A Flodden Update

 

About three years ago I set out on a Flodden Project. As often happens I wrote and painted away and then got diverted. Permissible, because this is a hobby not a job. You can see my previous progress by hitting Flodden in the tags. Above, not Flodden. Just a Border skirmish.

A couple of days ago I finished the first draft of “Flodden Moor” the working title of my Flodden Game. Yesterday I proof read it. The result is 14 sides of A4 intended to enable gaming the Anglo-Scots Wars of the Flodden Period. Of course you could also use them for intra England or Scotland fights. There were plenty of them. Playtests will follow.

There was still a bit of painting to do. Surprisingly mostly involving the Border Reivers those workmen of the Wars. Now it may be that this is just your thing. An enduring interest perhaps? If so you might want to know what is available in 15mm.

I have 15mm Border Horse from Alternative Armies (1 pose), Minifigs (1pose), Roundway (2 poses), QRF, Essex (1 pose), and ERM. With troops like the Reivers as much variety as possible was my aim.

These days only Alternative Armies ,Minifigs and Essex are still in production, or so I thought. 

Happily ERM are now being sold by East Front Miniatures (EFM). They have the most complete range of Border Reivers, horse and foot, civilians and dogs. I have ordered a few packs and will review them upon arrival here. 

In the meantime you can see an EFM Reiver below. He’s the one in the blue doublet and jack facing a QRF Rider.  A fair fit wouldn’t you say?

Currently I have a couple of units of Border Horse. This is fine for Flodden where the Scots Borderers fought on foot. My 2 units can be English. For other engagements I need a couple more. 

They aren't big units 6-8 figures each. I'm giving some of them little St. Andrew's saltire or St. George cross patches. Mostly my Borderers won't wear them. It was said the Riding Clans were "English by choice and Scots at will."  You can see a couple of standard bearers here to help identify who was, at least temporarily, who.

QRF is currently missing in action. I’m watching with interest Geoff’s efforts to sort things out. I do wish him well. 

Below some English Demi-Lancers from QRF. 

The green and white caps indicate their Tudor allegiance. 

If QRF return I’ll do a Scots version too. 

There is more to the period than the Battle of Flodden.

On this page you can see English and Scots units from my Flodden Collection.

More on this one soon. Starting with a playtest. I really should work out the points for both sides for a balanced game. Truth to tell I'm more interested in the feel of it as a representation of the period.

Middle Romans- Transfer Tales

 

First, forgive the lacuna between posts. I have been very busy with one thing and another. Let us now press on.

Regular readers know I have been playing with transfers recently. The Prince of Transfers is Little Big Man Studios. Real works of art from them.  They have a reputation for being tricky to use.  That is because there application is counter intuitive. You have to put the image on face down. Gasp!

Luckily You Tube is replete with a squad of fine fellows who show you how everything should be done. Seeing it makes it very easy to follow and, oddly, more natural. I set to.

Having been instructed the application process worked splendidly. You have to cut out the transfer. Take care over this bit. Then peel of a layer of plastic. That bit is very easy. Place the image face down on the shield and press. Wet it with a water laden brush.  Then peel the paper off. Less complex or demanding than it reads.

Anything else? The pic's in descending order are Light Cavalry, Heavy Cavalry,  Auxilia and Legions. All figures are from Forged in Battle. They are intended as a start on opponents for my Picts. More on those lads soonish.

A final thing. Although the LBM transfers are custom made for specific figures don't expect a perfect fit. This isn't the end of the world as a look at the above figures will show.

Now for a Crimean War diversion. I have been reading The Crimean War-A History by Orlando Figes. Published in 2010 so not a new book. Orlando got a bit of a public hiding for anonymously giving himself an excellent review. Quite the scandal and it ended with the lad himself issuing a public apology. 

These days such antics would hardly cause a stir at all. In fact he might be knighted or made a Lord. Certainly he could expect a Quango.

Anyhow, the book.  Some of the political currents stuff it is well worth the readers attention. Some of the rest isn't.  The military stuff is on occasion good but mostly it is cursory. Almost lazily so. Surprisingly, to me, Figes is much better on strategic ideas and who wanted what and why.  Not a bad book then but not a must have either.

Consider Carthage in 15mm

 

You could always find mercenaries in a Carthaginian Army. Numidians, Spanish, Gauls, the odd Greek. Almost always Carthaginian Generals of course. The three above are from QRF. One might be Phyrrus of Epirus. He's the one with the Tanith shield., There were allies too, including those just listed depending on where and when. All the same actual Carthaginians did turn up on the battle field now and then. Over the years I have accrued a fair few of them.  Let’s have a look.

 

Chariot Miniatures Liby-Phoenicians. Single pose, once upon a time the latest thing. I remain fond of these figures. I have based them as Light Spearmen according to Civates Bellantes.  I need another base to complete the unit. A big ask with Chariot gone. Luckily 3 Donnington Carthaginians will fit right in to supply the requisite 5 figures per base.

Essex Veteran Liby-Phoenicians. The fellows who did the fancy footwork at Cannae. The usual strengths of Essex castings. Sadly single posed. Forged in Battle next to them.

Forged in Battle Veteran Liby-Phoenicians. Pretty much single pose too. The minor variant route. Nice figures all the same.

I have rated the veterans as hoplites, veteran of course and note the good armour. Six to a base.

Actual Carthaginian Citizens from Forged in Battle. 

These seldom appeared in the wars. For some reason I have rather a lot of them. It must have been an irresistible bargain offer.  On the plus side they are very nice figures. I have used VVV Shield Transfers to good effect I think.

I look at the simple Tanith design with fresh eyes these days. It proclaimed allegiance to the Punic State. Sacrifice of the first born and all it entailed. The archaeology is in. The small bones have spoken. It wasn’t just Roman propaganda after all. Did it chill the hearts of the foe?

No one suggests that the Carthaginian citizens were crack troops. These ones are well equipped as befits a wealthy city. 

Morale is average to my mind like wise weapon handling. Consider them rather average hoplites.

Another variation of the Libyans from Forged in Battle. This time as Civitates Bellantes “Javelin Men”.  Good quality heavy cavalry next. Liby-Phoenicians. In Civitates Bellantes we call these Cavalry. There are also "Shock" Cavalry.

These are from Forged in Battle. I calculate I should have another 3 of them. They must be somewhere.

For ease let us look at the Numidians too. Very effective soldiers. Mine are a bit of a mixture. Light cavalry first.  Apologies for the poor quality of the light on the pic's.

Enough for 4 units in Civitates Bellantes. 

Some Essex, some Forged in Battle and possibly something else. Single bases.

QRF, Essex and Chariot foot skirmishers. 

Somewhere there are more of these. Since writing this they have been found bringing the unit up to 8 figures.

As Adrian Goldsworthy noted in his epic history of the Punic Wars we don't know enough about the Carthaginians. The Romans intended that we shouldn't. They destroyed the Punic written records. Some texts on agriculture survive.

How is it going? Progress.

I’m nearing the end of the first half of my rule writing projects. The Nine Years War in Ireland is nearly done. So is the Crusades Game. Coming up on the inside is my Flodden Game. Plucky outsider In The Days of The Cid is also rapidly making ground. All good and we should see the trial games here as we go. I'm repairing a Chinese House too.

Gonzalo and my Aztec game are still on the bench. It is a matter of finding time. When the games above are done there turn will come.

In the meantime I have been doing a bit of this and that. Let us have a look.

 

Bogs for Ireland or Northumbria and points north and west. A little bit more to do on the bigger ones. I can probably use them in other settings too. I got the irregular MDF bases from ERM. I need to locate a new supplier.  

 

Ptolemaic light cavalry above. These are Donnington Old Era. Modelled on the pic’ below.

 From the Montvert book I'd say. I think they are great.   

No one else does square shield Hellenistic cavalry. I have 4 more ordered.

Ptolemaic Nubians also from Donnington. 

I have based these as “Shock” infantry as per Civitates Bellantes. Hard hitting but note the lack of armour. In actuality they may have been light troops.

Generic Greek skirmishers next.  I think these are Gladiator but they could be Lancashire Games.

Old Glory provided these Spanish crossbow men. I very much wanted some of the fellows in long robes.

A world away in time,  some English and Irish for the Nine Years War. My play test game will be The Battle of the Ford of the Biscuits.

Useful everywhere, Dogs. 

Or are they Wolves? In either case they are sold by Irregular Miniatures. I need some more for my Plains People Village.

I quite enjoy finishing things off. There is a satisfaction in it.

Ancient Spain

 

Here are my Ancient Spanish. Allies or opponents to Romans and Carthaginians depending upon circumstances. Ancient writers always gave their martial qualities five stars and a recommendation. Above Forged in Battle Light Horse and Minifigs slingers. 

Another variant on the theme. Forged in Battle Spanish Heavy Cavalry supporting young warriors from the same stable. The young warriors have slings but are eager to fight close to. Consider them a sort of long range Velite. 

The two units in cameo.

Forged in Battle heavy infantry. Five to a base in Civitates Bellantes and considered "Javelinmen".

More of the same below.

Once again. High morale and with some armour.

Old and new. Essex, Chariot and QRF.

More Spanish light cavalry.

QRF Slingers below.

Minifigs slingers. Old I know, but there is a lot to like. 

A final group of young warriors.

The last of the Spanish heavy cavalry.

Should you be Ancient Spanish inclined Forged in Battle are well worth a look. I'm also becoming interested in Cromarty Forge plastic/resin. I'm reliably told that they scale with Essex and that they do not break if they hear you swearing. Promising.