Atlantis campaign begins...

[Bullshott]

Which also involves me - The Confederates are coming! (As is a PM)

Could be VERY interesting if they ever get to meet the US buffalo soldier unit I'm about to start working on 

[Red Orc]

Strangely, I'd just said something similar by PM.

I'm intrigued as to the Confederacy's involvement. Should make for a very interesting set of feuds and alliances!

[v_lazy_dragon]

Bullshott - I look forward to the possibilities!

I thought I'd post up the various bits I sent to Red Orc regarding my Confederates (I'm afraid its rather long)

As regards the confederacy - in my timeline they 'won' the civil war, and are currnetly fighting the '2nd American war' (My force is from the late 1870's). I'm guessing by the time of the campaign they'll probably have just about survived the 3rd American War with lots of Anglo-French Assisstance.

Having fought 3 rather brutal & protracted wars in 30 years, and lacking the North's industrial infrastructre, the forces are pretty ragged and irregularly armed, but make up for it in terms of experiance and determination.
Although some units have Bolt actions, a large percenatage are armed with Snider-Enfield cartridge conversions. They don't have much in the way of steamtech (lacking the resources to build or buy much) although what they do have is generally fairly good. Due to this lack of technological wonders, most inantry units carry explosives and a heavy 'Anti-contraption' rifle or two which atleast give them a chance against enemy armour. The force will hopefully have a fair bit of artillery (although most of it will be fairly dated). During the 2nd & 3rd American wars, the use of guerillas/partisans continued unabated, and as part of the Atlantis landing a large group of volunteer 'fillibusters' has joined the force.

On the slave question, no general emancipation has occured, although a policy of 'phased' emancipation* instigated during the 2nd American war continues.

*Due to a lack of manpower, and partly to appease their potential French & existing British allies, the Confederate goverment began a policy of accepting slave 'volunteers' into the army. In this process, the goverment pays the slave's value to his former owner, at which point the slave becomes property of the goverment (And is said to be Bonded). The bonded slave serves in the states army, recieving no wages, until such a time that the unpaid wages equals the purchase sum, at which point the slave is free. If they remain in the army, they then recieve a standard wage. Where a slave chooses, the goverment may also purchase any of the slaves immediate family, and the acrued wages pay for these members first, before finally freeing the bonded soldier. Should a bonded soldier die before these debts are fully paid, a govermental pension scheme has been set up to continue paying off the debt on the slaves family (Once the deceased slaves family is free, these payments cease).
Freed slaves are incorperated into integrated units - a practice which caused major upheveals at first, but which has now become accepted. 'Bonded' slaves usually serve in seperate units, underwhite or freed-black officers. 

So I'll be looking to ally with the French & British, and trying to bloody the noses of the damn Yankies & their Prussian supporters! I'll also pop up a post with my existing army in it...

[HerbyF]

Those Pyramids & temples are from Stonehouse Miniatures out of Portland, Oregon, USA. The same people that make the steam elephant. Looks like they are unpainted, that is the color of the resin they cast their buildings in.

[Red Orc]

@ Very Lazy Dragon -

Wow...

that's some alternative history! Not sure we can entirely integrate the 30-odd years of backstory into the campaign, but I'm quite happy that the force as you've described it is viable in game terms. We may have to say you've been operating from the Caribbean or South America with support from the British and French (at least in the beginning... it might be thought that by 1871 during the Third Republic the French might be backing the Union... potentially making the Confederates, British and Prussians allies against France and the USA... and maybe Russia too...).

It'll obviously cause some headaches for the British - I believe they were thinking of making common cause with the US forces, against the Japanese... oh what a tangled web (imaginary) imperialist history is!

@ HerbyF - thanks for the info on that. I probably won't be ordering any, I'll just have to make some at home (not as nice, obviously) from polystyrene foam and grey poster paint. Oh well, they can join the rest of my rubbish-looking half-made terrain!

[v_lazy_dragon]

@ Red Orc - That's fair enough. I thought 'd put most of the backstory in, and then let you whittle down the stuff that wouldn't otherwise fit I don't see why the British can't back both sides of the Mason-Dixon line, especially against different opponents - they just have to be very careful they don't get caught doing it! 

[Red Orc]

Oooh, so young, and yet so cynical! 

[Fuzzywuzzieswiflasers]

The campaign is getting off to a great start!
I can't wait to get back to the club for my next gaslight game.

On the subject of atlantean troops I had a spark of an idea when I remember these minis from eureka:

http://eurekamin.com.au/index.php?cPath=87_126_721

Armies and enemies of the petal throne. I could never see myself buying these minis but now I may have to reconsider that decision

The interesting thing for the British government is whether to use the new skywalker troops to rescue the survivors of the zambesi disaster or re route the troops on board HMES Hermes to Atlantis.

Cheers
Fuzzy.

[Bullshott]

@ Very Lazy Dragon -

It'll obviously cause some headaches for the British - I believe they were thinking of making common cause with the US forces, against the Japanese... oh what a tangled web (imaginary) imperialist history is!

@ Very Lazy Dragon - be aware that there are currently at least two seperate American forces on Atlantis in addition to yours - a North East Coast university/mining company expedition with military protection (my force) and a West Coast (Californian?) university expedition.

On the West Coast of Atlantis the British are somewhat pre-occupied by a Japanese attack on their forces and the near by US expedition is keeping a wary eye on the Japanese too. On the East Coast of Atlantis the British and Prussian aeronef fleets have recently had a clash. So it looks like the Brits are somewhat pre-occupied. Not sure if any French have arrived on Atlantis.

[v_lazy_dragon]

Hmm...  It looks like I'm going to have fun dodging fighting the Federals in that case. Still, all the more reason to justify reinforcements!

It also sounds like the Brits are going to be fairly busy on their own account at this rate, and at this rate they may well choose to ally to the more multitudinous USA forces.
I wonder if the Japanese are looking for allies....

[OSHIROmodels]

I wonder if the Japanese are looking for allies....

At the moment we seem to be trouncing the British quite solidly thank you very much   

(maybe later  )

cheers

James

[Malamute]

At the moment we seem to be trouncing the British quite solidly thank you very much   

(maybe later  )

cheers

James

 

One small skirmish  and you'd think they had won the war

[Thunderchicken]

At the moment we seem to be trouncing the British quite solidly thank you very much   

(maybe later  )

cheers

James

Not for much longer my fiendish friend. Look towards the skies........... (and remember never to look directly at the sun, its not good for your eyes).

[Lupus]

Not for much longer my fiendish friend. Look towards the skies........... (and remember never to look directly at the sun, its not good for your eyes).

Sorry but the Brisitsh Aeronef Patrol is currently inbound to bomb a Prussan Aernef supply Depot.

We could be available for any other suppression duties after we get back.  Though the lads might need a cuppa and bacon roll before we head out again

[Malamute]

Sorry but the Brisitsh Aeronef Patrol is currently inbound to bomb a Prussan Aernef supply Depot.

We could be available for any other suppression duties after we get back.  Though the lads might need a cuppa and bacon roll before we head out again

As usual the tin red line is stretched to the limits....