New Generals and staff - Russian and Austrian

We completed the Ratzinger game on night two - Chris and Tony both thoroughly enjoyed it, I less so but for no special reason. I have some pictures of it to post later. Since then we have played a three week engagement involving 50 units per side on our new "even bigger table than ever" - it was mega and saw the first outing for my Austrians alongside Chris's. The fictional Battle of Pedamonte in 1809 deserves proper coverage and will get it. In other news Tony has finally written up the Russian account of Borodino played in 2012, this I will combine with Rich's diatribe and post next year, 2014 along with many piccies of the four day game which bled us dry.

My new Austrians have various Generals some of which I snapped for you below. The Russian ones are from my Russian Guard who also put in an appearance at Pedmonte, you didn't know the Russian Guard Corps was involved with Austria in northern Italy in 1809 did you?

Austrian officers by Front Rank ignoring Victrix infantry.
Officers by Tony Laughton, foot by Barry Hill, based by me. 

Austrian officers by Front Rank ignoring Victrix infantry.
Officers by Tony Laughton, foot by Barry Hill, based by me. 

Splendid Austrian Uhlan and Hussar officers alongside Elite Miniatures Russian Uhlans.
Painting by Tony Laughton and Ian Hinds respectively.
These two dandies are from the Austrian Hussar and Uhlan regiments I am getting painted next year. 

Austrian Cuirassier officers from Connoisseur on Front Rank horses. I love that crest, a regiment of those would look awesome on Elite Miniatures heavy horses..... now that's tempting.
Austrian heavies from Elite Miniatures - all by Tony Laughton, based by me for me! 

"Hi Oncle Kurt!"

Elite Miniatures heavy cavalry officers inspect passing Victrix foot by Barry Hill. Mounted chaps by Tony Laughton. 

Our present C-in-C.
These three amazing models are from Front Rank and superbly painted by Tony Laughton for my Russian Guard Corps. Chris and I based them. I want something similar for the Austrian C-in-C.

Russian officers by Front Rank, Tony Laughton brush work, Chris and I basing.
The detailing on the pompom is immaculate. 

This chaps a "Bally Hero" and I'll kill any man who says otherwise!

Totally inspiring Russian Guard officers from Front Rank, painting and unfinished basing as above.
Warlord plastic infantry with GMB flags and Bicorne finials - not shown - painted by Barry Hill - the best stuff he's ever done for me!  

It's been a great year for gaming at Marauder HQ. We have penetrated the General de Brigade rules more than ever and begun to distill how we want to play. This has been a bit intense at times because there are four of us with differing/changing needs from the hobby. It must be tough to get competetive with someone who won't "fight back" and sometimes it's tough to enjoy the "theatre and the spectacle" of the game with your face down in the dirt and a lance through your neck! Luckily we are longstanding friends first and foremost. We have other common interests such as boozing and carousing, booze and food, booze and live music and sometimes just booze all on its own. This stands us in great stead when the dust settles. We always have a proper fat belly laugh when we play - it really is all about us and only us.

Enlarging the board in depth has been a total game changer for me. By still allowing for off table reserves and late arrivers or flankers it's huge. We play over a table surface area of 160 square feet - that pleases me and gives us a whole new avenue to explore next year. The Pedamonte report will expand on how this looks and offers immediate advantages to gameplay. Why we didn't do this earlier I'll never know, maybe we're just plain dumb or bone idle (or both?).

2014 has to see me finish the painting schedule I have set and basically not buy new toys - I may even sell a few items that don't quite fit with my collection. I hope to round off my Prussians, Austrians, Italians, Portuguese and Poles, I have three painters lined up and a fat budget  to do this, it doesn't stretch to a new period though - no distractions please. Hopefully more pictures of toys for you next year. I want to keep basing and I have a few plans for more scenery projects which I always enjoy. Hopefully I'll blog more often too. I'd like to  create some photo presentations of entire armies as a whole and unit by unit too. A road trip or weekend away possibly at the Wargames Holiday Centre would be fun and give an incentive to keep getting even bigger.

Most of all I want to keep playing big Napoleonic games with Rich, Tony and Chris - boys, you inspire me.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS AND A VERY MERRY NEW YEAR