...is once again being heard rattling around Chateau Kinch. There has been far too much revving of engines and the wheeze of gasmasks of late. Time to get back to toy war as it was meant to be, with men that dress like peacocks and fight like demons.
With Gaelcon just around the corner I've been digging out my Little Wars figures. These are 1/32 scale plastics painted in the colours of the Grand Duchy of Little Siskington and the Bishopric of Gormanstein. They're a mix of A Call to Arms American Rebellion sets and whatever cavalry came to hand. My cannon appear to have dissappeared though, which is a little worrying. Hopefully they will reappear before too long.
The painting as you can see is workmanlike, but these are mass produced soldiers are designed to be knocked over by NERF guns, so any more elaborate would be an extravagance. I haven't played Little Wars in quite some time and I'm looking forward to giving it a whirl again.
There is still the small matter of those guns though.
Nerf guns?? Is that an original tweak? That's a bit of an armaments upgrade from HGW and his spring-loaded cannons - are these matters subject to some kind of Little Geneva Convention? My son has a fast action repeating nerf gun which must surely be outlawed - might as well use a high-pressure hosepipe.
ReplyDeleteOriginal-ish? Foy, is there nothing I can not sully? It would appear not.
DeleteI can only plead that having played with them quite a bit, they have the following things going for them.
They're cheap, they're available and the average gamer is an awful shot with one. They have worked so far.
My NERF guns are all of the derringer or six shooter type and the number of shots that can be fired is limited. I'm also considering instituting a rule where by players are granted a limited amount of ammunition at the beginning of the game and don't get any more.
Now that could be interesting.
You could always dole out extra ammo for capturing objectives, supply wagons, ADCs and the like...
DeleteThat's a possibility.
DeleteEnjoy the Con, we need pictures ;-)
ReplyDeleteIan
Roger.
DeleteLooks and sounds exciting. I've always meant to have a stab at Little Wars myself. Maybe one day?
ReplyDeleteBest Regards,
Stokes
It is tremendous fun. It must be played with a strict time limit or the effect is lost. You're certainly welcome to play with us any time.
DeleteYou'll need to do some sort of steampunkish cosplay conversion of said guns. Without the LARPtaint.
ReplyDeleteFMB
FMB, I am riven with the LARP taint having written a fair number in my time.
DeleteI am however considering dulling down the guns as the bright orange looks a bit off.
Heaven forfend! Although if we're talking Old School Little Wars, the steampunk thing isn't out of line, I suppose.
DeleteThis all looks and sounds splendid. Presumably the missing cannon don't fire, the NERFs delivering the actual projectiles? Or do the NERFs only do small arms? Best of luck locating them anyway.
ReplyDeleteThe Nerfs provide the firepower - while the artillery provide tone to what otherwise would be a vulgar brawl.
DeleteGosh nerd guns! Where are my Britains 18pdrs now? All sound like terrific fun.
ReplyDeleteIt really is. I have one Britains 18pdr, but is a special rare thing and only brought out for special occasions.
DeleteNerf Guns? Huzzah!
ReplyDeleteHuzzah indeed!
Delete