Tuesday 29 July 2008

How's it going MrF?? July08.

It's the School Holidays & I've got some time off, so.... Out with the paints! I've been 'rummaging' through the unfinished boxes, just to see what needs that final touch. There's a fair few projects that I'd forgotten about & of course some NEW ones!


The Bits 'n' Bobs


Polybian Roman Spears now have Shield Transfers!


First the old ones, still to complete. TYW French, just need to buy some suitable Mounted Musketeers. Both the Cardinals Guard & Kings Musketeers. French Wars of Religion, got more than enough troops now, just need to get them based MrF style & add some suitable flags. Italian Wars, again more than enough troops, just need to sort them out & add suitable flags. They'll be then straight into battle. Well they're the 'biggies'.

SO a new one! THE SUDAN.... Victorian British & Hordes of Dervishes. Hidden away in a box on the shelves, some previous purchases & old paint jobs. Where did this sudden inspiration come from? Watching the 1939 version of 'The Three Feathers', the best version by far! So I've been trawling the Web for research, there are now some new Sites on the Links section.

The British troops are all red coated, so to be able to cover all the Sudan Campaign I'm going to re-paint half of them in Khaki. We have some unpainted Mikes Models British Cavalry, so they will be painted & join the ranks! Plus I'll need some artillery crews & some of the odd bods, British Camel troops, probably order them online.

The SUDAN Box


Lots of Fanatical Dervishes!

Superb SUDAN Paint Guide by Michael Perry on the WI Website (see links)


Plus this week, we've tidied up our Carthaginians. Touched up the paint jobs, fixed those pesky spears that have fallen off, added new elements. Pics to follow!

Sunday 20 July 2008

DBA Later Macedonians vs Polybian Romans

I've always been fascinated by the Battle of Pydna, 168BC. Rome finally defeated Macedonia & became 'Top Boys' of the Med. There is a great picture in Peter Connollys 'The Roman Army' (Macdonald), at the front of the book showing the two forces clashing. A smashing book, which I can remember reading in the School library when I was 11!

Here we go then, a Later Macedonian vs Polybian Roman battle. Jack would take the Macedonians, he was the defender & set up the board. A large Hill, a rough area & a funky Greek temple to be treated as rough. Being the attacker, I rolled for table edge & typically, got probably the worst edge. So Jack started with the hill & a some rough.... Oh the shades of doom!

Army selection for the Polybians is straight forward enough.... Jack went with the Auxilia option for his Macedonians.

II/35 Later Macedonian 260-148BC
1x3Cv(Gen), 1x2Lh, 6x4Pk, 2x4Ax, 1x3Ax or 4Wb or 2Ps, 1x2Ps

II/33 Polybian Roman 275-105BC
1x3Cv(Gen), 1x3Cv, 6x4Bd, 2x4Sp, 2x2Ps

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Initial Battlefield, Jack would cling to the hill with his Pike for extra advantage. His Light troops would flood the Rough. My plan was to attack the Lighter troops, I didn't want to be hacking away at that Phalanx.
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As suspected, the Phalanx lumbers over the Hill.......
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Roman Cavalry spot an open flank..... MMMmmm an opportunity?
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Roman Spears & Blades on the left, would be a decoy. Well that's the Roman plan.
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Jack rolls excellent Pips for the opening rounds(as usual... ZZzzzz), The Macedonian specialists take to the rough.

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Battlefield after a few rounds, the flank is open for the Roman Cavalry.
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The Roman General takes a central position, the Psiloi advance.
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The Roman left & the march of the Legions.
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Could I lure out Jacks Light Troops? It would be key to the battle.
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Love this Pic, Polybian Roman Spears & Blades advance, very slowly though....

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Jack sees the danger & reacts with his Light Horse (Background), I bring up 2 Blades to deal with the Macedonians in the Rough.
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I'm not impressed with the match up, the Roman Cavalry only have a slight advantage.
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Jacks sticking to the rough, the Light Horse/ Cavalry scrap is not fairing well. I spot the Macedonian General on his own...... I transfer a Blade to partner the Roman General.
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Jacks sticking to his Hill, with double ranked Pike. It would be tough even for the Roman Blades to dislodge that lot. Many rounds are spent expanding the line.
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Jacks patience is unbelievable... I finally get the Roman General lined up.

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In go the attacks, but in typical MrF fashion my die rolls are abysmal.
Jacks aren't though.... First the Macedonian Light Horse kill the Roman Cavalry.
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Then the Macedonian General makes short work of the Roman Blades......
All on my turn, I'm speechless. Jack then utters 'Now it's my turn....'
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With a 'demonic' glance he looks up & rolls, '5 for Pips' he says. I stare, slightly dumbfounded, as the Macedonian Light Horse 'gallops' around the board. Although he can't reach my camp on this turn & the fact it will cost him extra Pips. He WILL reach my camp on his next turn....
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There's nothing I can do! I make a pathetic attempt to withdraw troops back to defend the Camp, but they will never get there in time.... Of course he wins the combat & victory belongs to Macedonia!!!!!
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Final positions, another 'Grand Plan' shot to pieces.

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Oh... My head's in my hands & I'm shaking it back & forth. 'So Dad, your putting away the board then...' says Jack in an extremely smug tone.

A very quick end to the game, especially after many rounds of maneuver. The power of Light Horse, it had to happen one day. Never again will my camp go undefended!!!
Well done to Jack. Bah Humbug... ;o)

Monday 14 July 2008

BoB5 Welsh vs Highlands & Isles

Part 5 of our Epic Saga! I had to sit this one out & act as umpire. Jack took the Highland & Isles lads, while his little sister Amy took the Welsh. He took no time in a bout of 'mickey taking' & taunted his sister throughout, but would Amy get her revenge?

Amy, as the defender set the terrain, a hill, two woods & the ever present swamp. Jack was happy with his roll that gave him the table edge with the hill. His plan, one line of Blades & a left wing comprised of a Blade, Warband plus two Bows. Amy vowed to 'Kill Jacks General!', a left wing of six Spears plus her General. Her light troops would go for the swamp, two Spears face off against Jack's superior force.

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The Highland lads on the left, the Welsh on the right.
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The Welsh advance.
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With Jack's taunts ringing out loud, the Host advance over the hill.
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Amy sporting her England shirt spurs on the Welsh.
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Jack the master of maneuver, adjusts his battle line.

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'Right lads, it's time for some singing!!!'
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Jack's odd Battle group, Blade/Warband/Bows....
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The Welsh troops occupy the swamp.
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Lots of adjustment... Magnus Bearlegs the Highland General has the 'Idiot' attribute, movement is sometimes restricted for Jack. Amy takes advantage.
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In go the troops!

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Welsh arrows fly into the Highlanders....
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Amy is happy that her General has the 'Rock Hard' attribute. A Kill result is dropped to a Recoil, one time per battle.
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The Welsh General takes out a Blade on the left.
Other combats result in recoils, the line is all over the place.
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Jack's revenge, his Blades take out a Welsh Spear.
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Amy has the blood lust, King Owen piles into the Highland flank, another Blade is destroyed.

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A bad pip roll & Jacks troops are pinned, on Amy's turn she charges in!
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The Highland troops in the centre are wasted.
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On the flank, another Welsh Spear is destroyed. The Highlanders have the advantage in numbers. But is it too late?
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Amy's die rolls are superb, Magnus Bearlegs is duly cut down... as foretold!!!
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Final Battle positions.... Cue the taunts of a younger sister... EASY EASY EASY!
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Ha! Nice one, Jacks laughing but gives his little sister the 'eyes'. Amy doesn't care & promptly wacks Jack on his arm with a plastic sword. Lovely battle & Jack failed to use his advantage in Blades. He was hampered by Magnus Bearlegs poor ability, but it did add to the fun. Well done to General Amy!
Next up the final instalment, Feudal English vs the Scots... I hope I can get a game!!

Saturday 12 July 2008

DBA Ancient British vs Romans

Back to DBA gaming after a few weeks off. Now a clash between the Ancient Britons & Marian Roman force. Jack would be the Romans & the Attacker. The Ancient British list allows the choice of Light Chariots, so I went with 4 of them including the General, plus 2 Light Horse. With those choices it gave the British lots of mobility, the remainder being Warband.

Terrain, 2 Woods & a Stone Henge(rough). Plus a Games Workshop hill (looks good, but useless as the figures always fall off!!!)

II/49 Marian Romans
1x3Cv(Gen), 1x3Cv, 8x4Bd, 1x3Ax, 2Ps

II/53 Ancient British
1xLCh(Gen), 2x2Lh, 3xLCh, 6x3Wb


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The Battlefield, with direction of attacks.
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Marian Romans
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Ancient British
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The swift Ancient British chariots!
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The Romans advance
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Chariots on the left, Warband the centre, Light Horse the right.
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Druids waiting for Roman sacrifices!!!
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The British Light Horse race ahead.
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Jacks Romans quickly take up positions. His Light troops hold the woods.
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Roman Blades up close
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Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrgghh!!!
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Blade vs Light Horse
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Oh... It's shaping up nicely.
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Jack reckons his Cavalry will be in trouble, he switches the Roman Auxilia.
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A British Chariot moves in on the Blades, but fails to ZOC them.
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The Roman Blades send the British Light Horse packing!!!
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Blades versus Warbands coming up.
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The 'British' view of proceedings.
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The 'Roman' view.

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3 British Chariots against 2 Roman Cavalry.
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The Big Battle in the centre.
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Oh no! Disaster for the Romans, Jacks General bites the dust!!!!!
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One British casualty.
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One casualty each, but with his General gone, Jack admits defeat.
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Ah well, this is what happens when you put Generals in the front lines. Still it was a nice game to blow off the cobwebs. I liked the Ancient Britons, it was a nice mix of troops.