|
Post by martin on Apr 19, 2020 9:04:38 GMT
I am sure I have posted something similar at some point but as I am a Yorkshireman I do like to repeat myself so. Re realities, we play quite a bit of RCW and games set around the time, we have tried loads and couldn't settle on a rule set so ended up merging several. Some rules feel really close to reality, one side gets a couple of MMG in position anc unless they both jam or run out of ammo no one is moving on the entire table all game. Probably highly realistic but boring as heck game. Re ancients I love DBA and for me it is close enough, some things like rivers baffle me and some armies like Macedonians / Seleucids dont seem to live up to the hype. I am certainly no history wiz but do wonder how many sure thing battles came down to the right bit of luck at the right time. One Baron had a squabble with another and didn't really try as hard as he may have to support the other. A centurions boot came off at wrong point and he slipped and dies so never got to motivate his lads to hold the line. Bribes winning wars rather than battles. Huns doing well by avoiding battles and slaughtering your supply and support villages till your army was worn down then slaughtering you on their terms. I know my Ancient British are destined to win a few lucky games but doomed to end up with Roman masters. I do wish Alex and his chaps got to win more but I know I am not as feared charismatic or lucky as he presumably was. One or two tweaks to any rules system usually has massive misunderstood effect somewhere down the line. I doubt my ramblings hold much insight to add to the debate but I do like to get involved and keep my post count up. EXTREMELY insightful, matey 👍👍👍👍....you hit the nail on the head, and many, many times. Spot on !!
|
|
|
Post by martin on Apr 17, 2020 17:05:55 GMT
Mounted as 3 per base? Or 4? And base size can be 40-60mm deep, is this correct? Depends if they're Mtd-3Bw or Mtd.-4Bw. Depth....most use 40 mm depth (in 15mm scale). IE 40x40
|
|
|
Post by martin on Apr 17, 2020 13:01:41 GMT
Currently painting: > also on the painting tray > the last couple of units for a HOTT WWI 10mm army...... Hi Mark Is that for Hott ‘proper’ or Hitt (Hordes in the Trenches) variant ? Has been an idea I’d like to try out. Which army/armies, and what composition? Which make? Martin ps - have done 8 of the ECW cav you sold me at Hammerhead...love ‘em!
|
|
|
Post by martin on Apr 7, 2020 12:54:46 GMT
Bank Holiday ??!! Every day's a Bank Holiday at the mo.....🙂 (for those not in the thick of it, of course....more a nightmare than a BH for them, I'd imagine) Uni have requested that we take our leave during this time and you can guess my response to that!!! P My lot have allocated 2 weeks unpaid leave per month for each of April and May, like it or lump it.... Not so much of an issue for those of us nudging on retirement, but the younger bunch will be feeling the hit more, I guess. Still, more time for toy soldiers.... 😊....and run a few solo games, hopefully.
|
|
|
Post by martin on Apr 7, 2020 8:38:55 GMT
>I was hoping to have a run out with them yesterday, but that's now put back to the coming Bank Holiday weekend... P. Bank Holiday ??!! Every day's a Bank Holiday at the mo.....🙂 (for those not in the thick of it, of course....more a nightmare than a BH for them, I'd imagine)
|
|
|
Post by martin on Apr 4, 2020 10:13:36 GMT
Painting some ECW cavalry (NOT ANCIENTS !!! heretic! I hear you cry), as 4Kn for Pete D's DBTR DBA ECW variant (plus for Portable Wargame ECW variant by Alan Saunders).
Just finishing the Cuirassiers (Hazelrig's boys/various lifeguards....no cornet/flag, so multipurpose), Peter Pig figures.....to be based today, I hope, once the varnish has finished drying and stinking the airing cupboard out 😊
And now starting some Harquebusiers (regular cavalry types), to be based as 4Kn for New Model regiments- these are old Jacobite Miniatures figures*, long since out of production, bought from Mark Johnson, and collected at Hammerhead. Had to replace all the sword blades (too skinny moulds, snapped off), but they're showing promise.
* I have a few others from Jacobite, bought about 30+ years ago, and was surprised to see them show up on e.bay, and even more surprised when it turned out I knew the seller AND we were both due at the Northern Cup a few weeks after the auction....fate, mate.
|
|
|
Post by martin on Mar 26, 2020 17:35:18 GMT
Thanks Larry....unfortunately NOT a great performance on my part 😳 !!
|
|
|
Post by martin on Mar 26, 2020 9:27:44 GMT
Write up of my games now in the Battle Reports section.
|
|
|
Post by martin on Mar 26, 2020 9:26:21 GMT
Six games of DBA v3, at the DBA Northern Cup, at Hammerhead, Newark, on 14th March, just before the clamp-down.
1. Using Komnenan Byzantines against the Seljuks , generalled by Baldie. This was a game in which no matter how hard the Byzantine archers shot, they singularly failed to destroy any Turkish Light horse... fighting became confused in the centre, with Kn, LH, Sp and Cv all involved, and eventually the Komnenans crumpled on a score of 2 to 4. A loss to start the day.....oops.
2. My Teutonic Order crossed the snowy wastes to face an early Polish army led by Pete Duckworth. The Poles rapidly occupied a gentle hill to my front left centre and from this they were very reluctant to move. Pete garrisoned the high ground with a strong force of spearmen and archers. The Teutonic knights made a few bold moves to try to push past the hill and also to attack the occupants of it, but failed to make progress, Polish archery proving decisive against the massed ranks of Germanic chivalry. Another loss, 1-4.
3. Game three saw me command a Granadine army against Martin Myers who was controlling a Medieval Spanish army. My Granadine skirmishers advanced through a village on the left to face off against Spanish javelinmen and crossbowmen controlling a steep hill on the Spanish right, but on this part of the field it turned into a standoff. Meanwhile my light horse had raced around the wood on the right to attack the Spanish camp, but unfortunately they failed in this and were countered by enemy light cavalry and Auxilia. They then retreated, and this flank also became a stand-off. In the centre the Grenadines pushed forward against the Spanish spearmen. A long slog ensued, with some progress for my foot, but eventually my general, pursuing a minor success, was surrounded and killed. Game was lost 1-3g.
4. Next up, I led Ayyubid Egyptians against Later Crusaders, led by Frank Shaw - Frank leading the Franks. Ayyubid cavalry made a flank move around the Crusader right but were stopped by Frank’s redeployment of spearmen, and on the left the Frankish missile troops clung to the edge of a wood, and were avoided by my vulnerable mounted. Meantime in the centre the Crusader knights were pushing to try to achieve a breakthrough. It seemed that they would do so, relentlessly forcing the Saracen cavalry back, but eventually their leader was isolated, surrounded and killed giving me a lucky 3g-1+horde victory.
5. Defending Pictland, I faced an invasion by Phil Johnson’s Romans (M.I.R.). A Pictish littoral landing on the Roman right achieved minimal success and was rapidly counted. Attempting to make progress in the centre, where a Roman ballista was carving holes in the Pictish spear-line, the Pictish light chariot general was dragged from his vehicle by legionaries and killed, the game rapidly falling apart from there. A 1-4g loss.
6. Finally, I commanded Feudal Spanish, against Phil Steele, with Islamic Berbers. On bound one a PIP roll of ‘1’ saw central ploughed fields turn muddy, which slowed Berber manoeuvre for the game, but also prevented my knights from exploiting opportunities, and reduced my ability to react to a Berber light cavalry move against my right... My light foot lost the fight for a steep hill on the Spanish left, and were overwhelmed, while on my right the enemy flank move was eventually seen off. Fighting in the centre became very messy indeed, reaching a 4-4 stalemate, but seeing both generals surrounded in the same bound. Phil’s commander survived while mine was unceremoniously dragged from his horse- ‘El Cid the Deciduous’ ...a very close 4-5g loss, and a tight and enjoyable game.
A well run tournament as always, though with minimal success on my part, leaving me placed 15th/16, but giving me five Society of Ancients Championship games (1,2,3,4,6) as a bonus.
|
|
|
Post by martin on Mar 25, 2020 8:28:50 GMT
So if the ps are partially in BG but 8 bows are entirely in GG they still get +1? Thanks very much. Yes, but ONLY in close combat....NOT shooting, which I thought the upper enquiry was about. Double Based Elements gain a +1 only if in close combat against foot, never for shooting. An 8Bw element which is entirely in good going gets the +1, close combat only, against any foot, regardless of the going that the enemy foot are in. An 8Bw shooting gets no such bonus. Hope this helps....
|
|
|
Post by martin on Mar 24, 2020 9:20:19 GMT
Unfortunately the only thing that is going to be over by next week is several hundred peoples lives. I am certain it will be over by Christmas, I just do not know which year. David, are you staying safe and out of risky situations?
|
|
|
Post by martin on Mar 22, 2020 9:23:12 GMT
Think of it as ‘rescheduled....date TBA’.
|
|
|
Post by martin on Mar 21, 2020 9:30:23 GMT
Hi All
Despite an initial bout of optimism, I’m now ‘officially’ delaying/deferring/cancelling Alton DBA Matched Pairs tournament, at least until some level of normality has set in, and people are allowed to congregate for the purpose of rolling dice and having fun.
My hope is to reschedule before the end of the calendar year (if only to avoid sourcing trophy labels to replace the ‘2020’ ones). 😎
Cheers
Martin
|
|
|
Post by martin on Mar 17, 2020 8:48:33 GMT
Still planned to go ahead, gents. Nearer the date I’ll post again to see who is willing and able to attend. .....maybe. (after hearing UK news progs upon my return this a.m.).
|
|
|
Post by martin on Mar 16, 2020 18:49:02 GMT
Has anyone mixed these two ranges of early Germans. Both look dynamic enough. and mixing the two will allow purchasing almost the correct number of figures. Thoughts please... PP Early Germans are v small, definitely 15mm. Bought some to add to a Lancs Games 15mm army, but they were too small by far. What I’ve seen of FIB, more a ‘regular’ (ie bigger) 15mm, I think there’d be a major size discrepancy.
|
|