Some New Recruits

My last post generated a good amount of discussion, thought and inspiration - the results of which I hope to put into play this week sometime.

I still need to write up my thoughts about JF's 9Qs for solo rpgs as well, but in the meantime, I got in some painting last night. I moved the next unit of Great Northern War Russian infantry one step closer to completion and when they are complete, I'll be over half-way done with the infantry, not counting officers.

And more troops arrived today:

1/72 Plastic goodies!

The dragoons bring my me up to two boxes for the Russians (at one mounted and one dismounted unit per box, I'm not likely to build up a large number of them). The US Marines were purchased primarily for the MGs and the mortars to supplement my existing force and replace some of the paper flats (I love my paper flats, but the Marines have given a good account of themselves and I thought they could use a reward). The remainder will be painted, eventually.

This recent burst of crass consumerism is the result of my efforts to turn some of my Christmas gift money into gaming fun.

With a little effort, I was able to stretch those dollars pretty far - I've got two boxes of Swedish dragoons on the way, that I picked up for a great deal ($9.98 a box and free shipping!), as well as a copy of Dungeon Crawl Classics (eBay for just $30 delivered) and SkirmishCampaigns' Red Guards at Kursk (found used via AbeBooks, at 40% off of retail).

In addition, I put in some on the Tunnels & Trolls kickstarter. I swore off Kickstarter just a few weeks ago - two of the three projects I supported seem to have disappeared -  but it's hard not to believe that Flying Buffalo and Ken St. Andre and crew will deliver.

I still have a little  gift money left, and with my birthday not too far away, I'm contemplating what to put it towards. I'm considering one or more of the following:

• Charles Grant's The War Game - in fair to good condition it turns up for around $40 pretty frequently
• Two Hour Wargames Nuts!2.0 Supplements - Peiper at the Gate, The Big Hurt or Stalingrad: Heroes All
• The Purple Worm Graveyard, possibly with the How to Host a Dungeon game as well
• Pat Condray's Wargaming the Age of Marlborough.
• GA PA:Age of Marlborough and Great Northern Wars
• 1/32 heavy weapons infantry for Germany and either US or Russia
• 1/32 WWII armor - CTS vehicles, though a limited range, are reasonably priced, or I could buy a 1/35 model kit, or perhaps 1 piece of 21st Century / FoV armor if I do some shopping around.
• 1/285 GHQ WWII Germans and Russians infantry and support - I can't explain this, it's just one of those wild ideas that gripped my brain after I saw some painted German infantry in this scale.
• 1/1200 ACW Ironclads (completely out of left field I know)

There's clearly no rush and I have ample projects to occupy my brain for some time, but I thought I'd throw the ideas up there in case anyone has strong recommendations or warnings about anything I'm considering.