Normans

Conquest Games plastic 28mm Normans.
I had an idea that I could actually use some 50mm square bases for a single mounted Norman to further help fill a Regiment and making my collection cover more ground. It will break the straight ahead position that most 25x50mm based cavalry end up on as well. A few different angles in a unit will be interesting to see what that looks like on the table. Even the most well trained horse can do unpredictable movements I guess.

I painted the shields many months back. The horses I managed to paint at the same time as painting some for Curt. I tend to factory my work together like that. More about that project soon.

Cheers from Brendon

Dark age Dudes

More painted progress completed in between all those horses completed recently.
These are all Plastic 28mm and from a few different makers. The shirtless berserkers are from Warlord Games Celts and the companions are Gripping Beast Dark Age Warriors. The Archer has parts from a Conquest Games archer set.

Next are Conquest Games Normans with parts from the Medieval Archer set. Sme are entirely from the Archer box while others are from the Norman Infantry set. Some of the quivers are from the Gripping Beast Arab sets.
Painting these reminded me how much I like my Norman Cavalry from Conquest Games and as I have made so much progress I decided to get another box of them. Especially now that I have had a lot more practice at painting horses. Might be a while before they are built let alone painted though. I was thinking they might make for an interesting 'Brotherhood' army in the Kings of War system. I will expand that idea in a future post.

Cheers from Brendon (The Kiwi)

Easter Saga

Hope you all had a good Easter 2015. I didn't get up too much on the Hobby front at home over the long weekend. But I did manage to get down to the Darwin Tabletop Gamers and get some Saga on the table. Very rusty but it was fun. 1st game was a teaching game for a new player. It's great to get new players in our small club and hopefully after his victory in his first 4 point game as Vikings he is keen to collect and play. I didn't play in the first game but helped referee and teach the basic rules. The game was Warlord kill and it was over in a typically fast and brutal manner vs Jomsvikings..
In the second game I used the Norman faction with 6 points. 5 Hearthguard units on horses and 1 levy. 1 Hearthguard unit got split out to make 2 units of 6 hearthguads. We actually played short end to short end instead of long side to longside and that was probably the reason why I moved the Levy once and that was all they did in the whole game. We played the Mission with the Warlords glaring at each other in table center at the start of the game and the gods blessing them with 12 wounds each. I faced Norse-Gaels on foot with lots of javelins. Great learning game for us both and by a twist of fate the Normans won the day (only by a fraction though).

I purchased the Dead Zone box set on a special deal late last year and plan to use my small collection of Judge Dredd miniatures (once I have enough painted) to substitute as an Enforcers faction. I took the box down to the club and managed to get some interest. Good motivation for getting paint to the scenery and getting more miniatures completed. After looking at the Dead Zone Infestation kickstarter which will see the introduction of Ver-Myn (Sc-Fi Rat Men) I noticed the new terrain mat images and thought hmmmm. Easy enough to make your own if you have the know how...
Make a 2 feet square with 3 inch grid pattern and find suitable image from Google Earth.

Anyway enough rambling from me. Cheers from BrendonW (The Kiwi)

Looks interesting..

If you like Armour, Swords and skirmish games this might be worth a look...
http://www.dadiepiombo.it/images/stories/dp/lords.html
I am very curious about this set of rules but I really don't know anything about it.

This image stolen from the Internets.

Cheers from Brendon. Merry Christmas 2014 by the way.

Crescent & Cross and other stuff

At the same time as I received the Lion Rampant rules I got the Saga, Crescent and Cross rulebook. I spent more time reading Lion Rampant than C&C at the time but C&C is a really good rule book. C&C is not so much an expansion but, Saga reborn. It's the full rules but with improved explanations and more. Unlike the first publication of Saga this version is hardback and instead of 4 Battle Boards/factions you get 6. However that does mean a price increase.

Shiny pages :(       .......Camel with tiny head :(       ........but great rules. :)

On the downside I don't like the cheap glossy paper used for the pages. The full colour design though is fantastic. I was shocked when I saw the photos of Gripping Beast camels though. Shocking proportions with small heads and smooth bodies. The riders look too big on them.
In the rules Camel riders have an edge over horses when they fight each other. Something gamers are usually only too happy to see based on our historical readings. I think these are better looking camels with riders.
It's great to see the improved rules clarification though and I would highly recommend this to Saga players even if you don't plan on a Crusades type warband.

As I am a fan of plastics I was thinking about adding a box of Gripping Beast Plastic Arab Spearmen and Archers in my 'to do' list so I was waiting to get the C&C rule book to see what battle board would suit them. Turns out that mounted options are very abundant in all the factions but a fanatical warband with an all foot option exists. They have a crazy element that includes sacrificing figures to get those battle board boosts.



Back on Lion Rampant...I have an excellent Norman collection which is perfect for use in Lion Rampant but I have had an eye on those excellent Perry Plastic sets for a while. 'The War of The Roses' sets look awesome so, I went and ordered a whole bunch of them.
My local supplier just happened to have cans of Army Painter when I visited recently. So a can of Plate Metal Primer may just speed the process considerably. Hopefully I can convince players at my local club that they need to try this game. Reception has been extremely positive so far. But in our group at the moment the flavour of the month (or two) is Version 2 Dystopian Wars with the arms race in full tilt mode. While on the subject of Lion Rampant check this army deal being worked out out.

On the paint table at the moment I have been making slow progress on 2 Mercenary factions for Dystopian Wars. It's pretty much the only game I have played for the past few weeks. We are still discovering the rules. They are not exactly simple rules I find but as always it's fun to see some stuff blown up on a games table. I am yet to construct a basic list with my Empire of the Blazing Sun that I seem to actually know what to do with in a game. But it looks like for now I will probably include the Giant Robot Attack Squid and also 2 small Frigate squadrons options as compulsory inclusions.......perhaps also the mysterious Ghost Ship (Yurei Terror Ship).

Work in progress. Two Black Wolf large subs and other toys slowly getting to completed stage.

I got a great email Newsletter from War and Peace on line store here in Australia. 50% off Judge Dredd rules and figures! What a shame I already have the rules but I had to make an order for figures almost instantly. I am a big fan of the Comic series even though I don't collect it any more but there was a time when I did. It got me re-reading the rules and they really are good for a skirmish detail game. Move, shoot and fight really is easy to get to grips with but each figure can have it's own bonuses through base stats, level, weapons and special talent skills. So it something that may be familiar to role players than wargamers even though this is a tactical game and not a RPG. Campaign mode really is about making hardcore heroes. A good fit for a comic book world. My plan now is to create a collection for hosting games. Two forces made for the excellent variety of missions in the rules. Yet just another project in my 'round to it' list.....

Get us painted CREEP! Or face time in an Iso-Cube!

Last minute addition...I created a banner for my Viking collection from art I found on the Internet through an image search. It is a Tattoo design and the artist who created it actually left a comment on my post. I am happy to say my use of the image was approved. Go check out more of his incredible art here. Thanks Zele.

Cheers from Brendon (The Kiwi)

Dark Ages at war

A mix of makers among these 28mm metal figures. Crusader, Gripping Beast and Foundry (the pooch).
I submitted these a while back for the Painting Challenge and they earned me more points. I am behind in re-posting my submissions on this blog so expect this flood of pictures to continue until I catch up.
I was very happy to complete the Baggage cart and peasant as this now gives me three pieces in total for the Escort scenario for 'Saga'. Yaaay!
The mounted fella from Crusader comes with a dismounted version but I painted him different colors to his riding version. I gave him a plastic shield though with a LBM decal. The Banner is from Gripping Beast and is King Harold's very own fighting man banner. I am sure it will be a talking point in future games.
As these guys are leaders I added Army Painter meadow flowers to the bases which give them a bit of something extra from the rank and file troops.

Cheers from Brendon

Angry Peasants!

I don't know why peasants get so upset about monsters rampaging through their villages. I mean what's the big deal? A giant green dude with bolts in his neck never meant no harm to anybody. He doesn't even want to be alive for a second time.
Any how these are from the Gripping Beast baggage blister for the Saga 'Escort' mission. I am happy with how these ended up but think that the base might need one more item. A barrel of mead perhaps. The dude with the shield is of course a GB plastic Saxon with a head from the warriors plastic box. I think that GB Warriors plastic set is at the top of my list for excellent releases in 2013. I have only 1 more baggage base to go to have the 3 required for the mission. So the motivating painting challenge should see that completed soonish.

Knock! Knock!

Wheres the beer?

No beer?

Let's go.

Cheers from Brendon.

Foundry Painted Vikings and more

This is the last figures I painted before I started preparing for the Painting Challenge.
First up some Foundry Viking figures I gave myself. Not cheap when they are exported to Australia but they look the part. Some of these have a mounted version that will get completed in the Challenge. Some of the bases also see the first time I have used Army Painter flowers. Tricky to use at first but I like the result.

I gave the female figure a plastic Gripping Beast shield as they look a little lighter than the very thick metal rimmed foundry Shields. I just thought it suited her better. My photo is a bit dodgy as it seems to have a contrast issue and it has bleached out the detail in the hair and beards. I was initially thinking brown for the furs but went down the gray path instead.

Next was a few unit command additions. Horn blowers and a flag waver. They should fit in with the rest of the plastic Vikings I have. The plastic Viking on the left was an interesting exercise is in dull colours. He has a head from the plastic warriors box.
The Banner is from the Gripping Beast plastic vikings box. I used it as a guide to painting it. It makes sure it is much brighter than the printed version.

Next is a few figures for different forces. from the left is a plastic warrior for some sort of Viking warrior priest idea. Next an Anglo-Saxon Army standard. I am not convinced about repeating the banner design on the shield. His arms are actually from a Fireforge plastic set. Small crossbow reloading dude is a Perry metal figure and next to him is a converted Conquest plastic. Last is another Perry metal crossbow figure.

I have been very busy prepping figures for the Challenge. It has been great motivation so far with all my Foundry Cowboys now cleaned up and based (2 blisters worth). I got them a while back when a friend got a hold of 'Dead Mans Hand'. I haven't played it yet. It was just a coincidence that a western movie figure is the entry requirement.

Cheers from Brendon (The Kiwi)

Images from 2 Games

I just had a cracking game of Flames of War. Me and Alex exchanged a couple of emails before our meet up about what we might take. He was going to take German Grenadiers. I decided on trying out US Tanks with the Jumbo upgrade options and 76mm Sherman upgrades as well. At first I made a Confident Veterans list. Small at 1500 points. 3 Platoons plus air support. 1500 point break in late war is a tricky one. Alex sent me a Confident Trained list version.

My list was...
HQ 2 Shermans 1 x 76mm upgrade, 1 x M4A3 upgrade and 1 x improvised Armour
Combat 1 4 sherms (2 x 76mm, 1 x Jumbo)
Combat 2 as above
Recon (2 x Jeeps each with AAMG upgrade, 1 x Halftrack and 1 x Zooka team, and 3 Rifle Teams)
Limited Thunderbolt ground attack

Not really taking advantage of Detroits Finest (14inch move)

His version went like this...
HQ 2 x M4A3 Late
Combat 1 4 x M4A3 late
Combat 2 as above
Combat 3 1x Jumbo, 2 x M4a3 76mm, 1 x M4A3 (Late)
Light Tanks x 4 Stuarts
Limited Ground Attack Thunderbolts

4 Platoons but no recce option. One list has the numbers and better legs while the other has more punch and Veteran be thy shield. I said to Alex "I like your list and reckon it could do well but I don't have that many Sherms." Alex replys "I do.".....cool.

So with that settled he brought 2 Armys to the Club and we let mayhem unfold. Mission randomly rolled was Break Through Attack. I ended up as defender.
It was a great game but I do have a bit of Rules Rust. But we didn't let that get in the way of having some fun. The Germans had Infantry, Pak 40s, Stugs and Mortars. He took HQ shreck options and increased the size of the platoons which kept them in the game for longer in my opinion. It also made them rock hard in hand to tank combat.
I could have waited for him and just fended off his attempts to grab an objective but nah, that's not in the spirit of Patton. I also wanted to see just how mobile 'Detroits Finest' really makes U.S. Shermans. I can report that it is indeed awesome. I went on to lose the game but managed to Destroy an Infantry platoon and the Stugs and just about another Infantry Platoon. I was just too bold I think. But with more practice this could work for me as an Olive Drab blitzkrieg. Recce would have really helped lift Gone to Ground from all those dug in soldiers.

Table set up with proxy Thunderbolt jet and 4 Shermans at rear in Ambush.

Deployment.

StuGs climb the hill and look very cool as they do it.

About to get Assaulted by brave infantry. 

Got wiped out by brave infantry. DANG!

This was a critical scrap as it was about to be turn 6 and this reduced Infantry platoon was within 16 inches of an objective. But they brushed aside each assault with ease over 2 turns. DANG!

I had time afterwards to get in a game of Saga of which I am also rusty at. We opted for about as blunt and brutal as you can get. Viking vs Viking. We rolled up the 'cross the river if you can' mission.
Huge fun! I made a critical mistake early in the game. I kept an S symbol, the rarest symbol on the Battle Board ability Njord for around 3 turns. I had an idea to use it on my 1 unit of Levy Slingers I had opted for to get them to fire more volleys. But I never used it properly really. In the end my oversight and inclusion of Levy perhaps contributed to me losing but I did manage to inflict a lot of loses. But once you have lost more units than what you face you are at a disadvantage in the number of Saga dice generated. I was thrilled though to get in a Saga game after an all too long absence. Good fun.

Lochys shock as all his Saga Dice spit in his eye! Must be Loki at work.

Beserkers to the front, Warriors next with Hearthguard at the rear.

Dirt eating Levy slave scum look on as Warriors reduce my 6 Heathguard unit to a single man. DOH! Lochys knows how to load up his Batlle Board for maximum Viking carnage.

Near end game. Warlords exchanging creative insults.

After a mean fight my Warlord (wolf pelt wearing dude) is over whelmed and loses. He had wagered he would win and is forced into 6 months servitude in Lochys War Band as blade cleaner, sharpener, and an oar maker. What a loser! Hopefully that teaches him to at least wear a Helmet next time.

Cheers from Brendon (The Kiwi)

PS: Want to be in the draw to win free stuff? If so then go here http://hittingonadouble1.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/25000-hits-ww2-books-prize-draw.html.

Angry Monks x12

Gripping Beast Angry Monks on the warpath sick of being victims of the Viking raids they come out swinging ready to kill heathens with a religious zeal. Metal 28mm figures by Gripping Beast. This is a Swords for Hire unit for Saga. You get 4 figures (3 of each) for a unit of 12. As you can see they have a lot of character in them. Dopey looking dude, overweight balding dude, jowly dude and, hitched up habit angry spear dude.

In Saga we can only join non heathen warbands. We hate heathens. They make us ANGRY!

When will Brendon give us a spray of Matt varnish! That makes us ANGRY!!

Form up Monks and activate Angry power now!

The last image I thought I would try and see how they looked on one of my 'Kings of War' horde custom bases. I added 2 plastic warriors to fill the tray. Could make for an interesting 'counts as' unit in other games outside Saga. Fanatics of some sort. I was thinking of using them in 'Kings of War' historical's as Warrior Priests for non Heathen Armys (Normans and Anglo-Saxons). They could also be used as Human Wizards if I created a Human Army from the rule book and used my Historical Miniatures.

Cheers from Brendon (The Kiwi)

Dark Ages movement trays project

My Saga figures in my collection have slowly grown in size. They are not taller, just more of them. I have been playing Kings of War games with Dwarfs and they have been very enjoyable. KoW though is monsters and spells and regiment blocks of infantry etc while Saga is a Skirmish formation game. I like KoW rules though for big table top battles at 28mm. So my idea was to get a base solution to use my already based figures for Saga in Kings of War historical style games. Extending the use of the figures into a different style of game.
Part of my inspiration for doing this is these fantastic Historical Army options at the excellent Hour of Wolves and Shattered Shields site. The Viking age pdf has been my guide as to just what a potential army could be. I also tend to immerse myself in periods I like. Historical novels, history sites, Vikings TV series and so on. So my initial plans have me thinking of Vikings invading England. Anglo-Saxons vs Vikings. Perhaps do a campaign. Then do it again but with later Vikings (the ones who occupied York etc). Then perhaps even later with the Norman invasion re-worked. A lot of game possibility's.

Base size
The PDF also has a base guide but, the KoW rules also has a base guide that can be figured out. Humans = 20mm square base. Troop = 10 figures, Regiment = 20, Horde = 40. With Troop and regiment being 5 figures across and Hordes 10 across. However due to 25mm round bases for Saga I will not be able to reach those total number of figures on the same base sizes. I am cool with that and feel no reason that my units need to reach those totals. But I did run with standard tray sizes and figured out a spread of 25mm bases that I liked and I sent it off to Warbases. UK to laser cut me some MDF trays. Some wargamers may feel that I am just stretching my collection out too much and they could be right but mehh. What evs. On the tray for 40 figures I configured it for just 14 holes. Sure I could have squeezed more on like another rank of seven but that means my collection would have to grow by a lot more. I will be increasing the collection but not drastically. I already have a fair few unpainted plastics. How much more work do I really want? Sure It would be cool to get a great shield wall look going on but perhaps that's a later on project.
Here is the results.

Base for a Regiment (footprint of a 20 strong unit). Only 9 figures though. 

3 sizes. Troop, Regiment and Horde. Before flock is applied.

I glued on sand and small rocks then painted and flocked in the same way I have based the figures. I got enough bases for 2 Armies so I can be the ultimate game host. Mwah ha ha ha.
I have no projected time line for this project so it might be a while before another update but I am looking forward to when it is ready to rumble.

Cheers for now from Brendon (The Kiwi)