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Miniatures Adventure => Pikes, Muskets and Flouncy Shirts => Topic started by: WillPhillips on September 14, 2022, 04:32:18 PM

Title: 1750 New France & Osage Nation Skirmish Project (New Pics 24 Jul 2023)
Post by: WillPhillips on September 14, 2022, 04:32:18 PM
A year and a half ago I was inspired to take on a New France skirmish project inspired by my Osage heritage and the history of the St. Louis, Missouri area I now call home.

I got started in 54mm, you know, to mix things up.

This was a mistake: storage requirements plus the types of 54mm figures available stalled my interest on the project.

I've pivoted and have started to acquire the figures needed for the same project in 28mm scale.

Pictured here are the first five miniatures that have arrived for the project, all by Firelock games:


(https://tabletop.willphillips.org/wp-content/uploads/28mmNewFrance_01_IG_party.jpeg)

(https://tabletop.willphillips.org/wp-content/uploads/28mmNewFrance_01_figures.jpeg)

(https://tabletop.willphillips.org/wp-content/uploads/28mmNewFrance_01_shooters.jpeg)

(https://tabletop.willphillips.org/wp-content/uploads/28mmNewFrance_01_runner.jpeg)

(https://tabletop.willphillips.org/wp-content/uploads/28mmNewFrance_02_earlpaint-1024x1024.jpeg)

I'm creating this thread as a project log, but also will be posting to my gaming blog:

https://tabletop.willphillips.org/2022/08/23/28mm-new-france-project-begins/
Title: Re: 1750 New France & the Osage Nation: a Skirmish Project
Post by: WillPhillips on September 14, 2022, 04:44:30 PM
As you can see, I'm still struggling to photograph my minis decently!  lol
Title: Re: 1750 New France & the Osage Nation: a Skirmish Project
Post by: marianas_gamer on September 14, 2022, 07:47:18 PM
A very interesting project and even better that you have a personal tie to it. I look forward to future developments.
Title: Re: 1750 New France & the Osage Nation: a Skirmish Project
Post by: WillPhillips on September 23, 2022, 06:50:42 PM
A very interesting project and even better that you have a personal tie to it. I look forward to future developments.

Thank you, marianas! The personal tie does make it fulfilling for me.

-----

Some more progress log sorts of photos.

https://tabletop.willphillips.org/2022/09/23/new-france-sept-progress/

https://www.instagram.com/p/Ci3BI6hO_mU/

-----

I’ve sourced twenty figures: six regular soldiers to serve as my French, six native warriors as my Osage, six to serve as coureurs de bois, and two Jesuits (one much more historical than the other!).

Plus… a good number of North American wildlife miniatures, which will function as the “wandering monsters” and “random encounters” as inspired by Frostgrave and its siblings.

This figures are all WIPs in one way or another: some are painted, but basing remains, but the Natives and the French Soldiery have even to be painted. This post is a progress log, more than anything.

(https://tabletop.willphillips.org/wp-content/uploads/NewFran_02_hunt.jpg)

(https://tabletop.willphillips.org/wp-content/uploads/NewFran_02_vingette_camp.jpg)

(https://tabletop.willphillips.org/wp-content/uploads/NewFran_02_woodsrunners.jpg)

(https://tabletop.willphillips.org/wp-content/uploads/NewFran_02_soldiers.jpg)

(https://tabletop.willphillips.org/wp-content/uploads/NewFran_02_osage.jpg)

(https://tabletop.willphillips.org/wp-content/uploads/NewFran_02_jesuits.jpg)

(https://tabletop.willphillips.org/wp-content/uploads/NewFran_02_animals.jpg)
Title: Re: 1750 New France & the Osage Nation: a Skirmish Project
Post by: Kelly_ on September 23, 2022, 07:45:39 PM
Great start on those!  Where did you pick the bison up from?
Title: Re: 1750 New France & the Osage Nation: a Skirmish Project
Post by: marianas_gamer on September 23, 2022, 10:13:07 PM
Good work. I really like the bison.
Title: Re: 1750 New France & the Osage Nation: a Skirmish Project
Post by: WillPhillips on September 27, 2022, 03:21:20 AM
Thanks, guys! I'm pretty pleased at how they turned out.

The bison are from Acheson Creations. Heavy white metal, for sure!
Title: Re: 1750 New France & the Osage Nation: a Skirmish Project
Post by: mikedemana on September 28, 2022, 02:17:51 AM
Great project! I like it when people use their heritage as inspiration for projects!! Have you picked a set of rules to use, yet?

Mike Demana
Title: Re: 1750 New France & the Osage Nation: a Skirmish Project
Post by: WillPhillips on September 29, 2022, 04:42:35 AM
Great project! I like it when people use their heritage as inspiration for projects!! Have you picked a set of rules to use, yet?

Mike Demana

Because I like pain and frustration, I'll be spinning up a set of my own rules for this project.

Very much a beer and pretzels, easy to pack to a friend's place or the game store sorta thing.

Rules will be an ultra-light, micro-skirmish (five figures per side) affair that riffs off of lightweight hex-grid games like Warhammer Underworlds and Riot Quest, as applied to 18th century North America. Plus wildlife as random encounters based off the Frostgrave model.
Title: Re: 1750 New France & the Osage Nation: a Skirmish Project
Post by: WillPhillips on September 29, 2022, 04:46:26 AM
I got my French painted up, varnished, and on bases, so...  yeah let's put a completely BS layout together just to see how it's coming together.

(https://tabletop.willphillips.org/wp-content/uploads/NewFran_03_wideshot.jpg)

(https://tabletop.willphillips.org/wp-content/uploads/NewFran_03_french_closeup.jpg)

(https://tabletop.willphillips.org/wp-content/uploads/NewFran_03_mid-table.jpg)

(https://tabletop.willphillips.org/wp-content/uploads/NewFran_03_trapper_camp.jpg)

Will post the detail views of the French in a day or two.

Osages / Native come next.

Then to fancy up the bases and circle back to the hex-based terrain.

Also on Instagram, if any of you are over there:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CjE9CJ3MwwC/
Title: Re: 1750 New France & the Osage Nation: a Skirmish Project
Post by: mikedemana on October 26, 2022, 10:17:15 PM
The project is looking good! Can't wait to see the Osage figs.

Mike Demana
Title: Re: 1750 New France & the Osage Nation: a Skirmish Project
Post by: bluewillow on October 27, 2022, 06:12:39 AM
Nice work, and a interesting project

Cheers
Matt
Title: Re: 1750 New France & the Osage Nation: a Skirmish Project
Post by: Bloggard on October 27, 2022, 09:06:23 AM
great figures and paint-jobs.

and you're using Hexes !  Hexes = cool .
Title: Re: 1750 New France & the Osage Nation: a Skirmish Project
Post by: WillPhillips on November 28, 2022, 06:24:55 AM
Appreciate the encouragement, guys.

great figures and paint-jobs.

and you're using Hexes !  Hexes = cool .

Yeah, I'm riffing off some of the easy hex-based games from GW and Mantic on this one!
Title: Re: 1750 New France & the Osage Nation: a Skirmish Project
Post by: WillPhillips on November 28, 2022, 06:29:27 AM
Update crossposted from my blog:

https://tabletop.willphillips.org/2022/11/compagnies-franches-and-osage-warriors/

-----

Is this possible? Is this happening? Has Will actually finished a project? Well, the primary figures for one, at least? Pretty much. I’ve wrapped up my French marines, Osage natives, a bonus nun (for the sake of the story at the table, an Ursuline headed up country to explore establishing a school), and a pair of mastiffs.

Here’s the deal, of course. I’m not a great mini painter and am an even worse photographer!

Lots of animals remain, though!

Compagnies Franches de la Marine

Here we have a mix of Brigade Games and AW Minis. Both are noticeably smaller than the larger scaled (32mm, even?) Firelock minis that comprise most of the Woods-Runner and Osage warriors.

The kneeling figure is from a 3d printed Etsy source.

(https://tabletop.willphillips.org/wp-content/uploads/NewFran04_French_1-1024x1024.jpeg)

(https://tabletop.willphillips.org/wp-content/uploads/NewFran04_French_2-1024x1024.jpeg)

Osage Nation Warriors

Most of these figures – the ones armed with warclubs and muskets – are again from Firelock Games (i.e. Blood & Plunder). The bearfur-cloaked figure is from Crucible Crush’s Flint & Feather range of their Iroquois/Haudenosaunee War Companions pack. The figure with the bow and arrow is from the Dead Man’s Hand range from Great Escape Games.

Lemme tell you these guys came out way, way too dark – and that’s from a guy of Osage heritage who has grown up around fullbloods and nearly-fullbloods.

(https://tabletop.willphillips.org/wp-content/uploads/NewFran04_Osage_1-1024x1024.jpeg)

(https://tabletop.willphillips.org/wp-content/uploads/NewFran04_Osage_2-1024x1024.jpeg)

Well. Live and learn.

https://tabletop.willphillips.org/2022/11/compagnies-franches-and-osage-warriors/
Title: Re: 1750 New France & Osage Nation Skirmish Project (New Pics 28 Nov)
Post by: WillPhillips on November 29, 2022, 07:09:38 PM
WHAT'S IN THE BOX?!

Nice to have a small footprint for this project! All the player warband figures in one 1.75l Really Useful Box, and the wild beasts that may appear as a random encounter in another of the same size.

Now the hex-based terrain is growing in size, BUT there's nothing saying I can't go all-in on cardboard tiles, either.

May be something to consider!

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cljlk9UPJuX/ (https://www.instagram.com/p/Cljlk9UPJuX/)
Title: Re: 1750 New France & Osage Nation Skirmish Project (New Pics 28 Nov)
Post by: WillPhillips on December 06, 2022, 07:04:32 AM
Progress continues with the 18th century New France micro-sized skirmish project.

Got all the assorted critters painted (somewhat hastily and poorly, but painted nontheless!) and based with aquarium sands and covered with a mix of Modge Podge and craft glue.

Plants and grasses await, then I'll have the following good-sized menagerie for my roving parties to bump into:

- 2 bears
- 2 mountain lions
- 3 boars
- 3 buffalo
- 2 deer (plus one fawn)
- 2 bull elk
- 2 wolves (one of whom being a repurposed Reaper undead zombie wolf... sssshhh)

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cl0T6JNOckA/
Title: Re: 1750 New France & Osage Nation Skirmish Project (New Pics 28 Nov)
Post by: Inkpaduta on December 06, 2022, 05:42:05 PM
Your work so far makes me REALLY want to play that game! Good job.
Title: Re: 1750 New France & Osage Nation Skirmish Project (New Pics 28 Nov)
Post by: mikedemana on December 08, 2022, 12:39:32 AM
Keep it up - very inspiring work! The skin tone issue could probably be argued by many. I say go with what feels right to you. Just remember the "formula" you used (and buy extra pots of that paint!). Over the years of painting my French & Indian War figures, I saw my base color disappear from production more than once.

Mike Demana
Title: Re: 1750 New France & Osage Nation Skirmish Project (New Pics 28 Nov)
Post by: WillPhillips on December 13, 2022, 12:54:35 AM
Your work so far makes me REALLY want to play that game! Good job.

Thanks! The plan is for a VERY lightweight, beer and pretzels game. Inspired in part by GW's Warhammer Underworlds and Mantic's Riot Quest in complexity, but ported and adapted to this historical context. Something I can easily pick up and travel with to play with friends.
Title: Re: 1750 New France & Osage Nation Skirmish Project (New Pics 28 Nov)
Post by: WillPhillips on December 13, 2022, 12:55:48 AM
Keep it up - very inspiring work! The skin tone issue could probably be argued by many. I say go with what feels right to you. Just remember the "formula" you used (and buy extra pots of that paint!). Over the years of painting my French & Indian War figures, I saw my base color disappear from production more than once.

Mike Demana

Good points and a lesson I've already had to learn the hard way, haha! I'm keeping recipes jotted down in a master project log document.
Title: Re: 1750 New France & Osage Nation Skirmish Project (New Pics 28 Nov)
Post by: WillPhillips on December 13, 2022, 12:56:31 AM
Tonight's tabletop gaming project: making a hex grid on felt, followed by some terrain work (not shown here) for my c. 1750s New France + Osage Nation skirmish project.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CmFq1v6MvF9/
Title: Re: 1750 New France & Osage Nation Skirmish Project (New Pics 28 Nov)
Post by: WillPhillips on December 13, 2022, 01:18:24 AM
And a close up:

(https://tabletop.willphillips.org/wp-content/uploads/NewFran_04_Closeup.jpeg)
Title: Re: 1750 New France & Osage Nation Skirmish Project (New Pics Dec 12)
Post by: RichBliss on December 13, 2022, 04:09:38 PM
Pretty cool.  The Wild Boar are probably an anachronism, but the look good so…
Title: Re: 1750 New France & Osage Nation Skirmish Project (New Pics Dec 12)
Post by: Stryder on December 29, 2022, 02:08:20 PM
Great Job on the project so far! Found you on instagram and am following as well.
Title: Re: 1750 New France & Osage Nation Skirmish Project (New Pics Dec 12)
Post by: ffrum on December 29, 2022, 08:18:30 PM
I am quite impressed with your results on these figures and especially the animals.  I have a variety of skin tones among the large numbers of F&IW, Apachees, etc. Indians/Native Americans I have painted and accumulated over the years.  A little variety is good as long as they look good in games!  I look forward to seeing more on your project and games.  Thank you!
Title: Re: 1750 New France & Osage Nation Skirmish Project (New Pics Dec 12)
Post by: marco55 on June 01, 2023, 05:28:55 PM
The French in North America have always been interesting to me. Those guys really got around. :)
Mark
Title: Re: 1750 New France & Osage Nation Skirmish Project (New Pics Dec 12)
Post by: BillK on June 01, 2023, 06:23:14 PM
Wonderful project, really nice work on the figures.
Have to keep an eye on this thread.
Title: Re: 1750 New France & Osage Nation Skirmish Project (New Pics Dec 12)
Post by: WillPhillips on July 25, 2023, 04:54:53 AM
It's been months and months, but have recently been returning to this project.

Most of my updates have been going onto my Instagram account, (https://www.instagram.com/p/CumuZr_OaBY/?img_index=1) but here are some photo updates.

Work on my c. 1750 New France & Osage Nation skirmish homage continues. Lots of the focus has been on terrain, lately, but the rules are starting to coalesce as well.

As I’ve been writing them, it’s become clear that they could be broadly applicable to wider European colonial contacts from the late 17th century through the early 19th.

So I’ve given them a working title of “Far from Old Europe” and plan on getting them to a playtest-able state later this year.

No big hurry, as I don’t plan any sort of marketing hustle or push.

But for personal reasons? It will be nice to have a super-lightweight game I can set up and play when even I’m not feeling something as middle-of-the-road as Frostgrave.

With that said, here’s some recent photos.

As mentioned, the game is designed to be played on a roughly 18 x 24″ space using a (again, roughly) two-inch hex grid.

Terrain rules are deliberately simple: there’s Rough Ground, Cover, and impassible Obstacles. No elevation changes or deep water here.

Here’s a setup approximating a forest.

(https://tabletop.willphillips.org/wp-content/uploads/ffoe_log_20230724_table1.jpeg)

(https://tabletop.willphillips.org/wp-content/uploads/ffoe_log_20230724_table2.jpeg)

(https://tabletop.willphillips.org/wp-content/uploads/ffoe_log_20230724_table3.jpeg)

I’m still uncertain why some of my Pixel 4 phone photos turn out with this strange, painterly affect, and other’s don’t. That said, my apologies!

(If any of you have ideas, I'm all ears!)

(https://tabletop.willphillips.org/wp-content/uploads/ffoe_log_20230724_scene1.jpeg)

(https://tabletop.willphillips.org/wp-content/uploads/ffoe_log_20230724_scene2.jpeg)

(https://tabletop.willphillips.org/wp-content/uploads/ffoe_log_20230724_scene3.jpeg)

(https://tabletop.willphillips.org/wp-content/uploads/ffoe_log_20230724_scene4.jpeg)

More available on my blog or my Instagram.

https://tabletop.willphillips.org/2023/07/new-france-terrain-update/

https://www.instagram.com/tabletop.will.phillips/

Title: Re: 1750 New France & Osage Nation Skirmish Project (New Pics 24 Jul 2023)
Post by: Grumpy Gnome on July 25, 2023, 06:09:54 AM
Looking good!
Title: Re: 1750 New France & Osage Nation Skirmish Project (New Pics 24 Jul 2023)
Post by: mikedemana on July 26, 2023, 02:44:03 AM
Figures look great! I'm assuming your rules will have a hex-based movement system, by looking at your game mat?

Mike Demana
Title: Re: 1750 New France & Osage Nation Skirmish Project (New Pics 24 Jul 2023)
Post by: WillPhillips on July 26, 2023, 04:30:06 PM
Looking good!

Thanks!
Title: Re: 1750 New France & Osage Nation Skirmish Project (New Pics 24 Jul 2023)
Post by: WillPhillips on July 26, 2023, 04:35:44 PM
Figures look great! I'm assuming your rules will have a hex-based movement system, by looking at your game mat?

Mike Demana

That's correct.

I hate the debates and arguments that erupt over the minutia of movement and ranges, so I like my grids, at least for this little piddly personal project.