ACW and a decent movie

 American Civil War this week in the teeth of storm whatever, which simply used to be called high winds, I picked up Duncan and was a little anxious as the road to his place is rugged with trees both sides and it is also being used as a 'rat run' at the moment because the main road is closed while a workforce of Zombies complete the installation of a water pipe, three months is it now? Where's some legionaries when you need them.

I was taking Simon through Johnny Reb again, he has played a couple of times but JR needs commitment, I also introduced command and control this time and to be honest should have kept the numbers down considering it was a club night. Two Federal brigades once again fought off three of Hood's brigades. I set up once again with the Iron Brigade on my right and Cutler on the left, the troops were a bit more strung out than I liked and I really did not have anyone in reserve. Simon came on with the Texans opposite my left and Benning and Anderson taking up the rest of the line. 

 My artillery started well and the rifles took out a Reb Napoleon after which they just gave up, my Napoleon battery on the other hand did sterling work against the advancing Grey hordes. Simon played well and I had great difficulty holding my left as the Texans advanced, my line was simply too thin and it buckled, I held my centre without a problem and advanced the Iron Brigade against Anderson. Using the command and control rules meant Anderson's brigade got into a bit of trouble and it put them in a bad spot as the Union troops closed.

 Time was against us and we had to wrap up with neither side winning, the centre of both sides stood  while the left flanks of both reached a crises point, but sadly we had to end things there. I should have known better and will be more careful in the future.

 I might have bored you with my new 2022 project recently, the Byzantine army of 800-1000AD, well no more dear reader, that project has been binned for now, maybe 2024 during Lockdown 347 when they have to use numbers for variants having run out of letters. I have decided on the Italian Wars, my interest was first tweaked when someone invited me to join the Facebook page, then at FIASCO in Leeds I managed to see Yarkshire Gamers beautiful army in the flesh, it had lots of flags and I like flags. It also just happens that I have been involved with maps for two of Helion's Italian Wars publications and they have a wargamers guide on the wars in the pipeline. I also took YG's recommendation and bought 'Furioso' rules, they seem fine to me and he explains some house rules which he has tagged on on his blog. So 2022 is sorted and probably a bit of 2023 as well at this rate.

Gripping Beast have not managed to sort out their takeover of Front Rank yet and until they do they are not selling the figures. Fired with enthusiasm from my last 'Honours of War' game I decided to increase my SYW forces to three brigades a side, I ordered up troops from North Star and have had to wait a long time, no doubt they have been busy from their 'Not Salute' promotions. I got notice today they are on their way, if they are good and mix well, which I believe they will, then I shall send another order to complete the project. All I have done lately is repaint some western 4Ground fences so they will fit with my Eastern Front terrain.

It is SYW at the club next week and I have decided to take my 28mm SYW, there will be our Christmas Game the week after then a halt for the festive season. I have already penned in the 9th January for a JR game here at me casa and I know that Ed is looking at building a Viking army for War and Conquest while Charlie is recruiting more infantry for his Normans, so good news for my two favourite games.

 I had the opportunity to watch 'The Last Duel' the other night, oh and it wasn't, the last one was a couple of hundred years later, but hey, whose counting. I had actually bought the book several years ago and enjoyed it, on seeing the first trailer for the movie where the jousters wore some kind of Orc inspired half helmet I sighed, not pour moi. Well, I was wrong, yes there are a couple of things which are not quite right, but as it is the 21st Century you have to live with some, lovely glass windows on the chateau for instance, too much? The stories of the three main characters are evenly told and they all seem to be products of their time, the woman deserves sympathy while the two men are very hard to like whoevers side you take. I also found the duel itself quite exciting and will give them points for the men using not just the blades of their swords as weapons but the handles as well. A well crafted and very good movie and I cannot say that very often these days. The movie has 'bombed' according to the those in the know and the director's excuse, which I think is valid is “what we’ve got today, [are] the audiences who were brought up on these f***ing cellphones..." Don't read the reviews, watch the film and be entertained by a good story told well.

 The cartography has slowed down for now, there has been some small two or three map projects put to rest but nothing requiring a lot of work over the coming celebrations (if that is the right word with the sword of science hanging over us). I am quite glad of this to be honest and don't expect things to pick up again until January. The LMF however is bulging and just crying out for a big spend.

Oh, and Duncan has his replica SdKfz 222 back but it is under a tarpaulin and no point dragging it off in this weather, but soon I hope to explore it, I would love to drive it along main street.