Late Roman vs Persian AAR

This weekend we attended "The Barn" Chris Flowers home with large converted garage to game in over in Sunny North Yorkshire and enjoyed a very large Late Romans vs Sassanid Persian game.

The Romans having retreated over the desert and lost many of their mounts needed to defend a small oasis with limited Cavalry and an open flank. Their Strength was the three "divisions" of Legionary foot.

 

 When the Roman commanders returned into the room after Persian set up we had to pause to take in the sheer volume of troops arrayed before us. Georgous in bright colours I never got the chance to count just how many units were about to engulf us, the key troops for the Sassanids were their Cataphract cavalry.

 The Roman Cavalry was hidden behind three hills, but to be honest we didn't feel much better when we brought it on  to fill the gaps in our line. It was going to be a tough game.

 The Roman Cavalry was very pretty but there just wasnt enough to halt the hordes of Persians.

 The Roman artillery at least meant that we could inflict casualties from a range.


We were using Hail Ceaser rules which have used many times before and enjoyed. However we had not played for a while and our familiarity with the similar, but still very different Black Powder rules hindered rather than helped as we got various rules wrong. We had perhaps started the game slightly too far apart, being used to the rapid movement of Black Powder which is pretty much halved in Hail Ceaser.

 The light cavalry on our righ flank quickly got into action with both sides having about equal honours. The left and centre having a respite as the Persians failed to get moving for some time.

 Slowly but surely the Persians advanced and the Roman open right flank withdrew to buy time.

 A flurry of arrows back and forth and then the Elite Cataphracts charged the Elite Legionaries in the centre , leading t a 4 move arm wrestle of a melee with neither side giving an inch. Meanwhile the left flank become generally engaged again with neither side able to gain decisive advantage.

 It couldn't last and after both generals led their personal body guards into the fray and with the Legionaries throwing back one unit of the three Elite Cataphracts eventually the fist unit of the Romans Broke, the Cataphracts swept onto the next unit in line and immediately broke these too, wounding the Imperial commander in the process. At this same time the elephants which had been gently meandering forward had a sudden spurt of energy and found themselves poised to launch straight through the gap in the Roman line.

 On either flank the game was still entirely in the balance and could easily have gone either way.

 However with the gaping hole in the centre and the Roman general being led away by his bodyguard the Persians were able to claim final victory.

Another fun game at the barn but this time a real spectacle with the shear volume of troops on table. I think if we were to paly this again starting closer would be ideal, perhaps changing the seven foot wide table to 6 foot would have given a more decisive result.

A thoroughly enjoyable day with Chris, Chris, Jerry, Andy Richard, Steve and Dave. Thanks for the day out gents.

So that's it for now, I am cracking on with the Swedish Guard Grenadiers and hope to have these completed by the weekend. Thanks for reading.

Another Polish Workbench

Hi, so I have now painted the Redoubt Poles I had as my stomach slowly sorts itself out. The Pancerni in particular I am really pleased with.


Be a few weeks yet before they are based as the basing department finished her final dissertation and then comes home to dog sit for Easter whilst we jet off to Krakow.


So the Pancerni, these mainly redoubt with two TAG figures I had left over. Whilst the Redoubt are larger the horses are not so they all fit quite nicely. These seem t be hidden away a bot on the web site which is a shame as I find them really nice. Chose a blue banner on purpose to off set all the red in the rest of the Poles.

 The Winged Hussars are again very nice. Not quite as dynamic or detailed as the Warlord ones, but lets not forget these are probably 30 years old now.

 So this gives me six units of Polish Cavalry enough for two small Brigades, two more to follow at some point but no rush, Swedes next on the agenda, hoping to pick up the last 5 Swedish Lifeguard Grenadiers tomorrow and finish them too before disappearing off to Krakow.


Roman vs Sassanid game tomorrow at Chris Flowers place, will be nice to catch up with everyone, might take a few snaps and share on here.


See you soon.

More Great Northern War Poles

Hi, quick workbench update so you all know I am still here.


Work progresses very slowly as my stomach is slowly recovering, meanwhile the basing department is in the middle of her dissertation so unavailable for the next 2 weeks, At that point expect a  flurry of posts as we have a couple of units that will be finished and based , I may have some photo's from Krakow and we have a second GNW game booked.


For now though Polish cavalry.


I picked up some Redoubt Winged Hussars some time ago and finally decided to paint them, there were not quite enough for a unit so I decided to get a couple more along with a unit of Pancenri.


The Pancerni in particular I am really pleased with and below are the results of the first few.

 

The last figure shows the first of the redoubt winged hussars, not as nice as the Warlord ones I feel but still a nice figure.

I hope to have a unit of each of these complete for my game along with a unit of light cavalry to make a second Brigade of Poles, these will then be finished off with a unit of Polish Dragoons when Ebor have these figures finished in the near future.


That's it for now, quick update see you all again soon.

Back in Black (Or blue really) to the workbench

Well after a 4 week enforced holiday from painting I am starting to ease myself back in.


And whilst I couldn't paint detail, oil painting horses wasn't an issue. At the same time I have been introduced to coloured primer spray. My usual method is to primer horses in white, acrylic paint them a brown or sand colour then oil them before wiping off.


The purchase of a leather brown and sand coloured spray primer has removed one of these processes speeding things up, it does however reduce slightly the variety of colours I am getting so I need to beware of that.

 So as you can see I have managed to get quite a lot done. In essence there are the horses here for 3 units of Poles (Pancerni, Hussars and Cossacks) one unit of Ebor Swedish Dragoons and two units of Warfare Swedish Life Guard. The saddles and bridles etc all need painting (not to mention the riders) but its a useful pool of work done.

 Heres how the first three of these horses come out once finished, quite nice if a little samey (apparantly not a real word!)

 So as I am painting 10 -20 minutes per day again the first two results of this are a couple of Swedish Life Guard. That gives me 9 of the old Warfare figures painted and varnished, once the new ones come out I can add another 9 and we have the two units of Swedish Lifeguard, when you consider the horses are already oiled and dry this should mean two units completed fairly quickly.

 Last week I went to see the basing department in a short play she had written and directed and took the opportunity to pop in to see Nick from Ebor, I picked up 5 battalions of Norwegians for Mark and a unit of horse for me. Really interesting to see whats in the pipeline for Ebor. WSS and GNW period heavy cavalry with breastplate over their coats are available with floppy hats (Saxons) tricornes (Danes) and Helmets (Danes again). French dragoons in fur hats almost complete and also Polish dragoons in the pipeline (now that's exciting)


I also picked up his King Charles figure, taken from a famous painting of the Warrior King. I have not yet decided if he will have a command base or slot into a unit of Guard Dragoons leading them forward.


You might also notice the ticket for Black Star Riders tonight just behind the King. He's not going I am. For those of you who have not heard of them this is the surviving members of Thin Lizzy who have a raft of their own new music as well as some old classics.


Has this post gone off piste and given itself a bit of a Rock theme?

 Talking of Guard Dragoons the unit I picked up from Nick is painted, Huzza! These are the Life Guard Dragoons, note that the trumpeter is replaced by a drummer here. I have also used one of the Generals as an officer to add some variety from the other units. Really please with these and particularly pleased to be back in the saddle.

 So dont expect volumes of figures rolling off the production line but I am back at it and hope to have some more to share in due course.


Thanks for reading, nice to be back (In Black)

A Saxon - Polish Review so far

Hi, I promised a review of the Saxons and Poles so far and here they are below. I probably did get caught up in the Poles to the detriment of the Swedes, but how can you not they are just great.


4 Units of Poles so far, 1 each of Pancerni and Winged Hussars and 2 light cavalry. I have a further one of each type to paint and hope to have a Polish dragoon unit in the not too distant future as Nick from Ebor is working on these which should be great. Strictly speaking 2 thirds of the force should be Pancerni but........

The Saxons took off fairly quickly but were overtaken by the Poles, Currently 4 battalions and a unit each of Dargoons and Currasier supported by 3 guns. Still to come essentially same again taking me to 4 regiments of 8 battalions in 2 brigades and a brigade of horse with 3 guns. No point in going mad the Swedes are already our-numbered 3 to 1 with Dave's Russians, Marks Danes and My Saxons.

Again half the Saxon pictures are the camera other half phone, I do think the phone pictures are slightly sharper.


So I have one more unit of foot Cossacks to come from the basing department and I need to start thinking about whats next for the blog, perhaps a couple of games with after action reports until I am back up and painting.


Thanks for reading.