In one of my earlier posts I gave a couple of my thoughts on the recent discussion on "wargames in a matchbox". One idea I mentioned was using Peter Laing figures for a game on dueling.
Ian Dury in the comments mentioned some dueling figures from the old line of Les Higgins. I did look and found some pictures of Les Higgins figures. They are very nice figures and after a quick search, couldn't find any so I decided not to get distracted from other projects.
Fast forward to a couple of days ago. After walking the dog, I checked the mail and there was a small package from Ian Dury.
Every year Ian sends me a Christmas card. To be honest the "Black Dog" starts nipping at my heels around the holidays. Ian's cards always brightens the day for me. Besides his usual Christmas card, he sent me 3 of the Les Higgins dueling figures. They are beautiful figures. What's more, when I first saw them I thought of the old Vincent Price movie " Mathew Hopkins, the Witchfinder General" , as one figures has a "lobster" helmet and another has a Capotain hat (looks like a top hat) and cape, like Vincent Price wore in the movie. I woke up in the middle of the night and started thinking of possible rules to use with the figures. Last night I based the figures for painting. Perhaps this project will get me gaming again.
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| The backs of the Les Higgins figures. I have been using my phone to do my posting. I still haven't figured how to put the photographs in the order I want them in. |
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| The "Vincent Price" figure. |
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| The front of the figures. |
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| The "Hero" ww2dragoon figure. |
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| The third figure. If I use "The Witchfinder General" for these figures, I see him as Hopkins evil henchman. |
The ‘Parry and Lunge’ rules by US gamer Gerard De Gre duelling rules printed in Donald Featherstone’s Wargaming In Bed chapter of Solo Wargaming are quite simple and fun, card based and work solo -
ReplyDeletehttps://poundstoreplasticwarriors.wordpress.com/2017/04/26/duelling-in-the-sandpit-lunge-cut-and-stop-thrust/
And a simple dice version https://poundstoreplasticwarriors.wordpress.com/2017/05/09/more-duelling-inspiration-mexicans/
I extended the range of blows by looking at what Howard Whitehouse a US based gamer did in Flint and Feather https://www.cruciblecrush.com/files/Flint%20and%20Feather%20Basic%20Rules(1).pdf
Thank you for saving me hours of searching! I boxed most of my books, so I will have to get Featherstone's Solo wargaming out. Maybe that will motivate me to paint the figures.
DeleteWhat a great gift! Enjoy playing around with rules John
ReplyDeleteIt is, indeed. Perhaps this will jumpstart my gaming.
DeleteJohn, I am really glad you like them. I hadn't noticed the 'Witchfinder General' similarity until you mentioned it. Hopefully they will get you gaming again. If you don't have Featherstone's book that Mark refers to, please let me know and I will scan my copy of those pages and mail them to you
ReplyDeleteI keep looking at the figures; hopefully this means I will start painting soon. I just dread that I will ruin the figures with my poor painting. I do have Featherstone's book and unpacked all my wargame books. But thank you for the offer.
ReplyDelete