|
Post by Haardrada on Apr 21, 2018 7:53:19 GMT
Hi just fishing for ideas here...but what colour shades would you recommend to paint middle-eastern buildings of the ancient-medieval period?
|
|
|
Post by Haardrada on Apr 21, 2018 5:27:41 GMT
Oosh...This thread has born fruit! I will check out Vaughn! It helps that I have a direct "in" with MTSU's library! They gave a great military history department. I see the Swiss movement as being operational rather than tactical. Burgundian fights are against Pike...not Blade. Joe Collins I sorry if I am showing a bias towards the Swiss but I have studied them for years as even had a 6th edition army, but I am equally aware of their tactical failings and vulnerability. The Swiss that fought in the Burgundian wars were a mix of Pike and halberd.The first recorded use of large numbers of pike was in 1425, but was only as much as 25% by St Jacob-en-birs 1444. The proportion of pike in Swiss kiels increased to as much as 2/3rds by the end of the 15th Century.The Keils still retaining a central core and rear ranks of halbards.This was encouraged in the 6th edition rules by replacing a halberdier figure in the pike element to represent their presence...but had no benefit to combat factors. In Dba terms there are no mixed pike/halberd troop type so thats why Phil classified them as Pike.He did however,get the proportions of pike right for each of the Late Swiss army options. The Battles of Murten and Nancy both demonstrated a rapid and efficient tactical execution of the Burgundian armies.
|
|
|
Post by Haardrada on Apr 20, 2018 20:19:15 GMT
Yes, the Swiss were certainly able to form and maneuver well in bad and rough going. They also were able to move operationally at a very quick pace. I however see little evidence of them moving tactically any faster than other infantry. I find the same for early Viking raiders. The English mercenaries in the Swiss cantons certainly requires more research. Though I will pass on Delbruck. I am not a fan. Can anyone think of other Fast Blade matchups vs bow? Joe Collins Not wanting to stray to far off topic but to answer reply...Delbruck is sometimes difficult to read but well worth the time.Robert Vaughans' Charles the Bold is a good modern work. I am surprised by your statement that you can not find evidence of Swiss moving faster tactically than their opponnents where ample evidence exists of Early and later Swiss armies tactically suprising their opposition time and again. In the Early period the Swiss were mostly fighting on the defensive and often relief armies would form rapidly and force march/or flank against besieging armies.In the later period even they managed to conceal their approach achieving tactical suprise...at Hericourt one account even claims the Swiss caught the Burgundian army it was persuing back to its camp! The Swiss could not maintain armies in the field over prolonged periods and needed to end campaigns quickly and decisively. P.S.There was a large contingent of English longbowmen in Charles the Bolds' Burgundian armies which failed to show any effectiveness in several battles.đ
|
|
|
Post by Haardrada on Apr 20, 2018 13:46:59 GMT
I agree. They would be in fact twice as fast in rough or bad going... I can't find any evidence that archetypal "Fast" Blades were in any fact 2"Faster" than heavier troops. They certainly were better in bad and rough going... Viking Raiders were able to take on Irish in the Bogs...though evidence is scant. Romans did lighten their Legionnaires in order to pursue into bad going. The early Swiss certainly faster in the operational sense... but I can't find any evidence they were faster on the battlefield except on steep hills or perhaps through forest. I'm not sure anyone can comment on "book 1" armies as the evidence is so thin. Here are some ideas to try. Move "Fast" Blade down to 2BW/2BW. This puts them on par with "Solid" Ax. Change their combat factor vs Shooting to +3 Again, this puts them on par with Ax... I just re-read Oman's passage concerning the English mercenary company in the 14th century that marauded through Swiss territory. The Swiss evidently had great problems dealing with the bowmen. This shows this nicely. Joe Collins There is plenty of evidence of the Swiss forming up in bad going prior to the Battles of Grandson,Murten and Nancy and they were capable of advancing at "storm pace" even in Pike formation as late as the Battle of Dornatch. As for Omans version of the English Company raiding Swiss territory successfully I would check out alternative testimonies by earlier authors (Froissart)and Hans Delbrucks' account which describe the English aborting their attempts and the leader when questioned about this campaign at a latter date denied ever going to Switzerland. I am pro-fast troop types moving fast,they gain speed over more solid types but suffer the push back on draws against solid foot and mounted who do not destroy them...to me that is a fair trade and matches them being faster but more brittle than solid types.
|
|
|
Post by Haardrada on Apr 7, 2018 8:44:56 GMT
The few 4Ax I have are single elements used mainly as "hinges" to support heavier foot or minor roles like facing elephants,scythed chariots or Ps hunting...so they are quite useful but I would be reluctant to use them as a replacement in a battle-line as they are no match Bd or Sp and even Hd although even,get the push backs.
They do have a slight edge over Wb as they can better fend off mounted(except Kn).In a Cavalry supporting role the 4Ax don't deliver unless you slow your Mounted or rely on good timing.
However,I do agree with what has been said about 3Ax...they suffer the same disadvantages as 4Ax against other foot but are at a disadvatage to 4Wb,yet are far more flexible on the table.They are good in a supporting Cavalry roll (although vulnerable to Kns),so are rapid blockers and flankers.
I am interested in the success you mentioned with 4Ax armies...was it against Historical opponents?
|
|
|
Post by Haardrada on Apr 1, 2018 8:06:51 GMT
I find my main reason for not finnishing off armies is the distraction of other armies!I have such a varied interest in History that my interest can switch from Biblical to War of the Roses in the blink of an eye...which is annoying when your trying to concentrate on completing an army project.This has left me in the embarrassing situation of several partly painted armies.
Currently I have Sea Peoples,Ghaznavid,Hindu Indian (with Tamil & Rajput morphs) and Athenian armies all with a few painted elements but all incomplete but it is not one specific troop type that holds me up...With the Athenians its the shields,I've painted the Ghaznavid Ghulams but not the rest,I've painted the Hindu infantry but stalled on the elephants and with the Sea peoples I've started the Sherden and Peleset blades but left the rest...its become a vicious circle where no one army gets completed!
How I managed to paint my Spartans,Hsuing nu(with Hu, Southern and Juan Juan morph elements),Normans,Lombards,Timurids and Late Swiss (with all 4 army options) is now a mystery to me...I've painted vast armies for other periods...even a large union army for Fire and Fury and managed to vary the army enough to break the monotony of the dark and light blue!
Does anyone have the same problem....solution suggestions welcome.lol
|
|
|
Post by Haardrada on Apr 1, 2018 7:46:27 GMT
Greek shields. Back 8 years or so ago when I started painting again, I had received 44 AB/BH unarmored hoplites in an acquisition off TMP. They were already primed and being 18s i felt they would be a good bunch to start with. Went fine until the shield devices. At that point they went on the back burner and I did some Palmyrans and Han. And they stayed on the back burner until last year when I bit the bullet and hammered out a few more shields (my niece had done a few i n the interim - including a rather nice dolphin). Then I got to the last half dozen and decided to do some of the 'running leg' designs. First effort was not a success and so the rest of the Greeks are back to the back burner. In the general run of painting it is figures with a lot of detail work - straps, fittings, etc. On a figure by figure basis it is shield devices - whether infantry or cavalry shields are last. This is the same reason why I have not finnished my Athenians...I'll get round to buying some little big man transfers one day.đŚ
|
|
|
Post by Haardrada on Mar 30, 2018 21:55:38 GMT
Where are you referencing Pawsbill? Sue Laflin-Barker's book Start Ancient Wargaming with DBA 3.0, Chapter 5: De Bellis Antiquitatis Rules version 3.0, Section 5.7 Fighting the Battle, under Distant Shooting. "Bows and War Wagons must shooot at a target in their TZ. If there is none, they must shoot at a target that is shooting at them. If neither, they can choose any eligible target." So now we need to define eligible target, which is not directly defined other than earlier when it defines what the distance for Bow, Artillery or War Wagon. I think Pawsbill is referring to the âSequence of Playâ rules on page 8 paragraph 4:- â(3) Any Artillery, War Wagons or Bow elements of both sides that are eligible to do so, must shoot once eachâŚâ So you canât decide that a shooter will not shoot this boundâŚthey have to shoot at something, if they can. This means pre-measuring before they roll their shooting die, to make sure the declared target is actually in range. But getting back to Bobâs original question: I think that pre-measuring is inevitable in a system like DBA. Take deployment for example. Before you place any element on the battlefield you must pre-measure to make sure it is the correct distance from the table centre-line and side-edges, and is at least 1 BW from an enemy city or fort (see FAQ). Then there is the reason for having âBarker Markerâsâ (see the last sentence on page 2 paragraph 10). Whatâs the point of having these if not for pre-measurement purposes? Lastly, there is the question of Command Distance (page 8 paragraph 7). If my general is on the far right of my battleline, and I want to move an element on my far left, I have to first pre-measure to ensure that the element is within the Command Range of my general for PIP cost purposes. If itâs out of Command Range, do I have enough PIPs to even make it move? Now, you could draw up a list of all those things that can or canât be pre-measuredâŚbut that would be very awkward. So all-in-all Iâd say that pre-measurement is not only permissible, itâs absolutely vital to make the DBA system work correctly. Some potentially useful player aids can be found here, such as the âQuick Reference Sheetsâ from the Society of Ancients, and the new âArmy List Correctionsâ file: fanaticus-dba.wikia.com/wiki/Category:Reference_sheets_and_epitomes And this is the latest January 2018 FAQ: fanaticus-dba.wikia.com/wiki/FAQ_2018
I totally agree...DBA is a game not a lawsuit.đ
|
|
|
Post by Haardrada on Mar 26, 2018 21:28:48 GMT
I wondered if you two sneaky trick masters would want to hear about that. Well, are you sitting comfortably... The great commanders of antiquity worked hard to mask their intentions from their opponents - Iâm reminded of Hannibal as Iâm painting Carthaginians at the moment â because deceiving your opponent as to your intentions would often lead to battlefield success. We DBA gamers try in some small measure to emulate the actions of these great commanders on the table top; but since both players can see every element and every terrain feature and the relationship between these, it is very difficult to engineer a situation where you can fool your opponent. However, little âtricksâ on the table top can lead to local advantage and we all know how quickly such an advantage can bring about victory in DBA. In my DBA gaming the ultimate prize is to deceive my opponent, to mask my intentions and successfully attack at a point he feels is secure. I have learnt a number of tricks over time from The Master but if, Martin, after reading what follows you feel that I have besmirched your good name then I apologise. Neither of us would cheat in a game, but you may feel I was a little ungentlemanly. My Trojans (littoral) won the terrain against Billâs Shang and having placed 12 elements on the table I was pondering my deployment. Bill said, âNo littoral landing then.â I said, âOh yeah! I can land...â I had completely forgotten and was playing as badly as I had done against Atillathenun the other night. I then removed two dismounted blades and a fast blade and placed them on the side in full view, leaving 9 elements deployed on the table â an obvious indication of a proposed landing. The act of removing 2 dismounted blades and a fast blade and leaving them in full view put into Billâs mind that those exact elements were to be the landing. I had inadvertently deceived Bill. Ordinarily 9 elements would be brought out of the box and deployed. Bill would have noticed some missing and if he couldnât work out what they were I would happily show him. The two dismounted blades sitting on the side distracted Bill from his tactical thinking â it was not intentional but proved decisive. Bill then set up his Shang with a standard line but with two Psiloi touching the waterway behind his line as partial beach defence. Instead of landing the two dismounted blades and fast blade I landed two light chariots and a fast blade, one in contact with a psiloi and the line extended inland. Billâs psiloi were expecting blades (no problem) but one of them was now in contact with a light chariot and looking somewhat queasy, as was his friend nearby... The psiloi was destroyed and Bill was on the back foot throughout the game. Sneaky or what! Perhaps, Martin, you would have done differently being the kindly soul that you are. However, it was all perfectly legal. The good prospect of a win was enjoyable after having lost my first game to Claudiusâ Sea Peoples on 3-4, including both generals, followed by a draw against Andrewâs Sea Peoples, although Bill was looking a little unhappy. I did feel a little guilty, but I didnât say I was going to land with just infantry, in fact I didnât say anything other than that I had finished deploying. Perhaps I should have put the landers in my box in order not to distract Bill and I only decided to land with chariots when I saw the opposition behind Billâs line. Bill, my intention was not to be underhand. You can get your own back in two weeks at the excellent Alton DBA Matched Pairs. Colin I was going to keep quiet and say nothing but I am going to give an opinion...in no way am I making an issue of things as gaming is and should be above all friendly and conducted in a fair and friendly way...from your account you never intended to be dishonest nor underhand in any way and did not break any rules.However,what troubles me is that you placed 12 elements on the table that you intended to use so in a way had already indicated to your opponent that you had selected the dismounted option of that troop type..if the 3 elements had remained in the box then it was still optional which choice you could play..though I think some competition organisers request this information before deployment? Nevertheless the game was played in good spirits and thats how it should be. Please do not think for one momment I am being overly critical as I said it is only my opinion.
|
|
|
Post by Haardrada on Mar 26, 2018 19:20:13 GMT
Are there any photos circulating of the games?
|
|
|
Post by Haardrada on Mar 19, 2018 5:52:01 GMT
Funny enough, I'm painting Indians too.All my foot are done and its the ellies getting attention now.But I had to stop and back-track as found an elly I'd misplaced so bringing him up to the same place I am with the others so can complete the 5 of them together.đ
|
|
|
Post by Haardrada on Mar 16, 2018 21:10:30 GMT
Photos of my newly arrived Naismith Tibetans are posted on the Facebook DBA page.đ A link would be nice as DBA does pull up other pages. Sorry Robert Im not that computer savy,I tried but failed.Im more than happy if anyone wanted to copy one onto here as my idea was to show what the figures look like.
|
|
|
Post by Haardrada on Mar 16, 2018 20:05:43 GMT
Photos of my newly arrived Naismith Tibetans are posted on the Facebook DBA page.đ
|
|
|
Post by Haardrada on Mar 12, 2018 0:25:10 GMT
Base matt black dry brushed with gun metal and then a silver,then coated with lahmian medium with a touch of nuln oil added...this dulls the silver slightly but does still give a final effect of low lights and high lights.
Remember some eastern mail can be a bronze/gold effect...this I achieve by again starting with matt black but then dry brush with the bronze or gold.I then use a clear gloss varnish and allow it plenty of time to dry,then use the lahmian oil/nuln oil mix to dull the sheen of the bronze/gold...I think it looks ok.đ
|
|
|
Post by Haardrada on Mar 10, 2018 11:33:41 GMT
Great - I'll make sure i have the popcorn in. Simon Don't forget the Choc Top ! Cheers, Or a nose bag.đ´
|
|