100 figure challange

It's been a while since I wrote anything here, so it's high time to do something about that.

Two months ago I was at a gaming convention, and as usual I got a few more miniatures, and when I got home I thought about what I could do to lessen the mountain a bit. So I set myself this goal, paint a 100 28mm figures (or it's equivalent) before I can buy another new mini.

So said and done, on the 9th of May I announced the challenge in a local gaming group facebook page and of I went.

And now after almost 2 months I'm done, and here is the miniatures that got painted during the time (basing was not included in the challenge)

I started strong and got this gun and crew completed after just a few days

Completed the last few things on these US marines and got them based to, just as I was doing other things

Then I got into some more napoleonics, and over the next few weeks got two battalions of french, one of british line and a highlander battalion done.

Then I have to say I got a little burned out on doing napoleonics, so I got a few marines that I have laying around and just tried some different colours, just too see how they are to paint, so I did a Imperial Fist marine in yellow, and a Ultramarine in blue.

The just to continue I did some of the miniatures I had over from my last 40k army that I never got around to painting, so I completed a recon squad here first

Followed just the next night with some tactical marines

And then I painted some old, old, OLD marines, the first one in plastic that GW released, known as RTB01 or the original beekie marines. I've had this box with a few of them in storage for some thing like 20 years and not dared put paint to them, Well thats over now ...

And lastly I did a battalion of 15mm french. I counted two of them as one 28... Perhaps a bit cheating, but I needed to get done some time... =)

So thats my last few months, I hope someone else can do a challenge like this, it's a good feeling when you are done!

Battle Report: Black Powder - Followup in Bavaria, April 1809

After the last game we got another game played just after the first. This time the Austrians have begun to fall back, and as they reach their own lines, reinforcements arrive to take over and stop the persuing French army.

This game used the same basic units and brigades as the last, but added another cavalry brigade of two regiments of light cavalry to each army. These are in reserve and can be ordered in at any point on the players own table edge at the start of turn 2.

During the deployment the Austrians was in march columns to quickly get into the fields and not repeat the inability to move and get the army into the field.

The French had a more conventional deployment, deploying in attack columns across the field.

The austrian took the first turn, and advances with most of the army in line, only the left flank moved a bit further to take on what look like a weakness in the French line.

The French replied by moving forward in force on the Austrian right, but the left got a bit hesitant as the Austrian bore down on them and stayed put.

On the next turn not much happened on the Austrian side, but the French got things going and advances and got into lines before the Austrians, and fire crashed into the lines, spreading disorder and confusion along the lines

The rude awakening from the French got parts of the Austrians going forward getting their own fire on the French, also creating disorder.

On the right a regiment of Hussars entered the field and threatening a flanking battalion, but not quite getting far enough to engage them.

On the left the cannon speaks.

The French redressed their lines, bringing reinforcements on the partsof the battlefield where the Austrians are week, bringing some more muskets on target.

The light infantry threatening the flanks, bringing much concern to the men in white.

On the flank the French formed line to try to drive of the cavalry with firepower.

It did not go the way they hoped, and after a charge where they could not form square in time, the unit is left wavering but still standing, while the cavalry has to lick its own wounds.

On the other flank the fire from the cannon and accompanying infantry drives of the first of the French, and in the centre the Austrians wheels up to block the french light infantry from hitting the lines in the sides. 

The French do however know how to repay the destruction, and on the left no less than two battalions are routed from the field, leaving a huge hole in the line.

The Austrian grenadiers advances to plug the hole and another regiment of hussars comes to the rescue, charging in and driving away another battalion of French, and in the process breaking the brigade holding that flank.

On the right there is a shootout where the Austrians now can bring huge amounts of fire to bear. And the fire is enough to drive away two battalions, even though they are still in the field.

The cavalry are still molesting the infantry on the extreme flank, but this time they can organise into square and even if the hussars could complete the charge, no real damage was done. 

On the next turn the French cavalry finally showed it's face, having been away for most of the battle, the first regiment charged the Austrian hussars, and after a long battle the hussars got out on top, and with that broke the morale of the whole French army, making them withdraw and leaving the field in favor of the Austrians.

This was another good battle, that was right on the edge to the last, the French was in that last turn only one or two casualties from breaking the Austrians, and the same was true the other way as there was a lot of casualties spread along all lines. 

Battle Report: Black Powder - Skirmish in Bavaria, April 1809

About two weeks ago I got my miniatures together and left for another gaming club in the city. I was to introduce Black Powder to another gamer, and we got a game going as soon as possible.
As a introduction I set up two armies with just infantry and just a single austrian gun.

My opponent went for the french, so I took up the austrians.

Deployment

The Austrians got the first turn, and started to move up, well, some of the army moved up, but the left flank stood around and wasn't that interested in moving

The French responded with quite the good going of orders and started to surround the Austrian Grenadiers, making them mighty uncomfortable

And they got somewhat of a warm welcome...

Next turn got the Austrian centre moving, taking up position to fire on the advancing Frenchmen, also the grenadiers got their ranks in order and advanced onto the teeth of the French.

The French could not have the Austrians in their lines, and charged in, trying to disloge grenadiers, by charging them in the side, but the tide was not on their side, and they in turn got pushed back, freeing the grenadiers from one attacker for the time being.

The second grenadier unit did not have the luck of the first one, and after receiving heavy fire from the skirmishers, they broke and ran for the hills.

On the other side of the field, fire was exchanged between the forces, but no real significant casualties was caused.

On the next turn the fire fight intensified on the left flank, and one of the Austrian units are forced back by the superior marksmanship och the French, in the centre one of the French skirmisher battalions are forced back after a good round of shooting from the infantry and cannon. And the grenadiers on the right fight of the last french unit.

The French fire on the right concentrates into the last grenadier battalion, breaking it and with that wipes that brigade of the table. Not a good day for the Austrian elite.

On the other side of the field the Austrians get to feel the burn, and the casualties are stacking up

The Austrian response are lacking as the brigade in the back, still refuses to move, just lazily deploying in lines, but not moving up at all. In the other brigade the pushed back battalion moves into line again, but can't get enough casualties into the French.

The French takes advantage of the hesitation in the Austrian lines, and pour enormous amounts of fire into the few men on the line, breaking one of the battalions and shaking the others, and in that the Austrian army had enough and retreats from the field with whatever is left.

In this game the Austrian could not du much right, and with only shaking two battalions in total and loosing far more, this was a resounding beating of my poor Austrians. They will have to do better next time!