Arthur is coming......again!

Not another new project...well not really.

Having sold large parts of my old Arthurian collection, mainly as I wasn't happy with them, the remains have languished in a box with some unpainted spearmen hiding in the lead mountain.

I decided to have a go at the Foundry Spearmen and in doing so re-ignited my interest in the period.

Also inspired it has to be said by Peter Gibbons new series of novels and the latest Giles Christian Novel both of which I loved. 

I painted 10 spearmen, all old Foundry figures that I really like, I think they came out well and it inspired me to some retail therapy which as usual got slightly out of hand.

These three boxes arrived first.

Midgaard by chum James Morris, I will mainly use this for Bronze age but it may also work for Arthur and many seem to be planning to do just that. Dux Britanarium came with a bunch of Saxons I picked up from Ebay and I fancy trying it. The Hail Caesar supplement was the main buy from the booklets as we already use the rule set so something Romano British specific should work.

Along with these Arthurian packs of Cavalry from Warlord and a bunch of 1st Corp Saxons which surprised me a little by being lovely.

Back to the spearmen, there are 4 different castings and I am choosing to paint these in relatively subdued colours, each man in his own gear rather than a uniform with a fairly limited pallet. When I add shields later I may use these to tie figures in a unit together in a theme.

Same four again with different colour scheme, the Orange should stand out despite not being a really bright colour.

Two more of the same, I am going to prep all the shields seperately, probably for a whole bunch of figures and then add them all at once.

Slightly better image of the "tawny" cloak. I considered doing a whole unit in these but decided it is a bit too rich.

Chum Chris Charlton has a substantial Romano British Army and Chris Flowers has most of the troops for the Late Roman world so no shortage of opponents. Dave and Si also have figures so plenty to go with.

My own Romano British force consists currently of one Mounted unit and two foot. All units are 3 bases each, so quite small, the horse are from Westwind.

The foot are the same Foundry spearmen for the most patr with some additional characters and command.

For enemies so far I have a small but perfectly formed Pictish army, known as the Pixies to my gaming chums. Five foot units supported by 2 skirmisher and 2 light cavalry units. More of a mix of figures but mainly Foundry with some Westwind. I intend to flesh this out just a little, at least another unit of foot with possibly some Irish allies.

My Target is something like 5 horse and 6 foot for the Romano British, an extra Pictish foot unit or two and maybe some more skirmishers with two Irish foot units. Then a Saxon force of 3 units of spears with archers in support. 

So nothing massive. I already have a lot of what I need with more on the way. The trick will be not getting carried away with armoured British cavalry.

No doubt a couple of you are chuckling already and ready to remind me when I end up with twice what I planned.

Especially as the below order from Warlord arrived (Again lovely figures especially the Arthurian "Knights") and some flags from Ebay.

More on this project soon no doubt.

Thanks for stopping by.

Second AWI Playtest

Tonight we had a second playtest of Steve's AWI rules.

Not a good day at the office for my Continentals.

The British had brigades, on their left 3 battalions of Hessians needed to take and hold the ford supported by Jaegers already over the ford. In the centre 2 battalions of British regulars supported by a battalion of Tory militia and a field gun, on the right three more battalion of British regulars with a large unit of light infantry.

Facing them I had a 4 battalion brigade of continentals in the centre but off table. To my right a brigade of 2 continental battalions supported by a small battalion of Lees Legion and a unit of rifle skirmishers. on my left the same again with an additional support of a light gun.

Similar numbers of troops with the British having the advantage of quality.

A portion of my troops were off table and I wasnt exactly sure when they would be joining me so I needed to consider holding ground whilst they arrived. My objective was to stop the Hessians securing the ford and the British driving in my left.

My right hand brigade, whilst on table was in march order near the edge so need to try beat the Hessians to the ford.

The Jaegers started already deployed across the ford and in cover. As skirmishers in cover need a 6 to score a hit but have an advantage to hit themselves, coupled with rifles, these were extremely difficult customers.

The British advanced quickly from the centre and their right with the field gun deploying to the front.

I had a light gun and started forming my own line to counter the British, unfortunately with one brigade of my best troops off table I was spread very thin especially on my left facing the British regulars (Getting my excuses in early here).

My right brigade formed a line with rifle skirmishers on the extreme right and advanced on the ford.

Chris pushed his light infantry forward early, they have a movement bonus being less restricted by terrain and quickly began an unequal duel with my riflemen.

The British regulars in the centre advanced quickly and whilst the gun got an early shot in the crew took 3 turns to re-load it which would be a recuring theme. 

Perhaps worth mentioning for those who have not read a previous game report on these rules. Each unit once activated has between 3 and 5 actions. A quick dice roll decides if the units in a brigade have more or less than their standard 4 actions. Moving, firing and re-loading are all actions and whilst firing does not need to be rolled for every other action needs to, a 3 required for most actions but the harder the action the higher the roll required.  Hence 3 attempts to re-load a cannon, Chris kept rollign a 2. 

My third brigade now enters the fray and deploys on table but will be pushed to arrive in time to stop the advancing British over running the Continentals on my left.

Meanwhile the Jaegers begin to score casualties on my right hand brigade.

Chris rolls well for his Hessians and they have 5 actions marching with 4 and deploying into line the first two battalions are immediatley over the ford and in position to hold it whilst the rest of the Germans deploy into line over the river in support.

My two battalions deploy to fire upon the Jaegers and the fight is on for the ford.

My Lees Legion infantry charge and scatter the Jaegers but are held by the Hessian Musketeers.

Getting lucky my centre brigade moves forward 5 times to occupy the centre of the line and face point where the Hessians and British meet.

Finally I am in position to hold back the British charge up the centre.

Unfortunately for me, hit by the gun and the British my unit loses two full bases and goes dis-ordered. Not a great start

Anpther volley and another basee removed, this time I fail morale and retreat in dis-order.

The British advance to take advantage of the gap in my lines whilst I scramble about to plug it with other troops needed elsewhere.

Wheeling my right hand unit I must pull back my whole line or be rolled up, the Hessians, already having the better of the firefight at their end are releived of pressure.

The last vestiges of my centre fold under another volley, however the British are at least now open to flanking fire from my continentals.

I wheel another unit in leaving my left under strength and the Light infantry battalion is already inflicting casualties on it.

 

Meanwhile on the left the British flank both of my units and decimate them with volley fire before charging the left hand unit and breaking it. My left now consists of one mauled battalion, a few riflemen and a light gun facing an almost untouched brigade of British regulars.

I am down to 4 weak battalions facing 9 battalions of Kings troops mostly untouched. Its been a bit of a wash out for the Americans who must retreat and fight another day.

Charged from the flank another unit of Continentals breaks. With both flanks gone and British objectives achieved its a washout for the Rebels. (Sorry this image was out of order and I couldnt change it back)

Again the rules worked really well. skirmishers are very powerful, so large units of skirmishing infantry need to be treated with caution, other than that really enjoyable game.

More to come I am sure, thanks for popping in.

Completed Based 1919-20 Poles

Finished units coming fairly quickly now and I have more Poles.

First completed is this French 75mm field gun crewed by Poles in French Horizon Blue.

This is the third field gun for my force with 5 planned currently. The gun is Empress with a Woodbine gunner, a Battlehonours officer and 2 Spanish Civil War gunners I cant remember the manufacturer.

Helmets are Woodbine, the peaked cap is Studio Siberia and peakless cap is a clipped down redoubt ACW head.

My fourth battalion of Poles is a;sp complete. Greater Poland troops in ex Imperial German kit and Polish jackets and caps. 

All four of these are from the excellent Great War Range.

These guys all Renegade figures with  Studio Siberia head swap in the middle.

Again mainly Renegade with a couple of head swaps, the end figure on the right is Copplestone.

The Command figures here are Great War along with the figure with trench broom on the left hand base and there are a couple of Studio Siberia head swaps mixed in with these guys too. Rest are Renegade.

Finally, just to prove its not all about the inter war projects, here's a couple of 40mm Paris Municipal Guard I painted as well. More of these soon I am sure.

Both 40mm Perry's the right hand figures is a Spanish fusilier with the addition of a French Shako. This unit is planned to be fairly untidy and Campaigny.

Thanks for stopping by.