American Revolution by Ken Burns

[Cholmondely Percival IV]

The French didn’t actually do that much fighting, though, did they? At least not on land. Their major effort appears to have been naval, in which, aside from briefly - though highly consequentially - cutting off Cornwallis’s army after the battle of the Chesapeake (a tactical draw but strategic victory) they suffered two major defeats, putting paid to one of their war aims of capturing the British Caribbean possessions. Their other one, of course, was to see Britain humbled as revenge for the Seven Years War.

[jon_1066]

Well that Navy wasn’t cheap.  They essentially bankrupt themselves to pay for it and gambled on taking over the very valuable Caribbean islands.

[Cholmondely Percival IV]

The original one. Some one made an effort to delete my name from the Junta page in Board Game Geek. I had to fuss to get the name of Merlin something or other removed as the original designer. Last I looked, the original name doesn't appear on the first page of designer names. Well, as long as it doesn't get totally erased..

The original creator, or is there another version of Junta? Any chance of a new edition? Did is sell well in Latin America, by the way?

We played the game a lot at a club I attended in the early 1980’s. I have particularly fond memories of one game in which I, as el Presidente, sabotaged a coup by the army commander by playing a card that confined his troops to barracks, thus prolonging my rule another turn.

[Cholmondely Percival IV]

Well that Navy wasn’t cheap.  They essentially bankrupt themselves to pay for it and gambled on taking over the very valuable Caribbean islands.

That’s perfectly true. I just wonder whether the king and his ministers ultimately thought but was worth it, prior to their own little difficulties. Given the nature and extent of Anglo-French rivalry, I suspect they just about did.

[vtsaogames]

The original creator, or is there another version of Junta? Any chance of a new edition? Did is sell well in Latin America, by the way?

We played the game a lot at a club I attended in the early 1980’s. I have particularly fond memories of one game in which I, as el Presidente, sabotaged a coup by the army commander by playing a card that confined his troops to barracks, thus prolonging my rule another turn.

The original first edition. The rights were sold in the early 80's. The card confining troops to barracks is from a later edition. I think the first edition had a pretender returns card, and a brigade had to head to the hinterlands to put down the revolt. Similar effect. No idea how it sold in Latin America. My favorite box design is from the German edition.

[Cholmondely Percival IV]

That’s a great image. I don’t recall the box of the edition I played as I never owned a copy myself, unfortunately.

[vtsaogames]

I just wonder whether the king and his ministers ultimately thought but was worth it, prior to their own little difficulties. Given the nature and extent of Anglo-French rivalry, I suspect they just about did.

The Financial Minister was opposed to entering the war. The Foreign Minister and most important, the King were for it. While the Navy kept Cornwallis from escaping Yorktown, Rochambeau's army gave Washington the edge in numbers that kept Cornwallis penned inside his works. Later, Rochambeau was scheduled to be guillotined. A few days before, Robespierre was instead and the Terror ended. Rochambeau's head remained attached.

[Cholmondely Percival IV]

The Finance Minister - was that Monsieur Necker? He held the position a few times, I seem to recall. I also believe his neck did not suffer the trauma that afflicted so many of his contemporaries, such as the Duc de Biron (formerly the Duc de Lauzun, a noted member of the Expédition Particulière).

[Cat]

And it was The Black Fingernail himself who executed Bidet and Camembert on the double-guillotine.
 
Carry On — Don't Lose Your Head

[FifteensAway]

To quote Akula: "Photos please  "

So, to whet his appetite:



If I ever get the entire collection painted - which is a definite goal - it will take about twenty of these 8 1/2" x 11" boxes to accommodate it all.  My plan is to glue in a magnetic sheet in each box - and, thankfully, those sheets come in that size. 

There will be more photos - under a different thread.  Soon.

[vtsaogames]

The Finance Minister - was that Monsieur Necker? He held the position a few times, I seem to recall. I also believe his neck did not suffer the trauma that afflicted so many of his contemporaries, such as the Duc de Biron (formerly the Duc de Lauzun, a noted member of the Expédition Particulière).

Indeed it was Necker, who floated foreign loans rather than raise taxes.

My, that is a bunch of troops. My AWI collection (both sides) fits in one double-level shoe box, slightly larger than 8.5 X 11.

[jon_1066]

To quote Akula: "Photos please  "

So, to whet his appetite:
...
If I ever get the entire collection painted - which is a definite goal - it will take about twenty of these 8 1/2" x 11" boxes to accommodate it all.  My plan is to glue in a magnetic sheet in each box - and, thankfully, those sheets come in that size. 

There will be more photos - under a different thread.  Soon.

Looks great

20?!  Are you modelling it 1:1?

[Tom Dulski]

 Although this is very good news I would have much preferred the Korean War.

[FifteensAway]

1:1?  Not hardly.  The total collection counting men, horses, artillery, casualties, civilians, limbers, and carts may reach into the vicinity of 5,000 pieces.  But at maximum - and very hard to pin down for a variety of reasons - there were probably around 100,000 maximum soldiers under arms at one time counting Continentals, Militia, British, German, Loyalist, French, and Spanish - and American Indians (not modeling the last but can readily borrow from by FIW collection).  Strengths for US are hardest, especially knowing the 'regulars' from the militia.  But numbers are difficult for most - we get totals for the Germans but usually including reinforcements.  British probably have best records.  French as well.  Spanish more of a challenge. 

People get the impression it was a 'small war' because the largest battles were small especially in comparison to the massive European events in the quarter century before and after the revolution which I think is because most accounts give short shrift to totals and focus on individual battles and campaigns.  But taking a full continent view of the forces yields much larger numbers.

At one time my goal was to paint every unit that participated but that goal melted away when I realized it was an impossible task, just not adequate records to do it - but I'll come reasonably close if it all gets painted.  Not all the way - but a good bit.

[jon_1066]

1:1?  Not hardly.  The total collection counting men, horses, artillery, casualties, civilians, limbers, and carts may reach into the vicinity of 5,000 pieces.  But at maximum - and very hard to pin down for a variety of reasons - there were probably around 100,000 maximum soldiers under arms at one time counting Continentals, Militia, British, German, Loyalist, French, and Spanish - and American Indians (not modeling the last but can readily borrow from by FIW collection).  Strengths for US are hardest, especially knowing the 'regulars' from the militia.  But numbers are difficult for most - we get totals for the Germans but usually including reinforcements.  British probably have best records.  French as well.  Spanish more of a challenge. 

People get the impression it was a 'small war' because the largest battles were small especially in comparison to the massive European events in the quarter century before and after the revolution which I think is because most accounts give short shrift to totals and focus on individual battles and campaigns.  But taking a full continent view of the forces yields much larger numbers.

At one time my goal was to paint every unit that participated but that goal melted away when I realized it was an impossible task, just not adequate records to do it - but I'll come reasonably close if it all gets painted.  Not all the way - but a good bit.

Don't worry it was just a joke, but 5000 figures is not to be sniffed at.  What sort of timescales are you giving yourself or is this a lifetime project?