Sunday 3 December 2023

Napoleon: A travesty of a movie

Ridley Scott's Napoleon is a travesty of a movie. Historically inaccurate, poorly written, badly acted and a complete mess from beginning to end. 

I've not done a film review before but I had to make an exception for this film. Hotly anticipated by many wargamers the early images from the production made us even more eager to see the final cut. What we got was so bad that the film has become the latest internet meme, with terrible review after terrible review. Far be it for me not to join in, so here's my take on two and a half hours of wasted opportunity and insult to history.

Tuesday 28 November 2023

Battle of Neds Cabin: Fire & Fury revisited

Posties Rejects got together at the weekend for some ACW action using Fire & Fury. I haven't played these rules since 2019 but we all picked things up quickly under Stuart's watchful gaze. 

Union Order of Battle
3rd Corp c/o McDowell
1st Division (c/o Hatch) 1st, 2nd, 4th & 6th Wisconson + Gun
2nd Division (c/o Ricketts) 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 5th New York + Gun
3rd Division (c/o Reynolds) 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th Pennsylvania + Gun
Cavalry Division (c/o Pleasanton) Vermont Cavalry & Gun
+ Reserve Artillery (dice for quantity in 2nd turn)

Confederate Order of Battle
2nd Corp c/o Jackson
1st Division (c/o Starke) 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 5th Virginia + Gun
2nd Division (c/o Lawton) 1st, 2nds, 4th and 6th Arkansas + Gun
3rd Division (c/o AP Hill) 2nd, 3rd, 5th & 6th Alabama + Gun
Cavalry Division (c/o Wheeler) Texas Cavalry
+ Reserve Artillery (dice for quantity in 2nd turn)

The initial setup. Artillery reserves would come on later in the game. 

The Federal line was anchored on a ridge line

The Confederate players advance towards the Union positions

New player Dan turned a humble wood into a formidable redoubt

My Wisconsans watch the approaching rebels

Much of the fighting took place on the right flank.

The Rebels charge up the ridge in the first of several back and forth melees

Union troops are pushed back

On the right flank, the Pennsylvanians charge downhill, bayonets fixed in an attempt to disrupt the Confederate advance.

Extremely high rolls on both sides made the melee very exciting. 

The Pennsylvanians are touched back up onto the ridge and hold their position

Meanwhile, Dan's New Yorkers fight bitterly for the woods. 

Richard's Virginian's charge uphill and I roll a double one, but so does Richard. There's an immediate second turn of melee and I roll 11 but Richard rolls a 12 and I'm pushed back

But then the Union right flank crumples. Both sides are being worn down but the Union troops have the worst of it. 

At this point in the game, it was getting later in the afternoon and I decided another round or two of melee would not improve the union position so I conceded the game. When Stauart totted up the points the Confederates had won by three points, a narrow win but one that would probably have only widened further had we played on.

Friday 17 November 2023

6mm Medieval Building Kickstarter

Phil Page (aka 6MilPhil of Slug Industries fame) sent me a few buildings to review from his new 6mm Medieval Village Expansion Set Kickstarter. I already had one of these models earlier in the year so I jumped at the chance to get my hands on the full set for a review video. I wasn't disappointed, with every model being wonderfully sculpted and full of character. There wasn't a single flaw in the casting of any of these models and I'm more than happy to recommend them. 



All views expressed in this product review are my own and reflect my genuine and independent view of the product. 


Phil Page's YouTube Channel - Includes video of lit interiors

Slug Industries on Facebook

Sunday 12 November 2023

Warfare 2023 Show Review

The Warfare 2023 wargames show took place this weekend and Posties Rejects drove down to Farnborough to enjoy the show. As always we shot a load of pictures, talked ourselves hoarse and spent loads of money. A brilliant day was had by all concerned. 

Are you a Grognard? Or a Beer and Pretzels type of gamer?

Are you a Grognard? Or a Beer and Pretzels type of gamer? Many wargamers would probably describe themselves, in a slightly self-deprecating tone, as a Grognard. But maybe you also enjoy newer, simpler, fast-play rules? I quickly look at the definitions of these two wargame archetypes and ask, do we need to pick just one? 

Saturday 11 November 2023

Dense Woodland Build Tutorial

This wargame tutorial/walk-through is my take on how to create dense woodland for 6mm wargaming. This version has tree trunks holding up a thick canopy of leaves and represents patches of impenetrable wood (ie units can't pass through them). However, you could make the same model, without glueing the canopy to the trunks, thus allowing models to be placed inside the forest. 

Sunday 5 November 2023

The 15 minute wargamer: Turning even short period of time into hobby time

Sometimes we don't have hours to spend enjoying our hobby, but that doesn't mean we can't make even the shortest period of time, hobby time. Breaking down tasks into smaller pieces means we can tackle the largest of projects, watch the longest of videos, or even play big games, even if we only have 15 minutes to spare.

Tuesday 31 October 2023

RE Play Wargames Show

A short video of the RE-Play Wargames Show which took place at the Royal Engineers Museum in Gillingham on Saturday. This was a new show organised by the Milton Hundreds at the request of the Museum. I think it was a great success, especially considering it was put together with just a few weeks notice. My understanding is that there are already discussions about running this event again next year and I think the Rejects would certainly enjoying participating again. 

Friday 27 October 2023

RE-PLAY - A new and exciting wargame event at the Royal Engineers Museum

Posties Rejects will be at the new RE-Play event at the Royal Engineers Museum tomorrow. Our game has been chosen because there is a link with the Royal Engineers so please come along and see if you can find Captain Wynne and his men from No2 Company. 



Confirmed Clubs running games at this event:
The following list is accurate at time of writing but I guess as this is a 'new' event it could be subject to some last minute changes. 
  • Shepway Wargames Club, Hauhausen '89, Cold War gone hot.
  • Skirmish Wargames, The First LRDG 1916-1917, British Empire vs. Turks at a desert oasis.
  • Medway Wargames Society, Gladiator arena, 2 tables (P), Star Wars Shatterpoint skirmish
  • Tunbridge Wells Wargame Society, What a Tanker! WW2 tank skirmish
  • Maidstone Wargames Society, Dogfight '69, El Salvador vs Honduras, "The Football War"
  • Friday Night Fire Fight, Last Argument of Kings, large scale fantasy skirmish
  • Fire When Ready UK, Star Wars Legion Grand Army game
  • Posties Rejects, 6mm  Zulu Wars, The Battle of Inyezane 1879
  • Rainham Wargames Club, 1/600 American Civil War Ironclads
  • Real Time Wargames, The Glittering River, Naval actions from the Russian Civil War, 1/600
  • Milton Hundred Wargames Club, The Battle For Villers Bocage, Rapid Fire WW2

Confirmed Traders at this event:
Again correct at the time of writing. For such a small venue and new event this is a pretty good selection of traders. I have my shopping list prepared! 
  • The Pit Gaming Shop
  • KR Multicase
  • Sheppey Models
  • Debris of War
  • Brigade Models
  • Cuirassier Books
As always please come along and say hello. The Rejects are a friendly bunch and love to chat so if you have any questions about the game, the figures, or about us, please don't hesitate to ask. 

Monday 23 October 2023

What is the point of Demo games: A personal perspective

What is the point of a demo game at a show? My personal view is that its a form of hobby outreach, encouraging non-historical wargamers and non-wargamers alike to give our wonderful hobby a try. So it should come as no surprise that one of my personal bugbears is the unlabelled demo game. This is a subject I have discussed many times (so I apologise if you've followed my channel or blog long enough to have heard this before), and it is a phenomenon that is thankfully becoming rarer and rarer. But its not entirely gone away.

Sunday 15 October 2023

Monetising your hobby: A personal perspective

A discussion of the pros and cons of monetizing our hobby on YouTube and my own personal choice regarding advertising revenue and creative control. I have touched on this subject before but now I explain in full the reasoning behind my decision not to monetize my channel. 

I hasten to add that this shouldn't be taken as a criticism of those who have gone down this route. Every wargamer on YouTube needs to make the decision that is best for them and their channel, and I would love to hear your views on this sometimes divisive subject.

Friday 13 October 2023

Muddy Roads: A Terrain Tutorial

A quick build tutorial on making flexible roads for wargaming in various scales. These are more of my felt-backed terrain pieces for use on fleece mats.

Casualty Rates in Wargames

My Sunday video from last week...which I inexplicably forgot to publish on the blog!

Are the casualty rates in most wargame rules unrealistically high? Or do mechanisms such as figure removal represent a more complex picture of declining unit effectiveness?

Sunday 1 October 2023

Wargamer Wellbeing

The mental health benefits of our hobby are well documented, often discussed but rarely seen until they are taken away by illness or prolonged hobby furlough. 

Friday 29 September 2023

Muddy Streams: An easy build water feature for 6mm wargames tables

A quick and easy tutorial on how to make simple, flexible streams and water features for wargaming. These are specifically made for 6mm scale gaming but the same techniques can be used for a variety of projects for a range of scales.

Sunday 24 September 2023

How Many Historical Wargamers are there?

How many historical wargamers are there in the UK? This is a question that has been asked before and finding an accurate answer is tricky, to say the least. I’ve often described our community as being a niche within a niche but is it even possible to speculate how many of us there are? 

Sunday 17 September 2023

A Change of Format: That you probably won't even notice

This week I forgo my regular talking point video and instead discuss a few small changes I'm making to my channel format. I've been drilling down in the channel analytics and looking back at the last year to see what worked, and more importantly, what didn't.

Sunday 10 September 2023

Irregular Unit Sizes

Does it really matter how many figures you have on base? When modelling units of nominally the same strength, does it really matter if you are one figure short?

Sunday 3 September 2023

Instant Armies: Are Mini Painters an endangered species?

Could colour 3D printing eventually become cheap enough (and good enough) to make miniature painters an endangered species? Could we one day see fully 'colourised' starter box sets similar to the current Waterloo starter set for Black Powder? Ultimately the answer may not be 'Can the technology be developed?' but rather 'Is there a market for it?'

Wednesday 30 August 2023

Painting Tutorial for 1/1200th Ships

A short tutorial on painting 1/1200th scale ships from Ark Royal Miniatures for use with the Mad for War rules. This is a basic tutorial, mainly using contrast paints, for a speedy and simple finish. If you want to get reasonable-looking ships on the game table quickly, this is one of the ways to do it. 




Sunday 20 August 2023

When Serendipity Strikes: Never ignore the Gods of Wargaming

Sometimes it feels as if the Gods of Wargaming are dropping not-so-subtle hints about what project you should do next. I'm talking about those moments of serendipity when the stars align and everything seems to be telling you to start a new project. This has happened to me twice in the last year and both times has led me to exciting new projects. 

Monday 7 August 2023

La bataille de la mission impossible: A WWI battle report.

I've been very busy with home DIY recently but I've reached the point where I could take the day off for a game with my fellow Rejects down the Shed-o-War. So it was with great eagerness that I arrived at Stuart's on Sunday for whatever game he was running. World War One and his in-house ruleset was the order of the day and I was initially very happy with that because we have had some cracking games with these rules and his 6mm figures. Of course, I hadn't factored in being beaten before the game had even started by the scenario he presented us with and by the impossible French objectives. That's not to say I didn't have a good time of course (the usual banter and joviality were on top form as always), but having an outside chance to achieve victory, as opposed to none, would have made it better.

As is our way we started with a pre-game cuppa and picked sides randomly. Myself, Richard, and Steve were the French as this is an early war set of rules, we would be attacking the Germans across largely open countryside. Ray and Surjit played the Germans and while they were outnumbered about 3:1 their job was to hold as many objectives as they could by the end of the game. They started holding 24 points worth of objectives such as crossroads, buildings, woods, and hills, and it was the French player's job to take at least half those points by the end of the game. However, all but three of the objective points were in the last third of the 6' deep table. his meant that the French would have to move at double speed, unopposed if they were to even reach those objectives, let alone have time to fight for them. There was a dice roll at the beginning of the game for a French Double move (the Germans rolled to see if they could react to our sudden attack...they did, and we lost the extra move turn) but even that still left most of the objectives out of our reach, even without German troops trying to delay us!

I have to say at this point that I don't think this is a fault of Stuart's rules (although more on that in a moment) but of the scenario design. It's a pity because we had a great time and our artillery fire was significantly more effective than the German players for most of the game. In these rules, the artillery roll one d10 per gun to hit (hitting on a 5+ in the open, 7+ in soft cover, and 9+ in hardcover), and for each successful hit, the player then rolls two d10s for casualties. Rolling a 10 on the casualty dice counts as a double kill and forces the target unit to make a Courage test. I can say without any hubris that I was the uncontested master of the 10s throughout the game (my dice rolls were charmed) and still, it counted for nothing because the game was being decided on objectives captured and all those in front of me were too far away. And of course, there was also the small matter of the German defenders trying to slow down our advance.


This brings me to the one single bone of contention in the rules for this game. Stuart is of course tweaking and refining his WWI rules with every game and following our last WWI game, he made a small change to the Melee rules that I think was probably a mistake. I would say that of course because myself and Steve found the change to our mutual disadvantage, but let me explain and maybe you can draw your own conclusions. 

Melee is decided by a series of d10s. One for each base of figures still in play. Additional dice can be added for defending favorable ground, charging, etc. In addition, defenders usually hit on a lower dice roll than attackers so the 'favorable ground' bit is effectively applied twice. So for example, four attackers attack four defenders in a slit trench which is classed as light cover. The defender would get four d10s for troops, and +1d10 for favourable ground. The defender hits on a 6+. The attacker meanwhile gets four dice for troops, plus one for charging, but hits on an 8+. So in a straight fight, the defender in cover has an advantage. (There are other dice that can be added for trained or specialist troops but for the purposes of keeping this example simple, I'm leaving them out).


The wiley attacker will therefore bring as much firepower to bare on the defender before going into the attack. This may mean targeting the position with artillery or weakening the defender with rifle and machine gun fire before getting stuck in with Boyonets. In Fig 2 below, the defender has been whittled down before the attacker charges in. Now the defender only has three dice to the attacker's five, although the hit differential remains the same with the defender hitting on a 6+ and the attacker on an 8+. 


So the attacker is incentivized to bring as much overwhelming manpower to bare as possible, to swamp the defenders and take the position. So in Fig 3 below both the attackers and defenders have taken casualties but now the attacker brings two companies to swamp the defenders. In this example, the defender gets 3 dice for figures and one for the softcover hitting on a 6+, while the defender gets 6 dice for troops plus one for charging, still hitting on an 8+. The attacker still has a hard job but by bringing lots of troops to the melee, and with a bit of luck on the dice, stands a chance at winning the melee and taking the position. 


Now we get to the rule change that caused such consternation on the French side. In a previous game, the 'ganging up' tactic seen in Fig 3 upset the defending players and much moaning ensued. Stuart decided to change the rules meaning that only stands in base-to-base contact could be counted in the melee. In this example that would reduce the attackers' dice by three, making the assault significantly harder to win despite outnumbering the defenders 2:1. 

Now consider this extreme example in Fig 4. The defender has been battered by artillery and denuded by rifle and machine guns until only one of the original four defenders in the company remains. Meanwhile, the attackers have crossed the open ground unharmed and now attack the position with two full-strength companies. The recent rule change means the defender gets 1 dice for troops and one for the softcover, hitting on a 6+. Most of the attacker's troops are discounted so they only get two dice for troops in direct contact with the enemy and one for charging, hitting on an 8+. Despite being outnumbered 8:1 a defender in soft cover still has an advantage in melee. 


At this point is worth pointing out that in the open the cover advantage falls away and both sides would be hitting on a 6+, but even so, there is little point in trying to overwhelm an enemy position under the new rule changes as all 'additional' bases are ignored. 

As I am writing this I appreciate this may look like I'm really worked up about this (having written a few hundred words with supporting graphics) but I want to repeat that on the whole we enjoy Stuarts WWI rules and personally I had a great day playing this game. Putting aside the unwinnable victory conditions (every umpire can have an off-day when creating a scenario) my only criticism was this rule change, and I believe Stuart is giving some thought to changing it back to how it was. Hopefully, this article will help convince him to do just that before our next game! 

Sunday 30 July 2023

The History Hook: What inspired you to play a particular period?

What hooked you into playing a particular historical period? Was it a great movie, an inspiring history book, or a really good museum? Was there a particular story or item that grabbed your attention and left an impression on you that only wargaming could satisfy?

Tuesday 18 July 2023

Bosworth Armies in 6mm

My 6mm Lancastrian and Yorkist Armies for the Battle of Bosworth, 22nd August 1485. Richard III's army is slightly larger but Henry Tudor has more experienced continental troops in his army.



 

Sunday 16 July 2023

Travelling to Shows

How far have you traveled to visit a show or convention? Here in the UK, we are a bit spoilt for opportunities but that doesn't mean we wouldn't travel hundreds of miles for a good show.

Wednesday 12 July 2023

6mm Tavern or Alehouse

I was given this lovely little model by Phil Page (aka 6mil Phil) at Salute. It took longer than planned to finish it because I kept getting sidetracked by other projects. The model is finely detailed and was a pleasure to paint. Check out other 6mm Medieval buildings by Slug Industries sold through Brigade Models.

Sunday 9 July 2023

Talking to Non-Wargamers at shows

When wargamers put on demo games at shows we never know who may come up to our table to chat. Not everyone will be a wargamer, and at some shows, like last weekend's Rapture Gaming Festival, most of the visitors will have never seen a wargame before. So when we talk to members of the public should we change how we present our hobby compared to how we would talk to fellow hobbyists?

Tuesday 4 July 2023

Dutch Raid on the Medway: Mad for War at Rapture

Last year Posties Rejects were blown away by Barry Hilton’s "Raid on the Medway" game at Partizan so we convinced him to bring it down to Kent to run the game in Chatham Docks, the target of the Dutch raid back in 1667. The Rapture Gaming Festival stretches across the whole of the 80-acre site with computer games and wargaming rubbing shoulders with boardgames and RPGs, reenactors, and cosplay. 


The Raid on the Medway, during the Second Anglo-Dutch War saw the Dutch fleet, under the command of van Ghent and de Ruyter, battle and burn their way up the river towards Chatham Dockyard in Kent. All that stood in their way were a handful of English ships, a chain barrier at Gillingham, and the fortress of Upnor Castle.

The Dutch engaged fortifications with cannon fire, burned or captured three capital ships and ten more ships of the line, and captured and towed away the flagship of the English fleet, the Royal Charles. 

Posties Rejects played three games across the two days of the Rapture Gaming Festival inside Chatham Docks. The question now is, did we replicate history or did the British successfully defend the docks from the attack? 

For two excellent written accounts and many more photos from an excellent weekend's gaming, please take a look at Rays' Blog Don't Throw a 1, and Richard's Blog, My Wargaming Habit

Sunday 2 July 2023

For the Love of Heavy Metal

Are the days of metal miniatures numbered? Plastic and resin miniatures have become much more common in the wargaming hobby over the last decade or more, but metal minis are still dominant in the historical wargaming market. But will advances in 3D printing options be the final nail in the coffin for metal wargaming figures?

Sunday 25 June 2023

Writing your last orders

Have you made a plan for the disposal of your collection when you are no longer around to enjoy it? Would you consider including your wargaming miniatures in your will? And if you have done this, what prompted you to do so?

Sunday 18 June 2023

Wargaming your Guilty Pleasures: What's yours?

What are your wargaming 'Guilty Pleasures'? Which periods do you play (or would like to play) that are a bit off the beaten track? Periods, wars, or battles that are not commonly seen on the pages of hobby magazines or are considered uncommon or too niche to be supported by a rule system or figure line?

Monday 12 June 2023

Broadside 2023: Posties Rejects Smugglers on the Kent coast

The Broadside Wargames Show at Gillingham is our 'local' show and Posties Rejects always run a demo game at this event. For 2023 we put on a fictitious clash between Government troops and smugglers somewhere on the Kent coast. A few days ago I posted a video of the show featuring our game and a short slideshow of the other games at Broadside. The quality of the games was very high this year and despite the rising heat during the day, everyone seemed to be having a great time. We were busy with visitors all day long and had a really excellent day. 



Skirmish at Francis Bay - June 10th 1784

Smugglers on the Kentish Coast by Posties Rejects

“Smuggler.—A wretch who, in defiance of the laws, imports or exports goods without payment of the customs.” Dr. Johnson


Kent is a perfect location for smugglers. Close to France, with good transport links to London and with gently sloping beaches making landing goods easy. Smuggling is as old as taxation itself but in the 18th century high import taxes on goods such as silks, brandy, tobacco, and tea were highly prized by so-called ‘free traders’. And with plenty of wealthy customers to service, there was a lot of money to be made for those that could avoid being caught.

One group of smugglers that would have been well-known in the local area was the North Kent Gang. They operated in areas like Chalk, Gravesend, Reculver, and Ramsgate. During the 1780’s they brought their contraband ashore and stashed it in caves near Margate. Initially, trade was small, supplementing low incomes, but eventually the ‘business’ grew into what would now be called an organized crime network. Violence was soon being employed to ‘protect’ the business and clashes with law officers or revenue men were common. In Gravesend where our group meet, the Three Daws Pub is a famous smugglers' den, and at one time there were tunnels from the pub up into the town so that contraband could be moved without being seen.

The game portrayed today is a fictitious encounter, but may still have been an occurrence many times in reality, as the government tries to stop the smuggling operations. Our game is set on the South coast of Kent, hence the white cliffs. Various locals have gathered to await the arrival of their goods from France which unfortunately have arrived late due to a swell in the channel. So, as the French fishing vessel lands on the beach with barrels of Brandy, silks, and various other goods the sun is just starting to peak over the horizon. This is not good for the smugglers as they will have to unload all the goods in the early morning sunshine. A very dangerous time to be moving contraband indeed. A local snitch has decided to make some money on the side and has informed the local government forces of a landing in the area. As they search along the coast they spot a group of men and women behaving suspiciously close by on the cliff tops. Let the game commence!

Sunday 11 June 2023

The Mini Painters Learning Curve

Is there a risk with contrast paints that the quick route to painting could create a new generation of painters who are unable to develop their skills because they haven't learned the hard way? Is there value in being rubbish at the beginning of our painting career, and should we learn to love the mini painter's learning curve?  

Sunday 4 June 2023

Has IGOUGO had its day?

Has IGOUGO had its day? Is it time for this tried, trusted but a flawed system to step aside for random activation rules systems?

Wednesday 31 May 2023

Making 6mm Flags: Size is not an issue

Several people have asked for a video on how I have made the flags for my 6mm Wars of the Roses project, so here is a step-by-step tutorial on how I make flags for 6mm miniatures.  Making flags for 6mm miniatures is no different from making much larger ones. A bit more fiddly to be sure, but the process is essentially the same. 


As always I would love to hear from you. Do you make flags the same way? Or do you have any tips and suggestions that other viewers would find helpful? 




Printed Sources Wars of the Roses Flags (mentioned in this video):

'Wars of the Roses Heraldry' 
by Dr Mike Ryan Jones & Bob Prichard BSc (Hons), BA (Hons) 
Instaprint (Rugeley) Nov 2018
ISBN 978-1-911645-01-6

Battle of Bosworth Nobles and Knights Profiles
by Bob Prichard BSc (Hons), BA (Hons) 
Instaprint (Rugeley) Nov 2018
ISBN 978-1-911645-00-9

Standards, Badges & Livery Colours of the Wars of the Roses
By Pat McGill & Jonathan Jones 
Freezywater Publications 1992
The Lance & Longbow Society http://lanceandlongbow.com/

Heraldic Banners of the Wars of the Roses (in 3 Volumes)
By Thomas Coveney
Freezywater Publications 1996-7 
The Lance & Longbow Society http://lanceandlongbow.com/

Sunday 28 May 2023

In defence of BIG Battles

I play plenty of Skirmish games with my friends, but as a group, we also enjoy big battle games. Look in any wargames magazine and you could be forgiven for thinking that every new set of rules is for skirmish wargaming. Certainly, there are plenty of excellent skirmish rules out there but I think it would be a sad day indeed if BIG battles were to fall from our repertoire.

Friday 26 May 2023

Double Dial Counters from Foxtrot Charlie Miniatures

Today's post is a quickie, to show off a recent purchase from Foxtrot Charlie Models. I have been looking for a way to keep track of Battle Moral in my Wars of the Roses games using Test of Resolve. I recently did a review video of these rules and in it, I explained that each company has a number of resolve points that are lost during the melee or firing phases of the game. Armies are typically divided into three Battles (sometimes more) and each Battle has a morale value based on the number and type of units within it. As Resolve is lost from its constituent companies so Moral Points are removed from the Battle. When the Battle reaches zero morale points it has to test to see if it continues fighting or withdraws. 

My order of battle stretches the size of the Battles way beyond the rules authors' design parameters, meaning my Battles will start the game with quite large Moral Values. I couldn't figure out the most elegant way of keeping track of Morale...until now. 



These MDF Double Dial Counters from Foxtrot Charlie Models are exactly what I needed. There are  8 dials in a pack for just £10.75 so they were also a very economical solution to my requirements. The Dials come unassembled but were really easy to put together and can then be decorated as required. I decided to replicate the groundwork of my bases so they match my Wars of the Roses armies and blend in with the game mat I am using. 


That's one more task off my to-do list and at a very reasonable price too. 👍👍👍

Monday 22 May 2023

Partizan Video Report

Yesterday three members of Posties Rejects traveled up the A1 to Newark and the Partizan show. As usual, I shot a load of pictures but this time I also took a bit of video and decided to combine them into a visual show report. 








Wednesday 17 May 2023

Test of Resolve: First Impressions

I recently decided I would have a proper playthrough with the Test of Resolve rules using some of my Wars of the Roses miniatures from Baccus. I only used about a third of my collection to keep the game small and manageable so I could focus on the rules. The main purpose of this test was to identify any areas that I needed to work on and in that regard, this was very successful (more on that in the video). I kept both sides roughly equal but their composition was different with a little variation in terms of quality and troop types. The aim was to see 'regular' combat between similar units but also see how asymmetric melee worked out. In this regard, I think it worked really well because there was a range of different fights taking place, each with different circumstances and factors to take into account. The result was a very interesting and hard-fought little battle.


Test of Resolve is a ruleset specifically designed for the Wars of the Roses and is well supported with scenario books and free downloads on their webpage. They also have a Test of Resolve Facebook Group that is worth a look around. I bought these rules last year, but I have been so busy painting my 6mm armies for the Battle of Bosworth that this is the first chance I have had to playtest the rules. 

Tuesday 2 May 2023

Battle of Sodbury Hill 1471 - A War of the Roses 'What-If' game

Over the weekend the Rejects assembled in the Shed-o-War for an excellent and very exciting Wars of the Roses game using Stuart's 28mm collection of figures. Ray and Steve were the Yorkst commanders and faced off against Richard, myself, and Surjit as the Lancastrian commanders. This time, rather than posting lots of pictures I thought I would try making a short video of the game. It's not by any means a full report of the action, but will hopefully convey the excitement of the action. 


The Order of Battle

Lancastrians (Richard, Surjit & Lee)
C/O Duke of Somerset 
   Men-At-Arms, Retinue Bill, Retinue Archers x2, Shire Bill & Light Gun
2iC Prince Edward 
   Men-at-Arms, Retinue Bill, Retinue Archers, Irish Bonnachts, Shire Archers & French Crossbowmen
3iC Earl of Devon 
   Men-At-Arms, Retinue Bill, Retinue Archers, Shire Bill, Shire Archers & Light Organ Gun

Yorkists (Steve & Ray)
C/O King Edward IV 
   Men-at-Arms, Retinue Bill, Retinue Archers x2, Shire Billmen, Light Gun
2ic Duke of Gloucester 
   Men-at-Arms, Retinue Bill, Retinue Archers, Shire Bill, Shire Archers & German Handgunners
3ic Lord Hastings
   Men-at-Arms, Retinue Bill, Retinue Archers, German Pikemen, Shire Archers & Light Gun



Thursday 27 April 2023

Lord Grey and Sir William Catesby - Yorkist infantry at Bosworth 1485

When the Analogue Hobbies Challenge came to an end in mid-March I knew my painting mojo would drop off a cliff. I had a load of little administrative-type projects that had backed up and I had a few books that 'needed' to be read after the frantic effort of painting for three months. However, I also knew I was close to completing my Order of Battle for Bosworth - even though I added a few more units at the last minute. So I have been trying to get some painting done, despite all the distractions that inevitably compete for time. All of which is the long-winded way of saying, I have completed some new Yorkist companies for my Bosworth project! 


First, we have the Retinue/Billmen and Archers of Sir William Catesby of Ashby St Legers. Catesby was a councilor to Richard III and Chancellor of the Exchequer. He was captured at the Battle of Bosworth and subsequently executed at Leicester three days later. This wasn't only about punishing Richard's supporters because Henry Tudor, now Henry VII, also confiscated Catesby's estates, including Ashby St Ledgers (although this was later restored to Sir William's eldest son George). Interestingly a descendent of the family, Robert Catesby, was central to the Gunpowder Plot some 120 years later.



Next, we have Sir Henry Grey, 7th Lord Grey of Codnor with his Retinue/Billmen and Archers. Sir Henry was initially a Lancastrian but switched allegiance to Edward IV. He maintained his loyalty under Richard III and even managed to retain royal favor with the new king Henry VII. Sir Henry is best known as Lord Deputy of Ireland, a role in which he was a notable failure. The most interesting fact I have found with regard to Grey is that he was keenly interested in alchemy, and obtained a licence from the King for the transmutation of metals, on the condition that he must inform the Crown if he succeeded in producing gold. Needless to say, he failed in that endeavor too. 


I have also been working on some little side projects, namely buildings for this period. I have decided to represent towns, villages, and churches in 2mm so they are in keeping with the ground scale I have in mind. (A typical infantry base has 12 figures on it representing about 150 men, so a double base company is about 300 infantry.)  If I used 6mm scale buildings a village would be just one or two houses and I wanted a village to look like a village with multiple buildings, hence my decision to use 2mm models. I have used some medieval buildings from Brigade Models but I also bought a different range from Irregular. Crucially I wanted a windmill to represent Dadlington Windmill which played a part in the retreat and rout of the Yorkist forces following their defeat. 



I'm waiting for my final order from Baccuss 6mm (the fourth time I have sent a 'final' order 😆) which will hopefully mean I have all the figures I need to complete Northumberland's command. Historically they didn't engage with the enemy at Bosworth, but I still need these troops painted...just in case history gets changed on the tabletop. 




Sunday 23 April 2023

Review of Salute 2023

It's the morning after Salute 2023 and time for a review of the show. Needless to say, I think it went very well indeed. I had a brilliant time and spent all day meeting friends and chatting with subscribers to this channel. Thank you to everyone who came and said hello.

Salute 2023: A pictorial review of the games

Salute is back and 50 is the new Sexy! After a break last year, the Salute Wargames Show is back with a bang. Over 5000 visitors streamed through its doors to enjoy a huge variety of amazing games and dozens of top-quality traders. As usual, I shot far too many pictures, but here is a selection of my favorites to give you a flavor of this amazing show.


I'm also putting out a review of the show where I discuss my impressions of the day. That should go live midday today so if you get time watch that as well for the full picture of a great show. 

Wednesday 19 April 2023

Salute 2023 Blogger (& Vlogger) Meet-up

I'm going to be at Salute 50 on Saturday and, as usual, I will be loitering near the center of the hall at about 1pm for the 'traditional' Blogger meet-up. I thought I would widen the parameters a little this year to include those of you who also have a Vlog...ie a YouTube Channel. Salute is a busy show with thousands of visitors, so randomly bumping into people you know or follow online isn't a very efficient way to meet up, hence the time and the map below!


Normally people gather for half an hour to say hello, swap stories and brag about their show bargains! So if you get time between eagerly spending money or playing in the many participation games, pop along to the area indicated on the map at about 1pm for a quick chat. 

Sunday 16 April 2023

Fistful of Dice Mechanics

Are you a fistful of dice type wargamer or do you prefer single-opposed dice rolls for determining the outcome of a melee? In some forums, this subject seems to divide the opinion of wargamers and the games they choose to play. I on the other hand don't care what dice mechanic is used, so long as it works, is simple to understand, and is easy to remember.

Sunday 9 April 2023

Where do you buy your books?

Where do you buy your books from? At least a third of my collection was picked up from 2nd hand or charity bookshops. This is a great way to find out of print books and discover new and tempting subjects for wargaming.



Sunday 2 April 2023

Storage or Display

Do you display your painted armies, or do you store them away? I respond to another subscriber question this week and discuss some of the options open to wargamers after they have painted their miniatures. I have a range of storage options available in the Operations Room, from cheap modular plastic storage units to expensive custom metal cabinets. However, there is always a cheaper option and I also have units that I got for free, and can often be found very cheaply on auction sites like eBay. 

Saturday 1 April 2023

Battle of Le Truc 1569 - French Wars of Religion Battle Report

Over the weekend some of the Rejects gathered in the Shed-o-War for a game set during the French Wars of Religion. Richard has been creating what I think is a cracking set of rules for playing this period, specifically designed for his 2mm collection of figures. I was going to write a full battle report but both Richard and Ray have beaten me to it and I don't think there is much to be gained by repeating the OOB's and background to the game. Check out their excellent posts on the game at my wargaming habit and Don't Throw a 1

I did however want to share my pictures from this very enjoyable and exciting game. I may have been on the losing side, but the game was so enjoyable I didn't mind being defeated.

These Pike and Shot units look so good in 2mm. 

After a short deployment phase the game begins

The Huguenot line facing toward the Catholic army

Manouver was difficult but not impossible with these rules. They key was timing it right. Next game we will all have a better idea of how to move more effectively.

The lines start to get close together.

However on the flank things aren't go to plan for either side (but its the Huguenot army that comes off worse)

Huguenot reinforcement begins to arrive but may be a little too late to change the outcome. 


The final positions in what was a very enjoyable and challenging game. 


I had wanted to get this post out earlier in the week but, well, things got away from me! It's been a very busy week at work and the next few look to be similar. Some careful planning will be needed if I am going to drag my schedule back into some semblance of order.