Friday, 19 August 2011

Early Imperial Romans - Warmaster Ancients -Part III

Early Imperial Romans - Warmaster Ancients -Part III


This month sees the completion of my early imperial roman warmaster ancients force. a total of 1250pts, you can see the progress here and here.
I even managed to play my first game with them too, but more about that later.
First the army itself.

The Army


General Marcus Titus Aquillus with his veteran legion

Closer shot of General



Heavy cavalry

Aux Archers

Aux Infantry



Legions

Legions and Scorpion bolt throwers

More Legion



Now on to their Debut Battle





My opponent was using a sassanid Persian force (which is mostly cavalry)
My setup was fairly basic with the legion in the centre with aux infantry and cavalry protecting my flanks. the Persians deployed their dreaded Elephants on my right flank and cavalry on the other. After dicing for game length (only a six turn game) first turn went to the Persians.

Highlights for me were:
  • The Persian Cavalry got first into combat, but were unlucky and got repelled by a unit of archers in combat
  • One unit of legion with a Legate backed up by unit of aux infantry took down a unit of elephants, mostly due to poor Persian dice rolling.
  • One unit of archers caused enemy infantry to be confused twice.
  • My block of legion holding strong in the centre after numerous charges and counter charges and at one point flanked.
Now the low points
  • Persian cataphracts shattering my cavalry to bits
  • Poor command rolls, i even managed to fail with a portents re-roll
  • Two units of Skirmishers and my scorpion bolt thrower didn't move or make any contribution to the battle
In the end i managed to pull off a victory, and if i am honest i didn't really expect to win at all. but the end victory points were :
Persians - 350
Romans - 700


 
Lessons i have learnt
  • Legions are nails and can more than handle themselves in combat against most things
  • Even with a general and two Legates  i still can't guarantee to move move my entire force
  • Shock cavalry are scary
so inspired by cavalry my next purchase will be a Norman army

Tuesday, 9 August 2011

Fiddix Break - Star Wars Fan Fiction

Fiddix break


The corridors were cold and gray in the Fiddrix outpost. A Trade federation outpost, and currently a holding cell for Tolma Yemme. A noble captured by the federation, and Ven’s mission. Although just a young Jedi Padawan, he was confident to be given this rescue mission alone. Using the force he was able to sense he was nearing the noble’s containment cell. Arriving at a crossroad of corridors, he peered round. A B1 battle droid with red shoulder pad markings stood by a steel double door. “Its only one droid” he said quietly to himself as he sprang round the corner. The lightsaber slashed thought the air and cleanly sliced the surprised battle droid in half. Its sparking torso crashed to the floor. Ven turned to find a door either side of him. The one which the droid was standing in front of had a control panel, reading “Detention unit- key access needed”
Trying the other door behind him the door opened with a low hiss. The room inside was dark, he could smell oil. Looking around he noticed various boxes full of droid parts. Not going to find the key card in there, he thought to himself. Double backing on himself he stepped over the ruined battle droid and walked up the left hand corridor to another large door. The keypad flashed green.

Dak-ran was re-programming a set of power systems at his utilitarian workstation. The two battle droids in the room where in needing a standard CPU maintenance. Dak-ran supposed he’d better get started to another thankless task. He jumped as the door opened with a whoosh and a young human male, instantly recognisable as a Jedi by his strand of braided hair that marked him as a Padawan of the order. Before he opened his mouth to speak, the Jedi jumped and front flipped and landed in between the two battle droids. His lightsaber activated and sliced the first droid’s head off. The remaining droid stood between him and the young Jedi. The droid fired off a shot from its blaster. A blue bolt of energy struck across the strangers arm. Dak-ran scrabbled at his desk to find a blaster pistol, behind him he heard the sound of a lightsaber slicing though metal. Looking up the remaining droid was just a pile of parts on the floor, the metal red hot where the Jedi’s weapon sliced through. Ven grabbed the technicians collar “Your coming with me”
Dak-ran shrank a little under the Jedi’s gaze, his saber still activated. He was then led to the door of the detention unit, having to step over the ruins of the security droid. The Padawan gestured to the key-lock on the door. “Open it”
His hands were shaking as he inserted his access key. On the key lock a light flashed green. As the door hissed open Ven shoved the technician through the doorway. He quickly scanned the room. It was a long unimpressive room.  At the end of the room a human female was bound to a large prisoner chair. Her wrists and ankles bound with energy restraints. The three battle droids in the room raised their blaster carbines at the intruder. The Battle droid with yellow rank markings in the centre of the room said in its metallic voice “Hold! put down your weapons.”
The terrified technician broke free of the padawan’s grasp and hid behind a desk at the side of the room. Before the Droids could fire a shot of, the young Jedi already was sprinting towards them.  A blue bolt of energy sizzled past his head as Ven darted towards the two droids. Jumping high he landed between the two droids. Slicing through the chest of the first one with his lightsaber. The droid’s circuits fizzled and popped.
Dak-ran seeing his opportunity and ran in to the corridor up to his maintenance room.
Turning his attention to the yellow marked battle droid, slicing upwards the through its chest armour. Ven felt a surge of pain as a shot was let loose into his leg. Sidestepping the droid, he thrust his lightsaber straight through its body. He cleanly dispatched the remaining droid with a clean swipe taking off its head.
The young noble looked at the Jedi and said “please release me.”
He closed his eyes, using the power of the force the bonds flickered and went out.
Opening his eyes he said “we need to get you out of here.”
“There is a hanger not far from here; my ship is still docked there.” she replied.
Gesturing to the door the Jedi said “lead the way, but we must be quick.”  

“A Jedi here!” the security officer answered down the commlink to a gibbering technician.
The tinny voice of Dak-ran replied “yes and he’s releasing the prisoner in the detention unit!”
Without hesitation the security officer shouted to one of his sub-ordinates “Quickly send two Droidekas to the Detention unit!”
Throwing the commlink to one side he reached for his blaster pistol and slid it out its holster and
walked towards the door.


 They both ran together down the grey dimly lit corridors toward the hanger bay, Getting to a T section they stopped. “Which way?” the Jedi asked
 With a hint of indecision she replied “Erm…I think it’s this way.”
The noble pointed down the left hand corridor
From behind them a rumbling sound was rolling down the corridor towards them.
“Run!”  Ven suddenly shouted “Droidekas!”
Running up the left hand corner he spotted a large double door to his right.
The large exterior door quietly opened up to the outside hanger bay. Tolma noticed one of the Driodeka destroyers roll around the corner. She watched as it unfurled itself, large metallic limbs clanking on the floor. It loosed off a shot from its laser cannons. Blasting in to the wall next to them.  Both of them rapidly passed through the door way closing the doors behind. Ven activated his lightsaber and plunged it deep in to the door controls. “That should stop them.”
Tolma smiled back at her liberator. The Small hanger bay only contained one small carrier ship. The whole back wall was open to the outside, revealing the green forests beyond.
“That’s my ship”
She pointed to the small transport craft, its rear ramp open. No sooner had they started towards the craft that a blue beam of energy crackled past them. Followed by a vocalised voice “Don’t move”
Ven noticed three battle droids with blasters raised towards them, approaching from the other end of the large outdoor hanger. To Tolma’s surprise the Jedi sprinted towards the nearest battle droid, with his lightsaber raised. Its blaster fired at the sprinting padawan. The blue beam slicing across the humans shoulder.  Ven grunted in pain before sidestepping the droid and shearing its arms off, then delivering the coup de grace. Tolma continued to the craft. It was an uncomplicated XD-50 Lomba transport craft, used as a simple system to system craft. Although currently out of production, most ships had been upgraded to include hyperdrives. Behind her she heard the thudding sounds as the Droidekas started to blast their way through. One of the doors started to buckle.  She raced towards the rear ramp of the vessel. “Hold!”
From next to the craft a battle droid had trained its blaster on the noble. “Raise your hands”
This is not good, Tolma thought. Deflated the young noble slowly raised her hands.
Suddenly the battle droid was thrown against the rear hull of the transport vehicle. Its metal body shattering as it collapsed. Tolma looked up to see the Jedi padawan dashing toward her “Get into the ship!” he yelled over the noise of one of the already buckled doors bursting open and crashing to the floor.

Ven seated himself in the cramped cockpit of the XD-50 Lomba. Looking around at the controls he was easily able to recognise the standard fight mechanisms. Tolma peered out of the rear porthole window to see the other hanger door get blown off. Two Droidekas rolled through the ruined doorway. She was thrown off her feet as the craft started to shudder with incoming blaster shots  from the droids below. Ven strained to try and control the vessel as blaster bolts hammered against the hull. He steered it to the open rear exit. Increasing speed as it neared the large exit. Brightness of the local sun blinded them as they left the Fiddrix outpost.

Stepping over the debris of the hanger bay doors, security officer Grakkim Sulio observed the sight of two Droideka destroyers firing at a small transport ship. He sighed heavily as he watched the ship fly expertly out of the hanger bay. This was going to cost him. Count Dooku was due in two hours time to take the prisoner away. Rage built up in the security officer as he thought of having to explain himself to the old ex-Jedi master. Sheathing his trusty blaster pistol he furiously walked back inside the complex.

Thursday, 28 July 2011

July Update

July Update

Its been Quite Quiet on the Wargaming front this month.
 been focusing on painting on my two projects at the moment.


First being my Warmaster Ancient Roman force
which you can see the progress here and here.


Second project is my warhammer 40'000 Orks.
 i've build and undercoated most of the force, just waiting to get a weirdboy in finecast to finish the list off.


Events
With Claymore edinburgh only a few weeks away. Claymore has always been a big event in the wargaming calender.  I have been attending this event for the last three years but this is the first time i have been running urban war demo games there. so i've been preparing all the Urban War 2nd edition Demo gear at the event.



Roleplaying
As i plan to link both games as a follow on. i now have all the PC characters


 Dark Heresy  characters

Kar, Feral world Guardsman
Soloman "Cutter" Garvel, Hive world Scum
Krell "Stern" Rabalias, Hive World scum
Zetkin, Void born psyker
Nihilus Zarkov, Imperial world Arbitrator
Novus Dorn, Imperial world Tech priest




 Deathwatch characters

Kill-Team
Imperial Fist Apothecary
Makradon, Dark angel tactical Marine
Sepheran, Blood Angel Assault Marine
Varenus, Ultramarine Assault Marine
Baldar, Space wolf Devastator
Kestyr, Dark Sentinel Librarian

Dark Sentinels are a custom made chapter using the Rules in the Rites of battle supplement.



I will post up rules for using Dark Sentinels as PC's in the future.

`

Wednesday, 27 July 2011

Poll results - What is your favourite race to play in Dungeons & Dragons?

Poll Result -
What is your favourite race to play in Dungeons & Dragons?

Dragonborn        (20%)
Tiefling                (20%)


Dwarf                  (10%)
Elf                        (10%)
Gnome                (10%)
Half-Orc               (10%)
Halfling                 (10%)
Mul                        (10%)
 


Deva                      (0%)
Eladrin                   (0%)
Githzerai                (0%)
Goliath                   (0%)
Half -Elf                  (0%)
Human                   (0%)
Minotaur                (0%)
Shardmind            (0%)
Shifter                    (0%)
Thri-Kreen             (0%)
Wilden                   (0%)
Changling             (0%)
Drow                      (0%)
Genasi                   (0%)
Kalashtar               (0%)
Warforged             (0%)
Other                      (0%)

Saturday, 23 July 2011

Poll results - What kind of articles would you like to see on this Blog?

What kind of articles would you like to see on this Blog?

Painting    (60%)
 
Building   (0%)

Armies and background    (0%)

Roleplaying adventures    (20%)
 
Battle reports   (40%)
 
Reviews   (20%)
 
Stories   (40%)
 
Conversions    (20%)
 
Roleplaying  (40%)
 
Other    (0%)

Saturday, 16 July 2011

Early Imperial Romans - Warmaster Ancients -Part II

Early Imperial Romans - Warmaster Ancients -Part II

Progress has been going well, the army is entired basecoated, and based.

 Only the cavalry are not based as  they need to be painted on the strip, then clipped and arranged on the base.




2 Legates     



Unit of Legionaries     
    


       
 Unit of Auxiliary light cavalry   


 unit of Auxiliary Archers      
        

Monday, 4 July 2011

Early Imperial Romans - Warmaster Ancients -Part I

Early Imperial Romans - Warmaster Ancients
Part I

The long awaited Warmaster ancients finally arrived from the lovely people at Baccus.




The first thing I must say is the that Miniatures are great. The main infantry comes in strips of  four (as you can see from the pictures above), and you'll need two for each rank and they fit perfectly on a base of 40x20mm.


I started to build one of each unit to see if I could paint then in the unit or whether I'd have to paint each rank at a time. Luckily enough I've been able to paint the second rank with no difficulty. The Baccus stuff is 6mm scale, smaller than standard Warmaster, but I like the smaller miniatures as it gives a grander epic scale to the force.


Auxilia Archers

Scorpion bolt throwers


Legion

Skirmishers

My force list:

General
2 Legates     

1 unit of Veteran Legionaries      
4 units of Legionaries             
3 units of Auxiliary Infantry      
2 units of Auxiliary heavy cavalry 
1 unit of Auxiliary light cavalry  
2 units of Auxiliary Archers       
1 unit of Scorpion Bolt Throwers            
2 units of Skirmishers             

Portents

Thursday, 30 June 2011

June update

Well for this month,quite a few things as June comes to an end.


Tabletop:

The Warhammer 40'000 bug has also hit and i have taken the plunge and decided to start a Ork army.
I've started off with the assault on black reach set and an extra box of boyz, a trukk and a unit of grotz.

 
So far i have only painted up six orks, but the rest are built and undercoated



Urban war
On the gaming side of things, i have finally manged to try out my Koralon strike force for Urban War, my friend Sion used his Viridians for the game which was for the battle-report



However the battle reported is actually the second game, as i mis-interpreted a rule using warp portals and utterly decimated his force. so we replayed the game, and the results are in the link above.

Warmaster ancients
Hopefully my early imperial Romans for Warmaster ancients
 from the fantastic people at Baccus will arrive soon.


https://www.baccus6mm.com/


Roleplaying:
As a player im using a Halfling called Hengis Buttermash in a Warhammer fantasy roleplaying campaign (second edition)  he is currently in his second career as a Knight (this has been houseruled as a halfling could never ride a horse or be completely proficent in plate armour, so he only has a pony and studded leather and some chainmail armour and in his last career he was a soldier.)  the party is currently in the land of Tilea working as a mercenary company. the company consists of  a Dwarf Pit fighter, a Elf Wizard, a Tiliean Charlatan, a Female Estailian Duelist, and a Human Veteran.


On the GM front i have picked up a copy of  the  Dungeons & Dragons: Player's Handbook 2  and  Dungeons & Dragons, Dungeon Tiles: The Witchlight Fens.  So i've been writing up various marsh based encounters. Also with the addition of the red box starter set i have -recreated "Castle of mystery"  adventure from Heroquest as a D&D 4e quest.(might re-name it "Ollar's keep")



Dark heresy is taking slightly longer but i have at least the first three weeks planned.
i will blog each week when it starts.

Well thats it for this months update

Monday, 27 June 2011

Clash at the Imahu Complex -Urban War battle report

Clash at the Imahu Complex -Urban War battle report


 Up until now the Gyrus sector of the Helion territory on Iskandria has been subject to many violent skirmishes between the Viridian Iskandrian defence force (IDF), Triads and Syntha. VASA raids to bring order to this sector have proved mostly unsuccessful. The Koralon yet haven't been sighted within this sector ...until now....
Civilians have reported unusual sighting at the abandoned Imahu complex. Lt Orrik of the IDF took a small elite strike force to investigate.


Lt. Orrik



Viridian (IDF) Strike Team

Koralon Strike Team



Deployment



Koralon Strike fast using Warp Portals, the Brood and Larvan  rush forth and into cover.

Phazon holding open the portal as the deadly Koralon rush through.

Brave colonial marines rush forward to attempt to take down the approaching brood with deadly gauss fire

At the other end of the complex the Colonial marines with Lt.Orrik edge closer

Overwatch positions taken, ready for contact.

A lone Brood Sneaks up to the Viridian defences.

Two Brood and a Larvan assault the colonial marines as they making a firing withdrawal, blasting one Brood apart before the Larvan reached combat and took out a marine and charging in to the Shock marine, its shield saving him from the deadly claws of the Larvan.
 The brood slew the other Colonial marine.



Overwatching Colonial marines cover Lt Orrik as a Brood charges in with deadly speed.

Lt.Orrik in trouble as another Brood approaches in for the kill.

Phazon slowly advances into cover

With a clash of blades Lt Orrik fails to take down the Brood warrior

Colonial marines take defensive positions after seeing the shock marine being butchered by the Larvan


Lt. Orrik holds his own against two Brood warriors, managing to dispatch one of them with his deadly vibro scythe before the Phazon appears from a warp portal

Failing to dispatch with overwatch fire the Colonial marine paid with his life, as Koralon overrun the Viridian positions severely shaking the morale of the strike team


With the area now overrun, Lt Orrik orders a withdrawal with the two remaining Colonial marines.


Koralon Major Victory