Yet more... Armoured Bear!

   This one is from Ramshackle Games. Not new, but I just remembered it was around. So, I thought i would share. The picture is from their online catalogue, which can be found right here.

   Big armoured bear. We like it. And a guy in a cowboy hat with a big frikking gun riding on him. The rider is an option. They also have 'plain' bears.

"Battle in a Box": An Idea Whose Time Has Come?

Go here, to Take the High Ground, and read about this really cool project.

  Essentially, the fellow in charge of that blog is trying to make a complete game that you can carry about in a reasonably small box. His original goal was a cigar box, but that proved a bit too small. Now he is scaling it for one of those plastic art supply boxes.

   I am thinking I might be able to manage something a little larger for 6mm (he is using 2mm scale). The rules are really simple, as well. Which we like.

More painting finished...

  I know that you have all been awaiting this post with bated breath (not baited, right? That would smell fishy, I think... anyway, sorry about the ADD kicking in there). More painted stuff! Yay!

  I finished up some more Nordlander spearmen, so I took a picture of the unit so far. I just need to paint up three more spearmen and the champion, and they are all currently on the table.

   I also finished two more Combine Ogres, a Mk. I and a Mk. II. The Mk. I was manufactured in the Houston autofac. The Mk. II is out of the autofac near Mexico City, in Toluca. It's designation BTOL led to the nickname "Beetle."

HOU-65-I-22

BTUL-69-II-2, aka "Beetle 2"

"Beetle 2", a Mk. II Ogre.

   SOme more assistance for my fledgling Cygnar Warmachine army. This is a Squire, a very special and really helpful little warjack, although useless in a fight.

   Last of all, a couple of figures for the Lord Curr's Incorrigibles Company for the VSF skirmish game In Her Majesty's Name. These will go along with Mohan Singh, whom I introduced a few days ago.

"Mad Mick" McFarlane

Sam Warburton, 'ard 'un.

Recently finished: Empire, Warmachine, IHMN

Pictures of some of the work I have finished recently:

Mohan Singh, of Lord Curr's Incorrigibles

Musician and Spearman, Nordland

Warmachine Mercenary Gobber. Notice the shorts.

Purple shorts, green skin??? Who is that?

Nordland Artillery

Nordland artillerist

Nordland gunner

Church at Dzibilchaltun, Mayan ruins in the Yucatan.

How did that get in here?

   I'm also working on my Mk. I and Mk. II Ogres, nearing completion, along with more spearmen!

Henri Pirenne's Thoughts on Medieval Europe

  Specifically, on the start of the medieval period. When was it? Sure, it was after the Ancient or Classical Period, and before the Renaissance. But when did it begin? When does the age of classical civilization in Europe end? And what caused that to happen?

  Traditionalists will immediately tell you that the Roman Empire fell in 476 AD, when Rome was sacked by Germanic barbarians. If you press them, they may edit that to include only the Western Roman Empire. But Henri Pirenne, an early 20th century Belgian historian argues for a much later date. I think his argument is pretty convincing, honestly. He claims that the Germans of the various tribes (with the exception of the Angles and Saxons who invaded Britannia) became Romanized rather than the conquered Romans becoming Germanized. Which seems to be true. Roman laws, language (Latin), political structure (autocracy/monarchy), religion (Catholic), economics, coinage (gold), agriculture, literature... all still the same. Only the guy(s) in charge changed.

   Pirenne argues instead that the real change from a Mediterranean mindset in the majority of civilized Europe came after the Arab/Muslim invasions of the 7th and 8th centuries. This is what ended trade, changed population patterns, and re-centered western European civilization to the Carolingian Franks.

  Its an interesting book. I'll discuss another book, on colonial American history, tomorrow or sometime soon, at any rate.