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Richard Cruadhlaoich

@locounterpane.bsky.social

78 followers 62 following 200 posts

Sheffield-based wargamer and blogger. TheLandOfCounterpane.blogspot.com

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Richard Cruadhlaoich @locounterpane.bsky.social · Jan 15

Just giving this Bluesky thing a whirl.

Here’s an article I did about designing wargames scenarios.

thelandofcounterpane.blogspot.com/2025/01/desi...

Designing Historical Scenarios

What follows is an article I originally wrote for Lard Magazine. In the end I didn't submit it because I decided I'd be preaching to the alr...

thelandofcounterpane.blogspot.com

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Richard Cruadhlaoich @locounterpane.bsky.social · 5d

Not a bad haul from the charity shops of York yesterday.

Richard Cruadhlaoich @locounterpane.bsky.social · 7d

My Steel Lard report is up at The Land Of Counterpane blog.

thelandofcounterpane.blogspot.com/2025/10/stee...

Steel Lard 2025

Saturday was a long, tiring, but ultimately rewarding day as dozens of like-minded gamers converged on Patriot Games in Sheffield for the la...

thelandofcounterpane.blogspot.com

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Richard Cruadhlaoich @locounterpane.bsky.social · 8d

A pair of Barnsley reprobates attempting to rally the routing Union army after First Bull Run.

Richard Cruadhlaoich @locounterpane.bsky.social · 9d

Or even Patriot Games!

Richard Cruadhlaoich @locounterpane.bsky.social · 9d

A more considered report will follow but in the immediate aftermath I’d just like to thank game-runners, players and Patriots Hames staff for a terrific Steel Lard today. #SpreadTheLard

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Richard Cruadhlaoich @locounterpane.bsky.social · 10d

Inspiration eh? Bloody hell! It’s Steel Lard tomorrow and my mind should be focused on ‘Running from Bull Run’ but this afternoon I’ve gone out to walk the dog and come back with the more-or-less-complete structure of next year’s game worked out in my mind!

Richard Cruadhlaoich @locounterpane.bsky.social · 11d

Rousing English Victory = A Good Thing. Tweak no more!

Richard Cruadhlaoich @locounterpane.bsky.social · 12d

A friend of mine lives in his constituency. Apparently he’s known locally as “Slimy Bob”.

Richard Cruadhlaoich @locounterpane.bsky.social · 12d

I’ve created a blog post about how I made a load of markers for 6mm scale games. It’s specifically for TacWWII but may have some utility for players of other systems.

thelandofcounterpane.blogspot.com/2025/10/home...

Homemade TacWWII markers

The TacWWII rules originally came with an A4 sheet of tiny (7mm x 4mm) counters for you to cut out and use with the game. They were printed...

thelandofcounterpane.blogspot.com

Richard Cruadhlaoich @locounterpane.bsky.social · 12d

Contrary to half of the scenarios in the rules, Sharp Practice isn’t at its best when used for stand-up battles. It needs a narrative-driven scenario. Escort a waggon, rescue a spy, search the district for the general’s missing niece.

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Richard Cruadhlaoich @locounterpane.bsky.social · 13d

Woohoo! My new, personalised Steel Lard polo shirt has arrived from @glenbrookgames.bsky.social
Thanks Matt!

Richard Cruadhlaoich @locounterpane.bsky.social · 13d

Having stayed in Tynemouth a couple of times this year that area’s become a new addition to my list of favourite places.

Richard Cruadhlaoich @locounterpane.bsky.social · 14d

Very nice! I’d go for MERD-C Americans; they’re fun to paint.

thelandofcounterpane.blogspot.com/2022/07/joy-...

Joy of Six purchases

I didn't take any pictures at Joy of Six last weekend because I was too busy running Cold War Commander participation sessions. I did have ...

thelandofcounterpane.blogspot.com

Richard Cruadhlaoich @locounterpane.bsky.social · 15d

I had a brief but passionate affair with X-Wing a few years back. It’s a fun game. I must get it back onto the table some time if only to justify the cash I spent!

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Richard Cruadhlaoich @locounterpane.bsky.social · 15d

Barnsley?

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Richard Cruadhlaoich @locounterpane.bsky.social · 15d

Engineers preparing it for demolition. He was made from spare parts left over from various sets. He had a hammer but it seems to have got lost.

See this blog post for more of my frugal approach to building extra figures.

thelandofcounterpane.blogspot.com/2025/09/maki...

Making the most of spare parts

Since I first got into making models as a kid I've always followed the advice (from books and magazine articles) that you should hold onto a...

thelandofcounterpane.blogspot.com

Richard Cruadhlaoich @locounterpane.bsky.social · 16d

Write up and pics of my last pre-Steel Lard test session can be found here:

thelandofcounterpane.blogspot.com/2025/10/runn...

Running from Bull Run Again!

This afternoon I had a very productive run-through of my Running from Bull Run scenario prior to next weekend's Steel Lard. The objective w...

thelandofcounterpane.blogspot.com

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Richard Cruadhlaoich @locounterpane.bsky.social · 16d

The bridge over Cub Run comes under Confederate artillery fire.

Richard Cruadhlaoich @locounterpane.bsky.social · 16d

It’s the feared Black Horse Cavalry!

Richard Cruadhlaoich @locounterpane.bsky.social · 16d

Members of Congress observe the Union rout.

Richard Cruadhlaoich @locounterpane.bsky.social · 16d

It’s just a week until Steel Lard. This is probably the final play-test of “Running from Bull Run”.
#SpreadTheLard

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Richard Cruadhlaoich @locounterpane.bsky.social · 17d

I think I remember first hearing about “battle tourism” in the context of some 18th century actions.

Richard Cruadhlaoich @locounterpane.bsky.social · 17d

Like this one?

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Richard Cruadhlaoich @locounterpane.bsky.social · 17d

A feature of First Bull Run was the presence of parties of civilians who went out to watch the battle. Several members of Congress were caught up in the retreat.

I needed a Deployment Point for my own retreating senators so here’s their picnic blanket.

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Richard Cruadhlaoich @locounterpane.bsky.social · 20d

There is no f&@king “e” in the Sharp bit of “Sharp Practice”. Fix it or I’ll be forced to revoke your invite to El Paso!