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Post by jdesmond on Feb 12, 2017 18:49:30 GMT
Salutations, gentlefolk !
Would like to acquire in the near future (pick up at Cold Wars if possible):
15mm figures of Queens Zenobia and Boudicca, suitable for 'command stands'. Also interested in learning of other 'personality figures'.
The troops for a 15mm Palmyran army for DBA. Recommendations for the best cataphracts, archers, etc are earnestly sought.
Chariots, also 15s, for Ancient Brits, Scots-Irish, Picts, etc (Will first be filling OOB of Outpost Picts, on from there in '18...)
Thanks very much for your help with these.
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Post by jdesmond on Feb 2, 2017 9:25:17 GMT
Salutations, gentlefolk,
Apologies if this may take this thread offtrack, but I've always thought that artillery was the 'sore thumb' of the DBA/DBM system.
For most combat in the pre-rifled-musket era, combat strength depended on massing soldiers together, shoulder-to-shoulder, to get maximum spear or sword or bayonet points, or arrows or Brown Bess's shooting, for a given frontage, able to push aside 'swarms' of less organized troops.
This, however, made them bigger targets for big arrows, rocks, or cannonballs, and unable to dodge without disrupting their formation.
But with artillery operating on the same combat system as other troops in DBA/DBM, it can blow away psiloi, while a pike phalanx 'cocks a snook' at the ballistae.
Do you think this is: A - a minor problem B - a historical inaccuracy, but can live with it C - a reason to avoid Arty in your OOB D - Here's our house rule E - Other (Would think up more alternatives, but oughta just get another hour of sleep)
Thanks for your patience with this digression.
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Post by jdesmond on Jan 21, 2017 3:59:53 GMT
Salutations, gentlefolk ! Kelly DeVries, noted military historian, will be giving a talk at the New York Military Affairs Symposium, on Friday, Feb 3rd, on The Battle of Campaldino, 1289: The Battle that Made Dante, between the Guelphs and Ghibellines on 11 June 1289. The New York Military Affairs Symposium meets at The Soldiers', Sailors', Marines', Coast Guard and Airmens' Club, 283 Lexington Avenue (between 36th and 37th Streets), New York, NY, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:45 p.m (often going to a nearby restaurant afterwards) Admission is free, open to the general public (though if you show up regularly you may be encouraged to become a NYMAS member). They are a friendly bunch of people, given that most are men approaching geezerhood. If you're in the NYC area, drop by if you can. If not, much interesting stuf is on their website, www.nymas.org
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Post by jdesmond on Jan 20, 2017 2:28:58 GMT
Salutations, Hodsopa,
As my father would say "You can call me anything you want... Just don't call me late for dinner"
Yrs, John
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Post by jdesmond on Jan 18, 2017 19:12:36 GMT
Salutations, gentlefolk,
Noted there are several nations in Eastern Anatolia, the Caucasus, and the mountains of Iran - 1-62 Lykian, 2-14 Ariarathid Kappadokian, 2-28 Early Armenian, 2-37 Parthian (Hyrkanian mountaineers), 2-69B Sassanid Persian (hillmen), 3-4 Early Byzantine (Isaurians), 3-27 Rshtuni Armenian - whose armies have horsemen in shining armor to ride the flatlands and 3 Ax in subdued colors to hold the hills.
So: First, can I morph a dozen figures to serve in all these armies, or are some LMI sufficiently distinctive to draw disapproving comments if not accurately depicted ?
Second, suggestions for suppliers of figures for these, 15mm, in size compatible with Outpost or Old Glory ?
Thanks for your help with this.
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Post by jdesmond on Jan 18, 2017 4:05:11 GMT
Salutations, gentlefolk !
Was visiting friends over this past weekend, we went to visit some of their friends. One of their friends had done big favor for me this past year - fixing laptop with burned-out screen backlight - and I had been thinking before Christmas that I really needed to do something to repay him. So we were there and he was showing some of new ships for the "Xia: Legends Of A Drift System" SF boardgame.
And I started telling him about DBA, and asked if I could acquire and paint up an army for him. He agreed. So, will be sending him the Gelidis rules outline, and a scan of the back pages of the DBA rulebook, and saying "Pick one".
Well, the worst that can happen, from what I thought up so far, is that he picks an army where the only 15mm figures are really expensive, or can only be ordered via aeropost from Ruritania, or that he picks something like late Medieval German - a period I ain't familiar with, where the landsknechts have these polychromatic 'slashed' outfits that'll be the devil to paint...
Anyway, gentlefolk, your opinions are invited. First, possible problems and complications that I haven't forseen. Second, advice for him on selecting an army. If you were in his situation, what would you pick ? What would you have picked when you began DBA ?
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Post by jdesmond on Jan 11, 2017 18:40:50 GMT
Last night I took deliver of several packs of the new Essex Sui/Tang range - I will mix them in with my Khurusan and Outpost figs to make up both Early and Late Tang armies Cheers Salutations ! Picked up most of an Outpost Sui/Tang army at Syr Hobbs closeout sale, wondering what you think of: The 'size consistency' among these Outpost figures - do all these Outpost Sui/Tang figures in the same army fit together well?* How well the Essex and Khurusan figures mixed with them ? Comments and recommendations invited. *Review of the Outpost Republican Romans coming, real soon now
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Post by jdesmond on Dec 30, 2016 21:06:25 GMT
Salutations, gentlefolk ! OK, Old Glory 'Cretan Archers' on the left, Outpost 'Slav Javelinmen' in center, vintage Minifigs 'Roman Legionaries' on right. (Bases not finished or flocked yet) Wishing everyone a healthy, happy, and prosperous 2017. Yours, John
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Post by jdesmond on Dec 23, 2016 6:00:14 GMT
Salutations, gentlefolk,
I said, in original post, "the height from 'instep to eyeball' is exact 15mm." Now, Simon says '16mm', and maybe I do need to get new glasses. At some point in near future, I also want to get smarter phone with better camera, and when it ain't so bloomin cold out, will take figures outside, photograph in sunlight. Hope this review was useful, regardless.
At some point in future, will review other Outpost figures, give them piece of my mind on figure sizes. But haven't enough figures from any one of their lines, prepared, to do good comparison...
Yours, John
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Post by jdesmond on Dec 21, 2016 23:57:44 GMT
Figure review Outpost Wargaming "EUR 4 - Slav Javelinman" I like this figure. Here's why: Outpost's mold making and casting are very good - 'deflashing' was extremely fast and easy. I wouldn't say this is an easy figure to paint. The recesses beside the figure's left arm, the way he's wrapped his arm around his spear, and the 'overhangs' of cloak, tunic, and beltline require patience and a steady hand. But a modicum of skill produces good results. The face detail is very good, and the folds of the cloak will repay a good wash, but are not emphatic enough to _require_ anything other than a one coat paintjob. The proportions of the figure look right, and the height from 'instep to eyeball' is exact 15mm. His pose and 'character' are appealing - I'd call him 'exuberant' - somewhere between 'confident' and 'berserk' - not 'bloodlusty', more 'ready for the kickoff' (Some young ladies I have known might describe him as 'cute'...(insert 'roll eyes upward' emoji here)). Finally, this is one of the most protean figures around. He can be based as a 4Sp/Wb, a 3Ax, or leading a 5Hd, and be usable for over a millenium as 'city militia' or 'revolting peasant' or 'Great Fyrd'. He would not be out of place as an Early Visigothic 'Warrior' or Medieval French 'Communal Militia'. (These are best photos I can take now - sorry) Unfortunately, there's only one variant of this figure, eight to the pack.
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Post by jdesmond on Dec 18, 2016 10:40:58 GMT
Old desktop and new monitor are sitting in back, waiting until desk for their permanent home is acquired. Green cutting mat is from Ikea's kitchen department, clear plastic containers are recycled from supermarket's bakery. Hope that y'all are healthy, happy, and prosperous, and that you have a very happy Thanksgiving / Christmas / Hannukah / Solistice / Kwaanza / Boxing Day / New Years / Mummers' Day / whatever else you feel like celebrating. Attachments:
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Post by jdesmond on Dec 18, 2016 10:33:46 GMT
Some of these troopers just had boots blackened, waiting for bases to be painted 'grass green'. Others just had black wash applied to chainmail. Not usually that many in 'work area'.
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Post by jdesmond on Dec 11, 2016 19:58:37 GMT
Salutations, gentlefolk ! Y'all probably know about this already, but if you don't... awmc.unc.edu/wordpress/has downloadable maps and interesting other stuff online.
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Post by jdesmond on Dec 9, 2016 5:19:14 GMT
Was walking south on Broadway last night, noted that he and the Discovery crew were in the last 'ticker-tape-parade' _not_ held for a sports star or team. (There are letters embedded in the sidewalk, commemorating them all. Just don't cause collisions while looking down.) (Note that he did not get one for earlier space feats.)
(For trivia question of day, who was the last non-American (not counting sport players) to get one ? )
And now he belongs to the stars. Ave atque vale!
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Post by jdesmond on Nov 30, 2016 1:04:47 GMT
Salutations, again, gentlefolk ! Let's see if the 'Add Attachments' works better... OK, there we go. Gives some idea of where it fits. Some of the foamcore boards at the back will become winter cover for air conditioner, other bits boxes to hold paint jars, other sheets eventually DBA playing boards...
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