Vikings. Also thoughts and plans.

 Hi all,

Been a busy month or so in Monkeyland.  End of term, the onset of winter, and escalating plague numbers have meant that while some hobby's been accomplished, probably less than I'd hoped, and there's been little motivation for blogging.  That said, my grades are in, I've made at least a start on Christmas baking, and I've had a chance to take some pics and think about the coming season.

First of the Victrix vikings.  Good variety of poses, great variety of heads and arms.

I have it on reliable authority that Santa will be bringing me the makings of a 100 Years War French force, by way of a box of Perry Agincourt French Infantry, and Mounted Cavalry.  This will likely be my new project for the new year, and I'm fairly stoked.  I'm fond of the period (via the usual books and movies), and am keen to do up some French (which seem woefully under-represented on the table; everyone does the English, can't imaging why?).

Little dark, my apologies.  Sculpting is clean, nice details, not a lot of flash or lines.

Prospects of a new project have me going through the usual mental gymnastics of thinking about rules and basing.  There was an interesting podcast from the Plastic Crack boys the other day, where in the process of discuss "ancients" (which also seemed to include medievals), they made the point that rules preferences are very much driven by a couple factors; the kind of game you like, and the kind of game you can get local players to play with you.  While that's a bit of a truism, it hit home pretty hard for me, and I think solidified some of my thinking on the project.

Loving the Santa hat head.  Definitely going to play with the set to make a proper Santa.

Anyone who's followed my meanderings over the last several years (we're in year twelve, for those counting), knows that I've played around with ideas for a "big" ancients project for a while.  I picked up some Victrix carthaginians a while back, eyeball their successors line on a regular basis, and have repeatedly made plans for huge, sprawling projects in a range of scales.  But they never seem to get off the ground.

Decent mix of armoured and unarmoured bods.  I made a mess of regular dudes with helm, shield, and either axe or spear.  Saved the swords for hearthguard types.

The problem is, I think, that those huge games require years of dedication to pull off.  I'm a hobby magpie, usually have multiple projects on the go, and even when I do manage to amass a large collection of something, struggle to find opponents with comparable collections, and time and space for a massive game.  Case in point, the Cub and I are planning a BIG 40k game for the holidays, but realistically, this is a once, maybe twice a year undertaking, and the armies involved have taken more than 5 years to amass.  The thing is, however, that I've been able to play with them along the way.  This is less possible with a lot of the historical armies I'm interested in.  Small unit pike actions just don't make a lot of sense, and if I'm doing Carthage or Antigonids, I'm aiming for big battles anyways.

Also gave the elites the bigger shields.  Some really dynamic poses with these guys.

With medievals, however, there's a sweet spot.  The same troops show up in small actions as big battles, and so collections can be gamed as they grow.  I've noticed this with my vikings (which I've been picking away in in between other projects), and think it will also apply to the French.  When I start them, I don't need to aim for anything huge.  Two or three dozen foot, and a dozen or so  mounted figures, are enough for a game of Lion Rampant, and I can add units as I go.  Moreover, even if I can't find someone with another medieval force, painting up opposition isn't that hard, because of the numbers involved.  This has worked out pretty well with the ECW stuff I've been messing with for the last year or so, and I think is the way to do for me in the future.

Kept the mail dark, but might break down and brighten it.

The big question that remains, is the perennial one of basing.  When I did the ECW stuff, I went with square, Warlord style basing, with the assumption that it would be compatible with Pikeman's Lament, but suitable for larger games in the future.  I think with the 100 Years War project, I'll invert that logic; I'll base for Lion Rampant, and deal with "big battle" compatibility if and when that possibility arises.

Berzerkers mandatory.  For Khorne! . . . oops, wrong game.

There was a fellow on the Lion Rampant Facebook page who recently posted his War of the Roses stuff, based on rounds, in a style inspired by Dalauppror.  Infantry based 1, 2, or 3 to a base, and cavalry generally 1 or 2.  It looked really good, and I think works for medievals in a way it might not for more coherently linear periods.  Cavalry on rounds is something I'm used to from Lord of the Rings, and always thought it looked well.  I'm going to try the "multi-figure on rounds" basing for the next batch of vikings I put together, and see how I like it, but I think it'll be the way to go.

Probably should add a little more depth of color to the furs.

There's been some other stuff finished up, both historical and fantasy/sf, and no doubt I'll be able to claw out some time to get caught up on posting.  Hopefully, the plague won't cancel Christmas, as I'm really looking forward to it.  We won't have the Cub Christmas day (he's at his mom's), but he's supposed to join us Boxing day (aka St. Stephen's), and Puddin' will thus have Christmas morning to herself.  I'm staring down a week of power baking, and then hopefully a few days to relax.  If I do this right, I'll have enough leftovers that I can simple point the hungry towards the fridge for several days following . . . .

FMB

Old Friends

 Hi all,

I sing of Haemar inn Haegi,

gift-giver, sword-weilder.

I sing of his glory,

his deeds are remembered.

So, I made the mistake of watching the "Little Wars" viking episodes, including the one where they debut their Ravenfeast game.

Haemar, friend-feaster

gift giver, mead bringer.

To his hall, his huscarls,

his hirdmen he called.

This, of course, prompted me to dig out my Wargames Factory figures, and try out the rules.

Fast friends he feasted,

great logs were burning.

High heat in the Hall,

mead-tempers flared hot.

The scenario I played was "Fight for Honor", which has two leaders square off, with a chance of their warbands piling in to the fight.

Proud boasts were shouted,

hot words were cutting.

Like sword blows exchanged,

no shields to bar harm.

The figs are serviceable, but don't really compare to some of the other options.  They were, however, cheap as chips, as I got a good deal on them at the time.

Hot tempers flaring,

to night air were carried.

Harsh words to harsh blows,

brothers now foes.

I did spend some time on them, back in the day, so they generally look okay on the table.

Haemar our chieften,

swift striking, quick witted.

The first blow he struck,

the honour was his.

The opening rounds of the fight saw Haemar tear up his opponent pretty well.  In Ravenfeast, leaders have 3 wounds - one more, and Haemar's nameless opponent would go down.

Jarl's men close-watching,

his life's blood saw spattered.

In wrath they strode forward,

our chieftan to slay.

In the scenario, if the leader takes a hit, and fails morale, his men pile in.  Haemar's in trouble!

At Haemar they struck,

sharp spears hard-piercing.

His heart's blood they sought,

to spill on the soil.

Attacked by multiple foes, Haemar fights at a disadvantage, and is badly wounded.

Against many stood Haemar,

proud-fighter, sore wounded.

As waves against sea-rock,

the foe-line did break.

However, Haemar's men rush forward.  Can they relieve him before he falls?

To Haemar we rallied,

gold-giver, war-leader.

Hearth friends and hirdmen,

to his side we strode.

The first rush of Haemar's men takes out some of the opposition, but they don't quite break through to the man himself.  

Fell blows were given,

false friends struck down.

Many hewed Haemar,

though he would not fall.

The fight starts to even up.  Snorri, one of Haemar's Huscarls, draws off the opposing Jarl, while Haemar deals with the man left on him.

Hearth-friend of Haemar,

strong Snorri, quick killer.

The foe-jarl did battle,

While Haemar slew men.

Behind the duel, more drama.  Arne, a hirdman (i.e., a grunt), duels and kills one of the opposing elite troops - a multi-attack berzerker.

Young Arne, axe-wielding,

struck down the bear-sarker.

Great honour he won there,

from Haemar a ring.

Haemar re-engages the opposing Jarl, with assistance from Snorri.  I'm missing a pic here, where the loose enemy Hirdman on the far left moved over to attach Haemar.  Snorri ended up dueling the opposing Jarl solo.

Brave Snorri, stout hearted,

to Hel sent the false friend.

Who's death-stroke killed Snorri,

he feasts with the gods.

With the opposing Jarl dead, Haemar rallies his surviving men, to drive off their erstwhile friends, now foes.

Brave fighters of Haemar,

drove false-friends, quick fleeing.

From hearth's hold they drove them,

to feast there no more.

The Ravenfeast.  Odin's hall has many new warriors tonight.

The ravens fat-feasted,

the corpse-reap was hearty.

Odin was happy,

his war-throng swells more.

So, that was pretty fun.  Ravenfeast seems pretty accessible, lets you take a range of fighters, is absolutely character-driven, and seems to produce a fairly engaging game.  Although the mechanics are pretty simple, I can see them becoming a little unmanageable if you tried to run much more than a dozen models or so - but it would probably work quite well as a multi-player game.

As it happens, between the Little Wars stuff, trying the game, and a little late night perusing, I ended up springing for a box of the new(ish) victrix vikings.  Kind of looking forward to them, though I suspect it'll be a few weeks anyways, with the mail the way it's been.

Gratuitous shot of the Fenris-cat, who took an interest in the battle.  Also, how about that house?  The Cub's work - he's developing a real knack for terrain.

A-viking we will go . . . .

Hi,

After a long hiatus, Haemar's host gets a new addition, a point of Warriors to bring him up to a 3 point force.

Kulli and the gang.

I've been watching the Viking's series of late, and binge-reading Cornwell's Saxon series, and between the two, seem to have jump-started my painting mojo.



These guys are the usual mix of Wargames Factory and Rohan models, most with some modification / greenstuffing, especially in the area of hair and beards.



I also tried to ensure they weren't as well-equipped, and that while they had spot colours to tie them in, were generally dressed in more drab / earthy tones, to distinguish them from the Hearthguard.





Getting these guys finished seems to have fired me up a little, as I've gone on to finish the Bret Lord I started  while back, and get cracking on some other stuff as well.  Hopefully, this'll mean more regular posts in future.

FMB

Angry young men.

Hi,

Finished up another point for the SAGA vikings, this time, a unit of 4 berzerkers.




Looking at the pics, I think a lens clean is in order.  I can only presume that the Puddin' has been mucking with the camera again.

As far as I can tell, the vikings are the baseline faction for SAGA, in that the core force is about as straightforward as it gets.  They do, however, get to take one special unit, the berzerkers.  Viking warlords can swap a single point of hearthguard for a 4-man berzerker unit, who basically trade offensive for defensive ability.  They're kind of a Viking fire and forget missile.  Deliver them, and they'll wipe out most anything, but don't count on them sticking around for another go.







As with the other figures I've done so far, these are stock Wargames Factory models, tarted up with a little greenstuff.  In the case of the berzerkers, I bushied up their hair and beards a little, and added the famous wolf-skin capes.







I think they're so-so, but acceptable for a first try.  They should do the basic job of distinguishinf the unit on the table-top.







In the big demo game marke ran, I had a chance to see both the unit's strength, and it's weakness.  Bolstered by the viking battle board's offensive abilities, there's not much they can't take out, but if fatigued, or otherwise affected by attrition, they can be quite vulnerable.







I've also assembled 8 plain jane warriors for the next point of the warband, though I suspect it'll be a few weeks before I get to them.  The next little while will be busy for us, and I have some half-finished stuff for both Muskets and Tomahawks and Blood Bowl I'd like to clear.

FMB

Lord of War

Hi,

Things have been a tad hectic of late, between work and weekend visits to family, but I did manage to finish up a warlord for my developing SAGA Viking warband.

Hamar inn Haegi, aka, Hamar the Unhasty.

It's a stock Wargames Factory viking hirdman, with a fair bit of greenstuff work.  I added the bearskin cloak, and gave him longer hair and a suitably hairsuite beard.

You can tell he's badass from the beard.

As with the hirdmen in the earlier post, he's fully armoured, and armed with a sword.  I thought about greenstuffing some arm rings, etc., but didn't want to busy up the figure too much.

The cloak is made from a bar he kilt.  When he was only three.

There's a couple of spots on the figure I might go back and fix up a little - things I'm seeing in the pictures, but didn't live.  Still, I'm reasonably pleased with him, and he'll do fine to get the ball rolling.

Not adverse to the bling, our Hamar.

FMB

For the Ages

I sing of Hamar inn Haegi,

gift-giver, iron-wearer.

I sing his song,

his deeds are remembered.

To Aengland we sailed,

four ships, swift sculling.

On oars we pulled;

for Hamar, our chief.

To gold and fat sheep,

Hamar lead us.

To a killing field;

glory our lot.

Hamar, in craft,

saw reavers in hiding.

Wolves in metal;

our brothers, our foes.

Against us they stood,

gold-stealers, false-names.

Hamar, Odin-friend;

he cared not.

Hearth-friends of Hamar,

axe-wielding, mail-clad.

In the front of the line;

their bodies his shield.

Against them came fighters,

bear-shirted, wolf-tongued.

Howling for battle;

ravens ate them.

Behind us came riders,

fur-bearing, swift-hooved.

Strange bows they bore;

Dwarf-faced, ill-smelling.

Brave fighters of Hamar,

sharp-eyed, quick-footed.

On Freya and Heimdal they called;

Odin made them his.

False brothers drove back,

the first of our people.

Hamar stood;

last to leave is he.

Our warlord stood proudly,

sword-wielder, mail-clad.

Strong-armed, quick killer;

the foe fled.

Blood was our prize,

sharp iron, gold rings.

Glory was our lot;

Hamar led us.

For some time now, there've been a few guys at the club working on stuff for SAGA, the dark ages skirmish game from Gripping Beast.  Between blogger stuff from people like Monty, and marke's local contributions, I've been aware of, and tempted by, the game for some time.  Then marke, Bad Influence that he is, ran a big multi-player game on Wednesday as a trial for something he's putting on at Hold the Line (the club's summer show, check it out, it'll be awesome) , and I figured "hey, can't hurt to try it, right?".




Yeah, those would be the 4 hearthguard I assembled and painted since Wednesday.  So much for having painting block ;)

As it turns out, SAGA is crazy fun.  The core mechanic, for those unfamiliar, is the 'battle board''.  Each turn, players roll dice (the number of which is determined by army composition; bigger units are more durable, but smaller in number, hence fewer dice).  Dice are distributed to different options on the battleboard, with some standard across all boards (unit activation. etc.), and others specific to faction (Vikings get lots of special melee offensive abilities, for eg.).  This leads to recurring decision making throughout the game, and while at it's core it's igoyougo, there's no sense of passively waiting while the other player acts; you get to use your abilities on the opponent's turn as well.  I realized I'd fallen in love with the game when I found myself cackling maniacally at all the evil crap I'd just realized I was about to do to an unsuspecting opponent.



I spent a chunk of the next evening working up the saga posted at the beginning of this entry, practising my Norwegian accent, and digging through the lead pile, coming up with some plastic Rohan warriors and a box of Wargames Factory Viking Hirdmen.  More than enough bits in there for a Viking crew, with a little judicious filing and conversion.



The four hearthguard are a mix of bodies from both sets, with viking heads, weapons, and shields.  I've also put together a fairly snazzy warlord, but will save him for another post once he's painted.







As these are hearthguard, i.e., rich guys, I went with a full panoply for each, of mail shirt, helm, spear, and sword.  Colour are strong primaries, but I tried to keep them a little dull.







The Wargames Factory plastics seem to have a bad rep on teh interwebs, with the major complaints being that they're hard to assemble, and that they have "soft detail".  I found them just fine to work with.  Very little in the way of mold lines, easy to scrape off where it was.  There are loads of options for assembly, especially with the arms.

I think you need to spend a couple minutes figuring out which arms give you which options, and actually trying them on the figure before you start gluing, but I'm not sure why people think that constitutes "hard assembly".  A little green stuff smoothed the join between arm and shoulder, and a little filing and trimming helped with the heads, but they're no more difficult than any other multi-part kit I've used, and they're wonderfully flexible in terms of posing.







What they remind me of, a little, are some of the nicer 1/72 figures I've painted, in that they're proportions are much closer to scale human, rather than being exaggerated in the "heroic" 28mm scale common to some other figure manufacturers.  I think they work reasonably well with the GW LotR figures, which are similarly scaled.  The WGF figs are slightly larger, but I think on the table it looks more like taller and shorter men, rather than that the figs are out of scale with each other.







Looking at the pictures, I get the impression the top coat of varnish has merged some of the top highlights, but a bit of touching up should take care of that problem.  Given that these are the first batch of 28mm I've done in a while, and the first 28mm historicals I've done in a very long time, I'm cautiously pleased.

What's more important (for me, anyways), is that doing these guys, and that game of SAGA, seem to ahve re-energized my urge to paint.  I've got plans to set to work with some clippers and files once the warlord is finished, and put together a unit of vanilla warriors, and have gone on a massive Vikings kick; podcasts, both fiction and non-fiction reading, and I've even got the Beloved watching the series with me.

Daddy's back.

FMB