Lead Adventure Forum

Miniatures Adventure => Colonial Adventures => Topic started by: pacarat on November 15, 2022, 04:08:23 AM

Title: pacarat’s Darkest Africa misadventures
Post by: pacarat on November 15, 2022, 04:08:23 AM
Pics from a game I ran at a local con this past weekend.

(https://i.imgur.com/boUjDVe.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/Q6x9zu6.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/btPyApK.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/eXLmOI6.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/mjqeJLg.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/yhEucaw.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/tjps0nX.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/1oRIIQZ.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/dU0GDaR.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/yhEucaw.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/qOfIKni.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/uJ7rf4O.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/3Q9zUPd.jpg)

Title: Re: pacarat’s Darkest Africa misadventures
Post by: Old Contemptable on November 15, 2022, 07:08:18 AM
Good Lord, the attention to detail! Fun looking game. I think this game checks all the boxes for a darkest Afrika game. Excellent work!
Title: Re: pacarat’s Darkest Africa misadventures
Post by: Atheling on November 15, 2022, 07:32:31 AM
Good Lord, the attention to detail! Fun looking game. I think this game checks all the boxes for a darkest Afrika game. Excellent work!

The depth of detail is something that at first glace struck me too.

Superb looking game and made all the more fun by the lovely terrain.
Title: Re: pacarat’s Darkest Africa misadventures
Post by: Mad Lord Snapcase on November 15, 2022, 08:03:23 AM
Wonderful, superb!   :-*   :-*  :-*
Title: Re: pacarat’s Darkest Africa misadventures
Post by: traveller on November 15, 2022, 08:14:57 AM
Very nice!  :-* :-* :-*
Title: Re: pacarat’s Darkest Africa misadventures
Post by: Umra Khan on November 15, 2022, 09:38:05 AM
really beautiful !!
please tell us more about rule used and events cards.
Title: Re: pacarat’s Darkest Africa misadventures
Post by: has.been on November 15, 2022, 11:58:00 AM
Nice. :-*
Title: Re: pacarat’s Darkest Africa misadventures
Post by: FifteensAway on November 15, 2022, 04:18:05 PM
Is it only me or have the photos gone missing?! 

From the comments, I really want to see this game.  Drats.

edit: Just reloaded and this time the photos showed up. 

Love it - all the wildlife, nice bits of terrain, a nice village and whatever the action was.

Photos are great but perhaps we can get a bit of an After Action Report and what rules were used?
Title: Re: pacarat’s Darkest Africa misadventures
Post by: Grumpy Gnome on November 15, 2022, 04:33:04 PM
Great looking set up! So many brilliant details. 👍
Title: Re: pacarat’s Darkest Africa misadventures
Post by: marianas_gamer on November 15, 2022, 07:47:19 PM
Great looking game!
Title: Re: pacarat’s Darkest Africa misadventures
Post by: MaleGriffin on November 15, 2022, 07:59:06 PM
Fantastic looking game! I LOVE IT! Thank you for sharing! Where did you get your elephants?
Title: Re: pacarat’s Darkest Africa misadventures
Post by: pacarat on November 15, 2022, 08:17:56 PM
Thanks gents, appreciate the kind words. The DA era/theme is near the top of my favorites list. Just so much there to work with - terrain, people, animals, etc. I finally have enough stuff painted to allow me to put something like this on the table.

Designed the game for six players, six signed, had five show (including  a walk up) and play.  Only a 3.5 hour slot so it was tight.

Multiple factions were provided general objectives and a list of “friend and foe” factions.

Factions were Frontier Police, Zanzibari Slavers, Big Game Hunters, Renegades, and The Ladies Flora, Fauna, and Winchester Appreciation Society. I had Ruga Ruga available as the sixth group, plus a half dozen or more NPC groups available based on random events and encounters.

The Zanzibari went after the villagers, capturing a handful by game’s end. The FP went after the Renegades, who as they were evading the FP ran into Pygmies in their jungle village. They then ran into the Ladies, (who had encountered and engaged the Jungle Lord to join them in protecting the environment and local populace).

The Hunters’ Big Men unit went after the bull elephant. They severely wounded the bull, and evaded his charge with just one casualty due to trampling. The City Slickers unit heard rumors of man eating lions threatening the village; eventually encountered and then took out one of the lionesses.

I used Triumph & Tragedy rules, with adjustments for small units (each faction had a hero plus three 6-7 figure units.) I like the rules, but may try some mods for next convention.  Given the number of players (none knew the rules), and the limited time slot I need something relatively easy to pick up and with a quicker pace. (This is not a knock on T&T at all). I’ll be reviewing my notes and feedback I got from a couple players to make some tweaks. I need to streamline the activation and make the combat a bit more deadly.

(A side note - I ran a Pleistocene Mammoth Hunt the night before, and by the third turn the players were running the mechanics without my assistance at all)

Below are some pics of the local fauna in my collection:

(https://i.imgur.com/Hrk3VQ6.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/BqTN3Km.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/cZBX5aI.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/t7AuiRE.jpg)
Title: Re: pacarat’s Darkest Africa misadventures
Post by: pacarat on November 15, 2022, 08:22:07 PM
Fantastic looking game! I LOVE IT! Thank you for sharing! Where did you get your elephants?

Papo, Schleich, and Safari Ltd.
Title: Re: pacarat’s Darkest Africa misadventures
Post by: FifteensAway on November 15, 2022, 08:46:26 PM
Love all the beasties!  In 15 mm, many hundreds already painted for my East Africa insanity with many, many more hundreds to do.  And hundreds of humans, too.  Probably use Fistful of Lead: Big Battles when I get around to running a game.  Hope mine will look half as good as yours!
Title: Re: pacarat’s Darkest Africa misadventures
Post by: flatpack on November 16, 2022, 07:19:51 AM
You’ve really gone to town with your game, well done.
It’s like a firework display, as I don’t know where to look next   o_o
Great colours, great character. Brilliant.
Title: Re: pacarat’s Darkest Africa misadventures
Post by: has.been on November 16, 2022, 09:19:41 AM
Inspiring work. Well done.
Title: Re: pacarat’s Darkest Africa misadventures
Post by: Golgotha on November 16, 2022, 09:56:25 AM
Cracking do love all the wildlife - what are you still hoping to add?
Title: Re: pacarat’s Darkest Africa misadventures
Post by: has.been on November 16, 2022, 12:53:54 PM
Quote
what are you still hoping to add?

Some deceased Ox-like South African antelope, but
that would be...
THE END OF THE GNUS lol lol lol
(I'll get my coat)
Title: Re: pacarat’s Darkest Africa misadventures
Post by: pacarat on November 16, 2022, 04:44:37 PM
Thanks all…

I have to credit (blame?!) this forum for my inspiration.. when I first joined and started browsing the african related threads I was blown away by all of the great scenes (both 15mm and 28mm) presented. So I jumped in, and have steadily added to the collection. (After a seven or eight span of painting only 15mm WW2 this environment was a welcome change!)

I still have a box of African-herd-animal-shame unpainted… more gnu, oryx, zebra, giraffe, impala, and cattle.

Currently on the paint table are a dozen gazelles, and some feeding/grounded vultures.

On the shopping list are meerkats, and I’ve been looking for additional grazers - kudu, eland, okapi, etc. Basically anything with an interesting or unusual color scheme.

I’ve been looking for white egrets to put on bases next to the buffalo, similar to what I did with the tickbirds.

(https://i.imgur.com/psCy3AX.jpg)


For humans I still want to paint some more tribal forces, some Belgians, and additional Ruga and Zanzibari.

(https://i.imgur.com/5hMFetb.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/HiLCx5e.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/0dJ1EiZ.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/ZplWwjp.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/9AKLpOR.jpg)
Title: Re: pacarat’s Darkest Africa misadventures
Post by: has.been on November 16, 2022, 06:11:22 PM
Very impressive as is, but that would not stop me wanting to
see it after you finish your, 'To Do' list.
 :)
Title: Re: pacarat’s Darkest Africa misadventures
Post by: MaleGriffin on November 17, 2022, 02:08:17 AM
This has to be one of the most AMAZING Darkest Africa collections I've ever seen! Bravo! I'm green with envy!
Title: Re: pacarat’s Darkest Africa misadventures
Post by: pacarat on November 17, 2022, 06:30:00 PM
Thanks much… it’s fun to see it all together - has been in storage for several years after our pre-pandemic move. Finally getting the game room set up and populated.

I still need to build a log stockade/kraal and a couple of grain storage outbuildings. That will pretty much complete the list for man-made structures, unless something else comes up that I can’t resist.




Title: Re: pacarat’s Darkest Africa misadventures
Post by: JBaumal on November 17, 2022, 09:24:21 PM
What an absolutely fabulous collection, I’m in awe!!!
Title: Re: pacarat’s Darkest Africa misadventures
Post by: pacarat on November 18, 2022, 02:03:21 PM
Thanks!


I needed some loot/trade material for the Hunters, Metchants, and Ruga Ruga to “haggle” over, so genned up a few bases of ivory.

Heat bake FIMO, rolled and shaped on our kitchen island countertop (very smooth surface).

I have a couple loose pieces of Foundry ivory,  not near enough for a pile or three

(https://i.imgur.com/Rm5USsV.jpg)

And after all that work, forgot to put them on the table… drrp.
Title: Re: pacarat’s Darkest Africa misadventures
Post by: FifteensAway on November 18, 2022, 03:05:05 PM
Love the ivory - in my plans to do almost exactly that.   The reason I say almost is I hadn't planned on the hollow ends that you did.  My plan duly amended - though a bit more challenging in 15 mm.  I will 'weather' mine a bit more than you did yours to be a bit less 'white', just my personal take on it.  Yours look great.

Oh, I bake my fimo style items in the oven and use a glass pyrex container.  How much odor do you get using the stove top (have same type)?

Your collection is truly spectacular.  I will likely have you beat in numbers in the end but definitely not in quality of paint job - even accounting for 15 mm.  Very nicely done.
Title: Re: pacarat’s Darkest Africa misadventures
Post by: pacarat on November 18, 2022, 03:47:11 PM
Appreciate the comments.

I did mine in our toaster oven @ 260F for 15 minutes. Used some heavy duty foil as plate. No odor that I detected, but I don’t have the best sense of smell. (I do have a spare toaster oven in the garage just for smelly hobby stuff.)

I should have used nitrile gloves to eliminate any chance of fingerprints. Think I was careful enough that none are visible. The rough ends were happenstance after cutting root end off, I just worked a bit to get an irregular shape.

I do have to say that it was a bit uncomfortable making these, knowing that in real life so many animals were hunted (and still are)…
Title: Re: pacarat’s Darkest Africa misadventures
Post by: FifteensAway on November 19, 2022, 01:57:05 AM
"I do have to say that it was a bit uncomfortable making these, knowing that in real life so many animals were hunted (and still are)…"

Absolutely understand that - have the same feelings about my plan.  But I think it would be hypocritical not to address the reality.  Similar with having some figures of Africans being traded into slavery, hands bound and that awful way of using sticks to do so.  But it did happen and I don't want to sanitize it.  Representing what was on the tabletop, in my mind, in no way condones what was done in the past - if anything, I hope it gives an opportunity to educate those who ask about it.  And to express how I feel about it in today's world.
Title: Re: pacarat’s Darkest Africa misadventures
Post by: giorgio on November 19, 2022, 01:21:35 PM
Gorgeous beasties! Great scenario!   :-*
Title: Re: pacarat’s Darkest Africa misadventures
Post by: italwars on November 30, 2022, 09:34:07 PM
everything beautiful..similar to a 20 c. Hollywood moovie :)..just a question: where did you get those flying birds? i suppose they are wild geeese?
Title: Re: pacarat’s Darkest Africa misadventures
Post by: pacarat on November 30, 2022, 10:40:53 PM
thanks folks…


The birds are “peeve” vultures originally from Fanticide Liberi faction. Available now from Eureka. (100FAN106 is the code).

Set has two single birds (shown in my pics) and a joined pair I have yet to paint. :)
Title: Re: pacarat’s Darkest Africa misadventures
Post by: duc de limbourg on December 01, 2022, 10:49:12 AM
Wow, just noticed this colonial thread but the figures (human and beasts) are great as is the terrain. well done and thanks for sharing.
Title: Re: pacarat’s Darkest Africa misadventures
Post by: Abrasapuentes on December 14, 2022, 04:31:18 PM
My goodness, I am envious to see such a magnificent table to play on. It is a round project, to the exceptional quality of the painting of the miniatures, is joined by the table, with an unbeatable scenery.

I take my hat off. Bravo
Title: Re: pacarat’s Darkest Africa misadventures
Post by: pacarat on December 15, 2022, 02:45:20 PM
Thanks folks, appreciate the comments.

A few more pics.

(https://i.imgur.com/qkxM8XY.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/QcEe3YE.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/Sq8cSg3.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/OXgI3Ml.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/VQpOUAu.jpg)

Title: Re: pacarat’s Darkest Africa misadventures
Post by: MaleGriffin on December 15, 2022, 03:51:44 PM
Absolutely magnificent! Inspirational! I'm absolutely in love with your collection!
Title: Re: pacarat’s Darkest Africa misadventures
Post by: FifteensAway on December 17, 2022, 02:25:09 PM
Back, yet again, to peruse this thread - a bit hazardous with the bits of envious drool drops on the keyboard!  lol - and expect to be back more times.  So much to absorb.  One viewing is not nearly enough to pick up all the detail.

So, two comments/questions.  Any plans to create a more greenish/brown river?  I think it would enhance the setup some.  Not necessary, spectacular as is but a thought I had while looking through this time around.  You mentioned being done with human constructs but one thing I don't see - and might not be appropriate for where you imagine this setting to be but I think it probably would be given the variety of wildlife - is a boma.  So, any plans to add a boma?  I don't think I saw one in the photos - but there is so much I could have missed it.

 :-* :-* :-* ;D :o.  (do we need a drool icon?)
Title: Re: pacarat’s Darkest Africa misadventures
Post by: Digits on December 17, 2022, 04:26:43 PM
Lovely looking collection…bravo!

My favourites are the buffalo with tick birds…superb!
Title: Re: pacarat’s Darkest Africa misadventures
Post by: CapnJim on December 19, 2022, 06:42:04 PM
Lovely.  Just lovely!  And those elephants are big buggers.  Wouldn't want to get in their way... ;)
Title: Re: pacarat’s Darkest Africa misadventures
Post by: pacarat on January 09, 2023, 04:47:14 PM
Thanks much for the positive remarks. Been out of pocket for the last few weeks, been swamped with RL junk. Looking forward to some hobby goodness in the new year.

I’ve just ordered a few more packs from Foundry to plus up my Askaris, which should (for now) be enough DA figs to handle larger skirmishes with that force.

Re river color, yeah the blue/ green is not optimal, and I’ve been wanting to do something in browner tones. More in keeping with pics I’ve seen and read about (the great grey green greasy Limpopo, right?) I haven’t found the right material yet to give me the effect I’m looking for.

No boma so far - I have the raw materials and was intending to make one for the con game, but ran out of time… That RL priority thing that gets in the way.