A first look at Neulandia and its location

Pictured below you will see where Neulandia is located. Despite its location adjoining the antipodean continent it is kept warm by the salubrious waters of the Indian Ocean. The interior may be another consideration but nothing is known beyond rumors. Brave explorers are needed to fill in the interior of this new Dark Continent!



Gary's Troops; Bloody British tea drinkers.

Okay to show the group I'm really painting my Brits.    Here are some pictures...  These are still a work in progress.

 

available from Artizan Design

Behold the Might of the Kaiser's Armee

Here are a couple of shots of my Imperial Prussian Army.

First is the group shot of all sixty points (less those annoying supply wagons)

 

the full sixty point army 

L to R, three ranks of Irregular Rifles followed by Tribal Cavalry, in the center a drilled gun, a poorly served gun and the Regular Cavalry, on the right two units of Regular Riflemen and a unit of Unenthusiastic Regulars then two units of Tribal spearmen

Truth In Advertising

As the Game Master and campaign manager I must remain completely transparent to everyone or I am likely to be suspected of shenanigans.

The first step in transparency is to open my books to the other players, to let them see how my budget is being spent.

Here is my Army List detailing how my 60 points are being spent. Comments, suggestions  and abuse will all be taken in stride.

2 x Regular Infantry............................................................................12pts
1x Unenthusiastic Regulars..................................................................5pts
1x Regular Cavalry...............................................................................6pts
1 x Well Drilled gun.............................................................................6pts
1 x Poorly Drilled gun..........................................................................4pts
3 x Irregular Infantry...........................................................................12pts
2 x Tribal Infantry.................................................................................6pts
1x Tribal Cavalry..................................................................................3pts
6x supply wagons.................................................................................6pts

Total.....................................................................................................60pts

I will try to set them all up on the gaming table and get a "team photo" later.

Other players may choose to present their armies, or keep them secret until the campaign begins as they see fit.

The Story So Far

As it stands now we have firm commitments from Housemartin as the Mexicanish Empire, My Magnificent Self as the Imperial Prussian forces, Old Sarge as the British, JusticeandRule has chosen the French Empire and Joe is still deciding still deciding, while the others waffle on the sidelines.

I have the map almost complete now and we await the decisions from the International Commission as to where each Imperial Power will be allowed to establish a colony.

I have in hand painted armies for Russia, Britain, the United States and the Confederated States. If a player is truly interested and is unable to procure an army in the near term these may be made available for use.

First Blood

      The ever creative and relentlessly jingoistic ( or would that be Gringoistic ? ) Housemartin has laid claim to the Mexican Empire as his nation in our Alt-History/VSF campaign. To bolster and buttress his claims to a place in the sun on the newly discovered continent he has issued the following missive. A literary masterpiece soon to be required reading worldwide! I encourage everyone intending to participate to construct a similar time-line (it does not need to be a complete - or bombastic- as this beauty) to announce to the world their backstory and plans.

     It is a delightful example of thinking outside the box, about how a few minor changes to a timeline could have changed the face of the world we know. No need for time-travelling AK-47 merchants (side-eye at H. Turtledove) just a few different decisions and a different bit of luck. 

 

The Mexanish Empire’s History of Magnificence. 
 

The ascension of Emperor Maxmillian I on 10 July, 1863 was the brightest day in Mexico’s brief, but glorious history. Since his ascension, His Most Catholic Majesty, Maximillian I, has presided over a rapid and impressive rise in both Mexican power and prestige on the world stage. At his ascension the Emperor faced the warmongering ways of the Yankee Imperialist Lincoln with manly resolution. Avoiding both direct involvement in the American Civil War, but also maintaining his right to the throne of Mexico. When the Southerners successfully defeated Lincoln in their Civil War, with significant material assistance from the Sovereign of Mexico, any attempts at Yankee meddling in Mexico were ended. 

New Rules, Deep Thoughts and Dark Plans

    After several successful games of The Men Who Would Be Kings and a serious-minded discussion with some of my gaming compadres (and an even longer serious discussion with myself) I have decided to float the idea of starting a new VSF campaign. Drawing deeply on the seven years of experience that the Daftrica campaign provided will correct the flaws that became apparent as time went by.

      All are invited to the discussion of what they are looking for but I am the final arbiter of the campaign. I will set forth the rules and modifications to be used, I will establish the entry level commitment for players (be ready to paint your army if you don't already have one available) and the time-lines that will drive the campaign. If you aren't serious, have issues with completing paperwork in a timely manner or want to sponge armies off other players please do not apply. There will always be plenty of slots in the OPFOR side of things for people that only want to show up and push lead.

    Baseline requirements are:
       1. Have a copy of the rules, The Men Who Would Be Kings, no excuses, none, don't ask. Osprey rules are cheap and widely available, and these are dead-easy to understand.
       2. Have an email that is checked regularly, that means daily, preferable twice a day.
       3. An army totaling 40 points under the rules, these must be composed of PAINTED  period-specific figures from 1850-1900. No recycled WW2 Japanese or such. Certain exceptions will be tolerated but you must come to me on bended knee to ask permission.
       4. The ability to undertake the rudimentary math required by the rules.
       5. A true sense of the Victorian and a jovial sense of humor, a strong sense of the power of the Pun is welcomed as well.

     Further, probably more irrational requirements will be imposed by me on a whim, proper pith-helmets (or other period appropriate headgear) is a possibility.

     Interested parties can reply to my email or directly in the comments section

Some thoughts from Joe

High command on table: I was thinking a single figure 3 hit unit as per Dragon Rampant. Free, over and above 60 point total force. 4+ shooting (If allowed to shoot) and 4+ h2h. 

No Negative traits for this leader, he is the tabletop personification of the player and any idiosyncrasies shall be provided for by the player controlling. This Figure can take control of leaderless units automatically, counting as the maximum leadership for the unit's troop type. If this figure is lost, he may not be replaced for the duration of the campaign, unless special circumstances arise (i.e. promotion from the ranks of a exceptional individual, like the Turk.) 

General Staff officers: 1/2 figure count units, Unit type dependent on army involved. Europeans defaulting to regular cavalry?, Natives could be a witch doctor/chief and bodyguard. Fight as regular unit (2 hits per model, strapping sons of Victoria that they are). If I recall, Dragon Rampant has a few "Spells" that allow units to do things. Count these as command actions (Rally a pinned unit so that it may act, move a little faster, ect.) Perhaps allow "General" figure to do this as well. 

Steam Powered Vehicles: I have had this idea running around in my head for a while, and I think they have matured to a serviceable point. If we have some models, we can give them a try. I don't have any "chrome" or points on them right now, but we can try out the concept. basically, they are treated as field guns that have "Armor", or a default number of hits that equal one actual hit. 

Artillery reduces this, as normal. I won't go into huge details, but those are the basics. I'm going to work up a few templates for us to try out. 

Skirmish Sized combats: I think the simplest response to this is to use the skirmish modifications in the core rules, or at least try them out. Also, most people here seem to like GURPS. Personally, I am no fan of In Her Majesty's name, but I am willing to try a test game. 

Name of Continent: Being that your vote has a decidedly Germanic ring to it, I cannot but oppose it due to the fact that this would imply German discovery. This is an obvious impossibility as, unlike right proper Englishmen, Germans do not know how to sail. On a serious note, I see no issue with continuing to call the continent Daftrica.

Things I want out of this Campaign: 

1. Meaningful strategic play as well as tabletop "tactical" stuff. 

2. fun loving good natured opponents 

3. to stand on the throats of my defeated opponents while listening to the lamentations of their women while their villages burn. (I'll get back to you on the other stuff)

Further Basic Ideas

More ideas from my fevered brain:

1.   Forts
     Every colony will start with a fort, it is capable of housing 24points of troops. The walls will support 12 figures fighting in each direction (subject to the points limitation). if a cannon or Gatling gun is mounted it displaces as many figures as it has crew plus one. If the field piece is mounted at a corner it displaces figures from both of the walls that make up the corner.
     The model of the fort will be no larger than 12" square. In game terms it counts as hard cover (divide hits by two, rounded down) and higher ground.
    We will discuss the price of forts, I want them to be relatively expensive to force the colonial forces to keep moving around to enforce the Sovereign's will.
     I will build a standard fort, if you have a desire for a different design, and can draw it coherently, and it interests me, I will build a special one for you.

2. Supply Wagons 
     Supply wagons cost one point each, they will support 24 points worth of troops each week on campaign. Effectively a 24 point force will "consume" a wagon a week while on campaign. The supply column will be present on the table with every Imperial Power's force. Wagons can be destroyed by inflicting six hits on them either in melee or by shooting. Once a wagon has been consumed it is removed from the supply column. Loss of supply wagons will either foreshorten your campaign or lead to attrition among your troops.

3. Heavy Guns 
     As the game is designed the guns are small field pieces. Fortresses and siege trains may have need for heavier hardware. Heavy Guns cost 8 points each, shoot 48", have five crew figures and ignore two levels of cover.  They move 2" a turn without limbers, 4" with limbers. There are no heavy Gatling Guns, but I am open to discussion.

Old Sarge is a busy fellow

Take a glance at my always resourceful buddy, Old Sarge's blog, he has been researching Boer War blockhouses and working on his miniatures for our up coming campaign. It is worth a visit, Old Sarge is a WAY better modeler and painter than I am, his stuff is simply beautiful.


Now I have to get to work on a blockhouse or two :)

Some Basics......

The planned VSF campaign will require (but will not be limited to ) the following:

We are using The Men Who Would Be Kings rules from Osprey, you will need a copy, either a PDF printout or a bound copy, hard copy preferred!

An army consisting of at least enough figures to field 24points under the rules

An Army List of 60 points under the rules, this will be the ENTIRE land forces of your colony so choose wisely.

Some practical thoughts on Higher Command appearing on the table.

Some thoughtful ideas on how to handle steam-powered vehicles including AFVs.

Some thoughts on handling skirmish-sized combats (I am thinking that In Her Majesty's Name might suffice)

A list of the three most important things you want out of a campaign game.

And so it begins.....

Rather than have the VSF campaign blog posts mixed in with the regular blog stuff (as if there ever was any rhyme or reason to my other blog posts) I have started a new blog. This blog will contain the posts by me as an administrator and GM of the campaign. I will also add all of the players as contributors so that they can post entries to the blog as well.

I have no responsibility for such postings and maintain the editorial control to remove ones that I find offensive or improperly placed.

Postings can consist of campaign notes and the players version of the battle AARs (please note that any "Stunning Dutch Victories" will probably be ridiculed in the comments or other postings). But other subjects are more than welcome as well; figure sources, painting projects and progress updates, terrain ideas and projects, outside online information links and anything of interest to the other players or generally colonial or VSF of nature will be welcomed.