Army Red

 

From left to right. Skirmish Infantry, Carbine Cavalry, Regular Infantry, Gatling Gun, Field Artillery, Regular Infantry (again), Skirmish Infantry (again), and Lancer Cavalry in the right rear.  

In my limited free time, I designed some very simple 19th Century armies for use with The Portable Wargame, and other simple wargames.  Above is "Army Red", based on a historical force also famous for wearing red uniforms. A typical field force for "army red" will probably be 6-8 units with 4 units of regular infantry, but I generally use the scenarios from One Hour Wargames as a basis for army compositions.  

The next step is determining what "army blue" will look like.  I may end up designing my own terrain as well.  If so, desert buildings are very easy to model, which makes an Egyptian/Turkish adversary attractive.  But after having reread The War of the Worlds, a Martian invasion force seems like it could be a lot of fun.  If I go this route, I would probably still need a European opponent to fight alongside and against "army red".

I still haven't given up on my own rules, but am really struggling with the AI to control the opponent.  Controlling an army in the field is a bigger challenge to program than the cars in my racing game from previous posts.  In that game cars roll 1D6 each turn.  AI cars become more defensive and passive as they acquire damage, but in that game cars move through specific phases as a field.  In order, all cars choose whether to pit, pass, or draft (choosing a lane in the process).  Then they all are subject to random events, followed by cars attempting to complete their passes (assuming they're still in a good position).  

Expanding the Range

 

So remember before I got distracted....

I was working on a range of low-detail units for Bob Cordery's Portable Colonial Wargame.  I think they're pretty representative of the historical uniforms that they're meant to represent, but I'd be interested in seeing what you guess they are intended to be.  I'm working through some irregular uniforms as well, but am struggling with the non-firearm weapons.  After finishing the irregulars, I'll decide on an "army red" and "army blue" for use with the scenarios from One Hour Wargames and start the 3D printing/painting process.  Cavalry will be 3 mounted figures with sabers, lances, or carbines,  gatling and field artillery pieces are manned by 2 figures, regular infantry is in blocks of 6 and skirmishers are in blocks of 4.  I haven't decided if this project will be hexagonal or square gridded.  I already have a 8x9 hexagonal gridded surface, but there's a piece of grass green duck cloth in my wife's remnant pile that is about 20x30 and calling my name. I have 3D printed test pieces in scales down to 18mm, but a better printer could certainly handle 10mm or smaller.  

I've been pretty busy on the personal front since the last post, which was admittedly too long ago.  I've been very busy at work and in December, our second child was born.  He's been keeping us busy, but I wouldn't have it any other way.  Now that football season is over, my schedule should be a little more freed up for hobby time.