Command and Colors Tricorne - Jacobite Rising - Killiecrankie 27 July 1689

 

Initial deployment from the Jacobite side

Opposite end from the British side

Highlanders on the right flank

British artillery fire to no effect

Highlanders get stuck in on the left flank

Last Wednesday evening I went over to Rick's place and Gary and I played a Command Colors Tricorne, Jacobite Rising game, the Battle of Killiecrankie. Rick was the umpire and we used his 28mm WoFun British and Jacobite figures. Command and Colors Tricorne is published by Compass Games. I have a copy of the original American Revolution game, courtesy of Rick, and have played it before. Jacobite Rising covers thirteen scenarios from Killiecrankie through to Culloden in 1746. Killiecrankie is a really tough scenario for the British and it felt very much like it was only a matter of time before they collapsed. Predictably the Jacobites won 6-1 victory banners with their entire centre in tact and unused.

It's a tough scenario for the British!

Highlanders on their right flank score three hits

British left flank collapses

It's only a matter of time for the British

Jacobites win 6-1 with their entire centre unused

Dark Age Irish and Norse Gael Warriors

 

Here are some Dark Age or Early Medieval Irish and Norse Gael/Hiberno Norse warriors. Figures are by Gripping Beast and Crusader Miniatures with LBM transfers. I have more Irish I'm working on at the moment, Footsore Miniatures, Gripping Beast plastics and Wargames Atlantic plastics. I'll post photos of these, including some comparison shots, once I've finished painting them. The back drop photo was taken in the Orkney Islands in 2011.

Hittites versus New Kingdom Egyptians Midgard Game

 

Egyptians on the left, Hittites on the right

Hittites advance

End of turn one

Egyptian chariots charge in to combat

Last Thursday afternoon Robert came over to my place and we played a Hittites versus New Kingdom Egyptians Midgard game out in the shed. We diced for sides, Robert commanded the Hittite attackers and I commanded the Egyptian defenders. Both sides advanced and after shooting the Egyptian chariots on both flanks charged in to combat. The Hittite chariots on the Egyptian right flank were routed but the Hittite infantry charged in and this infantry combat was to decide the game. The Egyptian army commander who was attached to a unit of mace/axemen was killed in single combat by the Hittite army commander. Units with a charging or winning marker can reroll ones in combat and the Hittites quickly got on a roll and routed two units of Egyptian spearmen. The Egyptians lost their final reputation token and the game.

 

Hittite chariots are routed on
the Egyptian right flank

Infantry combat on the Egyptian right flank

Infantry combat on the Egyptian left flank

Egyptians lose their final reputation
token and the game

Dark Ages Irish Cavalry and Slingers

 

Here are some Dark Ages or Early Medieval Irish cavalry and slingers. I painted the cavalry some time ago but have just finished the slingers. Figures are by Crusader Miniatures and Gripping Beast with some LBM shield transfers. I'm working on some Irish infantry at the moment, I have a reasonable size painted Viking army but need to finish painting their opponents. Byzantines, Irish, Anglo-Saxons, Welsh, Scots/Picts and Rus are all waiting to be finished!

I want to put in a plug for Frank Sultana's Blood on the Sands Kickstarter, which has just started and is almost full funded. These are excellent Gladiator rules for one on one combat. For $145 AUD you get the core box set which includes rules, dice, tokens and plastic gladiators. Well worth supporting if you're interested in gladiator rules, they've been extensively play tested and Frank has been researching and working on them for over ten years. Highly recommended!

War of the Roses - Saga Age of Chivalry Game

 

Yorkists left and Lancastrians right deployed

Opposite end

Lancastrian longbowmen and commander

Lancastrian longbowmen retreat 

Handgunners take heavy shooting casualties on the right

Last Thursday afternoon Craig came over and we played a War of the Roses Saga game, with the new Saga supplement, Age of Chivalry. I was the Yorkist defenders and Craig the Lancastrian attackers, with six points a side and the usual Clash of Warlords scenario. I don't play Saga that often, my last game was about two years ago with the Age of Alexander supplement but Craig plays a fair bit and knows the rules well. I had a lucky start with a unit of men-at-arms (hearthguard) and was able to use the Remounts and Ravage and Pillage activations on my battle board to nearly wipe out a unit of Lancastrian longbowmen (levies).

The Lancastrians responded with some devastating shooting to reduce my mercenary handgunners (warriors) to half strength. The game from there was tit for tat, my Warlord was eventually killed, but both sides were reduced to two units generating Saga dice and neither side could gain the upper hand. In the end we called it a draw. It was fun to get the War of the Roses troops out and try out the new Saga Age of Chivalry rules. It's a very attractive supplement and with fourteen new battle boards has plenty to offer the Medieval Saga enthusiast.

Lancastrian longbowmen suffer

Lancastrian longbowmen retreat
repeatedly from Yorkist billmen

Lancastrian longbowmen survive another turn

Yorkist longbowmen survive another turn

More Bronze Age Civilians

 

Here are some more Bronze Age Greek civilians that I've just finished painting. They're lovely figures by Eureka Miniatures. The set above is called Labourers and Artisans and the one below Goat Herders.