Pre-1900 Counter Graphics
Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2026 2:31 am
So I sidled up to TOAW to play Bob's Gettysburg scenario, and it opened up and I realized that the NATO counter set just rubs me wrong for the pre-1900 stuff. You have to admit, NATO was a very weak alliance at the time, but their symbol set post WWII really caught the zeitgeist, and it has been applied retroactively since.
So I "real quick, honey, I promise" decided to throw something together. Didn't like it, either. Still too European for it. So I came up with some more historically accurate Civil War counter iconography. And the Indian Wars era, too, as I recall that there is a Custer Scenario out there. And then I thought that maybe the European symbols set would fit the Colonial Era and the Napoleonic era, so did that.
And then I thought -- maybe not symbols at all! Maybe "little soldiers" are what people want to see. So I did that, too. But I'm afraid that if little guys are what you wanted to see, well... they are kind of hard to see. Especially on the non-enlarged counters. I assure you, those up close ARE revolutionary era Americans and British and classic European uniformed guys of the appropriate time period, but I'm not certain the juice was worth the squeeze. Which is probably why those NATO icons caught on so well.
Then I made some little sailing vessels, but I'm not sure they worked great either. I was tired (and facing divorce) by that point.
Anyway, below is the whole ugly tapestry.
OF NOTE: The design of counters themselves was not mine -- that was an experiment by someone else, but it works pretty well for the time period, I think. Both as the branches in the CSA Civil War set, and as the frock/pants combo on the Brits and French. So what we have is:
CIVIL WAR ICONS:
Period correct bugles for infantry, crossed sabers for cavalry, and crossed cannons for artillery. Added covered wagons for supply and a generals star for the higher level headquarters.
If you hate the numbers on the counters, let me explain: they are supposed to be a recreation of the M1851 stamped brass company numbers on uniforms of the period (as is the HQ font).
I like this set (pending adjustments), l although I'm not certain the fixed mortars are pulling their weight*.
COLONIAL and NAPOLEONIC:
So for the first set I went with simple crossed sabres for CAV, crossed rifles for INF, and a cannon for ARTY. Low level HQ is a flag, and high level is a picture of a Field Marshal, which I think worked. Better than George Washington, which... dammit, he's the father of my nation and I won't have him badmouthed by the likes of you! In general, I think I like the symbols set better than than NATO for all my Napoleonic needs.
The little troop set... well, like I said, not sure that will get me a TOAWY at the annual awards luncheon. Even with the tiny boats, which I know I am going to hear about from the Navy nerds on the forum. I'm here for it!
Have a look, and let me know of any glaring errors or something that SHOULD be there that isn't. If there is interest, I could fine tune it up and post it after the custody hearing.
* OF COURSE the pun was intended.
So I "real quick, honey, I promise" decided to throw something together. Didn't like it, either. Still too European for it. So I came up with some more historically accurate Civil War counter iconography. And the Indian Wars era, too, as I recall that there is a Custer Scenario out there. And then I thought that maybe the European symbols set would fit the Colonial Era and the Napoleonic era, so did that.
And then I thought -- maybe not symbols at all! Maybe "little soldiers" are what people want to see. So I did that, too. But I'm afraid that if little guys are what you wanted to see, well... they are kind of hard to see. Especially on the non-enlarged counters. I assure you, those up close ARE revolutionary era Americans and British and classic European uniformed guys of the appropriate time period, but I'm not certain the juice was worth the squeeze. Which is probably why those NATO icons caught on so well.
Then I made some little sailing vessels, but I'm not sure they worked great either. I was tired (and facing divorce) by that point.
Anyway, below is the whole ugly tapestry.
OF NOTE: The design of counters themselves was not mine -- that was an experiment by someone else, but it works pretty well for the time period, I think. Both as the branches in the CSA Civil War set, and as the frock/pants combo on the Brits and French. So what we have is:
CIVIL WAR ICONS:
Period correct bugles for infantry, crossed sabers for cavalry, and crossed cannons for artillery. Added covered wagons for supply and a generals star for the higher level headquarters.
If you hate the numbers on the counters, let me explain: they are supposed to be a recreation of the M1851 stamped brass company numbers on uniforms of the period (as is the HQ font).
I like this set (pending adjustments), l although I'm not certain the fixed mortars are pulling their weight*.
COLONIAL and NAPOLEONIC:
So for the first set I went with simple crossed sabres for CAV, crossed rifles for INF, and a cannon for ARTY. Low level HQ is a flag, and high level is a picture of a Field Marshal, which I think worked. Better than George Washington, which... dammit, he's the father of my nation and I won't have him badmouthed by the likes of you! In general, I think I like the symbols set better than than NATO for all my Napoleonic needs.
The little troop set... well, like I said, not sure that will get me a TOAWY at the annual awards luncheon. Even with the tiny boats, which I know I am going to hear about from the Navy nerds on the forum. I'm here for it!
Have a look, and let me know of any glaring errors or something that SHOULD be there that isn't. If there is interest, I could fine tune it up and post it after the custody hearing.
- Counter Example.png (1.61 MiB) Viewed 645 times