4th Quarter and Year End Statistics, 2024

That’s a lotta dice!

21 sets of 7 duce; barely $1 per set, from Amazon deal (see below)


A good year hobby wise overall, to be sure! 


Expenses:

October 2024
Heroes of Might and Magic Boardgame: Cove Expansion Kickstarter $139.36, Piano Wargames (Austrian and Bavarian Chevaulegers) $81.97, Foundry (Portuguese Dragoons, Sea Peoples, Libyans) $283.19  Total: $504.52

November 2024
Litko (bases and dials) $138.73, Piano Wargames Danube Campaign Part 2 KS  $452.40   Total $591.13

December 2024
Adolfo Ramos flags $15.29, 6 x 6 Tales KS $3, Dice Pack (Amazon) $29.77, Bredwalda KS pledge update $36.40   Total $84.46


4th Quarter Total:   $1,180.11

2024 Total: Q1 =  $1,154  Q2 =  $862.41   Q3 = $1,144; 

Grand Total $4,340.54



Foundry British (Portuguese) Dragoons

Foundry Libyans

Foundry Sea Peoples

Bonus Foundry Legionary.


Painting:

October 2024
Austrian Hussar Regt #2 (80 pts)

November 2024

Scots Covenanter Forlorn Hope and foot officers (60 pts), Major General Holburn’s Regt of Foote (100 pts), Sir John Grey’s Regt of Foote (100 pts), Austrian Dragoon Regt #4 (80 pts), Austrian Officer (45 pts), Bavarian foot Officer (5)

December 2024 

Alexander Leslie’s Regt of Foote (100 pts), Marquess Argyll Regt of Foote (100 pts), Scots Artillery Crew and Swordsmen (105 pts), Loyal Lusitanian Legion (90 pts), 1st Portuguese Line Regt (90 pts), 5th Cacadores (90 pts) 


4th Quarter Total:  935 points

2024 Total: Q1 = 920 points   Q2 = 895 points   Q3 = 780 points;  Grand Total 3,530 points 


Breakdown of the past 4 years:

2024 – 3,530 points

2024 – 3,530

Army

Infantry

Cavalry

Artillery

Command

Points

Napoleonic British

135

135

Napoleonic Wurttemberg

180

105

285

Napoleonic Bavarians

90

80

165

35

370

Dutch-Belgian-Nassau

270

30

300

Napoleonic French

320

320

Napoleonic Austrian

450

160

45

655

Sassanid Persians

120

120

ECW (Scots)

470

75

60

605

Portuguese

270

270

Late Medieval (refurb*)

180

210*

390


2023 – 3,507 points

Army

Infantry

Cavalry

Artillery

Command

Points

Napoleonic Spanish

40

40

Napoleonic Wurttemberg

630

320

160

1110

Napoleonic Bavarians

360

360

Napoleonic Hessians

90

55

35

180

Napoleonic French

80

80

Napoleonic Austrian

65

65

Napoleonic Duchy Warsaw

80

80

ECW (Scots)

360

120

35

515

Renaissance

30

30

Wars of the Roses

540

120

40

700

Late Medieval (refurb)

112

135

247

Macedonians

120

15

135


2022 – 3,542.5 points

Army

Infantry

Cavalry

Artillery

Command

Points

Napoleonic Spanish

180

160

20

360

Napoleonic Hessians

270

270

Renaissance

40

40

ECW (Scots)

480

480

Wars Roses/Late Mediev

1260

20

120

1400

Mauryan Indian

430

240

240*

50

960

2021 – 3890 points

Army

Infantry

Cavalry

Artillery

Command

Points

Napoleonic  French

540

540

Napoleonic Austrian

990

990

Napoleonic British

270

270

Great Italian Wars

120

120

ECW (~ 50/50 K or P)

200

200

Ancient Egyptians

200

20

220

Ancient Sea Peoples

475

330

10

815

Ancient Hittite

140

35

175

Ancient Indian

120

120

Ancient Assyrian

40

50

30

120

Ancient Libyans

200

20

220

Games:

October 2024
Snappy Nappy 1813Spring Campaign in Germany

November 2024
Rio Gevora with FoB3 hand of cards variant 

December 2024
Hannibal at the Gate with To the Strongest!


4th Quarter Totals:  3


2024 Total:  Q1 = 2   Q2 = 4  Q3 = 11;  Grand Total = 19 games

A cute and inexpensive game from a KS this year

Simple game intended for play with Family/grandsons.

Colorful, cute cards

Animal spirits (“Summoners”), and markers.


Blogging
104 posts


Rules
New rules tried – Martin Rapier’s Napoleonic One Hour Wargames variant


Terrain
Set of Five 10mm  buildings for the Waterloo Project



So, how was the 2024 performance compared with the goals set forth in January 2024?

Expenses:

Projection: Stay at $3,000 or less for 2024. Lucas will surely have at least 2 more Kickstarters in 2024! Other than those, major lead purchases seem unlikely, bar a new project arising…

Result:  $4,340.54, way over the (very generous) budget. Biggest driver was unexpected expenses related to The Waterloo Project! I wound up working MUCH more than planned (or desired – new hires that didn’t work out for various reasons) in 2024, thus I got a huge productivity bonus this year, so at least I could easily afford it!

Goal: Try to stay to $3,000 or less. 
 


Painting:

Projection: Aim for 3,000 points again; finish Wurttembergers and Bavarians, Make a dent in the remaining Austrian Napoleonics, add to ECW Scotts, refurb the remainder of the 25 mm Late Medieval figures. Maybe start of the expansion of my Napoleonic Portuguese forces (most lead already on hand).  Possible reorganization and some updates to my Assyrian army, possible additions to Macedonians/Thracians. Maybe add to the Tyrolians (Lead on hand already). 

Results: Pretty much right on target, and a bit above goal at  3,530 points. Scots and Württembergers done, many Austrians added, Portuguese started, and more. No additions to Macedonians, Tyrolians, or Assyrians. 

Goal: Finish Portuguese Napoleonic expansion, additional Napoleonics from Lucas’ kickstarters, add to existing Sea Peoples and Libyan armies, minor additions and major reorganization of Assyrian army. Possible new project?


Games:


Projection: Aim for 18 games

Results:  19 games, more or less on target. 

Goal: Aim for 18 games again



Blogging:

Projection: At least 100 posts for 2024. 

Results:  104 posts, on target

Goal: stay at 100 or more posts for the year



Rules:


Projection:  I’m pretty content with the rules I play – I will likely use V&F 2nd edition at HAVOC in April, getting some Naval and Sci-Fi games on the table remains a goal, odds only fair. Hopefully get around to trying 123 Napoleonics. 

Results:  New rules played – OHW variant for Waterloo Project

Goal: Lots of rules to try for Napoleonics, Sci Fi, and Age of Sail Naval; boardgames.  Likely will be as unsuccessful as in the past!  Do at least one game for my grandsons this year. 



The Scoring
(From the Analogue Painting Challenge)

6mm foot figure = 0.5 point
6mm mounted figure, artillery piece or crew served weapon = 1 point
6mm vehicle = 2 points

10mm foot figure = 1 point
10mm mounted figure, artillery piece or crew served weapon = 2 points
10mm vehicle = 3 points 

15mm foot figure = 2 points
15mm mounted figure, artillery piece or crew served weapon = 4 points
15mm vehicle = 6 points

20mm foot figure = 4 points
20mm mounted figure, artillery piece or crew served weapon = 8 points
20mm vehicle = 12 points

28mm foot figure = 5 points
28mm mounted figure, artillery piece or crew served weapon = 10 points
28mm vehicle = 15 points


28mm chariots w/ crew 15, + 5 for each crew figure and/or horse

40mm foot figure = 7 points
40mm mounted figure, artillery piece or crew served weapon = 15 points
40mm vehicle = 20 points 

54mm foot figure = 10 points
54mm mounted figures, artillery piece or crew served weapon = 20 points
54mm vehicle, limber, etc. = 30 points

Hannibal at the Gates

Thomas, Kyle, and I got together this past weekend for some Punic Wars action with To the Strongest! Carthage went first and stepped off with Group March moves!

Kyle and Thomas, commanding the Legions of the Republic, responded in kind. 

Carthaginian cavalry working its way around the flank of their Roman counterparts.

On the Carthaginian right, the stream made outflanking the Romans harder, but with 5 cavalry units to 2, denying control of the flanks to Carthage would be difficult. 

Carthage, move 3. Evidently, the sacred chickens refused to eat, but the Romans insisted on giving battle regardless. 

In the center, the opposing LI javelinmen trade shots, mostly to little effect, but a unit or two does get eliminated. Meanwhile, the Elephants look for an opening. 

The Roman left flank is enveloped, whilst their infantry tries to come to grips with the opposing Gaulish, Spanish, and Libyan infantry. Theoretically, their pila, better save numbers, and special Quincux rally rule should give them the advantage there.

The Roman right is getting enveloped as well. A Disordered unit of Spanish Scutarius pulls back, hoping to Rally. 

On the Carthaginian right, an ongoing exchange of Javelin casts is indecisive, which is fine with Hannibal, as it delays the clash of the heavy infantry and buys more time for his horse to win the day… which they are doing slowly.  

Eagle’s eye view of the field, as Carthage plays a bunch of aces, followed by the Romans doing much the same. 

Spanish, Gallic, and African Cavalry continue to work on their envelopment, while a Disordered unit of Libyan spearmen also pulls back in the hopes of Rallying. 

The Roman left flank cavalry have been eliminated. That spells trouble with a capital T, and that rhymes with P and that stands for Publius Cornelius Scipio!

The right most Libyan spearmen are Disordered. 

But it is too little, too late, and on the next turn Roman losses exhaust the last of their Victory medals; in contrast, Carthage still has 16 out of their original 19 left. The senate convenes in a panic, appointing a Dictator to save the Republic!

Carthaginian left at the end of the battle. 

Carthaginian left center; the Spanish Caetratus (LI Javelins) in the woods repulsed multiple attacks by the opposing Legion!

Carthaginian right center; once again the infantry gave as good or better to the Romans than they got,  and any day that happens is going to be a bad day for the SPQR!

Carthaginian right flank cavalry at games end – clearly, it would only have gotten worse!

another  view. 

Another view shows the fragility of the Carthaginian left center. Despite the ill fortune on the day, the Roman players still enjoyed the rules, it being the first time for Kyle with TtS!

The fortified roman Camps, garrisoned by Ballistae and some raw Javelinmen. It was never threatened, but perhaps the points might have been better used elsewhere?
It’s hard to see, but I used the system for terrain set up in TTS! for this game, except that I made the choices for both sides. Cartage tried to keep as much open terrain on the flanks with some cover in the middle,  whilst Rome aimed for the opposite! Yellow beads were fields, blue stream entry points, green woods, brown hills, black rocky impassable hills, and teal vineyards. 

Another hard to see view

and a 3rd!

as per the rules, cards are dealt for every potential feature. 

Any with clubs are removed. 

Diamonds are removed in the central zone, but stay on the flanks. Hearts are retained.

Spades drift in a direction determined by the pip value of the card. 

Final terrain set up – Roman side is near. 

Bookends

For more than 30 years, we have had a pre-Christmas get together and gift exchange with our dear friends,  the Hop[kins Family: Bob and Cindee both shared my passion for books and history…

So every year I could count on new books from them. 

This year was no exception. They were planning on taking a Cruise at Christmastime, so this year we held our annual get together in mid November. More great books followed, as ujsual.
We even got together with them again a week later, and had a great time
Then, the day after Thanksgiving, 1 month ago today, we got a call from Bob that Cindee had passed away unexpectedly in her sleep early that morning. She was only 71, in very good health and had been feeling perfectly fine, and, as was her normal, had  hiked several miles the day before. 10 days later, I was one of 4 speakers at her Memorial service, held at the Roxbury  Town Hall, which was literally standing room only. 

Cindee Hopkins

   Jan and I moved to New Milford 40 years ago, and lived in the Old Farms condominiums there. Not long after we moved in, another couple roughly the age of our parents welcomed us.. Anna Mae and Ernie Fournier. We shared drinks and happy hours and quickly became friends. They were both so friendly and supportive. While we were still living there, we hosted a 40th Wedding Anniversary party my parents, and Ernie built us a temporary canopy for our back patio just for the event. They soon introduced us to their daughter, Cindee, and her husband, Bob Hopkins, who were them living in Bantam, CT. .

    We bonded with Cindee and Bob very quickly; they were both teachers,, as were both my mother and Jan’s mother. They both had a love of history, which I share, and we appreciated Cindee’s boundless enthusiasm and Bob’s wry sense of humor. When we moved to our new home in Bridgewater a few years later, Jan was pregnant with our second daughter, and could only help with organization and light things; Cindee and Bob came to the rescue, and helped us move on a cold January day… right after a moderate snowstorm

    A few years thereafter, Cindee and Bob moved closer to us, to Roxbury, and before long they had a daughter of their own. We soon began a 30+ year tradition of having a pre-Christmas gathering with our respective extended families, alternating homes. During the pandemic years, we held it outside on our patios. The weather was cold each of those years, but the warmth came from inside us. We are truly a big part of each other’s families!

    Our two daughters both graduated from Shepaug Middle and High Schools, and had the privilege of having Cindee as one of their teachers… as I am sure was the case for many of you here today. Cindee was one of those special teachers that most students remember all their lives – her energy, passion for her subject, and genuine concern for the good of her students and the Shepaug school community were infectious!

    When we were breeding Annie, one of our Golden retrievers, Annie needed to go the veterinarian’s office while were away, and it was Cindee who took her. She was the first visitor to see the new puppies a few months later. We have two wonderful dogs that would not be here today without her. Cindee was like that… always there to help out when there was a need.

    After her well deserved retirement, Cindee did tutoring, volunteered and was a driving force of nature with the Roxbury Library, worked at the polls for elections, and probably hiked every foot of the trails in Washington, Bridgewater, and especially Roxbury, the town that she so dearly loved. She was able to indulge her passion for history and geography by traveling across Europe and the near East. She shared her love of both of these liberally in her many Facebook posts, making us feel were there with her.

    One of my patients had a favorite saying about life, which has always resonated with me… “We’re only here for a visit!” While we all hoped and expected Cindee’s visit with us to be considerably longer, none of us can doubt that she made the most of the time that God gave her. Cindee brightened the lives of so many, and those of my family especially. Her loss will be deeply felt, but the positive impact of her “visit” here will endure long after our sadness eases.

Thank you from us all, Cindee!

Cindee and her daughter, my god-daughter, Alexa, last month.

Battle Report: Rio Gevora, February 19, 1811

  For various reasons, I haven’t had a chance to post a write up of this game we played out a month ago until now.

A reminder of  the starting positions of the two armies. 

The two French Infantry Divisions aggressively pursue the attack on the superior numbers of Spanish on the ridgeline. Recall that the Artillery on both sides was not allowed to fire in the early phase of the battle. I had the far right Spanish Infantry Division, Kevin had the middle Infantry Division and the Spanish Dragoons and Line Cavalry, whilst Sean had the leftmost Spanish Infantry Division and the Spanish Light cavalry. Kyle had the leftmost French Infantry Division opposite me, and the French Light cavalry, while Mike had the other French Infantry Division and the Dragoons. 

French Dragoons advancing rapidly on their right, whilst the French Light cavalry decides to threaten the Spanish infantry on the Ridgeline. An early end to Turn 1 meant the Artillery was in action relatively soon, and the Spanish could form Square sooner than might have been anticipated. 

Kyle’s French infantry badly out-rolled my Spanish at most opportunities; you will note three of my 5 infantry regiments doling their impression pf “Run Away!” very early on!

French Light cavalry charging up the hill. 

First charge by the French Dragoons as well.

The Spanish battery is overrun and destroyed by the French cavalry, but otherwise the charge was indecisive. 

French Dragoons defeat two of the Spanish Light cavalry regiments, the Spanish general being laid hors de combat!
In the center, Mike’s general is hit by a stray cannonball!

Kyle’s Division has pulverized mine, and he is planning to wheel in upon the Spanish Center. 

Facing a bunch of Spanish squares, the French Light cavalry call off any further attacks, and try to move around the Spanish left flank. The Spanish heavier cavalry gives as good as they get in a series of melees with the French Dragoons..  

Cavalry situation later in the game. 

Another view. 

The infantry battle sees new Spanish routers from the center command!

With the last unit of my command now either routed, destroyed, or retreated off the table, my commander seems to have fallen upon his sword rather than face the Junta’s inquisition as to his conduct!
General Virues (yo!) in an appropriately Spanish red cap shortly before my untimely demise, with Kevin (playing Generals Garcia and Butron) looks on. 

The Spanish lost all their Morale points by about halfway through the game, but survived THREE Army Morale tests. Still by games end, these were all of our Morale points that the enemy had NOT taken. A pretty decisive result in Field of Battle terms!  We Spanish claimed moral victory, as the army did not break and considerably outperformed the historical result, with the performance of the Spanish cavalry being strikingly better than in history. We were happy to slink away under the cover of an early February sunset….

Aleander Leslie’s Regiment of Foote

Alexander Leslie was the illegitimate son of George Leslie, and raised as a foster child of the Campbells of Glenorchy.

He entered the service of Sweden in 1608; by 1627 he was a full Colonel, and was knighted by the King of Sweden.
Leslie enjoyed the trust of Gustavus 2 Adolphus, and in 1628 he successfully defended Stralsund as  Sweden entered the 30 Years War. In 1631, he organized the Scottish troops in Swedish service. He was present at the Battle of Lutzen in 1632, where Gustavus Adolphus perished in battle. 
Alexander L:eslie was made a Marshal of Sweden in 1636, and was one of the commanders at the Battle of Wittstock later that year. By 1637, he had returned to Scotland. He lead the Covenanter armies very successfully during the first and second Bishop’s Wars, and  was created 1st Earl of Levin by King Charles I in 1641. 
Leslie was senior commander at the Battle of Marston Moor, when the Scottish army combined with 2 Parliamentary armies under Fairfax and the Earl of Manchester decisively defeated the Royalist army under Prince Rupert. He had charge of Charles I when the King surrendered to the Covenanter forces 1646,  subsequently transferring the King to his Presbyterian allies in Parliament.  He retired in 1647, and took no active part in the disastrous Dunbar campaign against Cromwell. 
Figures are by Old Glory, coats are painted Delta Wedgewood Blue, a light to medium grey with a very strong blue tone.