We have a home! Huzzah, Huzzah! This just in from LSHM:
November 14 - 16, 2008
Friday - Sunday
We are pleased to announce the home for the eleventh annual LSHM Gaming Convention.
Millenniumcon 11 will be at the Wingate Inn and Conference Center in Round Rock, Texas. Discounted room rates are available at $87 per night. Ask for the Millenniumcon discount when registering.
And we have recently been advised of the impending arrival of two additional Brigades and Commanders making the trip from the Dallas area, one Prussian and one French. Assuming that they don't "bump" into each other trying to cross the Brazos in Waco and contest the river crossing, our gathering forces continue to grow. I'm sure that Ed will be providing an update shortly with a list of the forces that our scouts have detected.
Bill & Ed
Sir William of M'Uedail
Landgraf Bogart of Hesse-Fedora
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
7 and 1/2 Months and Counting...
Well, yes, it has been a long time since we've published an update. For that we should probably be flogged severely with some form of pasta by a pair of lovely tavern wenches! However, we are somewhat in a "holding pattern" at the moment as we await the official results of Lone Star Historical Miniatures signing the actual contract with the hosting hotel for MilleniumCon XI.
The tentative dates, based on the last information available, are November 14, 15 and 16, 2008, and the host site should still be the same, just north of Austin, Texas. As soon as either Ed or myself know anything "final" we will update this Blog post-haste.
We can share some information with you. For those not already aware of it, Ed hosted a "trial run" B.A.R. event at ChimaeraCon in San Antonio this past weekend that appears to have been a great success. There are excellent write-ups on the game on Ed's Blog (Hesse-Fedora) and a "plug" from Der Alte Fritz (aka Jim Purky) on his Blog. And speaking of that esteemed Gentleman from the midwest, we have been advised that both he and his "partner in crime" Mssr. Chevert (aka Bill Protz) WILL be in attendance for what will now be the second Big Battalion Game in Texas at MilleniumCon XI. In addition to these two esteemed Gentlemen, we have tentative committments from traveler's from California, Mississippi and Arkansas, who will all be venturing forth to join our own Texas crew for this event.
We are making plans to host a "pre-game" event on Friday night where we will have at least a small scenario laid-out and Mssrs. Protz and Purky available to field questions and demonstrate certain mechanics of the rules to any and all interested parties. We will also have packets available describing the scenario and Orders of Battle (such as we are aware of) for Saturday's Main Event. I am also quite confident that, after exploring the mysteries of "Batailles de l' Ancien Regime" for a time, we will be able to adjourn to a convenient location for some liquid courage and "munchies" to prepare us all the more for Saturday. In all, it promises to be a most entertaining weekend in the southern part of Texas.
Sir William of M'Uedail
Bill McHenry
The tentative dates, based on the last information available, are November 14, 15 and 16, 2008, and the host site should still be the same, just north of Austin, Texas. As soon as either Ed or myself know anything "final" we will update this Blog post-haste.
We can share some information with you. For those not already aware of it, Ed hosted a "trial run" B.A.R. event at ChimaeraCon in San Antonio this past weekend that appears to have been a great success. There are excellent write-ups on the game on Ed's Blog (Hesse-Fedora) and a "plug" from Der Alte Fritz (aka Jim Purky) on his Blog. And speaking of that esteemed Gentleman from the midwest, we have been advised that both he and his "partner in crime" Mssr. Chevert (aka Bill Protz) WILL be in attendance for what will now be the second Big Battalion Game in Texas at MilleniumCon XI. In addition to these two esteemed Gentlemen, we have tentative committments from traveler's from California, Mississippi and Arkansas, who will all be venturing forth to join our own Texas crew for this event.
We are making plans to host a "pre-game" event on Friday night where we will have at least a small scenario laid-out and Mssrs. Protz and Purky available to field questions and demonstrate certain mechanics of the rules to any and all interested parties. We will also have packets available describing the scenario and Orders of Battle (such as we are aware of) for Saturday's Main Event. I am also quite confident that, after exploring the mysteries of "Batailles de l' Ancien Regime" for a time, we will be able to adjourn to a convenient location for some liquid courage and "munchies" to prepare us all the more for Saturday. In all, it promises to be a most entertaining weekend in the southern part of Texas.
Sir William of M'Uedail
Bill McHenry
Monday, January 7, 2008
Ten months to The Game, and armies are growing!
As you can see from the graphic at left, multiple contingents have been added, but most threw in with the Elector.
I will be adding Orders of Battle over the next few days. I will experiment with several methods, so the appearance of the blog may change slightly.
Four of the contingents that have been added have been "mixed brigades" of almost the exact composition as M. Chevert-Protz recommends as a starting point in BAR. When we get a lot closer to November, I will start consolidating the various armies into a single whole. Or maybe not, as things go.
I just noticed one thing: I left the "Generals" label, but in reality it is "Brigades."
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Eleven Months to the game
Wow! Eleven months to go until the Big Battalions game, and by my reckoning we already have over 2,500 figures committed to the game
And this only counts the figures from Bill M, Robert P, and myself (Ed Y)! There are actually more generals than shown, which number represents many brigades are present.
On the Emperor’s side of the ring we have:
Imperium
Gallia
M'Uedail
Hesse-Homburg
Imperium
Gallia
M'Uedail
Hesse-Homburg
And in this corner, weighing in for the Elector:
Germania
Hesse-Fedora
Brittania
Weisspferdheim
There are at least three other people who have committed to bringing a brigade-sized formation as espoused as a BAR starting force. Once I get their particulars and loyalties, I will update the totals.
I also plan to add a section to the blog showing the various factions and their military contingents.
How can you help?
First, if you want to join, let us know via the blog or email. We are completely, 100% open to a firm "maybe." However, I would prefer to keep the army lists to those that are ready to march, and not still naked lead. Believe me: I could double the numbers above with my lead alone!
Second, I would like to begin hearing ideas for how to tie our game (and any games leading up to it) together with those put on by Mssrs. Purkey and Protz, and the "UK Big Battalion" festival. This does not need to be extremely detailed or convoluted, but I think we could have a lot of fun doing so.
Finally, for those in the San Antonio area, I will put on a BAR game at ChimaeraCon on Saturday, March 15th. Currently I have a placeholder named "Battle of Sittangbad" but that is not necessarily the scenario. If you think you might be interested, let me know so that I can plan accordingly for a table and troops.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Massing of Cavalry reported in South Central Texas
Many thanks to Robert Piepenbrink and Bill Protz.
Yesterday, a package arrived from Bill containing Robert's Patented Traveling Brigade of Spencer Smith Cavalry. Robert had loaned these figures for one of the Big Battalion games put on by M. Chevert and Der Alte Fritz for the gratification of the masses.
Now, these fine regiments will ride again in warmer climes.
I admit I was surprised. I was told to expect 72 figures, but somehow missed the point they were plastic. So when a huge box was deposited on the doorstep, I braced my feet and made sure not to lift with my back. And nearly hurled the box into the neighbor's yard!
But...the box did not have 72 figures. It has FIVE regiments of 24 figures each...120!!
So thank you Robert, and Bill for sending them along.
Yesterday, a package arrived from Bill containing Robert's Patented Traveling Brigade of Spencer Smith Cavalry. Robert had loaned these figures for one of the Big Battalion games put on by M. Chevert and Der Alte Fritz for the gratification of the masses.
Now, these fine regiments will ride again in warmer climes.
I admit I was surprised. I was told to expect 72 figures, but somehow missed the point they were plastic. So when a huge box was deposited on the doorstep, I braced my feet and made sure not to lift with my back. And nearly hurled the box into the neighbor's yard!
But...the box did not have 72 figures. It has FIVE regiments of 24 figures each...120!!
So thank you Robert, and Bill for sending them along.
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Figure Basing, Organization, Movement Stands and Terrain Features
To attempt to answer the many questions that Sir Ed and I are receiving, here are the answers to the most common questions that we are seeing:
XXXXX
Infantry and Artillery:
XXXX
The rules recommend basing 20mm to 28mm figures individually on 3/4" X 3/4" bases. They go on to recommend basing "some" 28mm up to 40MM figures individually on 1" X 1" bases. Typically, the larger bases should only be necessary for Suren, Stadden and Spencer Smith 30mm and the various ranges of 40mm and 42mm figures out there. However, you may find that you need the larger bases with some Foundry and similar "large" 28mm figures. All artillerists should be based individually as well as your infantry. The guns are left loose, regardless of calibre/size. Limbers and ammunition wagons are not required, but certainly add to the visual appeal of the game.
XXXXX
Cavalry:
XXXXX
The rules recommend basing 20mm to 28mm figures individually on 3/4" X 2" bases. They go on to recommend basing "some" 28mm up to 40mm figures individually on 1" X 2" bases. The same qualifications as to brand and style of figures apply as they do to infantry and artillerists.
XXXXX
You do not absolutely have to base figures individually, but it does add to the appeal of the game and gives you the ability to remove single casualty figures, use historical formations, and use historical drill movements and changes in formation. However, the rules do encourage the use of historical 3-rank deep formations. If you base your figures in single ranks, this should not be a problem. If, however, you base your figures for one of the rulesets requiring 2-rank deep basing, and you do not have any single-based or single-rank figures available for the third rank, then we may have to make some accommodations in the rules to use these.
XXXXX
Movement Trays:
XXXX
You are certainly welcome to bring your own larger movement trays with you, if you already have these available, but we recommend using trays that split your battalions into 4 "divisions" (As an example, a 48 figure battalion would have 4 stands of 12 figures each, with 3 ranks of 4 figures on each tray). We will be providing movement trays for all of the figures we provide, and will have some extra as well. If we know for sure that you're coming and what you're bringing, we will make sure trays are available. These trays will make it easier to maneuver your units in general movement, and still allow single figures to be removed. All of the trays that we provide, and we recommend that you do the same, will be sized for 1" X 1" foot and 1" X 2" mounted figures, so that we may accommodate everyone's available figures.
XXXXX
Terrain:
XXXXX
All necessary terrain will be provided for the game. However, if you own some especially nice period-correct buildings that you believe would add to the visual appeal of the game, please contact Ed or I and we will try and work it in. We very much want this to be a "team" effort and for every participant to add what they can or wish to the experience. We have not determined the exact scenario that we will be running yet, as that will depend somewhat on the available troops. It will probably be based on a dispute involving our Imagi-Nations, with the appropriate Historical allies involved.
XXXXX
Hopefully this covers the majority of the questions that you may have. And, hopefully, I have answered them correctly. If Mssr's. Protz or Purkey detect an error of feel that additional information is required, then we encourage them to add to the comments on this topic. I heartily encourage anyone who has not already done so to acquire their own set of the "Batailles de l'Ancien Régime", or B.A.R., rules. We will have quick reference sheets available during the game, but the rules contain a wealth of information and diagrams relevant to the game and to the period. They are available for $37 (which includes postage) from Mssr. Protz's web site, which can be reached via the link at the right.
XXXXX
Sir William
XXXXX
Infantry and Artillery:
XXXX
The rules recommend basing 20mm to 28mm figures individually on 3/4" X 3/4" bases. They go on to recommend basing "some" 28mm up to 40MM figures individually on 1" X 1" bases. Typically, the larger bases should only be necessary for Suren, Stadden and Spencer Smith 30mm and the various ranges of 40mm and 42mm figures out there. However, you may find that you need the larger bases with some Foundry and similar "large" 28mm figures. All artillerists should be based individually as well as your infantry. The guns are left loose, regardless of calibre/size. Limbers and ammunition wagons are not required, but certainly add to the visual appeal of the game.
XXXXX
Cavalry:
XXXXX
The rules recommend basing 20mm to 28mm figures individually on 3/4" X 2" bases. They go on to recommend basing "some" 28mm up to 40mm figures individually on 1" X 2" bases. The same qualifications as to brand and style of figures apply as they do to infantry and artillerists.
XXXXX
You do not absolutely have to base figures individually, but it does add to the appeal of the game and gives you the ability to remove single casualty figures, use historical formations, and use historical drill movements and changes in formation. However, the rules do encourage the use of historical 3-rank deep formations. If you base your figures in single ranks, this should not be a problem. If, however, you base your figures for one of the rulesets requiring 2-rank deep basing, and you do not have any single-based or single-rank figures available for the third rank, then we may have to make some accommodations in the rules to use these.
XXXXX
Movement Trays:
XXXX
You are certainly welcome to bring your own larger movement trays with you, if you already have these available, but we recommend using trays that split your battalions into 4 "divisions" (As an example, a 48 figure battalion would have 4 stands of 12 figures each, with 3 ranks of 4 figures on each tray). We will be providing movement trays for all of the figures we provide, and will have some extra as well. If we know for sure that you're coming and what you're bringing, we will make sure trays are available. These trays will make it easier to maneuver your units in general movement, and still allow single figures to be removed. All of the trays that we provide, and we recommend that you do the same, will be sized for 1" X 1" foot and 1" X 2" mounted figures, so that we may accommodate everyone's available figures.
XXXXX
Terrain:
XXXXX
All necessary terrain will be provided for the game. However, if you own some especially nice period-correct buildings that you believe would add to the visual appeal of the game, please contact Ed or I and we will try and work it in. We very much want this to be a "team" effort and for every participant to add what they can or wish to the experience. We have not determined the exact scenario that we will be running yet, as that will depend somewhat on the available troops. It will probably be based on a dispute involving our Imagi-Nations, with the appropriate Historical allies involved.
XXXXX
Hopefully this covers the majority of the questions that you may have. And, hopefully, I have answered them correctly. If Mssr's. Protz or Purkey detect an error of feel that additional information is required, then we encourage them to add to the comments on this topic. I heartily encourage anyone who has not already done so to acquire their own set of the "Batailles de l'Ancien Régime", or B.A.R., rules. We will have quick reference sheets available during the game, but the rules contain a wealth of information and diagrams relevant to the game and to the period. They are available for $37 (which includes postage) from Mssr. Protz's web site, which can be reached via the link at the right.
XXXXX
Sir William
Thursday, October 18, 2007
So why on earth would anyone want a 66 figure battalion?
Hello weary traveller! Thank you for visiting this corner of Urope and the Texian Nation in particular.
I thought it might be a little helpful for a visitor to understand what Sir William and I are on about, as our British brethren have been asking me.
My freshman year at the USAF Academy (82-83) is when I started playing miniatures. As a “doolie” you don’t get much free time or many passes. So when a history professor stood up at a Cadet Wargame Club meeting and offered a free pass to anyone who wanted to play a Napoleonic wargame, there was no hesitation. I didn’t give a hoot about Napoleon since there was a distinct lack of airpower, but a free pass was a free pass.
Come Sunday, we showed up at the captain’s house. He had a ping-pong table, covered with two beautifully painted 25mm armies: a French one facing an Anglo-Prussian-Russian horde in a hypothetical post-Waterloo battle. I was hooked. The spectacle, the fun, the cheering, the whole day was great! (Side note: last time I checked the captain was a full colonel, permanent professor and Chairman of the Dept of History, and still using his troops for cadet games and classes!) I have gamed lots of stuff since then, but have always wanted to revisit that huge spectacle.
Many years later, I had become a member of the Lone Star Historical Miniatures club in San Antonio. A fellow member of the LSHM club brought several back issues of MWAN to the group and gave them away to anyone interested. One of the issues was #86, which had Brian Carroll’s “Birth of a Notion” article where he described his “big battalions” Marlburian project. The combination of studying the period, planning and building big battalions, how he put the project together, in fact the whole article just fascinated me. It still does; whenever I want to rekindle the gaming flame, I reread it again. Since then I have been plotting, scheming, collecting, and painting in an effort to get to that game I wanted.
Then I read about Herr Alte Fritz (Jim Purkey) and M. Bill Protz-Chevert and their new, 10:1 SYW project, which ultimately developed into the BAR rules and their recent huge game weekend. In the early part of the rules, Bill recommends:
“Gather a group of four committed comrades. Ask each to raise two battalions, one cannon with crew and one regiment of horse to start. That’s about 96-120 infantry, 1 cannon with 4-6 crew and 24-36 cavalry per person. {Total models = 125-163}. Do this and you will have some very stimulating small actions for a long time. Beware though as the inevitable occurs and your friends start secretly raising more units to outnumber yours. It will happen. You will want more.”
That is the premise I'm working on here. If you care to join us, perhaps you can raise such a force too? It doesn't have to be perfect...or historical...or exactly the same as ours. As long as you want to join us in the spirit of a gentlemanly game with the flavor of the mid-18th century in the manner of "Charge! Or how to play wargames" by Brigadier Young and Lt Col Lawford, or "The Wargame" by Charles Grant, please think about joining us.
I thought it might be a little helpful for a visitor to understand what Sir William and I are on about, as our British brethren have been asking me.
My freshman year at the USAF Academy (82-83) is when I started playing miniatures. As a “doolie” you don’t get much free time or many passes. So when a history professor stood up at a Cadet Wargame Club meeting and offered a free pass to anyone who wanted to play a Napoleonic wargame, there was no hesitation. I didn’t give a hoot about Napoleon since there was a distinct lack of airpower, but a free pass was a free pass.
Come Sunday, we showed up at the captain’s house. He had a ping-pong table, covered with two beautifully painted 25mm armies: a French one facing an Anglo-Prussian-Russian horde in a hypothetical post-Waterloo battle. I was hooked. The spectacle, the fun, the cheering, the whole day was great! (Side note: last time I checked the captain was a full colonel, permanent professor and Chairman of the Dept of History, and still using his troops for cadet games and classes!) I have gamed lots of stuff since then, but have always wanted to revisit that huge spectacle.
Many years later, I had become a member of the Lone Star Historical Miniatures club in San Antonio. A fellow member of the LSHM club brought several back issues of MWAN to the group and gave them away to anyone interested. One of the issues was #86, which had Brian Carroll’s “Birth of a Notion” article where he described his “big battalions” Marlburian project. The combination of studying the period, planning and building big battalions, how he put the project together, in fact the whole article just fascinated me. It still does; whenever I want to rekindle the gaming flame, I reread it again. Since then I have been plotting, scheming, collecting, and painting in an effort to get to that game I wanted.
Then I read about Herr Alte Fritz (Jim Purkey) and M. Bill Protz-Chevert and their new, 10:1 SYW project, which ultimately developed into the BAR rules and their recent huge game weekend. In the early part of the rules, Bill recommends:
“Gather a group of four committed comrades. Ask each to raise two battalions, one cannon with crew and one regiment of horse to start. That’s about 96-120 infantry, 1 cannon with 4-6 crew and 24-36 cavalry per person. {Total models = 125-163}. Do this and you will have some very stimulating small actions for a long time. Beware though as the inevitable occurs and your friends start secretly raising more units to outnumber yours. It will happen. You will want more.”
That is the premise I'm working on here. If you care to join us, perhaps you can raise such a force too? It doesn't have to be perfect...or historical...or exactly the same as ours. As long as you want to join us in the spirit of a gentlemanly game with the flavor of the mid-18th century in the manner of "Charge! Or how to play wargames" by Brigadier Young and Lt Col Lawford, or "The Wargame" by Charles Grant, please think about joining us.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
