Table Out! Mat In

My 6ft x 4ft wargames table has been temporarily repurposed for quite a few months now.  A couple of weeks ago, the temporary nature of the situation became permanent.  Consequently, with no dedicated gaming area, I will be giving away my terrain boards and most hills to the Rejects after the Broadside Show in June.

As my space shrinks, I will occasionally commandeer the dining table and have compensated my loss with the purchase of a fleece battle mat from Geek Villain, which arrived today.

I am rather pleased with it.  It feels soft enough to use as a blanket in the winter.

The mat with some 28mm troops on it.  Pleasingly, the basing style I use is reasonably complimentary with the mat.

And a slightly closer look.

Just got to work out when I can set up my first game. I must take into account all games can no longer be left set up for multiple sessions.

New challenges = new opportunities.

A New Project Begins and Why You Should Never Sell

In June 2024, after a long gestation period, I decided that it was all systems go for the project that I had been toying with for quite some time.  I have not revealed it earlier in case it turned into false start. Plus, I fancied the idea of making the reveal to the Rejects in the form of a game.  However, for a variety of reasons I can't wait any longer.

So, what is the new period?  It is the Great Italian Wars, 1494 to 1559 in 28mm.  As a period it is actually a good evolution (albeit backwards in time) from my French Wars of Religion.  Plus, it seems to be very "on trend" as a period at the moment.  Very unlike me to be fashionable.

Men at Arms. Perry Plastics

Two or three decades ago, I collected and painted a 28mm Renaissance army (mostly Old Glory, a lovely range in my opinion).  However, I sold them on.  Big mistake!  Instant regret!  Ever since, I toyed with the idea of buying just enough to make one unit of Landsknecht for display purposes.

Landsknecht from Warlord Games.

It was in the early autumn of 2023 that I come across an old set of late medieval rules in my "library" that made me think of doing something in that period.  However, I couldn't work up the excitement, but I did realise that I could repurpose them with some amendments as a quick play set for the Italian Wars.

That took me into 2024 with rule writing and background reading aplenty to test the conviction of my initial passion.  So, by the time of the Broadside Show in June of 2024 I had almost committed myself to making a "secret" start and to see if the project had legs.  Then fate intervened.  At the show is a flea market.  On a stall at a bargain price were painted arquebusiers.  Old GW figures, but reasonably finished.  I snapped them up and that's what kickstarted the project.

The arquebusiers that represent fate's intervention.

My painting speed is slow (glacial would be the more accurate term).  This meant that from early on I took the decision to purchase some second hand figures.  Some did not need any touching up.  Some needed a little. Some, in the end, needed an entire repaint from scratch.  I will give you a closer, more detailed look of my small collection in the next post (or two?).  

Thank you your indulgence.

Prep for Broadside 2025

This year the Rejects are putting on the Battle of Rivoli as their demonstration game. 

Broadside is on Saturday 14th June at Gillingham, Kent.

In preparation for the show, we are having a walkthrough this weekend.

Here are a couple of photos of the initial set up.

It will give us a chance to tweak the game and ensure everyone is able to chat with the public about the game and the history.