A mixed bag of Figures and scales.

 During February I painted a whole range of figures in assorted scales. First up I added a few bases/companies to my 10mm armies for Fantastic Battles. 

The next lot are definitely all Chris's fault. I have just sold all my Wizards of the Coast Star Wars figures. However we are keen to experiment with the 'Fistful of Lead' set of skirmish rules and as they also do a sci-fi version called 'Galactic Heroes'  Chris was very keen to get me involved when he found his stash of Micro Machines Star Wars figures in his loft. These are aprox 20mm high and we originally collected some of these in the late 1980's I think it was. The figures in the photo have had a quick re-paint and our first battles (when we can finally get together for some games) will take place on Tatooine using my homemade desert mat. I think from their uniforms it is obvious who is on the dark side?

I also managed to get a few more bases of 15mm ancients painted. The Spartans are Museum Miniatures from their original range not the new 'Z' range. The Assyrians I acquired from Chris are Essex Miniatures to be used as levy infantry for my Persians-these are the first Essex miniatures I have painted in many years but I really enjoyed painting them. With about 60 bases/units completed I shall leave the Greeks and Persians for now. 

Time for a solo game of Fantastic Battles putting most of my 10mm Elves and Barbarians to good use. 

Fantastic Battles: The Battle of Skalik Water

Elf Force

Elf Warlord: Lord Athramael of the line of Guthelin.

Elf Magic User: Leofryn (Leaf) Spells: Bless, Lvl 1, Entangle Lvl 2.

Elf Captain: Emyn Lockharn, he who can shoot a wren through the eye at 100 paces.

Elf Rogue: Iruath Greycloak: follower of the silent way (Shadowy Cloak of Stealth).

1x company of Unicorns

2x companies of Elf Knights

2x companies of Mtd Raiders

4x companies of Spears

2x companies of Elf Archers

2x companies of Wood Elves

2x companies of wood Elf Archers

1x company Elf Ballistae

Total = 796 pts

Barbarian Force

Warlord: Bodvoc the Bold of C'Nos, the War Crow. (Lions Roar Talisman)

Magic-User: Yrfog of the Cave. Spells: Curse Lvl 1, Magic Missile Lvl 2.

Captain: Talorcan of Dunuik

Rogue: Black Cornaith (Winged Boots of Alacrity)

1x company of Buffalo Riders

2x companies of Mtd Raiders

2x companies of Outriders

6x companies of Warriors

1x company of Berserkers

2x companies of Scouts

1x Mammoth

1x Giant, Droth of a hundred battles.

Total = 798 pts

This is a basic encounter battle with a simple twist. Place a small lake in the exact centre of the table. This represents Skalik Water, a place of mystical power, often mist shrouded. At the start of each turn throw 1xd6.

12= The lake is clear

34= no change (Lake will remain clear or shrouded as per last turn)

56= The Lake is shrouded in mist and blocks all line of sight. When covered in mist Lake Skalik's mystical aura allows any Magic-User casting a spell within 2bw of any lake Edge to re-throw any dice that score a 1. (Don't forget that the mist also blocks line of sight!)

The Barbarians are deployed at the top edge, the Elves along the bottom edge. 

The Elves were deemed to be the Attacker and both sides rolled 'Seize the High Ground' as their objective. The Mishaps table proved to be fun with one unit of Wood Elves withdraw a few bw but the biggest impact was when the Barbarians Mammoth had to march forward 4bw leaving out on it's own and right in front of of the elf ballistae. Two turns were enough for the elves to concentrate as much missile power onto the mammoth to destroy it. On the right flank the elf heavy cavalry won the first round of melee against the barbarian Mounted Raiders. Over on the left flank the Wood Elves and the Unicorns clashed with more Barbarian Cavalry. By the start of turn 3 the magical mists appeared on the lake.  

 So as the mist formed across Skalik Water at the start of turn 3 fate decided that a random event happened. This proved to be a Troll Hoard which the dice decided was located upon the shores of the lake. Sadly all characters were too heavily involved in the battle action and were not able to take advantage of this yet. The large melee on the left flank resulted in the unicorns and mounted raiders being scattered. On the right, the Elf Knights easily destroyed the Barbarian Outriders and Lord Athramael slew Talorcan in a personal challenge (playing solo I wanted to see how this played out). 

Turn 4 was also very eventful. The lake remained shrouded in mist as the Barbarian Warriors on the right smashed into the Elf Knights, their Berserk trait which explodes 6's worked well when they actually threw six 6's so the Elf Knights scattered taking Lord Athramael with them. 

On the left Bodvoc himself charged into the Wood Elves at the head of his Buffalo riders. The Wood Elves proved quite tough and scattered the Buffalo Riders whilst Bodvoc had challenged Emyn Lockharn to an ineffective duel. In the centre the Giant Droth of the Hundred battles fought his last as he and the beserkers were easily scattered by the elf spearmen.

So with turn 5 yet to play the mist still shrouds Skalik Water and things do not look good for the barbarians as with their loses so far they are close to breaking. 

   Impetuous actions at the start of turn 5 prompted the Elf Mounted Raiders to foolishly charge the Barbarian Warriors on the right flank-they got hammered leaving that side open to a Barbarian advance. On the left flank the Elf spears could just reach the side of the Barbarian Warriors that were busy fighting the Wood Elves. This was enough to cause those Barbarians to scatter, Bodvoc running off with them. The only gain the Barbarians got was that their Magic User, Yrfog of the Cave went to look for the Troll Horde revealed on turn 3 and was lucky enough to find a Haughty Helm of Reassurance. However, with over 50& of their characters and their companies gone it was game over for the Barbarians leaving the Elves badly wounded but victorious.  

This was a very enjoyable game to play and I learnt a lot about the rules. Many of the decisions I took were often just to see what happened but it was all good fun and I can see Fantastic battles becoming one of my favourite games to play. 

I also did some reading this month to help me plot and plan a large club scenario based around Plataea using an almost double width table. Plans are to play this through using the 'To the Strongest' rules. Each side will get a copy of this map with their deployment marked on. As the table is gridded this is very simple to do. However, it seems it will be at least May before we can get together to play this. 

 Next Chris got me interested in William Marshall, 'The Greatest Knight' and I have to say that was the best historical factual book I have read in some time; each chapter was like an action adventure historical novel. Having enjoyed that book so much I am now reading 'Lionheart and Lackland' to get to know more about this fascinating period. A few of the guys at the Old Guard club are starting to collect and paint figures for the new 'Barons War' rules and I have to say I am getting drawn in (just ordered the rules).