AHPC XIII: War of the Roses Mercenaries

Last Challenge I started a War of the Roses project which has progressed steadily this year, and I wanted to add to it this challenge with something different - European Mercenaries.

Sell swords from the continent featured on all sides of the war, and while the Burgundian support to the Yorkists pretenders are the best known, a raft of independent companies from Flanders, France and elsewhere were also engaged.

I've done mine up in bright livery to reflect their more flamboyant nature, and because that how I see those 'proto-landschnekts': advertising on the battlefield for future employers, as well as warning others of their prowess as a deterrent. Plus the bright colours pop nicely on my winter bases. While my rules usually have figure removal, pike units like these look so much better packed tighter so I went with 3 group bases for each unit

This unit has a secret weapon - a crossbow bolt to the face. Surprise!

The flags are all hand painted naturally, using tin foil from the necks of champagne bottles. Yes collecting the raw materials is a drag but somebody has to do it (and who doesn't like a salvo of French 75s?!). The foil allows great three dimensional shaping and has some good strength to it. With the flamboyant theme in mind, I gave all their weapons pennants so no one would miss them on the field of battle!

Thats as much of a mini War of the Roses bomb that you'll see from me! 

https://thepaintingchallenge.blogspot.com/2023/01/ready-sundayfrom-paulog-war-of-roses.html

Rampant Return for War of the Roses

First test of the magnetic basing - nil casualties in transportation!

This weekend saw a double christening as Dux Homunculorum kindly hosted me to threw down with some War of the Roses action: our first time using the new Lion Rampant 2.0 rules set, and the first outing for my Lancastrians.

We like matching up asymmetrical forces - similar but not mirrors of one another to make things more interesting.  I went for weight of arrows, while Alan went more diverse.

Commanded by Lord Percy I fielded 2 units of Foot Knights (elite foot), 2 units of Billmen (Heavy Foot) and 3 Archers to defend the honour of the true and rightful king.  

Opposing my loyal men was Yorkist sympathiser Lord Scrope, with 2 units of Foot Knights (elite foot), 2 units of Billmen (Heavy Foot), 2 Archers, 1 Heavy Horse and 1 of Biddowers (skirmishers). 

Noble Lord Percy takes the field

Longbowmen on the field, ready to deliver an arrow storm

In the name of King Henry - Advance!

Archers Ready!

The Scrope horse waiting in reserve

The traitorous Lord Scrope of Bolton takes the field

Nock - Draw - Loose!

The enemy advance into Range

Long range fire plucked a few enemy from their feet, but not to any real effect. Perhaps next time I would be better taking less but Veteran Bowmen so more shafts find their place. Unfortunately for these lads, they failed to receive the orders to retire (having failed the movement order test AND the reroll from the nearby Commander) and were thus charged by the advancing Billmen

Most impressively, they stood their ground with grim resolve, throwing back the Billmen with 3 casualties while only taking 2 themselves! Impressive, but as they clapped eachother on the back, the thunder of hooves resounded across the filled and the enemy heavy horse galloped into the attack

Unbelievably, the archers slew half (3) of the mounted knights but were inevitably scattered before them having taken more and failed their Courage check. Well done though lads, you have earned yourself a banner when i get back to the Hobby desk (my dice were hot!)

Incensed at the demise of the brave archers, my Foot knights dove down off the hilltop and into the Cavalry, drawing blood and sending the rest fleeing from the field.

At this point I was running low on remaining playing time and thought it timely for Lord Percy to advance upon Lord Scrope and proffer a duel. 

Fight me you Cad!

Alan was not inclined to accept the glove, but obliged me and did not regret the decision...

Seems to be something wrong with my bloody sword today...

...while the view from other side of the field was far more cheery

And with the Yorkist momentum blunted on the left wing, the battle petered out. I had inflicted far more casualties but my rash duel had cost me my Leader. Swearing oaths of vengeance both forces retired, swearing and the battle was concluded.

Good fun in Alan's great game room

Awesome to get my Lancastrians out for the first time - got some ideas on how the flesh the force out a little more. As ever, Alan is a fun, crafty and sporting opponent and it was great to catch up with him.  We found LR2.0 very easy to pickup - a few things we had to recheck but other wise flowed well and anything we needed was quickly found.  We played the variant where failing a unit activation does not mean the end of the turn, which works well at injecting friction without complete chaos.

Expect to see more WotR models joining my collection during the upcoming Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge season 13, which I have signed up for and looking forward to!

You can see more of Alan's Yorkists on his blog here: https://dux-homunculorum.blogspot.com/2016/06/wars-of-roses-for-lion-rampant.html

October Hobby Roundup: Heresy, Turnips and Roses

October saw another swathe of work travel, but a little bit more time at home and some actual gaming! The Horus Heresy has Reilly and I deeply immersed in the fluff and fun - the narrative gaming we are doing with club mates Marty and and Lachie is a real hoot. Here are my World Eater lads in action

The boys, eager for battle!

Turns out that clumping up like this attracts plasma like mosquitoes...

Rapier fire support

The only survivor of my Army! Kharn went on the survive 2 rounds of hand to hand combat with a Dreadnought and swagger away!

I'm working on some reinforcements...

Over the month more Turnip28 folks were constructed, so yes that madness continues...

I really like this pose, which comes from a Perry Afghan tribesman

Skirmishy type chaps with fancy longarms

Close combat Brutes in kilts!

And finally, an update for my War of the Roses Lancastrians, though I have another 70 or so figs built and ready for attention in the upcoming AHPC to join them.  I'm going to add some more character figures in livery, and then need to start considering their Yorkist adversaries.

I went initially with the 3-2-1 basing for the majority of foot troops to suit Lion Rampant but this army continues to...grow to a size that is probably beyond the scope of those rules.  I'm looking forward to Deluxe Never Mind the Billhooks being released soon, but I'll need to do some mixed Bill and Bow units which don't appear in Rampant.

I'll need to look farther afield if this develops into a larger project (like it hasn't already...) - thinking of Sword and Spear, or Clash of Spears. Would be convenient to have a common set of rules with my Roman Civil Wars project - To The Strongest maybe?

Be well!

Lancaster Reinforcements- War of the Roses

I completed some reinforcements for my Lancastrian Army this week. To add some diversity to the Army I have added a small contingent from the Duke of Somerset.  This Beaufort family were staunch Lancastrian supporters throughout the war and across multiple generations.  Their blue and white adds a splash of colour (though I am missing their banner at this point), and they can form a flanking battle in the formation. 

In Lion Rampant terms (I'm getting ready for the release of the 2nd edition rules next month) this army now comprises 3 Longbow units (12 figs each), 2 Billmen (12 each), 1 Armoured Billmen (12) and 2 of Foot Knights (6 each). Feels like I painted way more than 72 models!  Most are Perry Plastics but the Somerset archers are a mix of Crusader metals as well.

Need to get my skates on with the rest but I've enjoyed the project thus far. Next up for this army is light and heavy cavalry, artillery and Command stands. Future expansions are more billmen, as well as European Mercenary Pike and Crossbows.

Anyway, that's it from me for awhile - off on some work travel. Be well!

AHPC XII: War of the Roses - Lancastrians

The start of a new but long awaited project: War of the Roses. Stage 1 is a Lancastrian force to oppose Alan's lovely Yorkists that he painted a few years ago.  Ironic that I should be doing Lancastrians though, as I served aboard the Destroyer HMS York for more than a year... 

Anyway, this initial burst of 48 figures includes Foot Knights, Billmen and Retinue Archers for Lion Rampant. In the wings are lots more of the same plus Mounted Knights, Prickers and artillery, as well as European mercenary Pike, crossbows and hand gunners.

Foot Knights advance under a Percy House Banner

I was experimenting with the Scale 75 metallics for the armour - very nice products, and I'm really happy how they have come out and contrast with the snow. This is also my first real foray into snow basing so that they match Alan's army; going for a patchy, early winter look. They came out a bit heavier than expected but I'm happy with them overall.

Well armoured Retinue Billmen move into the attack

Fun fact: Snow basing really soaks up any rum and coke that you might inadvertently spill over your entire army. REALLY well like a sponge. Like, scrape it all off and start again the night before your submission is due. Still, the models now have a nice smell and Reilly observed "You're really putting something of yourself into this project". I figure the spirits will keep the lads warm in the snow...

Unarmoured Billmen, led by a Man at Arms

Alan has convinced me with his zealous promotion of the 3-2-1 basing schema for the foot troops, but I kept the archers in more refined lines on rectangle bases. I think it shows a more formed and static line up, while the foot sloggers are a bit more ragged in the advance.

Stout Englishmen and their yew bows ready to deliver an arrow storm

That's 48 figs and the two banners are hand painted of course.

https://thepaintingchallenge.blogspot.com/2022/02/from-paul-og-war-of-roses-lancastrian.html

AHPC Season XI is upon us - Project reveal

With just over 24 before the start of AHPC XI, a frenzy of prep is underway in the Man Cave with both Dad and Lad entrants this year.  Sidetracked only significantly by actually playing games and trying to finish off some projects on the desk.  Mostly we are both focusing on Warhammer Fantasy projects and a couple of Blood Bowl teams, but I was distracted this week (what a surprise*) by the great initiative of a "World War of the Roses".

A period that has called to me for years, unsuccessfully, until now.  My initial inclination was for the Yorkists (having served in the destroyer HMS YORK for a year) but Alan already has a force for them** so its the Lancastrians for me, with this lovely starting pile of Perry happiness. Actually they might be my first Perry figures now that I think about it - how did that ever happen?

So amongst the Dwarves, Goblins and Beastmen, expect to see some Billmen, Men at Arms, Bidowers, Prickers and more. Rules wise Lion Rampant is always an option but I'm keen to explore the new Never Mind the Billhooks rules which came out in Wargame Illustrated 393 and has a good FB group. If I get truely excited perhaps I may expand it to a WAB army.

Hope everyone is having a merry Festive Season despite any COVID challenges, and good luck to all in the Painting Challenge!

*Yes, I'm bloody hopeless!

** you can see them here:  https://dux-homunculorum.blogspot.com/2016/06/wars-of-roses-for-lion-rampant.html