Lion Rampant Crusader States Game - Crusaders versus Fatimid Egyptians

 

View of the table

Crusaders

Fatimid Egyptians

Fatimid attackers advance

Side view - Fatimid archers hit their mark

Last Tuesday afternoon I went over to Rick's place and we played a Lion Rampant Crusader States game. I'm still painting my Seljuk infantry so I decided to field Fatimid Egyptians with my Almoravid Moors as Sudanese infantry. I commanded the Fatimid Egyptian attackers and Rick commanded the Crusaders with the usual Bloodbath scenario and looting of the village. The Fatimids in the Crusader States supplement army lists get two extra points, as their leader doesn't add a morale bonus for courage tests, so I had 26 points and the Crusaders only had 24 points and were out numbered.

This turned out to be a very one sided game, Rick hadn't played for a fair while and didn't have much luck with his dice. The Crusader knights and sergeants basically provided target practice for the Fatimids. The Crusaders did destroy a unit of Sudanese light infantry and the crossbowmen and light infantry caused a few casualties but otherwise it was a one way street. For future games I want to try out some of the scenarios in the excellent Crusader States supplement and a four player game with Crusaders, Byzantines, Syrians/Seljuks and Armenians. I have my Armenian infantry based and primed but have done much painting on them to date.

Crusaders are out numbered 

Crusader knights and sergeants provide target practice

Only the Crusader infantry remain

Crusader light infantry break

Bronze Age Greek Civilians - Mule Train

 

Here are some Bronze Age Greek civilians in a mule train. Figures are all by Eureka Miniatures from their Bronze Age Greeks range. These are really handy figures for baggage and camps. They can obviously be used well in to the Iron Age as well. There is a comparison shot at the bottom with the Castaway Arts baggage mules.

Hannibal Barca

 

Here's Hannibal Barca with his shield bearer. These are very detailed 28mm resin figures by Warlord Games which were a lot of fun to paint. It's a pity they're not doing the Punic Wars in 28mm as well! I have quite a collection of Hannibal figures from 1st Corps, Xyston, A&A and Relic Miniatures but this is the most detailed and heroic to date.

Arab Heavy Cavalry

 

Here are some Arab heavy cavalry from the Gripping Beast plastic set that I've just finished painting for my Islamic armies. I have a box of the plastic GB light cavalry to paint as well but have more Perry horse archers and infantry to finish before them. I find an initial aim of a 24 point Lion Rampant force works well as motivation for completing units for a game and is very achievable as you usually only need five or so units a side. I will use these as Seljuks and Syrians against my Crusaders and Byzantines.

Seljuk and Turcoman Horse Archers

 

Here are some Seljuk and Turcoman horse archers that I've just finished painting. Figures are by Perry Miniatures with two LBM shield transfers. These are for my Seljuk/Syrian/Fatimid/Ayyubid army. I'm working on some Gripping Beast plastic Arab heavy cavalry at the moment, amongst other things, so they will probably be next.

Open Battle at the Siege of Rome 537 AD - Command and Colors Medieval

 

Initial deployment from the Goths’ side

Opposite end

Byzantine right flank commanded by Belisarius

Byzantine centre commanded by Principius

Byzantine left flank commanded by Valentinus

City Militia and ballista on the walls of Rome

City Militia and ballista on the walls of Rome

Initial deployment from the Byzantine side

Opposite end

Goths’ right flank

On Monday morning I played a solo Command and Colors Medieval game out in the shed. The scenario was an Open Battle at the Siege of Rome 537 AD. The Byzantines commanded by Belisarius, taking on the besieging Ostrogoths commanded by Vitiges, in the fields just outside the walls of Rome. Quite a lot is actually known about this battle as Procopius in his Gothic Wars 1.28.15 - 29.45  gives quite a detailed description of it. Both sides had four command cards and two inspired actions tokens and the Byzantines moved first. I have an early Byzantine army (mainly the superb Aventine miniatures range) but only have  a unit of horse archers painted to date, so used my Late Romans and even some Nikephorian horse archers to make up the Byzantine numbers.

The Byzantines advanced and shot effectively with their horse archers on both flanks. The Goth cavalry charged on their left flank but both units were eventually destroyed. The Goth warriors in the centre attacked and drove the Byzantine infantry back to the very gates of Rome but suffered heavy casualties themselves. Principius the Byzantine commander in the centre was then able to lead the Byzantine infantry to a very convincing 6-0 victory. A really fun scenario but a very one sided game where the Byzantines had all the luck with their dice and cards.

The new GMT Games' board game Command and Colors Medieval Expansion 1: Crusades Mid-Eastern Battles 1  looks really interesting and is currently at the printer, so will probably be shipping in the next couple of months, I'm really looking forward to that!

Goths’ centre commanded by Vitiges

Goths’ left flank

Byzantine horse archers advance and
shoot on the right flank

Same thing on their left flank

Goth cavalry charge on their left flank

Byzantines destroy Goth cavalry

Goths attack in the centre

Byzantine infantry retreat to the very gates of Rome

More shooting on the left flank

Principius leads the Byzantines
to victory in the centre 6-0

More Gladiators

 

Group shot

Laquearius

Here are some more 35mm Gripping Beast gladiators, from their Jugula Familia Set Three, that I've just finished painting. There are four types a Lacquearius, Crupellarius, Thraex (Thracian) and Secutor. I have the two other 35mm sets as well and will use these figures and my 28mm gladiators for Frank Sultana's excellent gladiator rules Blood on the Sands.

Crupellarius

Thraex (Thracian)

Secutor

Early Carthaginians versus Syracusans ADLG Game

 

Early Carthaginians and Syracusans deployed

Opposite end

Carthaginian left flank

Carthaginian centre

Carthaginian right flank

Skirmishers shoot on the Carthaginian left flank

Infantry in the centre close

Last Wednesday afternoon Garry came over and we played an Early Carthaginian versus Syracusans ADLG game out in the shed. Garry's Syracusan army was led by the tyrant of Syracuse, Agathocles (317-284 BC), who actually campaigned in Africa 310-307 BC, which was where our game was set. Agathocles was obviously a pretty slippery customer, he had the leaders of his Numidian and Cyrenean 'allies' killed and then took over their armies!  

I'd already deployed my army to save time and Garry was quite canny in his deployment, supporting his cavalry on the flanks with units of hoplites. I attacked regardless and it proved to be quite a close game with the Carthaginian chariots and Sacred Band, both elite units doing well. In the end we ran out of time but the Carthaginians were closer to breaking than the Syracusans with most of their right flank in tatters. I'll use a similar Early Carthaginian army for our next game but the opponent will be Pyrrhus of Epirus in Sicily in 275 BC.

Campanian cavalry and chariots line up a
charge on the right flank

Combat on the left flank

Carthaginians charge in the centre

Carthaginian chariots and cavalry charge on the right

Carthaginian chariots charge on the left

Carthaginians are on the verge of breaking