Recent Acquisitions

Preparing for the Revolutionary War project meant new reference materials were needed. With a planned initial emphasis on the Saratoga Campaign, this title was a clear priority. 

Most were probably lucky if they had something approaching uniforms!

Light infantry tactics were clearly needed in North America!

As the war progressed, the Continentals became the core of the army. 

I'll probably need to get the 2nd volume, too!

I already had volume 1. 

I've actually had this volume for almost 30 years - no color plates (I have an online version of Mollo's book), but tons of details. Published in my original hometown - Greenwich, Connecticut!

This is the Robin Hood deck from King's wild The court cards for Spades are Robin, Marian,. and Friar Tuck, Hearts are Alan a Dale, Lady Christina, and King Richard, Diamonds are Sheriff of Nottingham, Prioress of Kirklees, and Prince John, while clubs are Will Scarlet, a Lady in Waiting, and Little John. The designs were inspired b the Bayeux Tapestry. 

I saw these Babylon cards, wherupon my Assyrian army demanded decks to compete with the Egyptians. 

Court cards certainly are Babylonian/Assyrian in style!

Finally, with the American Revolution project underway, I picked up some inexpensive American themed decks. 

A matched Set?

 

Knowing that my plan for Historicon 2025 included several games with To the Strongest, I was very pleased to discover a Kickstarter for "Egypt Mythology" playing cards. While they failed to reach their funding goal the first time out, they succeeded on the 2nd try. The artwork is beautiful; the picture is clickable. I'm debating throwing one of the Court cards into one of the Egyptian decks at each shuffle, and having the card act as a chance card that might effect one or more commands on either side.  Something to think about!

They also did a "Black" deck, which is seen here. 

Finally, the 3rd Lord of the Rings deck from Jackson Robinson, "The Return of the King".   Along with the two matched decks, I am now the proud possessor of a T shirt bearing the White Tree of Gondor, LOL! Perhaps zi will do a version of the Battle of Pelennor Fields at some point!

Card Plays and Dog Days

 

I've always loved playing card decks, and the need for a number of them for my To the Strongest and For King and Parliament games has served to fuel the fire in recent years. \

Back design, and back of the tuck box. The front of the box has a clever sword like flap!

This interesting set from Jackson Robinson (Kings Wild Project) became available recently, and I had to have it to go with my Medieval armies!

Oakeshott is a classification system of sword types, swords are certainly the theme of this deck!

Some armor types are seen, too!

A couiple of years before the Pandemic, we bred my daughter's dog, Annie; she had six puppies; we kept the two girls, Brooke and Maddie, and sold the 4 boys. One of them, Lenny (right of picture), went to Mark and his wife. That's the back side of Mark here. 

Mark is a Pediatric intensivist at Yale New Haven Hospital, and very close to my own age, so we had a lot in common. We had them (and Lenny) over to our house the summer before the pandemic, and they had invited us to visit them in return.

The pandemic made that impossible for a few years, and last year we were3 supposed to visit them in September, but my daughter got COVID (amazingly, neither the Empress nor myself did), so that was the end of that. A few weeks ago we finally made the return visit.

"Look what I found!"

A second pair of decks, these themed on The Three Musketeers, by Aleandree Dumas. 

Card backs and back of the tuck box. 

The entire deck.

The court cards feature the dranatis personae of the novel. A bit pre 1666, but not much!

Mark and his wife have a home in Brandford, CT, less than 50 yards from a rocky beach on Long Island Sound. Annie (purple collar) and her son and 2 daughters. 

Family Photo!

That face and enthusiasm can only be Brooke, aka crazy girl, aka "The Bulldozer". 

Lenny plays tug of war on the pebble beach.

Brooke brings back TWO balls!

Brooke isn't afraid to swim pretty far out into the Sound to get her ball. For those not "from around here, the Sound is a considerable body of water, 21 miles wide at its widest. 

I needed one more deck for Free shipping, so I picked up the Robin Hood themed one. 

The deck.

the Jokers form the famous quarterstaff duel between Robin and Little John. 

Charters from the Tales of Robin Hood.

Motif on the deck back. 

Lenny.

The water was quite warm that day, about 75 degrees F, so some of the humans went for a swim as well. I grew up on the Sound, and hardly ever recall the water temperature exceeding 70 degrees. All ion all a delightful visit, with gracious hosts who plied us with outstanding food and drink. Also a bucket list item for us; the dogs have swum in lakes and rivers, but never salt water. 

Yuletide treasures 2022

As usual, our good friends who share my love of history came through with some interesting book gifts. First is this one about the logistical and naval commerce side of the Napoleonic Wars.

By the same author, and expanding the theme.

I have only a very broad concept of the 7YW, so this should prove interesting.... as lomng as it doesn't lead to a new Period the scope of the Napoleonic Wars!

Joe has the Poles and the Ottomans for this conflict!

Some new card decks to use with "To the Strongest!:", and otherwise.

Likewise, product of one of the 2022 Kickstarters. 

I couldn't resist the (nearly unending) sales by Helion. This is another army I know little about. The only problem is that I see that Brigade games has a line of Napoleonic Ottomans. Dangerous!

Well, of course I had to have the third and final volume in this fantastic series by David Wilson! 

I've wanted to own this volume for quite some time, but it was pricey; much better in paperback! 

I needed a 4th book to get the best deal, and this one looked interesting; it includes a bunch of scenarios from the largest battle of the Napoleonic Wars. 

Some new lead, courtesy of the Brigade Games Cyberturkey sale. Here are enough figures for 2 Portuguese Line battalions,

and three battalions of Cacadores

2 mounted command figures and a sapper.

Crews for two Portuguese Artillery batteries. I'll eventually need to add guns for them, plus another unit of Portuguese Dragoons, quite possibly using Brigade games British Light Dragoons in Tarleton. I have lead for 4 more Line infantry units (Old Glory 2nd edition British), plus my existing (Minifigs) Portuguese, totaling 4 Line infantry, one Cacadore, 1 foot battery, and one unit of Dragoons. When will they see time on the painting table? Late 2023 at the earliest. most likely. 

Fruits of another Kickstarter, this time by King's Wild.

Jokers and the court cards for Spades. I gave my older daughter, who likes games and The Lord of the Rings, a deck for herself, and it was her favorite gift! 

Best wishes for a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year to one and all!