A Bit More Arthurian Progress.

 The Christmas break has given me a head start with my new/old project breathing some life back into my Post Roman collection.

As an aside I am not entirely sure what the correct terminology is these days, clearly not Arthurian, but is it Post Roman, Sub Roman, Romano British? I guess as we are not academics it doesnt matter too much so bare with if I flick between them.

Most of the actual figures are here now, just a couple of packs from First Corps and Northstar/Crusader ordered over the break to arrive.

This time mainly we are looking at Picts with a small number of Romano British. These include the first of the Footsore miniatures. As previously its a fairly limited pallette which will be more extensive once mixed with the rest of the figures. I may start to incorporate more patterns for future figures, again to mix in the overall.

Breaking them into convenient groups the Romano British are two metal Footsore command figures, I particularly like the commander pointing with boiled leather cuirass. The chap at the back is a Gripping Beast plastic unarmoured late Roman who fits in well.

These four Picts are all Foundry, I have to say the range still holds up despite its age, love these.

This next lot a bit more mixed, the two Footsore crossbowmen came out very nice, you can see they are a little slighter than some other modern ranges so fit quite well with old Foundry. The chap with the knife is a Westwind figure and the horn blower Gripping beast. Both of these last have fancy cloaks with tufts of wool pulled through. I have chosen to interpret these as being the same colour as the rest of the garment. Hopefully right.

Meanwhile even more Picts invade the painting room from over the giants wall.

Mainly first Corps they are some lovely figures and horses match the size and build of the Footsore Irish horses perfectly.

Once it defrosts outside(Currently -5) I will finish varnishing the painted figures and get these primed. 

Thanks for stopping by.

A Christmas Napoleonic Game

Twas the night before, the night before Xmas and all was quite-ish.

Chris Charlton was yet to try Steve's WIP Napoleonic rules so we decided this would be a good opportunity.

A meeting engagement with points for holding key objectives. The Objectives were two villages a hill and a bridge, but also points would be deducted for broken units.

Each unit represents a regiment and typically 2 to 4 regiments a Division. Each side had 3 infantry Divisions and two small cavalry Divisions each of a light and heavy.

I would have the French Chris the Russians and Steve would keep us up to speed with the rules.

I spread my activations looking to get forward right along the line and occupy the hill and farm on the right in particular before the Russians could get going, whilst Chris chose to focus a lot of his movement on his left and the nearest farm with the bridge beyond it.

My mass of infantry on the right quickly got forward to occupy the reverse slope of the hill and the farm at its base.

Chris reaches the farm on the left first as I push my infantry division forward to contest it, he unleashes volleys from two battalions. First blood to Chris as one of my French foot unit gives way and breaks.

In the centre I push forward my heavy cavalry thinking to hold one side of the bridge and thus deny it to Chris.

Chris decides he will drive me off and moves his own heavy cavalry to confront me.

The fighting on the left intensifies as Chris focuses all of his movement here to occupy the farm and the bridge. I line my foot out planning to hold him off with volleys, if I have both ends of the bridge the farm doesn't matter too much. 

The Russians charge my Currassier and in a hard fought melee drive them back, they push onto my second Cavalry regiment and marginally beat them too, its not looking great as the Russians look to consolidate and turn on my infantry but Chris's luck runs out and he fails his next order passing the initiative to me. The French infantry form a line to cover their flank and blast the Russian horse, forcing them to retreat back where they came. Disaster averted.

The Russian cavalry withdraw but the French are so badly beaten they wont play a further part in the game.

The fighting around the farm on the left rages with both sides taking heavy casualties. I am able to destroy two of Chris's battalions and force a divisional break test but he passes and he still holds the farm.

Despite heavy losses the Russians push the French back from the farm on my left.

Chris suddenly launches his left flanks divisions and pours over the hill and into my French forcing them back with heavy casualties. He is using multiple chips to keep the initiative and the French can do nothing in response as they are pushed back off the hill and almost to the farm.

At this point I have to leave and Steve steps in finish the game with things not looking great for the French but with most of our chips still to play and the Russian push at an end..

So things not looking great as I left, Steve text me on the way home, I was sat in stationery traffic on the M62, to let me know he had retaken the Hill, the Russians had lost more units than the French and nobody held the Bridge so the balance of victory went to the French.

Hurrah! Exactly as I planned it honest!

Another fun game with lots to think about, really enjoying these rules.

A few more for Arthur

I figured I better I finish off a few figures I already had in the lead pile before starting new figures.

Apologies Photos a little washed out with the late winter sun.

These two are Wargames Foundry late Romans, whilst the Foundry horses are lovely they are very small so I used these Gripping Beast ones instead.

Sat in a box for at least 6 years, probably a lot more, they will be mixed in with the Victrix and Warlord figures and shields added later.

I have a small number of these Gripping Beast late Saxons in plastic (left) but really its only the helmets that place them as late, they do have crucifix's so will need to be British but if I had bare heads or Roman helmets they will fit in quite nicely I think. The standard bearer was a spare Roman Briton from Westwind I have had for a while. The standard is my take on Legio II Augustus, not come out that well but hopefully disguised on the base or covered by a nice big LBMS banner.. A unit potentially based in Britain during and maybe after the final Roman departure.

I have a few Picts and Saxons to get stuck into, these are two that were already primed so I got into them. They are both from Westwind, the Saxon archer being the only one I have and the Pict one of a small group who will follow soon.

Over Christmas I have managed to progress this stalled project with a bunch more Romano British and Picts.

These five are a sprue of plastic Gripping Beast Picts which are lovely figures.

The four metal figures are from 3 ranges, the first two are metal Gripping beast, then a Westwind figure and finally a Foundry archer. Again pretty happy with how all these came out.

Another limited palette on the Foundry Sub Roman spearmen, earthy colours but a different mix to the first 10. 

Pretty happy with these, I have bought a pack of 8 Crusader spearmen to finish these guys off into 2 units, they have a similar vibe, leaning on shields with cloaks and no armour. 

A little closer to an extra unit per force.

Thanks for stopping by.

Trouble down in Ol Mexico, Sharp Practice AAR

Chris put on a game this week, a first outing for his US horse soldiers and  Fillybusters alongside the Mexicans and Apaches he has had for much longer.

Designed for 4 players Simon couldn't make it so Chris took two commands. 

I had the Fillybusters and Steve the US cavalry. 

Chris took both the Apache and the Mexicans.

A gang of Fillybusters have been making a nuisance of themselves over the border, being pressed by the Mexicans they decide to march back of the Rio Grande and hand them selves in. The Fillybusters have a formation of 24 men with muzzle loading rifles supported by 6 skirmishers.

A unit of US cavalry (4  Troops of 8 and a small group of scouts) has been dispatched to arrest the Fillybusters and escort them north while the Mexican authorities have decided to punish the renegades before they can leave Mexican territory and pushed three troops of 8 lancers forward, thrown into the mix a band of Apache in 5 skirmish units of 5 or 6 warriors are intent on mayhem against anyone, American or Mexican, that comes in range.

Stage set for mayhem on the border.

I get my skirmishers forward and Chris sets his repeating rifle armed Apaches facing me on the edge of the river.

The Mexicans ride along the river bank with pennants fluttering led by their flamboyant leader in black.

Having been told to try and avoid an international incident Steve immediatly opens fire on the Mexicans on the basis he can always claim it was the Apache as long as he wins.

For some reason Zorro seems to be in charge of some of the Mexicans who dismount and return fire.

Whilst the regular cavalry skirmish with the US troopers, the Presidial lancers canter forwards to take on the hated Fillybusters.

Steves tiny unit of Scouts decide to charge the Apache by themselves, whilst they aquit themselves quite well considering there are only 4 of them, the are cut down by Apche mixed musket and bow fire.

The Mexican Presidio Lancers charge the skirmishers and wipe them out but take 3 casualties in the process.

The skirmishers however have bought some time for the Fillybuster formation which lines them up in its sites and blasts them away with a volley.

A lone trooper canters his exhausted mount back to report the disaster.

Meanwhile Steve has organised his cavalry and charged the Apache disorganised and badly mauled after their encounter with the scouts. The two units of damaged Apache are destroyed by the US Cavalry.

The Fillybusters wheel to take on the repeater armed Apache after taking some ineffectual fire from them.

A volley sees the 4th unit of Apache cut down with only the one remaining and the joint Apache/Mexican force morale is now pretty low.

Mexican regulars are pushing forward to try and flank the Fillybusters, can they get to them before the force morale is completely gone. It could be tough for the Fillybusters if caught in flank but the Mexicans are still in march column themselves.

Off screen the US Cavalry have broken through the last of the Apache facing them and are now in the rear of the last of the Warriors.

In true Hollywood style the Cavalry charge into the rear of the Apache at the last moment, in the dying moments of the game, and wipe out the last unit, whilst the Mexicans still have 2 units of cavalry remaining the joint force morale has gone. You could say that having lost one unit completely and facing formed infantry to the front and cavalry in their flank and rear the Mexicans do the sensible thing and let the Fillybusters cross over the river. 

Not quite the game I think Chris had planned but immense fun. First time for some of these figures on table and they do look the business I have to say.

A lot of fun for everyone, although perhaps less so for the Apache.

Many thanks for the game Chris.