There are many sources both on and off the web to inspire the colonial wargamer. I present for your viewing and linking pleasure the following, which is anything but exhaustive.
I have divided this section into the following categories: players,
miniatures, and information.
Players
Major General Tremorden Rederring's Colonial
Wargames Page - Perhaps the best source of inspriation and information for the
colonial wargamer. The Major General has launched the military careers of many a
gamer. Always worth visiting. Many thanks to the Major General, as well, for some
of the layout of this website...he is truly an inspiration.
The Red Shadow - The French Foreign Legion
in Africa and the adventures of that mysterious figure The Red Shadow. Ian
Croxall's excellent site. Be sure to check out his Warflag site as well.
The Colonial Angle
- Another master of the game, the Angle has battle reports, advice on running games,
free rules and more. Stop by and see what's new.
Gisby's Page
- A fellow Canadian, Tim's site has free rules (KillZone, a SF miniture battle game),
great scenery pictures with tips on how to make stuff and lots more.
The Universal General - Home of the Afriborian
Herald, record of the adventures of Baron Eduard Geudens de Saint-Gilles, distant
relative of my friend Rudi Geudens. Drop by and enjoy the adventures!
Darkest Africa - The amazing
adventures of that erstwhile adventurer Sir Peter de Gee in his travels about
the dark continent.
Alan Hamilton's Morval Earth - Fantasy,
VSF, Martians, Bugs and more! Drop by Morval Earth or the Victorian aged Morvalstan
and prepare to have fun!
Colonial Wargaming -
Bob Cordery's site with fantastic pictures of period ships, artillery, fortifications
and more. Fantastic reference, and he also wrote the first set of rules I played
"Bundok and Bayonet" (available for download)!
Miniatures
RAFM - Canadian manufacturer of metal miniatures.
From fantasy to historical to Viet Nam, RAFM makes them, including a great Call of
Cthulhu range. The only source for Canadian figures (Metis, NWMP, etc.)
Old Glory - Makers of plains indians,
American military and Alamo defenders (who can make very good armed civilians).
Sentry Box - A Calgary, Alberta game store who
carries RAFM figures and will sell them mail order. Good service and good value
(shop in Canadian dollars!)
[TMP] The Miniatures Page - Another one
stop shop for things miniature. Covers most manufacturers, time periods, scales and
anything else you could want.
Wargames Foundry - The Evil Empire™ of
the miniature industry where some historical gamers are concerned. Love 'em or hate
'em, here's a link.
Brookhurst Hobbies - Just about the only source
left for those neat out of prodction Foundry figures. Check out their big list of Foundry
Singles.
The London War Room - A great place with a
nice variety of figures and a great customer service. Check out the Parroom Martians!
Copplestone Castings - Master artist
Mark Copplestone has continued the beautiful line he created for Foundry, Darkest Africa,
with Return to Darkest Africa! And if you like near future combat, check out his Future
Wars line....
Reveresco - John McEwan is prolific, talented
and incredibly responsive to the gaming community. If you want it, chances are John will
say "here it is" or "it's almost ready". Excellent source for big guns, naval weapons and
engines. Take a look at the 28mm scale, white metal, train.
Pulp Figures - Woman loves a man with a handful
of pulp figures. Bob Murch of RAFM fame has branched out on his own with this site and
these beautiful figures. While not colonial per se, they're still pretty and can sure be
found useful by the fertile mind.
Information
Colonial Wars Yahoo Group -
An amazing discussion group, filled with dedicated colonial players from all
over the world. If like good community, intelligent conversation and the chance
to tap into an incredible 'hive mind', join the CW group today! Ask any question
to this group, it will be answered.
Or try these ones, good chaps all!
Victorian Adventure,
Space 1889,
GASLIGHT
And if your taste runs more toward early 20th Century, try:
Dashing Adventure,
Between the Wars
And I've been incredibly remiss in not mentioning theFenian Raids group. While the title
may say Fenian Raids (something squarely in Sir Rand's area of interest), discussion ranges
from the War of 1812 right up to the Riel Rebellion of 1885 and beyond. Much good stuff here.
By Jingo! -
Monthly e-zine dedicated to colonial wargaming with an online archive. Lots
of great articles, links, suggestions, book reviews. A one stop shop for
things colonial.
The Sword and The Flame -
Larry Brom's excellent rule set for Queen Victoria's little wars. Order yours
today, it's worth it! And excellent service too, mine took four days from the
day I mailed the cheque to the day it arrived at my door!
Nobility - This is a list of titles for British nobility including dates of creation, and
includes a link to forms of address for nobility, royalty, distinguished US sources and military
personel, in both written and spoken forms. It's Sir John and Lord Smith not Sir Smith and
Lord John! (sorry, pet peeve there)
Mounties
The Great Adventure, David Cruise & Alison Griffiths - A story of the original
trip west, warts and all. Taken from original sources and written in an amusing tone,
a good book.
Forty Years in Canada, Sam Steele - Autobiography of one of the original NWMP,
who went on to become one of Canada's most famous officers for his work in the Riel
Rebellion of 1885, the Second Boer War and more.
Victorian Period
Flashman Series, George MacDonald Frasier - The ultimate cad and coward, who
always manages to make it out with his skin and reputation intact, this bully from
Tom Brown's School Days slips from the Siege of Cawnpore to the battle of
Little Big Horn easily and entertainingly. A highly recommended series.
Mounties Colonial Wars Got a link? Want yours removed? Just
lonely? Links and sources
Saskatchewan - Okay, not a great film, but one of the only A-pictures
Hollywood made about Mounties. Oh, by the way, there are no mountains in Saskatchewan....
Alan Ladd, Shelly Winters
Rose Marie - Sure it's campy, sure it's sappy, but hey he's a Mountie (a singing
Mountie), she's a singer (a singing singer), both are seeking her fugitive brother.
Based on a Rudolf Friml Operetta.
Jeanette MacDonald, Nelson Eddie, Jimmy Stewart (who doesn't sing, thank goodness)
The Wind and the Lion - Mrs. Pedecaris is kidnapped to further the Raisuli's
political aspirations. President Roosevelt will do whatever it takes to get her back.
Based (loosely) on a true story.
Sean Connery, Candice Bergan, Brian Keith
The Lost Patrol - Invisible snipers slowly eliminate British desert patrol.
Victor McLaglen, Boris Karloff
Gunga Din - Three soldiers in India up against the entire cult of the Thugee.
A classic!
Victor McLaglen, Cary Grant, Douglas Fairbanks Jr.
Zulu - The Colonial War film. Telling the story of the Battle of
Rorke's Drift, where a tiny contingent of 139 British soldiers holds off an assault by
thousands of Zulu warriors. The most Victoria Crosses for a single action were
awarded for Rorke's Drift.
Michael Caine, Stanley Baker, Jack Hawkins
55 Days at Peking - The European ligations are under seige in China, and it's up to
Charelton Heston to get them out! Based on the events of the Boxer uprising in 1900.
Colorful scenery, good battles.
Charleton Heston, David Niven, Ava Gardner
Mail me!