Epirote - Greek Army Arrayed

Well, since I added the new Hoplites, figured I'd take some updated photos of the Greco-Macedonian army to date. The army is based upon the one led by Pyrrhus of Epirus. The recently added Greek & Persian Wars Hoplites may look a bit dated for the period, but they're included nonetheless. Most of the figures are Victrix with a few other makes. All of the shields have LBMS transfers. The elephants are Aventine that were painted a long time ago, but still hold their own.

Here are the infantry; again mostly Victrix. The unit front and center of Hypaspist are a mixture of Foundry and 1st Corps. I foolishly sold off my Foundry Phalangites some years ago.

Next, along with the Aventine elies, a 1st Corps Oxybeles and crew. All of these saw a lot of action when I played WAB. I only used them a few times with Hail Caesar. I did use one of the elephants in a SAGA game a couple of years ago.

The Companion cavalry in wedge formation, flanked by Tarantine light cavalry - all Victrix figures.

Finally the command figures; the Pyrrhus figure on the left and Antiochus figure on the right are from Relic.

So much for the roll call. I hope to someday run a game based on either the Battle of Argos (where Pyrrhus met his end), or maybe the Siege of Sparta prior to this. I had co-hosted a Battle of Heraclea with my earlier mostly-Foundry Epirote army when my buddy had his Republican Romans. We also hosted a Magnesia game with the army led by Antiochus - both games used WAB and were run at conventions. Anyway, thanks for the indulgence, and hope you all are doing well.

Victrix Greek & Persian Wars Hoplites - Completed

Finally finished these guys. Added some highlights to the armor and flesh after the Minwax staining. LBMS transfers used for the shields.

These should work alongside the earlier sets, although most of these are in more active poses. They could be used in the front ranks of the earlier sets.

I based this on 20mm metal washers for use in smaller skirmish games. The plastic is very durable, and the spears should take handling well. 

Apologies for not responding to comments of the previous posts, as I was focused on getting these done. Thanks again for your visits, and kind comments as always. Best wishes to you all.

SAGA Game Day - Italiotes vs. Jomsvikings

Had another great SAGA game day today. Several of the usual players couldn't make it due to some kind of huge traffic snarl on I-5 northbound to Tacoma. I live only about 15 minutes away using backroads so luckily avoided this. For those of us who were fortunate enough to show up there was a 3-way Picts game, while I pitted my Italiotes against Jomsvikings. The group I game with are very accomodating and have no issue playing out of period. I'm still learing the game and my Battle Board as well, but left feeling very good with my current warband composition. The Italiote warband consists of an 8-figure Hearthguard Phalanx unit, two Warrior units with javelins, and a Merc unit each of Tarantine Cavalry and Cretan Archers. The 8-figure Phalanx unit was able to destroy an enemy Warrior unit, and the javelin and bow fire whittled down several other Jomsviking units. We called our game after Turn 4 with my warband still having 4 out of 6 SAGA dice (only two figures left in my Phalanx Hearthguard unit), while the Jomsviking were down to 3 out of 7 of their starting SAGA dice. I really liked how the Cretans have a free activation to shoot at the start of each turn, and also get 2 bonus attack dice and +1 bonus to hit in their first shooting activation. If an enemy unit at medium distance (6") away activates to move or attack, the Tarantine Cavalry gets a free move prior to the enemy unit completing its activation. Against the Jomsvikings which had no missile troops, this kept them at bay the whole time. Granted the Jomsvikings have some special ability with the proper SAGA dice to lob 3 missiles onto any unit on the table - regardless of distance or line of sight. I was fortunate the the two times my opponent was able to attempt this, it only caused minimal casaulties. Plan to keep using this Italiote warband as is, but hope to have the Late Roman warband ready by the next time we meet for our twice-a-month SAGA game day in a couple of weeks. Here are some pics of the two games (note my opponent's warband was still in bare nekkid metal).

The Italiote warband, left to right: Warriors with Javelins, Phalanx, Warlord, Warriors with Javelins, Cretan Archers, and Tarantine Cavalry.

Italiotes facing the Jomsvikings clothed in steel (or lead). For the record, I don't really care for the 2D terrain some of my buddies are using for SAGA since I find it remember what each represents.

Hearthguard Phalanx unit in the center of the warband with the Warlord behind them. They did well enough to survive the battle with two remaining figures. And as the Age of Hannibal rules state, it retains its Phalanx abilities even with one figure if a Hearthguard unit.

The 3-player game on the other table. I think the warbands were all Picts. A pitched Pict battle.

Picts in and out of the woods.

A lot of Italiote missile troops decimating the Jomsviking Warriors. The remaining two-figure Phalanx Hearthguard unit staying out of harms way to retain their SAGA dice.

Jomsviking Warriors vs. Italiote Warriors with javelins in light cover. The 2D terrain does make it easier to get figures onto it, I have to admit.

End of Turn 4, and the game with several Jomsvikings unit destroyed or having reduced figures to lose their SAGA dice. Note the Tarantine Cavalry always staying out of harms way but able to close up to toss javelins.

All in all, it was another great experience with the rules and looking forward to more of the same. I also went ahead and finished up the Late Roman Heavy Cavarly - less their shields. 

They're based them as singles with flexible metal bottoms so they can be used in various game systems. Might try them out with Hail Caesar in the future, along with the rest of the warband.

Didn't notice some of the horse body halves weren't lined up exactly until after painting them. Too late to do anything with them now, but will pay more attention on the Light Cavalry set - which will likely have the same horses.

Until next time best wishes to you all and thanks for stopping by.

Hail Caesar Successor Battle - Antigonid vs. Pyrrhic

Had another great Hail Caesar game today pitting my Pyrrhic army against my buddy's Antigonid army. It was a close run with the Pyrrhic army losing one pike phalanx unit, an elephant and their Companion cavalry, as well as their only two bow units. The Antigonids lost one of their own elephants, two Thracian foot units, a Cretan bow unit and a unit of slingers.

The start of the battle - Pyrrhic forces on the left, Antigonids on the right.

Close-up of the Antigonid battle line. Three towered elephants, one unit of heavy cavalry with lances (xyston), three pike phalanx units, two Thracian foot units with javelins and two-hand weapons, two units each of Cretan archers and slingers (on Rhodian).

The Pyrrhic army. A unit of hypaspist elite medium infantry, a unit of medium cavalry Companion cavalry with lances (xyston), two towered elephants, three units of pike phalanx, two units of mercenary Hoplite phalanxes with long spears, two light cavalry units and two units of archers.

A unit of Antigonid slingers move into the village on their right flank.

The Antigonid right; Thracian foot move up to support Cretan archers.

Pyrrhic light cavalry charge into Antigonid slingers. The slingers able to cause a few casualties prior to being destroyed.

Meanwhile, in the center of the battlefield, Antigonid forces successfully move up towards the Pyrrhic center. The Pyrrhic army failed a few activations early in the game.

Pyrrhic archers in combat with a unit of Antigonid Thracians foot wielding rhomphaias. The archers having no saves were destroyed.

Antigonid scythed chariot charges into a Pyrrhic pike phalanx.

Pyrrhic light cavalry charge into Cretan archer. With the help of another light cavalry unit in support the archers were destroyed - even after inflicting a few casualties from closing fire.

Antigonid pike phalanx units and elephants charge into the Pyrrhic center.

A Pyrrhic phalanx unit attacked to their front by Antigonid pikes and also to their left flank by a unit of Thracians with rhomphaias.

A unit of Greek mercenary hoplites waiting on their turn to charge into the rear of the Thracians. A free move as they are in the 12" proximity rule. Otherwise, the battle rages on in the center between phalanxes and elephants.

The "brave" Antigonid heavy cavalry charge into a small unit of Pyrrhic archers. The archers were destroyed shortly thereafter.

Pyrrhic Companion cavalry counter-charge into the Antigonid heavy cavalry after destroying the archers and making a sweeping advance. For the record, Hail Caesar doesn't have a special rule for cavalry wedge formations. We may come up with some kind of house rule for them later.

The Pyrrhic Companions lost their fight against the Antigonids and broke off the table.

Center of the battle field. The Thracians were soon destroyed by the combined attacks from the two mercenary hoplite units. We called the game soon after this as it would've continued as a slug match between the surviving forces.

All in all, another great Hail Caesar game where we got more familiar with some of the special rules - like elephants and phalanxes. My buddy promised to paint the rest of his command figures - since they might be mistaken for Cleitus. Tomorrow is a holiday Dragon Rampant game which will be the last game of the year for me. Until next time, wishing you all a healthy and great holiday season!

Hail Caesar Gaming - EIR vs. Celt (Britons) - My Blogger Is Working Again!

Phew! What a relief, it seems my issue with uploading images has resolved itself. Anyway, without further drama, here's a report of the Hail Caesar game yesterday.

Thanks to a couple of my buddies, got in a long-awaited EIR vs. Celts Hail Caesar game. In fact, this is first Hail Caesar game I've played (actually umpired) in many years. It was a great game going for 9 full turns, and played with figures never gamed before - painted during the lockdown period. Here's a staged shot of the layout prior to the start of the actual game. Note the roundhouses and Druid objective marker, both recently added, on the far right of the picture.

As those of you who play both Hail Caesar and Black Powder, you know they are very similar in overall mechanics, but there are some interesting differences. For one, support units in hand to hand have their own attack dice in Hail Caesar. In Black Powder, support units values are added during the combat resolution portion. Shooting is also not as important as in Black Powder, and the emphasis is on combat. Anyway, on to the images of the actual game - as usual, I failed to capture all of the action during the heat of battle.

Initial moves by the three Roman divisions. The two divisions on either flank consist of two units of legionaries, one unit of auxiliaries, two small units of archers and a unit of medium cavalry. The center division, led by the army general, consists of one unit of Praetorian legionaries and two units of Praetorian medium cavalry.

Initial moves of the Celts. The army consists of two divisions of infantry and two divisions of horse. The infantry divisions each have three warbands (one of which is made up of nobles clad in mail cuirasses - better saves) and two units of slingers. The horse divisions each have two units of British chariots and a unit of medium cavalry.

Celt slingers charging Roman Auxiliary archers - the archers causing casualties from closing fire - the unarmored slingers having no saves. The slingers had already caused a casualty to the archers in an earlier round of shooting

Roman left at the bottom of the picture; Celtic horses in the background roaming the battlefield for opportunities.

Legionaries and Auxiliaries charging into a warband of nobles - a unit of Auxiliary archers having broken after losing combat with the Celt slingers.

Celt warbands advancing on the Roman battle line, while Celt cavalry and chariots maneuver on the flanks.

The Roman center with the army general joining a unit of Praetorian foot - supported by a unit of Praetorian cavalry to their rear, about to charge into small unit of unarmored slingers. This should have been a cake walk for the Romans. However, due to accurate and deadly closing fire from the slingers - one of the hits being a 6, the Romans had to take a Break Test. This was failed with a score of 2, and the with the casualty, they had to break!

The Roman battle line showing the loss of the Praetorian foot in the center.

A Celt warband being attacked by Roman cavalry to their front, and a unit of legionaries to their right flank. The division commanders of both sides joining in the fight. In the distance, Praetorian cavalry charge into another Celt warband - avenging the loss of their infantry brethren.

The Roman left victorious after destroying the Celt warband.

Praetorian cavalry counter charging Celt horse - the latter supported by two units of chariots, and their division commander (with war hound) joining the fight.

Another division of Celt horse looking to join in the action - somewhere.

Two units of Celt chariots - one attacking a unit of legionaries and the other a unit of auxiliaries. Celt horse supporting the unit fighting the auxiliaries.

Celt chariots supported by cavalry vs. Roman infantry.

At the end of turn 9, the Celt forces had lost enough of their army to declare it a Roman victory - a very close victory at that. Also, one of the minor victory conditions wasn't achieved by the Romans. This was for them to recapture their lost eagle and standards held by the Druid priest within their village on the far end of the table. The Romans actually never made it past the mid-way point of the table, but they had won the game by attrition. 

All in all a very satisfying game. It was great to re-familiarize myself with the rules after so many years. One of my buddies (who played the Romans) and I enjoyed it so much that we're playing a Macedonian/Successor game next week. Looking forward to this game and posting another report as well. Until next time, thank you all so much for visiting the blog and leaving such nice comments. I realized how much this blog is a part of my life after not being able to update it properly (with images) for less than 24 hours! Happy Holidays!