Saturday 28 November 2009

About Me

Editing

I just edited the "About Me" section. I had to change the 45 into 46 today.

Happy gaming
Pjotr

Monday 23 November 2009

Blogging problems

About my blogging: help needed...

Well maybe not the first but certainly the most obvious problem I encountered was the mraculous change of font type a couple of posts ago. I wasn't expecting that to happen. Anyway, I tried editing the post using default settings. But as you can see...still the wrong font.

Another problem, even more strange is my, do you call it avatar? You know, the little picture that shows when you post a comment on someones blog or when you subscribe as a follower. At first all was good: whenever I communicated it showed a nice little face. But then, later on, for some other strange reason, it started showing the middle part of the picture. Now I know some people would be interested in that, but I don't think you can find those in the wargaming community, can you...Sometimes, I get the whole picture next to a comment...much less offensive, but not as it should be. Bother...

And last of all...I subscribed myself as follower to several of the splendid blogs on wargaming. I'm sorry if your blog doesn't show on the left of the picture, but I really don't know why. The initial batch of blogs I follow show up...the ones I added later on don't. Again I sit here staring at the screen, head cocked ever so slightly, a little dribble of saliva oozing from the left corner of my mouth, trying to think of a solution, but finding my mind going blank in a Homer Simpson kind of a way.

The saliva bit I added for fun, should you wonder...wouldn't want to short circuit the keyboard...

Next weekend, when the camera is back, I'll post another pic of the Hasselse Garde, which are coming along nicely. No really,  I promise.

Happy gaming
Pjotr

Friday 20 November 2009

Philolleysophy

A bit of a rant...

First of all, I won't be making promises again. By now I should have had a picture of the finished Hasselse Garde unit, but I don't, as you all can see. Real life bla bla bla...

I don't like my Hasselse Garde. I'll finish them and use them, but I don't like my painting style. It's to complicated. I posted a comment on the Blasthof Blog and got an eye opening answer from Phil Olley. He expanded on this in a next posting with some pictures. I think this is the way ahead for me. It's all a question of finding the balance between painting style, time you want to spend painting and the overall effect. In the end -and this is of course an individual choice/philosophy- I don't think that intricate painting will allow for a better game. So the plan is to finish the guard unit and start a next unit painted basic and neat, much how I finished the boys Warhammer armies and terrain (I didn't even know back then it was called Old School style). One thing I might do, seeing the pictures on the DPC RSM 95 webpage, is add some lining.

Also, I think I will be mixing figures from several manufacturers. Originally I planned on sticking with one make. But now I'll be mixing several same style minis, but per unit.  I feel units of Minden minis will mix perfectly with RSM 95, Willies, maybe even a nostalgic Spencer Smith or Huzzah unit. And who knows, if Hät Industry goes ahead with their 28mm project, even some plastics.

I recommend, really whole heartedly, to visit the Blasthof blog mentioned above and in earlier postings. Not only is it inspiring, the authors actually take the trouble to share their knowledge, ideas and even ask comments and advice. To me the Blasthof Blog is like Grant's "The Wargame Companion" but taken one step further by being interactive. I don't really mind having to miss Phil Olleys Broadsides and Cabinet now. I mean were getting more of him now: his new philolleysophy certainly hit the mark with me.

Now if only someone could persuade someone else to do the same for "The Wargame"...

End of rant. Comments welcome...but, I beg you, no more comments on the dog...pleeeease...

Happy Gaming
Pjotr

PS: I' m applying for copyright on the new word "philolleysophy"...

Friday 13 November 2009

Painting progress

Looking at my last posting I noticed that for some strange reason the font was changed. Strange indeed...
Anyway, I spent another hour painting this evening. Buff on the haversacks and the belt. Shadowing on the orange and flesh. I'll post another WIP picture tomorrow. I find the shadowing suddenly brought the minis to life. Excellent stuff. Next I'll start on all the fiddly bits and then general touching up.
I'll try and twist my cousins arm in an uncomfortable position to have him take some pics of the finished unit. He has a real camera that doesn't take blurry, yellowish photographs unless you tell it to do so.
So,  dearest Cozzen, if you are reading this...
I'll finish the miniatures with two layers of gloss Pledge Future Shine to protect them during handling. Maybe at a later stage a matt coating on top of that.
SWMBO laughed at me...she thought it funny that the posting with a picture of my minimilitivorous dog received more comments than the one with a picture of my WIP. Sad really...
Oh look, the old font type is back, it's a miracle.


Happy gaming
Pjotr

Wednesday 11 November 2009

WIP, The Blasthof Blog, Ancients and Armistice


Today a WIP report on the Hasselse Garde, followed by my thoughts on “The Blasthof Blog”. Next my ancients project slowly takes shape. And ending with a thought on armistice day.


Painting progress
I really wasn’t planning to show any pictures of my Hasselse Garde unit until the painting was done. But plans being what they are…here’s a picture of my still unfinished Imagination Guard unit. Up till now I’ve spent about 5 hours at the painting table, not counting the test figure. I streamlined the painting process to suit the Minden casting.
I’m having some doubts as to this is really the effect I want. Why shouldn’t I stick to one tone block painted models and make life easier for myself? I have to dig up my scrapbook and remind myself of the goals and style of my mid 18th century Imagination project I decided on months ago. But still…if…then…Maybe I should start a real Old School plastic army now Hät is coming out with 28mm figures.






In the background you see my palette. It’s actually an old egg container I salvaged from a refrigerator at the local recycling parc. I normally use three water containers: one for cleaning brushes with ordinary coloured paint, one for metallics and a third with clean water and just one small drop of washing up liquid. The reason for the first two is obvious: don’t want to get metallic particles mixed up with ordinary paint. The third container is used for wetting brushes and thinning paint. The washing up liquid breaks the surface tension of the acrylic paint and makes it flow better.


The Blasthof Blog
An Imagi-historic name and also the name of a new blog named “The blasthof blog” . Misters Asquith, Gill, Preece and Olley plan to enlighten us with all sorts of writings concerning “Charge”. From what I’ve already been reading, I guess the blog could easily have been called “The Charge Companion”.
I  do think that Stokes Schwarz, of Grand Duchy of Stollen fame, should -de facto- be made a member of that -not so- secret coven. I haven’t seen anybody so enthusiastically involved in “Charge” as himself. He has the terrain, the armies and the knowledge. Stokes, when reading this, know that you have my support and my vote.



Ancient gaming
One of my projects was ancient wargaming.
I’ve started to scribble down my first thoughts on the matter. I already have several rule sets at my disposal and I’ve started prospecting miniatures.  I’m now convinced to just collect miniatures I like and then building a Hyboria style campaign around these. Yes, letting the miniatures be the inspiration for my generic style Imagi-ancient armies. It works for me. Instead of doing all the work and designing a world, I just buy a box of, let’s say, Hät’s El Cid Almoravid infantry. I can imagine them living in the south part of a country named Cidonia. That country has a southern province called Almora, which is stuck in civil war with the northern province of Castilia…you see it coming, don’t you…


Armistice day
I would just like to end this posting with something I think is very important.
Today I attended a war remembrance ceremony in my village. Next Sunday I will attend a ceremony at a German war cemetery just north of where I live. Anyway sitting there in church my mind wandered of. As a soldier I find that less and less people feel any attachment to remembering the fallen of the two world wars. Which is maybe natural, as time trudges on and memories fade with the coming of new generations. But then I thought of the victims of the post Second World War  modern wars. And not only those who sadly lost their lives, but also those silent victims: the men and women suffering from combat stress related disorders, losing families and homes, sometimes ending up living in the streets. I think now is the moment to support efforts like the Combat Stress Charity  or whatever similar organisation you have where you live. Or maybe just donate to a local trauma centre as a lot of firemen, policemen and ambulance workers have similar problems as they sometimes get to see and live through horrible scenes. 


I just noticed The Chronicles have been visited over 2000 times. This is unbelievable to me, but at the same time very motivating to keep going. Please don’t be shy and leave a comment. I’d like you to share your thoughts, give advice or just say hello.
Next posting will hopefully see my first unit finished and the first 16 Olley points ticked off.


Happy Gaming
Pjotr

Sunday 1 November 2009

First DDU victim

During the fitting of the new Hasselse Garde uniforms, a soldier was kidnapped -or rather catnapped- and subsequently eaten by a dog.
The animals were hunted down and were about to be executed, but Kolonel Kevinovitch stepped in saved their lives by imprisoning them as he recognised the vile beasts as belonging to his mother.
Soldaat Vanpimperzele will be sadly missed amongst his friends and colleagues.


GUILTY !!!!

Happy gaming
Pjotr

New gaiters for the Hasselse Garde

 The Citizen-Regent of the DDU, Leopold van Loon, inspected the uniform of the Hasselse Garde today...

The poor soldier had been waiting in a small room inside of the residence of Leopold van Loon. Finally the door opened and he was ushered into the regents office by his commanding officer, Kevinovich Nyudrev.
-Sir, I present you the uniform of the Hasselse Garde.
The regent got up from behind his desk and inspected the soldier, standing uncomfortably to attention in his brand new uniform.
-I like it, kolonel Nyudrev, but...
Kevinovich raised his eyebrows. Leopold walked to a cabinet and started browsing some books. He beckoned Kolonel Nyudrev to his desk as he opened a book. He pointed to a picture of a soldier.
-This is the problem, the regent said.
-This book was presented to me. It shows all known uniforms of soldiers today. It was made by a man named Knötel. As you can see, Kevin (as Kevinovich was afectionately known by his peers), buff gaiters are worn by light infantry. I don't want my first guard regiment to be mistaken for light infantry.
Kevinovich looked at the picture and turned his gaze to the now sweating soldier.
-Sir, with the funds I was given to raise the unit, in the end we didn't have enough gold to pay but for plain buff gaiters.
The citizen-regent looked intently at Nuydrev, a smile coming to his face.
-Well, my dear kolonel, seems my gift to the Hasselse Garde will be new gaiters...white ones I think...yes, white should do it. Make it happen, kolonel Nyudrev. You can arrange the payment with my finance minister.



I big thank you to abdul666 and Fitz-Badger for their advice. It's always good to be able to count on the experience of others and it's very gentleman like of them for sharing their knowledge. I've also darkened the shadowing a bit. Well, my first Olley point has been earned.



Happy Gaming

Pjotr