Category: the silver bayonet

Painting Ghosts

I have been looking at getting some spectral Napoleonic figures from the Silver Bayonet range. I also quite like the Spectral Gunfighters models for Dead Man’s Hand.

When it comes to painting these models, I’ve always liked the ghostly interpretation that Peter Jackson had for The Army of the Dead (or Oathbreakers) in The Lord of the Rings. 

Cursed by Isildur for abandoning their oath to fight for Gondor, they are summoned centuries later by Aragorn. In the films, they act as an unstoppable green wave, turning the tide at the Battle of the Pelennor Fields. 

Looking online at pictures of the spectral Napoleonic figures there is a quick and easy method of painting using Army Painter Speedpaint Pastel Seafoam.

Obviously the Spectral Gunfighters models would be ideal for ghostly scenarios for Dead Man’s Hand. 

I did think that the spectral Napoleonic figures would make an interesting game for a spooky Peninsular War scenario involving Richard Sharpe of the 95th.

Silver Bayonet Goblins

In the most recent copy of Wargames Illustrated the advert for figures for The Silver Bayonet caught my eye, specifically the goblins.

The term goblin is loosely applied to a large group of wingless, ‘trickster’ fairies, and each nation has their own varieties and terms. While these creatures are small, and physically weak, they are also tough, hard-to-kill, and capable of huge amounts of mischief. One of the worst features of goblins is that their existence seems completely at-odds with technology, and their mere presence causes technology to fail. This, unfortunately, includes firearms.

These figures remind me of the goblins from Harry Potter, I think they could be used as proxies for them as well.

The Silver Bayonet is a gothic horror Napoleonic era game.

As the wars of Napoleon ravage Europe, chaos and fear reign and the darkness that once clung to the shadows has been emboldened. Supernatural creatures – vampires, werewolves, ghouls, and worse take advantage of the havoc, striking out at isolated farms, villages, and even military units. Whether they are pursuing some master plan or simply revelling in their newfound freedom is unknown. Most people dismiss reports of these slaughters as the rantings of madmen or the lies of deserters, but a few know better…

I like the cover of the rules, very nicely done.

The Silver Bayonet is a skirmish wargame of gothic horror set during the Napoleonic Wars. Each player forms an elite band of monster hunters drawn from the ranks of one of the great powers. Riflemen, swordsmen, and engineers fight side-by-side with mystics, occultists, and even those few supernatural creatures that can be controlled or reasoned with enough to make common cause. The game can be played solo, co-operatively, or competitively, with players progressing through a series of interlinked adventures with their soldiers gaining experience and suffering grievous wounds, and their units triumphing… or falling in the face of the shadows. It is a game of action and adventure, where musket and sabre meet tooth and claw.

I always liked Flintloque, which was a fantasy Napoleonic game, so can see why this appeals to me as well. Might see if I can get a copy of The Silver Bayonet rules.

I have a few unpainted human Napoleonic figures, so thinking that this might make for a good scenario for a few games.