Fantasy Warriors - The Post Lockdown Version

 I Played a Game!

I finally managed to get a game in and it was a game of Fantasy Warriors. It was really an opportunity to get all of my lockdown painting a table, have a catch up with some friends  and roll some dice. 

We didn't worry too much about working out a balanced games as I wanted to get all of my lockdown painted figures on a table at once. So we had Fae and Halflings  (Derek & I) vs. Undead and Chaos (Steve & Jason). I had to write up some army lists for the Fae and the Chaos armies as they are not featured in Fantasy Warriors. 

When we used to regularly play Fantasy Warriors we had started writing updates and potential rules changes for a v2.0 (As were all part of the Grenadier display team back in he 90s).  The main change on the day was using 2D6 instead of 1D6 for the amended  reaction tables. Using a single D6 means that any score is equally likely (1-6!) but using the total of 2D6 means that numbers around the middle (6-8) are much more likely than a 2 or 12. Meaning an extreme roll is possible on 2D6, however, most of the time a result inline with expectation occurs. So if you are doing well it is unlikely your guys are going to do something stupid. Also by keeping the modifiers from the rule book remain the same, they have a smaller influence on the overall outcome.

Whilst I remembered all of the figures , I did forget the counters (Fantasy Warrior's uses counters to indicate orders, reactions and ammo etc.) so we had to use our limited drawing skills.

Fantasy Warriors has a number of fun features which affect the course of the entire game. One of those is the time dial. The Fantasy Warriors uses of time of day in the game. The day is divided into 12 periods, six day and six night periods. The time of the battle can affect your force's morale and and shooting. It will probably be no surprise to find that armies like goblins and undead favour night whereas my halflings favour day.  So as a sign of things to come we managed to roll the first turn of night for the start of the battle. 

Whilst looking for a picture of a time dial, I did come across a website where someone had made on Katie the Wargamer: September 2015

One Up & One Down

The spectral wolves of the Wilde Hunt crashed into Grateful Dead skeletons on the far flank. This turned out to  be the most balanced fight of the game. The first units to engage and still battling it out  at the end. Blue Maeve the Fae hero did help out in the first couple of turns but she was called by her queen to help defeat the Nurgle Battleleader Fester in the centre of the battlefield.

They Got Crushed

At the other end of the scale was the halfling rangers against the troll chieftain and his two heavies. Not surprisingly it didn't end well for the halflings.  The halflings were suffering from bloodlust (the Fantasy Warriors version of frenzy). But it didn't help them.

The Battle

The Chaos right flank

Facing the Chaos were the Halflings including Clive the Wyvern

The Fae right flank ready to advance

Both sides advance

The Forest Spirits face off against the troll warband

Unlike other wargames, large creatures/heroes do not have multiple wounds. Instead they have a saving throw and once you fail the saving throw the creature or hero is removed. This means there is always jeopardy putting these large creatures into battle as they can die on the first turn. Unfortunately for me I couldn't make a saving throw for the entire game and so my large creatures and heroes died! I don't think I have ever managed to roll so many double ones in an entire game. 

We decided that we would randomise some of the units for this game and the chaos cultists at the front turned out to be elite. I think this example and the one above give you a good idea of the luck I had on this game. 

In the end the halflings were crushed and the Fae couldn't get their best units into combat quickly enough. So the day belonged the Chaos and Undead horde. However, we all managed a good fun game and a return to rolling some dice.

Rob 

Salute in a Day

 A Day Out in London

Most of my Salute Hoard 

A friend and I managed to get to Salute yesterday for the first time in about four years. And a great time as had by all. Obviously there were some differences  from normal years but they were not all bad - Salute 2022 is now less than 6 months away!  Salute is normally the same weekend as the London marathon, so there are normally lots of fit types wandering about getting registered however  this year as it was in November, the other main event at the Excel centre was ' Destination Star Trek' so there were many people dressed in Star Trek costumes and a randomly, a couple of people from  the film Aliens.  Sadly I wasn't able to get any photographs but some were extremely well done. 

The event looked well attended and was spread out over a much bigger area, so we were able to wander around without bumping into people.  Most of the traders listed on the map were present but there did seem to be a couple of last minute cancelations. However we found more than enough traders and games to keep us entertained for the whole day. 

My biggest gripe of the day was that in the conference hall, the lights had been turned down so it was dim and a bit straining on the eyes after a few hours. I have no idea why as the all the sections outside the conference hall were well lit. 

Managed to get some bargains and show specials including good selection of paints for £1 and the set of fine detail brushes for a fiver. I particularly impressed by a number of companies doing laser cut MDF scenery for good prices which seems to have expanded greatly in the couple of years that we have missed Salute. I picked a Rohan style watch tower for £7.50 from Blotz which I thought was a  cracking price. Plus stocked up on MDF laser cut movement trays and bases. 

Salute 2020 - Battle of Britain

Spitfire & Hurricane Displays

The theme this year was Battle of Britain anniversary (1940-2020) and there were full size replicas of a Spitfire and Hurricane in the display hall.  The Salute mini is sculpted just for the show and there is a short article on its design and commissioning in the Salute magazine. In keeping with the theme it is a  1940's  school boy holding a model plane. As usual it well sculpted but I just can't see me painting it as doesn't fit in with any collection I have.

The Salute 2020 Mini from the magazine

Random Oldhammer

On a random Oldhammer note, I picked a very attractive A5 flyer advertising a display of John Blanche's work at Foundry Miniatures. Its a long way up from the south coast, so it is extremely unlikely that I will be attending but Flyer alone is work displaying. 

The Pictures

A few of the pictures that I took on the day. 

Oakbound's Excellent Trolls -
Which I got and are now waiting for Christmas!
I only just noticed the gruesome remains on some of the troll's bases

Oakbound Elves

Oakbound - Pixie Riders

Fenris Games - New Kickstarter

More Fenris Games

Northumbrian Tin Solder

Northumbrian Tin Solder

Rob

Thistlewood - The Kings Champion

The Imperial Guard Take Shape

The King's  champion is the commander of the Imperial Guard. I had six Grenadier knights (from the nineties)  already painted  and recently ended up with an extra one. I still need another three and I think I will get them from Fornlorn Hope to match in. I have decided to keep the original base colours as they are contemporary with the miniatures. 

I wanted him to stand out and so he could be used as a hero in other future games. So I painted him using a bronze colour scheme rather than the classic steel colour scheme. This was done using a Citadel Warplock Bronze base coat followed by a light brown wash. Then dry brushed the highlight mix of 50/50 of Warplock bronze / Hashut Copper. With these fully armoured miniatures it is fairly quick to get a finished figures painted to a reasonable standard. 

The Warhammer Stats  for Imperial Guard reflects the different approach  the Warhammer 1st edition takes with not creating unstoppable killing machines that occur in later editions. These elite knights only have a toughness B and strength 2. In the 1st edition toughness was marked with a letter not a number but it is broadly similar 2nd edition numbers by replacing the letter  with a number in increasing order A=1, B=2 etc. So with most miniatures with higher weapon skill and lower strength/toughness it will be interesting see how this plays out on the table. 

Imperial Knight Stats

Rob

Halfling Ranger Captain - Finished

 Captain of the Three Shires Rangers

Mk. 2 photos which seem to have come out better

I have finally finished the ranger captain. Who will be be my entry to the Golden Gobbo competition. There are already some really great entries. So go take a look at Oldhammer Forum • View topic - Golden Gobbo 2021 RULES AND SUBMISSION

Rangers of the Three Shires

The Rangers tackle marauding goblins

He completes the small unit of Shire rangers. 

Rob 

Halfling Ranger Captain - WIP

 A Golden Gobbo Entry

Just a quick post, on my current work in progress. A halfling captain for my Shire Rangers.  I have finished the small unit of five Rangers for the halfling army (pictures to follow) but I wanted a suitable leader for this unit and I also need to complete my entry for the Golden Gobbo competition over on the Oldhammer forum Oldhammer Forum • Index page . Due by the end of the month. 

I have added a few bits of extra equipment to the basic figure including a backpack from an old Combat Zone ganger. I also had to sculpt on some green stuff straps for the backpack. The idea is that the Rangers have to live of the land so would carry more equipment than the usual halfling militia. 

A slight adjustment after reading the rules and realising he needs to be on plastic base and not a homemade one! So I used a 20mm Spare marine one so that it is the same size/height as the rest of the army. 

A couple of homemade arrows for the base. 

Rob

Paint An Orc for Orctober

 A 300% Improvement

Beware the mighty Orctober Horde

As it is Orctober, I have managed to paint some orcs, three to be precise which as the mathematically three times as many as one. Which is how many I painted last year (hence the subtitle above). Last year I managed to finish Ugezod and this year it was the turn of his banner bearer and musician (ex-Grenadier Nick Lund Orcs via Fornlorn Hope).  As expected these sculpts fit in very well as the Ugezod's Death Commandos and are a fraction of the price of alternative Citadel ones.  I also managed an odd orc trooper from 1984 Regiment of Renown - Harboth's Black Mountain Boys.

Rob  

Warrior Part 6

 The One with the Barbarian on the Front & 100th Post!

By this stage we were getting the hang of the photoshopped miniatures on a photographed background. Although it was a time consuming processes using MS Paint. 

Doug's Little Wars rolls on towards a big finish.

My favourite Kill Zone scenario, with the Law Enforcers attempting to restore some order to the Kaiser's life.

100th Post

Well this year has whizzed by and somehow I have already posted a 100 articles on my blog. It has been an interesting experience. Which has probably helped to drive my hobby forward this year. Thanks to all those who have viewed my blog, chosen to follow and posted comments.

First of my Halfling militia,  a quick weapon swap. 

Rob 

Thistlewood - Lord Vassago's Heavy Hitters

 Trolls, Wyvern and Uruks

Ugrash-Ka, Trolls & Wyvern

When I found the trolls, I also found the giant hill troll who was with them. He seemed a much better choice for Ugrash-Ka. The one pictured in the White Dwarf article is large ogre / troll ? from Ral Partha (See below). So out goes the Dunderling and in comes the hill troll, Both were painted already so didn't requirement any extra work. 😀

The original Ugrash-Ka

Ready for War!

With the completion of a standard bearer and musician (Nick Lund's Grenadier Orcs from Fornlorn Hope)  for Ugezod's Death Commandos, this finishes the unit of ten needed for the fighting Uruks in Lord Vassago's army.

This will bring me up to 82% for the evil forces. The forces of good are lagging behind on 62%. So I will need to work out what I want to get to finish them off. I am thinking I might convert some beastmen into centaurs (only three needed) so that they could also be used for my Fae and Chaos armies if I don't make them heroic/chaotic/faerie*. 

* delete as appropriate. 

Rob

A Little Bit of Wargaming History

FF54 Wyvern - circa 1981 by Joe Dever

I got my own little bit of wargaming history today  with the arrival of a 1980s Fiend Factory Citadel Wyvern. This is one from the late Joe Dever's collection. Thanks to Springinsfeld (over at  BROADSWORDS AND BEASTS) for helping me out to get this classic. Who will fill a gap in Thistlewood forces.  He is selling them on behalf of Joe's family for charity so if you fancy one for yourself you can find them at: 

Items for sale by malplaquet_miniatures | eBay

He already looks very at home with halfling contingent as he is a more noble looking monster!

Rob 

Defenders of the Three Shires

Halfling Army Progress 

The Whole army with nearly 20 years of painting. 

Finished rebasing the halflings that I wanted keep with their early 2000's paint jobs. They do sport a bit of 'battle' damage  but I hope this just adds to the character. Along with the first of the four rangers. These painted units plus a unit of militia will complete the allied contingent for the moment. 

The New Guys

The rangers were painted in a mixture of dark greens and browns to fit their role. Plus each had couple of minor modifications, mainly weapon swaps. I would have liked to use axes as their standard weapon as I thought this would fit the rustic role. However all the spare plastic axes had previously been used on other models so opted for spears instead. Which also seem appropriate as if you are normally facing taller opponents then anything that levels the fight is bound to be preferred. I still have a couple more rangers to do but these need to have the previous paint removed.  It also does mean they match the rangers of Ithilien for weapons. 

First of the Rangers

Next up, paint stripping on the militia and a couple more rangers. Which will pretty much use up my remaining Grenadier halflings. The militia will get a green / yellow paint scheme similar to some of the 2000's figures  which I quite like and a  nice banner to compliment the Giant Killers.  It is also tempting to get a few more from Mark's - Copplestone Castings. As he has done a few nice militia figures however, they are mixed across multiple packs. 

When I finally get round to doing the paint stripping.

Rob