Lion Rampant? Who me???

We are all getting older. Its inevitable and wargamers are no different even though we grasp our youth whenever we are enjoying our hobby. Its an escape from reality and frankly has kept me relatively well balanced through all sorts of life stuff. One thing that does happen as wargamers get more mature is do we start a new project and if so how large a subject is the project.

A case in point is my main interest the Napoleonic Wars. I have finally bitten the bullet and sold my entire Napoleonic collection of 6mm figures. The scaled armies of Russia, Austria, Prussia, Great Britain, the Confederation of the Rhine, France and all their allies. The whole kit and kabudalle.

It was like losing a close friend but one that I hadnt seen for several years. So the question was what do I do next? If I started collecting Napoleonics again it would be in 28mm and frankly in order to replace what I once owned would take several years, probably more. It would also have taken my savings which I am holding on to to pay my heating and electricity bills. 

I once owned a beautiful Games Workshop, Brettonian army. An army of knights, foot sergeants, archers and the like with a sprinkling of fabulous Pegasus warriors and other fantasy units. I really enjoyed painting the models. Sadly I only used it once and never ever used it again. Inevitably I sold it for a fair price decades ago. The same figures are now very rare and one would have to pay a fortune to own the army I collected. Now that would have paid for my heating bills.

So realising I dont have enough time to re build a large Napoleonic army I bit the bullet and bought the new Lion Rampant rule book by Dan Mersey after very strong recommendations from John. The forces arent very large but one could opt to collect and paint knights and their followers.I will admit Im a bit wary of skirmish battles and only dived into Never Mind the Billhooks because one can stage large battles using the rules.

Lion Rampant is definitely more a large skirmish game but the idea of painting knights was just too tempting, hence the images one sees now. These are my first units. The heraldry is post Brettonnian/ Hollywood, although I have opted for GMB 100 Years War French standards. I do like my flags. 

My command figure, with very large attack dog courtesy of Steve Wood.The figure I think I got from WI but I could be wrong.Anyway he's ready to lead.

The project isnt a big one although I have already bought too many figures. They will be a combination of Fireforge, Foundry [yes David] and some Antediluvian light troops. 

I have always looked back, its not good sometimes, but in wargaming Ive always enjoyed the nostalgia vibe. I bought some badly painted Egyptians spearmen advertised as Lamming figures. I knew they werent but wanted them anyway. Anyway Ive finally repainted and based them up. They will be drafted into my ever growing Achaemenid Persian horde. The figures are Garrison with added helmets created by the original owner. Crude, but I like them.

These, are Vendel Sparabara with Victrix archers to fill out their ranks.I have two more units to complete. Vendel were a great range, albeit big figures.