As I write this another year is all but ended and time for a short reflection on the wargaming year seems almost mandatory. I will start with a look at progress, or in some cases the lack of progress, on a selection painting projects.

Like many readers I started the year with a few projects in mind. There are always several contenders but after narrowing things down this year I decided to progress my stalled 6mm Franco-Prussian War project. First was the bulk of the Prussian infantry and soon after a selection of Prussian cavalry. A few French cavalry were also completed to provide some much needed variety. While the numbers were not significant it has meant that the Franco-Prussian War lead pile had to be restocked, a pleasing outcome.

Continuing the 6mm horse and musket theme a few additional 6mm American Civil War figures have joined the ranks of the Union and Rebel armies, some of which have graced these pages. Unlike the Franco-Prussian War armies this should bring my Civil War armies up to full strength. Alas, a couple of other 6mm projects failed to be progressed and really need to be considered during 2025.

I began the year with a target of completing a couple of 15mm DBA armies. In the end only one was completed and that in the form of some Ancient Iberians. However, all the figures painted were sourced from my lead pile, with some dating back a number of years. So while progress was less than planned a degree of satisfaction was achieved as the lead pile was reduced. Almost as soon as they were completed they were thrown into a series of games which have been extremely enjoyable.

Regular readers will have seen the occasional post on my WWII Naval squadrons. Strangely, I’m not completely sure of how many little ships have made it off the production line as only a few make it to these pages. However, with a heavy workload the ability to complete even a few models provides a degree of satisfaction. Interestingly, as with the 6mm and 15mm miniatures, additional ships have been ordered which ensures the shipyards are extremely well stocked for 2025.

On the gaming front I decided that for 2024 I needed to ensure a little more focus was required to get miniatures on the table in a more organised manner. Some may even recall an article back in December 2023 where I lamented that too many armies were sitting in storage and not gracing the table. To address this I began a roster to record which armies get to the table and when. Perhaps a little overly organised but leaving it to chance was clearly not working. In the end some 44 gaming sessions were held. The largest number of these were, unsurprisingly, dedicated to Volley & Bayonet. These have been a mix of Seven Years War, Napoleonic, American Civil War and Franco-Prussian War encounters. The year also found a significant increase in the number of ancient and medieval armies gracing the table with games being a mix of DBA and larger Big Battle DBA games. Finally, 2024 has seen a selection of WWII naval encounters, along with a handful of Renaissance and Cold War games. Overall a very pleasing result with several armies previously “in storage” visiting the table.

So while the above is pleasing there are clearly a couple of areas that have suffered due to work commitments. The most obvious area is that of painting. While some progress has been made, and outlined previously, it has not been at the anticipated rate. The second area is game reports. I tend to think of these as being something of a diary of my games. However, with only so many hours in the day I have tried to be a little more selective when writing game reports.

With this summary completed, and the year all but gone, I now find myself considering plans for 2025. I’m not sure where the winds of indecision will take me, but hopefully I will progress a few projects and roll some dice with a group of like minded gamers. Perhaps you will even check-in throughout the year to read of progress.

As another year comes to an end it is almost a given that some reflection occurs. But fortunately for the readers of this site I will limit my ramblings to a brief overview – if only to focus my own thinking for the next year.

So where do I start? Well painting and terrain projects for 2023 were to be limited to a small selection of larger projects. It seemed a sensible approach. But no plan survives contact with the enemy and no sooner had the year began than I became distracted. Of these distractions perhaps the largest has been my WWII 1/3000th naval project.

When I first decided to purchase a few 1/3000th models a couple of years ago I planned to build the Italian and Royal Navy squadrons required to refight the Battle Matapan, with perhaps a couple of minor additions. It would be a limited and finite project. However, good progress on the Italian and Royal Navy ships resulted in a series of orders from Navwar this year. The Mediterranean fleets were expanded and soon two orders for the the Pacific were placed.

Why the change of heart? Well the Navwar models were simply very rewarding to paint and the resulting games enjoyable. While not all the models ordered have been painted the the Mediterranean fleets have been well reinforced and major elements for Java Sea Campaign have been assembled.

So, on reflection pleasing progress on the WWII naval front, but not all my energies were focussed on nautical themes.

The Cold War, specifically the early 1980s, has been a long-term interest and this year I decided to finally begin a small American force in 1/300th. It will come as no surprise to regular readers that they will be used with the Modern Spearhead rules so the starting point for me was a reinforced brigade. Now these miniatures have been sitting in my lead pile for a while and comprised a mix of very old models, some dating back to the 1980s but stripped for reuse, and new reinforcements ordered from Heroics & Ros a year or two back. The models predominately needed to completed in MERDC camouflage which has been challenging. However, after a little perseverance the first elements of a reinforced brigade have rolled off the production lines and have been shipped to West Germany. During 2024 I will try and complete the brigade and flesh out additional support elements.

One focus that has required more attention than originally planned was my American Civil War 160th Anniversary Project. This year I planned to refight just three battles, a reduction from the previous year. It seemed a very attainable goal. The anniversary battles for 2023 were the battles of Champion Hill, Gettysburg and Chickamauga. Now Champion Hill was straight forward and the terrain was already at hand. However, Gettysburg and Chickamauga both required extensive terrain building. In particular a series of ridges needed to be created for Gettysburg and more trees ordered and painted for Chickamauga. It seems you can never have enough trees!

All these tasks took far longer than I anticipated. To cap things off while I had most of the miniatures painted a few additions were also required. Yet all these items were eventually completed and the multiplayer games organised to fall on, or near, the 160th anniversary of the specific battle. In all I have now fought nine battles in this anniversary series.

I am sure this anniversary series will be one I will look back on with considerable satisfaction in coming years. However, if there is one thing I have learnt this year it is don’t under estimate the time required to sort out the terrain!

As to games played my aim had been to play one wargame per week for the year. In the end I failed to achieve this target with around two games every three weeks. Of these games Volley & Bayonet was the most frequent with a good mix of larger multiplayer games and smaller actions across the Seven Years War, Napoleonic, American Civil War and Franco-Prussian War.

To provide some variety occasional naval encounters, as eluded to previously, have taken place. Even a few Ancient or Medieval games have been played, though these have been typically against my son when he visits, or I venture north to Auckland, rather than locals.

Well, that I think provides something of a summary of my wargaming year. For those hardy soles that read this blog I do wish you all the best for 2024. I trust your own projects, be they painting miniatures, researching battles or playing games, exceed your expectations. Perhaps you may even feel inspired to outline your own projects that have been completed or planned in the comments below.

I am fortunate to have had a dedicated wargames room for the last 20 years. It has provided me with hours of entertainment as various friends and I have moved all those miniatures across the tabletop. Memories have been made, history discussed and great battles won and lost in equal measure. However, over the last year or so we have been planning a move and finally it came time to pack up the old wargames room.

But moving house can take a while. As a result I have been without a dedicated gaming area for almost four months as we first prepared to and then moved house. Then having arrived there was the unpacking and prioritisation. Everything had an order. Without a dedicated space my gaming has been limited to DBA sized games on a small table. These games have been most enjoyable but I admit I have been yearning for the larger multiplayer games which have been a feature of my Friday evening gaming for many years.

The good news is that over the last few weeks the gaming room has finally come together. Bookcases have relocated from our old house and have been repainted. New chairs and rugs have been purchased. Late last week various military prints were positioned or hung on walls. These were supplemented by a few recently purchased items to create the desired feel in the war room. Then new mugs, glasses and even a kettle found its way to the kitchenette. It was clear the new games room was coming together!

Change can bring opportunity and for me this meant a larger gaming room. My intention was to have more space for multiplayer games and to allow more than one table to be setup. This would allow those occasional larger games or multiple events to be played. Something I had found a little restrictive in the previous location. Further, I wanted a dedicated sitting area so that on occasion we could sit down and talk, discussing those finer points of the battle planned or resolved. Above, the general setup with one table ready for use.

Now to the gaming. I’m pleased to report that over the last week two gaming evenings have been in held. The first a small Franco-Prussian War game using Volley & Bayonet. It was great to get the figures and familiarise ourselves with the FPW.

Then last night “The Grand Opening” of the Wargames Room took place. For this a series of multiplayer Wings of War games were held with seven players in attendance.

Above and below, Wings of War encounters can be seen underway on the second table with many Magnificent Machines aiming to secure the skies over the Western Front in the Great War. We have been joined for the evening by the resident dog, just visible above, who has taken a liking to the cowhide rug from which to observe the antics in the air.

With a fine single malt whiskey opened for the occasion, as well as a range of beers, and nourished by a selection of foods it proved an excellent evening of gaming.

It seems “The Wargames Room” is once again open for business. Stay tuned for more action “Across the Table” in the latest wargames room in Lincoln.