Posts

The Yellow Locust Gang

Image
The countryside of Xiǎo Yú, like with most Chinese provinces during this era, is plagued with bandit gangs. Ranging from small ragtag groups of thugs to large organized but poorly disciplined hosts they are countless and unending. A constant stream of destitute peasants, craven deserters, and those just looking for an easy meal keep these gangs flush with manpower. Two major gangs prowl Xiǎo Yú, one of which is known as "The Yellow Locust Gang." Yellow representing power and prosperity in traditional Chinese culture, and locust referring to the gangs ability to lay waste to all they descend on. They are lead by "Four Eyes" Chin, a smart and capable man believed to once have been a junior officer in the now destroyed Anhui Clique. Chin's nickname stems from his poor eyesight, the man needing glasses to see beyond the end of his nose. It is said that the primary goal for his gang is to ensure he has enough glasses to last him the rest of his life, and while this i

Garford Putilov Heavy Armored Car

Image
 One of my favorite armored cars is ready for service with my White Russians. The garford putilov is armed with a 75mm cannon and 3 maxim machine guns. This one is far from home and hasn't seen any service in a long time, but still it chugs onwards in the memory of the Tsar and the name of Imperial Russia!  A sneak peek at my White Russian Force. 

Missionary Troubles

Image
 A Fistful of Lead Game.  Missionary Troubles. The province of Xiao Yu has been experiencing increased instability over the past few weeks, warlord government troops have been busy clashing with the KMT expeditionary force in the region, drawing away much needed soldiers from local anti-bandit patrols. Bandit gangs have quickly taken advantage of this lax security and are making the best of the opportunity presented while it lasts. The Americans are not oblivious to the instability in the region. Orders have come out from China Station HQ for all American expats to seek refuge in the large, well protected treaty ports and cities. That being said not all American's have willingly agreed to these orders. Several groups of erstwhile missionaries have held up in their mission stations, refusing to budge, believing that their faith in the people will protect them better than any gunboat. As a result US Navy China Station sailors have been dispatched to recover these hold outs and bring

A fishy tale in Warlord China, Xiao Yú, 192x - 193x

Image
I've been working on all this in earnest since last August, terrain, lore, armies, everything organized for Fistful of Lead, and Beyond the Empire. Some day.. some day I'll have enough army men for Setting the East Ablaze.  Anyways, an introduction. The province of Xiao Yú, a microcosm of the struggles of Greater China, is a small forgotten land, tucked away somewhere north of Beijing, near the Mongolian Border, neighbor enough to Manchuria, somewhere in the lands of Rehe and inner Mongolia. The province takes it's name from the Xiao Yú River, an equally forgotten tributary that snakes off the northern hump of the Yellow River, past Shanxi and into the lands beyond.  It's quite alright if you've never seen Xiao Yú on any map, the residents prefer it that way. Some say that it was the Germans who originally erased it from the maps around the time of the Boxer Rebellion, not in the typical Germanic fashion mind you - nothing was burned down - but rather, that their in

General Mischief the viscous fishous

Image
 My fishy guy being all grumpy. He's doing great, got some wonderful photos of him recently. Remember, wargaming hobby stuff, and fish. 

Xiǎo Yú KMT Revolutionary Army of the Frontier

Image
The Revolutionary Army of the Frontier is the Nationalist KMT aligned army operating in  Xiǎo Yú. Their  goals are simple, to drive out the local warlord, to suppress the local banditry, to defeat the local communists, and to bring the province under the control of the fledgling KMT Government in the south.  An over view of the infantry element of the KMT RAF, organized for Fistful of Lead with several options available. In base FFoL not all these infantry would be on the table at once. The squad leader with Pistol, two specialists, four regulars, and a 4 man grunt group.  The Leader in the center, armed with a pistol is currently unnamed, to his left is a melee specialist (I mean look at that beef) and to his right an SMG specialist with MP20 The basic regulars. In a FFoL skirmish game you typically have 3 regulars in your 5 man squad (1 leader, 1 specialist, and 3 regulars) here are four options, as certain leader traits can let you bring more men, or simply for bigger games. Three h

Xiǎo Yú Municipal Police

Image
The Xiǎo Yú Municipal Police are inspired by the Shanghai Municipal Police and function with much the same role and responsibilities. The International Concessions in Xiǎo Yú are small but no less important than any other in China, and in accordance with treaty arrangements it is the responsibility of the British to maintain a capable and competent police force there in.   An over view of the police forces, organized for Fistful of Lead. Available is our Police Lieutenant, Lt Louden Hurst, looking quite bored as Police Sargent Sanjeev lectures at him. Sgt Sanjeev is armed with an Ishapore, while the remaining squad is armed with Lee Enfield Rifles. They are supported by a Rolls Royce Armored Car.  Being a skirmish game, the basic squad in Fistful of Lead is 5 men. A leader, Lt Hurst, a specialist with specialist weapon, Sgt Sanjeev, and three regulars with rifles.  An alternative for these lads is running them as a "Heroes All" squad, which nixes the leader, reducing the squa