After starting and learning the rules of the miniature wargames last night I was able to complete a practice game alone. It lasted for a few hours believe it or not because I was going slow, learning and trying to understand many things. Overall, it was fun. Today I have started a new game. I didn’t play it length way yesterday but from the smaller width which proved quite tense. There is no real hard or fast rules here. It seems the main point is to have fun!

Given that the actual battles themselves were so complex; and the massive Waterloo battle boxset I bought is likewise complex, I need to learn the basics.

I was having quite the time despite doing this alone. I do intend to play with other people at some point. You can also see the fields are now painted brown, and the yellow base underneath helped create the impression that crops were coming through. *

*Historical point*

Back in 1795 there was the bread riots due to increased prices and less availability. Inflation was at an all time high during the French Revolution whilst the rich (the Royal Bourbons for example) lived off the income of the poor. A period of poor harvests, high prices and general recession.

In England more people bought the bulk their food instead of growing it. Instead of working on the land, many gained employment and income in factories, mills and the growing towns of the industrialising North. The effects of the war, exacerbated by a series of poor harvests, were felt in all these areas and caused a good deal of unrest and discontent. It wasn’t until after 1803, when invasion seemed almost certain, that British people succumbed to a wave of patriotism. Not until after the great victory of Trafalgar in October 1805 did they show a real determination to see off ‘Old Boney’ for good.