Shantytowns, Hoovervilles, Shacktowns ... If you’re going to conduct miniature wargames set in the dark underbelly of civilization, you’re going to need appropriate terrain. Leondus has some advice, pictures and instructions for building realistic looking shacks. These would be useful for a wide variety of games, including moderns in Iraq, Afghanistan and Africa, Necromunda and other post apocalyptic games.
From Wargames World comes a review of Gripping Beast’s 25mm - 28mm Republican Roman Allies figures. I’ve been looking at Roman figures lately since finishing the excellent book, Rubicon : The Last Years of the Roman Republic, by Tom Holland.
The best part of the book, from a wargamer’s perspective were the descriptions of the street battles conducted between supporters of rival politicians. It would make a very cool skirmish game. (That’s a hint to you figure manufacturers out there.)
From a wargamer’s perspective, what’s not to like about the world’s greatest conqueror? Here’s a website on Genghis Khan with some good background information, including maps, biographical basics, and a nice look at Mongolia today. This last would be good for some of you doing the “Back of Beyond” games.
Brigid Skelton of Advancing Hordes sent some info on their contest results:
Advancing Hordes Announces Contest Winner
Advancing Hordes Dice & Miniatures is glad to announce a winner for
their Review Contest!
Many thanks to all those who submitted reviews: Bobo, Digger, FireGem,
guedo79, JoeGKushner, Kelt, pandemon, ShizukuTonderui, SteelWeaver,
torbenm, and underthumb. We really appreciate your efforts, and
opinions.
The winner was determined by a Gamescience dice roll…. of course!
The winner of the $25USD gift certificate? pandemon!
Check out the winning review here
Drop by to read all the reviews, and check out the Holiday Season Sale
too!
Posting will be a bit slow the next couple of days as I work out all the bugs in my new setup. After that, I’ll return to my regular posting schedule. In the meantime, please look around and let me know if things are working.
I’m in the middle of reconstructing the site using a different blogging engine. It should all work much better in the future. Bear with me for the next few days.
Here's some advice for painting and rigging 1/1200 fighting sail ships. It's a period I've always wanted to do, but right now, its so far down the list I doubt I'll ever get to it.
Games Workshop offers this free paper model of a ruined Brettonian gatehouse. It is, of course, designed for the Warhammer universe, but could be used in any game that is set in Europe.
Miniature Wargaming is part of the "adventure games" hobby, which includes r ole p laying and board games. Wargamers recreate battles on the tabletop with toy soldiers, like a more complicated game of chess. Models range in height from 6mm to 28mm tall, with 15mm and 25mm being the most popular. There also is a growing interest in toy soldiers and military models, such as the 1/32 and 1/35 scale plastic soldiers from Conte, and Marx.
The most popular miniature wargames are fantasy and science fiction based, such as Warhammer, Warhammer 40K, Warmachine and The Lord of the Rings. World War II games such as Flames of War and Axis and Allies are new favorites. Other favorite historical periods include Napoleonics, the American Civil War, and ancients, such as Romans or Greeks. Other gamers enjoy miniature naval wargames, recreating battles like Trafalgar, Jutland and the Coral Sea.
Hobbyists research historical periods and paint their tiny soldiers in accurate uniforms. Others develop "historically realistic" rules sets or build scale battlefield terrain using model railroad techniques.
For pictures, visit the gallery.
Some of the bigger hobby companies are Games Workshop, which produces Warhammer, Wargames Foundry and Old Glory Miniatures. Wizards of the Coast produces several lines of pre-painted miniatures games, such as the Star Wars and Dungeons and Dragons miniatures games, and a historical game with pre-painted miniatures: The new Axis and Allies game. Wizkids produces a fantasy collectable miniatures game, such as the Mage Knight and Heroclick fantasy games, the science fiction games MechWarrior and Rocketmen, as well as the quasi-historical Pirates of the Spanish Main.
