My Favorite Painted Figures/Projects of 2018

Since the 4th Quarter was pretty much a bust for the hobby side of life (but I love that new house!) I thought I would share my favorite painted figures/projects of 2018 in no particular order:

1. Dorothy Gale and her Untouchables. Wild West steam punk figures from Reaper Miniatures.

 A great demonstration of the versatility of In Her Majesty's Name (IHMN).  Plus, who wouldn't want an adventuring company from Oz?

2. The French Foreign Legion. For use with IHMN and other Colonial rule sets.

3. Miskatonic University Adventuring Company.  Probably the most unique adventuring company for IHMN I have done up to date. Also compatible with about a zillion other games.

Who you gonna call when alien creatures go bump in the night?

4. Lady Prudence Fiona Throckwaddle and the Anti-Slavery League. She likes Earl Grey; enough said.

5. The Hidden Kingdom of Natagala. These Matabele figures are extremely versatile for just about any colonial game and have been a force to be reckoned with in IHMN.

6. World War II German Jäger Platoon. These German Infantry Figures from Black Tree Design have great detail, are easy to paint and most of all - I don't have to put them together! They are also reasonably priced.

French Troupes coloniales

French Colonial Marines

The Armée coloniale should not be confused with the famous North African regiments of the French Army such as the Foreign Legion, the Bat' d'Af', Zouaves, Spahis, Algerian Tirailleurs (sharpshooters) and Goumiers, all of which were part of the Army of Africa. The North African units date from 1830 and were brought together as the XIX Army Corps in 1873, forming part of the French Metropolitan Army.

French Foreign Legion

Algerian Tirailleurs

Instead the Troupes Coloniales can be divided into:

1. French long service volunteers (or colonial settlers doing their military service) assigned to service in France itself or as garrisons in French West and Central Africa, Madagascar, New Caledonia or Indochina; and

2. Indigenous troops recruited in any of the above, serving under French officers. These were designated as Tirailleurs sénégalais, Tirailleurs malgaches, Tirailleurs indochinois, etc. according to the name of the colony of origin. Tirailleurs sénégalais was the name given to all West and Central African regiments, since Senegal had been the first French colony south of the Sahara.

All colonial troops (la Coloniale or the Colonial) came under a single General Staff. The troupes coloniales were predominantly infantry but included artillery units as well as the usual support services. At various dates they also included locally recruited cavalry units in Indo-China as well as camel troops in sub-Saharan Africa.

French regulars of the Colonial Infantry disembarking in Madagascar 1895. Unknown - Mus de l'Armee photograph, 1895. Personal photograph.

The title "colonial troops" was adopted in 1900, when all the Marine Infantry and Marine Artillery troops that had previously come under the Ministry of the Navy were transferred to come under the orders of the War Department.

The European Colonial Infantry regiments were, until 1914, uniformed in a similar style to their metropolitan counterparts (though with yellow fringed epaulettes and medium blue trousers instead of the red epaulettes and red trousers of the line infantry). On colonial service white, dark blue or light khaki uniforms were worn with topees, according to circumstances. 

Between 1895 and 1905 a light blue/grey bleu mecanicien uniform was worn for field dress in Africa and Indo China.

French Congo, c. 1905. Colonial Infantry bleu mecanicien field uniform.

Throughout their changing titles and roles the French Troupes de Marine or Troupes coloniales retained a reputation for toughness and professionalism. Whether French or indigenous they were, for the most part, long service regulars and as such comprised a genuine elite.

IHMN: "The Legion does not surrender!" Part 2

When we left off Part 1, a small detachment of the French Foreign Legion was protecting a "waypoint"; literally a door that gives instantaneous travel from on point to another.  The Legion is attempting to prevent the escape of the Witch King of Sokur from entering the waypoint in order for overwhelming help to arrive and capture him.

 Amelie's mesmerism (and I lucky die roll for initiative) forces the Destroyer to once again fight his master the Witch King.  The Mobieus' and Chef Sergeant Baptiste form a firing line while the other legionnaires deal with the troglodyte that penetrated the perimeter.

 The Ruga-Ruga sniper continues to harass the defenses.

 The bayonets of the Legion deal with the last remaining troglodyte.

 With the initiative again,  Lieutenant-Colonel Jacques Duchesne places a well aimed shot with his arc pistol killing the Destroyer.  He didn't earn his Expert Pistol Marksmanship badge not to use it.

 "Okay, no more Mr. Nice Guy."

 Baptiste is hit by rifle fire while Amelie (with the Medic talent) rushes to his aid.

 Who knew Professor Moebius was so good with a pistol?

 "Feel the wrath of my anger!"(the cursed sword doesn't hurt either!)

  Lieutenant-Colonel Duchesne engages the Witch King.

 Continuous fire from the Ruga-Ruga guard.

 Searching for a target.

 The Witch King is knocked down in hand to hand while Amelie is grazed by a bullet.  Fortunately the Medic talent will bring her back.

 Chef Sergeant Baptiste charges in anger . . .

 . . . while the Witch King recovers.

  Legionnaire Jean Genet engages the Witch King with bayonet.

 Chef Sergeant Baptiste takes out the Ruga-Ruga.

 Amelie and the Chef Sergeant move to a better position to deal with the sniper.

 Battle continues between Genet and the Witch King . . .  

 Legionnaire Genet knocks the Witch King down!

 Baptiste and Amelie volley fire against the sniper . . . 

  . . . with fatal results for the sniper.

On the last turn the Witch King fails his pluck roll to get back up and is captured.  Now what we do with him?

The final score was French Foreign Legion 36 and Witch King 6.  The superior fire power and bayonet drill (plus with some good die rolls) did in the troglodytes which have been usually deadly in Fights.  The other big difference in this game was the use of the Mesmerism talent to keep the Witch King out of most of the game and having two figures with the Medic talent to keep the Legion in the fight.

With the Witch King in Legion Custody, what next?

"Well, well, what do we have here?" muses the Napoleon of Crime.

A Legion of my own

Legio Patria Nostra 

From the private diary of Dr. John Watson, MD: 

When I look back upon those fateful years of 1894 through 1895, little did I realize how much my personal world, and the world at large would change.  Allies were needed, and my good friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes was dubious and did not trust many he encountered in these dangerous times.  Fortunately Holmes tracked down and arrested Huret, the Boulevard assassin - an exploit which won for Holmes an autograph letter of thanks from the French President and the Order of the Legion of Honour. More importantly, it put at Holmes disposal a contact in the French Foreign Legion to assist us in the upcoming war of good versus evil . . . 

  Lieutenant-Colonel Jacques Duchesne

After painting many versions of the 19th Century French Foreign Legion for clients for In Her Majesty's Name and The Men Who Would be Kings I finally decided to indulge myself for a change and paint and create my own French Foreign Legion Adventuring Company.  The basic rules for the French Foreign Legion are found in the basic rules for In Her Majesty's Name and addition useful talents, weaponry and technology in the supplements Heroes, Villians and Fiends and Sleeping Dragoon, Rising Sun.  I have not used any of the Talents, etc., from the Gothic supplement; but who knows?  Maybe it will be needed in the future.

Retired Sergent Chef Baptiste

 Professor Moebius and his daughter Amelie

 Professor Moebius and his pouch of serums.

Amelie Moebius

La mission est sacrée, tu l’exécutes jusqu’au bout et si besoin, en opérations, au péril de ta vie.

 Caporal Chef (Senior Corporal) O'Rourke

 Legionnaire 1st Class Hub Mcann

 Legionnaire Rav Yehuda Leon Ashkenazi

 Legionnaire Jean Genet

 Chaque légionnaire est ton frère d’armes, quelle que soit sa nationalité, sa race ou sa religion. Tu lui manifestes toujours la solidarité étroite qui doit unir les membres d’une même famille.