Books and an Adventure.

 The gentleman over at College of Kings is planning to do a huge battle of Pavia for the 500th anniversary in 2025 with between 2,000 to 2,500 figures on the table and he is blogging his progress, so I for one am interested. Already he is questioning the use of heavy arquebuses using forked rests which are not thought to come into favour until much later, what difference that would make in a game I don't know but one source says a shot from one could go through two men in armour. On his recommendation I bought The Battle of Pavia by Jean Giono, first printed in French in 1963, this is an excellent book and not your typical battle book. The author brings alive both Francis I and Charles V warts and all, and examines all the primary sources on the battle which he calls 'a skirmish'. My only grumble is that there is no map and this is a must to understand what is happening. It helps to find one online, of which there are many, and have it close by on your phone or tablet or check out the one on College of Kings which has obviously been drawn from the info in the book. Do not be put off by the blank cover there is treasure inside.

On the subject of books I read an article on truth by Peter Hitchens and he mentioned the effect a book written by Josephine Tey, The Daughter of Time, had on him when he was at school. It involves an infirm detective who passes his time recuperating looking at Richard III and investigating his 'crimes' from a modern (for 1951 at least) point of view. Being a big fan I dove in and got the book, it arrived today.

This week I played in a Back of Beyond game organised by Rob, he also provided everything required from his extensive collection. I commanded the bad guys for a change who consisted of all manner of cutthroats and mercenaries, gathered together to capture four spies making their way to a train station in the middle of nowhere to be rescued. A European force including British and French troops were to ensure the train made it to the station and the said spies brought home safely.

The train and escort arrive.

The spies.

I got to the station first and put my disparate groups in terrain which hid them from the oncoming train, I also had an armoured car which someone had stolen, as we waited and watched the train another armoured car approached from the east, the spies! The Westerners were a bit too keen and were taught a lesson by my renegades, in quick succession several units including a squads of Scots were gunned down, I got carried away and sent some brigands forward to occupy the station only for them to be shot in turn but some managed to retire behind a small hill. 

Woo, woo.

The sweepings of the Bazaar.

I now brought up my own armoured car while my cavalry ran too and fro not knowing where to attack, more fire was turned on the locomotive and the machine ground to a halt a short distance from the station, as the crew tried to make repairs I spotted this and shot them down. Now a hero in a red coat rode forward, jumped into the cab, released the brake, and leapt once more onto his horse. By now I had two of my hero's in the station and one giant, bald character broke cover and threw several molotov cocktails in the trains direction, whatever the timing of this attack the train stopped just a tad short of the station. The enemy armoured car was now alongside the station, my other hero made an attack and then the remnants of my earlier squad also made an attack, despite taking hits I managed to kill two of the occupants and force the others to abandon the vehicle. For a moment I managed to get someone into it despite the carnage and turn the gun on some British troops nearby, this did not last long as a flurry of grenades finally finished the tin can off.

My hero's tackle the armoured car.

Almost over as my boys close in.

Using my now overwhelming numbers I rushed the stalled train and delivered death to the British contingent, the remaining spies were given one of the horses and rode into the gathering dusk leaving behind my victorious troops ransacking the carriages. Although two of the spies made it out my desperadoes were more than happy. A great little game and a desperate struggle for the train, I have to admit that Lady Luck was more inclined towards the old Navy veteran in this tussle. I shall be back in Rob's company in Grange on Sunday for another large Napoleonic clash.

I have finished the first unit for the Imperial cavalry led by the Marquis of Mantau along with an artillery piece, I now have a second on the tray with another gun in waiting. I am making a concerted effort to finish these troops as I bit the bullet and raided the LMF in order to get two pike blocks with supporting arquebusiers, crossbowmen and sword and buckler skirmishers along with some light cavalry for the Spanish contingent of the army from The Assault Group. I suspect gathering this amount of figures will take time so I think I have a week at least, this is my first big spend this year and it will give me at least two-thirds of my planned Imperial infantry although I may add some cavalry between the pike blocks, but wait, I am getting ahead of myself. On a run to B&Q I picked up some lengths of wood and a tub of polyfilla to make some breastworks, I was planning on maybe doing it this weekend but I need to source some bases first.

I have solved my TV dilemma just as I was about to give up, Korean TV! No more searching for 45 minutes and then ten minutes of lecturing before turning off. Yes there is the odd cultural moment which surprises but overall far better than anything I have watched in ages, and it brings back memories of my trip there several years ago. I have also given 'Beef' a try, a 'comedy' which is flavour of the month at the moment (no pun intended) however just finished episode three and the shine is coming off and I have yet to laugh.

Taxi Driver.

The map front has been steady which is better than being overloaded, my name was passed to another large military publisher but I do not want to go down this route as I have enough on my plate and I do not want mapping to turn into a 'real' job. If I can keep the LMF ticking over I am happy. Some interesting projects recently with wargaming connections, Helion's upcoming book on the German Peasants War which Artizan and Steel Fist are making figures for and an upcoming scenario book for Simon Miller's 'For King and Parliament' rules called "Montrose: To Win and Lose it All" by William Linhart, Peter Page and Paul Reynolds.

Road of Slaughter.

 

German Peasants War.

Bavarian Succession.

Wellington's Unsung Heroes.

 

Montrose.