15mm Achaemenid Persians DBA++ (BBDBA)Army Review

Started way back in the day when I was but first reading about Marathon, Greeks in Peril, Salamis and Plataea (circa 1997) I realised with uncanny foresight that I needed to paint Persians as well as Greeks .. to my horror I also chose the largest DBA army project in the sense of number of figures (with all the options) to paint, Early Achaemenid Persians - maybe I should have started with Libyans (as in they are mostly 2Ps). The figures I sourced at shows seemed to come from all manner of manufacturers which seemed fitting of the Persian army (see below, the old school Xth Legion Spara Bara (middle row), supported by a front line of Xth Legion Taka Bara (front row), with the newer Xyston miniatures (back row) along with a unit from Chariot Miniatures): 

The respect opponents give the Persians is not from their infantry though, it is their cavalry arm that is feared, excluding the novelty Scythed Chariots (as I have never seen them work on a tabletop). Cavalry is one thing but Cavalry (3Cv) with Light Horse (2LH) is a horrible proposition for spears (4Sp) to face (see below, a Xyston Scuthed Chariot (front row), Xth Legion Cavalry (middle row) and Xth Legion Scythian Light Horse (back row)): 

I am quite proud of my Xyston paint jobs, 28mm detail on 15mm figures, beautiful figures which deserve a good paint job (see below, Xyston (2Ps) slingers (front row), Xyston (3Cv) Cavalry (middle row) and Xyston (2LH) Scythian light Horse (rear row)):   

Next to my Xyston Darius III and his Apple Bearers the (4Sp) Xyston spear who are tasked to guard his life with their own. To be honest my heresy is that I make little distinction between Early and Later Achaemenid Persian (it is just that I do not have many, as in one DBA Army of Macedonians to field against them for now), the only fact being that there is not much call for (8Bw) Spara Bara in later times (see below, going left to right (all Xystn) Light Chariot, Apple Bearer Spears and the start of a Hoard - shield designs all hand painted): 

Chariot Miniatures still hold their own as shown by this rear block of (3Cv) Cavalry to the rear left and the small (but perfectly formed) Spear (4Sp) on the "other side" of Darius (see below, the Persians sure bulked up the body count in their armies):   

Xyston Taka Bara (3Ax) looking much more fierce than their Xth Legion counterparts (see below, note that Xth Legion were passed onto Gladiator Games, who in turn passed the molds onto Magister Militum as per my last recollection): 

Not quite the DBM mass of an order of battle but filling out a BBDBA game, aka three sets of DBA Achaemenid Armies .. left, middle and right (see below, still more "silver legions" to fill out the ranks, particularly overdue are some Xyston Thracians and Egyptian Spearmen to join the ranks of the Persians): 

But of course now there is also now a War Tower to add! But I still need to paint my unit of "Combat Camels". These boys need a little TLC to be expanded in 2021 and who knows Alexander may too be reinforced so that they can "rumble" together. 

An Ancient Persian Monster - Cyrus War Tower: Fixing the Tower to the Base Securely (Part 4 of 4) Complete

I was so close to finishing this project - but I sensed disaster was also near at hand. Every time the war tower unit was moved I could see there was no way that simple "glue" (even super-super glue) would hold the tower in place. It would become a saga of crumbling sand departing the base and many a wargaming tear split over a toppling tower (see below, for a sense of the problem - where was the center of gravity lay? Too far up in the tower):

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I pondered and pondered and pondered for an answer and decided I would have to have an industrial grade DIY solution for this .. a household screw through the plasti-card base, up through the sand covering and into the chunky metal floor of the war tower, then on into the interior (see below, I classify this as a major piece of surgery that could easily "undo a lot of good work" if I were too heavy handed): 

Before the major surgery I decided to affix the "three archer amigos" to a mini-base so the war tower could be shown in either a combat of transport mode (see below, note this has no effect at all in DBA, DBM or whatever rules, but rather it was done for pure aesthetic purposes): 

Behold after my successful "screw" an empty Persian War Tower awaits orders (see below, tip of the operation was "to start with a small drilled hole in the plasti-card base to give the screw its start through the plasti-card", then 2drill a smaller dimension hole [than the thread of the screw] in the bottom of the metal war tower base so you get a bit of bite but don't have to force it to hard" - the join is then solid): 

A fully manned and ready for all-comers Persian War Tower (see below, also note the subtle bit of flocking on the base was also applied right at the end): 

Hopefully my description makes sense when you see below the naked screw poking up inside the model - I still marvel as to how I actually did it (see below, I cannot express the sheer relief I felt for not "screwing" this up and as far as I am concerned, I am happy particularly as this was a pure "once off - no squadron of war towers for me):  

I would have loved to be able to call it my "Archimedes Screw" but seeing as it is for the Royal Persian Army it seems a tad inappropriate, although the Persians did employ many an ostracised Greek in a technical capacity (see below, normally I am terrible at any form of DIY but this one seems to have been the one exception that worked OK):  

The End (followed by a heavy sigh)! The job is a good one. 

Next Up: I think Cyrus also needs some "combat camels" painting up. Standard basing techniques apply there!

An Ancient Persian Monster - Cyrus War Tower: Sorting Out the Basing (Part 3 of 4)

Everything looks quite pretty, just not on a base (see below, the question is how is that going to get on a 40mm wide and 80mm deep DBA base): 

From the rear (see below, with 'notation' rear entrance - but still no way of connecting the bullocks to the tower from means of propulsion, so some crafty wargamer may well rightly claim it is a static defensive position): 

A close up of the deadly Persian archers (see below, they look fairly secure from their nemesis the ancient Greek Hoplite): 

OK testing it out space wise on the plasti-card base, it can work in the 40x80 rectangle (see below, it seems a retrograde step as it now looks as if it is making its way through a snow storm):  

Now superglue is applied to the bullocks and spear-man shepherding the train (see below, the war tower itself is more of a challenge as it is so large and heavy by comparison to the rest of the kit):   

Watered down PVA and sand/grit is applied, then after drying out a light shade of brown (watered down Anita's Acrylic Chocolate Brown) takes the basic "desert hue" (see below, again the war tower is just sitting in the groves of the terrain .. all attempts to PVA or superglue would be futile .. something more "hard-core" is required): 

The base gets a medium shade "wet-brush" of brown picking out the raised areas and leaving the depressions in shadow (see below, as ever [or rather my stocks last] my favourite Anita Acrylics volume craft paint is once again used used [Coffee]): 

Adding a touch of Vallejo Foundation White to the Coffee gives a subtle highlight sparingly applied (see below, the overall effect is quite pleasing to the eye, the bullocks in particular are just the grimy hard working beasts of burden I wanted, courtesy of some Vallejo earth shades and a brown wash. I was also glad of my choice to make two of them "dirty cream"): 

Next: Heavy engineering required to affix the War tower firmly to the base. 

An Ancient Persian Monster - Cyrus War Tower: Painting the War Tower (Part 2 of 4)

The model received a covering of Airfix Grey Acrylic Primer, then a layering process of Vallejo Game Colour - Charred Brown, Beasty Brown and Leather Brown (see below, the grey crossbeams will be painted "something different"): 

But first "black" while I think about a suitable colour, I resisted anything metallic as I was thinking that would have made the structure crazily heavy - not that this thing was going to look sensible (see below, the browns are taking shape):   

I was not rushing it - you should see a progression in the "browns" from photograph to photograph as I was sticking to multiple thin coats principle (see below, the crew and bullocks are getting impatient in the background): 

The "browns" are done - even the wheels (see below, and the mental decision of "what" the crossbeam colour will be had been made, by the very scientific process of staring at the colour paints I had to hand): 

"Blue" was decided on - the classic Vallejo Games Colour Imperial Blue, Magic Blue and a highlight of Electric Blue (see below, it had 'contrast' and 'gaudiness' going for it, the Achaemenid Persians were certainly not understated in their colour schemes so "go for it"): 

With that the bullocks and crew start to take shape (see below, one crewman shepherding the bullocks and three archers in the tower itself): 

Next Stage: Time to start thinking about the basing and how to stop the tower embarrassingly falling over!

An Ancient Persian Monster - Cyrus War Tower: Build the "Boxy" Bit (Part 1 of 4)

This Black Hat Miniatures (the mold now sold onto Fighting15s/Gladiator Miniatures) model has been hanging a round for a long while, maybe as much as ten years, part of the Cyrus the Great DBA Army project (see below a cleaned up out of the packet and in pieces): 

As befits the chunky casting the wall parts come together with rather gaps manly gaps (see below, it is a product of its time and I purchased it so that it would fit in alongside the rest of my Achaemenid Persian Army - so needs must and I am sure Milliput with come to my rescue):

The worse fitting gaps are at the top (see below, "four walls" of errors compounded or accumulated together): 

Then comes an engineering problem of sorts. I see the war tower, I see the archer crew and driver/shepherd, I also see the bullocks that are meant to pull the war tower .. but I see no means of connecting the war tower with the bullocks? (see below, I was expecting some for of cunning harness): 

While I ponder on such disturbing matters I took Mr. Milliput out of my crafting box and started mixing it between my fingers, then spread it into those annoying gaps (see below, fingers crossed and with a layer of primmer on it it will become one homogenous surface): 

Next Stage: The painting starts.

The Painting Tray .. A couple of Months ago ..

I pulled together rather a random collection of wargaming toys to "keep me going through Covid" and the Painting Tray in general ticking over. A 15mm Achaemenid War Tower to flesh out a Cyrus the Great DBA army (I have have this years) and the last of three Orc Dakka Dakka Jets from Aeronautica Imperialis - a relatively new 2020 acquisition (see below, I have actually completed that Orc Dakka Dakka jet in quick time and have subsequently moved onto the two-man [rear gunner] Orc Fighta Bomba aka Me110 look-a-like):  

Continuing on the Aeronautica Imperialis theme I also undercoated the two Imperial Marauder bombers .. although I must confess a real lack of enthusiasm to complete these "big birds" (very WWII Mitchell/Marauder look-a-likes). More interestingly are the Revell ACW 20mm Union troops that I intend to pitch against their Confederate brethren (see below, the painting "mojo" is slightly [very] waning on the ACW front, but little bits every day is the key to progress - the One Hour Wargames is still the intended wargame rules set - although Bob Cordery's Portable Wargame is also interesting for this period): 

Updates (and deviations on projects) on progress to follow shortly ;) 

DBA Version 3: Athenian versus Early Achaemenid Persian (Part 2 of 2)

After another round of infantry combat the centre looks a mess. A unit of Persian 8Bw Archers finds itself overlapped and fighting a hoplite line [1 to 5 in the Greek favour] and finds itself forced to make a fateful roll (see below, the meance is in the methodical approach of the hoplite battle line with mutually supporting stands):

As per many a historical result the Persian dies (see below, Greeks 1 - Persians 1, with the Greeks in an overall far stronger position trying to overwhelm the Persian 4Sp):

However - as it seems to be the way with all versions of DBA - you can never guarantee the win where you think you should be able to expect it (see below, the Persian 4Sp at a reduced attack value of 2, repulse the massed hoplite phalanx of supported 4Sp of attack value 5 - a sorely "missed opportunity"):

Meanwhile the Athenian 3Bw (I know they are based as 4Bw but don't tell the OrBat Police) spot a target of opportunity (see below, even better because they are hitting the Persian Bow on their rear they don't get to shoot back so the Athenians can ignore any adverse results):

This results in a spectacular success (from an unexpected Athenian source). This flank now looks ripe for Athenian exploitation (see below, Persians 1 - Athenians 3, the writing seems to be very much on the wall for this one):

The Persian archers have a very unsatisfactory time against the hoplites - that could have been because I forgot to award them a +1 tactical modifier for their double base (see below, a lot of arrows in hoplite shields perhaps but nothing much in a tactical [useful?] sense):

The Persians only real hope comes from a cavalry attack led by their General. The Persian Light Horse have already "closed the door" on the Athenian cavalry, so the Persians have a chance to turn the tables on the Athenians. As Sun Tzu puts it, "to get the best out of your troops put them on 'perilous ground' so that they have to fight for their lives" (see below, "good dice" [for the Athenians] and "poor dice " [for the Persians] or it is "death" for the Athenian cavalry):

It seems that the "gods" have favoured them "this day" and it is (unexpectedly) the Persians who recoil (see below, it is the Persian who is shaking his head in disbelief this turn (see below, the Persian cavalry chooses to recoil 40mm, simply because he can):

It is now the Athenians turn. The hoplites come forward on mass "to crunch" and "crunch" they did  (see below, hoplites love fighting poorly armed "Hoards" and "Archers" - doubles always seem to come along like clockwork):

Big gaps start appearing in the Persian line and the Athenian hoplites have the inclination as well as movement to "close the door" on the Persian troublesome 4Sp (see below, the Persian battle line has fragmented in many small unconnected fighting bodies of men, fighting desperately for their lives the Persian 4Sp seem a "lost" cause):

The Persian 4Sp are killed which seals the battle as far as DBA is concerned. Looking at the right hand side of the Persian line "escape" is only thing on the minds of the Persian infantry. How is another matter (see below, an imposing line of hoplite spears face them):

After a brief heroic counterattack the Persians collapse in a heap (see below, their surviving horse may get away but the bulk of their infantry would be doomed - so not silver lining for the Persians here! Greeks 4 and Persians 1 therefore Greek decisive win):

A "good" battle to get a feel of the rules. As it was a gentle play test of a "stand-up" fight without searching out tactical tweaks the result was as expected .. that's not to say all Greek versus Persians should be a forgone conclusion as the Greeks had a deep hatred of the Persian horse. It was well respected for and good reason. It is a long time since I have had these ancients 'out of the box' and I was pleased to see how well my paint job had stood the test of time.

DBA Version 3: Athenian versus Early Achaemenid Persian (Part 1 of 2)

I wanted some hands on practice with DBA Version three. So a friend and myself played through a simple Early Achaemenid Persian versus Athenian hoplites. It was the Athenians who were the aggressors - they must be meddling with the Ionians again, so the Persian chose a gentle battlefield that suited cavalry. Two small hills to assist in defence and two "ploughs" .. which disappeared as "1" was not thrown on the first PiP die roll (see below, both armies were horseshoed in their deployment - Athens top and Persians bottom):

A little bit of a shocker, I thought I was well endowed with Persians but I was a "hoard" [7Hd] short so I 'borrowed' one from the Spartans. This means there will be some extra painting to be done for DBA 3 which in itself is not a bad thing. The Persians below are all Xyston, beautiful figures and I tried to labour the love and attention that befits 25/28mm on these 15mm beauties. (see below, incidentally these are Xyston's Later Acheamenid Persians who would have fought the likes of Alexander - they recently [or rather since I have painted mine] have brought out true SparaBara which I undoubtedly must invest in at some point): 

I found myself performing strange gymnastics with the Persians, by shoving the light horse on my flank to the outer zone. leaving a gap for my 3Cv to fill up later. This all seems a tad geometrical and artificial but the way in which the rules push you (indirectly) to play - I have big hopes of converting these DBA armies into the simple Alexandros tactical battle system but more of that another time (see below, my creative deployment [I kind of hate myself for doing this], in the background you can see my Irregular Miniatures stockade camp - populated by Psilio pretending to be camp followers, I need to base up some civilians here): 

The Greeks (more from Xyston - but sporting the fabulous Little Big Man 15mm Ancient Greek Hoplite Shield Transfers) have a simpler time of it (see below, another stockade camp can be seen in their rear - and a less pronounced horseshoe formation [deployment] to expand out from):

The Armies:

• Athenian: [3Cv, 2LH, 3Bw, 4sp(Gen), 8x4Sp]
• Early Acheamenid Persian: [3Cv(Gen), 3Cv, 2LH, 4Sp, 4x8Bw, 3x7Hd, 3Ax]

The Persians try to fan out their army. Not a problem with the mounted, but the foot look a little laborious (see below, the Persian infantry certainly don't want to be mixing it with the Athenian hoplites, their hope is that their Cavalry have successes on the flanks of the Greeks and it's game over before the heavy infantry clash):

The two battle lines approach with both sides desperately trying to "fill out" to get that overlap advantage (see below, the Greeks are slightly ahead with 10 bases in position compared to the Persian 9):

The Greek attempt a bold and adventurous outflanking move with their Light Horse [2LH] against the Persian right (see below, the Greek 2LH flanks the defensive stance of the Persians):

The rest of the Greek battle line advances to almost touching distance (see below, they [the Greeks] also survive the first of many arrow storms - shield [i.e. hoplon] and hoplite armour preventing serious damage):

Locking horns the battle starts in earnest as the battle lines clash - just as the hoplites wanted it (see below, with a basic value of 4 from the 8x4Sp the Greeks have the advantage in infantry against 3Ax value 3, 7Hd value 3, 8Bw valueu 2 with only one 4Sp value 4):

The strange combat is the Persian 8Bw [value 4] versus the 2LH [value 2] with the mounted at a distinct disadvantage (see below, the horse will have difficulty disengaging getting out of bow range): 

Good Persian dice and poor Greek dice mean first blood to the Persian as the Greek Light Horse is doubled and dies (see below, Persians 1 - Greeks 0):

Meanwhile the Greeks bounce the majority of the Persians back in hand-to-hand melee, without scoring any kills (see below, there may be opportunities on the following round but the initiative lies with the Persian commander and his important PiP roll):

The Persians are looking desperately for their cavalry that has massed on the left flank to do something decisive.