Over the next couple of days, I hope to take part in an online American Civil War battle using a modified version of my PORTABLE WARGAME rules. The only problem is that I don't have enough figures and I don't have the time (or inclination) to paint what I need. The solution ... to make some top-down counters!
This turned out to be a lot simpler than I expected. I have a colour inkjet printer/scanner and A4-sized labels as well as access to the JUNIOR GENERAL website, and it only took me about ten minutes to find the right top-down images I needed and to set them out in an MS Word document, with each unit neatly labelled. The results looked like this:
Confederate Army
This turned out to be a lot simpler than I expected. I have a colour inkjet printer/scanner and A4-sized labels as well as access to the JUNIOR GENERAL website, and it only took me about ten minutes to find the right top-down images I needed and to set them out in an MS Word document, with each unit neatly labelled. The results looked like this:
Confederate Army
The complete sheet of top-down Confederate counters.
The Confederate infantry counters.
Union ArmyThe Confederate cavalry and artillery counters.
The complete sheet of top-down Union counters.
The Union infantry counters.
All I've got to do now is to draw out a suitably sized 14 x 14 squared grid ... and then battle can begin!The Union cavalry and artillery counters.
.jpg)
The Junior General website is perfect for times like these, plus also great for trying out a new period or ruleset before investing in lead.
ReplyDeleteSteve J.,
DeleteThe JUNIOR GENERAL website is a treasure trove that contains loads of useful resources. I’ve even contributed some figures to it for other players to use.
All the best,
Bob
Bob,
DeleteWhat figures have you done, I use JG all the time for gaming needs.
John
Panzer63,
DeleteI produced some for the Russo-Turkish War using the name ‘Big Bob’.
All the best,
Bob
I can't decide whether to root for 'Col. Sanders' or 'Gen. Sideburn'... Looking forward to the game report. Do please give a description of how you manage the on-line aspects, I'm sure a lot of folk will be interested!
ReplyDeleteDavid in Suffolk,
DeleteThe scenario has been devised by my opponent, and he will lay out the battlefield and figures at his end. I will have a 14 x 14 square grid and counters at my end, and I’ll send him my orders via Skype. He will then move the figures and throw the dice.
The grid squares will all have an individual coordinate (e.g. A1, C13 etc.) so that we can record where each unit is located. This should make giving orders relatively easy.
Hopefully, if it goes all right, I’ll write about it on my blog later this week.
All the best,
Bob
I have been thinking that the Portable Wargame rules are really suitable for online play with the grid making it easier to have the coordinates of each units movement and firing clear.
DeleteI'll be interested to see the battle report and I've got one to put up on my blog testing my latest version of ACW revisions for the PNW Brigade rules.
Regards
Dave
Dave,
DeleteI am hoping that the rules will prove ideal for distance wargaming, and that the use of a grid with coordinates will enable players to keep an accurate record of their moves.
I look forward to reading your forthcoming battle report.
All the best,
Bob
These look very good Bob. Assuming no copyright issues, any chance you could upload them to the GroupsIO site? Also, are your ACW rule variations available anywhere?
ReplyDeleteCheers
Simon
Simon,
DeleteI think that as long as I acknowledge the origins of the images and provide a link to the JUNIOR GENERAL website, there should not be a problem adding them to the files on the WDDG io group. The rules aren’t mine, so I’ll have to ask the writer’s permission.
All the best,
Bob
Thanks Bob.
DeleteSimon,
DeleteIt’s my pleasure.
All the best,
Bob
Great idea! I’d be interested in reading the account if you write one.
ReplyDeleteHappy Easter.
Nundanket,
DeleteIf everything goes well, I hope to write a report later this week.
All the best,
Bob
I had trouble following kinks on Junior General but I love the idea of using paper minis. Patrick Crusiau has some beautiful paper minis that I have used for Waterloo. He's also done some for Union and Confederate soldiers for the ACW. http://www.gwindel.eu/Autre/Figs/Figurines.html
ReplyDeleteMr. Pavone,
DeleteSorry that you’re having problems following the links to the JUNIOR GENERAL website.
Some years ago, when I was short of cash, I created several armies of paper soldiers. Once the basic figures were designed, it only took a couple of hours to have two armies ready for the tabletop.
Later today, I’ll follow the link you have included in your comment.
All the best,
Bob
It looks like a stroke of bad luck for me, I happened to click on the few broken links on the home page. I tried some more and they did great, lots of good stuff once you dig in.
DeleteI'm always happy to find another source of paper minis. They're far easier on the wallet and building an army is simple
Mr. Pavone,
DeleteI’m glad to read that you’ve managed to find working links. The JUNIOR GENERAL website is a massively useful source of ‘cheap’ paper figures.
All the best,
Bob
I love Junior General - I had a whole travelling DBA set made with their top downs.
ReplyDeletePatG,
DeleteIt’s an excellent resource, and deserves to be held in high esteem amongst the wargaming community.
All the best,
Bob
Hi Bob
ReplyDeleteThey look really impressive, and such an easy way to produce an army.
And what a good idea to play a wargame online
I look forward to reading about it
regards
Paul
Thistlebarrow (Paul),
DeleteI must admit that they looked better than I had hoped that they would.
The wargame should be taking place on Tuesday evening, and I hope to write a report about it as soon as I can afterwards.
All the best,
Bob
Hi, Bob,
ReplyDeleteLong time fan, don't think I've written before.
I'm just curious about the Infantry units. As a lifelong resident of the great state of Minnesota, I was not previously aware of the Minnesota 12th. Wikipedia backs me up on this, but I don't want to rain on your parade. (It's entirely likely you have information neither Wikipedia nor I possess.)
Anyway, I hope your game goes well!
All my best,
Will
Will Douglas,
DeleteIt’s nice to hear from you.
The infantry units being used in this game are numbered sequentially (1st, 2nd, 3rd etc.) and given state names purely for game purposes. As the names were devised by my opponent, there may well never have been a 12th Minnesota Infantry Regiment. (He’s a professional military historian, so I’m not prepared to argue with him!)
Keep safe and keep well,
Bob
Wow! I see my General Scraxton Scragg has become famouser...
ReplyDeleteNot a bad set of counters for a quick game!
Archduke Piccolo,
DeleteNo doubt he will become even more famouser after his defeat/victory in the forthcoming battle!
I've slightly improved the design of the unit counters since I featured them in this blog entry. They are now slightly smaller and have grey or blue nameplates as appropriate.
All the best,
Bob