Friday lunchtime game.

Last year myself and 'A' started gaming on Friday lunchtimes , but so far 'real life' has got in the way this year , however we had a game today of 'Chariot Rampant' a version of the popular 'Lion Rampant' rules , which have been adapted for Bronze Age chariot warfare. 

'A' brought two forces from his 28mm collection . I took the Mycenaean Greeks (nearest the camera) and 'A' took a Hittite force , most of the figures are Foundary . Here we see his chariot unit about to charge my spearmen (it didn't end well for his chariots)

My 'man of the match' - a humble unit of skirmishers who hide in the trees and shot up every enemy unit that came near them.

'A' urges his army forwards . (note he has not removed his coat - my wargaming room is notoriously cold) It was a close run thing , but I managed to seriously damage his chariots and finally rout three of his spear units and won the battle. 'Lion Rampant' is ideal for these short lunchtime games and we hope to make these games a regular occurance.

 

Well, that's them done!

 

Finally got my backlog of 'waiting to get painted' figures done. Here are a Bishop and rather worried Queen from Antediluvian Miniatures which will be used in 'Lion Rampant' games as objective markers etc. 

Another unit for 'Lion Rampant', Heavy Infantry Sergeants. These have been painted very generically so they will do for most Medieval armies. They are from North Star I think - I have had them for quite a while and I can't remember where I got them from. I didn't paint the wolf's heads on the shield - they are some old GW 40k transfers.

Finally finished.

We are off on our holidays soon and I thought it a good idea to clear up my painting backlog before we go. I was given these 3D printed resin figures several weeks ago and although I had made a start on them, I thought it a good idea to finish painting them and get the bases done. They are lovely figures, very crisp castings but I wonder how they will weather the rough and tumble of wargaming, but I'm pleased with them, are they the future of wargaming figures?

 

A work in progress .

Got the first two of the 3D printed figures painted , they are very fine detailed and I have enjoyed painting them - if you click on the photo it will magnify all the mistakes I've made painting heraldry free hand - In fact I'm going to rectify some of the lining before doing the bases . I wonder how robust these figures will be in the rough and tumble of the gaming table ? . The others to follow .

 

First encounter .

'A' dropped me off a small present today, four  28mm Medieval Men at Arms - the result of 3D printing in resin ! , he'd got them off eBay . This is the first time I've come across anything 3D printed - I'm aware of it taking certain aspects of the hobby by storm but not figures .(click on photo to enlarge0

I'm intrigued by them - they are very fine castings, light and with a lot of fine detail (again click on photo to enlarge) . I have glued them to bases and attached their shields to them with super glue , I'm going to undercoat them and will post photos of them painted . Is this the future of wargaming figures !? - and there is me just getting used to plastics ! .

In an act of serendipity my copy of Lion Rampant 2nd edition arrived from Amazon today (I'd rather forgotten I'd pre-ordered it ) , so these figures will be joining the ranks of my Lion Rampant armies .

 

Lord of the Isles .

It's been a while since I posted any painting projects , partly due to me not doing much painting and house renovations/decorating . However I've had these figures in store for quite awhile , they are to be my new army for 'Lion Rampant' - Islemen  consisting of 2 Men at Arms groups , 2 Fierce Warbands and an Archer unit . First up is one of the Fierce Warbands representing the mercenary Gallowglas employed by the Lord of the Isles . They are a mixture of 28mm  Perry Miniatures Irish and Antediluvian Miniatures .

Here's another view of the warband - I need to paint up another one in the future .

One of the two Men at Arms groups these are from Antediluvian Miniatures .

The second of the Men at Arms groups with the Lord of the Isles himself - again Antediluvian Miniatures . They have based these figures of the Lewis Chessmen - a set of chess pieces carved in ivory in the early 12th century .

I hope to get the remaining units done in the next week or so - real life permitting .

 

Piers Plowman .

This figure and oxen have been waiting to be based up for over six month and so on returning from our holiday I got him finished . He's a 28mm Foundry figure for my 'Lion Rampant' Medieval skirmish project . 'Patience is a virtue' as William Langland said !

Stop Press !

STOP PRESS:  Just arrived from Amazon my copy of 'Dragon Rampant' the fantasy version of the successful Medieval rule set 'Lion Rampant' . I have high hopes for these as they follow similar rules mechanisms and I have lots of various fantasy figures tucked away which never get used much . I have had a quick look through them with a cup of tea and biscuit and am impressed , more about these and test games after Christmas.

Age Of Arthur.

I blame Bernard Cornwall !!! , I noticed that his Viking series of books is appearing on the BBC later in the month - I thought 'I'm sure I've got a copy of those I need to read !?' , so I hunted around but couldn't find it ! (think I may have lent it to 'S'?) - but what I did find was the first book of his Arthurian trilogy , the problem was that I sat down and started re-reading it - and was hooked ! Oh dear ! 

It's a jolly good read and got me thinking - I have a Romano-British army and various opponents already painted up in 28mm and have not used them for years , mainly due to the lack of suitable playable/rememberable rules and I had thought of selling them - but how to use them ? .

I sat pondering this - well actually whilst walking the dog - then the idea came to me - I'd seen somebody adapting the 'Lion Rampant' rules for the 'Dark Ages' and am sure it would work for the Arthurian era slightly earlier, so I gave my figures a looking over and found a lot of them were on multi-bases - Hmm! they would need re-basing (sigh!) . But it would mean I would be able to use them again and not have to paint anything ! . Rather pleased with myself I sent off an order to 'Warbases' for new single MDF bases, then I found a bag of unpainted figures for the period in my 'box of shame' under the wargaming table - so I will have a few figures to paint up - but not many ! . A progress report to follow .........

Lion Rampant Scenario 'A Taxing Afternoon'.

This is the second of the 3 scenarios I'm playing using 'Lion Rampant' both sides have to collect revenue from six markers which have a random value . Richard De Montfitchet's retinue have set up nearest the camera and has swapped one of his units of mounted Sejeants for mounted Men at Arms and a unit of crossbowmen for a unit of Bidowers . He has boasted to destroy the opposing unit of Men at Arms .

Ivo Tailebois's force has 2 units of foot Serjeants , a unit of bowmen , mounted Serjeants , a unit of Bidowers and mounted Men at Arms , again he has not made any boasts .Both sides move forward to dominate the centre of the table .

One of the 'Taxation' markers .

One of  Richard De Montfitchet's mounted Serjeants get to the first marker and manage to leave the table with the token.

Ivo Tailebois's Bidowers sneak up one the other flank near the hermitage.

Brother Cadfael who hoping for a quieter life is robbed (taxed)!.

The mounted forces in the centre charge and counter charge .

After initially driving De Montfitchet's Men at Arms back they rally and manage to defeat Ivo Tailebois's unit and kill him - so fulfilling his boast !.

The situation half way through the game .

Ivo Tailebois's archers drive off the Bidowers and capture the token , then retire of the table. 

At this point sadly I forgot to take photos as the action heated up , here we see Ivo Tailebois's units of foot Serjeants with their captured tokens retiring from the table . Although they lost their Lord - Ivo Tailebois's retinue carried off four tokens totalling 8 'Glory' points and  Richard De Montfitchet's retinue took two , totalling 3 'Glory' points - but he fulfilled his boast getting another 2 points . After two games Ivo Tailebois's  retinue = 8 'Glory' points and Richard De Montfitchet's retinue has = 11 'Glory' points . This leaves one more game to be played .

Lion Rampant Scenario 'The Messenger'

Ivo Tailebois's force moves onto the table heading for the opposite corner .

Brother Cadfael has decided to be escorted by a unit of Foot Serjeants - being less volatile that the Mounted Men at Arms  .

The locals look on with interest !.

Richard De Montfitchet's retinue moves to intercept the messenger.

The quick moving Mounted Serjeants try to cut the escape route .

Ivo's force moves down the road -

-but a unit of Men at Arms lag behind - they are hard to control under 'Lion Rampant'.

Ivo's Men at Arms impulsively charge a unit of Serjeants .

After a close combat they rout them ! .

To fulfil his boast Richard De Montfitchet challenges Ivo Tailebois to combat - which was inconclusive - but having carried out his boast he gets a 'Glory' point.

The javelin armed Yeomen move to stop a unit of Serjeants .

After a brief clash and a volley of javelins  the Serjeants rout ! 

Ivo and his Men at Arms spontaneously charge Richard De Montfitchet and his Serjeants .

Things go very wrong for Ivo and his men rout and he is forced to flee the field ! .

The situation is looking grim for the messenger and his escort , the archers guarding the rear are charged and finally scattered by a flanking force of mounted Serjeants . The other unit of Men at Arms finally move up in support , but it's to late .

Richard De Montfitchet's Geonese crossbowmen move up into range and proceed to kill off the mounted Men at Arms - who failing their morale test - flee ! - leaving  Brother Cadfael and his escort alone .

Taking casualties from the crossbowmen and failing their moral test they scatter into the woods taking the terrified Brother Cadfael with them ! . So a victory to Richard De Montfitchet and his forces, he gets 5 'Glory' points for winning the scenario and another one for carrying out his boast . Total so far Richard De Montfitchet = 6 - Ivo Tailebois =0. The next scenario is to be 'A Taxing Afternoon'.

Lion Rampant - A Series Of Linked Games.

Have got all the figures painted for this project and love the rules - they are becoming one of my favourite sets . So I've decided to play a series of three linked games as suggested in the book.

The two opposing commanders on the left Richard De Montfitchet who is counted as being strong and has boasted that he will challenge his opponent to hand to hand combat . On the right Ivo Tailebois who is gifted commander and not given to making boasts.

The retinue of Richard De Montfitchet , three units of mounted Serjeants , two units of mercenary Geonese crossbowmen and a unit of javelin armed Yeomen .

Ivo Tailebois's retinue comprises of two units of mounted Men at Arms , two units of foot Serjeants and a unit of Cheshire bowmen . 

The table set up for the first game which is 'The Messenger' scenario . Ivo Tailebois has to escort an important messenger - a certain Brother Cadfael who is carrying a dispatch to King Stephen from the Bishop of York which must not fall into the hands of the forces of the rebel Empress Maud . Tailebois forces are moving down the road right to left .and enemy has forces in the far left corner and a unit of crossbowmen nearest the camera . Too be continued.......