Cadiz Wargaming Society

Trolls

2009-07-22T11:23:00.004-04:00

Trolls

I have to admit I love the trolls from Privateer Press. They are a fun paint and probably the only fantasy monster army I would ever consider putting together. I have never been a big fan of orcs, dwarves, undead, lizardmen (ogres are intriguing) or anything with the word fairy in it. I think it's because I have lifted weights all my life that attracts me to the destroy, smash, in your face brutality of trolls. That and they look cool. I really like the sculpts of the trolls. I am currently working on a set of rules for the trolls so I can play them with my warhammer armies. I am thinking they are a little smarter than ogres so would have a better ws/bs rating. I am also thinking they have the touphness of a dwarf. The combinations I have come up with make them quite powerful in the warhammer world so at the moment I am working on a point value and weaknesses.

Samurai!

2009-07-15T21:23:00.004-04:00

Samurai!

WargamesLLC had a sale on Dixon Miniatures not long ago so I bought waaaay to many samurai. I have painted 46 of them, have another 45 waiting on me and have yet to start the cavalry. Here are my first 46 painted in various color schemes. I didn't use any period colors as this is an army I am using for Warhammer FB.

I will try and post more pics but at the moment I am trying to figure out how to use my camera.

1776

2009-07-15T19:24:00.002-04:00

I have been reading a lot on the War of Independence and realizing how much I do not know. The disorganization of the troops, lack of leadership, the desertion of men and supplies on both sides, greed, corruption and that was just at the beginning of the war.

David McCullough in his book 1776 does a wonderful job describing these conditions for General Washington and his newly appointed staff. Money, lack of gunpowder, dissent among the troops, a very real prejudice against "Negros" serving, and quarrelling among the troops that began with divisions among the states.

The British, having hand picked generals by King George III himself, did not lack leadership, but made up for it with an attitude that generally reflected the idea the rebels would soon see the futility of the war and come back into the Empire's fold. It may not be a leap to speculate that if the British had as much tenacity in suppressing the colonies as they would in their wars with France history might be written differently.

However, lest we forget several in Britain likened this to a mother rearing a rebellious child and what mother (one of sound mind) could kill her child? Better to let the child flounder and see the error of their ways than put it out of her misery. Except the Brits didn't count on the fact that the same spirit that mustered the empire to rule the seas and prosperous colonies could be used against them to alter the history of the world. That and the shillings disappearing from the pockets of the colonists to pay for wars of the empire.

One of the points McCullough makes in his book that is worth mentioning is that King George III thought of himself not just as a King but also as a patriot. As a patriot he saw it as his patriotic duty to bring the rebellious colonies under heal. Something not mentioned in American history books.

Which brings me to my final point. Most Americans are ignorant of the many facts surrounding the war for Independence. For example, most school children are probably under the assumption that all colonials were for independence. Those of us who investigate further find that a good portion of the colonist were Torey's. Many states had grievances against one another, New York although considered key in the war was often seen as a state full of arrogant aristocrats. Facts that often are edited out but could add so much more flavor in painting a more accurate picture of the birth of our country. Making the revolution, the war and our founding fathers much more human than maybe some of us would care to admit.

Pick up 1776, you will not be disappointed.

It's been a while

2009-03-05T15:49:00.002-05:00

Somewhere in July life took over and as a result this blog became a casualty. The good news is I have returned and renewed my commitment to its upkeep. I have also continued to paint figures and our gaming group has met several times. My hope is to have some pictures up real soon of my work and our meetings.