“I don’t know where it comes from,
I don’t know where it comes from,
Don’t ask me where it comes from….”
Ride , from the album, ” Going blank again”
Our shoe-gazing Indie heroes were of course analysing that age old problem of all gamers, of all persuasions, the lead pile. Facebook gaming sites have been awash with boxes and files filled with much neglected lead heroes. Are they wanted? Are they even lead? April was a good month for getting projects finished. All that “low hanging fruit” that has been hanging around for ages and just needed a final “push.”
God knows why I bought forty peltasts but buy them I did and now they are painted. I thought I might start the explanation for lead collecting here.
1. The mega project.
Replace all the blocks in Command and Colors ancients with miniatures. Chances of finishing? I did finish all the Hun horse from the last army in the series, Medieval C and C . And, now the infantry are prepared, apart from the ones who need undercoating.
2. The good idea at the time.
Fifty pounds for three hundred 28mm American Revolution miniatures was too good to be true. However, this project would need three hundred Loyal British to face off the rebellion. And then there is militia and provincials, and highlanders and cavalry. Ah…………
3. The wow- I know what I could do with these!
Three Viking ships that could be converted into camp elements. And, they would use up those Athenian rowers that I’ve had at the bottom of the pile for at least ten years. I can see the Normans and Vandals splashing ashore now. Will they be done by Summer?
4 I “need” them for a competition army!
Do you know where Bactria is? Do you know what a Bactrian lancer looked like? I didn’t but the list looked an inviting mix of pike, heavy horse and clouds of skirmishers. What could go wrong? It’s a year overdue as of now!
5. I’ve got most of that army and with a few more troops I could make this army!
Ever since James Burke’s ” Connections” series aired in the Eighties, I have loved Pike and Shot. He explained the revolutionary tactics of the Spanish that defeated the French knightly host and revolutionised warfare. I have steered a Neopolitans force to defeat manny times but with time on my hands, what about Imperial Spain? If I have Imperial Spain then I have Landskneckts. If I have Landskneckts, I might as well finish my Renaissance French. Result equals seventy sword and buckler men! I think seven units is enough!
6. Anyway while I was looking through my library I found……….
I’ve put armylists for the Italian Wars in the pages section, for the “Short and Desperate rules”. I have Frnch and Spanish. If it’s the Italian Wars, I need Italians and then which flavour ? Neopolitans flavour is favourite but you must have the Pope!
7. You can but ask…..
Pete’s flags are excellent! Available on EBay, and delivered to the door. I wanted the Pope’s standard and ended up buying thirty pounds worth. He’s such a nice man, he even only charged me minimal postage.
So there you have it, at least seven reasons why the lead collects. Please let me know your reasons and we can enter therapy together. May is looking to be a busy month!
Stay safe and get painting. The lead ( and plastic) must not defeat us!
Miguel
Despertaferres 
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