Late Republican Roman Civil War ADLG Game

 

Armies deployed

Opposite end

Armies advance

Gallic cavalry take a hit from slingers

Centre and right flank close

Last Monday afternoon Craig came over and we played another ADLG Roman civil war game out in the shed. This time both sides were Late Republican Romans, I was the attacker and Craig the defender. I chose as many legionary units as I could, two scorpions (light artillery), two eastern bowmen and slingers with Gallic and German cavalry on each flank supported by a unit of light cavalry. Craig's army consisted of legionaries, gladiators (heavy swordsmen), Thracians (medium swordsmen 2HW) slingers and all of his cavalry, including quite a few Spanish light cavalry, were deployed in one corps on his right flank.

Our armies advanced and my cavalry charged on both flanks. On the right my Gallic cavalry tried to chase some slingers down, while on the left my German cavalry quickly accounted for the Spanish light cavalry and then moved on to Craig's heavy cavalry. Once the infantry closed the usual legionary slogging match ensued. I was very lucky with my dice initially, throwing quite a few fives (we use average dice for combat in our games), even destroying the disordered Thracians in combat with my bowmen. In the end Craig's legionaries just managed to survive in the centre and on his left flank but my greater number of legionaries had won the day. Craig's army was on the verge of breaking and he conceded the game.

German cavalry line up a charge on the left flank

German cavalry charge

Combat along the line

Opposite end with casualties mounting

Neo-Elamite Horse Archers and Infantry

 

Here are some Neo-Elamite horse archers and infantry that I've just finished painting. The figures are by Steve Barber Models with a single Eureka Miniatures horse archer. The infantry are mixed with front rank spearmen and rear rank archers. I'd like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and happy gaming, painting and blogging for 2026!

Macedonian and Successor Infantry

 

Here are some 15mm Macedonian and Successor infantry that I've just finished painting. The figures are all Xyston Miniatures with LBM shield transfers. The phalangites are unarmoured Leukaspides (White Shields) on the left, the elite Argyraspides (Silver Shields) in the centre and Chalkaspides (Bronze Shields) on the right. The light infantry are Cretan Archers and there is a group shot at the bottom.

Aramaean Infantry

 

Here are some Aramaean javelin men that I've just finished painting. Figures are by Warlord Games but unfortunately no longer seem to be available. I will use these figures as allies for my Neo-Babylonians and Neo-Elamites. I have 15mm Aramaean, Israelite, Arab and Neo-Assyrian armies with Essex, Red Copper and Museum Miniatures as I want to refight the Battle of Karkar or Qarqar 853 BC.  In this battle the Neo-Assyrian army of Shalmaneser III fought the combined forces of Damascus, Hamath, Ahab of Israel, Que, Musri, Irqanata, Arvad, Usanata, Shian and Gundibu, an Arab chieftain, led by Hadadezer of Damascus, also known as the 12 Kings Alliance. This was a huge army comprising 3940 chariots, 1800 cavalry, 65000 infantry and 1000 Arab camel-riders. Shalmaneser claimed to have defeated them and slain 14000 enemy soldiers but his opponents held on to their thrones and he was forced to campaign again in the area several more times in the following decade.

Early Imperial Roman Civil War ADLG Game

 

Craig's Romans deployed

My Romans deployed

My Romans advance

Same thing on my right flank

Archers and artillery exchange fire

Last Wednesday afternoon Craig came over and we played an Early Imperial Civil War ADLG game out in the shed. I had the advantage in cavalry and made four units of my auxiliaries, heavy infantry with impact rather than, medium infantry with impact. Craig had two Praetorian units and a few barbarian units that were medium impetuous swordsmen. We advanced and the archers and artillery were soon exchanging fire. My cavalry charged on both flanks and eventually I managed to break through on the left flank near the vines. 

The infantry closed in combat and this was the usual extended slogging match between legionaries and auxiliaries. Craig's impetuous barbarian infantry charged my heavy infantry auxiliaries but didn't last too long and were broken fairly quickly. On the left flank and in the centre my Romans eventually ground out a win. While trying to hold on there on the right flank I managed to rally three consecutive units in combat! Eventually after a hard fought game Craig's Roman were broken, his medium infantry barbarians and auxiliaries lacking the resilience of my heavy infantry.

My cavalry charge on the left flank near the vines

My cavalry charge on the right flank

Onager scores a hit in the centre

Infantry close on the left flank

Craig's Romans are eventually broken

Zenobia

 

Here's Queen Zenobia of Palmyra with a standard bearer that I've just finished painting. The figures are by A&A Miniatures. I have two Palmyran armies to paint, one in 28mm all A&A and one in 15mm by Forged in Battle.

Treasures of the Viking Age - The Galloway Hoard

 

Silver Anglo-Saxon pectoral cross with
niello inlay and gold, depicting four evangelists.

Silver arm-rings

Silver ingots and hacksilver

Silver broad-band arm-rings

Silver arm-rings

Silver annular rod arm-ring

Silver arm-rings and ingots

Four silver ribbon arm-rings bound by a
smaller silver broad-band arm-ring

Last weekend we drove down to Melbourne and as part of our trip visited the Treasures of the Viking Age The Galloway Hoard exhibition at Melbourne Museum. This exhibition is from the National Museums of Scotland and is on display at the Melbourne Museum until 26 January 2026. The Galloway Hoard was buried in 900 AD and is one of the richest collections of Viking-age objects found in Britain and Ireland. It was discovered by metal detectorists in 2014 at Balmagie, Kirkcudbrightshire in Scotland. The Galloway Hoard consists of over five kilograms of silver bullion, unique gold objects, the rare preservation of textiles and an unusual range of other materials. A very highly recommended exhibition! There is also an excellent book on the hoard by Martin Goldberg and Mary Davis available at the museum shop.

Gold ring, bird-pin and ingot

Copy of silver gilt lidded vessel which contained the
hoard was wrapped in partially preserved textiles

Glass beads, bead wth a silver pendant and a coin,
silver-mounted rock crystal pendant and a rattlestone.

Silver penannular brooch-hoop

3D print of a rock crystal jar, the original has
a gold mesh holding a filigree 
and rope-work decorated lid in place.

Gold pendant and silver hinged strap

Gold twisted rod, ingot and
three animal-headed gold mounts

Silver Anglo-Saxon brooches with niello inlay

Silver Anglo-Saxon brooches with niello inlay

More Sumerian Spearmen of Ur

 

Here are some more Sumerian spearmen of Ur that I've just finished painting. These are all Warlord Games figures. I've got more units of these to paint and more Lagash shield bearers, skirmishers, archers and battle-cars for both my Sumerian armies. 

It's been pretty quiet on the gaming front but we have played a couple of Memoir 44 board games and I played a solo Command and Colors Tricorne game early in the week, see photo at the bottom of the post. The scenario was Pells Point 18 October 1776 and resulted in a very one sided 5-0 Continental victory! I bought this Command and Colors Tricorne expansion, The French & More... by Compass Games recently, it has ten scenarios. The postage from the US was actually more expensive than the game! 

Command and Colors Tricorne - Pells Point
18 October 1776