French & Indian War

[Galloping Major]

The first packs of Mohawk are available on the Galloping Major website, and previews of Canadian militia and Hurons on the Studio page:

www.gallopingmajorwargames.com

[Timmo]

Welcome to WD3…

Very nice figures.

[sukhe_bator]

Am I right in thinking that the Daniel Day Lewis LoTM film producers went to great lengths to get the Native Americans authentically kitted out? I know they used archive plans to recreate Fort William Henry and the Hurons et al looked pretty good in the film... I wondered if that info was generally available?
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Summer grasses, of warriors dreams, all that remains

[Galloping Major]

Thanks Timmo.

Nice one sukhe_bator.

The Last of the Mohicans has a superb period feel about it. If you don’t already have it, buy the “Director’s Expanded Edition� (only available in Region 1 format as far as I'm aware, but worth getting a multi-region DVD player for. There’s only about 5 or 10 minutes of extra stuff in there, but it’s all excellent, most of all a night action during the siege featuring a foray by the Highlanders. The Native Americans look very convincing, only surpassed on film (IMHO) by the re-enactors in the PBO series “The War That Made America�, and the lone Mohawk warrior transplanted to France as a former captive in “Brotherhood of the Wolf� – and this chiefly for the war paint he dons towards the end of the film……..

There’s a ton of information available on Native American dress of the pre-revolutionary period for those dogged enough to find it, though many tend to blend this together into a generic “Woodland Indian� look. Of course, by the time of the FIW, tribal differences had begun to be blurred a little by the increasing introduction of European clothing items and cloths. Nontheless, the differences are still pretty marked in the mid C18, for example: Iroquois leggings still being different in cut and shape whether made of buckskin or broadcloth.

We’re producing painting guides to accompany each tribe as they are released to help those who wish to, to more closely replicate the appearance of the different nations involved in the conflict. Of course, there’s nothing to stop anyone who prefers to do so merging and blending the sundry nations we’ll be representing into one force, and for some actions, especially the “Pontiac Conspiracy� after the official ceasing of hostilities in North America, this is far from inappropriate.

The most comprehensive single source of information I’m aware of is “Encyclopedia of American Indian Costume� by Josephine Paterek published by WW Norton & Company, ISBN 0-393-31382-4

I hope that goes some way to answering your query.

[John Ray]

GM, Thank you for the information on the ' Directors Edition', I purchased a Region 1 DVD to watch the American series of the 'Swamp Fox'.

Good luck with the new range.

John Ray.

[sukhe_bator]

Its very refreshing to find both figures and source material on natives are taken as seriously as the European combatants. So often I've seen 'shoot-'em-up' scenarios in the past where little time has been spent researching or even getting the right look to the natives while all the attention to detail is lavished on the European units down to the buttons. I think if you are going to wargame a period then both sides deserve equal attention.

In my own area of interest - South Asia, very much the same thing happens. There is so much regional variation in dress but so few figures available to use that most battles inevitably use the same old figures in different guises. I think it devalues the 'opponent' not to invest time and effort in getting them right. Older hands might even suggest that they won't play as well!

Research can give new insights into ways of playing potentially more interesting scenarios, particularly if there is a difference in fighting styles between cultures. Objectives etc. can be quite different.

For example, if a raiding party attack a small column, the Europeans will huddle together, while the raiders will not act as a cohesive unit but will skirmish and attempt to single out opponents, cut them out and gain credit/points for each European killed with the least casualties. In effect two wargaming mechanisms operating on the same table.

It might even be worth experimenting with those rule sets/systems which are transitionary between skirmish and army level...regardless of period, and see if their mechanisms have the right feel, for example The Lord of the Rings rules, or Contemptable Little Armies???
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Summer grasses, of warriors dreams, all that remains

[Big Dave]

[Galloping Major]

sukhe_bator - that's very much how I see it, de-valuing opponents other than Europeans untimately devalues the whole thing. Why bother if you're not going to do justice to all involved.

Big Dave - that's right, born in Cottingham, raised in Hull and the East Riding. Not really part of the local wargaming fraternity, i.e., not a member of a club. I noticed your Hull banners!

[Cornet]

London 0 Hull 4
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Then let us fill a bumper, and drink a health to those/ Who carry caps and pouches, and wear the loup'ed clothes.

[Galloping Major]

[Galloping Major]

This is worth a watch, re the above talk of inspiring FIW film:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDRFHScDgGU...player_embedded

The Plains of Abraham - just checked and found this went a bit astray on mine, if yours did too, you'll find it 2/3 of the way to the bottom of this page of this great blog:

http://warsoflouisxiv.blogspot.com/search/label/reenactment

[Timmo]

[Big Dave]

[Galloping Major]

"You should come along to the club,"

I'll do that some time - send me the details when you can

[Glynis_&_Gary]

Interesting looking figures, when are the next batch due ?
Will you be doing any civilian types ?

We haven't actually seen Last of the Mohicans yet (in any version) but watched Drums Along the Mohawk recently. Old and slightly corny, but has a potential skirmish scenario.

Couldn't see anything for postage rates on the site - is it just my eyesight ?

[Galloping Major]

Canadian militia should be out in the next few weeks.

Civilian's will appear, but we didn't want to start out with them.

Drums along the Mohawk is a bit of a corny tub thumper, but a real classic all the same, attacks on settlements are great for scenarios both sides.
The story of the Last of the Mohicans was of course written from the perspective of a C19th American, so there are some historically questionable political statements etc, reflecting an early C19th (post revolutionary) rather than a mid C18th viewpoint, but other than that, it's a great film and full of period atmosphere. The attack on the column is somewhat exaggerated in its extent and effect (dramatic licence in both book and film), it was actually the wounded and the Provincials at the rear of the column who were turned on by the Indians before the noble Montcalm was able to restore order.
Buy the Director's cut now, you'll love it. Go to the Amazon.com site.

Postage is 75p per pack UK, a handling charge is added for overseas, this is added at checkout, but good point, perhaps it would remove any uncertainty if we were to show postage rates somewhere.

The clip I mentioned earlier comes from this DVD, which I'm about to order:
http://www.cbcshop.ca/CBC/shopping/product.aspx?Product_ID=ETCPH00011&Variant_ID=CPH2133&lang=en-CA

[goat major]

my interest in FIW/AWI was first sparked as a kid by a BBC serialisation of Last of the Mohicans - must have been early - mid 70s in that Sunday teatime drama slot.

My memory of it was that it was all very dark and moody and at times scarey. However i'm sure it was nothing of the sort and heavily featured cardboard sets and english actors in dodgy make up playing the indians.

[brian horrocks]

Phillip Madoc as Magua?
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next trains gone!

[Galloping Major]

That's right I saw it as a teenager, keep thinking I ought to get that too now its on DVD on Amazon etc:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0066678/

[brian horrocks]

I remember it as very dark i watched it on sunday tea times if im remembering correct,i do know i read the book due to watching this
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next trains gone!

[John Ray]

Don't waste your money, I purchased the DVD some time ago, it is rubbish!!!!
John

[Duck Crusader]

My favorite remains the classic 'Drums along the Mohawk'. Thank the gods the schmucks running Horriblewood haven't remade it!
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When you're discussing MRE's in terms of acres you know something has gotten truly screwed up.

[Galloping Major]

Yup a real classic, but then John Ford always will feature among my favourite directors (usually in the top 1). John Carradine, as ever, is superb. AWI rather than FIW, but there's still that frontier feel about it. I remember noticing the review on amazon rates it as still being the best film ever about the American revolution.

I'll also always enjoy North West Passage with Spencer Tracy, even though they didn't seem to have much idea about the appearance of FIW rangers in 1940.


www.gallopingmajorwargames.com

[Duck Crusader]

OK, if you want specific I can do Roger's Rangers as well. In all honesty I had gotten confused about the period of the former, sucks to get old...
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When you're discussing MRE's in terms of acres you know something has gotten truly screwed up.

[Barry s]

I've collected a few F&IW based DVD's and videos over the years.

A couple of other movies which are in based around the F&IW period are 'Unconquered' with Gary Cooper and Paulette Goddard (Pontiac's Rebellion) and 'Allegheny Uprising' starring John Wayne.

I also have a couple of documentaries on the F&IW or different parts of it. One which focuses on the war as a whole is 'The War that made America' narrated by Graham Greene from 'Dances With Wolves'.
http://www.amazon.com/War-That-Made-America-French/dp/B000E1MXZ0/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1241260367&sr=8-2

The other documentary is titled 'George Washington's First War'. It's focus is on the early career of George Washington, especially the battles for Fort Duquesne and is the sequal to another documentary by the same production company titled 'When the Forest Ran Red' which focuses on Braddocks defeat. I really enjoyed it and recently ordered 'When the Forest Ran Red' which is yet to arrive.

George Washington's First War
http://www.amazon.com/George-Washingtons-First-War-Duquesne/dp/0971168520/ref=pd_sim_d_1

When the Forest Ran Red:
http://www.amazon.com/When-Forest-Ran-Red-Ultimate/dp/B00022Z06K/ref=tag_stp_st_edpp_url

All these I bought from the US.

Sorry to waffle on...

PS: Very nice figures by the way Galloping Major and I likewise enjoy North West Passage. I notice that the TV series is now availabe on DVD.