My Donnybrook ECW project is slowly progressing - more work on my New Model Army musketeers over the last few days - but this post is connected to the 'fluff' that I'm adding to the table.
'Fluff' is the (if we're being honest) unnecessary stuff that is placed on the battlefield, to add to the atmosphere of the game and to set the scene. In bigger games, it's arguably the case that things such as wagons, camps, wells, livestock, civilians and other such bits and bobs are really not needed; just the figures who fight are all that are needed for the purist! But in my opinion, these kind of things really complete a wargaming table - indeed, exponents of the convention circuit display games often spend a significant amount of time on the 'incidentals', and they certainly contribute to the spectacle of the game overall.
In a skirmish game like Donnybrook, certain items, such as barricades, piles of barrels and lumber, wells, fountains, wagons, even cattle and other livestock, that might be ignored on a grander scale, even take on a whole new importance. A stack of powder kegs might not be cover for a battalion of Napoleonic French Infantry in a large game - at a smaller 'scale' skirmish however, they can shelter a few figures. They even might come into play with event cards being drawn - ignited by accident and blowing unfortunate figures that are close by sky-high! So, along side my factions, I'm also making some 'fluff'; time-consuming it may be, but it all adds to the game, and the spectacle.
As a start, I bought this wagon from Warbases, at the Derby Show in 2014. Listed on their website as a 'haycart'
http://war-bases.co.uk/ACCESSORIES/Carts-Wagon?product_id=409, it only cost £3.50, and is made out of laser cut mdf. I topped it up with a resin hay bale, which was £2.50. The product is really well produced, good value, and the resin hay takes paint well, and is cast nice and crisply. There aren't any assembly instructions with the cart, but a quick reference to the website gives some clear images on how it's put together ( I used superglue), and it fits in perfectly with setting a rural scene. This will get plenty of use from the 17th to the 20th century. A quick paint job, with basecoats, washes and dry-brushed hi-lights worked well, and then it was based up.
I also bought some Highland cattle from the same company, when I went to the Warlord Games 'Games day', also last year. These beasties would set the scene instantly in Scotland, and the pack of two adult cows and a calf are perfect
http://war-bases.co.uk/figurines/highland I really enjoyed painting these animals, in a mix of colours - Foundry Spearshaft 'a' shade to start off with, then gradual highlights with the Foundry Butter Fudge triad. Lots of consultation of Google images' Highland Cows pics to start off with! I've even tried to make a cowpat out of greenstuff - it looks alright, but I think I would have preferred more 'splat' or 'smear!' Fluff it maybe, but I think these cows may have a role to play at some stage in the future, causing chaos for my ECW and other factions, somewhere in Scotland! Cue the 'wandering cattle' event card! Until next time, happy painting!
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Mooooooooooo! |
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Wha' you lookin' a'?!!!! |
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Greenstuff cowpat - needs more 'splatter' I think...... |
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View of the rear of the cart - I've tried to splay the wheels out slightly, in a more accurate manner |
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The cart without the hay bale, bravely defended by men of the Covenant!
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