YEAR END POST 2021

Greetings, dear reader.  As we approach the turning of the year, the time has come for the usual retrospective post on the past blogging year.  Although there was a brief sense of "coming through" the pandemic in May and June of this year, the onset of Delta succeeded by Omicron makes it feel in many ways as if we are back where we were when I posted my 2020 retrospective.  Although there are vaccinations and better measures in place than this time last year, it still feels as if we are heading in the same direction that we were then, away from the "new normal" that we briefly arrived at, post-vaccine pre-Delta, and into more limitations.   So wrapping up 2021 on this note, I look forward to 2022 being a New Year, literally and figuratively, in this regard.  But for now, let's turn to the Meanderings of 2021.

PAINTING

The major accomplishment of 2021 was the completion of the Russian Army of the Russo Turkish War.  This accounts for almost all of my painting for the year.  The actual figure count for this project, compared to the sense of the task, however, was somewhat modest: 128 foot figures (including infantry, gunners, dismounted command), 48 mounted (including command and cavalry), and 6 pieces of equipment (ie, artillery).  I will say that the project probably felt larger than the figure count because it involved more than painting--the research and blogging about the research was also a big part of it.  In addition, quite a few of the cavalry were conversions.  So in the end I'm good with the figure count--at this point in my life I have come to terms with the fact that I don't paint quickly (to say the least), and therefore don't crank out lots of figures.  Late in the year I did a different kind of painting: kriegspiel blocks. In the closing weeks of 2021, I have painted four army-sets, red, gray, blue, and white, of  infantry, cavalry, artillery, wagons, and command, each of about 90 pieces (so far), totalling about 360 blocks. I'll include a separate post on my approach to painting kriegspiel blocks in 2022 (there's something for you to look forward to, dear reader...I think). 

BLOGGING 

In 2021 I managed 32 posts (including this one). Despite wishing increase the count and post more regularity in 2021, this is about the same as last year (31).  I think that the impact of COVID on energy levels and major life transitions sucked time and attention away from blogging this year.  Then again, the 2019 post count was 36, which makes three years running that the post count was in the 30s: maybe this represents that I've arrived at what is a sustainable activity level? We'll see. Much depends on how much gaming is going on, I suppose. The last few years haven't been all that great given circumstances, so fewer prompts for posting.  

READERSHIP

I began the year with 56 followers and had a modest increase to 59. Although blogging is something that has become part of my hobby experience--done for its own sake--it is nevertheless gratifying (dare I say encouraging) to see a metric indicating that my meanderings here have at least a passing relevance to others--and it is also helpful that the indicator is growing (even if by a few) as opposed to shrinking.  As far as being a reader myself, I have to apologize for not being as consistent a presence in the comments sections of the "network" of blogs that I normally visit.  I've lurked more often than I would have liked, and I hope to do better in this coming year (which should be one resolution that won't go the way of most New Years resolutions).

CONTENT PAGES/VISITS   

 The big (most discouraging) news for this blog was the crashing/hacking of several of my content pages, which have since been taken down.  These included the very content heavy Nine Years War resources page and Dubious Designs page (with my Print and Play games), as well as my Colonial Gaming Resources page (which was not that developed).  I hope to eventually get these back up in the coming year.  Despite these drawbacks, I did manage a major addition to the blog: the Pikeman's Lament/resource page.  In addition, I intend to add a Bloody Big Battles/Kriegspiel content page in the upcoming year.  As far as interest, the 19th Century Rules/Chocolate Box Wars page led the way with 568 visits this year, followed by the Miniatures on a Grid/Baroque Battles page with 465. Following up were the Smalle Warre, Pikeman's Lament, and Ramilles Large Napoleonic Game pages at 295, 243, and 213, respectively.  Given that the Pikeman's Lament page didn't go online until August, I expect that the numbers for 2022 will be up with the leaders.  Among the remaining pages, the all time leaders are the 19th Century/Chocolate Box Wars page with 2,290 visits and Baroque Battles at 2,140. Interesting to note that the most popular posts are the Danish Delight (Battle of Dybbol) at 1,600 visits--which has held its place for some time--with the Saga Gripping Beat Mongol Hearthguard now at #2 with 1,100. 

  GAME ROOM CLEAR OUT/REORGANIZATION

As reported in my earlier Ex Libris post, much of my gaming/hobby time and energy was consumed by managing the "real world" aspect of the hobby: to wit, clearing out and reorganizing my gaming space (and associated toys, collections, etc, etc).  I thought it would be appropriate to provide an accounting for this project in this year-end wrap up.

One major imperative of this project was to open up space. Clearing out the books was a big part of this, but another was to displace several of my collections from the game room to "long term storage" in the attic (we are fortunate to have a large attic that makes this possible).  Above right, my 15mm Napoleonics and 6mm League of Augsburg collections, and above left, the 35+ boxes of my 28mm Napoleonic collection, they all now reside in the attic.  

Before: on top of all of my books, my swords and other collections were leaning in corners and sitting atop other things.  

 

I got this nifty display case (from IKEA), and installed some LED lights myself. 

 

 Now my collectibles, ceramic figs, bronzes, and other bits have a dedicated, dust free space for display. That plus the lights are a nice accent in the room when I turn other lights down.  I'll devote another post to a tour of these bits and bobs if there's interest.

 

My small sword collection is no longer consigned to the corners.  For the curious, in the above (left to right) are a Pattern 1796 British Light Cavalry Saber (Thos Craven, probably about 1803), a model 1811 "Blucher" Cavalry Saber (dated about 1830), a British "Walloon" Sword ( mid/late-17th Century), a French model 1845 Infantry Officer Sword (dated 1846), a French An XI Cuirassier Sword (although dated 1816, it is a pre-Restoration, French 1st Empire model AN XI, as carried by French Napoleonic dragoons and heavies),  a French An XI Light Cavalry Saber (dated 1811), and hiding out behind, my very own US Army Pattern 1902 Officer's Sword (picked up circa 1984, not the same vintage as the others, but still ancient, like me--part of my kit during my career as a US Army Armor/Cavalry Officer). If there's interest, I can provide a more detailed post on these weapons in the future.

No small part of my time this fall was taken up with designing and then building the sword rack (big shout out to my friend AJ, of AJ's Wargaming blog, for the loan of the tools and assist with expertise and advice!).  From gathering materials to final painting took almost two solid weeks (I don't do woodwork much faster than I paint figures, it seems). 

There's now a fridge in the man-cave (forget the rest: this is probably the most important addition!)

 

The view entering the newly reorganized game room.

The trimmed down game room library: it is a more focused set of references and rules, but still a robust resource for all of my gaming purposes.

Along the back wall, the remaining figure collections housed on shelves under a handy set-up space.

Terrain storage and a dedicated snack table to the side...
  

...and a place to sit, read, and mentally meander.

 

And with that, I'll sign off and wish everyone (in advance) a Happy New Year!

 

Excelsior!

DER CHRISTKRINGELKRIEG--OR DIE SCHLACT BEFORE XMAS--REVISITED

 

 Scene of action in Kringleland last Yule.

 

As is our annual tradition at this time of year, we to check in on the goings on in Kringleland. For those new to the blog, or who may just wish to refresh themselves, in our Yule-time post of last year we conveyed a brief history of Kringleland, and the source of the animus between Oberkringleburg and Unterkringleburg, which manifests itself in a conflict known as the Christkinglekrieg at this time of year.  

In last year's report, the doughty Unterkringleburgers raided Oberkringleburg in their rough and ready manner: man-to-man, with snwoballs (schneeballs) in hand. The Oberkringleburgers, eschewing such primitive notions of romanticized warfare, met them with their Schneekannone, manned by technicians, pride of their unabashedly unromantic, "high tech" approach.

Above: a rash Unterkringleburger on the receiving end of a Weissball shot from Schneekanone #2 during last year's action. Like most, last year's action was seasaw affair that ultimately was a wash (such is the state of nature in Kringleland). Nevertheless, having grown tired of the asymmetry the confict, the Unterkringleburgers have sought to redress the technological disparity...

...and chosen their man of the hour, the Unterkringleburg Munitionbakermeister, with his grand chef's hat, to take up the great task.  Let us follow along on this historic journey...

...still being in touch with the Gute Alte Zeit ("Ye Goode Olde Dayes") as most in Unterkringleburg are, his quest begins in the Weihnachstbaum Wald (where else?), where he seeks out the counsel of der Gross Schneemann, who in turn advises him find those master artificers of the forest, the Krupp Kleinerkringlevolk... 

...and as if on cue, a journeyman of the Kleiner Kruppers (as they are known colloquially) comes journeying past (strange and mickel powerful are the ways of der Gross Schneemann)...

 ...and with the intercession of der Gross Schneemann, he agrees to guide our hero to the Krupp Kringlewaffenfabrik, their famous workshop of legend deep in the forest...

...where he meets with the Kleinkringlevolkwaffenfabrikmesiter himself, who then consults his great Kringlewaffenbuch for inspiration. After hours of haggling, an agreement is reached, and the Kleiner Kruppers begin production on the Unterkringleburg Wunder Weapon...

...the Krupp Stollenwerfer! --a rugged, simple to operate, multi-barrelled, crew-served weapon capable of delivering a high volume of the sugary Christmas loaves on target...

...upon receipt of the first prototype, the Unterkringleburgers waste no time in training a first crew. In the above, we see a lad learning the role of Stollenfeuer Kannonier, leaning in to touch his match to the fuse to launch a spread of primed stollens downrange....

...while another performs the task of Pudzerzuker Kannonier, whose job it is to continuously sprinkle powdered sugar over the about-to-be-launched loaves in order to replace any that was lost during the loading process...

...taking things even further, the Meisterbacker has initiated a home-grown improvement program (albeit under license from the Kleiner Kruppers).  In the above, we see his able assistant, the Munitionsmeisterbackerhelfer, supervising the Munitionstollenlader (ie, stollen ammo carrier), who is bringing out a new prototype for testing...

..der Flugelstollen--the fin stabilized stollen!

In order to buy time for production and crew training, the Unterkringleburgers have worked out a truce for the current Yule season.  From long experience, however, the Burgomeister of Oberkringleburg (above) remains suspicious, and senses that something is brewing. He will ensure that Oberkringleberg is on guard and ready when the truce expires, come what may!

 

In the meantime....

 

...Seasons Greetings to All for NOW!

⛄

BLOODY BIG BATTLES MEETS KRIEGPSIEL

Command Post Kriegspiel Blocks configured for Bloody Big Battles Prussian (1866) Divisions on a Konigratz Kriegspiel Map (printed out about half size). 

 

In this post, dear readers, we do a quick meander to a work in progress: melding Bloody Big Battles (at half scale) played on Kriegspiel (half scale) maps--and/or other kinds of maps....

 ...Forward March Studios hybrid 3D maps were one of the main inspirations for this idea. I highly recommend that you visit their site for more. 

The recommended base in Bloody Big Battles is 1" (25mm): At 13mm, the Command Post Kriegspiel Blocks work out to half scale BBB--and the rest is history.  Above is a portion of the Southern section of Konigratz map, with the Saxons & one div of the Austrian X Corps defending vs three Divisions of the Prussian Army of the Elbe. 

It was only a happy coincidence that this particular situation map is mounted in a poster frame.  I had only picked up the poster frame as a cheap source for large plexiglass sheets to lay on top of maps (an idea taken from the Forward March Studious "how to" tutorial on creating hybrid 3D maps).  However, at half scale this does work out nicely to a 4 foot x 6 foot playing area, so could become a handy standard to pop playing maps into frames (and they could be easily transported and stored when not in use as well).

Miniatures rules rarely work well with the undulations and schema of real terrain (even the most realistic of our wargames layouts is stylized to fit figure stands and systems).  Thus, I intend to do some highlighting and marking of terrain to help manage movement and other game mechanics.  This is where the plexiglass comes in. This is one departure that I am taking over the process outlined in the Forward March Studios for marking terrain. Where they suggest permanent markers, I am going to use water based paint pens.  Watching an artist's youtube video on oil vs water based paint pens, I saw that water based paint pens would leave a durable enough mark on plexiglass to stand up under gaming, but then would easily be wiped off afterwards.  I'm still working on how and what to highlight (probably going to clarify towns, river crossings, and major elevations...patience, dear readers, this is an initial work in progress after all).

 

Rather than using stickers, I decided to paint the KS blocks. This gives me greater flexibility on use given that the engineers, pontoons, infantry, wagons, artillery, and limber blocks are all the same size in the Command Post sets (it's only  the stickers that are differentiated). The cavalry and the skirmish detachment blocks are the only other sizes. I ordered a white set, a gray set, a red set, and a French blue set--they can, of course, represent any army. In this case, the Prussians are blue on gray, the Saxons are the light blue on dark blue, and the Austrians are the dark blue on white. 

A close up of the Prussian blocks.  Each block has a tick mark to indicate the front of the base. Units in road column are depicted by placing the blocks the long way on the road with alternating facing.  The lead two divisions are in column of march (per BBB).  I added the white line on the blue on gray blocks to help differentiate the dark blue from the gray. 

A Saxon division deployed on line as per BBB.  The skirmish block indicates that there is one base with skirmish capability in this division. To the right, you can see an unlimbered Saxon artillery battery (pretty straightforward representation). 

I'll be working out a few more things to play BBB at the half scale on a map like this. Right now, I'm thinking of using calipers to measure moves and ranges. Failing that, I may come up with some measuring sticks--less fiddly than trying to do half scale measuring with rulers. I'm also thinking of coming up with a more simplified means for doing movement distances, something that is based more on the posture of the unit and the combination of terrain types in movement route than trying to tick off each terrain piece encountered...but that's all just very preliminary.  I'm hoping to have  test game next week: more to come!

 

Excelsior!

HATS AND THE GAMERS WHO LOVE THEM

 

A pickelhaube never fails to make a point.

  

In order clear the face of this blog from the drear business of the previous post, I thought I'd put up another on something that has been much on my mind: hats (see what I did there?...never mind).  Over the years--baseball caps aside--I've noted the interesting headgear donned by gamers at conventions.  Naturally, I soon found myself collecting snaps of them, albeit not very systematically (the former because I'm easily amused and the latter because I'm easily distracted--as is self-evident in this post).  To analyze this heady subject, I have divided hats into four categories, Themed Hats, Style Hats, Fezzes, and Other Hats, and compiled a visual essay, which now follows...

 

1. THEMED HATS

 Hats tied to a game or game or game experience...

The sharp eyed observer will note a "style" choice being worn at the table.

A pithy youngster.

Kamerade!

VC in the wire!

Reds!

Beautiful plumage...plucked from the Norwegian Blue parrot species, no doubt.  

They go together: coffee and cream, love and marriage, and three cornered hats and pirates.

Research shows that the vikings did not have horned helmets--so sad for them!

March or die!

2. STYLE HATS

 Hats unrelated to gaming; in other words, hats that seem to be part of the subject person's every day ensemble--whether a good or bad style choice is beyond the scope of this study...

A derby to run a Flames of War derby.

'Cause you never know when you might be invited to go fishing with a Greek.

Stylish and practical.

 

3. FEZZES 

 A unique category unto itself--for reasons unto itself...

Bonus kepi in the foreground.

Probably goes with the vest.

A fez for fez sake...

"Fezzing" up: specimens from the Meanderer's very own private collection.

 

4. OTHER HATS

Hats that don't fit (figuratively speaking): justified by some unclear or confusing mix of the above categories, or by some unknown--possibly more disturbing--criteria...

Thinking cap?

Handy for the harvest, too.

Probably not a "Style" choice...probably.

Everything is more merry with a glengarry!

That Greek fisherman we were looking for earlier?

 

Well, I have nothing further to add to this, my latest important contribution to the hobby. I hope, dear reader, that you will use the information gleaned wisely. 

  

Excelsior!