Liebster Nomination

Jonathan at The Palouse Wargaming Journal has been so kind as to nominate my blog “Black Powder Games” for the Liebster Award. I hereby thank Jonathan for this truly pleasant surprise, and for his support on the blog as a regular follower and commentator.

The idea of the Liebster Award is to raise awareness of new or smaller blogs with fewer than 200 followers, using the link between bloggers and readers alike. As a nominee, you’re expected to answer a few questions about yourself, your blog and hobby, and naturally give credit to the blog nominating you as well as putting forward your own candidates of good blogs for nomination, offering thus a chance for readers to discover new blogs.

The work station - many units have marched across this table.

These are the rules as kindly described by Jonathan:

 #1 Copy paste the award on your blog linking to the blogger who has given it to you.

#2 Pass the award to your top 11 blogs with less than 200 followers 

by leaving a comment in one of their posts to notify them that they are nominated.

#3 List the nominees on your own blog as well.

#4 Sit back and bask in the warm fuzzy feeling 

that comes with knowing that you’ve made someone’s day!

#5 There is no obligation to pass this onto someone else, 

but it’s good old Gandhi karma if you do so.

My weapon of choice, the Foundry 3-step paint system.

Below is the list of questions put forward by Jonathan:

1: Why did you start blogging?

My good wargaming friend Micke has a very well run blog. Encouraged by Micke’s work and inspired by a desire to document my painting projects and further to write small historical write ups, the blog took its shape and direction.

2: If you could change one thing about the wargaming hobby, what would it be?

I quite often find myself wishing that the Perry Twins would one day wake up and decide to re-make a modern sculpted range of Franco-Prussian figures.

3: Do you read Battle Reports and what makes them inviting to read?

I do from time to time, mainly if it’s a large historical battle were history can be tinkered with. By nature I’m more the painter than the gamer, so for a Battle Report to really catch my eye, it would have to contain a lot of visually appealing pictures.

4: Is figure painting a chore or pleasure?

It’s been a pleasure and a way to relax for me since I was 12 year old, starting back then with Revell’s 1/72 Seven Years War range. I paint almost daily and often find my self deeply engulfed in a particular period surrounding myself with books, audio books or pod casts etc. as I paint.

Nothing beats a good pod cast while painting.

BBC4 have some fantastic shows on history, science and philosophy.

5: Napoleon once was quoted as saying he preferred a general who was lucky over skilled. In gaming, are you lucky or skilled?

Well, I’m superstitious like Hell! For instance I only play my Rebel ACW collection with a certain set of grey dice. When playing I try to look for creative and unexpected moves. When these sometimes pan out, I can claim to be skilled, when not – simply unlucky :0) Not sure this would qualify me as a “Bonne General.”

6: Could you limit your gaming and collection to one period and one size? If so, what?

What a painful thought! In terms of size I’m definitely a 28 mm. No debate. I’ve tried smaller and bigger, but for painting and subsequently basing units I really enjoy 28 mm.

To restrict myself to only one period is really hard, but my largest collection is Franco-Prussian and right on the heels comes my Napoleonic collection for 1812 Borodino, so these are perhaps the core.

The Valhalla of retired brushes. 

Tend to stick to either Kolinsky or LaVanche.

7: How do you deal with burn out?

I have a defined range of projects with adequate figures purchased for each. I’ve got 6 projects at the moment, with periods ranging from Antiquity to the World Wars. I then focus on the short-term goal, for instance finishing this or that unit rather than a complete army. After each finished unit, I let my inspiration dictate where to go next on the project list. Sometimes I stay with a certain war for a few units; sometimes I jump around on the list.

8: If you could only buy from one miniature company from now on,
which one would it be?

Perry Miniatures. Large collection, excellent if not the best quality out there.

And - My Liebster Nominee's are....:

The Great Italian Wars

Pete is a fantastic painter and designer of some beautiful Italian War flags.

Forgotten & Glorious

Paris based Forgotten & Glorious Miniz offer some of the best French WW1, Napoleonic and ACW figures on the market. F&G Miniz have a growing range and is definitely “one to watch”.

Conflict of Interests

A local gaming friend here in Stockholm, and very talented painter. Jonas’ blog offers great imagery and very cool minis.

Janner's Jaunt

Stephen is a talented painter and has a nice blog covering a wide historic frame. You’re bound to find something of interest.

Ådalen Figures

My friend Björn’s miniature range of Swedish infantry focussed on the inter-war period with a cool “what-if “approach to this period of political unrest.

Chris Figurines

Chris’ blog in my opinion offers some of the most beautifully painted renaissance figures around.

Gewalthaufen

Fantastic and very inspirational work, I still marvel at the water diorama.

Northern Wargaming

Very talented stuff posted here, ranging from SAGA to the Napoleonics.

Lastly, a special tip of the hat to the man who inspired me to pick up blogging:

Michael at Dalauppror. His blog passed 200 followers a long time ago, so I’ll simply put him up here as a suggestion, should you have missed his excellent and regularly updated blog.

Thank you very much for your interest in my blog so far,
without your visits and comments there would be little point in this work.