March 2025 - Part Two

4 March 2025

English Civil War

Started detailing the Oxford units. 

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Pulp Fiction

Earlier tonight revised the two gaming sheets for my new scenario - The Vine Street Bank Heist. Happier with the new revised Profiles for the participants after paring down the Special Abilities (had too many for a first game). 

As I go along, I am also developing the scenario. So far I've got the following "facts" down. 

(1) "Boss" Lambert's gang are about to rob the 2nd National Bank on the corner of Main and Vine Street in Biggstown, a large city in the central mid-west. His gang are out-of-towners and have quietly infiltrated the city with many staying at the Cherry Street Hotel, a couple of blocks from the bank. The gang is well known in several districts so laying low is essential.

(2) The downtown district comes largely under the metropolitan jurisdiction of the 27th Precint led by the competent Lieutenant Ed "Bullrush" Zelski. Because of the way I've set this up, both parties has a Grade 3 (the head honcho), two Grade 2s (lieutenants or deputies), and two teams of Grade 1s. For the 27th Precint, patrolling Main Street and the off-streets branching from Main (up to Hopper Street in the south-west) and the Industrial Estate (north-east corner) keeps them busy. 

(3) The Second National Bank handles the financial affairs of the city and is located on the junction ofAt this time of the year, it prepares to remit a large shipment of cash to its corporate headquarters over at Centerville by rail and road. This is the payout Lambert is planning to hijack. 

(4) Conducting the recce of the bank and its environs is Whitey Zoots' crew consisting of himself, Petey the Gat Gowlinsky and Leo "Cracker" McGerkin. Attached and especially brought in for the job is the driver "Wheels" Kross. Meanwhile Boss Lambert's other crew, led by Moray "The Snake" Feisty, is gathering info on the bank personnel. Assisting him are "Bugsy" Sickle and "Sloppy" Wynstein.

(5) New enlisted Patrolman Meyer is familiarising himself with his patrol route. He is accompanied by the veteran Eli "Knocker" Pound. 

More to follow...

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English Civil War

Rupert's "Blew" regiment figures glued to bases. Some detailing done on the headquarter element. Basecoated bases for later flocking and "decorating".

Both units (Oxford army) done and ready to enlist into the Reserve. 

Work on Talbot's and Duke of York's tomorrow - cyclone willing. Cheers.

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6 March 2025

English Civil War

On a slow roll of sorts.

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13 March 2025

Ex Tropical Cyclone Alfred

Power was finally restored after going dead Sunday. Dumb authorities kept telling those affected to go to their effen website. Problem is no one had power nor comms nor internet so couldn't access the effen stupid website. And I hear we're getting billed more with our power. Third-world country.

In the interim, the power outage allowed me to finish off the ECW foot, all seven units. And a couple of commanders. A few minor detailings to go and base flocking. Hand made the 60mm bases for the commanders from MDF. Quality of the material is shite but what do you expect from Bunnings?

Today I began the baggage train. Found one item (water cart) has no wheels so am hand crafting them. Because I had no reference (no internet) when I made my start I soon realised I had made the wheels too large interfering with the water barrel. No problem as no one is really going to pay attention to a high sitting water cart. 

Also one of the horses was so flimsy that it broke as soon as I pushed it to straighten its hind leg. Viewed from the front, the legs of the creature are not properly formed. Poor creature has more in common with those 2D flats than viable 3D. Oh well, it is what it is; too late crying spilt milk. 

There are several ways to dress this farcical attempt up. Lots of dark paint and foliage is one way. Hide it at the back of the baggage train. Or never have it come on; just claim it's refilling at the nearest lake or pond. And so on. Lol.

Reading List

With little to do in the blackout, I took to reading the Medieval Balkans history book. Chapter 2 concerned the Fourth Crusade and its influence on the region in that Byzantine lost Constantinople to the crusaders. The establishment of a Latin Emperor in Constantinople also saw expansion into Greece so much so that little fiefdoms and principalities were established by the crusaders (Franks mostly) throughout. Thessaloniki, Morea, Epirus are some of the more familiar states established by the crusaders and their descendants. 

The amount of treachery by the rulers during this period of upheaval from Latin, Byzantine, Greek, Serbian, Bulgarian, Hungarians - is phenomenal. Here I was thinking the modern Middle East and Near East is the byword for turmoil. Yet it was so common in the 12th and 13th centuries so much so that the only way to know who held what is by historical accounts and records. And even they can be misleading or vacant on information. 

I am so looking forward to the Ottomans finally capturing and establishing their empire. But that's several chapters on. Chapter 3 - The First Half of the Thirteenth Century - was a whirlwind of political intrigue, usurpation, fragile or broken alliances. And forever back-stabbing. Had to pause to absorb much of what was happening in the various regions.

I am now wading through Chapter 4 - The Second Half of the Thirteenth Century. I am chuckling though at how devious some of these players are. For example, the importance of having documentation securely stored away can never be overstated. Which comes handy in disputes such as one town's claim over religious authority were nullified when the claimant failed to produce the authentic documents supporting their case. Of course, during their disputes these were missing, destroyed by the rival side when they captured the town before it was recaptured by the claimants.

Towns would change hands many times over. Much like a merry-go-round. A veritable carousel of "sea changes".  

There are ten chapters in all. So far, six to go after tonight's reading. Of course, I now have a wealth of new wargaming inspiration. Maybe look at familiar rulesets covering the period. Certainly enough new source material to resume Lion Rampant. Or even bigger if I can source suitable minis. 

NOTE: A lot of little wars going on, some documented, others not, is rampant throughout the thirteenth centuries. And quite a few are never even known about except as hearsay or through fireside tales. The amount of interference from Hungary is quite common given it bordered the Danube. And the Venetians are also right in the mix for meddling in the affairs of the region. A real hotbed of intrigue and greed. But then that's much the spice that is history.  

Games

Recent power outage (storm related) has affirmed the need to get games happening on spare tablets and laptops. So am ready for next time because there will be a next time with some sort of natural disaster emergency. Still don't have full comms (mobile phone coverage). 

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