Oliver Ingham - Seneschal of Gascony

Here is another Black Tree Designs figure from their Early-HYW mounted command pack. He's painted up as Oliver Ingham, a prominent military commander who served in Scotland during the reign of Edward II. He remained loyal to Edward II during that regent's civil wars. Imprisoned for his loyalty, he was later released and served under Edmund of Woodstock and later Edward III. He participated in the brief and disastrous (for the English) War of Saint-Sardos in 1324. Appointed Seneschal of Gascony twice, he still held that office when the Hundred Years War began in 1337. He died in 1344 in Norfolk, England.

The Ingham family name has its roots in ancient Anglo-Saxon culture, and associated with Norfolk well before the Norman Conquest. Indeed, Sir Oliver's arms are based upon those of Roger Bigod who also hailed from Norfolk.

The helmet is an early form of a visored bascinet. The axehead is an Old Glory spare part - brass rod is used for the shaft. Didn't want to use a lance as he'll be used Lion Rampant skirmishes.

Most of the illustrations of Sir Oliver show his limb armor as black. I'm still not convinced as to this and ended up painting it as a dark metal.

Although he died before Crecy and the other famous actions during the Hundred Years War, he'll be part of a Lion Rampant retinue with other English notables from that war.

Flower of Knighthood - Sir John Chandos

This is one of the Black Tree Design figures that was on sale last month. I had actually added a set of Early-HYW figures as an afterthought as I had mainly wanted some Norman and Crusades figures for SAGA. As some of my order was initially out of stock it took over a month to get my order, and in the meantime my current interest had shifted to Lion Rampant. Here is one of the HYW figures painted up as the famous knight, Sir John Chandos.

This cool looking rearing horse caught my attention, and compelled me to add him to the order. All of the BTD figures are very nicely sculpted with good details. They are on the larger side of 28mm, and would probably fit well with Front Rank HYW figures.

Chandos' arms being fairly simple, this figure was painted up without much problems. In fact, I started on him this morning and just finished him.

The other two mounted figures will also be painted up as famous English knights from the period.

Sir John met his end in a gruesome and painful way after a minor skirmish action. Froissart detailed it in his chronicles.

1/1200th Tessarakonteres (from a 1/900th Deceres)

Finally managed to pick up a brush today - after several weeks of painting inactivity. This will be used in an Actium game as Cleopatra's command ship. It's a Valiant Ramming Speed 1/900th scale Deceres converted to be a 1/1200th scale Tessarakonteres; One of the largest of ships from Hellenistic times.

As the rest of the ships for this game are 1/1200th scale, this ship will be suitably large and identifiable as Cleopatra's. Here it is next to a Langton Quinquereme.

A view from the stern.

It is based upon this image of a Tessarakonteres.

The towers midship and fore were made from Green Stuff; the tent in the rear is made from spare plastic sprue. The three other ships will be painted up next as command ships belonging to Antony. They are a Langton Deceres and Octeres, as well well as another Ramming Speed Deceres.

Lion Rampant - First Game

Several of us met at the Game Matrix in Tacoma today for some Lion Rampant games. It was the first time for most of us, but we all seemed to enjoy the rules even though we may have not gotten everything exactly right. For one thing, in the game I played we initially had not correctly done the Courage tests. We didn't count the casualties cumulatively when figuring out the tests - that is, we only subtracted casualties caused in each turn when working out the Courage test result. At first this seemed very harsh and made for units to be destroyed quite quickly, but it does seem correct for the overall flavor of fast-paced game.

My buddy Adrian and I used the Bloodbath scenario as it is the most straight forward. I only got off a few pictures as I was referring to the rule book throughout the game to ensure we were on track.

My Early-HRE foot serjeants receiving an attack by English MAA. The foot serjeants are good at defense - although in this case they'd have been even better off in Schiltron, but they had just moved out off the woods in their previous turn.

The same unit of HRE foot serjeants in the previous turn  in cover from English archers.

The HRE crossbowmen only got to take out a few of the English before they failed their Courage test after receiving casualties from English bow fire.

One of two HRE mounted MAA units - with the Archbishop of Cologne as the retinue leader. Both mounted MAA units failed multiple movement activations early in the game. After eventually passing their movement activation this unit put the English right to flight.

The mounted MAA unit on the HRE right eventually passed movement activation to move up and attack an English foot MAA unit. They did very well in their attack and practically destroyed the English foot MAA unit. However, due to consecutive bad Courage tests, enough HRE units left the table to give the English an edge for victory.

Pat's Byzantinnes facing Old Bob's French

Wes' knights taking fire from Scott's bidowers.

For the most part I have no trouble with the rules as they are. Some of the players did have issues with the 3" between units rule though. I believe they are in the spirit of the rules being kept to small unit actions. It appears that no more than two units (one per side) can be in a close combat at any given time. Although there is the possibility of a unit being attacked by two different units in a given turn - separately of course. I like the size of units and the assignment of hits to casualty per type of unit. I'm looking forward to playing out the other scenarios - as well as adding more terrain. We did use the minimum suggested - one piece per quarter. Overall I like these rules and I think they should appeal to a lot of the community for various reasons - not the least of which is the price of the rules (clearly written and nicely illustrated at that), as well as the relatively modest amount of figures required. Unless of course you want to run 4 units of Serfs!

SAGA Refresher Training

A good turn out today at the Game Matrix for some SAGA refresher training. Actually, it's been so long since I last played it, it was like learning new rules again. And to be honest, I had only played it a few times before - over two years ago. Luckily, a very experienced player showed up and provided some timely instruction. I lost both of my games against my buddy Bruce's Jomsvikings (he used Dwarfs to intimidate me even more). They kept getting full of Wrath, so it was inevitable. Plus I impetuously used my Warlord where he was killed in melee in both games. Several other players showed up too, but I was too busy to notice most of their games.

A unit of my Crusader Warriors in melee with a Jomsviking Hearthguard unit.

A unit of Crusader Warriors with crossbows facing off Jomsvikings including their Warlord

The Crusader Warlord advancing

One of the other SAGA games today - Scott M.'s Byzantines vs. Adrian's Normans

It was quite a good session - particularly as I got two games in quicker than a single WAB game. And this with the serious learning curve going on. That all said, I'm looking forward to getting started on Lion Rampant!

Retinue for Lion Rampant

Just got my copy of the rules today. I've only leafed through it briefly, but I must say I am very impressed. There is a lot of eye-candy - of figures, rules schematics and artwork from Ospreys. Oh, and the $14.00 USD price cannot be beat.

In anticipation of the rules, I cobbled together a retinue using existing figures from my Early-HRE WAB army. The retinue pictured is composed of two units of mounted men-at-arms, two  units of foot serjeants, and a unit each of archers and crossbowmen.

The funny thing is a bunch of us are meeting tomorrow to play SAGA. I don't think these two rules will conflict with gaming, but more likely compliment each other. Anyway, I can't wait to get started playing Lion Rampant.

Warlord Games Auxilia - Ready to Help

Here they are based three-figures per 40mm squares. This is the basing for the modified version of Hail Caesar I've been using. It not only stretches the number of units a bit, but allows for easier basing. And once the battle begins no one seems to notice, or care, about how many figures are on a base.

And as far as these figures go, ranking them up for something like WAB would be pretty difficult thanks to their dynamic poses.

 I went ahead and re-based the Spanish Scutarii too. These were painted a couple of years ago - one of the first projects using the Minwax stain.

Warlord Games EIR Auxilia - WIP +1

Here they are - less their shields - with a fresh brushing of Minwax Tudor Satin stain.

These guys painted up with no problem. Wish I picked up the other box that was for sale at the bring and buy last week.

The mail took the staining well; I guess I was a bit too vigorous with the brushing as I broke one of the spears.

The image below shows them block painted prior to the staining. I noticed only after applying the stain that I forgot to paint their wrist bands, as well as the bandage over the eye on some of them.

I plan to paint the shield either a pale blue or green.

Warlord Games EIR Auxiliaries for the Cantabrian War - WIP

Picked this box up at the bring and buy at last week's game day at Fort Steilacoom. Couldn't pass up on the price, and always wanted some Auxilia to complement the Legionaries. Anyway, here is the start of the 24 figures - which consist of four poses and some separate arms. The set doesn't come with a command, but does come with water-slide decals that go over shields painted in whatever color you chose. The shields are left off and remain on sprues for ease of painting. The heads, arms and spears are ready for production line assembly.

The figures will be part of a Battle of Las Rabas scenario set during the Cantabrian War of Augustus Caesar. Granted both contingents will have a slightly anachronistic look - Romans in lorica segmentata, and nekid Gauls and Spanish Scutarii doubling as Cantabrians.

Passing of Allen Curtis - Author of Hannibal and the Punic Wars (WAB)

Many of you may have already seen this announced on various internet sites, including TMP. I found out this morning when visiting the Wargames, Soldiers and Strategies site where Guy Bowers posted an announcement.

Although I never met Allen in person, I became acquainted with him about a decade ago when I first visited TMP. We communicated on that site, as well as off line too. We discovered that we had been assigned to the same Army installation at the same time way back when. This was in 1980 when I was going through Basic Training at Fort Knox, KY. He had been a company commander in a sister company at the very same time. He was friends with the CO of my company - and they had stayed in touch over the years too. I considered Allen a buddy too.

Anyway, I just felt that Allen's contributions to the hobby should be recognized; even in a very small way here. He will be sorely missed.

SAGA Crescent & the Cross Crusader Warband

Okay, these aren't newly painted figures, but I just rebased them for use as a 1st Crusades Warband. They are on parade awaiting the arrival of their Warlord - just ordered from Black Tree Designs. This 6 Point Warband consists of two Mounted units of Hearthguards, one each Warrior unit of Mounted, Crossbows and Bows; and finally a Mounted unit of Mercenary Warriors.

All of the figures are from Crusader - appropriately enough - except for the the crossbowmen which are Old Glory. The shields have LBMS transfers.

They were originally part of a WAB army, and used extensively in the past. It's nice to have them out of the barracks in anticipation of some SAGA battles.

The last time I played SAGA was a couple of years ago - and had used an all foot Viking Warband. I recall being soundly defeated by a Norman Warband with troops similar to what this Crusader force is. Looking forward to seeing how these guys perform.

Fix Bayonets! Game Day at Historic Fort Steilacoom

Attended the annual game day today at Historic Fort Steilacoom. One of the NHMGS members is on the preservation society at the fort so we get to use Quarters Number 2 for gaming.


Quarters Number 2, Fort Steilacoom.

The main room at the start of the first period. The WW1 Bolt Action game in the foreground.

I ran a WW1 game using Bolt Action. The scenario had both French and Germans advancing upon an abandoned village. Whichever side occupied more of the village won - in today's game it was a French victory.

Early on, German Storm Troopers take on French Trench Fighters in hand-to-hand. The Germans were eventually defeated - losing their best assault troops, including a flame thrower team.

The Germans tried very had to retain their real estate; even trying out the newly invented A7V tank to no avail.

 Other games during the morning, first, period:

28mm Venus, Space 1889: Dale Mickel and Scott Murphy

"The Eviction", 28mm, Louisiana Game: Kevin Smyth

“Swedes and Cossacks” 15mm, Fire and Sword: Owen

25mm, SAGA: Sven and Daryl

Regrettably, I failed to get a shot of a Napoleonics game using Garde du Corps being played in another room. I also had to leave after lunch and didn't get shots of the afternoon games. It was a nice gathering, and nice to see member of our group in such a nice setting. For the record, the players for my game all had a great time and want me to run it at our annual big convention next year. I had planned to do this, and their positive feedback confirms it.

ADDENDUM: Below are copies of the QRS's for the Bolt Action WW1 Game.

Note: the QRS has the game ending after Turn 6, but the game played so fast, we actually played about 12 turns. I changed the end of the game to a time limit, not an amount of turns. Something which will work better at the convention with blocked times (as this event also was).