Free Fife & Drum Rules for the AWI

A number of people on The Miniatures Page have been inquiring about my free one page rules called, Fife & Drum, and are wondering how they can get a copy.

Easy: just send me an e-mail at fife_drum_minis(at)yahoo(dot)com

 

With your request and I will zap a copy to you. I keep the file at my office so I can only email them to you on weekdays. Nevertheless , drop me an email and I will send you a copy ASAP.

The rules are not complicated: they fit one side of a regular sheet of paper and when I use them in my convention games, I find that players pick up on the mechanics within 1-2 game turns. They provide a good skeleton framework for almost any historical period, so feel free to tack on your own ideas and adaptations. For example, I am considering trying an idea out for American reaction to seeing the British advancing on them early in the war. It works like this:

Roll a D6 each time a British battalion moves to within 12" of an American militia or Continental regiment. A roll of 1-2 = Rout!; 3-4 = Fall back 6" in good order facing the enemy; and 5-6 = No Effect, stand your ground.

Once an American regiment takes and passes this test, it does not have to take a British Reaction test for the remainder of the game. Any unit that routs or retires will still have to take a reaction test the next time the British infantry get within 12" of them.

Give it a try and let me know how this works out. The idea arises from some readings that I'm doing about the New York 1776 campaign.

I Get To Play In A Game!

Tomorrow (Saturday ) I get to play in a game for the first time in I don't know how long going back to the beginning of this year. I will travel to Chez Protz to resume our Peninsula War Campaign circa 1809.

Check out the Campaigns in Iberia blog to catch up on the latest developments in the campaign.

(Link to be provided later)

British Officers at Fort Ligonier

Here are some pictures that I took of the displays in the officers' quarters at Fort Ligonier. The first picture depicts Forbes and Bouquet.

Pontoon Wagons Are Back In Stock

We received a new order of the pontoon wagons (AE -018) from Griffin Designs today so the wagon yard has a lot of inventory available for sale. We had run out of these fine models at Historicon and a number of people were interested in acquiring some of these. This is a set that includes one wagon and one pontoon for $12.00. We also have a pack of two pontoons (AE-017) for $8.00 that you can buy to make your pontoon bridge longer.

Final 24 Hours of the Fife & Drum Kickstarter!

There are about 24 hours left in the Fife & Drum Kickstarter Project, and as of this posting the pledges totaled $22,887 from 96 backers. Since my target goal was $5,000 for the initial funding, it goes beyond saying that this has been a very successful Kickstarter Project and it will provide all of the funding that we will need for the next two years. Thank you everyone!

Now there is the little matter of reaching the final stretch goal of $24,000 which will unlock the French circa Savannah in 1779. If we are able to raise $1,113 in additional pledges over the next 24 hours, then the French will become "unlocked". The term "unlocked" means that enough pledge dollars will have been raised to fund the development and production of that specific item, in this case, the French Army of 1779.

Just a few more pledges will get us there. So if you enjoy the Fife & Drum range of miniatures and you want to see the French added to the range, now is the time to pledge some money to make it happen. Click on the link below and travel to the Kickstarter Project page for Fife & Drum Miniatures.

Fife & Drum Kickstarter Page

In the right hand column of the page, you will see a number of Pledge Levels that you can choose from. Each pledge sends your investment dollars to our Kickstarter Project, and in turn, you will receive the miniatures listed for the various pledge levels. Select the level that interests you by clicking the green icon and you will be walked through the process.

Our Progress So Far...

Our initial funding goal of $5,000 was achieved on the first day of the crowdfunding project and we quickly reached the $8,000 "Stretch Goal" that made it possible to produce Tarleton's British Legion cavalry.

Next, we hit Stretch Goals of $12,000 and $16,000 which "unlocked" all of the Hessian infantry that we would like to add to the range.

Then, we hit the $20,000 pledge level, which unlocked the AWI Highlanders.

This is very impressive support from our followers, but with one day left, we have a chance to do something truly amazing: reach the $24,000 Stretch Goal that will make it possible to put the French (circa 1779 Savannah) into development and production.

All it takes is one final push of $1,113. Actually, the amount needed is only $813 because one of our existing, and very generous, backers has told me that he will provide the final $300 that the project needs to unlock the French.

I am happy with the funding that we have had pledged so far, so I don't want to come across as being greedy. Far from it. But it would be so cool to see the French, done right and in their natural looking proportions, added to the Fife & Drum Miniatures range.

Hessians Are Coming! Highlanders Too?

The Fife & Drum Kickstarter campaign is progressing very nicely, having garnered $16,855 in pledge backing as of today. As a result, two groups of Hessian infantry are now unlocked, including musketeers, grenadiers, jagers and some mounted officers. The infantry will be kitted out in one-piece overalls with gaitor buttons at their ankles, as they wore on campaign after arriving in New York in 1776. We will offer both marching and firing line poses. The jagers will come in a variety of skirmishing poses, as one might expect.

Our next stretch goal is pegged at $20,000 and this will unlock the AWI Highlanders for eventual production.

We (just me actually) will be at Historicon next week with the entire range of figures. I will also be hosting two AWI games on Thursday and Friday evening.

Tarleton's British Legion Is Coming!

Banastre Tarleton, by Joshua Reynolds

We are getting very close to our first stretch goal of $8,000 which will unlock Banastre Tarleton and his British Legion. As of this posting, we are within $615 of this stretch goal on Kickstarter. I think that the BL had one of the coolest looking uniforms in the American War of Independence and I can't wait to put these guys into the Fife & Drum Miniatures range.

If you are interested in helping us add Tarleton and his British Legion to the Fife & Drum range, then check out our Kickstarter Project page and back our project, for as little as $1.00 all the way up to $2,000. Small donations are strongly encouraged, because many small donations often add up to one big result.

Fife & Drum Kickstarter