There's nothing better than a great game to motivate me to get painting. Last Sunday, I had a game of Soldiers of Napoleon with Challengers JohnS, StephenS and Millsy, and Aled and Marty, who aren't in the Challenge this year. I hosted, and used the opportunity to get all my painted Prussians on the table. Predictably, they were massacred, despite the best efforts of Millsy, Stephen and me. Soldiers of Napoleon is such an enjoyable set of rules that I didn't even mind.
Although I can now field a decent-sized Prussian force, I was short two brigade command stands on the day. Millsy kindly supplied some Austrian allies, and I'm sure that relying on Austrian commanders for two of our brigades had nothing whatsoever to do with the bloody Prussian defeat. Nevertheless, I set out to rectify my lack of commanders this week, and here are the results.
Calpe figures are so completely terrific, and I love this command vignette. I love the sense of industry the sculptor has captured, with the brigade commander giving orders for his adjutant to scribble down, while another officer perhaps sketches a map and a Feldjaeger is poised to leap into the saddle and deliver the orders.
The next base are figures from Front Rank. Still excellent, but without the same character as Calpe. They are a bit cramped on their base, but I couldn't find a bigger one. The blue Litewka coat of the officer waving his hat signifies that these are cavalry commanders, as does the adjutant's white uniform and green facings.
Finally, back to Calpe Miniatures for a couple of artillery officers. According to the notes on the Calpe website, cavalry officers sometimes wore black uniforms to match their black facings, so I went with that here. Again, lovely characterful poses. Is the officer turning to call up a messenger? Or can he hear the hoofbeats of approaching French hussars?
This lot should give me 90 points - thanks Millsy! I'll end with a photo from last week's game, taken just before the French onslaught crunched into the Prussian line. The arms belong to StephenS.
From Millsy:
Firstly, thanks for hosting another cracking game Alan. I always have a blast playing with you and the lads. Great people = great fun.
Given how poorly we performed I'm unsurprised you decide to replace my commanders. It would be fair to lay some blame at the feet of my generals, but having said that pretty much an entire army of freshly painted miniatures was always going to be a massive risk of getting a belting which was duly dished out.
Your new command look a) more aware of their surroundings and b) more engaged in the fight than their Austrian counterparts did. The uniforms are crisp, the horses well fed and the composition on the bases tells a great story.
Top work mate. A very fine addition to a beautiful force. 90 points well deserved.
PS. Not sure where I am in that last photo. Perhaps sobbing quietly in the corner?
Cheers,
Millsy