This has been a serious venture! I think most of my free time of the last month has gone into painting this battalion of the 21e Legere. I'm not complaining though - it is nice to have a project to look forward to coming home to each evening and these have been so interesting to research and paint.
Light Bobs and Paint Blobs
A wargamer's never ending battle to paint and play
Sunday, 4 May 2025
28mm - Napoleonic French 21e Legere Regiment - Perry Miniatures
Sunday, 13 April 2025
15mm - American Civil War - Fire and Fury Inspiration
Sometimes inspiration can be unexpected, and this post was inspired by thinking about rules and especially, what makes rules fit a period of history almost uniquely.
I have used the Warlord Games 'Black Powder' rules for a lot of periods for the last 10 years or so and, heavily modified by house rules, they work very well indeed. At least they can do for most black powder periods. There are only two periods so far that I just have not felt that they worked all that well for. These are Napoleonic and American Civil War.
I have the Black Powder supplements for both periods but personally speaking, and it is a personal thing, it just didn't feel like I was playing the period in either case.
So, on watching an old episode of rules reviews on 'Little Wars TV' I was struck by their review of 'Fire and Fury' 1st Edition. The reviewers positively raved about the rules and how they still stand the test of time. It made me think. I loved Fire and Fury when it came out and to be honest it was really the first set of wargaming rules that made me think that the hobby was the best thing ever. I had tried some of the 1980's fare of poor photocopy over-complex slow rules, but besides being glossy and attractive, these rules were fun and the game 'felt' like an American Civil War game.
I wondered why I had moved from Fire and Fury. Was it because of the change of wargaming fashion? The desire for the latest new thing? Had my perception of history and warfare changed? Probably the first two of the three, I concluded.
So I got the rules back out again. My old blue book from 1990. I was resolved to use it and give them another go...I picked them up and then the pages dropped out...
That gave me cause to think. Wasn't there a Regimental set of rules that got brought out? I already had the scenario book which I used for Black Powder. Then I spotted the Brigade level 2nd Edition and decided to go for that instead.
I won't go through all the changes here but there is more detail and some real changes for the better. I like the extra detail - it isn't excessive but makes sensible amendments to modifiers etc. The game still plays in much the same way as before.
I play tested it, and was hooked again. What a superb set of rules it is! So impressive that the next month I bought the set for Regimental level too. The rules seem to be getting expensive and hard to get hold of. Both are definitely worth getting hold of, and the upgrade to 2nd edition for Brigade level is definitely worth it.
Inspired by the game, I couldn't resist painting up some more troops...