The wonderful thing about our North Star 1672 range is that the figures will do for many different nations armies in the period 1665-1680. This is
because it is a time just before uniforms, and the figures are all dressed in the fashions common amongst soldiers throughout Western Europe.
because it is a time just before uniforms, and the figures are all dressed in the fashions common amongst soldiers throughout Western Europe.
This of course includes Britain.
The years covered by our range is called the Restoration Period in
Britain as it was the time the monarchy, represented by Charles II,
was restored after the English Civil War.
It was also the genesis of the British Army. Britain, tired of soldiers
and war, had disbanded much of it’s forces after the Civil War and
Oliver Cromwell’s reign. With the return of Charles II to England in
1660, the units still under arms swore allegiance to the King and
became the senior units of the British Army.
Some of the infantry regiments:
Coldstream Guards
Grenadier Guards
Scots Guards
1st Regiment (Royal Scots)
2nd Regiment (The Queen’s)
3rd Regiment (The Buffs)
st
The years covered by our range is called the Restoration Period in
Britain as it was the time the monarchy, represented by Charles II,
was restored after the English Civil War.
It was also the genesis of the British Army. Britain, tired of soldiers
and war, had disbanded much of it’s forces after the Civil War and
Oliver Cromwell’s reign. With the return of Charles II to England in
1660, the units still under arms swore allegiance to the King and
became the senior units of the British Army.
Some of the infantry regiments:
Coldstream Guards
Grenadier Guards
Scots Guards
1st Regiment (Royal Scots)
2nd Regiment (The Queen’s)
3rd Regiment (The Buffs)
st
Colour.
Witchcraft and Terror
In the “Death in the Dark Continent” army lists I
decided to reflect the psychological warfare aspect of
cannibalism by allowing the jungle tribes to use the
Witchcraft stratagem, rather than the Terror one. The
rationale behind this is that, although both stratagems
target the enemy’s morale, Witchcraft represents
something its practitioners do, rather than something
they are. A Zulu army, for example, can use Terror,
which forces all their susceptible opponents to take a
morale test at the start of the game, because it is the
reputation of the Zulus and the sight of their massed
impis that does the damage. In the case of the
cannibals they are actively insulting and threatening
the enemy, jumping up from cover to display their
filed teeth, or perhaps exhibiting a collection of skulls
while enthusing about the forthcoming feast. So
instead of terrorising everyone at the outset, they field
a witchdoctor figure who can frighten an enemy unit
each turn, as long as he is close enough. The Cannibal
Chief pack is obviously ideal for this, including not
just the actual witchdoctor but an intimidating pile of
skulls - perhaps all that remains of the last expedition
to enter their territory!
decided to reflect the psychological warfare aspect of
cannibalism by allowing the jungle tribes to use the
Witchcraft stratagem, rather than the Terror one. The
rationale behind this is that, although both stratagems
target the enemy’s morale, Witchcraft represents
something its practitioners do, rather than something
they are. A Zulu army, for example, can use Terror,
which forces all their susceptible opponents to take a
morale test at the start of the game, because it is the
reputation of the Zulus and the sight of their massed
impis that does the damage. In the case of the
cannibals they are actively insulting and threatening
the enemy, jumping up from cover to display their
filed teeth, or perhaps exhibiting a collection of skulls
while enthusing about the forthcoming feast. So
instead of terrorising everyone at the outset, they field
a witchdoctor figure who can frighten an enemy unit
each turn, as long as he is close enough. The Cannibal
Chief pack is obviously ideal for this, including not
just the actual witchdoctor but an intimidating pile of
skulls - perhaps all that remains of the last expedition
to enter their territory!
Painting a Cannibal Tribe
The basic spearmen and archers in this range are
intentionally fairly generic, and will be ideal for most of
the “cannibal” and “villager” types of the forest region
of Central Africa. The “Extreme Cannibals”, who are
advertised as being more suitable for twentieth-century
“pulp” adventure games than historical Darkest Africa,
are actually fine for people like the Bushongo, who
wore long kilts rather than loincloths. (The Bushongo,
incidentally, are not covered by the Jungle Cannibal list
for “Death in the Dark Continent”, but have a list of
their own. They are mostly Warriors supported by
Skirmishers and Pygmies, and would be well worth
trying out.) The Jungle Cannibal packs come with
mixed shields, African tribes usually carried shields of a
uniform design, which were important for
distinguishing them from their enemies. North Star will
be able to help you out if you want a whole army with
standardised shields, just ask when you place your
order.
The following are a few guidelines for painting and
equipping figures to represent specific cannibal tribes.
intentionally fairly generic, and will be ideal for most of
the “cannibal” and “villager” types of the forest region
of Central Africa. The “Extreme Cannibals”, who are
advertised as being more suitable for twentieth-century
“pulp” adventure games than historical Darkest Africa,
are actually fine for people like the Bushongo, who
wore long kilts rather than loincloths. (The Bushongo,
incidentally, are not covered by the Jungle Cannibal list
for “Death in the Dark Continent”, but have a list of
their own. They are mostly Warriors supported by
Skirmishers and Pygmies, and would be well worth
trying out.) The Jungle Cannibal packs come with
mixed shields, African tribes usually carried shields of a
uniform design, which were important for
distinguishing them from their enemies. North Star will
be able to help you out if you want a whole army with
standardised shields, just ask when you place your
order.
The following are a few guidelines for painting and
equipping figures to represent specific cannibal tribes.
