Plans for 2026

 I shall continue with breaking down my plans into Battles, Campaigns, Painting/Modelling.

BATTLES

ANCIENTS:

Early Imperial Roman: TBC from Britannia campaign.

Punic Wars: Battle of Lake Trasimene.

WARS OF THE ROSES:

Mini siege campaign.

First action - "The Messenger"

ECW:

Historical Scenarios - Stratton 16th May 1643

AWI:

Historical Scenarios - White Plains 28th October 1776

NAPOLEONIC:

Peninsular War project - Fuentes de Onoro 3rd - 5th May 1811. 

Campaign -  3rd Battle of Ainsworth (French v Prussians)

ACW:

Port Republic 9th June 1862. 

There is also the possibility of playing a large battle such as Shiloh but dependant on available time.

PONY WARS:

This really will be a priority this year!

COLONIAL:

Zulu Wars - Rorkes Drift

WW2:

Market Garden: Battle in the Woods from the Rapid Fire scenario book involving the UK Paras.

Operation Compass: Attack on the Maletti Group. This is a scenario from a mini-campaign acquired from Wargames Vault. 

Continued -

Review of 2025.

Time to review how the year went and how close or otherwise I was in maintaining discipline and sticking to the plans! 

The plans for the year are in italics.

BATTLES

ANCIENTS:

Early Imperial Roman: 9th Legion v Ancient British Mona.

Completed with a surprising Ancient Briton win meaning the campaign will continue.

Punic Wars: Battle of Trebia.

Completed. History overturned with a narrow Roman victory.

Continued -

Plans for 2025

 It is time to plan the year ahead, or at least have an idea of what I intend to do!

As in previous years I will break down my plans into Battles, Campaigns, Painting/Modelling.

BATTLES

ANCIENTS:

Early Imperial Roman: 9th Legion v Ancient British Mona.

Punic Wars: Battle of Trebia.

ECW:

TBC. Braddock Down is a possibility but I have yet to settle on a particular battle. It is possible that ECW will be a period not covered this year.

NAPOLEONIC:

Peninsular War project - Battle of Busaco 27th September 1810. 

ACW:

Cross Keys 8th June 1862. 

PONY WARS:

A priority this year now that all figures and terrain have been completed.

COLONIAL:

Zulu Wars - Rorkes Drift

WW2:

Market Garden: Battle in the Woods from the Rapid Fire scenario book involving the UK Paras.

Operation Compass: Attack on the Maletti Group. This is a scenario from a mini-campaign acquired from Wargames Vault. 

It is unlikely I will have time to play both WW2 games but hopefully one will see the tabletop.

Continued -

Review of 2024

I hope you all had a great Christmas and it is now that time to reflect on how the wargaming year went.

As in previous years this will be a review of my wargaming year including how close I was to fulfilling the aims set out in 'Plans for 2024'.

It will be broken down into 'Battles', 'Campaigns' and 'Painting/Modelling'. the initial aims are quoted in italics.

 BATTLES

ANCIENTS:

Early Imperial Roman 20th Legion v Ancient British Cantii tribe who have rebelled.

Completed - see 'Campaigns' below.

ECW:

Edgehill - This is a definite and I know this as it is currently occupying my tabletop. Hope to have a blog posting very soon.

Completed:

Forlorn Hope rules were used and proved to be a resounding Royalist victory.

NAPOLEONIC:

Peninsular War project - Battle of Busaco 27th September 1810. Approximetely 2/3 of the figures I needed to paint were completed this past year. All being well this should be on the tabletop before the end of the year.

Good news is that all figures required are now ready but the bad news being that I ran out of time before I could play it.

Napoleonic Campaign - The next map moves have yet to be completed but confident at least one action will be played out.

Failed! Clearly over-confident.

Continued -

Plans for 2024

As any wargamer knows, planning a year ahead with any degree of accuracy can prove a challenge! A sudden urge to start a new period, campaign, or particular battle, tends to intrude. That said, I will once again lay out what I hope to be the direction of my wargaming in the coming year.

As in previous years I will break down my plans into Battles, Campaigns, Painting/Modelling.

BATTLES

ANCIENTS:

Early Imperial Roman 20th Legion v Ancient British Cantii tribe who have rebelled.

ECW:

Edgehill - This is a definite and I know this as it is currently occupying my tabletop. Hope to have a blog posting very soon.

NAPOLEONIC:

Peninsular War project - Battle of Busaco 27th September 1810. Approximetely 2/3 of the figures I needed to paint were completed this past year. All being well this should be on the tabletop before the end of the year.

Napoleonic Campaign - The next map moves have yet to be completed but confident at least one action will be played out.

ACW:

Gettysburg Day 2 - I have lost count as to how many times I have stated this will be played. Part of the delay was down to me dithering about scratchbuilding terrain such as the Little Round Top. I have decided to just run with what I have got and thus cautiously optimistc that this will be played out. 

PONY WARS:

The end is in sight for figure painting although terrain needs to be constructed. I am hopeful I will be able to play this before the year is out.

WW2:

Battle south of Nibeiwa - Operation Compass campaign. I have some rule tweaks to complete around the propensity of the Italians to surrender en-masse at this stage of the war. Some of my desert terrain boards are in need of attention which will also be used in the Pony Wars project. 

Groesbeek Heights - Op Market Garden. This is a repeated target from last year but now, as then, will depend on how quickly I am able to paint up the required figures.

Continued -

Review of 2023

This has not been a great year for my wargaming hobby. A near full time child care of our two young granddaughters has impacted significantly on the time available. I do though commit to doing something on all but a handful of days. Even if only 15 or 20 minutes at the start of the day which keeps it ticking over.

I will list my aims for the year (in italics) and my success or otherwise of completing them.

BATTLES

ANCIENTS:

Early Imperial Roman 2nd Augusta Legion v Ancient British Durotriges tribe in the west country.

Completed - The Durotriges tribe has been thoroughly subdued with the attention now turning towards the Cantii tribe who have rebelled.

ECW:

Edgehill - Almost ready to play this and will be a priority in the new year.

Unfortunately a casualty of time pressure. More of this project in my plans for 2024.

Continued -

Plans for 2023

As the new year approaches it is time to think about what I shall do over the next 12 months. Although I have had mixed results in sticking to previous years plans, I do tend to find it helps in focussing my attention rather than bursting off in all directions which I have been known to do!

As in previous years I will break down my plans into Battles, Campaigns, Painting/Modelling.

So without further ado, onto the plans:

BATTLES

ANCIENTS:

Early Imperial Roman 2nd Augusta Legion v Ancient British Durotriges tribe in the west country.

ECW:

Edgehill - Almost ready to play this and will be a priority in the new year.

NAPOLEONIC:

Peninsular War project - Battle of Busaco 27th September 1810. There are a fair number of figures to paint before this game will be ready so probably 50:50 if this will be on the table in 2023.

Napoleonic Campaign - At the time of writing this I am still completing campaign map moves. There will certainly be at least one battle played out this coming year.

ACW:

Gettysburg Day 2 - I have been intending for several years to play this game but for a variety of reasons has fallen by the wayside. There is no excuse though as my available gaming area is now sufficient for a battle of this size. There are terrain pieces that have yet to be painted but I simply have to get this up on the tabletop this coming year.

COLONIAL:

Rorkes Drift - Most of the figures have now been painted with just the terrain to be completed.

PONY WARS:

A priority to get the figures painted followed by terrain. I intend to make this one of the targets this year but unsure as to whether I will complete all the collection required. Hopefully though I will get something on the table even if only a test game.

WW2:

Cristot (Normandy 1944) - Already on the board with an AAR due to be posted within the next few weeks.

Battle south of Nibeiwa - Operation Compass campaign and another priority for the year.

Groesbeek Heights - Op Market Garden. Another target but dependant on being able to get the figures painted in time.

Continued -

Review of 2022

My wargaming has slowed to a crawl since my last blog posting. A host of reasons intruded on my available time not least a downturn in my wargaming mojo! Over a month ago I set up a WW2 game, the battle of Cristot, and so far have only completed a half dozen turns. I did though manage to keep up a reasonably steady amounting of painting, more of that below.

So with the end of year approaching, it is time to review what I have completed over the past 12 months. As in previous years I will republish my plans for the year and update them as to what has been accomplished. Text in italics are taken from those plans.

BATTLES

ANCIENTS:

Early Imperial Roman 2nd Augusta Legion v Ancient British Durotriges tribe in the west country.

Unfortunately, no further forward. It was my intention to construct an iron age hillfort, and although tempted to forsake that just to get the game done, decided I really should complete the construction given the location of the action. I have completed the base and some test palisade and hope to progress this early in the new year.

ECW:

Stoke Lane 1st July 1643.

Completed - https://grymauch.blogspot.com/2022/09/ecw-battle-of-stoke-lane-1st-july-1643.html

Edgehill - a considerable number of figures need to be painted. I have included this battle as a possible although probably a long-shot for this year.

Definitely on course to be played next year. 

Continued - 

Plans for 2022

With the arrival of 2022 it is time to reveal my plans for the year! This will be broken down into Battles, Campaigns and Painting/modelling. 

There is potential for disruption this year with what should be my final house move - all being well in late March / early April. 

I will no longer have the benefit of a room within the house dedicated to wargaming although I have secured the smallest bedroom as my painting room and library. It will be back to the garage but I do not intend to endure the cold dusty environment of old. There are restrictions in our neighbourhood forbidding a full garage conversion to accommodation. They have to be retained in their primary purpose of car use (even though almost nobody uses them as such!). However, I have found at least one company that will insulate it and install a decent floor and ceiling. The garage door will have to be retained but that can also be insulated with all gaps sealed still allowing it to be used.

If all goes according to plan, I should be able to increase the maximum size of table to 8'3" (possibly even 9') x 4'6". The downside will be the time taken to complete the works which could halt my wargaming. If that proves to be the case I am considering a stop-gap of playing skirmish games such as Chain of Command which recommends a board size of 70cm x 50cm for 6mm. I may just be able to squeeze that into my painting room! 

With all that in mind on to my plans:

Continued - 

Review of 2021

With the end of the year approaching it is time to review how my wargaming year progressed. Text in italics are taken directly from the year's plans. 

BATTLES

ANCIENTS:

Early Imperial Roman 16th Legion v Ancient British Trinovantes tribe in East Anglia.

Played and a Roman victory - AAR on the blog.

2nd Punic War - Battle of Trebia (Both sides need painting so 50:50 if achieved this year).

Complete failure! Figures acquired but that is as much as I have achieved.

Continued -

Plans for 2021

With the new year looming it is time to plan the year ahead. As in previous years this will be broken down into Battles, Campaigns and Painting/modelling. 

There is one new project, the Battle of Trebia from the 2nd Punic Wars. An old favourite period of mine and given added impetus from the LittleWars TV episode.

BATTLES

There will almost certainly be more from the various projects (see "My Collections and Projects" tab above which will be regularly updated) and those listed below will be priorities.

ANCIENTS:

Early Imperial Roman 16th Legion v Ancient British Trinovantes tribe in East Anglia.

2nd Punic War - Battle of Trebia (Both sides need painting so 50:50 if achieved this year).

ECW:

Battle of Chewton Mendip.

Looking further out I hope to play some of the more well known battles, the first being Edgehill. It is unlikely to be in the coming year but is a possibility depending on how fast I can paint the additional figures required!

NAPOLEONIC:

Battle of Talavera - Peninsular War project. Over the past month I have made good progress painting the Spanish force required. I have several allied units to paint for the French but this battle is now a probability for this coming year.

Battle of Tourane - Campaign Dutch v French. This, in all probability, will be the first game of the year.

ACW:

Cavalry skirmish at Rorketon - from the new campaign.

Scenarios - I have yet to decide if any will be played with concentration being placed on the campaign.

Gettysburg is still up there but unlikely given all other projects planned.

COLONIAL:

Rorkes Drift - Almost half the Zulus painted with most of the British needed to be done including the buildings.

WW2:

Air action and battle south of Nibeiwa - Operation Compass campaign

Battles from the "Reconnaissance in Strength" mini-campaign (Soviets v Germans) - I intend to play this as a continual rolling battle to completion of the campaign.

Groesbeek Heights - Op Market Garden

Continued -

Review of 2020

With the wargame table packed away for the Xmas festivities it is time to review how the past year progressed.

As with previous yearly reviews I will revisit my plans for the year to see how they panned out and will add any unplanned events!

Text in italics are taken directly from my years' plans.

Before I start I should mention there are 2 events which will impact on my wargaming this coming year. From mid February I will be away for 5 weeks. The second, and rather more impactive, is a house move. Assuming we manage to sell our house ok we intend to move before the end of the year. This will severely restrict the gaming side of the hobby although I hope to maintain at least a degree of figure painting. One of the criteria for our new home will be it possesses, or has the potential to possess, a wargames room. So, all being well, normal service should be resumed in due course. It may of course give me the opportunity to experiment with skirmishing in 6mm. Chain of Command on a coffee table looks promising!

We managed to get away for 5 weeks returning to the mayhem that was Covid-19! This also clashed with our house move which fortunately, was completed in April. My worst fears about not having wargame space were not realised, and even better still I had slightly more room than previously! So normal service resumed.

WARS OF THE ROSES:

Battle of Shrewsbury - From the Kingmaker campaign. 400 - 500 figures need to be painted, the first of which has now been primed and on my painting table.

Completed with AAR on the blog.

Continued -

Plans for 2020

Before I start I should mention there are 2 events which will impact on my wargaming this coming year. From mid February I will be away for 5 weeks. The second, and rather more impactive, is a house move. Assuming we manage to sell our house ok we intend to move before the end of the year. This will severely restrict the gaming side of the hobby although I hope to maintain at least a degree of figure painting. One of the criteria for our new home will be it possesses, or has the potential to possess, a wargames room. So, all being well, normal service should be resumed in due course. It may of course give me the opportunity to experiment with skirmishing in 6mm. Chain of Command on a coffee table looks promising!

My plans therefore will be more modest than usual. As in previous years I will break it down to 3 sections: Battles, Campaigns and Painting/modelling:

Continued -

Review of 2019

Hope you all had a great Christmas. It is that time of year to review my wargaming through 2019. 

What I had not planned at the start of the year was to sell off my entire 15mm collection. This was a time consuming exercise which detracted from my wargaming. Both number of games and figures painted fell short of what I had anticipated.

In looking back over the past year I will refer back to my original plans and examine what has been achieved and what has not. Under each of the three headings, 'Battles', 'Campaigns' and 'Painting', I will add what I have completed but not planned for originally.

On to the review. The text in Italics is taken directly from my original 'Plans 2019' -

Continued - 

Plans for 2019

It is time to ponder on my plans for the coming year. As per last year I will break it down to 3 sections: Battles, Campaigns and Painting/modelling.

But before I launch into my plans for this year, I would mention another period I have paid scant attention to over the past year, 6mm Ancients. During my festive holiday I read the last two books in the 'Legionary' series by Gordon Doherty, 'Empire of Shades' and 'The Blood Road'. I also read book 12 from Simon Scarrow's 'Eagles of Empire' series, 'The Blood Crows' and part way through book 13 'Brothers in Blood'.

For those unfamiliar with Doherty and Scarrow, their books are very much in the Bernard Cornwell style of historical fiction. In my opinion they are actually better than Cornwell and provide a rich source of wargaming material. Warlord Games have actually produced 28mm models of Makro and Cato as they would have appeared in the first book 'Under the Eagle'.

Reading these books in quick succession has fired my imagination. Over the years, particularly in the 1970's, I dabbled in recreating battles from novels on the tabletop. Both Doherty and Scarrow have the ability of immersing you in their action-packed stories. The 'Legionary' series revolves around the character 'Pavo'. He moves from being a slave to joining the Legions working his way up to commanding his own legion in the most recent novel. It is set in the 4th century A.D. when Rome is on the decline desperately holding back the Goths and Huns in the east. Of the two series, this is probably my preferred choice for gaming. However, it would mean starting a new collection! Maybe one day but not just yet.

Which brings me on to the adventures of Makro and Cato. This is set in the mid 1st Century A.D. with several books set in Britannia. I already have a reasonable collection of Early Imperial Romans and Ancient Britons/Celts in 6mm so would require little effort to get the ball rolling. I do not intend committing to starting what will be a new project just yet, but it is one that I will explore further when time permits.

After that little interlude, on with my plans for 2019:

Continued -

Review of 2018

With 2018 coming to a close it is time to review my wargaming over this past year. 

I will away from 20th December so all wargaming will cease for a couple of weeks with normal service resuming on my return on 6th January.

In looking back at my 2018 plans, it is best described as indiscipline on my part! It started well then went completely astray when I painted a 1/1200 scale warship purely as a break from painting figures, only to find myself being sucked into naval wargaming! It did provide an excuse for restarting Operation Nostalgia which included air wargaming. A first for me!

In looking back over the past year I will refer back to my original plans and examine what has been achieved and what has not. Under each of the three headings, 'Battles', 'Campaigns' and 'Painting', I will add what I have completed but not planned for originally.

This is the first full year of my blog and I have to say it is useful in keeping your mind focused on the various projects. Normally I meander through all manner of stuff including part starting projects that often barely get off the ground. A bad idea if you want to avoid amassing unused lead piles!

On to the review. The text in Italics is taken directly from my original 'Plans 2018' posting -

Plans for 2018

With 2017 coming to a close, it is now time to look at what I intend to do in 2018. 'Intention' of course is not necessarily what I achieve and it will be interesting to see at the end of next year precisely what I have completed! I will break it down into 'Battles', 'Campaigns' and 'Painting'.