David Bickley's Wargames Blog

The occasional ramblings of an average gamer, journeyman painter, indifferent modeller, games designer, sometime writer for Wargames Illustrated and host of games in GHQ.



Saturday 7 March 2020

SYW ~ pre-battle thoughts.

All being well Phil and I plan a SYW game at our next GHQ bash next week. It will be the first run out for my new terrain mat, so I've taken a few pictures of the pre-game set up and added a few thoughts as I've gone along ~
  The French infantry begin the game in their camp. Initially four battalions are able to deploy once the alarm is raised by the vedette.
All is confusion and hustle and bustle in the French camp.
Meanwhile, the French line cavalry and dragoons are encamped at a distance from their infantry.
 The French Commander, the Comte du Merde, is just arriving with his escort.
It looks like a slow day for business at the inn!
 But a farmer's work is never done it seems, despite the ominous signs of a developing conflict on their doorstep!
The British drawn up for the coming battle! "God save King George! Confusion to his enemies!"

My first thoughts are how different the tabletop battlefield looks in the pictures from what you see with the naked eye. The cloth, by Deep Cut, really looks much greener and lighter in GHQ than it appears in these pictures. I expect we will all have to get used to that. My second thought, prompted by a comment Phil made in the week, is that I need more small scatter terrain. Lastly, a more positive note, the roads, buildings and Last Valley vegetation look fine! Now, on to the game next week all being well.

14 comments:

  1. My experience with table mats is that they look terrific when the two dimensionality is supported by things like hedges, shrubs, trees, and hills. The mat gives a definite multi layered visual background and you can always use it to define things like wood lines and plowed terrain.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm prepared for the new look, but I do need more scatter terrain.

      Delete
  2. Looks a lot better with the little lead men on, a bit of scatter to break up the open space and it will be just dandy IMHO

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree. I'm sure I'll get used to the look in time.

      Delete
  3. Great looking set up David. I wouldnt worry too much about the cloth. put a few bits of terrain and small features on it and it will look even better.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Your table looks splendid David...
    I suspect it will look even better when the armies start marching across it...

    All the best. Aly

    ReplyDelete
  5. Looks good to me, I do love all the little pieces you have to make the table come alive.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Plenty of time for table pieces, largely because I've never bothered about points or the next must have piece of kit😉

      Delete
  6. It looked most splendid seeing it today in its true colour, onward!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We shall fight it out across it tomorrow!

      Delete
  7. I was always a big fan of your towelling terrain, it was very unique as well as very good looking. I understand your reasons for the change but am sad to see it happen although I appear to be very much in the minority.

    It's interesting the revolution from Don Featherstone advocating a green cloth with some books under it to simulate hills through textured tiled tables back to printed green cloths with something under it to provide hills. We've gone full circle.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I still have enough decent flat tiles of towelling etc, they are under the cloth for protection. The older, worn ones were the river, road and hill boards. But yes, we have gone full circle. At WMMS yesterday I saw at least one brilliant game Matt in 3d, perhaps that's next in line in our hobby?

      Delete