Flaggy thingy bob...

Well I have finally got my favicon,flaggy thing to work! I thought due to the horticultural nature of the Duchy's name I would use the flag of the Topiary Guild . It seemed appropriate. The flag is carried by the Guild Master's son who is in his 5th year as an apprentice of the Topiary Guild. His final piece involves work upon a yew representation of a vile Stagonian which graces the Duke's Winter Palace garden.

Two questions and returning to my roots

Of late I have sensed a going back to my roots- hence the old D&D piccie. I really enjoyed D&D ( not to mention Bunnies and Burrows at school- I kid you not...) in the late 70's and early to mid 80's. I got out of role playing for years and now find the same excitement I felt then in the Ganesha games -Songs of Blades and Heroes,it's supplements and songs of drums and shakos. The same engine works for fantasy,awi, Monster blood Tatoo,Ny Tradgardland and other of my projects.

I enjoy the planning of warbands as much as I enjoyed my characters from my RPG days. I played a lot of druids in those days - so much so that it became my nick-name in certain circles at the time. So here I am nearly 30years later getting back into the sort of games I enjoyed then- this time mainly solo.
Finally two questions-

1) Ideas please for 18th century adventurer figures please- the quirkier the better

2) Ideas for the sort of adventurers I knew in my D&D days- druids,cleric, etc- you know the types. I am not so up to speed on fantasy figure manufacturers so I'd be grateful for some pointers...

Packs etc sought..

Can anyone suggest a source of 25mm/28mm scale packs,pouches,spare weapons and sundry items to equip an 18th century adventurer prior to going off on an adventure?
many thanks in anticipation
Alan

A reccomendation to watch...

Morning all! Weekend at last...

Hopefully you will have some free time and can I suggestion you drop by at http://www.bbc.co.uk/i/b014vy94/ for an excellent programme on the English Civil War artist

William Dobson. Go on treat yourself you deserve it.

Good reads and "... another door opens."

Rob had kindly offered to send me his Mythical Earth figures. The five figures arrived today and were in fact from Minifig's D&D range...

I was a tad disappointed not to see some figures from my youth but delighted see the pig faced orcs. I have never owned pig faced orcs before ( to be honest I always was unsure of these D&D chaps- I had always been told that Gary Gygax had had a misunderstanding with his illustrator - perhaps you know better) but am excited at the prospect of using them as a warband of orcs for Songs of Blades!
Perhaps I might take on Ross's early Citadel chaps if he's interested!
Also posted is a photo of a couple of excellent reads I am savoring at present- the Pike&Shot Society's journal and a magazine of Living History from the America.

At gnome today in the KFC...

Monday Holiday in Edinburgh has meant I am not at Work today,unlike the rest of the family. It has been a busy day with some school work to plan, housework,shopping,garden tidying and of course some hobby time! I have painted and based figures for some skirmish gaming I hope to do ,set in that small corner of the Mohawk Valley that is the KFC. Karl Frederick County, home to immigrants from the Duchy of Tradgardland that find themselves caught up in the awi/American revolution.
The photos include the first figures for both sides .Firstly the British Rangers and their Iroquois allies .Secondly KFC militia and rifle armed woodsmen. I also took Blue Bear Jeff's advice and watched some of the "Last of the Mohican's on dvd over lunch- excellent film as ever! A simpler lifestyle in some ways I guess.One which sense tells me not to over romanticise.

Finally I could not resist posting a picture of my gnomes which I found when cleaning up outside today. The small one belonged to my Grandma and dates to the 1930s.It is made of some odd rubbery composition stuff and originally pushed a wee barrow . The second bigger gnome,made of terracotta ,I chose in the mid 1960s and I have had ever since.He originally carried a wooden rake. They evoke memories for me of my family garden and that of my grandma. They continue to bring me pleasure after all theses years I have to admit...

From Bergmann's "Events and counter events of the years of struggle" published 1793 in Leith ,Edinburgh...

In 1772 that half of New York which held borders with the Indian lands and Canada was separated from Albany to form two Counties. The majority was named Tyron County and the smaller part Karl Frederick County ( henceforth known as KFC) for posterity.

Both Counties entered the war divided. Some communities and families joined whole-heartily with the revolution whist others remained loyal to old ties and bonds. In the KFC those of German Palatinate and Tradgardland origins had no great attachment to England and were subject to less agonising. Many favoured rebellion and others remembered how ill they had been used by the rich families of the area...