Roundup

 Not a lot as there was no Monday meeting.

Some Napoleon in Egypt additions from the "1866 and all that" website:

28th Regiment of Foot (British)
British in Egypt Project Kicks Off
Generals and Emigres (British)
More British in Egypt 

Some Painting At Last

As the snow was pelting down yesterday I managed to finish off four bases of Aztecs:

There is a motley crew of figures on my paint table at the moment including more Meso-Americans (mainly Incas), WWg(X), Welsh cavalry, early Carthaginian chariots, Chinese chariots and some Vikings.  Maybe I will finish them off at some date in the future!!!

Anyway...whilst searching for more information on Napoleon's Egyptian Campaign I came across another blogger:

History in 1/72

http://historyin172.blogspot.co.uk

85eme Demi-Brigade de Ligne
Delhi light horse
Delhis
Dromedar Corps Egypt 1799
Dromedaries (painted)
French foot
French grenadiers
Napoleon in Egypt
Napoleonic Turkish army
Nizam I Cedid
Ottoman army of the Napoleonic period
Ottoman army, more info
Turkish Napoleonic army

Now I'm researching the Incas, trying to find out how to best use the figures I have.  Cannot find anyone who manufactures a litter in 20mm (or suitable carrying figures for conversion/scratch building).


Weekly Roundup

Monday 12th March 2018 - WDW

French v Prussians - Age of Eagles - practice for Saturday's big game.
Germans v Americans - WW2 - Andrew's rules
DBM - Philistines v Medes - victory to the Medes after a bit of a struggle - nice to be on the winning side for a change.
DBMM - Alexander Imperial v Later Carthaginians - competition practice


Saturday 17th March 2018 - WDW

Eylau 1807 - French v Russians & Prussians - Age of Eagles - the big game run by Chris
"History of the World" - boardgame - a three hander where I came last (by a big margin)
"Braggart" - card game - great fun - my first game and I came last....but there was only 6 points between all of us.


Looks like Sunday is going to become my blogging day for the forseable future - too much is going on on Thursdays at the moment.

Big Battle DBA v 3.0

Saturday 10th March 2018 - Gt. Houghton

This is the first time that  I have played this variant.  DBA Version 3.0 rules has imposed DBMM dice allocation. 

I took my "Hellenistics" tin along and fielded the army of Antigonos Gonatos.  The inclusion of a Spartan Greek ally was to get a Lh element (AG has none).  My only other option was to take either 4 x 4Wb or 4 x 4Ax. 

Ian had Lysimachid - very similar army but no elephants.

Given the terrain my right wing were given the lowest dice, the centre the highest and the allied command was random.  Ian decided to lead with his left, support with the centre and refuse the right. 

My central attack was successful breaking the opposition (in spite of loosing an elephant).  The two flanks were in trouble at times with my right eventually crumbling.  Intervention by the 'spare' troops, from the centre command broke Ian's right flank.  Game over.

Strangely enough victorious troops are not required to pursue.  Broken troops cannot make any aggressive move(s) - they can only be held or flee.

I made several mistakes including double-ranking my spears and forgetting about side supports.  The Wb and elephants were pretty useless.

An interesting experiment - don't know if I will be in a hurry to repeat it!!!

Game Two:  DBA v3.0 - AG (again) v Gauls.  A steep hill allowed me to close down half the board with a few Aux & Ps.  I massed my remaining troops on the left and overwhelmed the enemy - 4:0. This time the elephant did it's job.



Weekly Roundup:

Monday 5th March - WDW

"Black Orchestra" - boardgame - trying to assassinate Hitler
"King of the Battlefield" - Prussians v others (a mixture)
"Age of Eagles" - French v Prussians
DBM - Early Armenians v Han Chinese - my army had plenty of Aux but all the terrain ended up in my opponent's half of the table.  Still, I had overwhelming numbers so I pushed forward.  The dice gods were not smiling upon me this day - neither in movement nor fighting.  Two of my commands broke.  Their losses were in single figures.


Saturday 10th March 2018 - Horbury Library

Andrew was conducting an ACW game.  I was required elsewhere (see above).

Books & Magazines

Ian came in on Monday with a pile of books he was selling off cheap.  I snapped up this one.  Given my 'butterfly mind' it was a dangerous purchase - it might have taken me down some dark purchasing alleys.  Luckily the book is so superficial that it is nothing but a starting point.

I have a passing interest in the period.  This is the old 1974 book - it has been replaced by a two-volume issue.

Finally...Chris brought in a book for me to read -
"Bonaparte in Egypt" by J.Christopher Herold
Pub: Hamish Hamilton 1962 - 424 pages.  More on this later.

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Napoleon in Egypt - part 4(a) - Magazines

I searched through my wargames magazines collection to find the following:

"An Egyptian Episode" - Ramanieh 1801
by Arthur Harman - MW 68 pp18-22
2 x b/w maps, 1 x cp, 1 x wp
background, briefings

"The Battle of Aboukir 1799"
by Mark Bevis - MW 144 pp48-51
1 x b/w map, 2 x cp, 1 x b/w ill (turks)
battle, terrain

"The British Army in Egypt"
by Stephen Ede-Borrett - WI 42 pp38-39/41-42
1 x wp
introduction, organisation, uniforms

"Death on the Nile" - part 1: French campaign in Egypt 1798-9
by Gary Hughes - WI 113 pp42-43/46-47
2 x b/w maps
background, gaming options, uniforms & appearance

"Death on the Nile" - part 2: French campaign in Egypt and the Levant
by Gary Hughes - WI 115 pp30-33
Mount Tabor, Bonaparte's Departure, gaming possibilities

"Death on the Nile" - part 3: French in Egypt 1800-1
by Gary Hughes - WI 118 pp26-30
3 x b/w maps
naval forces, uniforms & appearance, gaming possibilities

"The French Campaign in Egypt 1798-80" - part 1: Historical Introduction
by Stephen Ede-Borrett - WI 34 pp30-34
French Order of Battle

"The French Campaign in Egypt 1798-80" - part 2: French Army Uniforms
by Stephen Ede-Borrett - WI 35 pp30-32
2 x b/w ill
infantry, cavalry, changes

"The French Campaign in Egypt 1798-80" - part 3: French Standards & Colours
by Stephan Ede-Borrett - WI 36 pp22-23
2 x b/w ill
cavalry, infantry

Key:  b/w = black & white
          ill = illustration(s)
          cp = colour photographs
          wp = 'wargamers porn'
          MW = Miniature Wargames
         WI = Wargames Illustrated

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Weekly Roundup

Saturday 17th February 2018 - WDW  [more details]

Napoleonic - Novi 1799 - Russians & Austrians v French
Colonial - British & Egyptians v Dervishes - "Men Who would Be Kings"
"Oregan" & "Revolution" boardgames


Monday 26th February 2018 - WDW

"King of the Battlefield" - Bavarians v French
"Fire & Steel" skirmish - ACW
DBMM - Carthaginians v Persians
DBM - Tuareg v Welsh - victory for the arab warbands - but only just.