'Beware of Greeks Bearing Gifts' - Trojan Horse and Mycenaeans

This past autumn I read a review of Emily Wilson's recent translation of 'The Illiad' and decided to pick it up. While it was a bit of a slog in spots, I still really enjoyed it. Wilson chose to translate Homer's prose using unrhymed iambic pentameter, rather than the traditional dactylic hexameter which is an academics way of saying that she translated Homer's epic not only for ease of reading, but for listening to as well. And it's true, I found her translation very easy to digest, and was struck by her descriptions of the battles and motivations of the characters. I think any reader will find that much of what the story describes still resonates today, which is pretty impressive for a tale that is almost 3,000 years old!

This prompted me to bring out my copy of Rosemary Sutcliff's 'Black Ships Before Troy' (wonderfully illustrated by Alan Lee), and re-watch both the 2004 film and the 2018 mini series. Of course all this Hellenic enthusiasm spilled over into my hobby as well, with me collecting miniatures and mulling over possible  gaming scenarios.

Ever since I was a kid I've been fascinated by the story of the Trojan Horse and Odysseus' ruse which saw the fall of Troy and the end of the 10-year siege. With this in mind, I started to sketch out a semi-cooperative game where the Horse has been brought into the city and the players, who control the Greeks hiding inside, emerge from the Horse to try to secure victory and gain fame under the gods' eyes. I envision that there will be various missions for them to complete and compete for. Things like 'Light the Signal Fire'; 'Open the Main Gate'; 'Secure Helen', 'Raid the Treasury'; etc. I see lots of characterful 'Screw Cards' with Gods intervening amongst the general mayhem. :)

Several of the sources say that 40 Greeks were hiding in the Horse, so I decided that each of the four players would control a hero along with nine companions.  The leading heroes would be Odysseus, Diomedes, Menelaus and Neoptolemus. In the rules I imagine that their companions will serve to assist in side task as well as serve as their bodyguards in critical fights. 

Now, first to find a suitable Horse. I did a good bit of investigating trying to source a suitable model for the Horse but it wasn't easy. In a bout of pique I even entertained making one out of foam core, but I knew that way lay strife and madness. Finally I came across a 3d design based on the 2004 movie set model. Perfect!

I quite like the Horse's rustic design as it actually looks like something that may have been built on a beach from repurposed ships planking, rope and smelted bronze.

The original 3d design was made for 54mm figures which was way too HUGE, especially as I wanted something that could store away in a single banker's box. After a bit of head scratching and calculating, I settled on 20mm as an overarching scale and resized the Horse accordingly for the final print.

The printed model was fairly easy to assemble and paint. I kept the Horse's side panels unglued just in case things go pear-shaped for the Greeks right from the get-go. :)

I quite like that the horse is at a scale that works with the figures. It actually looks like fourty crazy Greeks could be crammed within it. To finish the piece, I made a 'drop hatch' from plasticard and a rope from wire.

The Greek heroes are 3d designs from Wargames Atlantic. I quite like the models, but I have to say that the multipart assembly strained my patience after a while. What you see here is only half of the full Greek contingent of forty. I have most of the other models assembled, but I just couldn't get them across the finish line in time.  Nonetheless, this provides a taste of what the whole group will look like. 

Odysseus' 'Red Group'

Diomedes 'Green Group'

Sometimes I like a scale variation for my 'Big Men' in skirmish games, so I scaled the named Heroes in 28mm so they are noticeably larger than their 20mm companions. I also based them on octagon bases to help them stand out a little more.

I also did a test stand of Trojan opponents, all geared-up in their formidable Dendra plate armour. 

I imagine there will be a whole contingent of these 'Trojan Terminators' at the Palace, protecting Helen and the rest of the Royal family.  They should be a tough nut to crack for the assaulting Greeks.

There is still a lot to do, but this group hopefully breaks the duck and helps me keep up the momentum to complete the project.

- Curt

From RossM: 28mm Hector and his Trojans (52 points)

For Ross' final Challenge entry he sends us this great stand of Trojan infantry with Hector in the midst of the fray.

These 28mm models are from Redoubt Miniatures.

Once again, Ross has done great work on the shields

Ross tells me that Hector and the casualty figure should not be included in the scoring so this group will give him a base of 45 points but I'll place it to 52 with the great shields and groundwork. Well done Ross!

From RossM: 28mm Trojan War Archers (40 points)

Ross sends in these two bases of archers from the Trojan War.

These are 28mm Redoubt Miniatures. I really like the groundwork Ross has done for these.

These lads will give Ross 40 points to add to his tally.

From RossM: Hector's Chariot, Waffen SS & Trenches (58 points)

Ross sends in a great mix of figures for the Challenge. Fist up is a beautiful Trojan chariot depicting the hero Hector, rolling out with his posse at Troy. 

This chariot vignette is composed of figures from Redoubt Miniatures' 28mm range of models which were specifically created to depict the siege of Troy. 

 Again, Ross does a superb job on the cow hide shields of the chariot runners.

I was thinking this would be a great 'Warlord stand' for Chris' adaptation of SAGA to the wars of ancient Greece.

Next up is a Waffen SS infantry gun and crew.

These are 20mm castings from SHQ.

I'm curious about the camo smocks on the crew - they seem almost mauve in colour - was this a historical variant or an anomaly with the image?

I've always like the somewhat lanky sculpts of the SHQ figures.

Last is a set of five trench sections from Iron Clad miniatures. As they are strictly terrain they will not score for the Challenge, but I wanted to post them as Ross did such a great job on them.

I quite like the detail on the duck boards...

This group will give Ross 58 points to add to his tally. Well done!