With a now semi-complete utility room, I've been able to transfer the sordid business of miniature painting and terrain creation out of the study. Subsequently (and with the aid of the customary splurge at Colours), there is now a production line of sorts taking shape, of CD-based jungle terrain* and rows of miniatures awaiting undercoating before the inevitable painting procrastination.
The magpie flitting from project to project seems typical of many wargamers, and I'm acutely aware of it at present. On the one hand, the introduction of They Don't Like It Up 'Em with my Peter Pig Sudan collection to other club members has them keen on a second encounter. Opinion is divided as to whether it'll be a different one or simply the last one but playing as a different side.
On the other hand, I'm also personally keen to crack on with upgrading my Vietnam kit (also predominantly Peter Pig). Reading rules is no substitute for playing them, but repeated reading of Too Fat Lardies' Charlie Don't Surf (CDS) prompted me to undertake the insane step of rebasing miniatures for the first time, even though it isn't strictly necessary. With the onset of the recent school holidays, this was undertaken with a vengeance, with both Mr. Neatherway and the Div kindly acting as the player guinea pigs to my refereeing. With Asian take-out and beer consumed, plus an appropriate soundtrack on the iPod, havoc could commence...
Player work commitments meant the game unfortunately had to be curtailed earlier. This was annoyingly at the point where US Lieutenants Monterey Jack, Bayley Hazen and "Blue" Vaquero had received a harsh drubbing, but would now be unable to take advantage of the fact that the VC (Lieutenants Banh Cahn and Cao Lau) had shot their bolt. This was exacerbated by players and referee cocking up things as they played new rules, and the fact the action was squeezed on to a very small playing area. Nonetheless, both Mr. Neatherway and the Div said they'd be willing to give it another try, now that they had a better idea of how CDS plays. This is encouraging stuff, from players who are at the game end of the game-simulation spectrum.
Torn therefore between wadi and jungle, it looks like the wadi wins out this weekend, as I attempt to get some Highlanders and Royal Marines ready to take on the Mahdists for September 24th's planned game at the club...
*No prizes for guessing the inspiration of this.
