Tuesday 29 July 2014

Early Armenian Irr Cv S/Irr Kn F

The never ending Armenians

Just started the 60 cavalry figures that make up the late option mounted that replaced the Cataphracts. The horses are nearly done. Then its batch colour painting them all in succession. It takes a long time, no longer than painting smaller batches but appears to be ever ending. They are Irr Cv S in DBM but become Irr Kn F in DBMM! Thankfully theres no difference in the figures I am using.
Update, due to other projects taking priority I had to put aside these figures after finishing off the horses, armour and leather., I will restart them soon probably after the weekend of 14th September. I hate painting these figures, I am not sure if its a case of that theres 60 of them to do at the same time or that the figures dont lend themselves to being painted easily because of the sculpt design. They will look the business once finished but are sapping the soul out of me at the moment.

Finally finished painting them late last night and have glued them to their bases awaiting finishing off. [18/09/14] They were a pain to do because I tried to make them as colourful as possible give they fact they belown to the Early Armenian list and I wanted them to colour match if possible. So the Armenians are finally finished being painted after 20 years sitting in a box!


Sunday 27 July 2014

Another Quick Painting Session

Another Couple of Day Painting

An intense couple of days painting and I have completed the 32 left over Cataphracts to make another 8 x Irr Kn X to morph the Armenians into Parthians. I still need to do lots more Horse Archers to finish this morph but I have the Armenian Irr Kn F/Irr Cv S KnX replacement regrade troops to paint up first.

Thursday 24 July 2014

Braunschweig-Wolfenbuttel's Wargames World: Early Armenians for DBM in 15 mm

Braunschweig-Wolfenbuttel's Wargames World: Early Armenians for DBM in 15 mm: Early Armenians update I have finally finished off the Early Armenian army I have had for over 20 years. I have not started painting the ...

Early Armenians for DBM in 15 mm

Early Armenians update

I have finally finished off the Early Armenian army I have had for over 20 years. I have not started painting the regraded heavy cavalry army yet but its in the to do pile along with some more cataphracts and lots more light horse so it can morph into Parthians in time.


An ex-Seleucid Pike Block


An ex-Seleucid Pike Block


Imitation Legionaries


Cataphract Command elements Museum Miniatures SC05 plus unknown commanders


Cataphracts


Iberian Cavalry Museum Miniatures SC05 based in 3's with new spears


Albanian Cataphracts


Generic Fast Light Horse



Generic Fast Light Horse



Generic Fast Light Horse


Javelinmen


Javelinmen


Albanian Infantry


Iberian Longchoporoi  with Armenian Slingers


Archers


Archers


Pioneer and Camp Servants


Spare Archers



Spare light infantry

Tuesday 15 July 2014

Game Against French Ordonnance This Sunday

Been thinking about a historic enemy to fight the French!


I have come up with two possible list options, both using the MM Later Swiss List version.

The first list is:

Later Swiss [DBMM Version] 1475 AD [Version 1]

Cold. Ag 4. WW, Rv, H[S], H[G], E, Rd, BUA

1 x Swiss CinC - Reg Pk S 25 AP
1x Sub general - Reg Pk S 25 AP
1 x Sub general - Reg Bd X 27 AP
2 x Mounted crossbowmen Reg LH I 6 AP
46 x Pikemen - Reg Pk S 230 AP
7 x Halberdiers – Reg Bd X 49 AP
6 x Handgunners – Reg Ps S 18 AP
10 x Crossbowmen – Reg Ps O 20 AP
6 x Baggage – Irr Bg I 0 AP
74 E/ 66 EE/ 33 To Break – 400 AP

Command 1
1 x Swiss CinC - Reg Pk S
1 x Mounted crossbowmen Reg LH I
23 x Pikemen - Reg Pk S
25 E/ 25 EE/ 9 Dem [7=25%]

Command 2
1x Sub general - Reg Pk S 25 AP
1 x Mounted crossbowmen Reg LH I
23 x Pikemen - Reg Pk S
25 E/ 25 EE/ 9 Dem [7=25%]

Command 3
1 x Sub general - Reg Bd X
7 x Halberdiers – Reg Bd X
6 x Handgunners – Reg Ps S
10 x Crossbowmen – Reg Ps O
24 E/ 16 EE/ 5.5 Dem [4=25%]

Army Baggage
6 x Baggage – Irr Bg I

The second list is:

Later Swiss [DBMM Version] 1477 AD [Version 1]

Cold. Ag 4. WW, Rv, H[S], H[G], E, Rd, BUA

1 x Swiss CinC - Reg Pk S 25 AP
1x Sub general - Reg Pk S 25 AP
1 x Sub general - Reg Bd X 27 AP
2 x Mounted crossbowmen Reg LH I 6 AP
30 x Pikemen - Reg Pk S 150 AP
8 x Mercenary Pikes - Reg Pk O 32 AP
16 x Mercenary Pikes – Reg Pk I 48 AP
7 x Halberdiers – Reg Bd X 49 AP
6 x Handgunners – Reg Ps S 18 AP
10 x Crossbowmen – Reg Ps O 20 AP
6 x Baggage – Irr Bg I 0 AP
82 E/ 74 EE/ 37 To Break – 400 AP

Command 1
1 x Swiss CinC - Reg Pk S
15 x Pikemen - Reg Pk S
4 x Mercenary Pikes - Reg Pk O
8 x Mercenary Pikes – Reg Pk I
28 E/ 28 EE/10 Dem [7=25%]

Command 2
1x Sub general - Reg Pk S
15 x Pikemen - Reg Pk S
4 x Mercenary Pikes - Reg Pk O
8 x Mercenary Pikes – Reg Pk I
28 E/ 28 EE/10 Dem [7=25%]

Command 3
1 x Sub general - Reg Bd X
7 x Halberdiers – Reg Bd X
2 x Mounted crossbowmen Reg LH I
6 x Handgunners – Reg Ps S
10 x Crossbowmen – Reg Ps O
26 E/ 18 EE/ 6 Dem [4.5=25%]

Army Baggage
6 x Baggage – Irr Bg I

I did consider using the Lorrainer version of the list below:

Late Swiss [DBMM list] Lorrainer

C1
1 x Reg Kn S/I CinC Gen DBE
2 x Reg Kn S/I DBE
1 x Reg Kn I/I DBE
2 x Reg Cv O
10/10/4

C2
1 x Reg Pk S Sub Gen
15 x Reg Pk S
4 x Reg Bd X
2 x Reg Ps S
2 x Reg Ps O
24/22/7.5

C3
1 x Reg Pk S Sub Gen
15 x Reg Pk S
4 x Reg Bd X
2 x Reg Ps S
2 x Reg Ps O
24/22/7.5

Army Baggage
6 x Irr Bg I

Army
58/54/27
399 AP

Generally the Lorrainer option list hasnt performed that well at our club so I have discounted its use for now.

I went for the 1477 AD list option.

Peter turned up this morning with his army which included a Swiss ally, much to my surprise. The army was organised as follows:
C1 22 E/20.5 EE breaking on 7 containing the Reg Pk I
C2 19 E/17 EE breaking on 6 This was a mainly mounted command consisting of a mix of Cv O, Kn S, Kn O and six Reg Mtd Bw O
C3 17 E/15.5 EE breaking on 5.5 [the Swiss ally]
The army totalled 53 EE breaking on 26.5

I invaded and Peter rather surprisingly place a 1.5 FE BUA and fields on his base line. Two 0.5 FE areas of RGo fell to the other flank and I elected to place a 1 and 0.5 FE of H[S]+RGo which fell in the central sectors enabling me to anchor one end of my army on.

I deployed with the two huge pike commands left and centre with the Bd X command holding the RGo to the right flank.

First PiP roll enabled me to charge forward across the table and constrict his command 2 between myself and the BUA. Much ineffectual moving took place and I managed to get between the Swiss Command 3 and Command 1 to turn some supporting pikes away to make control difficult.

My Ps screen clashed with the Swiss Ps and managed to take a few out for the loss of 3 Ps. The Swiss lost two Pk being hard flanked meaning that it was over 25% losses and only 1.5 EE away from breaking.

Peter seemed to be fixated by my wall of pikes and kept throwing his PiPs into command 2 whilst I pushed forward. He managed to run through a couple of mtd Bw heading towards my baggage but then ran out of PiPs.

I took out two Bw with a block of Swiss Pk and started to turn the flank of his Cv line which had fled away earlier after charging my pikes frontally. He then threw them back in fleeing three away but leaving a single element recoiled within contact movement of one of my pike blocks. He finally charged my pikes with his line of knights but ended up recoiling everywhere with one element now sitting partially in the BUA.

We had to call time as Peter had another engagement so I won 6-4. If I had managed another turn we agreed that given the situation the lone Cv and Kn were in that they would have probably been lost next turn and I would have pushed forward into the BUA killing the Kn in front and breaking command 2 and with the losses in the Swiss ally and 4 BUA EE lost for me moving through it would have broken the French.

This was the first time I have used a Swiss army on mass. I learnt two important things, it's not an army for a timid player, you just have to charge forward and hope to crush your enemies before the flanks collapse. Its also not an army to use in a time limited setting against a skilled player who should bee able to skirmish you out of the game. 

All in all if was a fun game and a good learning curve for both of us.

Drew

Peter went public today so heres his take on the game which has filled in some gaps.

Well, it was an interesting game for me and I learned a few things. Many years ago I tried to build a French Ordonnance army but used far too many Irr Bw(I) chicken shooters and rheumaticky Bd(I) garrison soldiers. Following the acquisition of DBMM Book 4 I thought I'd give it another go.


My list was dated 1481:
A. CinC Reg Kn(S), 2x Gendarmes Reg Kn(S), 2x Savoyard Men at Arms Reg Kn(O), 2x Ordonnance archers Reg Cv(O), 12 Reg Pk(I), 3x Aventurier crossbow men Irr Ps(O) 20.5 EE Breaks on 7.0
B. Sub General Reg Kn(S), 2x Gendarmes Reg Kn(S), 2x Savoyard Men at Arms Reg Kn(O), 4x Ordonnance archers Reg Cv(O), 6x Mercenary Mounted Crossbowmen, 2 Aventurier crossbow men Irr Ps(O), 2x pioneers Irr Hd(O) 17 EE Breaks on 6.0
C. Swiss Ally General Reg Pk(S), 11x Reg Pk(S), 2x Reg Bd (O), 2x Reg Ps(S) and 1 Reg Ps(O)
15.5 EE Breaks on 5.5
Army total 53 EE Breaks on 26.5
The knights can all dismount as Bd(S) and the Ordonnance archers as Bw(O). And of course the mounted crossbow fight as Bw(O) but march at mounted rate.

I defended and placed a BUA on my right flank to hide my baggage in, supported by command B's 2x hordes and 2x psiloi as flank guards/speed bumps. The only other terrain I put down was some rough going, hoping to disrupt Drew's two huge pike commands (28 bases each - breaking on 10!) As luck would have it, one landed right in the middle of his central sector. I thought this quite good fortune until I realised that Drew could simply anchor his pike blocks' right flank on it!

I deployed CinC's command on the left, Swiss in the centre and the mostly mounted command on the right. Drew deployed both of his pike blocks in his left opposite my mounted command and his blade/skirmisher command in more rough going in the centre to protect his right flank. On his right he deployed just two light horse belonging to the blade/skirmish command. My CinC's command had no target and neither realistically did my Swiss! Outmanoeuvred from the start!

From there it all went pear shaped. The Swiss were initially unreliable but rallied with a six in turn two. I spent most of the game trying to get the CinC's command and the Swiss over to the right to threaten the right flank of Drew's Swiss steamroller which was bearing down on my mounted command. However, Drew skilfully used his skirmishers to delay my march and generally get in the way, so they didn't make it in time.

I sent my mounted crossbow to get round Drew's left flank but was stopped by a pike column detached to bring my troops within tactical move distance, with all the limitations that imposes on mounted infantry. Two bases did get through and headed towards Drew's baggage but I never had enough spare pips to exploit that move. I also sent my Ordonnance archer cavalry in to make spoiling attacks on the left hand pike block but to no avail. So my mounted arm gradually fell back and I left it too late to dismount the knights as Bd(S). Drew was gradually pushing back my right and was also starting to pile up casualties on my Swiss who were at least getting into the fight by now.

As I had a birthday party to attend in the afternoon, we were playing to a time limit of three and a half hours, starting at 9:30 and finishing at 1pm. Three and a half hours seems to be the standard for BHGS competition games. So in a competition I would have survived - just; however, if we had fought to club closing time, Drew would undoubtedly have beaten me hollow at the last.

Lessons learned:
Be more careful putting down terrain which may actually help rather than hinder your opponent.
Deploy in a more concentrated formation (as Drew has noted)
Learn how to use mounted infantry better
Remember to dismount in good time ( or get the hell out of there)
Oh, and tweak the OOB again to balance the commands better.......

Would I use French Ordonnance again? Yes, probably, since the list does seem to have something good to offer if only I could find it. On the other hand, I am quite taken by Drew's list and those massive pike blocks. Hmmm, watch this space....

Regards

Peter





Monday 14 July 2014

Braunschweig-Wolfenbuttel's Wargames World: Spare stuff I have now put on EBay

Braunschweig-Wolfenbuttel's Wargames World: Spare stuff I have now put on EBay: Having a clear out of surplus items to make a bit of room so I ended up putting the following items on EBay. Spare Numidian Cava...

Spare stuff I have now put on EBay

Having a clear out of surplus items to make a bit of room so I ended up putting the following items on EBay.




Spare Numidian Cavalry General


Spare Numidian Light Horse



Spare Numidian Elephant 1



Spare Numidian Elephant 2



Spare North African Elephant 1



Spare North African Elephant 2



Spare North African Elephant 3


Spare Cretan Archers 1


Spare Cretan Archers 2

Thursday 10 July 2014

Early Armenians Painting Project

Early Armenians Painting Project - Update

I finally finished off all the infantry for the Early Armenians today. I got a really cheap collection of Horse Archers elements off EBay yesterday too. Apart from a bit of washing applied to the horses and putting magnetic sheeting under the bases earlier today they are now ready to be texture based to match the rest of the army. I still have lots of Irr LH [F] still to paint up along with a few more Irr Kn X Cataphracts which will allow me to morph it into a Parthian army too. I just ordered some QRF Cataphracts on half armoured horse in their Summer sale so I can use them as the Irr Cv S later list option. Once the whole army is based up I shall put some pictures on line.

Monday 7 July 2014

Braunschweig-Wolfenbuttel's Wargames World: Sunday 6th July 2014 A New Army Try Out

Braunschweig-Wolfenbuttel's Wargames World: Sunday 6th July 2014 A New Army Try Out: Yesterday's Game - Another Very Close Loss At the request of Peter K from Essex Warriors he wanted to use his Mongol Conquest army us...

Sunday 6th July 2014 A New Army Try Out

Yesterday's Game - Another Very Close Loss

At the request of Peter K from Essex Warriors he wanted to use his Mongol Conquest army using a list from before 1211 AD against some sort of historic enemy.

After checking the possible options I settled on 4/24 Khwarizmian 1186 AD - 1211 AD 400 AP

My army was composed as follows:

1 x CinC Reg Cv S - 30
2 x Sub generals Reg Cv S - 60
10 x Lancers Reg Cv S - 100
12 x Qangli Irr LH F - 48
10 x Askaris Reg Cv O - 80
4 x Persians Irr Cv O - 28
1 x Turkoman ally general Irr LH S - 12
6 x Turkomans Irr LH S - 42
6 x Mobile Baggage Irr Bg I - 0

46 E/46 EE/23 to Break
Organised as follows:

Command 1:
1 x CinC Reg Cv S
6 x Lancers Reg Cv S
7 E/7 EE/3 Dem [25%=2EE]

Command 2:
1 x Sub general Reg Cv S
2 x Lancers Reg Cv S
6 x Qangli Irr LH F
5 x Askaris Reg Cv O
2 x Persians Irr Cv O
16 E/6 EE/6 Dem [25%=4EE]

Command 3:
1 x Sub general Reg Cv S
2 x Lancers Reg Cv S
6 x Qangli Irr LH F
5 x Askaris Reg Cv O
2 x Persians Irr Cv O
16 E/6 EE/6 Dem [25%=4EE]

Command 4:
1 x Turkoman ally general Irr LH S
6 x Turkomans Irr LH S
7 E/7 EE/3 Dem [25%=2EE]

Peters army was also entirely mounted with no half elements and organised in mixed commands of Cv S Generals, Cv S/O, LH S and LH F.
Command 1 was 13 EE - breaking on 5
Command 2 was 15 EE - breaking on 5
Command 3 was 14 EE - breaking on 5
Command 4 was 2 EE [PiP dump]  - breaking on 1

Making 44 E/44 EE/22 to break

I defended and elected to place 3 x 0.5 FE of RGo and 3 x 0.5 FE of H[G]. The terrain fell mainly to the ends of the table except for two gentle hills in the central sectors.

I deployed 3, 2, 1, 4 across the table with the Turkomans filling the gap between the RGo and centrally placed H[G].

Due to a quick run of very low combat dice rolls Peters mixed LH S and LH F broke my Turkomans and ended up going spono all over the place as a result. Two turns later I managed to break his Command 2 evening the game a bit more. As casualty numbers increased we both ended up three away from breaking. Try as I might his broken command managed to survive and even took another two elements meaning that I was one away from losing the game. Sadly this happened despite my best efforts and ending up with Peter losing 20 EE spread over four commands to my 23 EE loses.

The Khwarizmian list has some merit but as with all regular armies they tend to be very small. I am not sure if I would change the command dispersion as having two commands of S troops makes them fairly resilient [dice rolls excepted] and the other two commands become a highly mobile fighting force able to get to the table to overwhelm one enemies wing before they have time to intervene. I have never used this army before so I am unsure if its a bad list or I was just unlucky this time.

We did discuss the Mongol OOB after the game and I did suggest that he could have shifted one element from command 3 into command 2 to increase its resilience or even make Command 1 7 EE of Reg Cv S troops and spread out the other elements to bulk out the other three commands thus C 2 16 EE, C 3 16 EE and C 4 5 EE, breaking on 3, 6, 6 and 2 EE respectively. If he culled the odd element from Command 4 he could even take a few more S graded troops? If he was happy with the 5 EE break points of Commands 1 - 3 he could have even shifted over the 3 EE excess over 13 EE from each of them into Command 4 making it 5 EE and breaking on 2 EE.

Tuesday 1 July 2014

Current painting project

Having had too much unpainted metal than I care to think about I have been working through the lead mountain. After virtually finishing off my Arab morph collection I thought about a new project for 2014. I looked into  the one of the draws and remembered that I have most of the metal for a Kn X version of Early Armenians. So after having a sort out of the figures I had and what options were missing I visited the junk spares box which is full of left over and otherwise abandoned projects to gather together some figures to use for the missing elements. After all that I was only three bags of Essex Miniatures [24 infantry] short to make up this army. I am currently half way through the Armenian Auxulia having nearly finished off 16 bases of Irr Ax O. I just need to do another 20 bases and then its on to the Irr LH F and the whole army is painted up. I will then do a mass basing session before varnishing the whole army in one go. I am not sure if this armies a keeper or seller and will decide after its finished and maybe once a few games are out of the way. I am surprised how quick its taken to get it done considering I have been doing other items in between. This then raises the problem what to do when the Armenians are finished.

PS I will be adding some photo's when its all finished.

PPS, The first half of the Auxilia are now painted and I am half way through the second batch but am stalled awaiting the post to arrive so I can continue it with the missing figures. Whilst waiting I cleaned up some of the light horse figures ready to start afterwards and have started texture basing up the Cataphracts to fill the time.

PPPS, The last of the figures have turned up from Essex and I am racing through them. Got to take a day off painting as I have a game using a totally new army at Essex Warriors.