A Little Cannon Shot...goes a Long Way

"Small cannon, deadly shot" is the motto of Ben Lanayard and Kilo Smalarts, pirates of renown and their 9 pounder cannon "Scharfe Fang."

Ben and Kilo are proud of their 9 pdr and the damage they can do to the targets they are paid to demolish.

Their short barrel 9 pdr is a bronze piece with an effective range of 300 yards.

At close range of 30 yards or less they will often double shot to punch through tough targets or ball and grapeshot if facing hordes of enemy fighters.

Ben, Kilo and "Scharfe Fang" are welcome additions to any crew of pirate raiders on the make for quick booty.

Ben, Kilo and Scharfe Fang are metal pieces from Privateer Press and fit in well with 28mm scale figures. Ben and Kilo they crew a black powder canon, a very dirty business, I decided to paint them in muted colors rather than the brighter ones I usually use for pirates.

Patrol Final Shots-Lessons Learned

What a mistake Tyr "the Scot," Mac Browny and Rudolf Hesdarmant made by advancing and not digging in as all three are wounded and pinned down by heavy fire. Worse still, aside from one light wound, they have yet to seriously hurt a single enemy soldier!

"Guten Gott," are Rudolf's last words as he is felled by a British bullet. Tyr and Mac are too busy ducking to morn the loss of their comrade.

Things are getting serious as both Ian Bakker Smuutts and Field Commandant Burkson are also hit by the increasingly incredible expert shooting of the British.  The Gods of War must truly be with the Imperials worries the Field Commandant as yet another volley of friendly fire fails to score a single serious hit!

Having braved the "unlucky" fire of the rebels, Captain Fenworth-Parksman and his forward fire team have closed to short range suffering only two light wounds between them.  A few more well aimed volleys should put paid to these misguided fools thinks the captain as he takes aim with his trusty .45 Webly.

"Damn, I told him we should bring the Lewis Gun!"cries out Sir Hallerly Misaloots III, after Ian Bakker Smuutts and Field Commandant Olaf Burkson are both dropped by the latest British volley.  The only positive has been the marksmanship of Lady Helga von Wurtenmasker, late Kapitän of the Crown Princess Michelle Hussars, as she drops Pvt. Carlson with a well placed shot between his eyes. (Just visible in the far upper right corner.)

Just like their commandant,Try and Mac are also felled by accurate British shooting. "Time to leave to fight another day," says Hans Brinkers as he heads towards a more friendly territory.

The rest of the rebels decide to follow suit, grabbing Ian and their fallen commander, they follow Hans to safer lands.  All that shooting and only one enemy dropped-the ammo was obviously rotten-words will be had with the quartermaster!

This was a fun game between Tom and myself as a quick battle to field test changes to my pulp battle rules.  He took a larger unit of regulars vs my smaller force of veterans. I really have to take him to Vegas as man can he roll hot dice.  Every round of fire he scored at least one hit, he made almost every save and passed the few morale rolls required while my dice were so bad I hardly ever hit-even figures in the open.  What a great time, lots of laughs and fast action.

The figures are all 28mm metal, and are from Renegade- British, Rudolf; Brigade- Hans, Sir Hallerly, Ian and the Field Commandant; Foundry- Mac, Tyr,  Lady Victoria Marksmaster (she missed every shot) Pulp and Hinderland-Lady Helga

Patrol Meeting Hot Lead and Bad Ammo

As bullets fly, Hans Brinkers feels justified in his caution as both Mac Browny and Rudolf Hesdarmant receive light wounds while in the open by accurate fire from the British soldiers.

Who are these men, thinks Tyr as he too is hit as he ducks behind a downed tree while Mac and Rudolf likewise cling to what cover they can find.

Field Commandant Olaf Burkson can't believe his eyes as the fire of his own team seems to miss every mark! Multiple rounds of fire seem to have slightly wounded only one or two of the oppressors. What's wrong with the ammo the quartermaster gave his troops anyway?

Feeling luck and numbers are on his side, Captain Fenworth-Parksman orders his men to follow him forward.

Pvts. Fredmann, Ulrich, and Youngfellow give rapid cover fire for their fellows. 

Tyr, Mac and Rudolf duck behind any cover possible as bullet after bullet slams into their meager cover. If only they had dug in like Hans runs through the mind of each man, now they have no time as they fire on the enemy as fast as they can. The British continue to advance while giving accurate fire. Burkson is flabbergasted as the fire of his own troops continue to fail to find their targets.

"Take that you Brit," cries out Rudolf as he hits Pvt. Ienans-with a light wound, as the latter and Pvt. Gonder sprint towards Rudolf's position.  Perhaps the spate of bad ammo has been used up-tomorrow will tell the tale.

Patrol Meeting

Captain George Fenworth-Parksman IV leads a section of Imperial regulars from the Southeast Frontier Borders with routine orders to patrol the ruins of Tomusville during a period of colonial unrest.

Field Commandant Olaf Burkson (on the far right)also has orders to lead his veteran men and women on a patrol through the ruins. His soldiers may look ragtag and no two have the same weapon but they are experienced and ready to fight for the freedom of their homes and families. His force from left to right consists of Tyr "the Scott, Rudolf Hesdarmant, Hans Brinker, Mac Browny, Ian Bakker Smutts, Sir Hallerly Misalots III, Lady Victoria Marksmaster and Lady Helga von Wurtenmasker.

The Commandant divides his force into two fire teams.  Seeing movement ahead he orders his team to dig into the church ruins a bitter sweet order as this was the very chapel where his children were baptised.

Hans Brinkers (rifleman on the left) also feels digging in would be a good idea but his friends want to close to get better fields of fire. Tyr "the Scot" leads Mac Browny and Rudolf Hesdarmant forward with elan, while Hans packs himself into the rubble with a muttering about fools going where angels fear to tread.

Captain George Fenworth-Parksman IV, orders his men forward with extreme caution, he has seen movement ahead that can only be hostiles. He seems to have more men, brave men but with limited experience, so he will advance in sections giving fire support to each as they advance.

The left section sets up three men in the upper floor of a ruined house while two others begins a flanking maneuver. Hearts pound, adrenaline pumps-the game is a foot. Next moves and casualties.

Big Bull WIP

Grande Touro, the bull elephant, is a master of his domain, his power is unchallenged in Nature.

The fear of man is unknown to Grande Touro as the humans he has encountered have been armed with spears or simple smoothbore muskets.

Grande Touro is a plastic piece that I picked up for two bucks while Christmas shopping. He will be part of the "monster size" beasts available for 28mm scale games.

Most of the touching up that I have done so far was a simple wash of charcoal grey and with more black on he ears, tail and toe nails.

I Hunt Out Evil

Legolas, Elf prince has spent centuries hunting and destroying the forces of evil.

As deadly with his blades as well as his bow, Legolas shows know mercy to the minions of the Dark Lord.

Legolas is a metal piece from the Lord of the Rings line by Games Workshop.

Let me show you how to cleave the Emperors finest.

Vágó Munkás, barbarian chieftain, teaches a new warrior the art of slicing Roman Legionaries down to size.

Vágó Munkás' companion is Fiatal Vérfia a warrior who has yet to face an enemy in combat as his unadorned shield attests.

Barbarians like these pressured the Roman Frontiers for centuries, such action would guarantee that uninitiated warriors had many an opportunity to earn their battle honors.

Vágó Munkás is part metal and part plastic, Fiatal is all plastic, both are 28mm piece from Warlord.