|
Post by paddy649 on May 1, 2018 18:57:01 GMT
It has been a while since I last showcased one of my armies. The last one I posted was my Indians back in December, so I'm falling well short of my goal of 1 army showcased per month.
To make amends here is one of my very favourite armies chosen because of this history of Alexander's Campaigns, the charisma of Alexander as a man, the fighting capability of the army and to be opponents for my Indians. The figures are Magister Militum and most of this army was painted 20+ years ago as a WRG 7th edition army, although in the last few months I have rebased and tarted up some of the paint jobs on the figures, especially the Hoplites.
This is one of my favourite armies to play, although it has enjoyed mixed success. The Pk are as stubborn as anything and normally destroy any Ax heavy armies or push and hold any Sp armies to allow the cavalry (which is an elegant mix of LH, Can and Kn(Gen) to outflank. Readers of this Forum will have read my previous rants about the classification of the Hypaspists - I argue against their 4Ax which mitigates against their historical role. Sorry no Thracians or bolt-shooters yet - these are both on the "To Do" list.
Matching this army up against the Indians is most amusing as they come from very different traditions while they are very successful against Later Achaemenid Persians. However, its nemesis for me is the Thessalians - who in my battles always seem to kill Alexander (the hairdresser.)
First photo - the whole army in its normal battle array. Second photo is a close up of the solid phalangite units....work to do is to replace the pike with wire spears. Third photo is the other infantry: Hypaspists, Hoplites and Agrianian Javelinmen - I could have replaced these with Cretan archers.
|
|
|
Post by paddy649 on May 1, 2018 19:00:11 GMT
Forth photo is a close up of the Hypaspists....who do have wire spears. Fifth photo is a close up of the Hoplites. 3 hand painted shields and one decal here.
|
|
|
Post by paddy649 on May 1, 2018 19:07:02 GMT
Next 2 photos showcase the cavalry. The Prodromoi, the Companions and the Thessalians. Magister Militum have insisted in giving these guys realistically long sarassia - historically accurate but inconvenient on the table top. However, no breakages so no need for wire yet. Final photo is of Alexander...or more accurately one of his generals given the horse is chestnut brown and therefore not Bucephalus. How often does this unit die in battle? Often!
|
|
|
Post by Baldie on May 1, 2018 19:10:20 GMT
look great
|
|
|
Post by greedo on May 1, 2018 19:36:29 GMT
It has been a while since I last showcased one of my armies. The last one I posted was my Indians back in December, so I'm falling well short of my goal of 1 army showcased per month.
To make amends here is one of my very favourite armies chosen because of this history of Alexander's Campaigns, the charisma of Alexander as a man, the fighting capability of the army and to be opponents for my Indians. The figures are Magister Militum and most of this army was painted 20+ years ago as a WRG 7th edition army, although in the last few months I have rebased and tarted up some of the paint jobs on the figures, especially the Hoplites.
This is one of my favourite armies to play, although it has enjoyed mixed success. The Pk are as stubborn as anything and normally destroy any Ax heavy armies or push and hold any Sp armies to allow the cavalry (which is an elegant mix of LH, Can and Kn(Gen) to outflank. Readers of this Forum will have read my previous rants about the classification of the Hypaspists - I argue against their 4Ax which mitigates against their historical role. Sorry no Thracians or bolt-shooters yet - these are both on the "To Do" list.
Matching this army up against the Indians is most amusing as they come from very different traditions while they are very successful against Later Achaemenid Persians. However, its nemesis for me is the Thessalians - who in my battles always seem to kill Alexander (the hairdresser.)
First photo - the whole army in its normal battle array. Second photo is a close up of the solid phalangite units....work to do is to replace the pike with wire spears. Third photo is the other infantry: Hypaspists, Hoplites and Agrianian Javelinmen - I could have replaced these with Cretan archers.
These look great! Still getting back into DBA and deciding which armies I want to collect. This kind of thing is inspirational
|
|
|
Post by Les1964 on May 1, 2018 19:37:21 GMT
Look great , but how long are the mounted lances meant to be ?
|
|
|
Post by paddy649 on May 1, 2018 20:37:02 GMT
Macedonian sarissas were typically 4–6 metres (13–20 ft) although later Successor armies even exceeded this. Cavalry sarissas were on the shorter side of this bracket - so typically 4-5 meters (13-15 ft). The Magister Militum Cavalry sarissa is just over 5cm long - so at 1:100 this is about 5m so pretty much on the money......and then we get into the true 15mm scale the 18mm 'heroic' scale argument. Assuming 18mm figures then we are talking about a 4.5m sarissa.
I love the history meets Hollywood meets archaeology nature of this discussion. In my book nothing beats archaeology for the facts however odd they might appear. Not sure I'd like to ride a horse with no stirrups caring one of those sarissas.....but then again it was the assault rifle of its time.
|
|
|
Post by paddy649 on May 1, 2018 20:46:48 GMT
Greedo, glad you like.,,.more to follow.
My advice is start with an army you love, know the history, is colourful, the figures are a joy to paint (or really quick to paint) and has plenty of enemies. Then get it and a paired army but ones that can form the basis of many other armies - so look for the stock armies that capture a period and can build into more armies.
My ideals would be Alexander and Indians or LAP, Polybian Romans and Carthage, Generic early mediaevals (or Crusaders and Syrians) or Norman and Saxons.
Successor armies are always good as 12 Pk and a smattering of other stuff forms the basis of about 16 varied Successor Armies and their opponents.
|
|
|
Post by jim1973 on May 2, 2018 0:01:41 GMT
Drat you paddy649!
Now I have to spend the afternoon going through my lead mountain, digging out the DBA 1.1 Essex Alexandrian army, finding the unpainted armies, debasing...
My wife was expecting some chores to be done. Silly thought really!
Jim
|
|
|
Post by greedo on May 2, 2018 1:18:23 GMT
Hi paddy, I actually put together a Greek+Persian matchup in 20mm Hat + Italeri Plastics at my dad's house up in Canada so we could play over holidays. But I also built successor armies, Romans, and Gauls, so plenty of options. My young nephew is just getting into gaming, so that'll be good to teach him too. At my home here, I've got a 15mm Corvus Belli triple Later Carth army about 60% done. It's great because you can get Carth, Numidian, Spanish, and Gauls mostly out of it. Their Roman Counterparts are Warmodelling but haven't been started That said I'm itching to do a 15mm Successor or Greek/Persians here too for 3.0, so will see By the way, these pics would look amazing on the wiki: fanaticus-dba.wikia.com/wiki/Armies_of_the_Fanaticii as inspiration for newer players. Even a link to your site/blog if you have one would work, but also a link to this post could work too. Again, great pics! Chris
|
|