Anna Stuffs: Colonial & Victorian Wargaming

[War In 15MM]

Hi Anna, Colonial and Victorian Era are great areas of focus... really some fun stuff available.  I very much like your brushwork on the face of the hatless Royal Irish Fusilier.  Enjoy the hobby!  Richard

[Harry Faversham]

Now that's how the Widdo o' Winsors Sowjers are supposed to look!  

The Widow at Windsor

’AVE you ’eard o’ the Widow at Windsor
With a hairy gold crown on ’er ’ead?
She ’as ships on the foam—she ’as millions at ’ome,
An’ she pays us poor beggars in red.
(Ow, poor beggars in red!)
There’s ’er nick on the cavalry ’orses,
There’s ’er mark on the medical stores—
An’ ’er troopers you’ll find with a fair wind be’ind
That takes us to various wars.
(Poor beggars!—barbarious wars!)
Then ’ere’s to the Widow at Windsor,
An’ ’ere’s to the stores an’ the guns,
The men an’ the ’orses what makes up the forces
O’ Missis Victorier’s sons.
(Poor beggars! Victorier’s sons!)

Walk wide o’ the Widow at Windsor,
For ’alf o’ Creation she owns:
We ’ave bought ’er the same with the sword an’ the flame,
An’ we’ve salted it down with our bones.
(Poor beggars!—it’s blue with our bones!)
Hands off o’ the sons o’ the Widow,
Hands off o’ the goods in ’er shop,
For the Kings must come down an’ the Emperors frown
When the Widow at Windsor says “Stop”!
(Poor beggars!—we’re sent to say “Stop”!)
Then ’ere’s to the Lodge o’ the Widow,
From the Pole to the Tropics it runs—
To the Lodge that we tile with the rank an’ the file,
An’ open in form with the guns.
(Poor beggars!—it’s always they guns!)

We ’ave ’eard o’ the Widow at Windsor,
It’s safest to let ’er alone:
For ’er sentries we stand by the sea an’ the land
Wherever the bugles are blown.
(Poor beggars!—an’ don’t we get blown!)
Take ’old o’ the Wings o’ the Mornin’,
An’ flop round the earth till you’re dead;
But you won’t get away from the tune that they play
To the bloomin’ old rag over’ead.
(Poor beggars!—it’s ’ot over’ead!)
Then ’ere’s to the sons o’ the Widow,
Wherever, ’owever they roam.
’Ere’s all they desire, an’ if they require
A speedy return to their ’ome.
(Poor beggars!—they’ll never see ’ome!) [/b]

[Mad Guru]

Speaking of "...The Sword and the Flame"...

Anna, please forgive me for slighting derailing this thread of yours, but as a recent arrival to the Colonial period, I'm not sure if you're familiar with the Sword and the Flame colonial rules set, first published way back in 1979, revised edition published in 2000, with many variants also available from the publishers as well as online at the dedicated Yahoo Group.  They have their devotees (including myself!) and detractors, but have remained popular and are still in wide use amongst Colonial gamers here in the US.

Five years ago an annual convention called "COLONIAL BARRACKS" started in Metarie, Louisiana -- just outside New Orleans -- devoted to games using those rules as well as rules for various other periods written by the same author, Larry Brom.

This year the convention will be held from Thursday, November 5th to Sunday, November 8th.

I attended the first one back in 2011 and plan to attend again this year, hopefully to run my Second Afghan War Battle of Charasiab game -- if I can get all the terrain done in time!

It's a great convention, small but very friendly and congenial, and if you're into Colonials, it's somewhat fantastic.  Two friends of mine from Florida and Colorado also plan to attend and put on games this year, both of which will be must-sees, and there will no doubt be many other excellent games as well, plus a handful of top-notch vendors.  To top it all off, New Orleans with all its food and music is a 20 minute drive from the hotel, more or less, depending on traffic.

Here's a link to the con's web-page:

http://www.sergeants3.com

No pressure or anything, but if you happen to be interested and available it might be worth going.  The weekend I spent there back in 2011 ranks as one of the very best wargaming convention experiences I've ever had.

PS  Your figures look great!

[Traveler Man]

Hurrah! More soldiers of the Queen (Gawd bless 'er!) to take on the Mad Mahdi! Nicely done figures, indeed.

[Arundel]

I can only wish I lived closer to the Colonial Barracks con. It combines two of my favourite things: colonial wargaming and easy access to Southern food. Awfully jealous of all those that can go...(*sniff*)

[Mad Guru]

Arundel, oddly enough I am in Southern California too, just like you.

Back in 2011 I drove about 2000 miles each way to Louisiana, as it was the only practical way to get my terrain boards there -- save an air charter flight, which I looked into but would have been insanely expensive.

Hopefully I'll make the same drive this coming November.  It's a relatively easy trip, mostly a straight line on the 10 Freeway due East and then coming back due West.  A little crazy perhaps, but I am the "Mad" Guru after all.

[Arundel]

Well, Guru, now I am jealous. I've always loved road trips: short of walking (inconvenient at my age under the best of circumstances, all the more so if I were lugging piles of toy soldiers, terrain and scenery along as well) there is no better way to see the country in all its variety. Out of curiosity, what game are you taking this year?

Anyway, you're a lucky devil, and that's a fact!

Daryl

[Mad Guru]

Daryl,

I am a lucky devil, you are correct, sir!

Not sure what you mean by "at my age" as here your age is shown as 47 -- which is a little younger than me!!!  But I certainly agree regarding the fun of road-trips in general.

The game I hope to bring is the October 6th 1879 Second Afghan War Battle of Charasiab, with General Roberts and his Kabul Field Force attempting to defeat an Afghan army outside Kabul, so they could enter the city and enact vengeance for the recent annihilation of Major Cavagnari's embassy.

...and if Anna Elizabeth shows up I'd be very happy to borrow any of the well-painted troops from her recent collection that she might make available!  (No pressure, Anna, just bringing the topic back to its original subject-matter!)

[Bravo Six]

All I'm seeing is pictures of a cat telling me the photo isn't found.

[Sunjester]

All I'm seeing is pictures of a cat telling me the photo isn't found.

Same here!

[Arundel]

Guru, the game sounds like a lot of fun! When it comes off please think about posting some pics.

[FramFramson]

Yes, pics are gone, sadly!