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WELCOME VIRTUAL INSANITY
I
’ve recently been reading a lot about virtual reality goggles for
augmented reality, backed by hilariously awful AI
systems that can’t work out who fought for the
Nazis in WWII. It reminds me that – when it
comes to research – there is no substitute for
the immutable written word and – when we
think of gaming – I want toy soldiers not trick
goggles... So: for Cape Wars, Painting Panzer
Grenadiers (the right colour), Wars of the Roses,
How to Best Balance a Scenario, Historical
Silver Bayonet, Siege System Ideas, Scratch-
building, Tips on Photographing your Models
plus news and reviews, I present issue
number 493 of Miniature Wargames. As
Jason Kay sings: “Now there is no sound
if we all live underground, and now it’s
virtual insanity: forget your virtual
reality...” See you at Salute: for real!
John Treadaway
Editor
MINIATURE WARGAMES
EDITORIAL
EDITOR John Treadaway
MiniatureWargames@warnersgroup.co.uk
DESIGN Mike Carr
COVER: Wars of the Roses by Dave Tuck
ADVERTISING AND PRODUCTION
COMMERCIAL MANAGER Alex Lyon
01778 391129 | alex.lyon@warnersgroup.co.uk
PRODUCTION MANAGER Kay Cotterill
01778 395065 | k.cotterill@warnersgroup.co.uk
MARKETING
MARKETING MANAGER Sophie Thornton
01778 395085 | sophie.thornton@warnersgroup.co.uk
MARKETING EXECUTIVE Charlotte Bamford
01778 395081 | charlotte.bamford@warnersgroup.co.uk
IN THIS ISSUE
04 FORWARD OBSERVER
With the latest news items.
07 SEND THREE AND
FOURPENCE
The Silver Bayonet goes distinctly historical:
Napoleonic skirmish roleplaying from Mr Kinch.
13 PAINTING PANZERS
Getting the best from the Wargames Atlantic
plastic Panzer Lehr (or any other WWII German
figures, really!)
COVER 17 THE WARS OF
FEATURE THE ROSES
Dave Tuck tries out some rule ideas for this
exciting period.
23 DEFENCE IN DEPTH
With the latest figure and rules reviews.
26 THREE OF A KIND
It’s Command Decision and Jon Sutherland
reckons that - if the odds are right - you’ll fight!
32 CAPE WARS
Get in touch Chris Swan presents the concluding part about
the Wars with the Xhosa or Africa’s 100 Years
tabletopgaming.co.uk
War. This time there are three scenarios.
MiniatureWG
40 DICE CAMERA ACTION
MiniatureWargames How to video your wargames and produce epic
miniature_wargames_magazine cinematic blockbusters!
47 SNAKES & LADDERS
A siege simulator using a board game you might
PUBLISHED BY have lying around indoors that’s too good for kids.
PUBLISHER Claire Ingram
claire.ingram@warnersgroup.co.uk 51 A TALE OF TWO SHOWS
Warners Group Publications PLC The Maltings, West Street, A photo report of the Cavalier show.
Bourne, Lincolnshire PE10 9PH | 01778 391000
NEWSTRADE DISTRIBUTION
53 RECCE
Warners Group Publications Plc 01778 391150 Another feast of reading material to fill a
wargamer’s heaving shelves.
55 CLUB SPOT
The Skirmish Wargames collective.
57 SCRATCH BUILD
The views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the
publishers. Every care is taken to ensure that the content of this magazine Build a pig pen. Just look at the muck...
is accurate, but we assume no responsibility for any effect from errors or
omissions. While every care is taken with unsolicited material submitted for
publication, we cannot be responsible for loss or damage. While every care is
taken when accepting advertisements, we are not responsible for the quality 62 LAST WORD
and/or the performance of goods and/or services advertised in this magazine.
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) exists to regulate the content of With Benjamin Lycett of Cerberus Studios.
advertisements. Tel: 020 7429 2222 © Warners Group Publications PLC, 2023
May 2024 Miniature Wargames 3
 FORWARD OBSERVER
News, previews and community submissions from the wargaming world
SAXON VIOLENCE
28mm unarmoured warriors
from Victrix
The very latest plastic release from Victrix
is Early Saxon Unarmoured Warriors. £36
buys a bag of six identical sprues with
a total of 36 models which represent the
Early Saxons, Jutes, Angles and Danes
(all grouped together under the generic
title of ‘Saxon’) that invaded Britain
during the 4th to 6th centuries. There’s a
huge mix of head types (90 in total) from
bare headed to caps and various helmet
styles. Fur cloaks (with separate optional
‘paws’!) can be stuck on adding variety,
along with hair extensions and crests,
plus weapon options including swords,
spears, javelins (also held as spares in
multiples), hand axes and some Angons
with the metal socketed spearheads. Early
AGRI BUILDINGS &
ADVENTURERS
6mm Terrain and 15mm figures
for Sci-Fi
Brigade have some new releases for
Salute. Firstly they have some additional
Sci-Fi platform structures for their
Agri-Colony Building range: priced
at £2.50 to £3.50 there’s a Homestead,
Warehouses and a Chapel (complete with
as steeple). They also have some new
4 Miniature Wargames May 2024
Saxons often used smaller round shields
so there’s small bucklers included (36)
but also the same number of larger round
shields – both flat and slightly domed
– so the modellers can take their pict...
These are modelled in the usual Victrix
style of proportional and yet paintable
with lots of animation and some great
‘shouting’ faces! Go to victrixlimited.com
for more info.
Desert Fortress walls in the same scale.
Going up a size they have also added
some 15mm Adventurers with four
packs of six different figures: a mix of
humans and aliens in various attire.
These are great for Stargrave, Traveller
and 5 Parsecs from Home for the smaller
scaled adventure/skirmish or RPG
systems. These are £3.50 per pack of
six different and Brigade are aiming
for some vehicles to suit as well. Go to
brigademodels.co.uk
AFGHAN CAVALRY
Latest Age of Empires in 28mm
plastic
This latest release from Wargames
Atlantic includes a box of 12 models
depicting cavalry typical of the
North-West Frontier during conflicts
with the British from the 1830s-1920s.
Depending on weapon choices they
would not be inappropriate from 1700
up to the present time. The set comes
with a new horse sprue with bespoke
furniture and poses but – again – with
‘swappable’ body halves and four
different heads. The human component
comes with two torso options and lots
of different heads/hats plus weapons
can be selected from a range (swords –
both in use and sheathed – and rifles or
jezails). Models are proportionate and
well detailed and a set will cost £25 but
there’s a reduction for buying in bulk.
Go to wargamesatlantic.com.
CROOKED LATEST SHOW & TELL
Sci-Fi & Skellies FUTURE WARGAMING EVENTS
Adding to Sci-Fi clutter for 28mm Stargrave PARTIZAN
and similar, Crooked Dice have some Sunday 19th May
Octagonal Crates in a resin set which come as a Cedric Ford Pavilion,
single, a pair and a foursome for £7. And – if Newark Showground, NG242NY
your crew has some downtime – what about partizan.org.uk
an Arcade Machine to keep them occupied
(again in resin for £4). However – in a different BROADSIDE
vein – there are also two new sets of Skeleton Saturday 8th June
Archers: in metal and £4 each or £15 for a pack Medway Park Sports Hall, Mill Road,
Gillingham, Kent, ME7 1HF
of four with eight different poses available. For
miltonhundred.com
more info go to crooked-dice.co.uk.

JOY OF SIX
Sunday 14th July
Sheffield Hallam University, Howard Street,
Sheffield, S1 1WB
joysofsix.co.uk

CLAYMORE
Saturday 3rd August
Edinburgh College, Granton Campus.
Edinburgh EH5 1QE
seswc.co.uk

NAPOLEON THIS MONTH

SOLO
All-period wargaming, all
by yourself
Caliver Books are about
to release a new title called
Wargaming World Solo:
Ancient to Modern Solo
Wargaming. It’s a set of
guidelines and mechanics
designed to allow the gamer
who lacks regular opponents
play games in “any scale
of figures or period, with
examples from 1066-1975.”
The A4, 80 page book uses a chart based
system to generate an “Opponent” in a
realistic but still unpredictable way. Effectively
this is a paper “Artificial Intelligence” (AI)
and to set this in context he references other
systems that use similar ideas such as Chain
of Command, The Men Who Would Be Kings
(well known for the very popular Mr Babbage
system), One Hour Wargames, NUTS! Man to
Man Combat, and BOHICA (‘Nam).
The author – Gregory Ward – stresses that
AI wasn’t really how he wanted to describe
the system and instead settled on the term the
“Virtual You” or VY.
Illustrated with a large number of
photographs (from multiple periods) many
IN HISTORY
PUEBLA
5 MAY 1862
The Battle took place near
Puebla de los Ángeles,
during the Second French
intervention in Mexico.
French troops repeatedly
failed to storm the forts
of Loreto and Guadalupe
situated on top of the hills
of which are used for mapping overlooking the city of
examples with arrows applied Puebla, and eventually
to show concepts, the well retreated to Orizaba in order
illustrated book is divided into three main to await reinforcements.
sections of Overview (and general concepts), Lorencez was dismissed
Preparation, Play and required Tools. from his command, but more
The Play section – with many charts (and French would eventually take
utilising a deck of standard playing cards the city, however the Mexican
for the most part) – takes one through: Force victory against a better
Deployment; Game Turn Sequence; Unit Activation; equipped European force
Commands; Random Events; Flank and Reserve provided patriotic inspiration
Units; Movement; “Virtual You” Reactions; to the Mexicans. Slowed
Shooting; Hand to Hand Combat; and Morale. by their loss at Puebla, the
Overall it’s an interesting read even if – as French forces regrouped
might be expected – a little chart heavy. If you and with additional troops
need an opponent across the table to push were eventually victorious,
toys around and haven’t got one you can get winning the Second Battle of
a virtual antagonist and it’s only going to cost Puebla on 17 May 1863 and
you £17.50 from caliverbooks.com. pushing on to Mexico City.

May 2024 Miniature Wargames 5

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SEND THREE AND FOURPENCE
A CLAMOUR OF
CONFUSED WRONG
A historical Napoleonic scenario for The Silver Bayonet
MISSION STATEMENT
This is Miniature Wargames, the
magazine for all wargamers, and I like
to think that there’s something to that.
Our esteemed Editor Young Master
Treadaway makes it his business to
ensure that there is something for
everyone in these pages. You’ll find
science fiction, fantasy and horror
represented. Every shade and period
of historical wargaming has found a
home here. I’m struggling to think of
a conflict that I haven’t seen covered in
MW at some point. Possibly the Emu
War of 1932, though I’m not saying
that wargame is not on the cards...
It’s perfectly possible that Master
Treadaway has an Emu War article lined
up for next month’s issue (my money
is on Arthur Harman, but I could be
wrong), but I like to think that we’re a
broad church.
My pal Peter is no fan of “Swamp
Wizards” as he calls all non-strictly
historical wargaming, but it was during
a conversation with him that I realised
that one could use Joseph McCullough’s
19th century gothic horror game as a
straight historical wargame.
So please find below, a “straight”
solo scenario set in the aftermath of a
Napoleonic battle. The Silver Bayonet
is set during a fantastic version of
the Napoleonic wars. Similar to
Words and pictures by Conrad Kinch
Brotherhood of the Wolf, The Brothers
Grimm and Jonathan Strange & Mr
Norrell. Players will typically field forces
of 6-8 men lead by one officer figure.
Combat is fairly deadly with most
figures being able to take two to three
hits before being rendered hors de combat,
though it’s less chaotic than Stargrave,
as it uses 2d10 rather than a single d20:
something which the author addressed
recently in a post on his Patreon (patreon.
com/GamesfromtheGrave973):
ABOVE: Redcoats searching for Lt Molloy and
French stragglers skirmish.
›
May 2024 Miniature Wargames 7
 SEND THREE AND FOURPENCE
ABOVE: Here is a potential setup. I’ve already set up
the cards and casualty markers, though I wouldn’t
personally put cards on the board because I find it
distracting.
“Despite what they may have thought, I
didn’t have an epiphany that the bell curve
of rolling 2d10 is better than the swinginess
of the d20. Instead, I made a decision
based on how I wanted that game to play. I
wanted The Silver Bayonet slightly more
predictable than those other games, partly
because of its semi-historical nature and
partly due to the players having less figures
in their unit.”
As someone who has enjoyed all of
McCullough’s games that I’ve played,
I’ve found the Patreon value for money.
That said, you can play this scenario
with any set of skirmish Napoleonic or
black powder rules which use one figure
to represent one man. Flintloque from
Alternative Armies or Ganesha Games
Song of Drums & Shakos would be a
good fit.
SCENARIO: A CLAMOUR
OF CONFUSED WRONG
“Moon cold or moon hot. The road winds in
Listlessness of ancient war,
Langour of broken steel,
Clamour of confused wrong, apt
In silence. Memory is strong
Beyond the bone. Pride snapped,”
Excerpt from Rannoch, by Glencoe,
T.S. Eliot
8 Miniature Wargames May 2024
NARRATIVE
The cannonade has ceased. No more do
the rumbling hooves shake the ground.
Musketry no longer rents the clear air,
for the darkness has stolen in. The chill
of night is now encroaching and while
there is still gun fire, it is furtive and
melancholic. A grieving hussar pistolling
a wounded horse or a plunderer
finishing off one of the wounded who
will not go quietly. The gently falling
rain smothers the cries of the wounded,
but at least they can slake their thirst
while they await their fate. The battle is
done for the day, but may renew on the
morrow, for the enemy was beaten, but
not routed. You are summoned to the
tent of General Molloy. The old soldier’s
face is grey with grief and lack of sleep,
He rises to speak, but retakes his seat
when an aide touches his elbow and
guides him back to his chair.
“The general is busy with planning for
tomorrow’s affair. However, there is a personal
matter with which we would appreciate your
assistance. The general’s son Peter was leading
his squadron during today’s affair when he was
unhorsed and killed by some enemy lancers. At
least that is our best intelligence and we have
confirmed that he has not returned. You are
requested to retrieve his body so that he may be
buried decently.”
Note: I have written this scenario from
the perspective of a British player, which
is how I play tested it, but it is intended
ABOVE: “Are you quite alright old chap?” Lt
McCullough questions a wounded Frenchman.
to be generic. Simply use whichever unit
you prefer. The names shouldn’t present
any major issues as the Irish military
diaspora spread widely. Field Marshal
Laval Nugent von Westmeath fought for
the Austrian Hapsburgs, while Marshal
of France Henri Clarke was Bonaparte’s
Minister for War.
SET-UP
This scenario should be played on a 3’
by 3’ table. For the sake of simplicity, the
table is divided into nine sections, each
twelves inches square. There is a clue
marker in the centre of each square.
The table represents a battlefield after
the battle, strewn with bodies and the
detritus of war. The table is made up

ABOVE: While in the game you would turn over cards
as you would encounter them, I’ve flipped these to
give an idea of one potential board layout.
a series of dips and hollows, broken
up with a few rocks, scrubby trees,
broken fences and brush. Dips and
hollows are hard to represent on a flat
tabletop, but I would suggest laying a
dozen paperback books on your table
and then throwing a cloth over it.
This should break up the lines of sight
enough that a figure should be able to
see from one side of the table to the
other. The table should be littered with
casualties, broken wagons, dead horses
and suchlike.
The clue markers are laid out before
the game. You can, if you like, place the
cards on the table, but I would find that
visually distracting, so I marked out a
grid to one side of my table and placed
the cards there. I labelled each square A
through I.
A (PLAYER B C
DEPLOYS HERE...) (OR HERE) (...OR HERE)
D E F
G H I
The player deploys his unit at the
table edge in one square of his choice,
either A, B or C.
ABOVE: Father Thomas & Sister Maria do the best
they can to aid the afflicted.
Take six Black Cards (Club Ace through
six), shuffle them and place three of those
cards in squares A,B and C. Discard any
unused cards. Take the Diamonds (Jack,
Queen and King), shuffle them and draw
one card without looking at it. Place
it face down and take the Hearts (Ace
through Ten), shuffle them and draw two
cards, place them with the Diamond.
Shuffle those three cards (two Hearts, one
Diamond) together and place them in
squares G, H and I. Take the remainder of
the Hearts and place them in the squares
D, E and F.
◗ Do not use the Unexpected
Encounters or Unexpected Events
rules for this scenario.
◗ Any figure reduced to zero Health
should be placed on its side rather
than removed from the table.
◗ Clue tokens may be revealed by
friendly figures contacting them or by
unfriendly/non-player character figures
moving within three inches of them.
◗ Play for fifteen turns or until all
friendly figures have left the board or
are out of action.
›
May 2024 Miniature Wargames 9
 SEND THREE AND FOURPENCE

CLUE TABLE: CLUBS CASUALTY MARKERS & LOOTING

Ace A wounded fusilier trying to crawl to the rear. He will move 1’ per activation unless helped. If helped by one Drop a die from a height of six inches
figure he will be able to move at half the helping figures move. If helped by two figures they will be able to over each square of the board. Place a
move normally. If he is helped off the board edge any helping figures gets +2 experience.
Two A wounded and kicking horse. Its plaintive screams cause any figure within six inches to operate at casualty marker there. I used casualty
-2 Courage. It can be put out of its misery by a Melee attack or automatically by a shot from a ranged figures that I had, but you can easily
weapon. It has three health remaining. It’s Melee is +1 representing the chance that it will kick a figure.
substitute something else, a discrete
Three Place three enemy fusiliers (stats as Infantryman p33) who have just stripped the packs from some
dead soldiers six inches away. They will immediately fire and then run away from the player figures. One bead, a die or something else. These
(alternate between figures) will attempt to reload each turn and open fire as they fall back towards Square
I and attempt to move off the table. They have loot worth 10 recruitment points. represent casualties, men who are
Four A wounded officer of hussars (stats as Junior Officer p34, but mounted). This friendly officer is bleeding definitely dead, but whose bodies may
profusely from a head wound and is half mad. He will attempt to order up to two figures within three be looted by unscrupulous players.
inches to accompany him on an insane errand. Make a Melee attack on the figure, using Courage rather
than Melee. If beaten, the player figures must accompany the officer as he gallops randomly around the Take the unused Spades (Ace through
board. They may make a second Courage attack on each activation to attempt to talk him around, in which
case they must choose to lead him off the board or let him ride off. He will attack any enemy figures, but is King) and when a character spends an
worth +2 experience if led off the board. activation next to the Casualty Marker,
Five A dead grenadier. Within six inches in a random direction there is a smouldering cartridge box which draw a card from the deck.
has just caught fire. This will create a fire 1’ in diameter. This can be stamped out by a successful melee
attack against a Melee +0. This fire will grow by one inch every turn and add one to its Melee, until it is 6’ in
diameter. This also blocks line of sight.
CASUALTY MARKERS & LOOT DECK
Six A maddened and wounded friendly soldier (stats as Marine p35). He will move randomly and attack any
figures that comes within three inches. He must be beaten in melee by at least +2 to overpower him Ace A dead cavalryman with a breastplate and a
without injuring him. He can then be brought off the field if accompanied by a friendly figure. If killed, all hand weapon. His fine saddle and tack can be
friendly figures within LOS must make a Terror Check -1. taken and will reduce the Recruitment cost of
one mounted soldier by five for three games.
Two A dead woman, a civilian? How did she get
here? She has nothing to steal but her frock
CLUE TABLE: DIAMONDS and you slink away, leaving to her what little
dignity she has in death.
Jack Young Molloy’s body is found crushed beneath his horse. He can be carried off the table by two figure at
normal movement rates or by one mounted figure. +4 Experience if he is brought off the table. Three A purse of gold. This can be traded for a one
game bonus of 20 recruitment points in a
Queen Young Molloy is found badly wounded but alive! He can be carried off the table by two figures at normal future game.
movement rates or by one mounted figure. If he can be brought off the table edge edge that the player
figures entered by within six turns, he will survive (+6 experience), but failing that he will expire +4 Four A dead infantryman with a leg of mutton in
Experience if he is brought off the table. A figure with the Medic attribute may add one turn to the numbers his knapsack. The finder is very hungry and
of turns Molloy stays alive. will eat it immediately, but may share it with
two figures within six inches. +2 Courage for
the rest of the game.
King Young Molloy’s body has been destroyed by artillery fire. He can be identified by the tack on his horse
and some personal effects. His remains, such as they are, can be brought off the table by one figure. +4 Five A dead infantryman with nothing but his musket.
Experience if he is brought off the table.
Six A dead man with a musket and bayonet with
some money hidden in his knapsack. +2
Experience.
CLUE TABLE: HEARTS Seven A poor nameless soul without a penny to his
Ace A search party of five enemy infantry (stats as Infantryman P33) looking for their wounded officer. They name, known only to God.
will move to Square A, spend one turn there and then move off the board as quickly as possible. They will Eight A dead man with a Fencing Weapon and some
not fire unless fired upon or they come within ten inches of a friendly figures. money hidden in his knapsack. +2 Experience.
Two Place an unarmed and lightly wounded enemy soldier (stats as Infantryman, health -4) within six inches. Nine A dead vivandiere with a cask of spirits.
He moves randomly across the board and will move towards the nearest friendly figure and will plead to The finder must make a Courage roll (TN12)
be taken prisoner. He must be brought off the board (+1 experience) or he will follow the nearest friendly or consume the spirits immediately. -2
figure, pestering them and getting in the way. That figure may only make one action per activation. Any Accuracy and +2 Courage and may not Sprint
figure so base as to kill will be at -2 for their next game because of bad luck. for the rest of the game. If the spirits are not
Three A party of civilian looters. Three women (stats as Ruffian) will move to the nearest Casualty marker and consumed immediately they can be shared
spend one activation there. They will then move towards any figured on his side and strip him. Figures who with up to three other figures (-1 Accuracy,
have been visited by these looters suffer a -3 on their Injury Roll. +2 Courage for three figures).
Four Place three wolves on the table six inches away from the clue maker. These wolves will flee from armed Ten A dead man with a heavy weapon and some
soldiers, but will attack any single figure (figures with no friendly figure within three inches) on the table, money hidden in his knapsack. +2 Experience.
prioritising the figure with the lowest health. Jack A poor soul who has been horribly cut
Five Four enemy cavalry men (stats as Heavy Cavalrymen p32) appear at the nearest table edge to the figure up by shrapnel. He has some money (+2
activating the clue marker. They will attack the nearest friendly figure and will continue to do so until two experience), but pawing through his remains
of their number have been killed. If a Ten of Hearts has already been drawn, they will move across the exposes the soldier to dangerous disease.
board in a straight line and exit, only attacking figures that are within three inches of them. Make a Health roll (TN14) or suffer -2 health
for the next three games.
Six A search party of five enemy infantry (stats as Infantryman P33) looking for their wounded officer. They
will move to Square C, spend one turn there and then move off the board as quickly as possible. They will Queen As you start to rifle through the dead man’s
not fire unless fired upon or they come within ten inches of a friendly figures. pockets, he gives a sudden groan and grips
you tightly. “Please,” he begs. “Tell Mother that
Sevin A party of friendly soldiers (stats as Infantrymen) who are looters. They will move to the nearest casualty I am sorry.” He starts to babble and rave. The
marker and after reaching that will make for the nearest friendly figure turned on its side. They will kill figure must make a Melee roll (TN12) to break
that figure and take his stuff and then leave. They may not be fired upon until they have done so. They can way, but will suffer -1 Courage for the rest of
be ordered off the field by making a Courage (TN14) roll within three inches of them. the game if he succeeds. If the figure stays
to listen, the dead man will release him at the
Eight A party of civilian looters. Three men (stats as Infantryman) will move to the nearest Casualty marker and end of his next activation and expire.
spend one activation there. They will then move towards any figured on his side and strip him. Figures who
have been visited by these looters suffer a -3 on their Injury Roll. King A headless hussar in a richly embroidered
and frogged uniform. He has one item from
Nine Father Thomas and Sister Maria (stats as Doctors). They will move to the nearest casualty marker unless the Armoury or Special Armoury of your
there is a figure turned on its side within twelve inches, if so they will move to him and attempt to carry choice on him.
him off a friendly table edge. They will not fight and will flee if attacked. Any figure who is so base as to
attack these people will suffer a -2 penalty for their next game.
Ten Four enemy cavalry men (stats as Heavy Cavalrymen p32) appear at the nearest table edge to the figure
activating the clue marker. They will attack the nearest friendly figure and will continue to do so until two CONCLUSION
of their number have been killed. If a Five of Hearts has already been drawn, they will move across the
board in a straight line and exit, only attacking figures that are within three inches of them. This is a sombre sort of a game as it
concentrates on the grisly aftermath of a

10 Miniature Wargames May 2024

 point and got chased off the table. Also
you may be tempted to march in a
straight line across the board, attempting
to activate as few Clue Tokens as
possible: please remember that they
can be activated by non-player figures
moving within three inches of them as
well. This is an adjustment to the usual
rules as I found myself doing exactly
that during playtest!
This is a solo game and – while I
have tried to give the other characters
reasonable behaviour and motivations –
you are playing a solo game, so the only
TOP: “I think he’s trying to surrender Sir?” Lt McCullough and Ensign Treadaway do their best to understand a shell
shocked bandsman, while Sgt Egan contemplates the contents of a fallen Frenchman’s knapsack. There may not person you’re playing against is yourself.
be a Marshall’s baton. But there may be some booze. If you think a particular move by a non-
player figure makes no sense, feel free to
ABOVE LEFT: French cavalry thunder out of the darkness, surprising scouts searching for Lt Molloy’s body.
modify it. I have another solo historical
Silver Bayonet scenario which has seen
Napoleonic battle. I drew heavily on the can be high, though the aftermath of some play, but which I haven’t written up
Waterloo section of John Keegan’s The battle can still be quite dangerous. yet. It’s more of a straight up fight/rescue
Face of Battle for inspiration as well as During a playtest game, I found myself mission. If that’s something that would
period memoirs. That said the rewards facing eight French cuirassiers at one appeal to you let me know. ■

May 2024 Miniature Wargames 11

PAINTING
Generating Grenadiers
Paul recently showed us some of his ECW
and horse painting. Now for something
completely different! Ed.
INTRODUCTION
Back in the October 2022 issue we
were provided with a free sprue from
Wargames Atlantic of their then new
Panzer Lehr. I will not go over any
uniform or history information about
this famous unit (as it was covered in
that issue) other than to mention they
are equipped with the M1940 field
grey uniform issued to all Panzer Lehr
soldiers not entitled to wear the black
Panzer uniform. Other hints and tips to
make these authentic to this Division
will be covered in my guide. Although
my article is obviously aimed at the
Words and Photos by Paul Mackay
Panzer Lehr many of my comments will
hopefully prove useful for painting any
mid to late war German grenadiers.
FIELD GREY UNIFORM
Firstly do not let anyone tell you the
field grey that you have chosen or have
available is the ‘wrong’ colour. If you
look at surviving period uniforms many
have very different interpretations of
what field grey should be. I simply
used the paints I had available at home
and did not buy any paints specifically
for this article. Try to match what
you have and I always in my guides
would never for example specify
what manufacturer’s black or white is
‘correct’. Although I have a few German
WWII books at home a quick Google
search for Panzer Lehr uniforms was far
more useful and enabled me to produce
a result that I was happy with.
PAINTING THE MINIATURES
The first figure I have chosen carries
an MG 42 and I have deliberately
illustrated this part of my guide with
photographs showing a rear view. Often
photographs/paintings for all periods
produce great images you can work
from but then leave you in the dark for
painting the back of your miniatures.
The miniatures were undercoated
with a white rattle can spray paint and
I used Army Painter Field Grey for the
jacket and trousers. The webbing, top
of the canteen ammo box and MG42
were all painted with Scale 75 Petroleum
›
May 2024 Miniature Wargames 13
 PAINTING PANZERS

would be viewed if you were applying

a zenithal spray from above. The wash
should be below creases in the cloth not
sit above them. Again, with a varnish
and base completed this will result in a
nice table top mini. The original colours
are then used to produce a cleaner result
and the Agrax is only left in the shadow
areas of the uniform.

Grey (just use black if you have not got with shading a miniature make sure you
this or a similar colour). The bread bag are not just highlighting raised areas
and gaiters were then done with Zandri but where the light would actually hit
Dust from Citadel. I also saw several the figure. The machine gun, top of the
images of the gaiters being more of an canteen and webbing are highlighted
olive drab colour rather than the ‘khaki’ with Scale 75 Rainy Grey (although any
I have used. The boots and wooden grey will do) after previously being
parts of the weapons were painted washed with a diluted black ink (take
GW Throndia Brown. With the flesh care here not to flood other areas of the
also painted that’s all the main colours uniform).
blocked out and if you wished you The model is varnished (I like to
could just stop here. brush varnish using Vallejo Matt) and
The water bottles, boots and laces are based. Metallics (I used GW Leadbelcher)
highlighted with Leather Brown from the are applied after the varnish to the belt
Army Painter. The highest creases of the buckle and buttons etc on the bread bag.
jacket and trousers are painted with an The varnish obviously will protect the
equal mix of the Field Grey and Uniform model on the table top but it will give the
Grey also from the Army Painter. As miniature a more uniform appearance
as the wash is quite shiny and the Army
Painter are more satin in appearance to
the Scale 75 paints matt finish.

CAMOUFLAGE
The helmets appear to all have
camouflage covers moulded on them
and – for a bit of variety – I painted one
of the jackets and one of the trousers
with the same pattern. I again used
images I found online and did not worry
about the end result being completely
historically accurate.
The figure was then washed (not The helmet and uniform is base coated
the flesh or weapons) with two coats with GW Zandri Dust. Irregular patterns
of undiluted Agrax Earthshade from are then made with Mournfang Brown
Citadel. The second was a far more from GW. I just copied images I found
controlled application and make sure online.
you do not allow it to pool where it I used a mix of equal parts of Citadel
should not be. If you are not sure about Death World Forest and Vallejo Deep
this hold the model from where it Green for the next part of the camouflage

14 Miniature Wargames May 2024

effect. Here the green is applied more
sparingly in terms of area covered and
appears both inside and on occasion
alongside the brown areas.
Ushbati Bone from Citadel is used
as an extreme highlight as has a light
green and brown on those areas of the
camouflage pattern with that colour.
details on caps, wood grain, scratches on
OTHER & NOTES the ammo box etc were then picked out.
The figure’s shirts have been painted Below is a size comparison between
with Field Grey and washed with Agrax Wargames Atlantic’s and Warlord
before being highlighted with a light grey Games’ German Infantry.
mix. You may just want to ignore this and
paint yours with the main jacket uniform CONCLUSION
colour. Rhinox Hide is used to outline I have deliberately written this piece so
areas of the miniature chiefly where the that you can pick and choose the end
hands and face meet areas of cloth. The result that suits your chosen style of
shoulder boards and trim on the officer’s painting whatever stage you are at in your
cap were painted a dark green and this hobby journey and will result in either a
was then trimmed with a light green. I basic tabletop or higher end finish. Next
then used a green and yellow mix. Fine time I’ll be painting Napoleon! ■
This is the model washed with Agrax
the result is immediately more pleasing
to the eye.
With the base colours reapplied this
results in a far cleaner appearance.

›
May 2024 Miniature Wargames 15
OF THE ROSES
Rules to fight for a Kingdom
INTRODUCTION
Our group has had a longstanding interest in the Wars
of The Roses. Several of us have walked the battlefield
at Towton, and I have visited Tewkesbury, St Albans,
and Bosworth. The pick of these, for me anyway, is
Towton, as I watched a re-enactment there on the
anniversary of the battle as well as meeting the late,
great Robert Hardy who was an expert bowyer and
one of a few people who could produce an authentic
longbow.
RULES IS RULES
The recent introduction of some new rulesets for
the period, namely Test of Resolve, Never Mind the
Billhooks, and the newest version of Hail Caesar, only
piqued our interest further. Unfortunately – and not
unusually for our group – we didn’t really take to any of
them, largely due to the command and control systems
used in them. Hail Caesar – as with all the Warlord
big battle set – relies on the roll of two D6 to determine
whether no orders or up to three orders are available.
Words and Photos by Dave Tuck
The other two sets are card driven, with the Test ABOVE
of Resolve system being the more sophisticated, as The armies
charge!
it allows one side or the other to carry out a string of
consecutive actions, depending upon the card order.
However, there is very little control in these systems,
which – granted – many may argue is accurate for the
period. We set out to try and find a happy medium,
without the use of cards and using only D6. I will leave
you, the reader, to decide whether we have succeeded!
ADAPT OR DIE
I played a World War Two set called Combat HQ
which involved dice stacks and I set out to develop
this for our period, as it gives a good balance between
friction and overall control of your force. Armies in
this period were divided into Battles, the Vanguard,
Centre and Rearguard and I made these my building
blocks. In our games these usually consist of between
nine and twelve units in each. These are a mix of
billmen, archers, men at arms, artillery, and sometimes
more exotic troops, such as Irish Kerns, hand gunners
›
May 2024 Miniature Wargames 17
 WARS OF THE ROSES
and crossbowmen. The number of units is totalled
and the commander either improves this or reduces it
depending upon their quality.
TROOP TYPES
We have four grades: Treacherous, Cautious, Adventurous,
and Rash. The final number is multiplied by 1.5 and the
result is the number of order dice available to that battle
in the turn, this usually results in around 12 to 15 dice
being rolled. These are then sorted into dice stacks, all
the 1’s, all the 2’s etc. The 1’s are removed and if there
are more 1’s rolled than 6’s they are also passed over to
your opponent to re-roll for that turn (for these re-rolls
the more 1’s than 6’s rule is ignored).
An example may be useful!
◗ The Yorkist battle commander – who is Bold – has 5
units in his battle, so he gets to roll 9 dice. (One for
each unit plus 1 for being bold x 1.5). 5+1x1.5=9
◗ His opposing Lancastrian is Cautious and has more
men with a total of 7 units. However, because he is
cautious, he loses a dice, also rolling 6x 1.5 dice for a
9 dice total. 7-1x1.5=9
◗ The Yorkist rolls 1,2,2,2,3,3,5,5 and 6. He makes three
order blocks: three 2’s, two 3’s and two 5’s. He puts
the 6 to one side to see how the turn develops. The 1
is equalled by the number of 6’s so is put to one side
as well.
18 Miniature Wargames May 2024
◗ The Lancastrian is not so lucky! He rolls
1,1,1,2,3,4,5,5 and 6. So more 1’s than 6’s and he hands
the three ‘1 result’ dice over to his opponent. The
Yorkist rolls three 4’s with those so he has generated
another order block. The Yorkist wins the initiative
and spends his 5’s allowing two units of archers to
fire. The Lancastrian spends his 2 allowing one of his
units to return fire. The Yorkist then spends his 4’s
moving 3 units towards the enemy etc until all dice
are spent, or (if it is a 6) retained for future use.
A TURN
An initiative roll is now made to determine which
side starts play. The winner can choose whether to go
first or second. Player one then spends a dice stack, as
described above. For each dice in the stack they can:
◗ Shoot
◗ Melee
◗ Move
◗ Reload an artillery piece
◗ Change an artillery target
◗ Wheel a unit up to forty-five degrees and make a half
move (or vice versa)
◗ Turn a unit about, (turn 180 degrees).
MOVEMENT
Until the battle moves to within 12” (close longbow
range) the whole battle, or parts of it can all move on
ABOVE one order dice, providing they are moving in the same
Bills and Bows direction and are within 6” of another moving unit in
advance.
the battle. Once the troops are within 12” the order dice
can only be applied to one unit. More than one order
dice in a stack can be used on a single unit but it may
only fire and melee once during each stack.
666: THE NUMBER OF THE BEAST...
Those harvested result of a 6’s allow the following
special actions:
◗ The dice can be converted to any other number to
increase an existing order stack.
◗ Or it can be added to any other order to allow a unit
to perform the complex manoeuvre of reforming in
the same formation but turned to 90 degrees of its
original facing.
◗ Or to ”loose a salvo of arrows” to allow an archer
unit to add 2 to its firing roll this turn.
◗ Or to “unleash the dogs of war” to allow a melee
unit to add 2 to its combat roll this turn.
(The above two must be declared prior to the roll of the dice.)
◗ Or to remove a fatigue or casualty marker from a
unit provided it has not fought in a melee, fired, or
been fired on in this or the previous turn.
◗ Or it can be used to fire a shot (at under ½ range) out
of sequence when a unit has been charged, prior to
contact.
◗ Or if unused the 6 can be carried over to another
turn. In that case the player rolls one less order dice
for each 6 carried over.
We have found this system creates all sorts of
dilemmas for the players: there are just never enough
6’s! Do you use them to reform a unit and remove a
casualty from a unit? Or perhaps you can extend a
string so a unit has sufficient orders to contact and
fight an enemy? Or unleash the dogs of war to try and
win that vital melee! There are lots of decision points
and both players remain engaged only waiting for 5 or
6 actions to be carried out before the baton is passed
back to them.
HERE’S ONE FOR YOU...
The passing over of 1’s to the enemy causes plenty of
laughs (unless it’s you who are giving them away!)
and changes the dynamics for a turn, without ruining
the game. We honestly think this system can and will
be used by our group for many more periods. It has
added a whole new set of challenges to what could
have been a fairly boring period.
There are some deductions for terrain. There are no BELOW
charge bonuses but to move into contact the force must A mixed line of
archers and
have enough orders left in the order chain to spend one bills support
on fighting the first round of melee. If they do not, they each other.
may not make contact but stop 3” short of the target
unit.
FIRE!
We also wanted firing and combat to be both quick
and simple. Firing is an opposed D6 roll, with a win
signifying a hit. There are a few factors to amend for in
firing:
◗ Minus 1 if firing on artillery crew, or Kerns, or troops
behind cover, or Javelins firing on fully armoured
men at arms, (either on foot or on horseback.)
◗ Plus 2 if archers firing a salvo of arrows (and
spending one of those precious 6’s)
Ranges are straightforward
◗ Longbows and crossbows 24”
◗ Handguns 12”
◗ Javelins/Darts 8”.

SPECIAL RULES I’M HIT!

We have some special rules for certain troop types or The number of hits each unit takes before it is removed
historical battles. Irish Kern can for instance, fight a are as follows:
round of melee, then spend another order with a 50%
chance of breaking off the melee and moving back 8” ◗ Mounted Men at Arms 4
facing the enemy, and we have special weather rules ◗ Pikemen and Billmen 4
for the snowstorm at Towton, and the fog at Barnet. ◗ Foot Men at Arms 5
◗ Longbowmen, other mounted troops and
HOW FAR & FAST crossbowmen 3
Movement is very straightforward: ◗ Hand gunners 2
◗ Artillery crew 1.
◗ 6” for Infantry
◗ 8” for Kerns
◗ 12” for cavalry

›
May 2024 Miniature Wargames 19
 WARS OF THE ROSES
ABOVE THIS IS EXHAUSTING...
The front We also introduced fatigue into our rules, this reflects
unit has one
casualty and tiredness and – in the case of longbowmen – their
four fatigue ammunition supply. Men at arms on foot and pikemen
points. have a limit of 8; all mounted 6 and all other troops
7. Each time a longbow unit shoots, 1 is added to its
fatigue total and whenever any troops fight a round of
melee, another 1 is added to their total. A unit attacked
in front and flank adds 2 each time it fights both of its
opponents.
This counts as an advantage in combat when
measured against how tired the opposing unit is.
Troops add 1 to its melee factor for every 2 levels of
fatigue advantage it has over its opponents This means
that a double attack from front and flank will soon see
off an enemy unit in that unfortunate position! Secure
flanks are vitally important in these battles. We also
give a bonus for units that have more flank or rear
supports than its opponents, up to a maximum of plus
one for each flank and one for rear support.
FIGHT!
Melee is – again – very straightforward. Each troop
20 Miniature Wargames May 2024
type has three factors: when attacking, when defending
from a flank attack and when fighting in special
circumstances such as difficult terrain, or attacking
over an obstacle or defence work. This is the system
used in Armati rules and is both quick and effective.
To this are added any relevant factors from the
list plus the roll of a D6. The winner inflicts a single
casualty on the loser unless the winner’s adjusted
score is double that of its opponent. In that case two
casualties are inflicted.
This again makes for a decision point. Do you spend
a precious 6 to “unleash the dogs of war” to make your
chance of a double easier, or even make your enemies
chances harder?
WEAPONS & FACTORS
Factors range from zero to six, depending upon
weapon types and circumstances. Factors to add and
are as follows:
◗ Plus 1 for a terrain advantage, and for every two
fatigue point advantage or for every extra flank or
rear support over your opponent.
◗ Plus 2 if you “unleash the dogs of war” and spend a 6.
MORALE
There is no unit morale per se: once a unit reaches
its casualty limit it is removed. There is however a
morale test on the whole Battle. This is calculated as
the sum of the number of units in the battle, plus the
Battle Commanders rating, plus the difference on two
Average dice, divided by 2. One is deducted from this
total every time a unit – or the Battle Commander – is
lost. Once this reaches zero the unit dices each turn
using aD6. On a 1-3, they must retire from the battle,
fighting their way off if opposed.

COMMAND
As the subject of Battle Commanders has arisen, let us
look at these worthy or not so worthy Gentlemen in
more detail.
If you are doing a refight these can be allocated by
the scenario writer. For pick up games we use the
following chart

ABOVE A wounded commander is replaced, and the new

A hazard to commander arrives on the battlefield during the next
cross. All Flags
turn. He rolls for his command status in the usual way
are Free at
Wargaming at but applying a -1 to the result.
the Outpost Gy
facebook page.
A ROSE BY ANY OTHER NAME
We have played several battles using these rules,
including historical refights such as Barnet, Edgcote,
Northampton and the Second battle of St Albans. These
are big battles with 30 to 40 units in play on each side,
divided between the battles. As each battle faces off
it is easy to split it down into three separate action
groups, with each player controlling one battle and
opposing sides can go at their own pace. They can only
influence the other actions once their direct opponent is
destroyed or hits its battle morale limit when it leaves
the field. We find this makes the game proceed at a
pace and makes a multiplayer Wars of the Roses battle
easy to manage.
BATTLE COMMANDER RATING – ROLL A D6
There is little, if any, information on how Wars of
1 2 3 4 5 6
the Roses troops fought. We have the weapons they
Treacherous Cautious Cautious Adventurous Adventurous Rash
used, mainly Bow and Bill, but no real information of
how they were marshalled for battle. Did the troops
of one Lord all fight together no matter how armed or
Roll a D6 giving the overall commander a plus 1. If were they separated off into troop type? At Edgcote
a commander is Rash, he adds 2 to the combat factor the Kings archers marched separately. Was this usual?
of any unit he attaches himself to. If that unit loses a How did that affect cohesion and morale fighting with
round of melee and hence a casualty, he is at risk. Rash people you didn’t know?
commanders roll on the at-risk table on rolling a 1-2. There are more answers than questions here. I prefer to
All others except Treacherous roll on it on an initial 1. see the units sorted by troop type but other rule writers
have a different approach. It is not difficult to generate
THE AT-RISK TABLE factors for mixed units in this very flexible rule set.
1-2 Killed in Battle -1 on battle Morale I always prefer to see a set of rules as a toolkit rather
3-4 Wounded (note 1) See note 1 than Holy Writ, if you don’t like part of these rules feel
5-6 Blade deflected by the Grace Light a votive candle! free to amend them. At the very least why not give
of God
them a try? ■

May 2024 Miniature Wargames 21

Wargames Fantasy and
:JP-PÄN\YLZHS^H`Z
ZV\NO[MVYJHZOWHY[ Email: hindsfigsltd@gmail.com
L_JOHUNLVYZ^HWZ
RULE BOOKS
& FIGURES

GREEK HOPLITES
◗ victrixlimited.com and some the single sided ‘Falcata’ type:
◗ £40 or Xyphos and Kopis) plus six identical
hoplons. To strap to the side of the
There are very few finer looking models there are eight sheathed swords
wargames units than ranks and ranks (again, both types) and – if the sword
of hoplites in linen armour and bearing is being employed by the model – it’s
their bronze faced shields. Building up a quick scalpel job to take off the hilt
a big unit in 28mm can be expensive to show it empty. Finally there’s some
and hard work when it comes to spears alternative arms for holding shields or –
(steel or bendy white metal?) Plastics are fun times – a severed head!
probably a good way to go and Victrix The models when assembled are
has made a great set to help with that. about 32mm to the top of a putative
Forty quid buys eight identical head (again: all wearing helmets so it’s
multipart sprues, each of which will a judgement call) and are what I would
build you six models with a host of say are on the ever so slightly well built
options. So – for the mathematically – size of proportionate: so, an excellent
challenged that’s less than 84p a figure... compromise for paintability, fitting
The sprues have five complete torsos in with other manufacturers’ (metal)
in advancing/standing poses plus one figures, and robustness of weaponry.
spilt at the waist. This latter Highly Recommended (but buy a sheet
one doesn’t have any other of the shield decals!)
halves to mate with but does
allow some flexibility at the
joint area to offer some slightly
different poses by twisting at the
midriff. One of these bodies is wearing
a moulded cuirass (bronze I assume)
and one is in scale but the rest are in
linothorax. To add to those bodies,
there are a fair number of head
options: there are a dozen different
(all helmeted) with optional crests to
stick on, plus three that are
already fitted with crests,
and all of these are
different.
As for equipment
there are 16 different
spear arms, seven sword
arms (some straight-
bladed ‘Lakonia’ type
›
May 2024 Miniature Wargames 23
 REVIEWS
ELFKING
LATEST
◗ lucideyepublications.com
◗ £11 - £18
We have covered the supplements for
the Elfking RPG system by Lucid Eye,
although the company also makes some
cracking miniatures for the system
(sculpted by Steve Saleh). The latest
printed material is a Book of Further
Encounters and an Adventure Module.
The A4 Encounters book is suitable
for solo gaming. As with all, of these
add-on’s you’ll need to own the Core
Rulebook to fully utilise the contents.
There are ten encounter scenarios
including a solo orientated one with a
wide variety of settings and opponents.
This is £18 in printed format (from
Amazon, for one) although it’s also
available from Wargames Vault and as
a PDF.
Alternatively – and for £11 in A5 – one
could purchase the Adventure Module.
This contains three sub adventures:
Outside The Sleeping Tower; inside... well
the same tower; and The Saga Of Ulthrane
And The Skeglings. There are maps to
help with all of this and weapon tables
and so forth
All print copies purchased are
entitled to a free PDF of the book:
drop Lucid Eye an email at contact@
lucideyepublications.com, with your
Amazon receipt and they’ll sort it.
These are nicely illustrated using both
original hand drawn and AI assistance,
intriguingly enough, and they are useful
RPG products. Recommended.
24 Miniature Wargames May 2024
GROUND ZERO
◗ groundzerogames.co.uk
◗ £3.60-£12
Ground Zero Games have been a
little lacking in recent months for new
releases but I’m pleased to say that they
finally have some new material out.
Broadly this amounts updates in three
areas: spaceships for Full Thrust; 15mm
SF figures; and Game Tokens.
The Full Thrust ships are all smaller
vessels for three different forces: UNSC
Gunboats; NAC Gunboats; NAC Missile
Boats; NSL Gunboats; and NSL Missile
Boats. All of these are three quid a pack
of three models, and each comes with a
and other doodads) but they make up
into neat little bundles of joy. Throw
another Crustie on the barbie! Oh – and
in this scale – they have also released
some small hover drones that are well
worth investigating.
Finally, I mentioned in a Last Word
recently about a set of rules Jon Tuffley
of GZG was working on that I tested
out (one using just measuring sticks and
dice and almost no paperwork) which
generated a fair amount of interest.
black plastic hex base and a with nifty Well – to go with that (and as they
one-piece, three-way, clear plastic flight use the same colour/dice system as
stands to mount them on in a ‘Y’ shaped other rules GZG produces) GZG have
formation. The models themselves all some new coloured tokens out. Clearly
have a winged, ‘Star-Warsie’ feel about printed on impressively thick MDF these
them and each ship is pretty small – would make any ‘Tuffleyverse’ game go
generally 10mm or so wide and a wee smoother and – for £12 – are well worth
bit longer. They also come moulded on a getting a hold of some. Recommended.
sprue that means they can be painted en
masse and then snapped off afterwards
and added to the base which is clever.
The 15mm releases are mostly more
from their ‘Crusties’ range. These look
an awful lot like the ‘Prawns’ from the
film District 9 and – as such – make for
believable bipedal crustaceans for any
game system. Latest releases include
Heavy Weapons teams with Arc Cannons;
with Mortars; Heavy Weapons teams with
Auto Grenade Launchers; with Plasma
Cannons; with Multi Rocket Launchers;
and with AA/AT Missile Launchers.
Each pack comprises two teams of
(whichever) weapons and crew and are
£3.60 a pack. Some assembly is required
for the heavy weapons themselves
(typically a tripod base and, for
example, elements like separate missiles
HOVER ME IMPRESSED
◗ brigademodels.co.uk
◗ £3 - £8.50
Brigade have been adding to a force on
their 15mm SF range. Baffin’s Legion (a
Hammer’s Slammers: The Crucible based
unit) have now been fully represented
vehicle wise. Baffin’s Legion makes an
appearance in the second part of the
story ‘The Warrior’, as the Hindi and
Han forces clash over the paddy fields of
the town of Morobad. While the Han are
supported by the Slammers, the Hindis
are reinforced by Colonel Baffin and
his force of tank destroyers, armoured
infantry and heavy artillery.
To go with the with the M12 Tank
Destroyer and the Twin-Hull APC (the
latter of which I have recently covered in
this column) they have released an APC,
a Calliope; a Missile Vehicle; a Command
Vehicle; 21cm Hog Artillery piece (with
a fixed boxy superstructure), a Hover
Jeep and (to tow behind it) a wheeled
Calliope. The latter item has a twin 3cm
calliope for air defence mounted on a
four wheeled gun carriage similar to
many AA systems. Price for these varies
from, £3 for the small resin Jeep to £8.50
for the artillery hog and all have a hard
moulded on plenum skirt (as befits a
‘blower’) plus white metal accessories:
rear ramps, hatches, turrets and big
howitzer gun barrels etc. Although the
force is designed for the ‘Slammerverse’,
they can, of course, be used for any
SF environment and the manufacturer
recommends using their Polish figures
for infantry. Recommended.
10MM SF
◗ pendraken.co.uk
◗ £1.95 - £6.75
A couple of months ago we mentioned
in Forward Observer that Pendraken
had released a new range of Sci-Fi- in
10mm (as usual!) At Hammerhead we
finally got our hands on some samples
and very nice they are to. With the
release of models adjacent to this sort of
scale from both Mantic and GW (well
– a re-release in the latter case) maybe –
what with Dropzone Commander – it
really is the time for 10mm to shine.
All of the Pendraken releases are
in metal and it does make for an
interesting ‘feel’. The forces are split
over four army types, all Human:
Corporate (hover-vehicle types); Empirical
(with a bit of a WWI-meets-‘Death
Corps of Krieg’ feel with Rhomboid
tanks); Theological (with very high-
tech grav-vehicles); and The Collective
(tracked and the figures have an almost
Neo-Sov look about them).
I like the mix of styles
and they might well appeal
to anyone who fancies
a 40k style game without
falling into the Warhammer
money-pit: they are an interesting mix
of both hard and fantastical SF. Detail
on the AFVs is excellent if slightly
GW cartoonish but the figures
themselves are very neat. If anything
they are less caricatured than many
15mm figures and certainly less than
most 6mm models.
Pendraken have certainly hit the
ground running and the range is
already pretty broad with AFVs in most
categories – APCs, Tanks, AA vehicles,
artillery (heavy and medium), MLRS
launchers, Mortars, Tank Destroyers
and Drones. They also have infantry
in packs – again in various types:
Grenadiers, Armoured, Unarmoured,
Heavy Weapons, Anti-Air, Anti-Armour,
Snipers and some nice Command packs
(complete with a table and a computer!)
and all are very well sculpted and
– as we said before – really pretty
proportionate. They’d do very well
with a drybrush/speedpaint fast
finish and they are an excellent price:
individual vehicles (sometimes – in
the case of artillery – with a handful of
crew) are between £3.50 and £4 even at
their most expensive and a starter pack
will cost £36. Highly recommended.
EDIT: latest news is that Pendraken are
releasing even more by the time this
goes to press!
May 2024 Miniature Wargames 25
 COMMAND DECISION

THREE OF A KIND
The odds are you’ll fight Words and pictures by Jon Sutherland

Command Decision investigates a touchy subject this ABOVE AND

month and we look at points costs, odds and more. Ed. RIGHT
At Rorke’s Drift,
a concentrated

A
s gamers, we like a fair fight. We want an battlefield,
element of risk, to be wary of the counter- some careful
defensive
punch, have a determination to take the positions and
objectives (but not at any cost). We’re a lot of guts
always wondering whether to take the initiative saw less than
150 men beat
and be proactive, or to sit back and see how things upwards of
develop. To keep things fair, we will invariably work 4,000. Photo of
to a points system. Point systems aren’t arbitrary, each John Lavender’s
game at
characteristic of unit is assigned a value, command Hammerhead
points are often added in too. 2024 by the
Editor.
THE THEORY
We all know that the majority of battles were never
fair. Just what convinced an historical commander to

26 Miniature Wargames May 2024

 take the initiative and attack? Back in the mid-1980s
the U.S. Army Concepts Analysis Agency (no, I hadn’t
heard of them either) published a survey of land
battles in the period 1600-1973. The results blew a
hole in the much quoted 3:1 attacker v defender odds
advantage. Across the 600 battles – regardless of the
odds – the attackers won over 60% of the time. Even
when the attackers were outnumbered 3:1 they still
had a 60% chance of winning. Obviously when the
odds were better than 3:1 in the attacker’s favour the
win rate was nearly 74%.
THE PRACTICE
Firepower and its offensive and defensive use is one
of the key determining factors. If we think of the
Colonial period, we often have the situation where a
much smaller European force (with faster firing, longer
ranged weapons) takes on much larger Native forces
(plenty of guts, but no real offensive firepower). The
European forces invariably have the initiative and force
the Native army to counterattack them.
A hundred years before, on the battlefields of Europe
and in India during the Seven Years War, the firepower
was more equal and there were far more bloody
draws. Once we add in supporting artillery fire or air
support the odds theory just doesn’t work. Carefully
orchestrated combined arms attacks such as those
mounted by the Germans in the first couple of years of
World War Two showed that combined arms firepower
was far more important than sheer numbers.

IS KRIEGSSPIEL TO BLAME?
Most of us are aware of the fact that in the C19th the
Prussians came up with a gaming system to help
teach battlefield tactics to their officers. It is said they
successfully wargamed their actions against the French

ABOVE RIGHT
In the American
Civil War
manoeuvre
and leading
from the front
often saw
smaller forces
overcome much
larger enemy
formations.
Officer
casualties were
fairly high!

RIGHT
In Colonial
times, such
as during the
Indian Mutiny,
men with power
and money
consistently Conventional wisdom tells us that an attacking in the 1870s and again in 1914. It is widely assumed
dithered against force has to be large to cope with the potentially high that the 3:1 ratio comes from these Prussian training
the British and
the put upon
casualties when they attack a prepared position. and research games. The ratio could well hold for
Sepoy paid the Sometimes, the defender will also have chosen the this period of warfare, but by the time the Germans
price. terrain, have dug defence works, be closer to their own launched their offensives in 1940 the whole way that
supply lines, have reinforcements close at hand and wars were fought had changed. Small German forces
perhaps they might have a “home” advantage in terms would pin much larger enemy forces (who lacked air
of morale (defending their own families etc.) support or the ability to mount offensive actions) and
›
May 2024 Miniature Wargames 27
 COMMAND DECISION
concentrate the cutting edge of their forces on a specific
point. The tank breakthroughs were protected by close
aircraft interdiction.
What we can say about the Kriegsspel approach and
the 3:1 doctrine is that it was a model that worked
at the time. Consistently, the Prussians outperformed
their enemies on the battlefield. They were seen to be
effective even if the odds were not in their favour, their
forces were durable and their military organisation was
something that would be emulated by others.
WHAT ABOUT MANOEUVRE & COMMANDERS?
Smaller forces with mobility and commanders willing
to take the initiative make nonsense of the 3:1 rule. The
campaigns across North Africa in World War Two saw
very small British and Commonwealth forces taking on
bigger and largely immobile Italian forces. In Vietnam
the US used helicopters to gain temporary local
superiority. Napoleon gathered some brilliant aides-
de-camps around him to directly relay his wishes,
precisely, to the commanders in the field. His quick
wits and use of a trusted cohort of staff did away with
the normal lag in a chain of command. Manoeuvres
could then be executed immediately and exactly as
Napoleon intended even if he was several miles away.
IT’S ALL ABOUT THE TERRAIN
In open ground, given comparable firepower,
most defenders are going to struggle if they are
outnumbered 3:1. Invariably, one side or the other has
a slight advantage which can tip the balance.
Take two events that took place on the same day in
January 1879. At Rorke’s Drift the tiny garrison was
outnumbered by 30-40:1.Okay, the Zulus were armed
with stabbing spears... not so. The married Zulu
regiments in particular had firearms, so in firepower
terms the British were out-gunned 20:1. At Isandlwana
earlier the same day upwards of 1900 British troops
faced around 25,000 Zulus. This was largely in the
open on undulating terrain over a relatively huge
battlefield compared to Rorke’s Drift. It was a massacre:
some 66% of all British and allied troops were killed.
28 Miniature Wargames May 2024
GETTING TO THE SIMULATION
Those of you that have read anything I’ve done for
this magazine before will know that I’m a big fan of
asymmetrical wargaming. It is a lot more fun to try and
replicate a miniature version of the armies engaged in
particular battles. It’s also very hard to achieve this.
I played out several games trying to replicate
the ancient battles of Leuctra, Gaugamela (Arbela)
and others. Giving players a free non-historical
deployment simply didn’t work. Neither did
starting them historically either. It quickly became
apparent that taken in isolation, wargame rules
cannot easily replicate what actually happened. At
Leuctra (about 3:2) and at Gaugamela (3 or 4:1) the
winners were outnumbered. In both cases the winners
ABOVE
Outnumbered
and outgunned,
the Jacobites
gave a good
account of
themselves
on more than
one occasion
against
Government
forces.
RIGHT
On the European
battlefield, the
drill, precision,
firepower and
leadership were
the determining outmanoeuvred the enemy and made a concerted
factors. effort to capture or kill the opposing general.
At Leuctra, the weaker Theban allies pinned most
of the Spartan allies along the battle-line. The Thebans
concentrated on the Spartan right where they knew
the cream of the Spartans would be deployed – led
by their general – and they crushed the Spartan block
and won the battle. At Gaugamela, Alexander faced a
wall of (supposedly) indifferent troops. He lured the
cavalry covering the Persian King to their left, and then
at the head of his companions he rode hell-for-leather
through the gap. The Persian King panicked and the
battle was won.
THE STIMULATION ITSELF
We all like to think we can come up with a master-plan
that is even more cunning and decisive than the one
used by Alexander, Napoleon, Rommel or Fieldhouse
and Moore in 1982. Just how to set things up to allow
that depends on the context of the game we’re playing.
If it is part of a campaign then the game-timeline
has probably already deviated some way from the
historical sequence of events. There’s no reason why
we can’t replicate that deviation in a one-off battle.
We don’t have to restrict ourselves to setting up
historically, but we might want to retain some of the
features of the historical events. Let’s randomise the
circumstances:
ATTACKER VERSUS DEFENDER AND ODDS IN FAVOUR
Player/Dice Roll Player A
1 Attacker 3:1
2 Attacker 2:1
3 Attacker 1.5:1
4 Defender
5 Defender
6 Defender
Example: a 5 is thrown. Player A is the defender and he is
outnumbered by the attacker 2:1.
HISTORICAL/FREE DEPLOYMENT (EACH PLAYER ROLLS)
Player/Dice Roll Player A/B
1 Rigid Historical
2 Infantry Historical
3 Cavalry/Armour
Historical
4 Reinforcements
Historical
5 Free Deployment
6 Free Deployment
Player B
Defender
Defender
Defender
Attacker 1.5:1
Attacker 2:1
Attacker 3:1
Explanation
All troops must begin in historical
positions. Reinforcements arrive
at historical time and position.
Only infantry units must be
placed in historical positions
(including any infantry
reinforcements).
Only mounted units must be
placed in historical positions
(including any reinforcements).
Free deployment for troops
on the table at the start of the
battle, all reinforcements arrive
historically.
No restrictions over deployment,
but defender deploys first.
No restrictions over deployment,
but attacker deploys first
Example: a 5 is thrown. Player A throws a 4, he now
knows to expect his reinforcements to arrive at the historical
time and from the historical direction. All of his starting
troops may be deployed as he sees fit.
DEFENSIVE POSITIONS & TERRAIN AND READINESS (EACH PLAYER ROLLS)
Player/Dice Roll Defender Attacker
1 No defensive positions, Cavalry/armour may not
but up to 25% of force move until turn 2
may be in cover
2 Artillery may be in cover Artillery may not fire until
turn 2
3 Artillery or 25% of Infantry needs until turn 2 to
infantry may be in cover get underway
4 Artillery and half of No restrictions on readiness
infantry may be in cover
5 Artillery and all infantry Artillery may fire once
may be in cover before game begins
6 All units may be in cover Cavalry or armour may move
once before game begins
›
May 2024 Miniature Wargames 29
 COMMAND DECISION

Example: Player B is the attacker. He throws a 5. It is Example: Player B is the defender. He throws a 2 for
with some glee that he gets a free artillery bombardment on manoeuvrability which means all of his troops must remain
the enemy defensive lines before the game actually starts! in position until turn 2. This suits him. He then throws a 5
for his commander. This means he will be leading from the
DEPLOYING TROOPS (DEFENDING PLAYER ROLLS) front. Player B is convinced he won’t survive the battle!
Player/Dice Roll Defender Explanation
1 Deploy all The defender has to deploy their whole force AND FINALLY
troops first before the attacker.
A combination of all of these factors should give you
2 Deploy half The defender deploys half of their force, and
of army first then the attacker deploys half followed by the countless permutations. Don’t get too fixated about the
balance of the defender’s force. The attacker odds; the likelihood is that the other tables will turn
then deploys the rest of his army.
something up in your favour to compensate. ■
3 Deploy Defender must deploy his infantry first, and
infantry then the attacker deploys their infantry. The
first defender then deploys the rest of their force
followed by the attacker.
4 Deploy Attacker must deploy his infantry first, and
infantry then the defender deploys their infantry. The
second attacker then deploys the rest of their force
followed by the defender.
5 Deploy half The attacker deploys half of their force, and
of army then the defender deploys half followed
second by the balance of the attacker’s force. The
defender then deploys the rest of his army.
6 Deploy The attacker has to deploy all of their troops
all troops before the defender.
second

Example: Player B is the defender. He throws a 5. This

forces the attacker to deploy half of their force first. Player B
then places half of his army onto the table. The attacker then
puts the rest of his army onto the battlefield.

MANOEUVRABILITY AND COMMANDERS (EACH PLAYER ROLLS TWICE)

Player/Dice Roll Defender
Manoeuvrability
1 All forces static until turn 3
2 All forces static until turn 2
3 All forces free to move
4 Half artillery may have free
redeployment after turn 6
5 Infantry may have 1 bonus move
after turn 5
6 Tanks or cavalry may have 1 bonus Uncontrollable, must be attached Tanks or cavalry may have 2
move after turn 5
Defender Attacker Attacker
Commander Manoeuvrability Commander
No confidence, must deploy on Only tanks/cavalry may move until Leaves it to his subordinates. Will
table edge turn 3 not stray into enemy charge range
Lacking in experience, may only All forces free to move Paper pusher, must note down
influence units within 1 normal overall attack plan at the start of
move the game and not deviate from it
Reluctant, will not move into firing All forces free to move Control freak, once an objective
distance of enemy infantry or is taken, one turn is lost as new
cavalry orders are sought
Run of the mill, but organised. Can All artillery may move at the Maniac, must be attached to a
move around at charge rate for limbered rate without needing to frontline unit at all times at the
five turns unlimber to fire main point of attack
Heroic, must lead at least two Infantry may have 2 bonus moves Superior tactician, can choose two
charges into combat during the after turn 5 occasions in the game where he
game can decide whether to go first or
second in a game turn
Genius, may give one flank or the
to a frontline unit at all times bonus moves after turn 5 centre of his army two moves in
one game turn

30 Miniature Wargames May 2024

 The Wars with the Xhosa or Africa’s 100 Years War: Part 2
Words by Chris Swan. Photos by The Editor & Ian Colwill
INTRODUCTION
Last month Chris gave us some background to the conflict.
This month we have three scenarios! Ed.
The following three engagements are purely
representative of the types of engagement fought
during the 6th, 7th and 8th War. They can be played
out with any “small unit” rules for the mid 19th
32 Miniature Wargames May 2024
BELOW Century/Black Powder period. I have given details
The patrol of of the forces used in each scenario in general terms so
Cape Mounted
Rifles near that players an can adapt them to whatever rule set
to the Xhosa they prefer but, of course, they can use the information
Village. for Black Powder given in the previous article and for
Rebels and Patriots (there is a download of guidance
on the magazine’s web site).
All three scenarios can be played using the same
scenery with minor adjustments for each one. They are
all played on a 4’ by 4’ table divided into three Zones.
ZONE 1 This Zone is 4 ft wide by 12 inches deep
The Zone is relatively clear but has a River set 6 inches in from the table edge. The
river runs across the table from one side to the other. The Xhosa or Units in Open
Order or Mounted Units may cross it at any point moving at ½ speed but in the middle
is a “Drift” or ford which must be used to get any cattle or artillery across and the
Xhosa or any unit crossing at this point may do so at full speed.
In addition there are two areas of bad going: each terrain piece should cover an
area of no more than 6” x 6”represented by trees or scrub and should be placed by SCENARIO 1: THE RAID
the European player in scenario 1 before the Xhosa deploy and by the Xhosa player in The Xhosa have crossed the Fish River into Cape
scenarios 2 and 3 before the Europeans deploy – they may not be placed to block the
crossing point. Colony on a wide front to steal cattle and to see what
The Xhosa in scenario 1 and Crown Forces in scenarios 2 and 3 deploy within 4”
of the table edge on the far side of the river from Zone 2 and can be set up in any other loot they can gather. One group has split off to
formation desired by the player. attack Treadaway’s Trading Post, where unbeknown
ZONE 2 This Zone is 4 ‘wide by 2’ deep to the raiders the local defenders have been boosted by
The Zone is relatively clear but contains 4 areas of bad going: In scenario 1 and 3 one
of these represents cultivated fields which may have a hut adjacent to it: The second the arrival of a small force of British regulars.
is an area of pasture with a low wall or fence in which the cattle are grazing.
The other two are represented by scrub, trees or broken ground: each terrain piece
should cover an area of no more than 6” x 6”.
In Scenario 2 all four areas of bad going are represented by scrub, trees or broken THE FORCES
ground The Xhosa have five groups of warriors (a group may
The four areas should be placed by the Crown Forces player in scenario 1 before the
Xhosa deploy and by the Xhosa in Scenarios 2 and 3 before the Crown Forces deploy be split down into two smaller groups if desired) and
ZONE 3 This Zone is 4 ‘wide by 1’ deep one leader.
In Scenario 1 this contains the trading post which should be represented by one
medium sized suitable building with a couple of out buildings. There are no walls but The Crown forces and their allies have a unit of
the Crown Forces player may erect two barricades each no more than 6” long. This is regular infantry, a unit of Rifles which may be split into
the Crown Forces deployment zone. However, they may place up to 2 small sized units
in the area of cultivation and/or to protect the cattle in zone 2 if they chose to do so. two small units, two small units of citizens classed as
In Scenario 2 this contains two areas of bad going: each terrain piece should cover
an area of no more than 6” x 6”represented by trees or scrub and should be placed by Cape Town or Fingoe Militia and one leader.
the Xhosa player – the table edge is the Xhosa exit point for the scenario.
In Scenario 3 this contains a raised area on which sits a Xhosa village which should
have 4 or more suitable dwellings/huts with scattered village debris. There are no
walls. This is the Xhosa deployment zone.

›
May 2024 Miniature Wargames 33
 If the herd are left unguarded in the open i.e. not
behind a wall or fence, or forced to move faster than 8”
ABOVE roll 1D6
A Xhosa
leader orders
his warriors DICE SCORE OUTCOME
forward. 1 The Crown Forces player chooses the direction of the
herd’s stampede and it moves 12” in that direction for this
turn
RIGHT
British infantry 2 or 3 The herd stampedes back the way it came on its last move
prepare for the and moves 12” in that direction for this turn
Xhosa attack. 4 or 5 The herd stampedes directly away from the nearest
combat and it moves 12” in that direction for this turn
6 The Xhosa player chooses the direction of the herd’s
stampede and it moves 12” in that direction for this turn

LEADERSHIP
◗ Each force has an overall leader: If using Black
Powder they have a Command Value of 8
◗ Each group of warriors should be allocated a leader.
◗ The Regulars, Rifleman and Militia should each be
allocated a leader.
◗ If using the Black Powder rules all of the individual
warrior and unit leaders have a Command Value of 8
OBJECTIVES
The Xhosa want to seize the cattle and the trading post
so they can loot it whilst minimising casualties.
The Crown forces and their allies want to drive off
the Xhosa whilst causing the maximum number of
casualties to them.
SPECIAL RULES
Herding Cattle
The herd can only travel up to 8” per move or they will
stampede
Roll for each turn that the herd is out of control by
a unit or group – this means that the herd may move
randomly around the table.
If a Xhosa group or Crown or allied unit moves into
contact with the herd and then passes its command roll
then it will gain control of it and the herd will be able
to move with the group/unit on its next turn
If the herd exits the table whilst stampeding it is lost
to both sides as it scatters across Cape Colony.
Note: Any group or small group of Xhosa warriors or any
Crown or allied unit or small unit which is used to guard
the herd can defend itself by shooting or if attacked in Hand
to Hand combat but cannot charge without losing control of
the herd.
Looting the Trading Post
A group or small group of Xhosa warriors must first
advance into contact with the building which they
must capture by driving off any defenders and then
spend 1 full uninterrupted turn looting it. If they

34 Miniature Wargames May 2024

succeed then that group’s normal move is slowed to
6 inches per move due to the objects it is carrying off.
The group can defend itself by shooting or if attacked
in Hand to Hand combat but cannot charge due to the
loot it is carrying.
SCENARIO 2: THE PURSUIT
Following the raid the Crown forces and their allies
have organised a pursuit of the Xhosa raiders and
has followed them into the lands of neutral clans
(traditionally the Xhosa believed that any conflict
should stop when they entered the lands of neutral
clans and were upset when they found that their
European opponents did not play by the same rules.)
The Crown forces have been joined by a group of
mounted Boers who not only want to punish the Xhosa
but are also seeking revenge for the deaths of loved one
during the recent raid.
If the Xhosa succeeded in stealing the Cattle and/
or looting the trading post then the Xhosa player must
designate which units are herding the cattle and/or
carrying the loot – they may split a warrior group in
two smaller groups to carry out these actions.
THE FORCES
The Xhosa have five groups of warriors (a group may
be split down into two smaller groups if desired) and
one leader.
The Crown Forces and their allies have a unit of
regular infantry, a unit of Rifles which may be split into
two small units, a unit of Boer Commando, two small
units of Militia or Fingoes and one leader.
LEADERSHIP
◗ Each force has an overall leader: If using Black
Powder they have a Command Value of 8
◗ Each group of warriors should be allocated a leader.
◗ The Regulars, Rifleman and Militia or Fingoes
should each be allocated a leader.
◗ If using the Black Powder rules all of the individual
warrior and unit leaders have a Command Value of 8
OBJECTIVES
The Xhosa want to escape by exiting the table edge
in Zone 3 whilst minimising their own casualties but
inflicting as many casualties on their pursuers as possible.
The Crown Forces and their allies want to recover
the stolen cattle/loot if any was taken and inflict the
maximum number of casualties on the Xhosa.
SPECIAL RULES
Random Xhosa Deployment
As this area is claimed by a neutral clan the Xhosa were
not expecting any pursuit and are therefore deployed
randomly initially facing the table edge they must exit by.
A group of Xhosa warriors is placed 12 inches in
from the river bank so they are 6 inches into Zone
2. This group should have the cattle if they were
successful in stealing them.
BELOW Then Roll 1D6 for each of the other groups to
The British determine their location relative to the first group.
infantry await
a Xhosa attack
with resolve. SCORE THE GROUP’S INITIAL LOCATION
1 Place the group 6 inches plus 1D6 inches directly behind
BOTTOM the first group
A Brave 2 Place the group 6 inches directly behind the first group
rifleman meets
3 Place the group 6 inches plus 1D6 inches to the left of the
his fate. first group
4 Place the group 6 inches plus 1D6 inches to the right of the
first group
5 Place the group with the first group
6 Place the group 6 inches directly ahead of the first group
The Rules for herding Cattle and carrying loot are as
set out for Scenario 1.
SCENARIO 3: THE CHASTISEMENT
The Crown forces and their allies have been authorised
to launch a punitive raid deep into Xhosa territory
and destroy a Xhosa village, seize their cattle and
burn their crops in retaliation for the raid. They have
›
May 2024 Miniature Wargames 35

been allocated a battery of artillery to aid them in the
destruction of the village.
THE FORCES
The Xhosa have five groups of warriors (each of which
may be split into two smaller groups if desired – see
the Special Rules) and one leader.
The Crown forces and their allies have a unit of
regular infantry, a unit of Rifles which may be split into
two small units, a unit of Boer Commando or Cape
Mounted Rifles, one artillery piece, two small units of
Militia or Fingoes and one leader.
LEADERSHIP
◗ Each force has an overall leader: If using Black
Powder they have a Command Value of 8
◗ Each group of warriors should be allocated a leader.
◗ The Regulars, Rifleman and Militia or Fingoes
should each be allocated a leader.
◗ If using the Black Powder rules all of the individual
warrior and unit leaders have a Command Value of 8
OBJECTIVES
The Xhosa want to defeat the Crown forces and
their allies or at least inflict the maximum number of
casualties on them as possible.
36 Miniature Wargames May 2024
The Crown forces and their allies want to burn the
Xhosa crops, confiscate their cattle and destroy at least
half of the buildings in the village whilst inflicting the
maximum number of casualties on the Xhosa as possible
SPECIAL RULES
Xhosa Ambush
Although the bulk of the Xhosa forces must be
deployed in Zone 3 to defend the village, the Xhosa
may secretly place up to groups of warriors (each of
which may be split into two smaller groups if desired)
in the area of cultivation and/or to protect the cattle
and/or in of the any areas of bad going in Zone 2
if they chose to do so. The Xhosa player must write
down where these groups are located before the battle
commences and will only disclose them when they are
activated or fire or attack a Crown or allied unit or they
are located by the Crown forces and their allies.
To locate a hidden Xhosa group or small group
which has not been activated or has fired, a Crown or
allied unit or small unit must be within 8 inches of it
and then roll 1D6.
TOP LEFT
Massing the
tribes (models
from Steve
McGuire).
LEFT
The Rifles
defend the
trading post.
BOTTOM LEFT
The village
(models from
Steve McGuire).
◗ A Crown unit will locate the hidden Xhosa on a 5+
◗ A Boer Commando, Cape Mounted Rifles, Militia or
Fingoes unit will locate the hidden Xhosa on a 4+
Burning the Field
A Crown or allied unit or small unit must first
advance into contact with the field and then spend a
full uninterrupted turn setting fire to it. Once on fire
smoke will cover the field obscuring visibility so that
any unit or group in it or on the other side of it from
any observers counts as if it were in soft cover for
both spotting and shooting purposes but not for any
adjustment to the unit or group’s saving throw.
The Rules for Herding Cattle and carrying loot are
as set out for Scenario 1.
Destroying the Village Buildings
A Crown or allied unit or small unit must first advance
into contact with the buildings and then spend 1 full
uninterrupted turn setting fire to it. Once on fire
smoke will cover that part of the village obscuring
visibility so that any unit or group in it or on the other
side of it from any observer’s counts as if it were in soft
cover for both spotting and shooting purposes but not
for any adjustment to the unit or group’s saving throw.
Alternatively 2 hits from the artillery piece will
destroy a Xhosa building.
ABOVE GAME TURN LIMIT
Don't let them These games should have a Game Turn limit at which
past the wall,
men! Battle is point the Europeans have defeated the Xhosa or vice
joined. versa. This is variable so neither side can predict
exactly when it will be. Thus after 6 turns roll 1D6: if a
1 is rolled the game stops at that point. If this does not
happen, then on the next turn roll again with the game
stopping on a 1 or 2. On subsequent turns increase the
score needed to end the game by 1 and so on until the
game automatically stops after turn 11.
ALTERNATIVE SETTINGS
As the engagements involve soldiers and militia
against “Hostiles” they could be played in other
settings such as:
◗ French and Indian Wars with both regulars and
militia fighting Woodland Indian raiders
◗ In India where soldiers of the East India Company and
their allies are fighting the forces of a local Indian Ruler
◗ French Algeria in the 1840s with French soldiers and
their local levies fighting Algerian/Berber raiders
◗ The Plains Wars with US Cavalry and poorly trained
infantry fighting the plains Indians
◗ In Darkest Africa where Colonial forces and local
allies are fighting a tribal kingdom.
In such settings the herd of cattle can be replaced
›
May 2024 Miniature Wargames 37
 where necessary by other suitable animals such as
horses, sheep or goats.
GATHERING YOUR FORCES
With only a few groups/units per side these
engagements will only require a few figures to play.
For example, if using Rebels and Patriots you will
need a combination of 6 mounted and dismounted
figures for the Boers or Cape Mounted Rifles and units
of 12 or 6 figures for the regulars and for the Militia
against say 30 to 60 figures for the Xhosa. Similar
numbers will suffice if playing Black Powder, although
we use 6 to 8 figures per unit or group.
As I primarily game this type of engagement in
28mm I will restrict my comment to manufacturers of
this scale of figures.
Perry Miniatures make the most comprehensive
set of figures in the Cape Wars Range having all of the
necessary figures for both sides. They are run a close
second by 1st Corps who have an extensive Cape Wars
range including Xhosa wearing the Crane Feather
Headdress and Xhosa wearing European clothes.
Unfortunately the two manufactures’ figures do not
mix well as the 1st Corps figures are smaller than those
from Perry.
British infantry and European militia can also
be taken from the Maori Wars range manufactures
by Empress Miniatures. An Australian figures
manufacturer, Cannon Fodder Miniatures, used to
make six different Xhosa figures and these were sold
by a company called Blaze Away, but I am not sure
whether these are still in production. In addition,
North Star’s Matabele warriors with muskets can be
38 Miniature Wargames May 2024
ABOVE used for Xhosa or Fingoes for the 8th and 9th Wars.
The cavalry Iron Duke Miniatures are about to launch a new
chase away
their opposition. range of figures called The Orange River Range which
will cover conflicts in South Africa and the Orange
River Sovereignty and will include British/Crown
forces in campaign dress as well as allies and enemies
including mounted Basotho Warriors who were
another foe but that is a different tale.
Players could, of course, substitute Darkest Africa
tribesmen from Wargames Foundry for the Xhosa or
even Zulu figures and pitch them against suitably
attired British soldiers.
FURTHER READING
The best source of information about these conflicts
comes from the excellent books by Colonel Mike
Snook. Produced in two volumes called Cape Warriors
I and II they contain a wealth of information and
details including some firsthand accounts and can
be found on the Perry website or from a well known
on-line retailer. These are backed up by two Osprey
books, The British Army on Campaign 1816 – 1902
volume 1 – 1816 to 1853 and Queen Victoria’s Enemies:
Southern Africa with the prints giving inspiration for
painting your soldiers and warriors. As ever more
information can be found via the internet.
So will the Crown forces and their allies
succeed in “chastising” the Xhosa or
will the Xhosa succeed in their cattle
raid and go on to successfully DOWNLOAD
CARDS & INFORMATION
defend their homes? Only you and
FOR REBELS & PATRIOTS
the Gods of the Dice will decide! tabletopgaming.co.uk/
Happy Gaming. ■ information/downloads
 omewhere back in the mists of time there were
S
a couple of clever articles about photographing
miniatures. They were published in a magazine
now inextricably associated with a certain
gaming imperium, but back in the day its pages
teemed with varied tabletop gaming content to tickle
all fancies.
The author, the late great Joe Dever, had taken it
upon himself to explain to readers the fine art of taking
decent pictures of their painted metal miniatures. The
article which was part of his regular ‘Tabletop Heroes’
thread, outlined the kit, props and techniques needed
to get professional or at least near decent results.
TIME BANDIT
Back then I poured over the descriptions, photos and
instructions with something approaching confused
eagerness. Because... here’s the thing: back then in
the mid-80s the list of recommended equipment was
prohibitively expensive. It mentioned such exotic
items as an SLR camera, lenses, and extension tube
set (?!), film – yes actual film – plus other mystical
paraphernalia like a cable shutter release and
conversion filters.
40 Miniature Wargames May 2024
To a young gamer wanting to take a few nice
BELOW
Camera Two diorama shots of his fledgling armies and minis
filming from the
side. these two articles by Dever seemed an impossible
mountain to climb. Back then a decent SLR camera
was a very expensive item mostly associated with
professional photographers. That’s before all the
other things that presaged the reader either having
access to, or be willing to fit out their spare room as, a
photographic studio. Not forgetting in this pre-digital
age of photography there was no instant result as the
film – an extra expense – had to be taken to your local
chemist to be developed over the course of a few days.
Needless to say while I read through the articles, I
cut corners and skimped by using the cheap instamatic
camera I had. The results? Well, all that came back from
the local chemist were twenty four blurry prints of my
flocked dioramas with varying degrees of shadow that
more resembled Jackson Pollock than a fierce 28mm
warband. At least the chemist took pity on my skills as
a photographer and didn’t charge me. Bless him, but I
never tried things out again.
BACK TO THE FUTURE
How times have changed. Not only can the casual
photographer take high quality photos of their
miniatures, dioramas or wargames with a smartphone
whipped out their back pocket (which often costs as
much as a DSLR, mind you... Ed), things have gone a
major step further.

We now live in an age with entire YouTube channels
dedicated to the miniature wargaming hobby.
Something that seemed unthinkable back when the
above articles came out. Yet, here we are. Living at
a time when you don’t need to a professional film
maker to produce content that can be shared with the
entire planet. However, this great democratisation of
video making has produced something that was best
described by Monty Python alumni Terry Gilliam
some years ago: “There are now more ways, for more
people, to show how bad they are making films”. A bit
caustic perhaps, and something that was aimed at
actors attending a film festival, but a certain truth rings
from Gilliam’s words.
Many times I’ve started watching a battle report
or a rules demonstration on YouTube only to be left
with boredom or severe motion sickness causing me to
switch off after a few moments. The films in question
usually suffer from one of two things. Either it’s a three
hour long video of two people at opposite ends of
wargames table in which the shot doesn’t change. Or
the video maker picks up the camera or smartphone
and constantly moves in and out of the various units
and areas of the table as the game progresses like a
buzzing fly. The former is boring while the latter can
induce motion sickness!
Also some gamers out there feel the need to show
everything happening at once, resulting in a screen
with panels showing the wargame table, dice tray
and gamers narrating every step. Hmmm: that is the
tragedy; fellow miniature wargaming enthusiasts
spending all that time and effort putting something
together that doesn’t show their game in the best way
and has viewers tuning out.
It’s easy get confused when filming something. The
prospect of attempting to show all the pertinent things
you need to cover can twist your video into something
How to film a
wargame
Words snd photos by Tom Holden
distended and bloated. A wargame is a prime LEFT
example. How do you cover the rules, the Bluetooth
and wired
movement, different units in different locations, microphones.
the players thoughts plus the dice throws all
within a video presentation? It’s a heady mix that
can inevitably lead to a confusing quagmire.
THE FINAL SOLUTION
The solution is right in front of us in a manner of
speaking. If there’s something that resembles a
wargame being played out it’s a sports game. If you
consider a football game or rugby match has certain
overlaps with moving miniatures around a table, then
filming a wargame is easier to understand. Think
about it, you’ve got a wide space with two ‘teams’ at
either end, when the game starts these teams move
around and come into contact with one another.
Also to flip things on its head somewhat, imagine if
a Premier League clash or Rugby Union match were
to be filmed like many of the YouTube wargames
video out there. If this was the case you’d either have
one static camera covering the entire field or a lone
roving camera operator scrambling around the pitch
trying to film every piece of action. Or perhaps the
television screen would be split into separate parts
simultaneously showing the commentators, ball being
kicked and player reactions. Any one of these would
have the viewer wondering what potent hallucinogen
the TV crew had just ingested.
So why do the same for a wargame? Well, it’s only
natural to use a video camera just like our eyes. We
often try to impose our visual grammar onto video
content creation. In other words when we play a
wargame our eyes and thoughts are flitting all around
the table as we scan the terrain, units or look for
potential break out manoeuvres. Doing this with a
camera is a mistake as this technique translates very
badly to video, yet it’s the trap many fall into as they
attempt to hoover up every detail of the game in front
of them. As mentioned above the net result can be a
confusing blur of unfocused movement giving the
viewer sea sickness.
Then at the opposite end is the aforementioned
single static shot of the entire wargame table. Not
only can this be dull, but many details could be lost
depending on the set-up. Plus, disembodied hands
may reach in every so often while a mumbled voice
says something inaudible. Taking this concept further
some choose to take photos after each turn and edit
these together as a video, while it does give a clear
›
May 2024 Miniature Wargames 41
 LEFT idea of how the game progressed it’s essentially just a
Supermarket sequence of still pictures with perhaps some narration
bought
smartphone added. Remember, as a maxim: “Would you watch your
tripod and light. favourite sporting match televised in such a way?”
PLAN 9 (FROM OUTER SPACE)
So, how to you plan to film a wargame? First things
first. What video camera should you use? The answer
is simple, whatever you have at hand. Nowadays a
smartphone can outperform a camcorder or even hold
its own against consumer level Digital Single Lens
Reflex (or DSLR) systems currently on the market. So if
that’s all you have, great. You can start filming straight
away. If you’ve got something more sophisticated, then
that’s great too. Your next consideration is how will you
film the action on the table?
SET THE SCENE
Making a video is like any other form of
communication, if you can get your concept across
simply then your audience will easily understand
things. Don’t overthink it. So establish what’s going on:
this can be a simple shot of the wargame table set up in
all its glory viewed across the long axis with perhaps
the gamer saying who they are and what’s about to
happen either by appearing in shot or as a voice over.
Such a simple device as an introduction immediately
forges a kind of bond with your viewers by the simple
act of letting them in on what you are going to show.
It may sound simple and trivial, but it isn’t. If you
just jump into things without any preamble you are
cold shouldering people somewhat by leaving them
wondering the whys and wherefores of it all. Consider
a news report: the presenter always introduces who
they are and that it’s the news, night after night.
42 Miniature Wargames May 2024
ACT ONE
This first step – and indeed the rest of your video
– requires a few bits of kit for best results. In no
particular order you need a camera or smartphone
(obviously), a tripod or some kind of stand to steady
your shot, decent lighting so everything can be seen
and ideally some kind of microphone system. This
last point cannot be overstated, a microphone is a vital
piece of equipment for any video presentation and
should be used when possible if someone is speaking.
It’s one of the sadly often overlooked aspects of video
making. Without it, your audio quality can be very
poor. While smartphones, DSLRs and video cameras
have in-built microphone systems they are not great
(or rather they operate best if they are in very close
proximity to the person talking). For a shot where you
have your camera or smartphone a few feet away from
the wargame table plus the presenter/gamer so as to
get everything in picture, this isn’t an option.
Instead of listing a catalogue of model numbers
and makes, it’s best to keep things simple. There are
dozens, if not hundreds, of affordable bluetooth and
wired microphones available aimed at the influencer/
vlogger market sold from high street electronics
retailers, online or even discount stores. If this seems
a bit much too much faffing about then there are other
ways. You can either film everything first then dub
on the narration after although this could possibly
complicate your edit – more in this later.
Unfortunately consider not all smartphones and
video cameras are compatible with these external
microphones. In which case you will have to dub on
your narration after. Either that or go with the not so
great quality of the built in mic. It’s up to you and how
much effort you want to put in.
THE ACTION DEVELOPS
So what next? Once the scene is set and the
introduction delivered, your wargame should start
moving as one side begins manoeuvring its forces and
the other side does the same during their turn. The
simple act of moving your camera closer to focus in
on a crucial dice roll, a unit or area of the battlefield
immediately ups the interest level and pulls the
viewer deeper into the game. Avoid the temptation,
however, to leave the camera in one place and zoom
in and out like some gun emplacement looking for
targets. Not only can this disorientate the viewer, but
– depending on what smartphone or camera you are
using – a couple of functions may kick-in according
on how far you zoom in and how poorly lit the place
is. These are the gain and shutter speed which in such
circumstances can conspire to make your image grainy
and appear as if things are happening in a weird blurry
slow motion. Plus when zoomed in the shake of your
image will increase meaning a bump on the table or
even someone walking across the room looks like an
earthquake.
If things are dark when you move the camera closer
for a close up shot maybe use a small portable light
to boost the brightness levels. Just remember to take
it away afterwards for the wide shot as having a
formation of French line infantry clamber over an Ikea
lamp is rather anachronistic.
You can quite easily, and simply, repeat this wide
shot-close up-wide shot sequencing for the entirety of
your wargame. By doing so the viewer can hopefully
see the bigger picture of the battle evolving over the
course of the game while at the same time showing
the detailed action and nuanced plays during the
encounter. It does though impact the game’s continuity
and delay proceedings as you reposition the camera
and deliver your updates and thoughts on things so
far. And this raises an important point – how long is
your video going to be?
THE TIME MACHINE
A video that covers the game in real time
can be overlong in terms of expecting someone to sit
down and watch it all. This can be a painful point for
many a wargamer documenting the entirety of their
battles and campaigns in video form. Rather than
capturing every shot of a three hour wargame many
people would often prefer something cut down into a
digestible easy to watch duration: perhaps half an hour
to an hour or so depending on how things are filmed
and edited together.
It’s easy to chop down your game’s running time.
There are two basic things you can do, either you just
film every third move for example with perhaps a bit
of an announcement highlighting what happened in
the previous turns. Or you film the whole game and
cut things in the edit.
In terms of keeping your sanity and preventing your
computer from withering under the assault of many
BELOW gigabytes of video files, it’s simpler to only film part
Camera One of the wargame timeline. Sure, it may mean you could
wide shot. miss a unique and exciting event, but you can at least
BOTTOM fill the viewers in on what’s just happened with a
Camera One. quick voice over or caption.
BASIC INSTINCTS
Now, those are the basics. What about moving up a
gear and making things that tad more sophisticated?
A simple move is to use another camera, or cameras,
and have them filming simultaneously. This gives
you the advantage of not having to reposition your
lone camera every time you want to change the shot
as you can leave it set up covering another aspect of
the wargame. However, cutting between two shots
that don’t change can be a bit dull visually. Better is to
use this other camera as a means of changing angle,
getting closer and possibly occasionally showing to
the dice throws or opponent’s face as they react to
the game play. Basically it gives you the opportunity
to cover more and cover it easier: Ridley Scott’s
Napoleon used no less than eleven cameras filming
›
May 2024 Miniature Wargames 43
 DICE, CAMERA, ACTION!
simultaneously to capture the battle scenes in his
recent film.
This multi-camera set-up all adds to the visual
interest and keeps things moving depending on how
its cut together during the editing phase. Remember,
when you watch something on television or at the
cinema the shot is changing after every few seconds.
While such a tempo may be too fast for a wargame,
having the opportunity to cut back and forth regularly
will hold people’s attention.
Managing two cameras and playing a game can be
a drawn slow process. So it’s important to manage
those expectations and prepare for some delays and
frustrations, especially if you intend on actually
playing a competitive game instead of a demo.
Needless to say turning up at your regular club game
night unannounced with a load of lights, cameras and
microphone gear may take people a tad by surprise.
CLAPPERBOARD
Thus far the onus has been on just one gamer doing all
the talking by acting as a kind of presenter or off screen
voice over. Even better is to have all gamers mic’d up
so what they are saying can be heard, picked up by the
cameras and included in the edit. Things will be more
entertaining this way plus it’s a more effective way of
letting the viewer know what’s going on. However,
this requires having more than one mic, ideally each
of which is clipped on to the gamers’ lapels. Although
it is possible to just have one and leave it secreted
44 Miniature Wargames May 2024
somewhere on the wargame table, or suspended from BELOW
the ceiling somehow, so it picks up speech. Just bear in Camera Two
close-up.
mind if you do leave it on the table it will pick up the
clatter of dice rolls, moving figures, tapping the table
and all sorts of other noise that could compromise
what is being said.
Okay, two (or more) cameras, great! But how do
you coordinate them? The simplest way is to use the
clapper board technique. This old bit of film making
technology still works a treat and involves having all
your cameras recording, position them so they can see
the clapper board, then clap the clapper board. If you
don’t have one of these a simple hand clap will suffice.
What this very analogue technique achieves is to
synchronize your two video devices when it gets to the
edit. Basically it stamps a time event on all your video
material to ensure you edit them in coordination with
one another. So for example imagine a situation where
you have a camera covering the whole wargame table
and another looking at close ups of the units. In this
instance if your Camera 1 has the wide shot showing
the entirety of the table including a long bow unit, and
then at 4 minutes 34 seconds after the clap you move
this unit, you can then cut to your Camera 2 long bow
close up shot at 4 minutes 34 seconds after the clap.
This way the continuity is guaranteed and avoids
an awkward jump cut as the same piece of action is
happening from different angles – one far away and
one close up. While these jumps are not a total disaster
for a wargames video, having two shots dovetail
smoothly does enhance the overall presentation.
Although considering this is about wargame video
making maybe rolling a couple big noisy dice will
suffice instead of a clap.
CAMERA OBSCURA
All these cameras, microphones and other gizmos are
great but there will come a time when you inevitably
need to make sense of your material and bring
things into the edit. The editing process is something
misunderstood by the wider public and is an art form
all to itself. At its simplest it is the straight forward
ordering of material according to a pre-formed plan.
At the other end of the spectrum it’s the corruption of
time into a dazzling array of events that enhances the
basic story.
Some wargame videos may just be a simple
progression of the turns with things either cut out or
left in, while others may start backwards with a teaser
shot of a player’s reaction at the end of the game –
perhaps weeping in the corner after their expensive
and lovingly painted army is wiped out – before
cutting back to the intro. The choice is up to you,
just remember an earlier point: if you can get your
concept across simply then your audience will easily
understand things. Don’t overthink it!
Editing applications can offer a dizzying array of
add-ons, graphic options and basically all sorts of visual
goodies to sprinkle into a film. Don’t let them confuse
you, stay focused on what you need to do and only use
things sparingly. Remember people are watching your
video to see a wargame, not your skills with animated
graphics or spinning titles. An edit application’s prime
purpose is to stick bits of video together!
DIRECTOR’S CUT
So what edit options are out there. The answer is: lots.
You’ve got Adobe Premiere, DaVince Resolve, Final
Cut, iMovie, Premiere Rush and so on. The list is long,
confusing and can be a rabbit hole to fall into. Some
are sophisticated professional systems that offer lots of
flexibility and options for editing while others are basic
aimed at casual users and can be limited regards their
features. Much like the advice regarding cameras, it’s
perhaps best to start off with ‘whatever you have to
hand’. Most laptops will have some kind of proprietary
editing application while many editing apps for
smartphones can be obtained for free. However, for
those with little or no experience of video editing, it
can be a frustrating and confusing experience at first;
keeping track of your video files, cutting them and
assembling them can put your head in a spin. This will
be further compounded if you are editing a prolonged
film on a smartphone as keeping track of everything
on a small screen can become a descent into madness.
I’ll leave these decisions to you.
FINAL EDIT
So what else can you do in your edit? You can fill in
many of the blanks you either forgot to film or were
unable to. For example a key dice role can be shown
by simple text in the corner of the screen or a turn not
covered by camera can be summarized by another
caption. Also you can add some voice overs to cover
other points or even add music and sound effects.
Plus you could show an important rule paragraph by
having it appear in close up or as a photograph.
Consider that editing is also a time when the film
maker can attempt to correct mistakes. The options
and possibilities available
while editing are LEFT
near endless however Editing.
remember these words
from George Lucas
regards the film making
process: “A film is never
finished, only abandoned”.
Consider this wisdom
and take it to heart,
otherwise you may spend
days or weeks in a small
dark room cobbling
together your skirmish
wargame video as you
become obsessed with the
editing process. It does
happen. (remember, Greedo
shot first... Ed.)
SUPER PANAVISION
So how to the big boys
do it? A recent view of
›
May 2024 Miniature Wargames 45
 DICE, CAMERA, ACTION!
OnTableTop playing Silver Bayonet’s solo mode is a
text book example of how a well-resourced gaming
video content operation works. They used a four static
camera set-up; one for the master shot showing the
table and the two players, another overhead camera
gives a bird’s eye view of the table, the third focusing
in on the dice tray while the forth is over the shoulder
of one of the players showing their point of view. This
gives, even a long demo game, enough variety to keep
the viewer interested (at least I was) over the forty
four minutes duration. Their studio quality lighting
enabling the images to be well lit and sharp plus both
presenters were wearing microphones ensuring good
audio quality... it all added up. Also of the gamers
maintained a fun entertaining, yet easy going, banter
throughout informing the viewer what was happening
and how the rules worked. Finally – and this is no
small point – they were playing a room filled with
wargaming stuff on the shelves behind them. While
this may simply be because it’s their store room and
the only space big enough to fit everything in, having
all manner of wargame terrain in shot effectively act
like props enhancing and reinforcing the nature of the
content. If the video had been filmed in someone’s
kitchen with dirty dishes and half eaten food
lying around it may have detracted from the game
somewhat.
The downside is that – with four cameras running
for at least forty minutes plus – it means at least three
hours’ worth of video to wrangle and edit together.
That’s a big job.
CLOSING CURTAINS
So what final pointers are there?
If you are unhappy with hard edits, most editing apps
have transitions called cross fades, dissolves, wipes etc.
These can smooth over the cracks so to speak and feel
free to use them.
Should you need to reposition your lone camera,
try and keep filming in the same general direction
otherwise it can confuse the viewer. To explain, if you
have the camera filming from one side of the table and
then position it on the opposite side so it’s facing the
46 Miniature Wargames May 2024
ABOVE back other way, it can disorientate the viewer. Also
Two simple desk where possible try and use the manual settings on
lights
your video camera or smartphone’s video app. This
way you can have better control over things like focus
meaning your shots will stay sharp if you move it
about.
White balance is worth thinking about, it’s the way
your camera establishes whether its filming in natural
or artificial light. If left on automatic or set incorrectly
your images can either have a washed out blue tinge
or a dirty orange hue. However, that being said, don’t
worry too much about these points. Modern cameras
and smartphones are quite capable beasts and often
their in-built automatic systems can handle a wide
array of situations.
For those using two or more cameras it’s possible
the image quality between them may vary. Especially
if they are different makes and models. So when it
comes to the edit you may discover the video from
the different devices are of different resolution or size.
However, this can be corrected at the post production
stage.
Finally, headphones. This relates to microphones.
While it’s all very well to wear one, how do you tell if
your microphone’s audio quality is good? The simple
act of plugging headphones into your video camera or
smartphone – if you can – is the best way to check your
mics are working and sending quality audio. It’s worth
taking a few moments before you start filming to check
this point. If not you risk filming for an hour or so only
to discovery your video material is mute. Ooops!
AFTER THE CREDITS
To wind things down, this rough guide is a very basic
run through and summary of the steps you need to
think about if you want to make videos of your game
sessions. It’s not intended as a comprehensive course
in Gaming Content Production 101, instead more of
an inspiration on how to approach things and what
to think about. Just like painting minis to a decent
standard, making good videos takes a while and no
small amount of practice.
Hang on in there and have fun. ■
 Words by Peter Merritt. Photos by The Editor.

the players had next to no knowledge of the formalised

steps for conducting said operations and were also a
tad impatient. However, that should never keep a good
developer down!

SOME HISTORY
So, why the focus on fortresses – just go round, right?
Well, for many operations these were critical supply
depots or logistic hubs for the armies in the field. They
could thus provide bases for local operations in a
region, or a safe refuge if things went a bit pear-shaped
in battle. They also tended to be sited on major road
INTRODUCTION TOP
Last stand of
junctions, so simply ‘going around’ wasn’t an option,
Some considerable time ago now I was looking at the George Thomas as the garrison could then sally out at a time of their
problem of a systemic game process for conducting by the Boondock choosing and beat up the opposing logistic trains. Let
siege operations in the ‘classic’ period of such Sayntes. me give some examples...
operations – say, 1600-1871. The reasons for a system- ABOVE I think it is safe to say that many Renaissance sieges
driven approach was that I wanted to give players the Colonial were actually decided less by direct assault than
key decisions and make ‘progress’ visible to all as a Peterborough ‘starving out’. There are key exceptions of course – the
WC
fortress was reduced. As with many games, however, Turks at Constantinople in 1453 used giant cannons
›
May 2024 Miniature Wargames 47
 & LADDERS

which happened the same week in the East. This is

because it not only controlled all North-South traffic on
the Mississippi (vital to Union logistics), but it was also
the key East-West nexus for much need food supplies
coming from all the Confederate states in the West. The
loss of this materiel contributed greatly to the fall of the
Confederacy.
I deliberately stopped our quick survey at 1870 (siege
of Paris in the FPW), although sieges as such still go
on in the ‘modern’ era – Port Arthur in 1905, Tsingtao
during WW1, Sebastopol (again) in 1942 and 1944.
I don’t include ‘operational’ encirclements where a
normal town area is simply isolated by field actions,
as they lack the formal defences which need to be
reduced.

ABOVE for the first time to overwhelm the massive (but sadly
Last stand of outdated) Byzantine walls. But I think you need to
George Thomas get into the mid-17thC to really see ‘classic’ siege
by the Boondock
Sayntes at operations in action, with the genius French engineer
Hammerhead Vauban both building new fortresses for Louis XIV,
2022. and designing ways to attack others like them!
OPPOSITE Certainly the Duke of Marlborough was stymied in
RIGHT & RIGHT his field operations by the ‘wall’ of French forts along
A Descent on the the border in Flanders, and several campaigns were
french coast
by Graham triggered by either the threat towards one or more of
Hilditch at these behemoths and/or the need to relieve them.
Partizan 2021. Coming forward a little, the Duke of Wellington
had to clear the French from two major Spanish
fortress-towns (Badahoz and Cuidad Rodrigo) which
effectively blocked any advance from Portugal into
Spain. Indeed, the taking of these fortresses did not
always go well, with premature assaults following
partially prepared siege lines leading to initially
bloody repulses at one, and a relief operation curtailing
another.
Of course, some classic sieges did not quite follow
the manual. During the Indian Mutiny, the key city
of Delhi was the scene of an unusual operation…
Problem was, the ancient walls were about seven miles DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
in circumference, with the initial British forces not OK, so fortresses are important. So how do we, as
only being totally unable to seal-off the city but in fact wargamers, get to model these operations? There are
almost being besieged in their own camp some of the several key aspects to any design therefore:
time! However, once the British forces were reinforced
there were some interesting aspects to the assault – but Real-time speed:
that’s another article! After all, the whole of Gettysburg took three days,
Virtually the whole Crimean War revolved around whereas the sieges of Magdeburg or Lille went on for
the siege of Sebastopol (the key fortress/port in the weeks if not months. Assuming the siege(s) are part
Black Sea). One reason the siege dragged on so long – of a club campaign of some sort (rather than a special
apart from gross incompetence among the Allies – was game in its own right), you may want to devote –
that it was never entirely sealed-off, and so continued at best – only a single meeting to resolve the issue.
to receive supplies. Or, on the other hand, if part of a map campaign,
Finally, there is a strong argument that the fall of the controlling umpire needs something small and
Vicksburg in July 1863 was actually more important to compact to track events while the rest of the world
the outcome of the ACW than the Battle of Gettysburg (relieving forces etc) moves on. So simplicity is vital.

48 Miniature Wargames May 2024

Period:
Keeping to the gunpowder period, major sieges went
through quite formalised stages. After the initial
envelopment (which may decide the size of garrison,
amount of supply etc), the attackers establish an outer
ring of trenches and heavy gun bastions (to bombard the
walls). Assault trenches are pushed forward, hindered
or not by occasional forays by the defence and/or
weather etc. Every now and again the main baseline/
gun positions are also moved forward, for greater effect at
creating breaches. The number, size and level of effective
defence of said breaches will decide the outcome, as well
as whether some/all besiegers have to leave to reinforce a
covering army and fend-off a relief expedition.
A possible solution…
However, it was while languishing in the bath one
day that I began to jot-down notes on the options –
and how the nature of stop-go, three-steps-forward,
one-step-back were the primary feature of such ops.
It was a short leap from there to the ‘Snakes & Ladders’
board… Let me illustrate:
Notes:
On the board mock up there are snakes (slide down)
and ladders (climb up) plus some notes and a series of
numbers in red balls:
(1) Represents something like a final breakthrough,
as when a key bastion is taken before a final assault. So
where are the reserves?
(2 and 6) Are a major success for the attackers –
either tactical (outside), or even a defender problem
(magazine blows up, their food supplies are spoiled
etc).
(3,4 and 5) Are reverses for the attacker – perhaps
a counter-bombardment. Certainly (5) represents
something very bad – perhaps bad weather floods the
attackers trenches etc?
(7) Represents damaged areas of the defence, after
a bombardment. These may be repaired but represent
weak spots for possible assaults.
(8) Is the current progress position. You can see that
there is one clear row now below that, so there is now
an option to advance the trench line which allows the
siege guns to get closer…
The yellow, shaded area at the ‘bottom’ of the
diagram/board represents how close the besiegers
‘baseline’ of approach trenches has advanced (see the
Rules, next), which is where siege guns may be sited.
THE RULES BIT
There are not many of those, really, but I use the
following:
1. The defender places numbered markers for their
‘snakes’ which represent everything from counter-
fire through bad weather or simply dumb luck
– perhaps that shipment of new engineering tools
›
May 2024 Miniature Wargames 49

ABOVE & was defective. Only the defender may know the
RIGHT ‘shape’ and length of the snake i.e. how serious an
A Descent on the
French Coast
encounter might be.
by Graham
Hilditch at 2. The attacker (or umpire) does likewise with said
Partizan 2021.
‘ladders’ or advantages – again these could be some
sort of unexpected progress like, perhaps, a bastion
blowing-up, food supplies dwindling, fending-off a
foray etc.
3. Siege guns – which do the real damage – can only be
placed on the besieger’s ‘baseline’ (these are marked
as ‘GUNS’ on the chart). This is a clear row behind
the moving progress marker. This is shown on the
chart as ‘CURRENT FORWARD TRENCH’ which
will move up the board as the siege progresses - and
the closer they are to the defender’s position, the
more destructive they are!
4. Movement Options: Each turn the besieger may
either:
• Advance the general progress as per the usual
game of Snakes & Ladders – normally a d6, but
you could use a variation for a special engineer
(like Vauban). Stages may be enhanced to taste
with other triggers, bonuses, losses etc.
• Advance the ‘baseline’ (i.e. Current Forward
Trenches) by a single clear row behind where
the general progress marker has reached. This
is critical, as the baseline marks not only the
siege gun line, but also the furthest back that any
‘slide’ may now end up (because the baseline is
normally bristling with troops, guns etc).
• If you wanted to be mean, you could also make it
a special move to re-site the siege guns as well, as
this was not a simple process!
5. While all this is going-on, it may be that the
defender(s) could try to call for help from external
sources – say, N weeks to assemble, then an
approach march or two. The attacker must then
decide (assuming they have some recce info!) what
to do about it: assault now before the relief arrives,
send a blocking force to intercept, suspend the siege
and use the majority of troops in a quick battle (I’m
thinking ‘Napoleon at Milan, 1796’), or – what?
50 Miniature Wargames May 2024
6. Once the besieger thinks they are in a good enough
position, they may offer terms before declaring
an assault. This can be played out with another
sub-game. Perhaps you can model street fighting
beyond the walls (which can be really confusing),
plus the resultant control issues of any revolting
(and possibly starving) citizens will be an issue. If
you don’t want to game this point out it could be
computed via some simple process based on the
state of the defenders, the distance from the baseline
to the breaches in the wall, and the number of
attackers etc.
7. At the conclusion of the siege, the attacker/
umpire also needs to sort out not just casualties
but also what state the survivors are in – much of
Wellington’s army was pretty drunk for over three
days after one of their successful assaults!
CONCLUSION
And that’s it, really; it sounds silly at first, but I
have found it to be (in solo play) a really good
representation of some key sieges in the 17th and 18th
centuries. The rules you apply (for advances, moving
the sap-line etc) are really based on the period and
circumstances, but many aspects are quite common
across the whole period. Indeed, the ‘Snakes &
Ladders’ approach reminds me of many (rather too
many) projects back in the real world, from house
building to NASA’s attempts at space flight – so bear it
in mind next time you need a simple game mechanism.
I’m now off for another look in the cupboard…
USEFUL READING MATERIAL
Siege Warfare: The Fortress in the Early Modern World
1494-1660 by Christopher Duffy. Make no mistake, this
is the volume to have on the early period, and can now
be found at quite reasonable prices on the second hand
market.
Fire & Stone: The Science of Fortress Warfare 1660-
1860 by Christopher Duffy published by Helion Books.
This is a shorter book which carries on from the first,
seminal work. In many ways the later period is more
fascinating as both defender and attacker evolved. ■
A TALE OF TWO SHOWS
The Editor goes to the Cavalier 2024 show Words and photos by The Editor

ABOVE was a nice cafe indoors and a good spread of games

Hold until and traders.
Relieved.

LEFT GAMES
Death on the I’ll be brief but highlights for me were an excellent
Savannah by
Deal Wargames. Death on the Savannah by Deal Wargames. This was
game of animal combat (which was a replacement for
BELOW the award winning Palestine based, pre-WWII game
Small scale
Napoleonics. that they had planned to run but...); there was an LRDG
game (with burning Messerschmidts) by the Tonbridge
Club using DAK Attack; Hoth by the Cheshunt club

I took two trips on consecutive weekends to a pair of

shows so this month we’ll start with...

CAVALIER
The show – hosted by the Tunbridge Wells Wargames
Society at the Angel Centre, Tonbridge, was a bit of an
improvement over last years event, I think. The 2023
show had been the first one in three years (Covid)
but this year the organisers were back in their stride.
Numbers through the door seemed up but they were
down a couple of traders (not the only show to have
reported this issue...).
The venue was much as per previous years: parking
was easy (but a fight with local shoppers) and there
›
May 2024 Miniature Wargames 51
 CAVALIER 2024

ABOVE
The Summer of
77 by Maidstone piece on) and lots more: two Song of Ice and Fire
WC. games; a nice D&D skirmish outing; Napoleonics in
three different scales; Naval action; Ancients; plus the
ABOVE RIGHT
Naval excellent Cold War game by the Milton Hundred chaps.
Wargaming All in all a great selection and rather better than last
by Real Time years, I have to say: not a dud amongst them!
Wargames.

RIGHT CONCLUSION
Song of Ice and There were 17 games and 21 traders and the show also
Fire by the SL
Warlords. raised £285 for Combat Stress, which the hosting club
made up to £350. The atmosphere was comfy and I’m
BELOW RIGHT looking forward to next year. Next issue: Hammerhead! ■
DAK Attack by
Tonnbridge. with lots of ATATs; a lovely Hold until Relieved WWII
game by the Retired Wargamers Reloaded (wall to wall
BELOW 3d printed buildings); Fall of the Reich by the Friday
Cold War by the
Milton Hundreds. Night Firefight Club (with SU100s and some ‘Last one
at the Reichstag’ action); A WWII invasion game by the
Maidstone WS incongruously called The Summer of
’77 (based on a game in a Boys Comic from that year
which I’m hoping they’ll write me an explanatory

52 Miniature Wargames May 2024

JAGDPANZER
◗ Thomas Anderson
◗ Osprey (2024)
◗ £35
◗ 272 pages (hardback)
◗ ISBN:9781472857361
◗ ospreypublishing.com
One of the major bonuses of this series
on the German armoured forces of
WWII is the quality of the photographs
– excellent black-and-white images,
largely from the author’s own
collection.
In this particular volume, there are
also tables of the armour penetration
values of each significant anti-tank gun
(albeit it is not clear whether these are at
90 degrees to the armour plate or not),
by type of ammunition. All books in this
series contain combat accounts drawn
from War Diaries and the like: the
salient points for jagdpanzer units were,
firstly, the need to allow for a limited
gun traverse (as constant moving of
the vehicle strained the transmission
system), and secondly, the need to
avoid ‘penny-packeting’ by deploying
individual vehicles. As with the author’s
volumes on individual tank types, what
stands out is the high proportion of
losses that occurred in retreats, as even
lightly damaged vehicles had to be
abandoned - perhaps as many as two-
thirds of total losses? Do our wargames
allow sufficiently for this, and hence
the need to retain possession of the
battlefield?
Chris Jarvis
FINIS BRITANNIAE
◗ Murray Dahm
◗ Amberley Publishing (2024)
◗ £22.99
◗ 287 pages (hardback)
◗ ISBN:9781398118270
◗ amberley-books.com
The impact of the exit of formal
Roman Army units from Britain in
the early 5th Century AD has been a
source of speculation by historians.
Did civilisation collapse in the face of
‘Saxon’ invaders and/or local warlords
jockeying for kingship, or did sufficient
homegrown forces hold the line?
I am no expert on ancient archives
and archaeology, but the author seems
to achieve a compelling, honest and
credible analysis of the evidence,
starting with the troubles in the 3rd
Century and progressing through to
the 5th/6th Centuries. Military detail
is sparse (albeit with good details from
the Notitia Dignitatum), reflecting our
lack of knowledge on battle sites, army
sizes, etc, but this is a very readable and
plausible interpretation of political and
military events over the period.
This book would form a good basis
for a high-level zonal map-based
wargame, with periodic invasions or
civil wars providing a background
to battlefield actions with relatively
small armies, and in a multi-player
or solo setting (with you playing the
British against randomised events).
Recommended
Chris Jarvis
›
May 2024 Miniature Wargames 53
 REVIEWS
EDWARD LONGSHANKS’
FORGOTTEN CONFLICT
◗ David Pilling
◗ Amberley Publishing (2024)
◗ £22.99
◗ 256 pages (hardback)
◗ ISBN:9781398113510
◗ amberley-books.com
Edward I’s campaigns in Gascony and
Flanders, in the Anglo-French War of
1294-1303, read like a real-life version
of the boardgame Diplomacy, with
treaties made and – subtly or openly –
broken. Both monarchies spent heavily
not only on their own troops, castles
and supplies but also on subsidies to
allies. The end result was more or less a
return to pre-war status, including the
legal quagmire for Edward of being the
King of England and Gascony and yet
a vassal of the King of France – a major
casus belli of the Hundred Years War a
generation later.
This is an intriguing account, well-
researched and in a very readable
style. Military detail is scarce, in part
because of lack of archival material but
also the rarity of major battles: this was
primarily a war of raids and sieges.
More detail on the impact of Edward’s
concurrent Welsh and Scottish ventures
might have helped, as well as more
detail on national finances, but overall
this seems a balanced account of the
myriad influences and factors at play
across Western Europe in this period.
Nicely done
Chris Jarvis
54 Miniature Wargames May 2024
ARMIES AND WARS OF
THE FRENCH EAST INDIA
COMPANIES 1664-1770
◗ Rene Chartrand
◗ Helion & Company (2024)
◗ £35.00
◗ 354 pages (softback)
◗ ISBN:9781804513408
◗ helion.co.uk
Many wargamers will
be aware of the British
campaigns in eighteenth and nineteenth
century India because the victories of
Robert Clive, Eyre Coote, Lord Lake,
Arthur Wellesley, Hugh Gough and
Charles Napier expanded the power of
the Honourable East India Company until
British dominance in the subcontinent led
to Queen Victoria becoming Empress of
India. Less familiar is the HEIC’s rival, the
French Compagnie des Indes (Company
of the Indies) which was formed in 1719
by uniting the various French companies,
holding overseas trade monopolies and
privileges, that had maintained their own
private armies and navies, independent of
royal forces.
Number 124 in Helion’s From Reason
to Revolution 1721-1815 series is subtitled
‘European, Asian and African Soldiers in
India, Africa, the Far East and Louisiana’.
The author states that it is “the first book
length study published concerning the military
forces maintained by the French East India
companies, be it in the English or French
languages.”
Following a seven-page Chronology of
Main Events and Engagement from Vasco
da Gama reaching Calicut in 1498 to the
closing of the Company of the Indies in
1770, and an Introduction describing the
origins and development of the Mughal
Empire in India, the first fourteen chapters
contain a narrative of events involving
the French. The author has given more
attention to the battles that were not
against the British which are not covered
in British military histories, than to battles
such as Plassey, for which there are many
sources in English.
The next six chapters cover Military
Organisation and Establishments;
Lifestyles of the Troops at Home and
Overseas; Asiatic Soldiers; European
Cavalry, Foreign Units, Volunteers,
Engineers and Gunners; Portable
Weapons, Accoutrements and Ordnance;
and Uniforms of the Company troops. The
final chapter, Militias, describes those in
the Ile de France (now Mauritius), Ile de
Bourbon (now the overseas department of
La Reunion) and Louisiana. A three-page
Select Annotated Bibliography concludes
the book; there is no index.
Full page colour plates by Patrice
Courcelle depict twelve figures of different
soldiers of the Company, such as a fusilier
of the garrisons of Lorient, Louisiana
and Senegal, 1720s - early 1730s; a sepoy
fusilier, coastal India, late 1740s; a fusilier
of the European Companies, coastal India,
c.1750-1751; a sepoy fusilier, Nellore
District, c.1750-1755; and an artilleryman,
African Caffre fusilier, and grenadier a
cheval of Bussy’s Deccan Army, 1750s.
Five pages of commentaries on these
plates appear at the end of the text.
Eighteen pages of colour illustrations
contain reproductions of contemporary
Indian paintings, uniform plates by
Eugene Leliepvre, Michel Petard, Lucien
Rousselot and Robert Marrion, and
some illustrations of regimental colours,
with commentaries on the same pages.
The book also contains 189 black and
white illustrations, including modern
and contemporary maps, plans of forts,
photographs of surviving artefacts and
illustrations of uniforms.
For wargamers, the eighteenth-century
struggle in India between the English
and French companies has much to
offer: regular European troops from their
existing Austrian Succession or Seven
Years’ War miniature armies; Indian
sepoys, raised and given training in
European tactics by the rival companies;
and colourful, irregular armies of Indian
warriors commanded by maharajahs
and princes upon elephants. This book
provides all of the information necessary
to portray the forces of the Company of
the Indies on the tabletop.
Arthur Harman
CLUB SPOTLIGHT
SKIRMISH WARGAMES CLUB
Interview by John Treadaway with members of ‘The Collective’
How did the club first get started?
A long time ago, in a city far,
far away (Bristol in the ‘60s)
three wargaming friends came
together with an idea: Ian
Colwill, Mike Blake and the late
Steve Curtis simply wanted to
recreate the Gunfight at the OK
Corral using 54mm Swoppit and
Timpo cowboy figures, so they
wrote what are now seen as the
first set of one on one skirmish
rules in the form of the original
Western Gunfight Skirmish rules,
which in 1974 were expanded
to become the Old West Rules.
They even formed a limited
company to sell their rules and
trademarked/patented the term
Skirmish Wargames.
What have you done since then?
They went on to write more
rule sets collaborating with Don
Featherstone before stopping
selling rules commercially. By
then they had run a number of
demonstration and participation
games at wargames shows across
and had attracted a number
of gamers and so the Skirmish
Wargames collective was born.
How are you organised?
We use the term ‘collective’ as we
are not a traditional wargames
club or society. We don’t meet
regularly and we don’t have
a hall or location where we
play games on a regular basis.
Although some of us are lucky
enough to be able to meet up
for the occasional game at a
members home, we mainly come
together to stage demonstration
or participation games at
various wargame shows. We
currently have over 40 members
worldwide. We are a diverse
bunch but we all share one thing,
a love of fun skirmish games,
usually played in 54mm.
What games do you play?
We also play games in everything
from 15mm to 120mm. The
latter was a Necromunda style
game converted toy figures.
We use a mix of rules for our
games – mostly those written
by ourselves – but we also use
commercial sets for some of our
big battles such as Hail Caesar,
Tales of Derring Do and Black
Powder. Our games range from
one-on-one skirmishes to larger
battles and our most recent show
games include the Old West
Plains Wars, Pirates, The French
Indian Wars, Greek mythology,
the Mexican and Russian
revolutions and the Boxer
Uprising. The latter three games
were played using well over 150
TOP LEFT converted 54mm figures with
The Skirmish Wargames appropriately scaled scenery.
Collective at shows
tend to use larger scale
figures. Like... If you don’t have a regular meet,
how do you... err... meet?
TOP RIGHT
...Napoleonic forces...
Apart from our occasional meet
up at wargame shows, there
ABOVE RIGHT is a tradition of Rendezvoos.
...or Colonial British.
Initially these were organised
by Mike Blake at his home in
the Peak District. More recently
two of our members, Beth and
Pete Reynolds, have taken to
organising a weekend get-
together of gaming at Twyford in
Berkshire called TWYFEST. We
have a newsletter: Reports from
the Skirmish Lines. It contains
a range of articles from game
reports to reviews of magazines
and books as well interesting
snippets from members’ visits to
museums and battlefields etc…
Conclusion – and how can
someone join?
Anyone interested in seeing what
we get up to can find copies
Facebook Tales of Derring Do
page. The link is: facebook.com/
groups/112418362701474 So come
to see what we are doing at shows
If you’d like your club
this year and feel free to chat.
featured in Miniature
Wargames, get in We’re always happy to discuss
contact at miniature our games, ideas and to find new
wargames@ like-minded people who enjoy
warnersgroup.co.uk playing with toy soldiers.
May 2024 Miniature Wargames 55
HOBBY TIPS
Bringing home the bacon on the cheap
Words and images by Tony Harwood
his particular tutorial was first published
T back in 2013 in my self-published, limited
edition guide Dampfpanzerwagon Guide
No. 1: Building Wargame Terrain. The book
is now out-of-print but I have reproduced it here
in a slightly condensed form as the original text
and images filled twelve pages!
The core structure was constructed from simple
profiles cut from scrap corrugated cardboard and
then glued together with my hot glue gun. The
simple core was further strengthened by cladding
it with more card. The main door areas were cut
out with a large snap-off bladed knife and the
walls covered with DAS modelling clay which
was applied over PVA glue.
The base was cut from scrap 3mm thick plastic
card and the main building was glued in place
with the hot glue gun. The smaller pig pen walls
were modelled from more corrugated cardboard
and again covered in DAS while the exposed
brickwork was carved into the dried DAS with a
scalpel and the point of a large needle
The thatch was modelled from DAS and built
up over a couple of sessions as I wanted the
lower layer to fully dry before starting on the
next. The sides of the building were easy as this
was just plain layers of DAS, but the front, with
the arched extensions over the taller main doors
was a little more involved. Finally a capping
layer of DAS was added to the apex. This apex MATERIALS USED
was modelled with upturned ends, as featured
in the original pigsty illustration.
Painting started with the thatch which was
built-up over Snakebite Leather and highlighted
with various yellows which were drybrushed
◗ Corrugated cardboard
◗ Card
◗ Plastic card and rod
◗ DAS modelling clay
◗ Resin barrels
◗ Metal wagon wheel
over the textured DAS. At the same time I ◗ Sieved stones and sand
painted the wooden areas with a similar, but
browner (or aged) wood colour. The white-
washed wall were built up from a blue/grey
base and highlighted with Titanium White
tube acrylic paint. Detailed painting of the
metal work and clutter items followed before
the groundwork was painted with a Snakebite
Leather or Barbarian Leather colour. This base
was highlighted with a lighter drybrush before
individual stones were picked out in grey,
highlighted white.
Prior to varnishing with Galleria Matt
Varnish, I used some subtle washes to ‘tie-in’
the groundwork with the lower wall area. The
base was then treated to some dyed sawdust
and static grass tufts which were added over
PVA glue and superglue.
This was a real fun build, using an
illustration in an old book to produce a unique
piece of terrain for my Flintloque themed
gaming board. Similar buildings could be used
in a wide variety of different gaming genres.
›
May 2024 Miniature Wargames 57
 HOBBY TIPS
1. MESSING ABOUT
The model first appeared
in my self-published book
Dampfpanzerwagon Guide
No. 1 Building Wargame
Terrain.
The inspiration came from an
illustration in a book about
French regional architecture
that I picked up in a local
charity store.
I sketched a simple plan and
cut corrugated cardboard
profiles which were later
glued together with my hot
glue gun.
2. PLASTERWORK
The corrugated core was further
strengthened with thin card
and then ‘plastered’ with DAS
modelling clay.
Later the model was glued to
a 3mm thick plastic card base
which had the edges chamfered
and the smaller exterior or pig
pen walls were added from more
corrugated cardboard and DAS.
At this stage the plastering is
quite rough...
3. REFINED
ACCOMMODATION
The walls were further
refined with more DAS while
the woodwork areas were
constructed from more 3mm
thick plastic card.
I then used a wire brush to
add further texture. The doors
were modelled from some
3mm thick plastic card.
These doors were further
detailed with plastic card hinges
and locks as well as plastic rod
rivets. Exposed stonework was
carved in to the DAS with a
scalpel and large needle.
58 Miniature Wargames May 2024
4. ROOFING
The thatched roof was built up in
stages using DAS modelling clay
and textured with both a scalpel
blade and a cocktail stick.
I was looking for a rough almost
reed thatch effect with the final
upper layer having upturned
ends – as featured in the original
pig pen illustration.
The DAS layers were built up over
dilute PVA glue while ensuring that
each earlier layer of thatch was
fully dry before proceeding with
the next.
5. BOTTOM OF THE
BARREL
With the thatch finished, it was
on to detailing. I added a trough
built from plastic card, a metal
wagon wheel, two resin barrels
and individual wooden stakes
for the pig pen entrances. In
addition small stones were tied
to string and glued to the roof.
This feature is common on rural
buildings and is used to hold
down the thatch in heavy winds.
The groundwork was textured
with sieved stones and sand
glued in place with PVA glue.
6. BASE PAINTING
The thatched roof was painted
over a Snakebite Leather base and
drybrushed with a Snakebite and
Yellow mix which highlighted all the
sculpted detail while the exposed
woodwork was built up over a
Barbarian Brown base and once
again drybrushed with a lighter
colour.
In this image you can see the metal
wagon wheel which was trimmed to
fit and blended in to the groundwork
with DAS.
7. WHITE OUT
The white-washed walls were
painted over a Blue/White base
and once again over painted with
white

For this I used pure Titanium White

tube paint for the final layer as
white washed walls can appear
very white and stark.

The small stones used to tie down

the thatch have been painted Grey.

8. WELL GROUNDED
With the groundwork painted in
my usual Snakebite Leather brown
(mixed up as a tester pot at my
local DIY store), I drybrushed the
exposed soil with a Snakebite and
white mix and picked out individual
stones in grey, highlighted white
before varnishing with Galleria
Matt Varnish.

I used a watered-down brown

wash along the lower edges of
the white washed walls to ‘tie in’
the groundwork colour with the
lower walls.

9. PIGS IN FILTH
The base was further decorated
with dyed sawdust, ground
foam and static grass tufts
before I took this image on my
gaming board.

The figure is from my Flintloque

miniatures collection and
mounted on to a 2p coin.

The Messy Little Pigsty is based

on a plastic card base – 140mm
wide x 150mm deep. The
pigsty was inspired by a prior
illustration I’d found and was
great fun to both build and
paint.

May 2024 Miniature Wargames 59

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 THE LAST WORD
A game designer’s hobby journey
I met up with Benjamin at
Hammerhead and was very
impressed by his company (the
models especially) and wanted to
bring it to everyone’s attention.
I asked him how he started in the
world of gaming. Ed.
t the tender age of 10,
A I dipped my toes into
the mesmerising world
of gaming. Little did I
know that this childhood pastime
would evolve into a lifelong
passion, shaping not only my
leisure hours but also carving out
a niche in the ever-expanding
realm of fantasy creation. Now,
at the age of 43, I find myself at
the helm of a venture born from
the synergy of gaming, creativity,
and an unwavering love for
storytelling.
My journey began in the
company of my grandfather who
initiated me into the world of
Warhammer 40k. Those early days
were marked by battles waged
across miniature landscapes, and
my heart was claimed by the
whimsical and warlike Orks. This
love set the stage for a lifelong
fascination with tabletop gaming,
as I transitioned seamlessly
into the intricate tapestry of
Warhammer Fantasy: the allure of
commanding armies, strategising
victories, and immersing myself
in alternate worlds became an
enduring flame that never waned
and I can trace the roots of my
passion to those initial moments
of dice-rolling and miniature
62 Miniature Wargames May 2024
warfare. Beyond the gaming
table, my interests include RPGs
and board games and it is within
these hobbies that I discovered
the gateway to my own creative
sanctum – a realm where history,
art, and boundless imagination
converge.
I embarked on the journey of
crafting my own fantasy world:
Mortals’ Reckoning. It’s a Greco-
Roman odyssey filled with gods
and monsters: a world where
my imagination roamed freely.
The turning point came during a
casual evening conversation with
my wife. As I mused about the
prospect of turning my passion
into a business, her simple yet
profound question, “Well, why
don’t you?” set ablaze a fervent
determination within me. What
followed was a relentless pursuit
of knowledge and a deep dive
into the intricacies of the gaming
industry, leading to the birth of
Cerberus Studios.
Four years have elapsed since
that pivotal moment, and I am
elated to witness my brainchild,
Mortals’ Reckoning, grace
gaming tables worldwide. What
started as a personal endeavour
has blossomed into a tangible
contribution to the vibrant hobby
market. But my storytelling
journey didn’t end there; it
merely took another captivating
turn with the inception of
Celestial Affinity, my medieval
fantasy creation.
The journey through the
gaming industry has introduced
events and has been a true pleasure, each
interaction adding layers to
shows, the rich tapestry of my creative
hearing pursuits. I consider myself
their own fortunate to have met such
tales of
adventure
and passion,
passionate souls who share a
collective vision of bringing
fantastical worlds to life.
The true joy lies in sharing these
meticulously crafted worlds with
is an others. Meeting fans at gaming
experience events and shows, hearing their
that fills own tales of adventure and
passion, is an experience that fills
me with an me with an indescribable buzz.
indescri- The connection forged through
shared stories and mutual love for
bable buzz...”
the fantastical is a reminder of the
profound impact gaming can have
on individuals and communities.
As I stand at this juncture,
filled with gratitude for the
journey so far, I am eager to share
more with the ever-growing
community that surrounds
Cerberus Studios. The untold
stories, unexplored realms,
and boundless creativity yet
to be unveiled are all part of a
narrative that transcends the
gaming table. Join me in this
ongoing adventure, and together,
let’s explore the limitless
possibilities that fantasy and
imagination have to offer.
The best is yet to come, and I
cannot wait to share it all with
gamers!
PRESENTING A NEW RANGE FROM

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