More Civil War

Alan, John and I played another game of our Roman Civil Wars game this week with To The Strongest

As much as we enjoyed our previous games at 250 points, the table felt rather crowded with no room to manoeuvre. We scaled this game down to 150 points (which was hard!) and the additional space really enabled turning movements, flank actions and break aways. It also added space for more terrain, making light troops far more effective in rough terrain dotted around the battlefield and breaking up big formations of legionaries.

The additional space really allowed the game to more dynamic and break up around the terrain

For games at 250 points with additional players on both sides, we are guessing another 50% table space would be give the same experience.

I learned a few additional points of the rules, especially in terms of Missile fire priorities. Clever use of light forces can really draw fire away from the main line - must remember that for medieval era games when facing longbows! 

Back in the ancient era, the effective use of missile troops continues to elude us. We also keep forgetting that ancient cavalry are javelin throwing units best used for screening and exploitation, NOT lance carrying shock cavalry or Panzers!

Also, the impacts of trying to flank and having the 'victims' turn to face and applying a ZOC- this forces the formerly flanking unit to either turn to face in turn (and attack) or retire directly to its rear, shattering the impetus of the intended movement. Lesson is to leave a square between if you want greater surety of slipping past to savage the enemy rear. Or better yet, have another of your units to its front

All that said the game look great, but we felt equally frustrated at the turn of the cards so it must be well balanced!

Thanks for hosting us again Alan, and for another epic feast!

Battle of the Fallen Eagle

So excited were Alan and I to see our Civil War project realised earlier this week, that we even got a second game in: superb! Joined by mates Marty (my Co-Consul) and John (duped into an alliance with Pompey)- the game was afoot.

Consul John - unwitting pawn to the perfidious Pompey

After I had won initiative and advanced with march move, Alan's first turn started inauspiciously when his centre command's group move failed with the dreaded Ace card, allowing me to steal 2 moves on him and press him hard with my veteran legions. It was at this exact moment that he knocked over the standard bearer model of Pompey Magus's command stand, breaking off the Eagle standard! A terrible omen indeed, and soldiers are known to be a superstitious bunch...

Nemesis accepts Caesar's offerings and strikes a deadly blow to Pompean morale

Marty and I trust our whole line ahead fast, pushing hard to keep the initiative and restrict their options. Admittedly, Alan and John's cards didn't give them many anyway. Under Caesar's watchful eye, the legions clashed in the centre, pinning Alan against his baggage elements. 

No Mercy for Traitors!!!

My right flank was comprised mostly of Cavalry, both Roman equites and Gallic tribal, who gave ground when pressed by enemy foot troops. This traded space for time, and kept John's troops away from the main event in the centre. My left flank, Commanded by Marty, faced Pompey himself, who was pushing hard to force a flanking manoeuvre but again just didn't get the cards to be able to seize the opportunities.

Consul Marty holding the left flank well against Pompey 

Meanwhile, the grind in the centre continued, Alan continuing to loose units and committing his reserve of raw legions against my broadly undaunted veterans. 

"Push forward in the Centre - Attack! Onward to Victory!"

With their centre collapsing (and my being up 8 VPs to 1 at this point), the Pompean forces conceded the field and retired.

Caesar's veterans grind forward into Pompey's raw legions
(Alan modelled the new recruits sans armour to display their lack of preparedness - very cool)

The auguries were poor for Pompey Magnus this day and his army's morale never recovered from the incident of the Fallen Eagle (reflected by some very unfortunate cards it must be said). Meanwhile, Caesar gave thanks and libations to Fortuna and Mars for this glorious Victory!

We give you joy of our Victory!

Pompey Tristis and John...in absentia

A throughly enjoyable game in which our knowledge of TTS is growing and use of strategums adds a bit of unknown fun. I was pretty happy with how my strong centre formation with veterans and Brilliant General (that is, the leadership figure with a 3 square redraw advantage as opposed to me!) is working. Not much finesse to it, but it is historically correct as Ceasar often tried to rapidly force a result, relying on his veterans before Pompey's usually larger force and superior cavalry ground him down.

Thanks again Alan for hosting us all to a great evening of culinary delights, tabletop fun and camaraderie!

A Civil War 4 years in the making

Legionaries of Caesar and Pompey clash!

Today Alan and I finally got to play our first Roman Civil War game: Caesar vs Pompey! The first figs were bought in 2020 after which we were disrupted by job changes, moving house, a pandemic and a bold (but correct decision) to change rules and basing. 

Alea iacta est!

After all that it was great to fill the table with 28mm figs!  Many of these figs were painted across a few seasons of the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge in the intervening years. We started with two starter boxes of the Warlord Plastic Caesarian Army and added to them over the years with pretty much every manufacturer we could find: Aventine, Foundry, 1stCorps, Relic, Baueda, Debris of War and even some old Wargames Factory figs. 

From little things, big things grow

We initially chose Infamy Infamy as our rules (which were newly released at the time) but as our vision and appetites grew we switched to To The Strongest for larger, table spanning games, which we are really enjoying in other periods- mainly Dark Ages.

Tabletop Megalomaniac!

My force is that of Caesar, focusing on his veterans from the Gallic Wars and campaigns in Britannia. It also includes tribal allies to swell the ranks, especially in cavalry where Caesar was traditionally short in comparison.

Alan's force represents that of the vile (though possibly more legally justifiable) pretender Pompey and includes a range of different support units with an Eastern flavour, such as Cretan archers and Hellenic Thyreophoroi spearmen, to represent his territories and recruiting regions.

Alan's army is characterised by his amazing handpainted shields and lavish attention to detail across every unit. His ability to tell stories through his dynamic basing is quite remarkable and the pics just don't do them justice.

When asked to comment on his army, Alan simply stated "it is very impressive and invincible". He is a Commander of few words, respecting only Victory enjoyed with a cup of fine wine.

Of course that is my unit with the dreaded Ace card next to it...

Let the Bellum Civile commence!

AHPC 14: Roman Baggage elements

Yes I know I said I had submitted my last post but I got home from my travels early enough to get these baggage elements finished before I departed again.

First up is this Centurion's Tent by Debris of War. A lovely one piece resin model, it really sets the Camp scene well. The design is of leather panels stitched together with goat skin reinforcing over the seams

And if you are setting up the Centurion's tent, then it needs supplies- in this case a wine cart! This is by War Bases and comprises a mdf wagon, metal oxen and a resin insert for the wine amphorae. I added the grass to give the impression of straw packing around them

https://warbases.co.uk/product/roman-wine-cart/

How thematic that my last post was dated on the Ides of March!

https://thepaintingchallenge.blogspot.com/2024/03/from-paul-og-roman-baggage-elements-33.html

Legion: Life in the Roman army

Last weekend during a fleeting visit through London, I got to attend this excellent special exhibition at the British Museum. Even better, I got to do so with my friends Ashley (of Paint it Pink blog fame https://panther6actual.blogspot.com/) and Susan.

I really enjoyed the very impressive collection, probably enhanced by my recent Caesarian Army project!

This did give me a quick fright; the saddle horns are bronze, which is not what I painted my recent cavalry. I was bemoaning this (and the inevitable repainting I would need to do) to Ashley when we read that they were originally leather covered - phew!

And this is the only surviving example of a scutum - rather remarkable ghiven how many must have been made.

Details of the paintwork

This was interesting - now I need to find a 28mm version! 

Cataphract armour

Give me back my Legions Varus!

With a lovely lunch to replenish afterwards, and a spot of shopping at Orc's Nest to procure a few treasures, it was a really nice day. And yet, despite all the pics I took of of antiquities we didnt get a pic of us together!

Thanks ladies for a great day out!

AHPC 14: (almost) Last Submission

I'm away for work now so this was my last submission for AHPC 14.

Despite having planned (and acquired models) for tribal warband allies for Caesar, I recently discovered that in fact... I cant under the army lists! Oops. An emergency resupply of legionaries was required.

So here are two more Legionary units, using 1st Corps models and taking me to a total of 10. Frustratingly, these are smaller sculpts to the rest of my army, more true 25s really. That said, they look good on their own bases and their poses give them a different look to my other troops. Shield decals by LMB Studios, and 2 fancier ones were hand painted for the Centurion and his Signifer to mix things up.

Another Command Figure to take charge on the wing, a Warlord sculpt this time. Nicely detailed but  more statuesque and fancy in style, as befitting his rank. Maybe this Tribune is a wealthy Senator's son spending time with the Legions to further his political career back in Rome after the campaigning season.

Ave Caesar!

Next a pair of Lictors, destined to accompany Caesar on my army's command base. I got the General's famous white charger done but sadly ran out of time for the man himself and really didn't want to rush such an iconic figure. So here they are, albeit unbased - mea culpa!

Their broad flat features and big noses are very Wallacus and Gromitus!

And finally a Hoplomachus for my gladiator ludus, filling a gap in my retinue. This style of fighter was modelled on the Greek Hoplite and was distinguishable by his spear, small shield and greaves. Traditionally, a Hoplomachus would be paired to fight either a Threax or Murmillo.

I've gone all-in with the Hoplite style and am very happy with how he turned out with the matched red and white apparel.

That's 22 completed figures @ 5 points each (110) and 2 more unbased @-25% (7.5 points) for a total of 117.5 points. Added to my tally of 882 gets me to...999.5 points for the challenge. A mercy bonus opoint from the minion for the hand painetd shield squeaked me the the line and thats AHPC XIV complete foe me!

https://thepaintingchallenge.blogspot.com/2024/02/from-paulog-last-hurrah-legionaries.html