A while back I became interested in the Tai Ping and their
Heavenly Kingdom. I wanted to game it (and as a consequence contracted Manchu mania and prolonged Tai Ping preoccupation). I read the books. It’s a hell of a story
and it triggered the biggest war the world had seen prior to the world wars 1
and 2.
In the end the Tai Ping failed and the Manchu survived to stagger on from disaster to disaster as predatory Imperial Powers carved up China. Today the Han have re asserted themselves and China is a super power. The Manchu Dynasty is gone and beyond academics and gamers I doubt most non-Chinese folk know much about the Opium Wars and the Tai Ping. For those who do its fascinating stuff and great for the table top.
In the end the Tai Ping failed and the Manchu survived to stagger on from disaster to disaster as predatory Imperial Powers carved up China. Today the Han have re asserted themselves and China is a super power. The Manchu Dynasty is gone and beyond academics and gamers I doubt most non-Chinese folk know much about the Opium Wars and the Tai Ping. For those who do its fascinating stuff and great for the table top.
For about 10 years or so I’ve wanted to do a mini campaign
provisionally called ‘With Li in the Valley’ in which a Manchu force seeks to
fend off the Tai Ping and contain the foreigners. The figures proved to be a challenge.
The best 15mm range came from Falcon Figures which are now very hard to find. I persevered and with luck, tenacity and a bit of judicious buying from other ranges managed to put together an acceptable Manchu Army. I’ve now added flags to the units and I can say its job done for the moment. Militarily they need to be very lucky to win but they are a lot of fun. Here they are, I hope you like them.
General Li and escort in full Banner Man armour, often worn to denote rank. His banner reads as Tiger*.
The best 15mm range came from Falcon Figures which are now very hard to find. I persevered and with luck, tenacity and a bit of judicious buying from other ranges managed to put together an acceptable Manchu Army. I’ve now added flags to the units and I can say its job done for the moment. Militarily they need to be very lucky to win but they are a lot of fun. Here they are, I hope you like them.
General Li and escort in full Banner Man armour, often worn to denote rank. His banner reads as Tiger*.
Manchu infantry from Falcon, if you have any you would like to sell do get in touch.
An Irregular Mandarin with this Falcon unit.
Manchu infantry from Khurasan Miniatures.
Khurasan swordsmen and Irregular Jingals.
Irregular Miniatures here.
An Irregular Tiger and Khurasan Jingal combo, a popular formation used to break up enemy formations.
Khurasan swordsmen and Irregular Jingals.
Irregular Miniatures here.
An Irregular Tiger and Khurasan Jingal combo, a popular formation used to break up enemy formations.
Jingals from Khurasan Miniatures.
Guns from Minifigs with crews from Irregular Miniatures.
Banner Man cavalry from Outpost Wargames Services.
Tatar Cavalry from Museum Miniatures.
Irregular Tiger Men.
It is one of my favourite collections.
* Although he had never been to Louisiana.
* Although he had never been to Louisiana.
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