In my case – creating a Mythical Realm is not normally a problem because I tend to invent some totally separate location that just happens to have the same oxygen, societies, nature, science and warfare of the period I want to plunder.
And then occasionally real history just cries out to be used. Italy is a regular case in point for me. Most recently I was on a Normans in the South (NitS) splurge before crashing into Faux Napoleonics by Renaissance Troll.
One thing has led to another and one minute I was on the Wars of the Italian Unification (WotIU) – kepis, garibaldi and kettels, next I am thinking how to do Napoleonics without Napoleon, Wellington or Blucher etc.
Well I have solved the problem – it is a Vardoger Planet – ok maybe it is a sort of doppelganger.
The story is this.
Once upon a time there was a planet – called Earth and in front of it so to speak was another planet called Earth which experienced everything just that bit earlier. And so the worlds trundled along except that one day there was a small ripple and it was a very small ripple.
No one noticed because no one knew. Well I guess someone knew because I would not be telling you this.
We live on the first planet, or lead planet. The “Vardoger” one. Now our following planet is just slightly different.
Welcome to “Fauxterre” where things are just slightly different.
Sometimes things come together in the most unexpected way.
No sooner had I read the SWA (Solo Wargamers Article) by Brian Cameron than I stumbled across the Renaissance Troll and his post about Napoleonic imaginations and painting a couple of foot soldiers with those early flashy metal helmets boasting giant “bog brush” combs!
In my last post I mentioned I had rediscovered Donald Featherstones’ Advanced Wargames Section 6 Chapter 14 Franco Prussian scenario.
And I recalled that the first time I found this book I only had Airfix Napoleonics remotely usable. And they were duly rolled out to fight the battles. Interestingly I did have Airfix ACW armies – and I probably used them as well except I never used ACW for “imaginations” warfare.
I also never had it in my head that “imaginations” worked with Napoleonics that well either. For one thing then I was consumed by the actual history – no need for imaginations gaming in that period.
my “Imaginations” gaming came from “Charge or how to play Wargames”.
The last chapter 10 – Tailpiece gives some very sensible advice on avoiding multiple period wargaming – pure madness apparently (oh dear).
It also recommends creating “Mythical Powers” (D&D in 1967!) and their armies so as to avoid arguments about uniform accuracy.
So my “imaginations” gaming has been of the tricorne variety.
Zvezda Peter the Great Russians and Swedes in the background
Back to Renaissance Troll who posted that neat little post about “a new miniatures project”. Yes those 4 simple words can either send a shiver down the spine of you average wargamer or create a frision of excitment that must be assuaged.
Yep its both – the anglo saxons have yielded to the inevitable. They now shiver in some dark corner of my wargaming tardis (yes its that bad here – I had to get some more storage options beyond 3D).
And now in the bright uplands there appear some Napoleonics……
Warrior Metals originally based for Charlie Wesencrafts Practical Wargaming now rebased for Maurice.
Well yes and no.
“Yes” I did get my game using some 1970’s retro rules (post to follow) using a few Napoleonics and “No!”
my painting table now has Strelets Union infantry on it with some
absolutely ghastly other figures on the worktable – boy do they need work.
oh dear oh dear oh dear……………..
Postscript
Renaissance Troll mentioned they were reading David Chandler. I have kept just two books on Napoleonics.
I can recommend the following books if you can track them down.
A Military History and Atlas of the Napoleonic Wars published by AMS Press Inc. It was originally published in 1964 having been compiled for the Department of Military Art and Engineering, The United States Military Academy, West Point, N.Y.
Given I have always liked maps this book or rather atlas is an absolute cracker.
The second has an introduction in my copy by David Chandler. It is an adaption by Anne S K Brown of Henry Lachouques’ “Napoleon et la Garde Imperiale”. It is entitled “The Anatomy of Glory”. It is full of glory and is both gripping and draining. The later years of 1812 to 1814 are just relentless.
Enjoy you “imaginations” gaming whatever form it takes!
The Wargaming Erratic 