Friday, September 11, 2009

SAMURAI!!

I thought I’d take a break from the skirmishers and archers and do some mounted Samurai – Cavalry stands for my DBA army!

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


These, as with the others, are from Old Glory.


Same guys from behind....

I was going to say I think I’ve gotten that out of my system for now… on with the Normans and Irish and all that, but then I just picked up the final three Discs of Shogun from the library… so…

I will get to the other stuff. But if I'm excited about something it's impossible to force myself to do something else, so I figure; "why fight it!? GO with it!!!"

Kokigami pointed out to me a great web site about Japanese armour I thought I'd pass along to everyone - you can find it here:

Online Japanese Armour Manual

Thanks K!

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Guess what…?

That’s right… more Japanese…

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


Here’s a stand of Bow/Shooters for a DBA/HOTT Samurai army. I tried, originally, to cram five figures on this base, but it looked just way too damn crowded... Maybe for the spear and blade it will be okay, but it just didn't work out for the archers... Of course that means I can have MORE stands... not that I need any, as I think the most a Samurai army in DBA can field is one...? No, wait, I could have three to four in an "Early Samurai" army... I have no idea if these guys would really be "Early Samurai" or not though....


…and a couple more for skirmishing. He may look like a wretched peasant, but those buckets are perfectly balanced and can be swung with DEADLY precision and can knock an Oni’s head off!!!

Campaign for Kümer – Year One – Summer

The Map


After a spring of waiting and watching The Ilferien sprang into action. Swift and silent their boats slid across the waters. The fleet was spotted at Anasterele briefly where they took on supplies and sped away to the east, but to where? The Elvish fleet was next seen one bright morning off the shores of Tria Nomina, blockading the port of Cognomen. Consul Sundiasen brought a delegation ashore and the city gave up without a fight. The Elvish army landed expecting the return of the Tria Nominian army, retiring from Marhan. But they did not come…

After the Funeral of his brother and the too hasty marriage to his brother’s wife, the beautiful Queen Gertrude, the new King Claudius of Ronarok ordered his generals to march the army to Marhan to lift the siege there by the Tria Nominians. When the Army of Roanrok arrived there they found the Tria Nominians had decamped, marching north into the land of the Dwarves. The Army pursued them with all haste. At Wienglenn they found only dwarves and rumours that the Tria Nominian Army had marched further north to Toctglenn. Jarl Thorvald Skardsen demanded recompense from those who would shelter their enemies, the despoilers of their lands, but the stubborn Dwarves, despite their skeletal garrison, weren’t so easily persuaded to give up their stronghold. A siege ensued and ground on through the summer.

But what of the Tia Nominians…? North they marched to intervene in the battle to come at Toctglenn…. Would they make it there in time…?

Following hot on the heals of the routing Dwarves the Orcs of Transil-Valishog-Atania descended on the Dwarven Stronghold of Toctglenn. The Dwarves took to the field to fight a delaying action in hope that their allies the Tria Nominians would arrive in time…

The Battle of Toctglenn

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


Under the direct orders of King Malaius MacDoogleg, the Dwarven army assembled before the mighty fortress of Toctlgenn – ready to fight, and hopefully delay the orcs long enough for their allies the Tria Nominians to arrive and save them from their plight!


The orcish hordes of Transil-Valishog-Atania surge through the pass of Toctglenn and down towards the stronghold!


Before the Orcs even pass through the wood on the Dwarven side of the pass the sound of trumpets are heard echoing though the valley! The advance elements of the Tria Nominian army have arrived. A cheer goes up along the, very short (and narrow) Dwarvish line!


The Tria Nominians are certainly efficient, our of the valley storms more of their legions!


In no time the entire Tri Nominian army has arrived! Another Cheer goes up along the Dwarvish lines.


The Tria Nominians begin to deploy. The Great Dwarish General Gilgidi MacAuslin think the manlings general not so wise to be deploying at right angles to their foe the orc, they will have much to great a wheel to make to close into contact? Why do they expose their flank so…?


These questions are put aside as the general has more pressing matters to contend with – the Orcs crash into their main line!


…and break upon it like water on stone! The Warg riders are turned back, The great wizard Morose is down, and unit of pik breaks and runs before the might of the Dwarvish artillery….

Things are not looking good for the Army of Valishog! More cheers go up along the Dwarvish line, the battle is all but won!


But wait… What treachery is this!? The Manlings and Orcs are not battling each other, but rather the Legions of Tria Nomina are formed and marching on the Dwarves flank!?


Flags are waved, runners with messangers sent, warning shots even fired from the artillery, but on the manlings march!


The legions of Tria Nomina clash with the Dwarvish flank picket!


The Dwarves are now beset on all sides, the only advantage is that in this narrow pass of the Toct Gates, the Orc and manlings numbers count for… well… aren’t nearly so advantageous as they should be….


The Epic battle surges back and forth!


The Dwarvish Druids are surrounded by the Legions of Tria Nomina…


…and the legions are thrown back, time and again!


Eventually the dwarves were pressed up against the very walls of their mighty stronghold. First the artillery found it could retreat no more and left her field of battle. Then the Druids were surrounded and overwhelmed! The battle was lost…

After the battle it was found the artillery had pulled it’s guns clear and were already on their way back to make a last stand at Ghillebrae, but the Druids were utterly wiped out! On the Orcs side Morose had merely stubbed his toe, very badly, and limped off the filed with the aid of his familiars and the Warg Riders and Pike were merely having a brew up back in the woods…


Further to the south the army of Grummsh rallied and marched back to Otisburg but found the Army of the Sapphic League had gone. Their army had marched back to Beavoir and new fortress was being built at Otisburg by Orc slaves under the relentless whip of the Sapphist Garrison Commander. The Orcs quickly invested the burgeoning stronghold, but the Sapphic Garrison held on through the oppressive heat of summer on the steppes of Grummsh.


Country: Tria Nomina
Race: Humans
Head(s) of State: Aculeo Bibaculus Mediocrito, Imperator of Tria Nomina
Commander of the Field Army:
Capitol: Praenomen
Other Cities: Nomen, Agnomen
Location of Field Army: Toctglenn
Prestige Points: 3
Army Size: 18AP

Country: The Sapphic League of Unity and Togetherness
Race: Mixed – WOMEN!!
Head(s) of State: Myrah the Mighty, Chairperson of the Council of Empowerment of the Sapphic League of Unity and Togetherness.
Commander of the Field Army:
Capitol: Thatcherton
Other Cities: Bhutto, Beauvoir, Otisburg
Location of Field Army: Beauvoir
Prestige Points: 8
Army Size: 24AP

Country: The Ilferien
Race: Ilferien (Elves)
Head(s) of State: Consul Rhalasa
Commander of the Field Army: Consul Sundiasen
Capitol: Melitele
Other Cities: Anasterele, Wynstrele, Dyladele, Cognomen
Location of Field Army: Cognomen
Prestige Points:
Army Size: 24AP

Country: Toctland
Race: Dwarves
Head(s) of State: King Malaius MacDoogleg
Commander of the Field Army: General Gilgidi MacAuslin
Capitol: Ghillebrae
Other Cities: Weinglenn,
Location of Field Army: Retiring to Ghillebrae
Prestige Points: 2
Army Size: 9AP

Country: Ronarok
Race: Humans
Head(s) of State: King Claudius Hrosskellsen
Commander of the Field Army: Jarl Thorvald Skardsen
Capitol: Ludharn
Other Cities: Marham, Skohln
Location of Field Army: Weinglenn (siege)
Prestige Points:
Army Size: 22AP

Country: Transil-Valishog-Atania
Race: Orcs
Head(s) of State: Vladimeag Votostogish (Vlad the Kinslayer)
Commander of the Field Army:
Capitol: Brasog
Other Cities: Gorj, Dolj, Toctglenn
Location of Field Army: Toctglenn
Prestige Points: 12
Army Size: 24AP

Country: Grummsh
Race: Orcs
Head(s) of State: Bolg Skullcrusher
Commander of the Field Army:
Capitol: Marrow
Other Cities: Crudd
Location of Field Army: Otisburg (siege)
Prestige Points:
Army Size: 20AP

Anyone who’s REALLY paying attention may notice some discrepancies here… I realized last week I had made a mistake concerning the outcome of the battle between Grummsh and the Sapphic League – As the General’s stand had been taken out the Sapphists should have received an additional 4 prestige points, and the army of Grummsh should have had 4 AP worth of troops desert - 2AP of which permanently deserted and 2AP were recovered post battle…

Also, though they lost the battle, the Dwarves sold themselves dearly – having knocked out more AP than they lost in the battle they actually GAINED prestige…!?

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Turning Japanese

…I think I’m turning Japanese, I really think so… dah-dah-dah-dah, dah, dah, dah…

Kokigami is right; I guess I really shouldn’t say I’m “cranking them out”… If I WAS “cranking them out” I’d be doing TEN per night (MWA-HA-HA-Ha-Ha-ha… I wish...)! These damn fancy pants are really slowing me down! I'm not totally looking forward to doing entire stands of these for DBA....

Three more for your enjoyment, anyway….

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


These, as with the others, are from Old Glory. I have a few more on the work bench I’m going to finish off before moving on to Dark Ages DBA stuff…

I totally need some Warrior Monks!

Maybe it’s time I traded away the rest of the 15mm WW2 stuff….

Sunday, September 6, 2009

Still More Japanese

Once again I cranked out a couple more feudal Japanese last night after our Savage Worlds game.

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


These are from various Old Glory packs…

Saturday, September 5, 2009

More Japanese

I cranked out a few more feudal Japanese types last night, just for fun. These will just be for Skirmish games using Savage Worlds – but there is a stand worth of ashigaru archers on the workbench I thought I’d crank out for fun as well before delving into some Norman goodness.

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


The armoured Samurai Chick is an out-of-production Legends of the Five Rings figure from Reaper Miniatures. The rest are from Old Glory.

Friday, September 4, 2009

Romans

This is the first of my Early Imperial Roman DBA Armies. I have enough to do three full armies – complete with all possible options… and enough of everything BUT the Legionaries (Blades) to do two more!? I think before doing any more Romans I’ll probably do some Early Germans to oppose them!

The army has an option of a Cavalry or Blade General, four Blade (Legionnaires), four Auxilia, a Cavalry and an Artillery stand, then either an additional Calvary, Light Horse, Psiloi, or Bow stand.

(Click on the picture to see a larger version)



The army is almost exclusively made of old Citadel Minatures from the 1980’s. These were produced under license by Ral Partha in North America. The General on the Calvary General Stand is from Old Glory, and the Artillery stand is, I think, from Minifigs. My friend John got them in a trade last year when he decided to off-load his15mm Great War stuff, then subsequently traded them to me for painting futures (I have completed one unit of Cuirassier for him thus far and, I think, agrees to paint three or four more…).

As mentioned above I have enough to do a few more armies - at some point I'd like to do a Roman campaign - maybe revolving around a civil war - with a couple roman armies and a couple others (Germans, etc) that might either capitalize on the unrest to pick away at the empire or ally themselves with one of the various roman factions... But that won't be for a while!