Wednesday, 12 February 2014

Ben Muswell

I've finished the "Scottish" mountain I stated around 10 days ago.


It is boomerang shaped, perhaps 50cm long, by 12cm high.  I've included some sheep on the sheltered lower slopes, amidst the heather... mostly Gripping Beast Manx Langtons.


...whilst an old ram keeps watch (below).


There's a WIP shot of the mountain here.  We used it in a game last night for the first time; it is impassable terrain, and occupies 3 of the terrain boxes I use in my rules.

Wednesday, 5 February 2014

Bagging a Munro

A Munro is a mountain in Scotland that is at least 3,000 foot high; there are, apparently, 282 of them and more than 4,000 people have climbed the lot!

I decided that I need a smaller mountain for my own table, as it is likely that my Late Roman Field army will be campaigning north of the Wall.  This is a WIP shot of my own Monro (background), which is a lofty 5" tall, and build from some old model railway latex mountain pieces scavenged from the loft.  I have stuck them on top of an old polystyrene hill, and joined them together with grout and faith.  


I am also customizing a Javis ridge (foreground) that I bought cheaply on eBay, and some GW hills (not shown).  The 28mm figures are there to give an idea of scale.  We'll see how they come out after painting...

Tuesday, 4 February 2014

Rome at War weekend

I'm teaming up with Mark Freeth, of the Wargames Holiday Centre, to put on a weekend of Roman wargaming from 27th to 29th June (not July as I posted incorrectly!).  We'll be using around 3,500 miniatures from my collection, and the "To the Strongest!" rule set that I've recently developed to play large games, quickly, in the WHC's excellent facilities near Basingstoke.


The games will include Second Chaoronea (above) and the Roman Civil War Cremona battle I'm planning for Partizan, which will be similar to the below.  


More details of the event can be found here, please contact Mark if you'd like to make a booking.

Wednesday, 29 January 2014

Veteran Ala


This ala of Roman cavalry will join the Impetus-based Early Imperial Roman army that I've building in spare moments between other projects.

I painted the Gripping Beast riders at least a decade ago, but they looked too small alongside the larger minis in my main EIR army, and consequently have languished unloved in a storage box for at least five years.  


They are, however, perfect for my new, smaller, EIR army. I decided that, just for a change, it would be fun to base them mostly on standing horses, and I found some foundry models on fleaBay.


I incorporated a casualty figure and a dead horse from the bits box; this poor wounded fellow is appealing to his colleagues for help, but they too busy, as preparing to charge.

I'm now past half way with this army.  A couple more elements each of cavalry and legionaries, and a general or two, should see it ready for the field!

Monday, 27 January 2014

Redzedz' druids

I picked these up from Shaun, last year, along with some Goths that I will be basing later this week.


They are beautifully painted and composed, and so all I've done is to repaint and flock the base, so that they fit in with my system. I'm very pleased with them; now I want to get back to my Celtic army (but there are too many other things I need to do first...).

Friday, 24 January 2014

Somewhere just south of the Wall

Last night a full contingent of the Muswell Militiamen gathered for a second game with my emerging Late Roman collection. The Picts have crossed the wall, and are threatening a fortified Roman town. The Roman field army formed up in a long thin line in front of the town's walls, leaving the town behind them un-garrisoned.  This latter was a decision that they would, all to soon, regret.


The Romans moved first and dashed forward, trying to take the ridge between the two armies. They only managed to get a toehold, though, before their movement activations ended. In the Pictish turn the northerners seized the rest of the ridge. They had a surprise up their sleeve, too; one of the stratagems they had drawn before the game indicated that one of their units, in this case the Saxon allied cavalry was off-table, lost. They diced to see if they would arrive, and where, and there was a collective drawing of breath as the cantered across the Roman baseline straight into the town, and commenced to loot the legion's baggage (below)! Presumably they had stumbled across an unguarded rear gate...



Above is a shot of the Pictish left, nervously awaiting the arrival of the Roman cataphracts, and below is the fighting for the ridge. Shortly after this shot was taken, the Roman unit in the right foreground had to turn around and march off, to attempt to assault and recapture their own camp!



Above, on the left flank, a unit of Roman skirmishers made skillful use of the terrain to hold up the advance of a Saxon warband (above), whilst a unit of auxiliaries contested a patch of newly-made heather with Pictish spearmen (below).



The game was very confused and very enjoyable.  The thin Roman battle line broke up very quickly (below), with several veteran legiones making for (and capturing some of) the Pictish baggage, whilst doing their best to fend off flank and rear attacks.  The Picts won by a fair margin, largely due to the instinctive looting abilities of their Saxon allies.




I've come away with a few more suggestions and rule tweaks, which I've been working on this morning. Mate Craig has very kindly sold me some beautiful Late Romans that I want to paint up before out next game, in a few weeks time, and I think we will play Longstreet again next week.

Wednesday, 22 January 2014

A modest Roman reinforcement

In last week's game, some concern was expressed about the relatively small size of the Roman Field army. For tomorrow's game a small reinforcement has arrived; the Equites Sagittarii Parthi Iuniores, a vexillationes comitatenses unit which has traveled all the way from Africa. 



This unit, originally formed of Parthians, would have spent its time patrolling the borders of the Roman Province of Africa against nomadic incursions.



Three of these A&A minis were purchased painted to a high standard, in an eBay lot I bought from the USA. I painted 3 more to match, highlighted and based. Later I shall revisit them, and add small shields, painted with the appropriate designs.

I bought a load of Muskateer Gothic horse this week. At some point in the future, it would be terrific to use them game the Vandal invasion of Africa...