Aftermath.

They left behind them, corpses for the dark black coated raven, horny beaked to enjoy, and for the eagle, white backed and dun coated, the greedy war hawk and that grey wild beast, the forest wolf.

From "A Choice Of Anglo-Saxon Verse" Edited By Richard Hamer

We routed them at the hill, but at the crossroads we were bested, we retreat but cannot out run them, we make our stand here at Ednasforde, it is not the obstacle it should be for the rains are late this year and the Penk runs low. But hold and delay them we must, for there is hope,  the messengers say that Arthur is coming.....

Men - Foundry and Gripping Beast

Birds - Reaper

Base - Warbases

TTFN

Arthur, Rex Britonum

The latest addition to my Dark ages Britain collection, figure from Footsore Miniatures with LBMS transfers.

Next week we will be playing another Dark Ages game, I recently got a copy of Kings Of War Historical in the North Star sale, I will give these a try this time round.

TTFN

Afraid? Me

Footsore Miniatures Irish Fianna

Olaf Complete

Be Afraid

Olaf Nonomberssen

A work in progress pic of the Footsore Miniatures Viking Warlord figure. A test post really to try uploading pics on the IPad with latest updates downloaded.

And it is no better, still locking up. Oh well.

Think you will agree it is a fine looking figure.

TTFN

One Day, Two Battles

Yesterday Dave and I revisted the Dark Ages, we used an amended version of the Dark Age rules in Neil Thomas's, One Hour Wargames book. I also chose a scenario from the book, the British started with two units on a hill, with another four coming on table in turn two, the Saxons would have all six units from the start. The objective was to be in sole possession of the hill by turn fifteen, the Saxons started with a full on assault of the hill, with further units skirting the side to engage the relief force when they entered the table. The rules, even with the AMW Yahoo Group mods lived up to the title, Baldinus and British securing victory in around 45 minutes, we decided to have lunch and then play another game.

Of Fighters And Farmers

I have done two more Romano-British and Saxons, these will fill the gaps on another movement tray, and also give six bases a side for a game using Neil Thomas One Hour Wargames rules. However we will use the modifications for the Dark Age rules off the AMW Yahoo groups site.
I have also painted two farmers to inhabit the the growing buildings and terrain related stuff for the period.
The fighters are the ever brilliant Footsore Miniatures, Bill T really captures the feel of the Dark Ages, the characterisation and the very stance of the figures just do it for me. I have had my eye on the Irish range for sometime and with the current deal I finally succumbed, they can be allies or enemies of my Romano-Brits, sans the Fianna with Danish axes or fight Dave's Anglo-Saxons or Normans, if you spend £35 or more this month you also get a free Viking warlord from the upcoming Viking range, the figure is stunning and is already primed ready to receive paint. Bill has nailed it once again with this figure, he stands Danish axe in hand his fur cloak blowing in the wind while he grips the strap of his shield which is strapped across his back, the miniature exudes menace despite his pose, it bodes well for the rest of the range, which is due for release later this year I believe.
The farmers are Foundry Casting Room Miniatures Germans, but they will do for me.

Told you it was Blogger wasting my time David, but no more.

I Give Up

Totally pissed off with blogger, have been trying to upload pics for a post today without success, I had similar problems with the last post. Even using other devices I had the same problems.
Thank you everyone for the kind comments and support over the last few years. I shall revert to Facebook, I know several folks avoid it like the plague, I have myself. But one must move with the times I suppose. For those who do, my page is Phil Ohq Painting.

Thank you and goodbye.

Enclosed In The Dark Ages

With the upcoming Dark Ages game after the Easter break I went to find out my PMC buildings, now available from Caliver at a more premium price than the old give away one, don't know how they did it.
In the box was two Grand Manner enclosures, I had collected these from Dave Bodley at Salute, we have not been for the last two years so that was three years ago at least, could be longer, but three sounds about right.
Time they were painted, so I have set too and done them, for something to cower behind on Tuesday.

 

The crow on the post is off a Foundry ancient German women's staff.

TTFN 

Pro Victoria Baldinus

Today saw the first outing for my third century Romans and Goths, a hard fought victory over the forces of Bikkagern. We used Neil Thomas Ancient and Medieval rules with modifications we thought applicable, the Goths made a bold move around the right flank of the Roman forces with cavalry, with the Goth warbands to the front Baldinus's only real option was to continue the advance forward and endeavour to out distance the Goth cavalry led by Bikkagern himself. Himself being so far from his men must have had an effect on them as they proceeded to get atrocious dice throws most of the game, the dice gods however were in favour of Baldinus and his troops with resulting, better than average dice throws. By the time Bikkagern and his cavalry got into contact, Baldinus was on the way to victory, but catching the Triani legion in the rear while engaged frontally would surely tip the balance, double dice, eight goes, result, two hits. Which the Triani, adding to ignominy, saved whilst also seeing off the warband engaged to the front, it was then able to turn its attention to the cavalry next turn. A similar attack by Gothic gentry cavalry and foot archers on the Cohors Pannoniorum Vetrana also came to a sticky end, it may sound a one sided encounter but the Romans suffered also, their training, armour and shields getting the better of the Gothic steel was all that stopped it going the other way at times.

Neil Thomas rules have four base standard units, my figures are on Impetus style bases so the dice you see on the bases indicate the number of bases remaining, individual figure casualty markers are used, when four is reached the dice on the figure base is changed to reflect the base loss.

The mat is from Deep Cut Studios, marked out with a grid for future games using To The Strongest rules, I didn't want to try these today as I think you need at least twelve units a side to get the best out of the rules and I have only played one game while Dave has not played at all.

TTFN  

Of Goths And Goats

Oh, and a bit of bully.
First up a further unit of Goth cavalry ready for tomorrows game for which we  will be using Neil Thomas Ancient and Medieval rules.

Next some wildlife, goats from Empress Miniatures.

Lastly Dave kindly gifted me some livestock last week, you can't have games set in Spain without a bull can you? So here we are.

Next up a report on tomorrows tussle between Biccagern and Baldinus, stay tuned.............................

TTFN