LIMITS

"That's alot of Dervish!"

"That's cause Lad they are full sized 20 figure units!"

Which is why is time I am writing about the number of figures on the gaming table, which wherein lies the "Limits" I refer to in the title of this blog. The Zareba and other games I have run as well as the scenario I plan to test run for February's Strategicon have has issues with too many figures on the table.

"The Patrol", the scenario for February has 120 Pathans on the board, plus buildings, plus 40 Sikhs, 3 British Officers and a Gatling gun. All this on a 4' x 6' table. It just maybe too crowded.

What to do????

Well, in a current order from Brigade Games I received a copy of a new set of Sudan Rules, "A Good Dusting" (look OK so far) and a copy of the Colonial Campaigns: Zulu War 1879 by Mark Fastoso. He designed the "Fastoso' Variant for The Sword and the Flame. This was used to run the scenarios in the book and instead of the usual 20 figure infantry units, it uses 8 figures, 7 soldiers and 1 Leader figure. His explanation in the forward I re-read a couple of times and it did indeed make sense. Due to the number of figures on a table, and the fact a table larger than 4' x 6' is not usually available, either the number of units or the number of figures per unit had to be adjusted. And I have read of many people using smaller, half-sized (10 figure) units due to space and cost.

The Plan

Which will be to finish the last 20 Pathans (they are half done) finish the Sikh gun crew for the Gatling Gun (which is also half done) and the telegraph poles. But a least one of my play tests I would like to try with either 10 or 8 man units and see how it goes. Smaller units could go a long way to making it easier on my 28mm TSATF games, as units can then maneuver. It would be easier on my pocketbook as well to use smaller units...

TTFN

Back to Pathans!

Now that the game Con-Gateway - is over, I am returning to finishing the Pathans and everything else I need for the scenario, now scheduled for the February 2011 (Orccon 2011)

Here are a few photos from the con....

Shot from the Warhammer Ancient Battles
Photos from my game "The Zareba" Saturday night -The British and Egyptians form a square

The Zareba burns away at one corner

Last stand of the British Hussars-standing fast against the Dervish

"Elephant Hunt"-Harold's 15mm FOW game. I played it and as the Germans I stood off and destroyed the Russians who are in this shot trying to "close assault" my elephants.

Stalag 9 and the hunt for the SturmFrappenZooter. Great board!

Between the Wars-China

"Check Your 6"

Agincourt - 28mm - Piquet:Band of Brothers Rules

"Folgore!"-Adam's Flame of War Game-15mm-Friday night-2nd Battle of El Alamein, Played in that and had a blast!!!

I'll have to post more photos at Photobucket. Anyway, I have returned to my Pathans and today gave 20 of the last 40 figures their wash in Army Painter Quickshade. That should dry nicely over-night and I can apply the basing material, give them their coat of flat finish and then touch-up the swords, etc. with silver. Then add some flocking to some of the bases and "Bob's Your Uncle" for them. Then it's the last 20 which shouldn't take too long and then the Pathans are done!!

All that will be left is the telegraph poles and the Gatling gun and it's crew. Building selection will then begin and hopefully play testing in October. And then I will be ready for February 2011. And as for May...maybe a Lord of the Rings game or maybe, as Tim suggested, a 50's monster movie game...I do have all those giant scorpions...

TTFN