"Fantasia Gaming and Hard plastics" Topic

I've always been intrigued by the notion of the psuedo SYW Ruritanian/imaginary armies phenomenon (though as you can see I've not dug into it enough to get the right terminology). I want to make an imagi-nation. I thought it would be a fun way to get my local gaming playmates to make small horse and musket armies without having to be entirely historical (an impediment to Napoleonics).

Today I see Wargames Factory announcing the democratization of hard plastic 28mm figs and instantly think of this era.

Is it concievable that sprues of generic and slightly customizable hard plastics could be done for this? Not Prussians or English or Bavarian but indistinct with varieties of headgear and turnbacks maybe that could be attached to individualize them. Would there be a market for generic troops or are the standard historical uniforms re-coloured perfectly adequate?

To be honest I think repainting the "historical" uniforms is sufficient; there are only a fairly limited number of variations on the theme possible, and most of them are already accounted for by one or other of the historical participants. Additionally, anyone not fairly well versed in the period pretty much identifies the major participants by coat colour anyway; paint an Austrian blue and most people will think he's a Prussian anyhow. Given that, I think it probably makes more sense to pick a historical "archetype" for your figures, and use uniform colours and suitable flags to identify them as your own.

Dom.

PS – As a disgraceful plug, I should confess that I suggested SYW Prussians on their request list, so obviously I'd be delighted if you picked them…. ;-)

Done.

Fantasia gaming? All i can think of are pink elephants and dancing brooms.

Fantasia gaming? All i can think of are pink elephants and dancing brooms.

Time to go back and rewatch the "Night on Bald Mountain" and Stravinsky segments. Plenty of conflict there.

Fantastic news, welcome to imagi-nation world. Check out emperor-elector.blogspot.com for links to many imagi-nations. I personnally use Austrians as the basis for my imagi-nation but as mentioned above if the group your looking to get interested is not that interested in historical accuracy a tricorn and big coat is all that matters. You might look at War of Spanich Succession figs too. If you go with a smaller scale like 10mm it really is very generic there are pictures of 10mm regiments here cavenderia.blogspot.com

I think we'll have to go 28mm because we're looking to trick some GW people into it. What I really want is to have someone be able to show up on a gameday with 3 units of infantry and a cavalry unit and put them down on the table and play in a multi-player game. No army lists. No points. No differences between regular infantry anywhere. Pure Horse and Musket.

I fear I may have to go all the way back to Charles Grant rules to get the required simplicity and flexibility.

The latest numbers from Wargames Factory:

Napoleonics – French Old/Middle Guard -- 32%

I thought the idea was for some GENERIC troop types!!
We need Fr. Old/Middle Grd. sprues like holes in the head.

At least the rest of the picks are more reasonable.
Although – Zombies ???

Malcom,

Welcome to the dark side! Spencer Smith Miniatures in the UK already produce the sort of stylized, nondescript 18th century figures (in 30mm) you have in mind. The figures used to be plastic many years ago, but they have been metal for a few years now. Nevertheless, they are still priced competitively relative to various other lines on the market currently. Check out the Spencer Smith website at: link
They might be just what you envision for you imagination project.

Best Regards,

Stokes Schwartz
The Grand Duchy of Stollen
grandduchyofstollen.blogspot.com

Welcome to the rich and enjoyable world of Lace Wars Imagi-Nations!
25-30mm is certainly the aethetically most appealing of the usual scales, and the most able to attract newcomers – specially from the 28mm fantasy / SciFi nebula.
And 'The War Game' rules are indeed both simple and pleasant (though they can be steamlined here and there – the artillery templates, e.g., imho). OK, I was 'hooked' to the hobby by them some… >30 years ago, so I may be 'impregnated' and thus biased? Btw the WRG 1685-1865 set has the feeling of Old School Wargaming rules, and can easily be adapted to Grant-like 'big battalions'.

Hopefully to share easily with us the progress and satisfactions of your project, the geography and ruling line of your country, your designs of uniforms and flags, your campaign and battles.. you'll start a blog?
With or without a blog of your own, what about joining the 'Emperor vs Elector' collective blog?
emperor-elector.blogspot.com
TMP link
TMP link
TMP link

Looking eagerly forward to read more,
best wishes,
Jean-Louis
aka Louys de Monte-Cristo link

I agree with Stokes, Spencer Smith is as generic 18th Century as they come. Think of them as a blank canvas awaiting your inspiration.

Steve

Ideally one would have two "generic bodies", one in long and full coat (Catholic countries, Russia, Great Britain), the other in shorter, more tightly fitting coat (Prussian type).
But an even more interesting offering would be separate sprues of bodies and heads -sold independantly, you buy one of each of your choice- very convenient not only for the Imagi-Nation builder, but for the 'historical' wargamer wishing to field 'minor' types.
With 4 (or 6 if the 'westerner' bodies are duplicated as suggested above) generic bodies: line infantry, dragoon, grenzer, hussar and several heads (tricorn, bearskin, generic 'Reformed + Russian' mitre, mirliton, busby, fatigue cap – perhaps even a Schomberg helmet easily customisable into a British light infantry / light dragoon type) one could have:
grenadiers in Prussian-like uniform but bearskin (such existed in the Reicharmee),
fusiliers in 'normal' uniform but miriliton (Volontaires de La Morliere, Chasseurs de Fischer..),
grenzers in tricorns (several regiments during the SYW),
grenzers in busby (=> Hungarian infantry of the WAS)…
troops (including dragoons) in fatigue caps (pioneers, pontooneers, militia / forteress / home guard troops…).

Well, it's not forbidden to dream…

I submitted a suggestion to the Liberty and Union League for a plastic sprue of 18th century heads: A selection of various heads for converting 18th century models. Included would be tricorns, bicorns, bare heads, bearskin, mitre, mirliton, busby, and schomberg helmet. Ideally there should be 8 of each type.

If accepted it won't be posted for a few days at best.

hmm, how many separate cuffs will a sprue hold? at least 3 for Prussians, and then how many torsos with lapels and without, and with collars and without..and will matchcases be seperate or cast on the crossbelt and what about those armies with sabre hangers and those without , only bayonets .. and…it won't fly chaps

Sadly I'd have to agree entirely. So get voting for those Prussians and start dreaming up flags and uniform colours….

@ malcolmmccallum
the Good (? -shades of the lierary rendition of Richelieu?) Cardinal expresses in a satirical way a real marketing problem; yet headgears are far more obvious than cuffs and less easily 'paint converted', thus separate heads for headswapping has a larger market than sprues for wristswapping! So let's hope…

Anyway please share with us the developments of your 'The War Game' project (why do people always write about a 'Charge!' project?).
Hints: °- free uniform templates to materialize and test your uniform designs, colors combinations: nba-sywtemplates.blogspot.com
°- blog, blog, blog?
°- EvE, EvE, EvE? (you don't need ablog of your own to join & post there)

Cheers,
Jean-Louis

Having been involved in imaginations ( with my Duchy of Tradgardland and now its arch rival Saschen – Vindow) for around 18 months now can I say what a superb time I have had and I have been greatly inspired by the projects of others. I love the making of a country with its history,geography, customs ( and much,much more)not to mention army! Of late I have thought about how my 18 century imagination would fare in the 19th and early 20th centuries. I would wholeheartedly reccomend becoming involved -it will a decesion you will never regret!
Best Wishes!

malcolmmccallum, what about following trailape's exemple: TMP link ?

Looking eagerly forword to seeing you blogging!

Cheers,
Jean-Louis