Much too long!

 It has been much too long since my last post.  Since then much has been going on.  The ACW rules are written and in proof reading.  The ancient-renaissance (early-modern) grid game has developed really well and is with several groups for play testing; I am very excited about this game.  A 3rd edition of BFE is well under way with some interesting changes that partly stemmed from the ACW game.  In addition, the dice-based movement and morale system (that replaces the tables) was recently play tested and worked really well.  In fact, so well I am inclined to use it more than the tables especially for games using Zulu or Mahdist armies.

So lots of developments.  The big challenge now will be to layout and publish.  I am planning on hiring someone to do the layout.  Selling with be handled by Amazon for print copies and I will set up a web page for PDFs.  

A new project

 For a very long time I have wanted to do a SYW collection.  While Napoleonic and Sudan/Colonial gaming was inspired by Peter Gilder, and WWII gaming by Colin Rumford and Richard Marsh (Rapid Fire), the SYW has had its inspiration drawn from John Ray. His vast and unique collection, all sculpted by him (except the horses and guns) presented on a lovely Gider-esque terrain layout and beautifully photographed defines the SYW as a toy soldier period worth doing.  The book of his collection, The Military Gentleman, has been a source of torment for years and recently I decided to take the plunge by starting a SYW Prussian Army using Elite Miniatures.  I love these figures and they populate a high proportion of my Napoleonic collection along with (yes, you already know) Connoisseur.  The Prussian range is quite small and unfortunately incomplete; no artillery nor fusiliers.  But the Musketeers and Grenadiers include a set of complimentary poses for a 'marching' unit.  There are also march attack and advancing/charing poses, but the marching poses are just wonderful.

Now, my collection to date is a mere 2 battalions drawn from IR 1 and IR 5.  I have 2 battalions of converged grenadiers prepped along with a regiment of cuirassiers.  I'm taking it slow.  I alternate painting these units with the usual suspects: a slowly amassing Swiss Italian Wars army, ancients, WWII, lots more colonials, vast numbers of Napoleonics, Great War, oh dear....

All lots of fun.  There really is no finish line. Needless to say, while I am working on a BFE inspired ACW rule set, the Great War version, and tweaking BFE 3, I have written a grid set of rules for ancients-renaissance and a...SYW grid game.  Retirement next year will be fun! 

Here are a couple of poor quality shots of the two battalions.  Hope you like them.  Oh, forgot to mention that I am using the old Willie 30mm officers for some of my units.