Finished painting and basing another unit for my Scottish Wars of Independence.
These were from Antediluvian Miniatures. I must admit that they were nice to paint but I do worry that the weapons are too flimsy, this is due to them being to scale and not designed for the man handling by wargamers.
Will be starting a 2nd unit soon.
The Battle was fought by Prussia and Austria during the First Silesian War (early War of the Austrian Succession). It was the first battle of the new Prussian King Frederick II, in which both sides made numerous military blunders but the Prussian Army still managed to attain victory. This battle cemented Frederick’s authority over the newly conquered territory of Silesia and gave him valuable military experience.
Over the last few weeks I have been pulling together the final items needed to play out on the table top the scenarios from Frederick’s War part of the Hold the Line boardgame from Worthington Games. I have grown to like these games as they give me more control over the units as apposed to Command and Colors games which relies on having the right card in your hand.
So recently I painted some river terrain, woods and town markers. The trees were made out of pipe cleaners and I think look great at this scale. The river and buildings are items that I had printed out.
I had planned to attempt to play the game as a solo game but luckily Taff was able to pop over for a game.
Well we both enjoyed the game and at time the tension of allocating the Action Points was high. It was great from a strategic point and we both agreed that it gave a better game than C&C games from a command point of view. We still intend to play C&C as they are a good fun/frustrating series of games.
The game played out in 90 mins. The Austrians got off to a strong start with their heavy cavalry securing their left flank, eliminating some Prussian Cavalry. The Prussians bought their remaining cavalry, located on the other side of the river over the bridge and charged the Austrian light Cavalry on the right flank. This was supported by the Prussian Elites(Grenadiers) taking up the centre ground. Turn 11 it was all over. As in the original Battle, following a dodgy start the Prussians finally made their superior command structure count and took the win 5 victory points to 4.
Figures are 6mm Baccus.
The mat is homemade with 5″ across the flats.
Having played a few more games I decided to have a terrain generator for club games. This is slightly different than in the rules but we like it and really can challenge both players, as the terrain can be generated anywhere on the 3×3 surface.
On the generator the no.s in the green squares are tabletop 6″ squares the blue are the table edge.
This gives us a farm house at 33 with a path leading from it to edge 12.
3 outbuildings at 32, 24 and 7
3 field at 25,15 and 1. With only the field at 1 having a crop.
5 items of stock – 2 cows, a pony, a pig and a sheep. A well stocked farm crying out to be raided.
A stream, starting on edge 5 and going to 9. Plus a further 8 pieces of terrain.
To recalculate a layout go to formula tab and hit recalc button on the right hand side at the top.
Here is the file
The skirmish set of rules for border reiver gaming INVICTUS MANEO are now available from Colonel Bills’ website https://colonelbills-store.co.uk/Invictus-Maneo-Border-Reivers-Skirmish-Rule
Filed under 28mm, 3d Printing, Border Reivers, buildings, Free Wargame Rules, Invictus Maneo, Terrain, Wargame Rules
Just to let you know if interested.
The skirmish set of rules for border reiver gaming INVICTUS MANEO are now available from Colonel Bills’ website https://colonelbills-store.co.uk/Invictus-Maneo-Border-Reivers-Skirmish-Rule
I hope you give them a go and don’t be afraid to change what you don’t like.
Please bear in mind that I am not a professional writer of rules or anything. I am just a wargamer looking for an outlet of fun, in an era I knew nothing about 8 weeks ago.
Enjoy.
Filed under 28mm, 3d Printing, Border Reivers, buildings, Free Wargame Rules, Invictus Maneo, Terrain, Wargame Rules
We all know today, how important a balanced diet is to a good and therefore enjoyable life. One aspect of this when growing up was constantly being encourage to eat my greens. Well to enjoy wargaming you must also enjoy a good diet; research, figures, painting, rules and terrain.
Trialing the new Rapid Fire quick play rules”RF Reloaded” using the included scenario I soon realised that I needed more greens, or hedgerows. This will balance out the diet of the game; rules, painted figures but poor terrain.
So today in a couple of hours I made 12 foot of hedges, suitable for 20/25mm miniatures.
Materials.
Process
Got so into it I forgot to take photos on the way but hopefully the process is straightforward enough. Here are the finished items.
Over time I have mentioned a quick and simple way to get ploughed fields. Door mats from Lidl.
Please see others posts.
Good news is that this week they are back in stock and reduced from 99p to 59p.
So if you have a chance gab a few and own a couple of acres!
Thank you to Jay for the prompt. A while a go I posted about some door mats I had picked up from Lidl and thought they would make ideal ploughed fields.
Here are a few pictures of them cut up. No other work done.the base on the fields are about 2mm and the ridges 3-4mm.
The figures are blacktree and mounted on 2mm bases. The fields work well with 20mm and I don’t see a reason why they would not work with 15mm. I have placed against a doormat corn field. As you can see it hides the nasty rubber base easily.
I managed to get 5 fields per mat and at 99p a mat, a bargain. They are thin, but this makes them flexible and the backing means they do not move once placed. They may benefit from some dry brushing but that will have to be another day.
They are currently back in the shop but I have not seen the price.
Just thought I would post a list of all unit options available for Lion Rampant I have also attached the Excel version to allow you to copy and paste into a army list for games.
Here is the link to the EXCEL version
Lion Rampant Master list and test game
I have not included any of our house variations but would suggest considering for additional cost of 1 pt allowing large unit (18 figure) foot units, as per Rebels and Patriots. These are originally 12 strong units not allowed for 6 strong foot units.
Filed under Lion Rampant, Medieval, Osprey, Scottish Wars of Independence, Skirmish, Terrain, Traders, Uncategorized, Wargame Rules
When I sat down to write about the first game I had played of Lion Rampant I struggled about where to start and what to say.
I thought about it and looked at the photos I took and they tell the story.
I was so engaged in the game I forgot to take many photos and when I thought back I remembered why, the game was a real rollercoaster. This is why.
Taff came over to play, neither of us had played the rules before although we had both owned a copy.
I had pulled together a couple of armies from my Scottish Wars of Independence Armies
They were bigger than recommended but what the hell.
I tried to lay out some generic terrain that gave neither side an advantage. We wanted a fair playtest.
So off we set with our roster and 12 dice each………..
The first couple of turns we were both unlucky and only managed to move a few units. I really got into trying to evaluate the risk of which order to action the units in comparing need with ease.
Two units on the right, Men @ arms manoeuvre around the broken ground to run down this rabble in front. A unit of mounted sgts on the left support
Foot Yeoman of the English supported by the Commanders unit advance to secure/deny the ford to the Scots
Scottish Fierce Foot advance into the Rough terrain Their skills of Ferocious,Wild Charge,CounterCharge(Ft),Fleet Footed make or should I say made them lethal.
The Scots moved up all along the river bank. this would force me into fighting in the river but we were English so no issues our knights would carry them away!
Another great unit, no not the Men @ Arms but the Bidowers engaged the knights. This was a defining moment as I saw them inflict a casualty and realised that while the scottish army were nothing much in the open, deployed in the correct terrain they were deadly. Especially with Hard to Target, Skirmish,Evade,Fleet Footed. They drew me in move after move!
English xbows move up and open fire. They killed one but to no effect.
I have no more photos as we got so ingrossed with the game.
The Scottish saw of the English knights who charged acoss the stream and suffered. Some terrible dice rolls by me didi not help (at one point I rolled 12 dice needing 3+ and scored no hits).
The scots did make it across the ford and engaged the xbows and foot and after a few turns pushing backwards and forwards they finally carried the day. I had a units of archers on the left who never caused a casualty all night.
Finally both leaders found a gap in the lines and engaged in the middle of the field, no challenge but we both discussed the merits of issuing one but decided not to.
It took a couple of rounds of fighting and charging and counter charging but they were finally destroyed. the army check morale and they started to fail and flee one after another.
The game lasted 3 hours and we both agreed it was a great nights gaming. We would definately play it again.
I think we will add a few house rules should as:
I say a BIG YES to Lion Rampant
All the figures are from my collection, mainly Old Glory, Foundry,Ebob and Blacktree.
Just a quick blogg.
Popped into Lidl on the way home to get tea and saw these doormats 60x40cm. They are not too thick so may not have lasted long in their original role but that means they are flexible. Thought ploughed fields and at 99p, thought bargin.
May have a go at cutting them up over the weekend.
The Think Tank 