Maori Wars - Empress Miniatures Review

These are the first completions for my Maori Wars Project. I've completed the forces for the First Maori War of the 1840s, which sees British infantry in red coats. I have about 50 Maoris, with similar numbers of British, comprising infantry, sailors and militia.

Empress Miniatures run a fantastic line, predominantly covering the earlier conflict. I really can't fault these figures. As with all Empress Miniatures, the attention to historic detail is impressive. They are extremely well detailed, full of character, perfectly proportioned, and come without anything in the way of flashing or excess prep work. They are also a joy to paint. 

I have started putting together some British for the second Maori Wars of the 1860s, in which the British all wore blue coats. Perry Miniatures run line of 1860s 'British Intervention force' (for a hypothetical involvement the ACW), which work perfectly, and are fully compatible with Empress.

I've also constructed a Maori defensive 'Pa' and have some bell tents for the British camp.

Unfortunately this lot hasn't seen action yet. Hopefully, as restrictions are gradually ended, they will see action as the club reconvenes in our usual venue.

Perry Miniatures artillery for the later wars

Stargrave - Second Game in the Ravaged Galaxy

In this episode, the 'Palanite Enforcers' (forces of 'lawlessness and disorder', more like) took on the gun-slinging, high-rolling 'Orlock Gang' in a hell for leather, smash and grab of some loot, which had been deposited around this God forsaken industrial complex, located on some frontier planet in a distant galaxy, far, far away.....

Stargrave - First Game in the 'Ravaged Galaxy'

This was our first attempt at playing 'Stargrave' - sci fi skirmish rules. It was set on some bleak, dark, post industrial futuristic world in which both gangs of intergalactic renegades had to collect loot, kill the opposition and avoid being killed.

The rules worked very well. The game mechanics are straightforward and we churned through the turns more quickly as we progressed, as we got used to the sequence. They are fun rules that enable you to develop an ongoing narrative which, in our game, included extreme cowardice, falling off buildings and extensive use of a flame-thrower!

The figures are from the excellent Games Workshop 'Necromunda' range, which can be used effectively for Stargrave. The terrain is also heavily influenced by the Necromunda setting, although it comprises of inexpensive MDP sci fi terrain and homemade pieces.

Stargrave - Necromunda Project

Ok, first off, I’m an old ‘historical miniatures hand’. I’ve never done ‘fantasy’ wargaming, as it were.

My son has been interested in sci-fi and we have been working together on a joint Stargrave/Necromunda project.

To this end, we have been creating some futuristic/sci-fi terrain and building some ‘gangs’ (based on Games Workshop (GW) miniatures).

I have to say that I am completely blown away by the quality of GM miniatures. They are SO good, I am almost lost for words (and I have been wargaming for 35 years now!). The attention to detail, the consistent aesthetics, the quality of the sprues, the imagination – just brilliant! I can’t believe that I have ignored their products for all of these years, and the Games Workshop HQ and factory is only a couple of miles from where I live here in Nottingham (GW is over the Trent river there in Lenton).

The only criticisms would be around pricing – they aren’t cheap - and customisation. You can’t really create your own figures. You have to follow the GW templates in building the miniatures with little scope to be creative, other than painting them.

Anyway, here are a few photos of our first attempts at this new project. I will update with completed miniatures and terrain over the next couple of weeks etc.

As for Stargrave – great. Elegant, yet sophisticated rules that allow your imagination to run wild.

My thought is - Some of us on the historical side of wargaming have a lot to learn from the fantasy/sci-fi gamers….and probably vice versa……

And here is the "Orlock Gang" finished. They have a bit of a biker gang/Wild West look to them.

ACW – Early Months of the War Scenario

This scenario is the first meeting of the forces that I have been working on to eventually refight the Battle of First Manassas at the Bull Run. The armies that met in the first few engagements – at Big Bethel and Bull Run – had some interesting uniforms and features for the wargamer. Colourful zouave and chasseur uniforms, some Northerners in grey and some Southerners in blue, Stars and bars flags only for the Confederates etc.

In this refight, the Union were successful on their left flank and the Confederacy on their left, leading to a ‘revolving door’ front line. The Confederates also had the better of the fighting in the centre and killed more enemy troops, so on balance the C.S.A had the better of the evening’s fighting.

Louisiana Tiger Zouaves

Player View

Battle of Bull Run Wargame

14th Brooklyn Chasseurs ('Red Legged Devils')

JEB Stuart and the Black Horse Cavalry

33rd Virginia (on right) in blue coats

NY Fire Zouaves

79th NY Highlanders hit in the flank