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Post by macbeth on Apr 11, 2021 13:11:16 GMT
We had a good turnout for our fourth session - 8 out of 9 players and a proxy for the missing Ifriqiyan army. All up four battles and several seiges.
Summer
The Holy Roman Empire rallies and returns to the attack against Tuscany. This forces the Tuscans to lift the siege of Ostia to respond. The battle of Urbino is a brief and bloody affair where the German invaders are cut down by the Tuscans, fleeing after receiving heavy casualties.
The Empire of the Romans (Byzantium) attacks Calabria in an effort to regain their lost territory in Italy. They are supported by the Fatimids. The battle of Brindisi is a close fought affair with the Calabrians rallying after some early losses, nearly beating back the invaders until the arrival of the Egyptian contingent which tilts the balance.
The Count of Apulia leads his forces north to attack Ostia. The city surrenders without a fight having only just weathered the Tuscan siege.
Sicily invades Italy, attacking Calabrian held Reggio. The citizens surrender immediately after hearing the news of the defeat at Brindisi.
The Sultan of Ifriqiya makes a bold attack on Tuscany. The battle of Pisa sees the Berbers soundly defeated by the Tuscans. The promised Papal support for the invaders fails to arrive.
Autumn
The Sicilian offensive into Calabria continues, driving straight for the Calabrian capital. The battle of Rossano sees the outnumbered Calabrian defenders put up a desperate defence – their knights prove to be too powerful for the lightly armed Muslim cavalry and the invaders are beaten back.
At the end of 1052 the prestige table stands at: Duchy of Calabria – 19.4 Emirate of Sicily – 13.9 March of Tuscany – 23.9 Empire of the Romans – 12.4 County of Apulia – 5.0 Caliphate of Egypt – 2.8 Sultanate of Ifriqiya – 0.9 Holy Roman Empire – 0.0 Patrimony of St Peter – 0.0
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Post by macbeth on Apr 10, 2021 11:48:39 GMT
Today I finished off
1x3Kn for the Feudal Spanish - this army is now complete
1xLCh(Gen) and 1xLCh for the Caledonians - also now purple compliant
1x3Bd and 1c4Bd for the Low Countries - the army is battle ready (can field a legal army) so long as at least one of the Kn elements stays mounted and doesn't get off the horses to become pikes.
Cheers
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Post by macbeth on Apr 9, 2021 11:44:27 GMT
Today I finished 'Seapower States' - a very interesting and engaging analysis of five nations that built up great power status by control of the seas. I can't say I agree with everything he wrote, but still a good history and well worth the read.
I am now reading 'French Naval & Colonial Troops 1872-1914' one of the stock of Ospreys I have grabbed from Book Depository
Cheers
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Post by macbeth on Apr 9, 2021 11:38:22 GMT
Today I finished off 1xLH (Gen) and Camp followers for the Trapezunitne Byzantines 1x3Ax and 1x3Bw for the Early Bedouin A Druid (Camp Followers) for my Picts
Cheers
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Post by macbeth on Apr 6, 2021 0:39:52 GMT
Currently reading The Northern Crusades by Eric Christiansen. Half way through the book, heavy with detail but still evokes the question why are the Post Mongol Russians (IV/44) not enemies of the Swedish army (IV/54c) or Other Medieval Scandinavian armies (IV/54d)? Sometimes, the Great Sage Equal of Heaven insists that two nations had to have fought real battles before they can be considered enemies in the lists - a long hostile history of border raids doesn't count.
Other times there are Welsh Colonists fighting Eastern Forest Native Americans.
It is what it is
Cheers
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Post by macbeth on Apr 5, 2021 12:11:31 GMT
I think I need that Dark Age Generals pack As for Boudica - Magisgter Militum do a Boudica Figure that is not too bad. Cheers
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Post by macbeth on Apr 5, 2021 12:08:11 GMT
Collision Course is now at double figures - 11 entries - most of which have given me their army choice.
If the numbers are odd on Game day then I will join in using the Trapezuntine Byzantine.
Cheers
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Post by macbeth on Mar 28, 2021 23:18:58 GMT
We are now up to 9 entries for Collision Course - with all but three giving me their army choice.
Cheers
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Post by macbeth on Mar 26, 2021 10:19:40 GMT
After finishing 'The Crusader Strategy' I picked up Tim Newark's "Ancient Armies" completing my Concord Fighting Men series. A good read.
Next on the list is 'Seapower States' by Andrew Lambert.
I also now have a good haul from the Lifeline Bookfair - including 3 books from a 4 part series on the year of four emperors and Donald Featherstone's Victorian Colonial Warfare: Africa". Looks good but a little dated - he uses the K word instead of Xhosa for that series of campaigns.
Cheers
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Post by macbeth on Mar 26, 2021 10:14:43 GMT
Today I finished 2x3Ax for the Early Bedouin and 1x8Cb for the Northern Sung. In addition I also made progress in basing the Picts.
Cheers
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Post by macbeth on Mar 25, 2021 0:55:08 GMT
I'm with Baldie for the concept rather than the army
Pick an army you can still love when they lose.
Or go Parthians - they are cool, you can love them when they lose but they don't ofen do so
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Post by macbeth on Mar 24, 2021 5:06:31 GMT
I finished off 'The Crusader Strategy' by Stephen Tibble and it was very good read, giving a good argument for his hypothesis.
Well worth it
cheers
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Post by macbeth on Mar 24, 2021 5:04:32 GMT
Mark, Greg and Peter
That is excellent news - I look forward to seeing your inner armies dancing around the table.
I think I am settled on Trapezuntine Byzantines, if there is an odd number of players you will see this army - rebased and built up to Purple Compliance hit the table with a vengeance.
I should also have finished the Feudal Spanish (c list), Low Countries (a list) and possibly Early Bedouin (a list) by then too. Only the Spaniards would be considered for a tournament army - but I was always fond of the Trapz
Cheers
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Post by macbeth on Mar 21, 2021 23:20:43 GMT
The first list is in - so the Chocolate Frog is reserved.
Hopefully some more entries soon - we had 5 off the back of the first email
Cheers
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Post by macbeth on Mar 21, 2021 23:19:17 GMT
Sunday was another good day for painting
2x3Ax for the Early Bedouin 2x4Bw for the Trapezuntine Byzantine 1xLCh for the Caledonians
And a major portion of the Picts are partway through basing (the Pumice phase) including a camp (Standing Stones from rocks picked up by the side of the road)
Cheers
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