ADLG - Game Report 184

Anglo-Danish (180) vs Konstantin Byzantine (192)

For the final battle of the day I was blessed, or cursed, to play a third Byzantine Army. Not that there is anything wrong with Max, in fact he was gracious and willing to “call it a draw” at the start of the game without even rolling any dice. However, I (foolishly) decided that we had come all this way to play we might as well make a game of it. I was again defending this time in the plains, and decided on a similar deployment to see if we could make it win this time.

After having my cavalry wing trounced in the previous game, I instead decided to move them into reserve in the centre and leave the left of shield wall anchored on the field.

The biggest challenge was trying to reorganise the defence by moving the cavalry around the plantation and of course trying to encourage (or at least roll sufficient command pips) the impetuous Norman Knights to do what I wanted them to do.

The Byzantines for their part were largely comfortable with a steady and stately advance to bring their mounted bows into range of my shield wall (however as much as I wanted it to the armour didn’t save as many hits as I would have liked! I have also been forced to bring the mounted troops into the line to plug gaps.

Outcome

In the end of a lot of dice rolls we (or should I say I) settled for a draw with me suffering 12 and only inflicting 2 hits on the Byzantines.

Lessons Learnt

If I am going to defend and protect the flanks, then it is better to deploy that way than try to reorganise on the fly.

ADLG - Game Report 183

Anglo-Danish (180) vs Konstantin Byzantine (192)

Game two was a case of Déjà vu – this time against the Byzantines of Richard. Once again, we were in the Forest, but with me defending. The first and most obvious difference was in the widely different composition of this army, from that of Dave’s in the previous game. A different challenge but a similar deployment albeit with the challenge of a waterway on my right flank.

A very strong line of Anglo-Danish spears moves forward to do battle against the relics of what was once great Rome!

The centre of the shield wall with its included elite included Huscarl general with their two-handed cutting weapons!

The battle lines are engaged. In the centre my General is engaged in combat with a Byzantine General, while another Byzantine General has entered combat elsewhere against the line. At this stage the combats have not been too unfavourable to the Anglo-Danes.

My General has prevailed in the combat supported by the timely intervention of the Welsh Allies moving down the line. Equally, unfortunately the enemy General further to the right of my line has himself defeat the opposition.

Although the left of my line has succeeded, my cavalry were soundly beaten which has exposed the right of my line. Consequently, we are rushing to try and reorganise to and reorientate to the right.

We have completed the reorientation, but it is all much too late to help the cause.

Outcome

A win for the Byzantines by 15 to 23.

Lessons Learnt

Mostly the plan was working, until the Cavalry failed to play their part in the battle (or their dice failed to play their part.

ADLG - Game Report 182

Anglo-Danish (180) vs Konstantin Byzantine (192)

If it is coming up to Christmas it must be time for the trip to Brixham in Devon for the 4th Devonian Classic. For this year as a departure from the norm I decided to play in the Big-Boys-Toys 25mm competition with my Anglo-Danes. For my first outing of the event I was playing Dave’s Byzantines, with more cavalry than you could shake a fist at – they were almost wall to wall across the battlefield. I was given the option of attacking in the Forest.

I was clearly outnumbered in Cavalry, and I decided that the sooner I could get the shield wall of heavy spearmen up into contact the better, and hence went for an echelon advance with the left leading the way, though the Welsh Allies in the more difficult ground on the left.

As the advance progressed the battle line started to wheel to the left.

I allowed the impetuous Mercenary Norman Knights to go ahead and make contact while the Mounted Huscarls stood back to protect their flank.

Although the Byzantines are warming to their task against my Norman Knights, the remainder of the Byzantine suffered terrible losses as they threw their mounts unsuccessfully against my spears and the shield wall.

The Normans perish as the Byzantines outflank them and roll them up from the right. Elsewhere the shield wall line is becoming ragged but broadly coherent as it tries to pursue the Byzantines.

The line has stabilised and has established a good position to defeat the remainder of the Byzantine Cavalry.

In one last desperate act the remaining Byzantine cavalry decide to attempt to break the shield wall, which holds its own.

Outcome

A win for the Anglo-Danish by inflicting 22 and only suffering 6 hits in return.

Lessons Leant

Try to keep the shield wall strong and intact.

 The Army of Seleucus

Over the last year I have been putting together a 3d printed 28mm Greek Successor Army for ADLG. I chose the Seleucid Army as the basic design and to which I can add a variety of figures. The need to finish the army grew in importance when I entered the Beachhead 28mm ADLG competition with this army and its requisite 2 Elephants! The army was deployed in battle this last weekend and we didn't do well; coming away with two draws and three losses (but all 5 were very convivial and enjoyable games.)

I received a lot of positive feedback on the Army and interest on what files were used for the army. So I thought I would put together this page and describe the source of the figures, with links to the source of the files I used for you all to follow up on.

At the heart of any Greek Successor Army is the Phalanx, or pikemen block. I suppose if I am candid one of the reasons for printing the army was this set of files from Red Dawn retailing at $10. There is more than enough variety in the files for any wargamer with 4 different ranks, over 60 combinations of head types with helmets and beards or no beards etc, and 3 different torsos. I only used ranks 2 to 4 as rank ones spears were leveled horizontally which is not very useful on a wargaming table. I didn't print the spears, preferring instead for these homemade spears from broom bristles, courtesy of a garden broom from B&Q. 

These Peltasts are sourced from Atlantic Digital  ($10 in the Autumn Sale) As with the Phalangites above these files come with multiple heads, bodies, shields and arms etc. Some of the poses are really quite nice and dramatic. It also would be the work of a moment to use the Phalangites heads on these figures as well. I was in two minds whether to print the spears or replace them with my preferred broom bristle spears. In the end I used both, in part because I liked the the bunches of Javelins that the Peltasts are carrying.

Finding suitable Greek bowmen was a little challenge until I stumbled on the Bowmen of Misos range ($6.99) and Tempos the Bowmen ($2.99) from Legend Builds; both bought at half price in the Autumn sale. The figures are a little larger than the classic 28mm scale and one needs to shrink them a little. In doing so I decided to thicken their bodies a little as well to match the other figures. I was also able to edit the files and add heads from the Atlantic Digital Peltast files for added variety. Tempos and adding the Peltast file floppy hats make some acceptable Cretan archers. 

The Thracians with Rhompia and the Javelin armed Thracians were from Scropha ($5 each in the Sale). These are exceptional fine figures. Nice and dynamic. The Rhompia files include a Thracian liberating an amphora of wine! What is great that they reduce nicely to 15mm, which enabled me to supplement by 15mm Thracians to be able to field a Thracian army!

Now I know that this isn't a scythed chariot but it is a lovely model from Clynche Art. A snip at $12 with 50% off in the sale) It is again a little on the large size but I shrank it down the supported model to scale and it printed as a one-piece model.

After some experimental battles with my 15mm Seleucids I decided the Army needed some Thureophoroi deployed as Armoured Medium Spearmen. The challenge was where to get the models from. By luck I had already bought (in the sale again) some Greek Hoplites from Atlantic Digital for $15 with 50% in the sale. The bodies and torsos were fine, the shields weren't nor were the heads. The Heads were easy to replace where I used heads from the Phalangite range. Spears were easy, more bristles to cut of the brush head. As for the classic Thureos, the oval Greek shield (similar to the Roman Scutum) I sourced for free from 3D Breed's test prints.  

Now for the Xyystophoroi (ADLG Impact Heavy Cavalry) I found two sources I liked that went with the rest of the Army. The first was an exciting range of Greek Cavalry from Forged Path Miniatures at $15 (50% off in the sale). These are in the centre element and in the centre of the two flanking elements. The spears were a little generous, and were replaced with bristle spears, and the figures were shrunk down to size. The other Companion Cavalry figure is from Gadgetworks. Nice figures which I bulk out a bit by expanding the x and y dimension a little. 

The Light Cavalry with Javelins (aka bristle spears) were sourced from Gadgetworks. This was exceptional value for $10 (and again 50% in the sale) for 26 files including 8 horses, 3 bodies, 4 pairs of legs, many arms/weapons and 19 unique heads! Absolutely spoilt for choice.

These are the Scropha Indian Elephants. I have grafted onto the elephant models the upper halves of two of the Bowmen of Misos. At the back I have added the torsos and heads of the phalangites. For the arms holding the pikes I used on the right the original Indian spearmen's arms. On the left I have used two pairs of arms in a suitable position for the pike from the Mongol range from Productions Diratia. This was bought in the sale for my Steppe armies project at $30 in the sale. All of these were assembled on the computer in Microsoft 3D Builder and then printed as one item (less pikes).

The Generals were all from Games Mythology's Greek Fantasy range. I didn't shrink these too much as it is nice to have an imposing General figure in ADLG.  The CinC was provided by the Hipikkon command group at $5 in the sale.

Jason provided a suitably heroic wing commander ($3 in the sale).

The third of the commanders was provided by Hippeis ($2 in the sale). 

I thought some readers may appreciate viewing some of the processes. In this case the various components I gathered in Microsoft 3D Builder to design the Thureophoroi.

Here is a Thracian moved to Chitubox, which is first rotated,

And then supported for printing.

And a final point. Those of you who have explored some of the links and the 3D Breed site, might be wondering why I didn't source the whole package of figures from them. There are four reasons for this. Firstly I didn't spot the 3D site and its range until very late on in the build, secondly I had started multiple sourcing and liked what I was building, thirdly I was starting to assemble some nice unique pieces for the army. and fourthly the sale time on https://www.myminifactory.com/ is such excellent value for money!