Getting ready for Year II

     A lot has happened since we finished our first year in Neulandia, players need to get ready for Year II. Back in Europe an economic boom has freed up more money and each player now has a one-time twenty point bump in investments from home; spend it wisely. In year two I am looking to see each player establish their colony and expand their trade and political connections. Conquest, however satisfying (and good for the reputation) is not the sole path to hegemony.

     I would like to get things off the ground in January 2018 so players will need to have considered their options, bought their new forces and laid their plans. I hope that everyone strives to stay with the VSF ethos, and as inspiration, would suggest that any player considering a Land Conveyance take a look at Landships II they have (under the "Model Articles" link) a wealth of paper models of Great War tanks and armored cars. Even if you don't care to build paper models some of the proposed vehicles are outlandishly VSF and are a great supply of ideas. For people considering aerial exploits a quick glance at Rosebud's WW1 and Early Aviation page will get your creative juices flowing.

     On the continent the indigenous peoples ( those near the coastline, at least) have had the winter to digest what the sudden appearance of the Great Powers means to them. Some see opportunity, others recoil in horror, still others see chances for profitable alliances. Most are no longer shocked by the iron ships and powerful guns of the West. Players can count on something more exciting than the "magazine rifle bashing the spearmen" of most colonial games and may very well stumble across something to put the fright into them!

    Players with questions give me a call or email. Anyone wishing to join as a new player can contact me at daftrica89@yahoo.com put "Neulandia Application" in the title and I will reply with what you need to do to get started. Remember that you don;'t have to actually be able to get to my house to be a Power, just be prompt about sending your orders and troops lists, we have plenty of spare players here to push lead as your field commanders.

A Fight in the Mountain Home of the Bandits

     Feeling the losses among the Boers and Scots the British no longer rejected the offered troops. Two units of Irregular foot were provided by the Governor. Still sniffing the air for trouble the English commander assigned these troops to the advance guard  with the idea that they were best placed in front of the British guns, just in case they went turncoat.

     Breathlessly climbing the ragged mountains on the interior the British troops pressed the bandit army as it fled. With each step the mountains towered higher above and the air became thinner but they pushed on with but one thought in their minds; the rescue of their captive brothers. Spurred by a righteous sense of vengeance they clambered over scree covered hillsides and jagged outcrops of stone until they came to the highland valleys that were the home of the bandits. The Scots felt oddly at home looking at the towering mountains that cradled the little green valleys; that is until they began to take fire from those same mountains, "Back to work Laddies, there is a battle to fight here" shouted the Sgt Major.

seen from the Bandit side; learning a lesson from the last encounter with British firepower the bandits used the ample cover to conceal themselves from the enemy

Vengance on Vectis! (Or; Feel Her Majesty's Wrath!)

        Rightfully wroth at the treatment given to Her Majesty's surveying expedition the Full Might and Righteous Anger of the Britannic Forces were brought to bear against the "bandits" that were responsible. Deep suspicions about the way in which the "bandits" had acquired a cannon in the last battle were set quietly aside (no doubt these will be addressed soon!) on the theory that you can only solve one problem at a time.

     Spurning the offer of a couple of regiments of local troops the English began to hunt the bandits. By a series of rapid marches the British were able to trap the Bandit army before it could escape to its mountain fastness; the speed of their retreat was shown by the fact that the Bandits discarded their cannon during their flight. All was to no avail as they were trapped in a narrow valley just miles short of their mountain home. Knowing that escape was now impossible they turned like cornered rats to face the Fury of the Sons of Albion.

 

the bandit army deployed to cover the escape of its baggage train their flanks were well secured

 but the vast open area between the armies did not bode well against the firepower of the Brits

Up Close and Personal #3, The Forces of the Mexican Emperor

Mexican Empire

 

Our Governor General, His Excellency, Doctor, President, the Conti de Monte Cisco

(in Her Majesty's Name miniature)

Up Close and Personal #2 The Might of Mother Russia

The Russian Army

All miniatures are Old Glory 28mm

These men are NOT our friends

Battle #1, A Villager\ now named Matanzas

1)  The Mexicanish Army resting peacefully in the blessings of God's embrace. 

Revenge For The Fallen, The Battle of Sigmundstad

     Having convinced the allied Vikings that the American forces are worthy and doughty opponents General Custer invited them to join him in avenging the defeated Steam Walker. Knowing that one of Sigmund's giants was now dead, and the other heartily battered the Vikings leapt at the opportunity. Truw to form they called upon Sigmund to rally his troops and meet them on the field in froont of Sigmundstad.
      Sigmund the Harsh, long contemptuous of his southern neighbors, agreed instantly. The situation was now set for a truly titanic battle.

 

Sigmund's array consisted of his Hearthguard in the center, 

flanked on either side by his Berserkers, then the bulk of his warriors and finally some Bondi,

 the giant was held in reserve behind the Hearthguard