Sunday, May 31, 2020

Dispatches from the Front IX

The end of May and as the country slowly creeps out of lock down I look back on another successful month with another major project complete with no more bare metal hanging around for the English or the Forces of Darkness in the Elizabethan Zombie Project.

The new "normal" in terms of working practices has seen an extra couple of hours of hobby time each day which really helps keeping the painting queue moving, whether it's a quick basing session or undercoating its far better than the usual commute. 

Whilst physical gaming has been sparse I have been able to grab a number of Standard Games Cry Havoc and Siege skirmish games over face time. With both of us owning the game we swap pic's of the set up a few hours earlier matching the characters on the map before grabbing a couple of hours gaming time.
The rules have really stood the test of time, I still have an urge to re-create this in miniature but let's see plenty of other projects on the list at the moment.


Whilst Osprey might been offering free downloads when C19 kicked off it does not mean it costs us gamers nothing, reading the pdf on Japanese Infantry it got me thinking using Bolt Action to refight Henderson Airfield, I have a number of 28mm US marines and Japanese Infantry but spotted these from company B on the Great Escape Games website. I needed to add a couple of items from them for the Seven Days to the Rhine Rules and well these would make up the postage.


I found myself flicking through Kickstarter one evening and came across Command and Colors latest offering. I have always fancied gaming the Jacobite Rebellions, but it's not going to happen unless someone really does invent tartan paint.. So this is the next best thing.
Estimated delivery September.... So looking forward to playing this at Christmas based on my usual track record of projects backed.



Meanwhile the boss had the great idea to clear out the loft and I came across my original inspiration for getting into gaming. I remember finding a copy of this in my local library and a poster on the wall for the local historical gaming club, wow that was over 30 years ago.


The Ancient game showed a confrontation between the Sassanid Persians and Romans circa AD363.
Over the years I have only dabbled with ancients but have always thought back to these pics and fancied giving it a proper go...  



So as other projects wind down the Egyptian - Hittite lead pile slowly increases. More on this in the months ahead.

Meanwhile the Diplomacy campaign continues with the Wyvern's with a couple of players down and others tittering on the brink it could all be over in a couple of rounds if truces hold and moves play out. Up until now my Turkish forces and the Austrians have had a mutual agreement but we both know that can't last.


So what of June?
So far the monthly project focus has been very rewarding with 4 projects cleared of all bare metal. As tempted as I am kick off the Ancients I have a number of 'fillers' that need to be brought to life with extras for Russia, Africa, The Far East and Other Egyptian stuff.

Meanwhile some light reading as inspiration for the New Kingdom  - Hittite Project.


Four sons. One throne. A world on the precipice. 
1315 BC: Tensions soar between the great powers of the Late Bronze Age. 
The Hittites stand toe-to-toe with Egypt, Assyria and Ahhiyawa, and war seems inevitable. More, the fierce Kaskan tribes – age-old enemies of the Hittites – amass at the northern borders. 
When Prince Hattu is born, it should be a rare joyous moment for all the Hittite people. But when the Goddess Ishtar comes to King Mursili in a dream, she warns that the boy is no blessing, telling of a dark future where he will stain Mursili’s throne with blood and bring destruction upon the world. Thus, Hattu endures a solitary boyhood in the shadow of his siblings, spurned by his father and shunned by the Hittite people. But when the Kaskans invade, Hattu is drawn into the fray. It is a savage journey in which he strives to show his worth and valour. Yet with his every step, the shadow of Ishtar’s prophecy darkens

Thursday, May 28, 2020

Elizabethan Zombie Project.... Yet more rats....

Yes more Rats and the last of the painting projects for Elizabethan/Fantasy May.
I picked these up from Midlam Miniatures a few weeks ago when looking for a few more folklore oddities to flesh out the forces of darkness.

Mounting 2 giant rats to a base and one gigantic rat all on his own.... I see then as one unit within Warlords of Erehwon rules.
Great castings with plenty of character if a rat can have character :-)


I opted for a dark brown rather than a black colouring having looked at the colours of some of the earlier hordes in particular the D&D plastics, the brown felt like it would give an overall better feel to them.


They make quite a collection now with rats of all sizes filling the table, from small swarms which have been repainted from black to brown to the larger swarms and the half man/half rat king.
I need to tweak a couple of the rules yet but something a little more unusual for the English and Spanish to face rather than the shambling dead.



That's the last of the fantasy/folklore foes complete...
Witches, Zombies, Wolves, Crows, Ghosts, Evil Villagers, a Vampire and various Rats not a bad haul.

If anyone has any other suggestions what might fit feel free to comment.
I am trying to keep away from the usual skeletons and high Fantasy if there is such a thing.

Next up a new month and time to switch projects :-)


Sunday, May 24, 2020

English Demi Lancers - Thoroughbreds and Ponys.....

Another big day in the annals of my wargaming hobby. With these three Demi-Lancers exiting the paint table the English faction is complete.....
At least until the show scene sparks into life hopefully come November...

These three are from Foundry's Elizabethan range I already had one painted up from when I first started the Irish project several years back so this should give me a complete unit to field and counter the Spanish cavalry.



Perhaps I should have checked the box first!!!!
The one I already had was from Hoya Key - Previously Graven Images and I realised that scale might be a problem as the chap is an absolute monster - A true Big Man... He will just have to be a homage to the Mountain from Game of Thrones :-)


Some manufacturers you can normally get away with when based and painted.
But adding this chap to the unit somehow makes the new cavalry look less impressive next to him, more like pony club than impact cavalry.



Next up.... The last of the evil stuff.....

Thursday, May 21, 2020

Elizabethan English - Warlords of Erehwon.

With the last of English on the paint table, I thought I would document the English defenders for the Elizabethan Zombie wars using the Warlords of Erehwon rules.

I should get some pics up on the blog as soon as the last 3 cavalry are finished this weekend.

The ENGLISH Army

 

The QUEEN OF ENGLAND

Warlord Warrior Unit

Points Value: 122

Unit: Queen Bess

Ag

Acc

Str

Res

Init

Co

Special

1 x Queen Bess

6

6

5

5

8

9

Tough 2, Wound, Fast 8 (Mounted) Command, Dread

2 x Maidens

6

6

5

5

8

8

Sword SV 1 +1 Str

 

SIR DANIEL FANSHAW

Warlord Warrior Unit

Points Value: 108

Unit: Hero

Ag

Acc

Str

Res

Init

Co

Special

1 x Hero with sword, light armour

6

6

6

6(7)

8

9

Tough 2

Hero 3 x HtH, Wound

2 x Bodyguards with swords.

6

6

6

6

8

8

Sword SV 1 +1 Str

 

CAPTAIN HENRY MILTON

Warlord Warrior Unit

Points Value: 108

Unit: Hero

Ag

Acc

Str

Res

Init

Co

Special

1 x Hero with sword, light armour

6

6

6

6(7)

8

9

Tough 2

Hero 3 x HtH, Wound

2 x Bodyguards with swords, light armour.

6

6

6

6(7)

8

8

Sword SV 1 +1 Str

 

CAPTAIN WALTER PASCO

Warlord Warrior Unit

Points Value: 108

Unit: Hero

Ag

Acc

Str

Res

Init

Co

Special

1 x Hero with sword, light armour

6

6

6

6(7)

8

9

Tough 2

Hero 3 x HtH, Wound

2 x Bodyguards with swords, light armour.

6

6

6

6(7)

8

8

Sword SV 1 +1 Str

 

ARTHUR GATFORD

Warlord Warrior Unit

Points Value: 108

Unit: Hero

Ag

Acc

Str

Res

Init

Co

Special

1 x Hero with sword, light armour

6

6

6

6(7)

8

9

Tough 2

Hero 3 x HtH, Wound

2 x Bodyguards with swords

6

6

6

6

8

8

Sword SV 1 +1 Str

 

Begley Trained Band – CALVIERS (1)

Warrior Unit

Points Value: 100

Unit: Handgunners

Ag

Acc

Str

Res

Init

Co

Special

1 x leader with sword, handgun,

4

5

6

6

6

8

Tough

Sword SV 1 +1 Str

Handgun 10”20” SV3

4 x handgunners with swords

4

5

6

6

6

8

Sword SV 1 +1 Str

Handgun 10”20” SV3

 

Begley Trained Band – CALVIERS (2)

Warrior Unit

Points Value: 100

Unit: Handgunners

Ag

Acc

Str

Res

Init

Co

Special

1 x leader with sword, handgun,

4

5

6

6

6

8

Tough

Sword SV 1 +1 Str

Handgun 10”20” SV3

4 x handgunners with swords

4

5

6

6

6

8

Sword SV 1 +1 Str

Handgun 10”20” SV3

 

Begley Trained Band – PIKEMEN

Warrior Unit

Points Value: 223

Unit: Pike Block

Ag

Acc

Str

Res

Init

Co

Special

1 x leader with sword, pike, heavy armour

4

5

6

6(8)

6

8

Tough

Sword SV 1 +1 Str

Pike SV 1 Cancels charge bonus

11 Pikemen with sword, pike, heavy armour

4

5

6

6(8)

6

8

Sword SV 1 +1 Str

Pike SV 1 Cancels charge bonus

 

GATLEY Trained Band – CALVIERS (1)

Warrior Unit

Points Value: 100

Unit: Handgunners

Ag

Acc

Str

Res

Init

Co

Special

1 x leader with sword, handgun,

4

5

6

6

6

8

Tough

Sword SV 1 +1 Str

Handgun 10”20” SV3

4 x handgunners with swords

4

5

6

6

6

8

Sword SV 1 +1 Str

Handgun 10”20” SV3

 

GATLEY Trained Band – CALVIERS (2)

Warrior Unit

Points Value: 100

Unit: Handgunners

Ag

Acc

Str

Res

Init

Co

Special

1 x leader with sword, handgun,

4

5

6

6

6

8

Tough

Sword SV 1 +1 Str

Handgun 10”20” SV3

4 x handgunners with swords

4

5

6

6

6

8

Sword SV 1 +1 Str

Handgun 10”20” SV3

 

oakley Trained Band – CALVIERS

Warrior Unit

Points Value: 118

Unit: Handgunners

Ag

Acc

Str

Res

Init

Co

Special

1 x leader with sword, handgun,

4

5

6

6

6

8

Tough

Sword SV 1 +1 Str

Handgun 10”20” SV3

5 x handgunners with swords

4

5

6

6

6

8

Sword SV 1 +1 Str

Handgun 10”20” SV3

 

Fair Green trained Band – PIKEMEN

Warrior Unit

Points Value: 178

Unit: Pike Block

Ag

Acc

Str

Res

Init

Co

Special

1 x leader with sword, pike, medium armour

4

5

6

6(7)

6

8

Tough

Sword SV 1 +1 Str

Pike SV 1 Cancels charge bonus

10 Pikemen with sword, pike, medium armour

4

5

6

6(7)

6

7

Sword SV 1 +1 Str

Pike SV 1 Cancels charge bonus

 

 

Cannon

Artillery Unit

Points Value: 96

Unit: Cannon

Ag

Acc

Str

Res

Init

Co

Special

3 x Crew, light armour, small cannon

4

5

6

6

6

8

Large, Slow 3

Cannon 20”30”40” SV5 Unstoppable

 

demi- lancers Cavalry

Mounted Unit

Points Value: 216

Unit: Cavalry

Ag

Acc

Str

Res

Init

Co

Special

1 x leader with sword,  lance, Heavy armour, riding warhorse.

4

5

6

6(9)

6

8

Tough, Fast 8, Zealous, Warhorse, 1xHtH SV1

Lance SV3 on charge.

5 x Cavalry with sword,  lance, Heavy armour, riding warhorse.

4

5

6

6(9)

6

7

, Fast 8, Zealous, Warhorse, 1xHtH SV1

Lance SV3 on charge.

 

Special Rules

Command

Friendly units within 10” can use the model’s Co Stat to take command based tests.

Tough

Re-roll a failed Res test.

Dead Eye Shot

Can re-roll one miss.

Wound

Can lose the 'wounds value' of lives before a further Res fail slays. Can't recover pins beyond wounds suffered.

Divine Intervention

Can steal an order dice from an enemy unit within 20” with successful command test. If fail take 1 pin instead.

Fast

Move the basic rate indicated 8”

Large

+1 to hit shooting, can draw line of sight to body. Can draw LOS over non large bodies.

Slow 3

Make the move at a rate of 3”

Zealous

Ignore pins when taking break test. Re-roll failed order test.

Dread

-1 to hit shooting/close combat, -1to break test if defeated by a Dreaded Enemy.

Unstoppable

Shot Penetrates the unit hit and can strike others beyond so long as the target is hit each time.