"Additions to the staff" Topic

I have now acquired and painted three general officers for my burgeoning army of SYW French.
My question is what should I surround them with in terms of escorts and ADCs?

Maids, mistresses, valets, hairdressers, lackeys, parrots, etc…

oh, and the odd Prussian officer to take their parole.

I do add an adjutant mounted or a small staff on foot for my brigadiers of cavalry or infantry. The upper level of command have a greater number of mounted figures.

I have added two photos at the very bottom of the blog; the first of my Austrian commander and the second of a cavalry brigadier general.

Again, these are Austrians and I would imagine the French would have an eclectic array. Do not overlook the a priest or two.

cheers,
Robert
18thcenturysojourn.blogspot.com

Again, these are Austrians and I would imagine the French would have an eclectic array. Do not overlook the a priest or two.

For Austrians, maybe. as for the Frenchs… WAS rather than SYW, but de Saxe was so fond of young ballerinas and actresses that he invented the Theatre aux Armees, having a troupe and ballet unofficially attached to his HQ: an invention less often put to his credit than the 'Schomberg' helmet and the companies color code! And, while Lutheran, he certainly did not have a clergyman among his retinue…
Mme de Pompadour had the tact to refrain, but Louis XV's previous mistresses (two sisters at the same time) did accompany him to the army earlier in the WAS.

Of course, none of these charming ladies appeared on the battlefield, but then…
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Suren / Willie does have a few 'ladies riding sidesaddle' in tricorn (and one in hussar dress)…

Depends on the game scale, but probably an Aide-de-Camp and a couple of dragoons as escorts would be good

Don't forget the monkeys and parrots.
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Philosophers? A string quartet?

Always with the string guartets!

personally I am looking forward to the dismounted hussar hurdy gurdy band..

Chickens.
Chickens look good and you can get them from Eureka.
You can even perch one on his shoulder and say he has a chicken fetish.

You are all very comical.
So my generals will be surrounded by strumpets and trumpets, by drumsticks both living and wooden,by livestock on cardstock.
I love the SYW.

some of my humble offerings
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Conquest do a couple of Jesuit priests for their F&I War French range – the ultimate military clergy for the Age of Reason (and if reason doesn't work, six of the best across the palms with the ferule will usually do the job).

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For some reason, the photos don't come up when you click on the relevant camera icon…….

some of my humble offerings

But…chickens….I didn't see any chickens!

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Biggest bloody chickens I've ever seen! If I were the lapdog of a French officer's paramour, I'd be severely worried.

Thank God for Rhodesian Ridgebacks.

Oi! No counterfeit stuff.

Them's Ducks, Pelicans and a stray Penguin!

No…no….a good General needs Chickens!
They were good enough for the Romans, so they are good enough for 18th century generals too!

My dear Cardinal, thankyou for your offerings. Whilst most of the aides were suitably obsequious, I still wouldn't call your offerings "humble".

@ raducci,

If I was you I'd add from among the below individuals

add brilliance – i.e. Mr. de Bourcet, chef of the Genie corps. He deserves the credit for most of the better French operations. He is the true victor of 1759 Bergen, for he did all the planning stuff. A French maréchal should not do without his advice IMHO.

add a voice – i.e. the major-général of the army. As a custom, a staff officier of the most senior infantry regiment of the army would hold this rank. He is CinC's chief exicuting officier (in camp his tent being setup right next to that of CinC). Best would be an officier of the Gardes Francoises.

add orientation: without you'll never make it to any battlefield. This calls for an officer of your Guides. A general staff unit. Those guides de Plinchamps for ex. Mouillard plates have the uniforms, though, with tin-caps, I've also seen it with tricornes at the French NPI pages. It's easy to paint, for it's all blue with not so much lace.

Hope this helps,
Christian

With regard to the 'real' tabletop battlefield, several suggestions above are humorous.
Yet… If you provide your C-i-C with some tent / fabric gazebo
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-such a vignette, even if purely ornemental, can be placed at the extreme rear of your deployment zone in the same way as Dbx / HOTT camp / stronghold- then jesuits (?), a prelate ready to sing a Te Deum
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ladies
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a secretary taking notes for the posterity, servants bringing brandy and delicacies
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even a string quartet accompanying a flute player
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would be perfectly fitting -indeed they would create an 'authentic' Lace Wars atmosphere.

A more spartan 'HQ' could consist of a carriage
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and a few dismounted passengers
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People may contradict me but I think Lace Wars is the most fun of any period.
Thanks Abdul, lots of ideas to think about.

Did you see that one for the Parswich address?
Note they are standing outside the tents? And how far apart Frederick's officers are standing from each other???

That's why you should never serve sauerkraut before a major speech!

I can't think of anything that is really out of place at an 18th Century French Army HQS! Maybe a giraffe??

Who asked for a duck?
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Christian… "add brilliance, a voice and orientation".

The simple solution, given magnificently. A toast!

Ah, yes… and a duck. :)

Cheers,
Robert

Thanks to another TMP thread:
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a French staff:
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Re. the image linked to above, several Tradition / Willie 'Ladies' have the perfect 'look' and dress link