2021 Basing & Re-Basing Part 2 - Saga Age of Hannibal Figures

This group of figures includes everything I've painted in the past 14 months for Saga Age of Hannibal that I've just completed basing. When I started painting for Age of Hannibal I wasn't sure which army or armies I wanted to play, so I started with several mercenary units from the back of the rule book. A couple of these can do double duty in some of the armies as non-mercenary units as well. 

This first unit consists of eight Ligurian warriors. These can serve as the Ligurian mercenaries in several armies, but I would also feel completely comfortable fielding them as contingent warriors in a Carthaginian force. I'm sure Hannibal recruited plenty of these guys on his trip through the Alps. These are Old Glory miniatures with LBMS shield transfers.

The next group of figures are eight Samnite warriors. These are Old Glory figures, with Aventine shields and homemade shield transfers. This unit was a failed experiment in using GW Contrast paints for the tunics. The Old Glory figures just don't have enough texture on the main tunics to allow the Contrast paints to work well. I also was not happy with the vibrancy of the colors. I toned them down a bit with an additional Army Painter Soft Tone wash, but still, I do not like these even half as much as my traditionally painted Samnite Colorful Legion units painted using traditional methods.

Next up a unit of eight Balearic Slingers cast by Gripping Beast. This unit I consider a successful application of GW contrast paints. With the exception of the flesh, these figures are painted entirely with GW Contrast paints. To get the more muted ancient tones in the cloth I blended most of the primary colors with some of the browns, and then thinned to my preference with glazing medium. I probably could have used GW contrast medium but I don't own any.

This unit, the dreaded Cretan Archers. These were originally painted up for Hannibal at the Gates back in 2003. This was prior to that rule set's de-emphasizing of skirmish troops. Since I had five stands for HATG and only really need a couple of stands now, I re-based these for Saga Age of Hannibal where they will see use in several of my armies, particularly the Romans. These are Old Glory figures. I un-based three stands from my HATG force comprised of three figures each and I found a tenth in my 'dead lead' collection already painted up. This was probably as a result of a previous re-basing. I only need 8 for Age of Hannibal, but I based up all ten. With a couple of command figures they can press into duty as a 12-man levy bow unit if needed.

The final unit in the group are twelve Gaul archers. These are from Warlord Games SPQR line from their 'Tribal Archers' box. These are resin single-piece figures that I quite enjoy painting despite their light weight. These were painted primarily with traditional paints although the hair and furs were done with GW Contrast paints. Learning when to use the contrast paints and when not to I believe is the BIGGEST part of the learning curve with these new paints. They are not a one-size-fits-all solution for us historical painters.

Next up, figures I based up for my 28mm Finnish skirmish army.

2021 Basing & Re-Basing Part 1 - Hannibal at the Gates Figures

Since I moved in 2020 my laser engraver has been out of commission until a couple of weeks ago. I have continued to paint, but without the laser I've had no bases to put my painted figures on. The cobbler's children had no shoes. With the completion of the construction of the new hobby room and the set-up of the laser, I've finally been able to cut myself some bases and start to get the majority of the figures I've painted in the past 14 months based up. This post is the first installment showing the completed tabletop-ready figures. This will include all of the figures painted up for my Macedonian and Roman armies for Hannibal at the Gates. 

The first group top left are the Macedonians I painted for an upcoming campaign my friend Bob is running. Left is a close-up of the command figures, all from Warlord Games SPQR line.

This group of two bases of Thureophoroi were painted up to match my earlier painted Thorakatai to form into a single four-stand division for Hannibal at the Gates use.

This group of two more stands I painted more closely to the box art on Warlord Games SPQR box. I didn't like their bright white stripe, so I went with a medium grey instead. The capes of the musician and officer are done using GW Contrast paints.

The final group are my favorite of this batch, the Companion cavalry. These are Aventine miniatures. The brown horses were glazed with contrast paints, as are the helmet blumes and banner. The balance of the figures are painted using traditional methods.

For the Romans, I based up a single 'field artillery' division for Hannibal at the gates. Two Roman Scorpions and two bases of 'Romanized' Samnites. In reality these could be any lesser Italiote types: Samnites, Campanians, etc.

The artillery bases are from Warlord Games Hail Cesar line and are lead castings - my preference. The pointing officer is an Old Glory figure pressed into service as I pinched the original figure to command one of my Praetorian Guard units a while back.

These packs come with the baskets of bolts - a nice touch that allows you to make some very nice scenic bases with the figures and field pieces.

The Soldier/Peltast stands for the artillery guards were painted fairly quickly. These were meant to be a bit 'scuzzy'. Such 'soldiers' would be indentured types, not quite up to becoming Extrodanarii or Legionaries. Either they're slaves, conscripts or lesser peoples trying to earn their way into one of the better assignments in the army. These are Old Glory figures pulled from my dead lead box with Aventine Roman scuta substituted for the shields.

 

 That's it for this installment. Next up, figures based for for Saga, Age of Hannibal.

Saga Age of Hannibal Game vs Byron

This past week my friend Mike (left in the photo) hosted another of his series of Age of Hannibal Saga games. This one, our FIRST in-person game. My opponent was Byron pushing Romans. I asked for the "Hobson's Choice" allowing Mike to pick the army I would push. Mike chose the Carthaginians for a nice historical match.

 

Byron had a balanced force with Cretan archer mercenaries, two hearthguard infantry, one unit of cavalry and the balance made up of warriors in six-man maniples. Byron also had the legendary commander that allows his hearthguard infantry to be considered maniples and also to use the Pilum advanced saga ability as if it were a basic ability.

My force included an elephant, a unit of levy archers, a unit of hearthguard cavalry, and three warrior units. I divided these into four six-man units to try to limit the Roman advantage of being 'outnumbered'. In the end this is a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" choice as six-man units don't give the Romans extra dice in combat, but they're still small, less-powerful, more brittle units. 

Byron got the best of the terrain placement dropping a swamp in my back line which forced me to deploy in depth. I also assumed we was hoping that would force me to advance forward to deploy, but I resisted that temptation. In my first turn I used the "Punic Perfidy" ruse to bring my Hearthguard in on the flank of my levy archers. My hopes was their rage would cause casualties on Byron's legions forcing him on the attack. This is a double-edged sword as Romans are quite potent when attacking.

Byron stood firm in his first turn, and I followed up with my levy shooting a volley at one of his legions flaking a couple of figures. From then on Byron's saving throws and Scutum Saga ability reduced my shooting casualties to a trickle. 

Byron advanced his Cretan archers into a position to shoot up my warriors and flaked a figure. The following turns were looking grim for trading shot-for-shot. Luckily for me Byron had to fatigue his Cretans to get his shot, and the following turn I rolled a rare saga die which I placed on my 'Delay' ability. In Byron's following turn I used this to cancel the Cretan's activation and prevent them from activating for the rest of his turn. Having secured safety in front of the archers I advanced a warrior unit to threaten them with melee. 

At the start of Byron's next turn I used my 'Redeploy' ability to pull that warrior unit further to the flank and out of charge range of Byron's legion. Byron attempted to activate the Cretans, which I blocked as planned. Byron then re-located his warlord to further support the Cretans in the following turn. 

In my following turn I had another good shooting attack end up with no casualties thanks to Scutum and good save dice by Byron. I did roll another Rare Saga die, re-charging 'Delay' which Byron acknowledged with an appropriate grumble.  In his turn Byron double-activated a legion, slammed into my warrior unit and killed five of the six figures in it suffering only a single casualty of his own. Romans - are good on the offense. That one charge matched the entire games worth of shooting casualties from my levy.

With the final turn coming up and insufficient casualties to secure a win, I forged forward with my Levy to shoot Byron's cavalry - which he saved all but one casualty, and I advanced my Elephant so that their composite bows could shoot at Byron's legions. Eagle eye secured a couple of casualties, but not enough carnage to satisfy the blood gods and our game came up with a draw. Well played by Byron and a pleasure.

Mike recorded the game and broadcast it via Zoom for others to watch. Our friend Michael did stop in and observe. Hopefully the embedded video below will allow you to view the video.

1-48 Tactic Games

I've started to host some 1-48 Tactic games in my home now that my friends and I are fully vaccinated. After purchasing the rules, I printed up the free character cards and tokens that are included in the rules. I'm not interested in starting another scale, so I'm going to substitute the 1/48 scale models the rules are originally designed for with 28mm figures and terrain from my existing collection. To try out the rules and introduce them to the group I set up the sample characters with the terrain shown to the left. I pulled some appropriate bits from my unpainted terrain pile to use for the 'doughnut terrain' and painted them up. This included some craters and foxholes. 

Game one was 1 on 1 vs my friend Ed (from Ed M's Wargames Meanderings blog). Ed and I played three games to learn the rules and refine the terrain. I had initially figured there was no such thing as 'too much' terrain, but after the first game we realized that a little less density would better match the starting forces. Much thanks to Ed for helping me play test the board and learn the rules. This was also the first official game in the new gaming room!

Game number two was between my friends Greg and Mike. Both Greg and Mike have been superheros during COVID-19 hosting MANY on-line games for myself and other club members. Greg hosting Chain of Command and Sharpe's practice games and Mike hosting Saga Age of Hannibal games.

Mike and Greg played two games, swapping armies so each tried each force once. Greg went 2-0 but both played really well. 

Mike had some more time so he stuck around and played a third game against me. This was a really fun game for me to play. Mike had two of his soldiers close enough to each other for me to lay down some suppressive fire on both of them. Mike got his soldiers out of the suppression zone and in the next turn I attempted to capitalize by charging one of my SMG-armed figures within short range and peppering Mike's figure with SMG fire......to no effect. DRATS! I MISSED!  Mike didn't, put two between the eyes of my would be Nazi Rambo dropping him in his tracks. Mike then went on to finish off my NCO sealing the win.

Game three in the 'return the favor' tour was my friends Phil and Michael. Phil was HUGE in my move by using his cargo van to help me pre-move my entire miniatures collection, scenery and laser engraver prior to the hired movers arriving. Michael, another of my club friends who hosted virtual games during the lock down. Phil and Michael played much more cautiously and slowly than the other two games, showing that 1-48 Tactics can be a "thinking man's game" if you want it to be. In the end Michael got the worst end of 'General Dice' and Phil pulled out two wins, one with each force. 

So far these games have been fun to play and host. I can see an opportunity for a 'big game' using several similar rifle-armed privates with a single NCO for each player. I'd like a larger battlefield, so I might toy with the idea of doubling each figure's movement. I think the weapon ranges are still fine as-is on a larger battlefield.   I'm planning on hosting a few more 'out of the box' demo games for more of my club friends soon.

Northern Conspiracy Game Night - May 2021

With a majority of our club having viable vaccinations and the NH Governor softening up restrictions on social gatherings, the Northern Conspiracy held our first face-to-face game night since the pandemic shut us down twelve months ago. Attendance was very good with I think 23 members present. Masks were still used just for good measure and the hotel gave us two conference rooms allowing for a generous ten feet between tables.  

Show to the left was a 15mm brigade level Fire & Fury game run by Phil (in blue, center). So great to see miniatures and terrain on the tables and to be able to push figures around and socialize with fellow club members.

 

 

Michael ran a Cruel Seas scenario with Warlord Games PT boats and other small boats. 

Not knowing if we would get enough attendance for a third miniatures game I brought the board game 'Colt Express' as a backup game. It also ran with five players. The game has a 'board' made up of cardboard train cars and gunslinger 'meeples' that look almost like miniatures. We played twice with players rotating in. It was my first time playing the game and I have to admit, it was a lot of fun, even in the first game where I came in dead last.

Game Room Update - Figure Storage, Tables and Laser set-up!

Short video of my wargaming room including my new wargaming tables, figure storage and engraving laser.

 

Wargaming Room - ALMOST DONE!

This past weekend my girlfriend and I installed the flooring in the game room. We're ALMOST DONE! Next steps are to get the gas heat professionally installed. This is scheduled for tomorrow. Once that's done I can have final inspection from the building inspector and I can move in, set up the laser and get back to gaming and painting miniatures. The whole project has taken 2 1/2 months, mostly because I did a lot of the work myself nights and weekends. The sweat equity savings was significant. Doing it myself also means some things were able to be done 'exactly' as I wanted. 

I'm looking forward to moving in and getting back to my hobbies. Thanks to everyone for your support.

 

Overview of Room

Finished Floor

Wargaming Room Update - Baseboards Installed

 More progress. Flooring arrives so I could finally start working on the baseboard trim.

Wargaming Room Update

Wargaming room video update by request.

 Some photos as well...

28mm Gaul Archers

These are twelve Gaul 'Tribal Archers' figures from Warlord Games SPQR range of figures. They're resin figures. I tend to be a 'lead snob' but so far I've been quite happy with all of the SPQR range of resin figures. These are no exception. I've painted these up to be my 'levy archers' for my Carthaginian army for Saga Age of Hannibal. Once I get my wargaming room finished and my laser back on-line I'll cut up some bases for them. The basing will be 1" circular bases made from 3mm arctic birch plywood per my usual for Saga infantry figures.

Twelve figures added to the 2021 painting totals. Until I get my laser back on-line I'm counting figures as they are finished in ready-to-base condition. This is not my usual, but desperate times call for desperate measures.