la Bricole
There used to be a pleasant Napoleonic wargaming focussed forum called la Bricole. By no means could the post count be called prolific but it was a thoroughly happy and agreeable place with none of the back biting to be seen in some other places.
A little history lesson – at least history retold how von Peter himself remembers it:
1. The first la Bricole was presented to the world by ArchiducCharles, aka Iannick Martin, of Clash of Nations fame. The aim of the forum was to be a friendly Napoleonic gaming and related topics meeting place. Incidentally Iannick hails from Canada. Hailing from Canada is possibly of little consequence (meant in the nicest possible way of course!) except that …
2. …spookily Iannick’s successor as master and benefactor of la Bricole is also of Canadian extraction – even if he is currently domiciled in Japan. Spooky huh?! Cunningly hiding his identity behind the moniker Olsuviev we shall call him Robert Swan. For further insights into the mind of a benefactor Robert runs several blogs including Serrez les Rangs! and Skoryi Szag.
Upon the transfer of the mantle of la Bricole benefactor Robert created a brand new la Bricole. Transfer from the first to the second la Bricole was carefully managed. Forum member numbers continue a slow increase though the forum never attains a high post rate. It remained a friendly and knowledgable establishment however. Several painting competitions were run. These are not overtly competitive in nature and were run with the aim of assisting forum members to complete some painting. von Peter himself has a pang or two of guilt over these competitions. He entered one competition but got no where near completing his entry. It seemed that painting competitions were not his ‘thing’. They were however the ‘thing’ of some of the other forum members with some wonderful vignettes and units created. Sadly the address of this forum is now irrelevant as it no longer exists! <shock horror>
Above: the 5 completed figures of the abortive first and only painting competition entry of von Peter himself. The entry was to be the 3rd battalion of the 4th East Prussian Landwehr Regiment modelled as a shot up firing line. The completed battalion – should it ever be completed! – is planned to contain 20 figures … so only 15 to go then. In defence of von Peter himself it must be pointed out that the mounted officer’s horse is also completely painted now!! 8O)
3. 16 May 2014 an unobtrusive email arrives in an email box that von Peter himself does not necessarily monitor on a daily basis. Later a detailed examination of this email would reveal that the old dearly beloved la Bricole had been unceremoniously and unexpectedly kidnapped and moved to another forum address and engine. The email also contained the address of the new forum and von Peter’s new id and password. Simultaneously with the as yet unread email von Peter himself noticed that the old la Bricole has gone off the air. Oh well, such things were not unheard of – it will soon be back were the sage thoughts of von Peter himself. After a while of fruitless waiting von Peter himself starts to get a little worried and asks around as to what has become of la Bricole and is alerted to the new third rendition of La Bricole. Thanks Bryce for the heads up.
It appears that no one, including Robert was expecting the kidnapping. I guess that’s the thing with kidnappings. They aren’t expected! 8O) Robert lost much of his forum customisations – some of which he is bravely slowly reinstating – and the forum lost many of its members.
The loss of the members is is the crux of this long winded rant. la Bricole may not have had a high transaction count but it was a friendly forum in a world where forums often seem to turn on themselves. If la Bricole is to rise from the ashes then the old members need to find their way back – and perhaps even some new members sign up – and postings need to occur. It appears that the main focus will expand from Napoleonics to a wider Horse & Musket but whatever there is a section of the forum for those periods outside the norm.
So old members or prospective new members please feel free to pay a visitation to the new la Bricole at …
http://bricole.forumer.com
Please be aware that Robert is slowly tidying up the place. The kidnapping act included the transfer of the old posts so there is some interesting ‘stuff’ hidden in there and perchance you may choose to add to a thread or even start a new one.
More on The Great Wargaming Survey
Karwansaray Publishers the publishers of …
magazines have released a second article on the results of their recently conducted survey on wargamers and their habits – Painting and playing (survey results pt2).
One should take particular note of the last sentence in the article. It is of a particularly noteworthy nature. Oh the fame … the glory … 8O)
Call to Arms 2014
The weekend just gone was occupied by the local annual wargaming convention – Call to Arms – hosted by the Wellington Warlords. This convention used to be a regular event for von Peter himself but not so now-a-days for a variety of reasons. This does not preclude a royal(!) visitation though. A shame that some nameless plonker would only remember to take his camera while parking his car at the venue!! <mutter mutter>. What must one do to get good help these days?! 8O)
Competitions scheduled to run were …
- DBMM
- Field of Glory
- Flames of War
- Malifaux
- Skirmish Sangin
- Warhammer Fantasy Battle
- Warhammer 40,000
- X-Wing.
Of more interest to von Peter himself were the demonstration games. On the Saturday these included a large multiplayer 28mm Napoleonic game based on the slugfest that was the southern front at the Battle of Leipzig using Black Powder rules. What more can one say than the players seemed to be enjoying themselves and the Allies won!
Next door a large Pulp game was being played. Various western nations adventuring parties and some Egyptian Cultists all trying to make their way through a middle eastern town to get the prize which was secreted away in the bowels of a multi level pyramid. Biplanes, omnibuses and all sorts of wackiness seemed to be in order. A mighty effort from Raymond and co.
Although officially a competition Craig & co were playing individual but linked games of Skirmish Sangin. The terrain was great and there were plenty of smiles while von Peter himself was there for a short stopover. Craig’s brother Brent was in attendance – aka Greater Queeg and colouring in artist for von Peter’s Napoleonic Russians – so it was good to get to say hello.
von Peter himself may not have played but he still managed to add a little to the convention. His Napoleonic Austrian heavy cavalry – two kuirassiere and a dragoon regiment – put in an appearance at the Leipzig game and his roads were trodden and driven over on the Skirmish Sangin tables.
Perry Miniatures Bavarians
These have been coming for a while now and now they’re here. If you like your Bavarians with a taste of Perry then your time has come … or at least started as this is obviously not the end of the Perry Miniatures Napoleonic Bavarian range.
Above: BAV 7 Line Light Infantry marching, overalls – picture borrowed from the Perry’s site.
The initial Bavarian release …
The Bavarian Army 1809-14
28mm metal figures designed by Alan Perry
BAV 1 High Command mounted ( Wrede, Deroy and the Crown Prince)
BAV 2 Mounted Staff
BAV 3 Line Infantry command advancing, overalls 1809
BAV 4 Light Infantry command advancing, overalls 1809
BAV 5 Line Infantry command advancing, overalls 1812
BAV 6 Light Infantry command advancing, overalls 1812
BAV 7Line/ Light Infantry marching, overalls
BAV 8 Grenadiers/Carabiniers marching, overalls
BAV 9 Schützen marching, overalls
BAV 10 Line Infantry command standing, overalls 1809
BAV 11 Light Infantry command standing, overalls 1809
BAV 12 Line Infantry command standing, overalls 1812
BAV 13 Light Infantry command standing, overalls 1812
BAV 14 Line/Light Infantry skirmishing/ firing line, overalls
BAV 15 Grendadiers/Carbiniers skirmishing/ firing line, overalls
BAV 16 Schützen skirmishing, overalls
Above: BAV 1 High Command mounted ( Wrede, Deroy and the Crown Prince) – picture borrowed from the Perry’s site.
The end of another post. von Peter himself really must update his stock of photos to add a little colour and interest to the drab writing! 8O)
Until we meet again …
Salute
von Peter himself
von Peter himself 