Pendraken Miniatures Forum

Wider Wargaming => Genre/Period Discussion => Firelocks to Maxims (1680 - 1900) => Topic started by: fsn on 17 March 2023, 07:22:13 PM

Title: The Dark Horsemen
Post by: fsn on 17 March 2023, 07:22:13 PM
Here's my latest batch of Napoleonic figures. They may be wearing black coats, but they're not Brusnwickers.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52754147063_90de7a1422_z.jpg) (https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52753120652_f12ebeb74e_z.jpg)

So who are they? Well, you know I have certain dislikes on the table. Kneeling figures pre-1900, extensively terrain infected bases and, of course, anything on the table that isn't a figure or a piece of terrain. Thus, the fashion for units to cart small dice along with them do not find favour with me (it is only with the greatest of reluctance that I added labels to my 1:3000 ships) and before my Napoleonic frenzy of 2021/22 I could manage to keep track of units on a whiteboard or paper.

My original intent was to have a number of figures with flags or different coloured coats to represent morale levels. I did this with the Bavarians, but it added quite a few figures to the job, and frankly Bavarian infantry in red coats didn't look right.

So I pondered deep into the night and the result is the black horsemen. Each one is a rider in a black coat on a black horse. They wear pale blue sashes but are otherwise marked by red, yellow or green facings.

A visit from Lt Green is an indication that the unit is 1 level adrift. Dr Gold means 2 levels adrift and Captain Scarlet means 3 levels down.

These dark riders may be attached to a unit (battalion) or a regimental officer, Brigadier, or theoretically a divisional general.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52753657771_fa3c9a5640_z.jpg) (https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52754147428_b41eba2b72_z.jpg)
Here, the first battalion has taken a bit of a hit and is being accompanied by Dr Gold. The following unit has suffered less and is playing host to Lt Green.

Granted, it's more effort than using dice, but I find the black riders more visually satisfying than other methods of tracking.

Nobby's Napoleonic uses morale status 1-5. 1 is a raw, nervy unit up to 5 being the Grenadiers of the Guard via 2 Neapolitans, 3 most line units, 4 being 95th Rifles, Chasseurs of the Guard etc.

Yes, the Dark Riders are named in honour of our noble Sable Lord.
Title: Re: The Dark Horsemen
Post by: mollinary on 17 March 2023, 07:44:04 PM
Lovely idea!   
Title: Re: The Dark Horsemen
Post by: paulr on 17 March 2023, 09:26:01 PM
Good idea, well executed :-bd  =D>  :-bd
Title: Re: The Dark Horsemen
Post by: pierre the shy on 17 March 2023, 11:47:34 PM
really clever idea fsn, your horseman markers fit in well with all the other troops on the table but are easily distingishable at the same time  :-bd
Title: Re: The Dark Horsemen
Post by: fsn on 18 March 2023, 09:25:24 AM
Thank you all.  :)
Title: Re: The Dark Horsemen
Post by: Duke Speedy of Leighton on 20 March 2023, 06:04:47 PM
Very impressive sir Nobby