English Civil War Horse

Finished up a few more items for the English Civil War this week…

(Remember: click on the pictures for a bigger version):

An element of ECW horse – I still need to do a cornet for this element but I can’t decide which one… I intended for this element to be a Knight or Cavalry General element for DBA-X or the command element for a unit of Cuirassiers in bigger unit battles.

Here is the same element with some previously finished Cuirassiers.

These are all from Old Glory Miniatures

I also finished up five more Scots Horse and rebased four others with them to make three elements of Cavalry or a single unit for big battalion battles. The figures are also from Old Glory Miniatures - with the exception of one fellow in the middle of the centre element – he’s from Dixon Miniatures.

This finishes up all of the ECW Scots Covanenteers that I have at the moment (Huzzah!) – Oh, I have LOADS of English yet to do and almost as many Highlanders (which are far more work on account of all that wretched plaid their wearing!?) AND I’ll probably have a few more Scots horse to paint up in the not-too-distant future (more bargains from The Assault Group that a friend picked up in exchange for me doing some painting for him…)

Also this week I played a game of Cruel Necessity with the kids as part of our study of the English Civil War. This was a fun little find - a solitaire/co-op game of the English Civil Wars. The player is a Puritan Parliamentarian trying to defend Parliament and forward Puritanism. Events and Royalist actions were determined by a drawing a card from a deck each turn and then the player (Parliament) basically had to react and work on their own campaigns - military or political - with a limited number of Zeal Points. It took a bit of time to read through and figure out the rules, but one they were figured out game-play was pretty quick and straightforward.

Overall I'd say I liked it. There was a lot of stuff to keep track of many, many choices to make and different things to concentrate your activities on. It was super hard, though. From the get-go it didn't feel so much like waging a war or directing a campaign as it felt like minimizing one disaster after another... We totally lost. While we did hold out until the Third Civil War, at the end of the Second, Charles I escaped after his sham trial and was never executed...

It didn't help that every time I had to roll anything but a one on a six-sided dice I would always roll a one - always... like three times in a row in a single turn... multiple turns in a row...

Actually if I had one complaint about this game is there was a bit too much randomness - There has to be SOME randomness, otherwise it becomes too deterministic - the card drawing was okay (Pandemic, for example, is driven purely by card draws an player choices), but the heavy reliance on a six-sided die to determine success or failure of every single action made it seem like we lost purely because of a long run of utterly crap dice rolls...

Since I've actually got some ECW miniatures painted up I'd like to get in a few games of with them using those - Ideally I'd like to get two more units of Horse and some artillery finished up for a big battle using Neil Thomas' One-Hour Wargames - though I could probably get away with what I have right now.... I definitely have enough that I could throw down a game of DBA-X right now. I also want to get some skirmish gaming in with the individually-based miniatures....

Coming soon on Tim’s Miniature Wargaming Blog:

I never did post pictures of our game of Frostgrave on Sunday… perhaps I’ll get to that…

Also coming up is my Skirmish Saturday Halloween Horror Special (using Fear and Faith) so hopefully I’ll have a game report of that up on Sunday some time. 

English Civil War Scots (and other stuff)

Over the last week or so I’ve been binge-watching Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season One with the family (and getting a lot of Scotsmen painted up in the process) – I guess it’s more “binge-listening” that I do while the family watches…

This pretty much finishes up the English Civil War Scots foot that I have. Below is a regiment – for big battle games - from Renegade Miniatures and a bunch of individually based Scots for skirmishing I recently picked up from The Assault Group (they had a buy £40 worth of stuff, get £20 free promotion to celebrate 2000 followers on facebook…). I have a few Scots horse to finish up to call this force totally finished….

(Remember: click on the pictures for a bigger version):

A regiment of Scots Foote from Renegade Miniatures - I picked these up years ago… when the pound was in the tank… and Renegade still had regiment packs…. And they were having a 5 for 4 sale… how could I have resisted THAT action!?



Another shot of the command and pike.

Another shot of the... well... shot...?

All three Regiments of Foote

Scots from The Assault Group - individually based for some skirmish gaming. This is the first of their Renaissance line I’ve ever picked up and they are lovely figures.



Another pictures of the command figures from The Assault Group.



The Pikemen.



The Shot.

Now to finish up some more English… and some Horse….  and English Horse…!

I also happned to finish up a few other odd and sundry items over the last week or so…

Still under the category of English Civil War - I have a Warlord Games English Petard Storming party – there was actually an additional figure in the set but when he arrived his spabbard was broken off and I haven’t gotten to manufacturing a new one…

I also painted up a few renaissance-ish Dwarves while I was at it. I’ve often thought of running a fantasy role-playing games set in a late rennaisance/pike and shot period… the two with Halberds are from Wargames Foundry the one with the red hat was actually originally holding a swab for a cannon, but I found a halberd to replace it with as I had no gun or other crew for him to join. I wish I could find a few more of these (or the orcs that were available in the same line.

The other dwarf, with the musket, is from Reaper Miniatures.

A Golden Wizard and his apprentice. The Golden Wizard is a gen-u-ine Warhammer Imperial Golden Wizard from Citadel Miniatures/Games Workshop the apprentice I think I picked up in a pack of Fantasy Females from Mega Miniatures.

I’m not really sure what sort of wizards would these be in Frostgrave…? I don’t remember much about the Imperial Colleges of Magic and what sorts of magic each did…

I also have an Amber Wizard of similar vintage I need to find and apprentice for and paint up…

Speaking of Frostgrave…

Here is another spellcaster for my friend John’s Cheesecake Warband for Frostgrave (that he has yet to actually PLAY with!?). The figures is from Reaper Miniatures.

Coming soon on Tim’s Miniature Wargaming Blog:

Frostgrave: Well of Dreams and Sorrows

Rick and Dave joined us this week for Skirmish Saturday Night and we played some more Frostgrave.

I’ve been working on some new skirmish game boards and ruined city terrain this week – to accommodate more than one game of Frostgrave at a time – but haven’t really finished up much. There was ONE new piece of terrain on the table this week – see if you can spot it.

I’ve also been working on some new campaign rules for a A Song of Blades and Heroes campaign – which, hopefully, I’ll be kicking off shortly. Might be November. I’m not sure if I’ll have it ready for next week, and the following week is Halloween and I planning a special Fear and Faith game!

SCENARIO

This week we played the Well of Dreams and Sorrows scenario from the Frostgrave rulebook. Basically there is a well (or fountain) in the middle of the table and any wizard that is in contact with is and expends an action to drink from it gains a bonus 100 experience points.

FORCES

Rick played Silverbeard, his 9^th level Enchanter (who really likes a certain Elementalist spell!)

Dave returned with B’ob, his 4^th level Sigilist and his apprentice D’oug.

Amanda has Hermione, a 12^th level Thaumaturge and her apprentice Ginny. She’s added three barbarians (Dark Elf Witch Elves) to her warband to replaces previous losses.

The Boy was playing Akzar Kallesel his 13^th level Necromancer. He’s decided to leave his crypt and find an Inn to make his base in – to add room for more members for his warband. Before the game he summoned a Zombie and used a Create Construct scroll to make a Large Construct.

THE GAME

(Remember: click on the pictures for a bigger version)

All set up and ready to go.

Clockwise from the top of the picture we have Rick’s Enchanter’s warband, Amanda’s Thaumaturge warband on the right, The Boys’ Necromancers at the bottom of the picture, and Dave’s Sigilist off to the left.

Hermione (Amanda’s Thaumaturge) teleported herself to the middle of the table to get a sip of the Well of Dreams and Sorrows before anyone else (the all backwash!). This tactic proved a little reckless and ended up being her undoing.

At the end of Turn One a bear came roaring onto the table and attacked Rick’s warband.

End of Turn One. Everyone moving towards the middle

Silverbeard and Hermione’s warbands got into a bit of a scrap over a treasure set up right between their two deployment zones. Silverbeard’s Warband took out the bear.

Akzar Kallesel’s minions grabve a few quick and easy treasures and started shooting arrows and their trademark Bone Darts at B’ob and D’oug and Hermione – who was kind of stuck out there in the open!?

Creature Phase, Turn Two. WTF? ANOTHER bear?! In the exact same place!? Yeah, this became a bit of a common occurrence throughout the game.

Ginny Teleported herself through a window into this building to try and snatch a treasure away from two of the Necromancer’s minions. But instead of just taking the one left to them. They charged her and took her down and hauled off both!

An epic battle in the streets between the Necromancer’s and Thaumaturge’s warbands. Instead of retreating for cover or joined the battle with her warband. Hermione decided to run across the square and grab one of the treasures on the far side…

The Necromancer’s Apprentice and archer shooting arrows and Bone Darts at the Sigilist and his followers. 

A pair of skeletons wander onto the board.

The battle in the spare rages on. Silverbeard’s found himself a nice little wall to hide behind and throw Elemental Bolts into the mess. From there he blasted Hermione with one and took her out of the action! 

Middle of the game.

Dave managed to get a Power Word into the sky for Forget Spell. Later he managed to make the Necromancer forget Bone Dart!

Wandering skeletons attack The Necromancer’s minions.

The Thaumaturge’s followers fighting Silverbeard’s crew on the flanks - trying to get some payback for taking out their wizard!

Yeah… another bear… same place… Oh and the Necromancer summoned a Minor Demon who attacked Silverbeard and kept him busy for a turn so the Necromancer could dash out and get a drink from the Well of Dreams and Sorrows

The Necromancer’s Apprentice, inspired by his master’s summoning also tried summoning a demon…  in his excitement he forgot about the binding bit and the Demon immediately attacked him (rolled a one on summoning, was one shy of accidentally summoning a Major Demon!). they killed it easily enough, but in the meantime the Sigilist’s men slipped away into better cover.

As The Thaumaturge’s two remaining followers tried to retreat from the table they ran into a wandering Small Construct. These two and a thug were the only members of her warband to escape uninjured. 

Snow Leopard! The Necromancer ended up fighting this guy before he made it off  the table… but I was getting tired and not taking so many pictures by then…

The Necromancer getting his drink of from the well/fountain… dodging arrows and Elemental Bolts!

Before the Necromancer could get off the table and end the game (the Sigilist and Thaumaturge had long since departed), Silver beard dashed out from his cover and also got a drink!

POST GAME

Amanda had lost her Wizard, Apprentice, all three Barbarians, the Dog, the Treasure Hunter, a Marksman and an archer (or ranger… I forget which). All but the dog survived, though one Barbarian and the Archer/Ranger will miss a game. The Thaumaturge only gained 240 Experience (100 for drinking from the Well of Dreams and Sorrow, 100 for two treasures hauled off, 10 for the level difference, and 30 for the three spells her two spell casters managed to get off before getting ganked). Among the Treasure she collected 140 gold and two grimoires (Explosive Rune and Fleet Feet). She has a pretty impressive collection of Grimoires now, which she refers to as “totally useless”.

The Boy didn’t suffer so many losses. The Knight (with the +2 sword) once again survived as did the brand new Large Construct (which was taken out in the first turn of the game!). Akzar Kallesel gained 580 experience points!!! (100 for drinking from the Well of Dreams and Sorrow, 200 for the four treasures his minions hauled off, 160 for enemies taken out, and 120 for spells! He also got 260 gold, two magic swords (one +1 Fighting, one +2 fighting) and two Grimoires (Leap and Time Store)

The Sigilist’s warband only suffered two casualties – His ranger was totally fine, but T’orc the Thug died of his wounds. He gained 310 experience points (100 for treasures hauled off, 40 for taking down and enemy soldier, 90 for the level difference bonus, and 80 for spells). He collected 120 gold, three potions (Strength, Toughness, and Explosive Concoction), and a Grimoire of Monsterous Form.

Rick had the best game overall. Only one casualty throughout the whole game – Pippin, one of the Thieves, and he quickly recovered from his wounds. Silverbeard gained 680 experience points! (100 for drinking from the Well of Dreams and Sorrows, 200 for Treasures, 40 for the level difference – which he won’t be getting anymore! – 70 for Spells, and 270 for enemies taken out of action!) he collected 150 gold, 3 potions (Healing, Strength, and Invisibility), and three Grimoires  (invisibility and tow copies of Create Grimoire – one of which he sold for another 250 gold)

At the Market place this week The Necromancer picked up a Candle of Summoning nad a Two-Handed Sword (+1 Damage), Silverbeard snatched up an Elixor of Life and the Thaumaturge bought a Ring of Will.

Coming soon on Tim’s Miniature Wargaming Blog:

I’ve taken a few process pictures of the terrain making I’ve been up to, perhaps I’ll post a few of those as I finish a few things up.

I’ve also been working on some English Civil War Scots. Should have some pics of those in a day or two… 

Still More English Civil War

A few more things for the English Civil War rolling off the workbench this week…

(Remember: click on the pictures for a bigger version):

Another English Regiment. All these figures are from Old Glory.

Skirmishy Light Cavalry – also from Old Glory.

A pair of Highlanders – the fellow with the combed morion striking furiously with a broadsword is from Old Glory, the besotted wretch with the tankard and cleaver is from Warlord Games.



Spare Drummer  – also from Old Glory.

Coming soon on Tim’s Miniature Wargaming Blog:

Still more of these on the way… highlanders… cavalry… more...

I think I’m also going to have a terrain-making day this weekend – I need to nake a second table worth of ruined city terrain as I now have (in theory) over eight players in our Frostgrave campaign and only four can play at any give time (luckily not everyone shows up each week wanting to play Frostgrave!). Also more options for ruined city terrain couldn’t hurt! 

Another Week, Another Expedition into Frostgrave

Rick, Dave, and Patrick all showed up last night for Skirmish Saturday Night and were interested into delving into the Frozen City once more. I has originally planned to continue with the Hunt for the Golem mini-campaign we started last week… but then realized late afternoon that I hadn’t gotten around to painting the figure I had planned to USE for the golem – which shows up in the second scenario… So I quickly looked through the book to find a different scenario!

SCENARIO

We played the Genie in the Bottle scenario from the Frostgrave rulebook (pg.99). Things are set up as per normal, but anytime a figure comes into contact with a treasure they roll to see if the Genie has been encountered. (Once the Genie has been encountered no one needs to roll anymore). As I was sitting out and playing the “Game Master” role I didn’t TELL anyone which scenario we were playing or what they might encounter, just that they had to roll any time they contacted a treasure and what their score was.

The Genie is a pretty nasty piece of work. The Warband that discovered is gets experience. If the discoverers survive the lamp is worth quite a bit and if a wizard takes out the Genie (who is not effected by non-magic weapons!) they got 200 experience!

FORCES

The Boy returned to Felstad with his Necromancer - Akzar Kallesel – who is now 10^th level! He had with him two Knights, a Barbarian, a Treasure Hunter, and an assortment of other minions (no thugs or thieves left in his warband, though). He also raised a zombie before the game.

Dave returned with his Sigilist, B’ob (and his hosehead apprentice D’oug). I can’t remember what changes he’d made to his warband, if any…? B’ob is now second level.

Patrick returned with his Enchanter. He has upgraded Svetlana (a Thief, I think) to a Treasure Hunter, and Gorvak Thrice-Scorched (man-at-arms?) to a Knight.

Rick returned with his 4^th level Enchanter as well. But not really… he forgot his miniatures. So he had to borrow some of mine.

THE GAME

(Remember: click on the pictures for a bigger version)

Rick, Dave, Patrick, and The Boy all ready to go. Amanda was sitting this one out as she had to get up stupid early to teach a 7:30 yoga class?! The Girl seems to have tired of Frostgrave.

Patrick’s Enchanter, Perrian, leads his warband into the ruin once more...

Rick’s warband also enters the ruined city… Lots of treasure right there at his fingertips.

B’ob, Dave’s Sigilist, and his warband approach the ruins carefully – with Perrian’s Medium Construct and a band of The Necromancers Minions bearing down on them for each side!

The freshly summoned zombie was actually the one to discover the Genie. Once I explained how the Genie worked, The Boy quickly rushed a couple of schmoes into combat (but didn’t bother with spending any actions on trying to fight – since they wouldn’t be able to affect him anyway – they were just there to keep him busy until the Knight with the Magic Sword could arrive!)

At the end of Turn One, in the creature phase, a Wraith appeared among Rick’s warband – who had all retreated away from The Boys warband in fear as he started explaining what was in his warband and threatening Rick’s with DOOM if he dared try to take any of HIS treasures! The Wraith killed one of his Thugs, but then Ricks wizard blasted it out of existence with an Elemental Bolt! BZZZAAAAP!

Perrian's construct approaching B’ob… who then cast Dispell on it – making it no longer under the control of Perrian (who, unfortunately, did not have Control Construct!)

Baldwin, Perrian’s apprentice, attacked by TWO wandering Ghouls!

Perrian himself comes to Baldwin’s aid, while his two archers continue to exchange shots with Ricks two rangers!

The Boy’s Knight arrives and takes down the Genie with one swift blow! He had +12 to the roll… Knight Fighting value +4, Magic Sword +2, +6 for three others ganging up…

Now that I think about it, would all those extra combatants add their supporting value if they themselves are not armed with Magic weapons…? I guess their purpose there is to just distract so the dude armed with a magic weapon can get in a good hit…?

Boar arrived and chased after The Boy’s Barbarian.

The uncontrolled Construct attacks one of his own warband! Gorvak Thrice-Scorched had previously been wounded was taken out by the Construct, eventually.

Perrian got back at the medaling Sigilist by eliminating him with an Elemental Bolt – Ba-ZAM!! And then got attacked by a pair of Giant Rats!

Things got busy in this little alley for a bit. Treasures flying around via telekinesis – with everyone chasing after them. Here is the Sigilist’s apprentice, D’oug, being attacked by The Boy’s Knight (with the Magic Sword!) – D’oug did not last long… Bartholomew Malcolm Underhill III, an infantryman also in the service of the Sigilist, battles against the Necromancer’s Treasure Hunter and the uncontrolled Medium construct bearing down on them both. In the back is the Minor Demon the Necromancer summoned earlier in the game, and just around the corner is the Necromancer’s Apprentice who was throwing Bone Darts into the mess!

The Barbarian stormed out of the ruined building, with Boar hot on his heals – the Necromancer stepped in to help out and… well… eventually the Boar was taken down.

More Giant Rats arrive to harass one of the Necromancer’s treasure-hauling minions.

Rick’s Enchanter… hiding in cover.

Another Ghoul arrives…

The Knight with the Magic Sword ends up fighting the Ghoul – to clear the way for the warbands treasure haulers – and gets jumped by a Large Construct that wandered onto the table! CRUNCH! Down went the knight.

And then a bear arrived and attacked Rick’s apprentice. The apprentice won the combat and pushed the bear out. On the next turn the Apprentice fled the table with a couple of the henchmen.

Perrian, down to ONE HEALTH, flees an Ice Spider!

The Nercomancer’s Apprentice gets chased off the table by a small wandering construct.

The very last treasure was the most hotly contested. Originally carried by the Necromancer’s Barbarian (who was gored by the boar and then finished off by arrow or Elemental Bolt – I can’t remember which…?) The Necromancer himself was also taken out by Elemental Bolt. It was then whisked in two different directions via Telekinesis. Another Zombie then picked it up and wandered back into this building for cover.

The Zombie was then ganked by this trio... They had been hiding from the Bear, but then broke cover, rushed into this building, killed the zombie and then found themselves surrounded by Large Wandering Constructs!

The last of the henchmen on the table – surrounded by wandering monsters – desperately trying get that last treasure!

Trying to escape the Constructs – Rick’s Wizard and other henchmen fled the table leaving his treasure carrying dwarf to fight through on his own…!?

Baldwin is attacked by the Ice Spider.

After dealing with the Ice Spider Baldwin found himself being chased by FOUR Giant Rats! At that point he decided that last treasure just wasn’t worth it and fled the table.

Curly, the Dwarf dragged the treasure back into the building, but the Constructs followed. He then decided to call it a day, dropped the treasure, climbed over a wall and fled off the table!

It was a pretty epic game - we played TWELVE TURNS and ended the game just after midnight. Two wizards and an apprentice were taken out and another wizard limped of the table with only one health! Of the twelve treasures the Necromancer collected five, everyone else collected two and the final one was left on the table... 

POST GAME

Akzar Kallesel survived the Elemental Bolt – but he has a permanent shock of while hair (which, secretly he’s rather pleased with and finds quite “dashing”). Having survived he earned 370 experience (50 for discovering the Genie, 120 for spells cast, 200 for the four treasure his warband hauled off) bringing him to 13^th level! Among the treasures he collected 470 gold (including the 300 for selling the lamp!) Two Grimoires (Mind Control and Scatter shot – which he already had a copy of, so was able to sell this one for another 250 gold!) two scrolls ( Brew Potion and Furious Quill), and a Magic Dagger (+1 Damage… so a dagger that doesn’t cause the regular -1 damage…). Among the other casualties taken, both knights will miss a game, his archer was blasted beyond repair, and the Treasure Hunter and Barbarian recovered.

Silverbeard, Rick’s Enchanter. Despite all his caution and hiding, gained 500 experience - catapulting him to NINTH level (110 for spells cast, 100 for the two treasures, 60 for the level difference, and 230 for enemies taken out – a wizard and two others!). His warband suffered only three casualties who all survived. Among the Treasures he recovered he found 60 gold and a magic Sword (+2 damage) and Magic Leather Armour (+1).

B’ob also survived the Elemental Bolt that too him out of action – but his leg was permanently damaged. He gained 210 experience (30 for spells, 10 for treasure, 80 for the level difference). His apprentice, Crossbowman and Thugs all survived, more or less unscathed, but the Thief died and Bartholomew Malcolm Underhill III will have to miss a game. Among his treasure he found 230 gold a Grimoire containing the Curse spell and three potions (two of Strength, one of Invulnerability).

Perrian staggered off the table with ONE HEALTH! He gained 470 experience! (80 for spells, 190 for taking out B’ob and some other soldier, 100 for treasure, 80 for the level difference and 20 for his laboratory). Svetlana the Treasure Hunter and Altulian the Archer will miss a game due to their injuries. Altarius and Gorvak were okay  and the new Small Construct was repairable. The Medium Construct was, however, smashed beyond repair by the magic sword-wielding Knight… Among the Treasures he collected 320 gold and Magic Dagger (+2 damage) – which he sold for another 150 gold.

We’ve not been allowing warbands to just buy any old magic item, potion or grimoire willy-nilly (because that’s just silly!). I’ve been meaning to have a merchant caravan show up with a limited number of random items for sale each week – and FINALLY remembered to do that this week! Of the ten items I rolled up only the Grimoire of Control Construct was snatched up (by Perrian the Enchanter – no more will his have B’ob dispelling his constructs and having them rampage around the table!)

Coming soon on Tim’s Miniature Wargaming Blog:

I have a bunch of English Civil War figures I’ve finished painting this week tha I’ll be posting shortly… Other than that it’ll probably be next week’s Skrimish Saturday Night game(s) – I have been working on a new campaign system for Song of Blades and Heroes I’m hoping to roll out with next week for those interested to try…