Friday, 11 April 2014

Packing for Salute!







This afternoon I shall spend busily packing up my contribution to our C-Day game, Caesar's Invasion of Britain, 55BC, at Salute tomorrow. We are at stand GE02, inside the entrance and left a bit. I do hope to see you there!  You will know me by my T-shirt.


Wednesday, 9 April 2014

The "Vesta"


Here's a snap of my swan-necked trade ship, the "Vesta", and one of the four "landing barges" I've painted for the Salute game.  She is a big girl!  These are just quick snaps on my camera phone, I'll take proper pics, later on.


The model was laboriously converted from a plastic kogge.  I'm delighted with the railings; which the chaps at 4Ground very kindly produced as a special order.   

Do come and see the "Vesta", and the rest of the Roman navy (plus me in my new Bigredbat t-shirt, and the fine chaps at WS&S) at Salute on Saturday; stand GE02, just to the left as you come in the entrance.

Sunday, 6 April 2014

Thursday, 3 April 2014

Play testers needed!


I have written a set of ancient wargaming rules, called “To the Strongest!”, which I use for all of the regular weekly games I play with mates, and to run the big games I run at shows.  I am looking for some remote play testers to read and play them and give me some feedback. 

The rules have been designed to give novices an easy entertaining introduction to ancient wargaming, whilst as the same time providing seasoned gamers with a challenging battle that can comfortably be won or lost within an evening.

They are unusual in that no dice, at all, are used.  Instead, an innovative (and fun) mechanic uses playing cards to activate units, which can potentially move or fight multiple times during a turn.  A simple square grid enables the game to move at a cracking pace, and also means that battles can be fought with figures based for any system (WAB, WRG or Impetus).

If you have a couple of ancient armies (small or medium-sized ones will be fine) and a mate or two, and have the time to have a crack at them and give me some feedback, please email me at the email address on the header of this blog.  At this stage I want to send out around half-a-dozen sets, so that I can cope with the feedback.

Cheers, Simon

Wednesday, 2 April 2014

Brittunculi triumphant

Here are some shots of last night's game; a baptism of fire for my the new chariots. Here's a view along the table; soon after landing in Britain, a small force of legionaries (near end of table) have been cut off by Britons (centre); Caesar and the veteran Xth legion  are marching to their assistance (rear).


Caesar's advance was uncharacteristically slow (due to several failed activation cards).


The Britons, however (below), were able to push quickly forward.


A warband burst through the thin Roman line, swept into the camp, and then turned onto the rear of the Roman line; the chariots on the hill then captured the Roman baggage, and the battle was won (and lost).


Below, I'm slowly migrating from using the 4L Really Useful Boxes, to the low 7L size.  These are 30cm wide and take 5 elements across, rather than three.  A more efficient use of storage space!  Here are most of the new chariots, packed for Salute.


Tuesday, 1 April 2014

Chariots, wave 2


Most of the second wave of chariots are ready, for the looming game at Salute.  There are still a couple more on the painting tray, awaiting crew, which will bring me up to a total of 18 vehicles.  I hope to add a smaller third wave, later this year.

These models are a mix of Warlord and Wargames Factory vehicles, mostly with Relic wheels and with Foundry and Newline ponies and various crew conversions.   The crew were painted by Nick Speller.  

Sunday, 30 March 2014

Two legions for Vespasian

I'm near enough to completing the various projects for Salute, so have begun to make a start on my next project, which is a Cremona 69AD, for Partizan on 1st June.

In odd moments I've been preparing the figures for two 100-strong legions of Early Imperial Romans, which will form the core of Vespasian's army. I'm using the system I described in my "One piece at a time" article in Wargames, Soldiers and Strategy. I have bought around 110 of the figures, painted, in 4 different lots. A substantial contingent came from Legatus Hedlius; in fact they are on the header of his blog! All of these need new shield transfers, and some (but not Legatus'), need quite a bit of work to make them presentable.


The balance of the required minis need to be painted from scratch, and are shown below. Almost all of the minis are Foundry Saleh's, but I've mixed in a few Black Tree, Aventine and Crusader and swapped a few heads to increase variety. I've  made a small start on the painting and shield transfers. One legion will have grey-black shields, and the other, yellow.


I have exactly 2 months to lick these into shape (whilst simultaneously building the terrain!). This should keep me nice and busy...