At the Sharp End and In the Sticky Stuff

Just a couple of quick tips today.

First, Wayland Games has a post free promotion until the 12th of february.

Just head over to Wayland Games and use the code above at check-out. (Not available if you live in Brazil or Russia though, bummer if you do.)

Buy this now!

Second, TooFatLardies has released a campaign supplement for their innovative WW2 rules, Chain of Command. Titled "At the Sharp End" this is a 48 page PDF detailing how to -- you guessed it -- run a small campaign centred around platoon sized forces.

The system uses a "ladder campaign", where each battle is represented as a rung on a ladder. At each end of the ladder is the objectives for either force, and the outcome of each battle will see the campaign climb up or down on the ladder until it reaches one of the objectives. What "At the Sharp End" does is tell us how to apply a lot of window dressing to this simple system to give the campaign both flair and a compelling story. The supplement contains info on both how to roll up the Big Men for your campaign as well as casualties, reinforcements and replacements. Your platoon commander must both succeed with his missions to appease his superiors while keeping the losses down to keep his men's trust. The system will also track your platoon commander's mental health, will he succumb to Exhaustion after loosing too many men, or will his string of victories make him an arrogant bastard?

The final chapter shows us how to put everything together and build a campaign. Richard Clarke talks through the process of aquiring info about the 5th Wiltshire regiment during the battles around Hill 112 in Normandy. Several actions are suitable for a platoon sized force such as the taking of the village Maltot. In showing us how to construct the campaign we also get to see the end result, meaning the book features a ready made campaign to play. Just add water, as they say. (And figures, and an opponent, but you knew that.)

At only £6, At the Sharpe End is a extremely good value for anyone thinking about putting together a small campaign for WW2. With some small changes it will also function for other periods like the Spanish Civil War and Korea or Vietnam. Adding to that the text is very entertaining to read as well. So what are you waiting for, go buy it now!

It's the secret ingredient in Noodle Soup!

My last tip is Instamold, or Oyumaru as it's originally called in Japan. I have had a hard time finding some as I didn't know what the real name was, but a friend who visits Japan quite frequently brought some back. If you do not know what Instamold is used for, let me just say that it's a reusable re-shapeable substance that can be used to make press molds with. It's like magic, just read on after the break.

Waka Waka (This one for Africa)

No this has nothing to do with Shakira, although I hope I get a gazillion extra hits due to the title. Sneaky eh? Instead I want to show you some finished and some WIP shots of the Perry figures I'm working on for North Africa.

You've seen these guys before, but I like them so I'm showing them again.

I finished these two for a speed build between christmas and new year's eve.

Some mould lines there I didn't notice...

The official designation was Rifle, Anti-Tank, .55in, Boys. I just call it a BFG!

And then it's on to the dastardly hun...

A squad plus a mortar team. I built a full sprue of figures at once but I only paint five or six at a time. 

I had to convert a MG team to that infamous "over the shoulder" pose.

Painting has begun. I try to vary the appearance but use similar colours on all figures to tie them together.

The squad leader naturally has an MP40, or Schmeisser as it's incorrectly called.

The DAK has more stuff to paint than the desert rats, like arm cuffs. Also I missed a mould line on the right guy's arm.

The platoon commander. "Vorwärts, männer!"

This project is coming along nicely. Expect a painting guide when I've finished the first figures. I'm already thinking of what to buy next, despite having more than sixty figures left to paint. These are destined to be used with Chain of Command where you start with a platoon and then add some support. So a heavy MG team on both sides is on the to-buy list, as is some vehicles. Maybe a carrier for the British and a half track or an armoured car for the Germans.

But here's the rub; Do I go 1/48 scale and use all the nice plastic models from Tamiya and others, or do I go the resin 1/56 scale that is supposed to be correct for 28mm figures? Price-wise it's a toss-up, they cost about the same. The kits are fiddlier, but I like building model kits so it's not really a down-side. On the other hand there are more vehicles available in resin as 1/48 scale is quite new for armour models, and Copplestone do a nice 28mm Rolls-Royce armoured car in metal.

And I have always wanted a Rolls...

"Army Building"

I've been thinking a bit about "Army Building", by which I mean putting together a suitable force of miniatures for your favourite miniatures game. This may sound easy but may be rather complicated. Especially if you are changing from one game to another, but more about that later.

My first pet peeve is calling it an "army". Unless you are playing high-level divisional game where you maneuver around on a map of a continent, your force is not an army. I'm betting it's not even a company, although that one is more possible.

At the Swedish Warhammer scene another odd habit has crept up -- most tournament players are calling their force a "team" like they were playing soccer. Or Bloodbowl. What do they think war is, a game??? Well... um, ok then.

An ork "Battleforce" from Games Workshop -- more like a recon platoon in my book. 

Now that I have gotten that out of my system, let's take a look at some of the problems.