Ark of the Covenant and Hebrew Chariots

 

Here's the Ark of the Covenant and two Hebrew chariots that I've just finished painting. All the figures are by Castaway Arts except for the crew and chariot with barded horses which are by Newline Designs. The David and Goliath figures are also by Castaway but I painted them years ago. I'll use the Ark as a sacred camp for my Hebrew/Israelite army. I have some elite Gibborim 'mighty men' and some Philistine/Pelset spearmen based and undercoated as well. The initial aim is for small forces for both sides.

Epic Command & Colors Ancients - Battle of Granicus 334 BC

 

Macedonians on the left, Persians on the right

Opposite end

Alexander and Companions, Macedonian right flank

Arsites commander on the Persian left flank

Nicanor with Hypaspists, Macedonian centre

Parmenion & Thessalian cavalry, Macedonian right flank

Rheomithres commander Persian right flank

Mithridates commander Persian centre

On Wednesday afternoon Garry came over to my place and we played an Epic Command and Colors Ancients game out in the shed. The scenario was the Battle of Granicus. Garry commanded the Macedonians, who had an eight card hand and moved first. I commanded the Persians, who had a six card hand and moved second. The Macedonians got off to a flying start, attacking on their left flank and on the right with the Prodromoi, Paeonians and Agrianians. 

Casualties quickly mounted for the Persian cavalry and they played a double time card to get the Greek mercenary hoplites up to contest the river crossing. The Macedonians responded with a line command card to bring the pike into action. The Greek mercenaries fought back but it was too little, too late and the Macedonians won easily 8-3 victory points.

Macedonians attack on their left flank

Prodromoi, Paeonians & Agrianians attack on the right

Persians counterattack

Alexander & Companions force their way across the river

Side view of the action

Persians play a double time card with
Greek mercenaries in the centre

Macedonians play a line command card and
the pike advance into action

Greek mercenaries contest the river crossing
but it is too little, too late!

Macedonians win easily 8-3 victory points

Hittites versus Mitanni ADLG Game

 

Hittites and Mitanni deployed

Hurri-Mitanni force with captured Egyptian camp!

Hittite force

Forces advance

Shooting commences

Mitanni direct some withering bow fire

Hittites are on the back foot

I really enjoy these small ADLG Bronze Age games, they're so quick and easy to set up and play. This morning I played another one, a solo game with the Hittites taking on the Mitanni. The Mitanni got off to good start with some withering bow fire and the casualties quickly mounted for the Hittites. Most of the Hittite chariots routed from combat and it seemed to be just a matter of time before they became demoralised. The Hittites managed to rally and invoking their Storm God Taru, counter attacked routing the Mitanni chariots on the right flank then most of the Mitanni infantry in the centre. It was quite a come back, the Hittites had two more units than the Mitanni, breaking on 13 rather than 11, which saved the day!

Hittite chariots and infantry charge

Casualties mount for the Hittites

Will Teshub or Taru, the Hurrian or Hattian Storm God intervene?

Hittite chariots rout on the left

Hittite infantry rally and counter attack

Mitanni infantry rout and force is demoralised

Mitanni versus New Kingdom Egyptians ADLG Game

 

Mitanni (foreground) and Egyptians (background) deployed

Sides advance and exchange bow fire

More shooting

Pelset are impetuous and charge

Libyans are impetuous and charge

On Monday Craig came over to my place and we played a small 100 point ADLG 15mm game with the Mitanni taking on the New Kingdom Egyptians. I'd only just finished painting and varnishing the Syrian/Canaanite/Mitanni infantry, so I was keen to give them a run. The mixed units of swordsmen and bowmen seemed to be very effective but we forgot that they fight as mediocre in combat. I was pretty lucky with my shooting, rolling quite a few sixes, so the Egyptian infantry didn't last long and some were already disordered before they charged into combat. 

Mitanni chariots charge

Egyptian infantry are worn down by bow fire and combat

Egyptian chariots charge

Egyptians are demoralised

Here are a few shots of the Syrian, Canaanite and Mitanni infantry that I just finished painting. They're all Gladiator Miniatures figures sold by Fighting 15s. I just finished varnishing them this morning but didn't have time to finish off the archer bases with tufts and flock. Eventually I'd like to refight the Battle of Megiddo with these 15mm armies.

Syrian and Canaanite archers

Syrian, Canaanite and Mitanni infantry

Mixed units

Mitanni Maryannu with supporting infantry

About a month ago a pair of yellow-tailed black cockatoos visited and were feeding in our neighbour's trees and they were surrounded by at least a dozen king parrots. Very strange, maybe it was a territorial thing?