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Your hosts James and Mike, with the occasional guest, look at the Canadian wargames scene. We're interested in miniature wargaming, board (hex and counter) games, and how Canadian military history inspires some of our projects. We hope to help tell the stories of a small but dynamic hobby scene in a big country.
Episodes
Wednesday Nov 10, 2021
Wednesday Nov 10, 2021
In CWP Episode 7, James and Mike talk to Canadian wargames manufacturer Alex McCutcheon of Full Battle Rattle Miniatures. Alex has brought his soldier's knowledge of the contemporary Canadian Army together with a talented sculptor to create a boutique label of gorgeous 28mm miniatures for gaming the Canadians (and their adversaries) in Afghanistan. There's even a LAV 3!
We talk with Alex about his nervy decision to put his own money into the business, and get some mouth-watering hints as to where he might go next (1885 NorthWest Rebellion, anyone?). We also talk about Alex's love of skirmish gaming, his crazy on again off again GW girlfriend, and a really interesting crossover of tabletop gamers and scale model builders in the Toronto area called Sword and Brush.
In the Canadian Content Corner, James and I convene a blue ribbon panel to discuss the new Dutch film The Forgotten Battle, because how many times in a lifetime do we get to see a film about Canadians in the Battle of the Scheldt (which could oversell what the film actually delivers)? We're joined by grizzled grognard and Canadian Army vet Brian Hall, and by that rising phenom of Canadian military history, the newly minter Doctor, Brad St. Croix, to talk about what the film got right and wrong. We end the conversation with some thoughts on how we would advise Steven Spielberg if he came to us with a hockey sock full of money and a desire to give the Canadians in WW2 a proper screening.
Links from this month's podcast:
Full Battle Rattle Miniatures: https://fullbattlerattleminiatures.com
Sword and Brush: Canada's Premiere Tabletop Wargaming and Miniature Painting Expo: https://swordandbrush.ca
Lords of War Games Store, Oakville: https://lordsofwargames.com
Sword and Board Games Store, Toronto: https://www.theswordandboardtoronto.com
Alex's Contributions to the Canadian Wargamer Podcast Digital Library:
Mark Zuehlke, Opration Husky, The Canadian Invasion of Sicily https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B003Z9JMS4/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1
Robert Semrau, The Taliban Don't Wave https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B003Z9JMS4/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1
Canadian Content Corner
Our Guests:
Dr. Brad St. Croix: @OTDCanMilHis
Brian Hall: @Brian34586884
Brad's You Tube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQZZQKAo8CqUzsUoOhuQdYw
Brad's Patreon Page:
https://www.patreon.com/OTDCanMilHistory/posts
Brad's conversation with Mark Zeuhlke on the Scheldt: https://youtu.be/XGpDwvk5uUc
The Forgotten Battle (2020 Dutch Film): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Forgotten_Battle
The Battle of the Scheldt: https://www.bing.com/search?q=battle%20of%20the%20scheldt&FORM=ATUR01&PC=ATUR&PTAG=ATUR01RAND
Closing Music:
Royal Regiment of Canada March Past: https://youtu.be/ylAiGTAc8sA
Royal Regiment of Canada: https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/services/military-history/history-heritage/official-military-history-lineages/lineages/infantry-regiments/royal-regiment.html
Contact Us:
Mike: madpadre@gmail.com
@MarshalLuigi
www.madpadrewargames.blogspot.com
James:
@JamesManto4
www.rabbitsinmybasement.blogspot.com
Wednesday Oct 13, 2021
Wednesday Oct 13, 2021
Part One: “The Kids In The Hall”:
Our interview with guests, Jacob Stauttener and Evan Switzer, borrows its title from the 1990s Canadian comedy show, "The Kids in the Hall". Two (youngish) grandads, call us The Airfix Generation, put two (youngish) gamers, call them The GW Generation, on the spor to talk about generational differences and crossovers.
We talk about crossovers from the kind of turnkey gaming systems that young gamers find in a Games Workshop store to more "obscure" (shhhh, don't use that word around James!) games. We talk about the appeal of creative and collaborative projects such as Evan's role in The Ninth Age, a player-driven continuation of the old Warhammer Fantasy system. We also wonder if old gamers, like old church people, can stop clutching their pearls about "Where are the young people" and trust that the next generation will find its way into the hobby and make it their own. And that's a good thing, we conclude.
Stuff mentioned in Part One:
Jacob’s Must Contain Minis website: www.mustcontainminis.com
Also look for Jacob’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_dq-xyb2a9bgYKwD9gqTUg
Evan’s Ninth Age Project:
https://www.the-ninth-age.com/community/filebase/index.php?download/3990/ download link for one of our 'full books' we did for ninth age. good example of the quality we're striving for.
Evan on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/switz.hobbies.1
Other Stuff Mentioned in This Interview:
Bell of Lost Souls: www.belloflostsouls.net
Jacob on Bell of Lost Souls: www.belloflostsouls.net/ author/jwstauttener
Laurentian TableTop Gaming Group: https://laurentiantabletoporganization.blogspot.com
https://www.facebook.com/groups/582653558459668
Universal Battle Software: www.universalbattle2.com
Critical Hit Gaming Lounge, Oshawa, ON: www.criticalhitgaminglounge.com
Game Chamber Store, London, ON: www.thegamechamber.com
Jacob’s Digital Library Contributions:
Joseph A. McCullough, Frostgrave, 2nd Edition, Osprey Press
Blood and Plunder: The Collector’s Edition Rulebook, Firelock Games
https://www.firelockgames.com/bloodandplunder/
Evan’s Digital Library Contributions:
Nathan M. Greenfield, The Damned: The Canadians At the Battle of Hong Kong and the POW Experience, Harper Collins, 2010.
Brent Watson, Far Eastern Tour: The Canadian Infantry in Korea, 1950-1953. McGill Queens University Press, 2007.
Part Two: Canadian Content Corner.
Brad, aka @OTDCanMilHis, as a guest on WW2TV
Ask Me Anything on Canadian military history
Mike speaks with Alastair Nichols, author of Wellington's Switzers: The Watteville Regiment about European redcoats in Upper Canada in the War of 1812.
WELLINGTON'S SWITZERS: THE WATTEVILLE REGIMENT (1801-1816) - A SWISS REGIMENT OF THE BRITISH ARMY IN EGYPT, THE MEDITERRANEAN, SPAIN AND CANADA (KEN TROTMAN, 2014)
Alastair's book is available for purchase at https://kentrotman.co.uk
3) Whats Going On In Canada
- True North LardEhs Game Day #1
- November 27, 2021
- 9:30am-7pm
- Royal Hamilton Light Infantry Veterans Association Hall, Hamilton, Ontario
- intend for 2 timeslots of (at least) 4 TFL games per timeslot
- trying for curry dinner!
https://twothreesixmm.blogspot.com/2021/09/take-3-of-lardehs-game-day-in-hamilton.html
4) Closing Music:
Slow March of the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery
Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery at Buckingham Palace
Contact Us:
Mike: madpadre@gmail.com
@MarshalLuigi
www.madpadrewargames.blogspot.com
James:
@JamesManto4
www.rabbitsinmybasement.blogspot.com
Monday Sep 13, 2021
Monday Sep 13, 2021
In our fifth episode, we talk to Rene Charbonneau, president of what may be Canada's oldest wargaming club in Vancouver, BC, the Trumpeter Tabletop Gaming Society. We talk about what makes a club a success: planning, a code of conduct, outreach to the community and hospitality to young people. Trumpeter's big convention, Salute, sounds like a fine excuse for a trip to gorgeous Vancouver in the spring.
In our second segment, the Canadian Content Corner, we talk about the Dieppe Raid, what we think it was about, and what it was actually about. Mike reports on what he learned watching WW2TV on YouTube and listening to Canadian historian David O'Keefe.
Next, Mike and James ask the question, what makes for a good set of wargames rules and that leads to a good old natter.
Finally we take about what's on the paint bench, and James talks about how his Bavarian sharpshooters, Scharf's Schutzen, are a thinly veiled homage to a well-known series of books and films about some fellows in green.
Links to this Episode:
1) Our bit with Rene Charbonneau:
Trumpeter Tabletop Gaming Society: https://trumpetergaming.weebly.com
Rene's Book Choices:
Vic Hartley, Arrows Against Steel: The History of the Bow and How it Forever Changed Warfare. https://www.amazon.ca/Arrows-Against-Steel-History-Forever/dp/098347561X
Niall Ferguson, The War of the World: Twentieth Century Conflict and the Descent of the West. https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B008UCJ6T6/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1
2) Canadian Content Corner
Historian David O'Keefe's interviews with Paul Wooladge on WW2 TV:
Part One: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sw-h7WLd0Bw
Part Two: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjkSis17Ljc
Part Three: August 19 Dieppe Livestream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBL4kVIdIls
David O'Keefe, One Day in August: Ian Fleming, Enigma, and the Deadly Raid On Dieppe. https://www.amazon.ca/One-Day-August-Fleming-Enigma/dp/178578630X
Dai's Wargames Blog and Dieppe Project:
https://lostdamnedstunted.blogspot.com/2021/08/1942-ww2-canadian-regulars-dieppe.html
https://lostdamnedstunted.blogspot.com/2021/06/dieppe-commandos-16-of-16-done.html
https://lostdamnedstunted.blogspot.com/2021/05/dieppe-chaplain-j-w-foote.html
3) What Makes A Good Set of Wargamer Rules?
Ken Reilly's Yorkshire Gamer chat with Stephen Wold: https://kenrtai.podbean.com/e/episode-11-stephen-wold-oldwargamer/
Anything But a One! Adventures in Historical Wargaming Podcast.Episode 30, Old School vs New School Games.
Zac's blog post on Dragon Rampant:
James' blog post on Scharf's Schutzen: http://rabbitsinmybasement.blogspot.com/2021/09/the-bridge.html
Final Music: Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry Regimental March
Contact Us:
Mike: madpadre@gmail.com
@MarshalLuigi
www.madpadrewargames.blogspot.com
James:
@JamesManto4
www.rabbitsinmybasement.blogspot.com
James:
Saturday Aug 14, 2021
Saturday Aug 14, 2021
In our August Podcast, we talk with a true grognard, Don Perrin, a Canuck who now calls Las Vegas his home. Since Don and James met as cadets and barrack mates many years ago, Don went on to graduate from Royal Military College and serve in the Canadian Army in the RCEME Corps. Don's done practically everything there is to do in the hobby. He's worked with giants like Frank Chadwick, run a games store, published (and killed!) wargames magazines, manufactured lead figures and now is doing cutting edge work in 3D printing as you'd expect from his extensive technical background. He's also a published fiction author, and the only guy we know personally to have a Wikpedia entry! In our discussion, Don shares his thoughts on what happened to North American wargames magazines, the pros and cons of 3D printing, and the future of our gaming hobby.
Don Perrin on Twitter: @dbsperrin
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Perrin
Don’s Websites:
Don’s Stuff on War-game Vault (The Courier, MWAN, etc):
https://www.wargamevault.com/browse/pub/3610/Don-Perrin?page=2
Don’s 3D Printing Website:
Don’s Virtual Bookshelf Contributions:
Operation Warboard’ By Gavin & Bernard Lyall. Adam and Charles Black, 1976 ISBN 0 7136 1646 6
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B01N7E9PBN/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1
Operation Husky: The Canadian Invasion of Sicily, July 10–August 7, 1943 By Mark Zuehlke. Douglas and McIntyre (2013) Ltd., 2009 ISBN: 1553653246
Stuff We Mentioned In Our Conversation:
First Clash: Combat Close Up in World War Three, by Kenneth Macksey, 1998. https://www.amazon.com/First-Clash-Combat-Close-Up-World/dp/0425107566
Sound Officers' Call Blog: https://soundofficerscall.blogspot.com
The Sentry Box (Calgary, Alberta games store): https://sentrybox.com
Canadian Content Corner:
Brad St. Croix and Alex Fitzgerald-Black on Operation Husky: https://youtu.be/xkiWFlDpD9w
Alex Fitzgerald Black on The Air Support Rollercoaster: Air Power and its Contribution to the Morale of the Canadian Army in Normandy: https://youtu.be/6YpFVLtIRtc
Alex Fitzgerald-Black, Eagles Over Husky: The Allied Air Forces in the Sicilian Campaign, 14 May to 17 August, 1943. https://www.amazon.ca/Eagles-over-Husky-Sicilian-Campaign/dp/1912174944/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=eagles+over+sicily&qid=1628977961&sr=8-1
Arthur Gullachsen, An Army of Never-Ending Strength: Reinforcing the Canadians in NW Europe, 1944-45. UBC Press, 2021. https://www.amazon.ca/Army-Never-Ending-Strength-Reinforcing-Canadians/dp/0774864818/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=arthur+gullachsen&qid=1628976179&sr=8-1
Closing Music:
The Corps of Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers March Past: https://rcemecorpsgemrc.ca/our-history/rceme-marches/
Our Contact Info:
Mike's email: madpadre@gmail.com
Mike's Twitter: @MarshalLuigi
Mike's blog: www.madpadrewargames.blogspot.com
James' email: jamsmanto@gmail.com
James' Twitter: @JamesManto4
James' blog: www.rabbitsinmybasement.blogspot.com
Wednesday Jul 21, 2021
Wednesday Jul 21, 2021
In the interview, we speak to Curt Campbell, the Sidney Roundwood of the Canadian wargaming scene, the Snowlord himself. Of course, we talk about the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge which has become an international community of over 90 gamers and painters. We also talk about running a games store in the heroic early days of Games Workshop, the gaming scene on the prairies, and why quirky, eclectic games like Moonstone are so much fun. Finally, Curt doesn't disappoint us by making 5(!) deposits into our Virtual Library.
After the interview, during our patented Canadian Content Corner, Mike and James discuss the Canadians in Italy and Normandy. We then ask the burning question: just why are Bavarians are so sexy right now? James reports on his experience of VirtualLard6, and a new set of rules, Packing Heat, that will have all the gun mooks and their molls all jazzed up. It then gets rather Napoleonic.
Show notes for Episode 3 of The Canadian Wargaming Podcast, July 2021.
Part One: Our Guest, Curt (“The Snowlord”) Campbell
Curt’s blog: http://analogue-hobbies.blogspot.com
The Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge: https://thepaintingchallenge.blogspot.com
Curt on Twitter: @analoguehobbies
Prairie Con Gaming Convention: http://www.prairiecon.com, https://www.facebook.com/PrairieCon
Fawcett Avenue Conscripts Winnipeg Gaming Club: http://wpggamegeeks.blogspot.com
Moonstone: https://moonstonethegame.com
Curt’s five book pics for The Canadian Wargamer Podcast virtual library:
Fredrik Logevall, ‘Embers of War: The Fall of an empire and the Making of America’s Vietnam’
Craig Symonds, ‘World War II at Se: A Global History’
Tim Willcocks, ‘The Religion’
Christopher Buckley, ‘The Relic Master’
Joseph Boyden, ‘Three Day Road’
Part Two: Canadian Content Corner
Alex Fizgerald Black and Brad St. Croix discuss Operation Husky: The Invasion of Sicily: https://youtu.be/xkiWFlDpD9w
Dr. Lee Windsor, The View From Point 67: Canada's Killing Zone in the Second Half of the Battle for Normandy: https://youtu.be/vWf2pUT8dLE
Part Three: Hobby Natter
James’ report on Virtual Lard 6: http://rabbitsinmybasement.blogspot.com/2021/07/packing-heat-at-virtual-lard-6.html
Osprey Publishing, Absolute Emperor https://ospreypublishing.com/absolute-emperor
Boyd Bruce, author of Absolute Emperor, talks about his rules: https://youtu.be/lkT-OoH5_LY
A Soldier for Napoleon: The Campaigns of Lieutenant Franz Joseph Hausmann: 7th Bavarian Infantry, by Franz Joseph Hausmann, ed. John H. Gill.
Fighting For Napoleon: French Soldiers’ Letters 1799-1815, ed. Bernard and Rene Wilkin.
The Iron Marshall: A Biography of Louis Davout, by John G. Gallaher.
Contact Info:
James' blog: http://rabbitsinmybasement.blogspot.com
James' email: jamesmanto@gmail.com
James on Twitter: @jamesmanto4
Mike's blog: madpadrewargames@blogspot.com
Mike's email: madpadre@gmail.com
Mike on Twitter: @MarshalLuigi
Wednesday Jun 23, 2021
Wednesday Jun 23, 2021
In this second episode of The Canadian Wargamer Podcast, Mike and James speak with our very first (!) guest, Bob Murch, the dean of Canadian miniature sculptors and owner of Pulp Figures. We talk about his early days at RAFM, his freelancing work, of course the pulp stuff, how Canada's indigenous peoples gave the Vikings the boot, and how Normans are cool. It also gets really honest as we talk about the hobby and mental health and wellness.
Bob's book contribution to our virtual library:
Robert Mason, Chickenhawk (1983): https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/chickenhawk/9780143035718-item.html
See also: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chickenhawk_%28book%29
Joseph Boyden, The Orenda (2013): https://www.amazon.ca/Orenda-Joseph-Boyden/dp/0143174169/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2SHCYWKTSXS9J&dchild=1&keywords=the+orenda+by+joseph+boyden&qid=1624458761&sprefix=boyden+orenda%2Caps%2C178&sr=8-1
After we said goodbye to Bob, we have a natter about some Canadian events (KegsCON in Chatham, ON and AttackX in Kamloops, BC), both happening (maybe?) this September. We also talked Canadian military history, including Dr. Marc Milner's work on 3d Can Div in Normandy, Dr. Sarah Glassford's work on Canadian women Red Cross volunteers in WW2, Canadian battlefield tourism (remember tourism and going places? that was great!). We also talked about why we think Vikings were dicks (don't be a dick), indoctrinating grandchildren, and of course we went on about projects, at which point it rather became the Canadian Napoleonic contest. Oh well, at least James hasn't glued his fingers to anything this week. Mike's mind is still undecided about the Foundry Triad Paint System.
Do you have any stories to tell about a Rugged Adventures game with Bob that you played in? Let us know.
Do you have a Canadian wargames event that you want to talk to us about? Get in touch!
Know what Celer Paratus Callidus means? Even better, do you know where we can find an .MP3 version of it? Let us know!
Links to cool things mentioned in the podcast:
Bob Murch on Twitter: @PulpFigures
Flint and Feather range of figures: https://pulpfigures.com/huron_iroquois_war/
AttackX Tabletop Wargaming Expo, Kamloops, BC - Sept 10-12, 2021 (to be confirmed): https://www.facebook.com/AttackXexpo
Kent-Essex Gaming Society (KEGS), hosts of KEGSCon - KEGSCON IX Sep 18, 2021 https://www.facebook.com/KEGSCON/
Hotlead - 18, 19 & 20 March 2022 - https://hotlead.ca
Maple Leaf Route Webinar Series - https://canadianmilitaryhistory.ca/webinar/
Dr. Marc Milner, Stopping the Panzers: Canada's Forgotten Overlord Role
The Old Front Line Podcast: Canadian Remembrance Tourism with Samantha Cowan https://oldfrontline.co.uk/2021/06/12/canadian-remembrance-tourism-with-samantha-cowan/
Mike on Twitter: @MarshalLuigi
Mike's Blog: http://madpadrewargames.blogspot.com
James on Twitter: @JamesManto4
James' Blog: http://rabbitsinmybasement.blogspot.com
Saturday May 29, 2021
Saturday May 29, 2021
In this inaugural episode of the Canadian Wargamer Podcast, hosts and BFFs Mike (@MarshalLuigi) and James (@JamesManto4) introduce one another and address the crucial question: does the world need another miniature wargames podcast in which two (youngish) granddads natter on? Spoiler alert - yes, it does.
We explain our Concept of Operations for the podcast:
1. Tell stories about the Canadian wargaming scene, a small scene in a BIG country.
2. Introduce Canadian hobby leaders - figure sculptors and producers, bloggers, local linchpins - and hear they stories;
and
3. Explore connections between Canadian military history and wargaming. Of course, we may talk about our goblin wolf riders and Prussian grenadiers, but we are particularly interested in representing Canadian battles and soldiers on the tabletop.
We talk about what's keeping us busy for the next month:
James - lots of decidedly non-Canadian Napoleonics.
Mike - might get to those 15mm Canadians in Sicily this month.
We also shamelessly steal Sean Clarke's virtual library schtick from his God's Own Scale podcast. We intend to ask each guest to "donate" one or two books with a Canadian military connection. In this issue, we each put two books on the digital shelves.
James' choices:
Mark Zuehlke, Brave Battalion: the Remarkable Story of the 16th Battalion (Canadian Scottish) in the First World War (2008). https://www.amazon.ca/Brave-Battalion-Remarkable-Canadian-Scottish/dp/0470154160
Chris Wattie, Contact Charlie: the Canadian Army, the Taliban, and the Battle that Saved Afghanistan (2008).
https://www.amazon.ca/Contact-Charlie-Canadian-Taliban-Afghanistan/dp/1554700841
Mike's choices:
Frederick George Scott, The Great War as I Saw It (1922).
https://www.amazon.ca/Great-War-Frederick-George-Scott/dp/0978465253
https://archive.org/details/greatwarasi00scotuoft
Farley Mowat, The Regiment (1974).
https://www.amazon.ca/Regiment-Farley-Mowat/dp/1551251221
Let us know what you thought of the podcast and tell your friends! Also, check out our blogs:
James: http://rabbitsinmybasement.blogspot.com
Mike: http://madpadrewargames.blogspot.com