Ipsus Postscript

Here are some more images of Saturday's Salute game, taken during the course of play by chum Ian. The above shot is my absolute favourite shot of the game; quite possibly my favourite ever shot of a game of To the Strongest! Massed pike and elephants make for an exceedingly dramatic image.

The Gripping Beast scythed chariots looked spiffing!

Ian picked his moments carefully, snapping away during lulls in the action, missing out hands and playing cards.

This last one shows why I've moved to the deeper units for show games, they give a real impression of mass.

There's also a video showing the entire game, which I shot just before the players arrived.

I'd like to thank everyone who helped, the painters (mostly Shaun McTague but also Craig Davey), Ian for flocking, grouting and photos, and everyone who helped to run the game or talk to punters whilst I was running around like a headless chicken. Also Ian and Iain for helping with the setup and also Shaun and Rich who helped with the knock down at the end. The Warlords did a fantastic job running the show, which was one of the best Salutes I can  recall. They also gave us this trophy, which took me quite aback!

It was also super to see some of the other games, including the huge London Bridge skirmish game run by Seven Dials chums, the Friends of General Haig TYW, the big Leuctra, the Gustavus Adolphus 1:1 game and the dinky little Imjin River. Unfortunately I missed seeing any of the games in action, and got no photos at all. There were quite a few other games that I'd have loved to have seen in the flesh.

So what's next? I plan to run the same battle at the excellent Partizan show in Newark on Sunday May 21st. If you are coming and would like to play for a couple of hours, please email or message me and I'll book you in. We will run it in the AM, and again in the PM if there are enough interested players. It will be a little larger than the Salute version, since I intend to get a few more units finished.  :-)

In other news... there is a new version of the To the Strongest! Quick Reference Sheet available. There are some significant changes to Save Modifiers, and a few other useful tweaks. Also pick up the latest Even Stronger Supplement that came out last month, if you haven't already.

Ipsus at Salute!

Today chums Ian and Iain helped me set up the big Ipsus game at Salute, ready for the big day  tomorrow. 

Above are four of the eight new scythed chariots fielded, which will likely perform terribly on their first outing, in the manner of all new lead.

There are lots of lancers on the Antigonid side, eight squadrons led by Demetrius Poliorcetes.

The new phalanx- looking suitably pointy! Also some of the game's 33 elephants, above lovely ride-ons from Aventine, and below some venerable Vendels depicting Seleucus' massive herd.

Most of the lovely photos above were taken by chum Ian.

Ipsus can be found at GG04, near the centre of the hall, between the Warlord merchandising/painting competition area and the N7 exit. We'll hopefully play it twice, using my To the Strongest! rules, and we have spaces for players. Please do come by and say hello tomorrow! 

Mustering for Ipsus

Today I've started the laborious process of mustering the troops for Ipsus at Salute. They are currently scattered in storage boxes throughout the house and cellar. I need to find all the minis, count them, and revise the OOB and battle plan accordingly (and urgently!). These are just over half the required boxes.

If you play To the Strongest!, I've just uploaded a new version of the Quick Reference Sheet, version 1.1F. You'll want it there are several important changes in the save modifier table. Download it now, don't let your oppo steal a march on you! It's here.

Litter Lout

 

Here is a quick Work In Progress shot of the command stand for King Antigonus the One-Eyed, for the big Ipsus 301 BCE game at Salute next week. Antigonus was 81 years old at Ipsus, and had suffered a fall earlier in the campaign, so I've depicted him surrounded by his bodyguard, near a litter. The lion banner was suggested by Jeff Jonas, as Antigonus had earlier been Satrap of Lycia, which province was associated with lion symbology. I've depicted him "at bay", just before his dream of reviving Alexander's Empire was finally ended by an enemy javelin.

I started work on this stand as long as three years ago, so it has been an exceedingly slow burner. Minis were painted by various people including Shaun Watson and Shaun McTague. I still need to paint his litter and finish the base, flock etc. Below are the components yesterday morning, prior to basing.

If you are at Salute next week, please drop by to see Antigonus and his unfeasibly large phalanx! To the Strongest! will be at GG04, near the centre of the hall, between the Warlord merchandising/painting competition area and the N7 exit.

Mancetter to Salute- Part II

Apologies for the delay in posting the second part of this- I have been frantically busy since Salute! All of these lovely close-ups of our Mancetter 61CE  To the Strongest! game were taken by Alan Daniels.

The chariots are mash-ups of the Wargames Factory kits with Newline and other ponies.

Above is my favourite warband, based on Tacticus' account of the druids at Mona. "On the shore stood the opposing army with its dense array of armed warriors, while between the ranks dashed women, in black attire like the Furies, with hair dishevelled, waving brands. All around, the Druids, lifting up their hands to heaven, and pouring forth dreadful imprecations, scared our soldiers by the unfamiliar sight, so that, as if their limbs were paralysed, they stood motionless, and exposed to wounds. Then urged by their general's appeals and mutual encouragements not to quail before a troop of frenzied women, they bore the standards onwards, smote down all resistance, and wrapped the foe in the flames of his own brands."

Celtic women cheer on their menfolk. I see that d****d scene-stealing flock of sheep has crept into the foreground!

Another chariot. The look of the chariots was much improved by the recent flockathon.

Some of the warbands include armoured warriors, representing dismounted noblemen and chariot warriors.

Above is a downhill shot. The legions in the reserve line were not much engaged; the fight falling to the the auxiliaries, further down the slope.

Finally I was really chuffed to receive the Bill Brewer Memorial Award for best presented game: runner up; a super seal on the event. I'd like to thank everyone who helped with the project, especially Shaun McTague and Ian Notter, and, on the day- Ian, again, Mike Brian, Tim Thompson, Andrew Brentnall and Neil Graber. Also, of course, everyone who played or stopped by for a chat! And lastly the Warlords (especially Philip Andrews) who run the event with great (and often unappreciated) efficiency.

Onward to Salute '20... for which I already have half a plan!

Meet the Flockers!

Here am I (left) with chum Ian Notter (right) with the 100% flocked and tufted British army that we've just completed for our huge "To the Strongest! Salute game. Many thanks to Ian- it's not something I could have done all by myself- I think I would have gone mad! Well madder, anyhow.

There are 18 warbands, each of around 36 minis for a total of 640-odd hopping mad Britons. Many of these (250+?) have been freshly painted by Shaun McTague, others come from Shaun Watson. Most of the original warband were painted by Nick Speller some years ago and have all been re-based. I reckon there are at least 90 standards and 30 carnyxs.

Here are 90 skirmishing slingers that will screen the brave (suicidal?) uphill charge. All of the units are based on irregular-edged bases from my TtS!20 series, which should blend nicely into the terrain cloth.

Here are twenty light horse and some command stands.

On the left are 18 British chariots. On the right, the wagon laager.

Finally, here are sundry baggage elements and battlefield dressing.

I'm really delighted to finish these off! Please come by and see our huge Romans vs. Boudicca game, "Mancetter 61 CE", using the "To the Strongest!" rules, at stand GA12, just to the right inside the Salute entrance- the first table you'll come to! I'll be the one in the shirt. :-)

To the Strongest! at Salute

At our table GG07, circled in whtie on the plan below, Andrew Brentnall and I will be running not one but TWO games of For King and Parliament. We'll start games in the morning at 11AM and afternoon at 2:30 PM. If you'd like to play for an hour or more, email me and I'll book you in! I have invested in some big banners, to help you find us... :-)

I don't sell anything at Salute- I'm always far too busy chatting. However, Wargames Foundry at TH14 and Caliver Books at TJ12 (circled in red on the plan above) are near to the games and will each have a stock of To the Strongest! and the new TtS! For King and Parliament rules.

There won't be any coins, mats, bases or chits on sale- however, if you order from the BigRedBatShop before lunchtime on Thursday, and add a note or email me, I can refund your postage and bring the package along for collection; I might even add some samples...

I hope to meet lots of chums, new and old, on Saturday- do please come by and say hello!

In-action shots of Raphia at Salute

Yesterday at Salute I was so busy failed to take a single photo, but happily chum Ian shot some lovely pics of our game. Most of the photos were shot during play and you may be able to make out chits, playing cards and ghostly hands, here and there.

The Egyptian phalanx- massed machimoi in the foreground.

The rather smaller Seleucid phalanx

Seleucid horse and elephants charge

Silver shields to the left rear

View from the dunes on the flank

Arabs- far from being the toughest unit on the table, but one of my personal favourites.

Almost 1K phalangites in this battle

The whole enchilada

 

A Ptolemaic "African" - they struggled against their larger adversaries

Ptolemaic xystophoroi

Clash of the  battle lines

Another African

Medes

Greek mercenaries on the Ptolemaic right

Ptolemaic guard (in the background)

Echecrates' Thessalians hold the Ptolemaic right

Galatian nudists in Ptolemaic service

Huge thanks to the team who worked so hard to set out  run the game- Ian Notter, Andrew Brentnall, Shaun McTague, Mike Brian, Mark "WHC" Freeth and Chris Cornwell. Many of the minis were painted by Shaun McTague and Craig Davey and some by Nick Spelller- hi Nick! The minis are a mixture of Foundry, Polemarch, Crusader and others. Most of the elephants are lovely Aventines.

Many thanks to the players- too- who really seemed to enjoy themselves! The first game was played in just over an hour, which absolutely astonished me and must be some kind of record for a 1600 mini game. The Seleucids won both games, although Antiochus was killed in the second one which was, therefore, something of a Pyrrhic victory.

Salute was a great show- although the venue is somewhat impersonal its meeting the people and many friends that makes it, for me. The Warlords organisation this year was extremely efficient and professional. A big hi! to every one I chatted with and to everyone I missed!  

On a final note, I have extended the current "To the Strongest!" rules sale to midnight tonight, for people who saw the game and want to buy a set with a 25% discount (or anyone else for that matter!). You can find them here:

Salute 2016

Blogger meet photo nicked from Big Lee; your hero is on the left, oblivious to the photographer. 

Salute was another Excel Salute; well organised and as welcoming as a huge, dark, concrete-floored aircraft hangar can be welcoming. There seemed to be more traders and fewer, less impressive demo games, and mostly fantasy/sci-fi games at that. Many games weren't being played, which is such a shame. Not much for the historical gamer this year.  :-(

That said, despite not getting a table myself and missing all too many mates who were in the same boat, I had a very enjoyable time. Highlights included meeting Rick Priestly, Steve Saleh and Andres Amian Fernandez. It was also fantastic to run into so many people I know now within the hobby, especially the TtS! players. The traders I met were so friendly especially Martin and Diane at Warbases, Simon at S&A Scenics and Marcus at Foundry.

I took very few photos but wasvery taken with the Viking game by fellow blogger Dalauppror and friends- Foteviken 1134.

Stunning work!  I loved the vignettes, the tents and the half-built boat.