(Lead) Mountain Musings - "Wargames Foundry" August 2024

"The Coalition forces of the Napoleonic Wars were composed of Napoleon Bonaparte's enemies."

Having recently acquired and played "The Silver Bayonet" by "Osprey Games", I felt it might be a good idea to once again return to my collection of unpainted Napoleonic figures by "Wargames Foundry", and see whether wargaming in a Napoleonic era of Gothic Horror would enthuse me enough to get a dozen or so more miniatures tabletop ready. In fact, Joseph A. McCullough's rulebook has so inspired me that I have already ordered (and received) a quartet of Command Packs from the Nottingham-based manufacturer, so that alongside my British monster-hunting contingent, I can also potentially field French, Russian, Prussian and Austrian (Hungarian) warbands with an appropriate officer.

For openers I aim to get cracking on with a fully fleshed-out faction of Napoleon's finest, as I can already bring a combination of three previously painted le chasseur à pied (Light Infantry) and eight fusiliers to the battlefield. In gaming terms the core rules don't seem to include a unique specialism for skirmishers, so I plan to use the chasseurs as (Native) Scouts instead for the purpose of our games. Furthermore, the blister FN140 - Late Infantry Command In Greatcoat contains a number of other 'standalone' sculpts which could be very useful to represent a Guard, Junior Officer, Sapper and Veteran Hunter.

"CoolMiniOrNot" WIPs - Blade's coat has been dry-brushed, and his weapons/flesh 'picked out'

I'm also hoping to add a bit more diversification to my Coalition company, which currently consists of a British Officer, a trio of Riflemen and four Russian Infantrymen. This means I have still have plenty of recruitment points to spend, so plan to swap out some of the roles with a Highlander or two, and perhaps then pigment a few actual Redcoats so as to make the force entirely British. I've actually also bought RN021 Infantry in 1812 Shako Command, so should now own a few unique Napoleonic Russian figures with which to build the Tsar Alexander I a contingent too.

I'm also not entirely done painting up some more models from the old Marvel United Kickstarter by "CoolMiniOrNot". Alongside Blade, I have put together a small selection of the boardgame's pieces which I fancy applying a lick of paint to over the coming weeks. Just how far this side-project succeeds remains to be seen. But I thought an array of reasonably straightforward miniatures might prove useful for when I get too bogged down in too many Napoleonic leather straps, cuffs and collars.

July 2024 - "CoolMiniOrNot" moves up in popularity due to Marvel United and Zombicide

Happily, the lack of productivity which has haunted the past two months would finally appear to be behind me. Admittedly, I didn't break any personal records during the past four weeks. But I do seem to have got back to the same sort of enthusiasm I had for the hobby in April of this year. Surprisingly, quite of bit of this new-found gusto has seemingly been generated by a returning interest in The Horus Heresy by "Games Workshop", as well as a concerted effort to be able to play Marvel United with at least a couple of fully-painted super-teams.

As to the near future I'm pretty confident that my sudden obsession with The Silver Bayonet will help to greatly increase the number of varnished Napoleonic figures I own by "Wargames Foundry". In addition, I expect to get a handful more "CoolMiniOrNot" models completed - whether they be for Marvel United or even Zombicide...