The Kingdoms of Antiquity

Roman Civil War

2011-05-14T22:53:00.003-05:00

battle report at
http://18clovehamhock.blogspot.com/2011/05/roman-civil-war.html

Dwarf Army Completed

2010-11-22T17:23:00.001-06:00

Another project completed. http://18clovehamhock.blogspot.com/2010/11/dwarf-army-finished-iranistan-campaign.html

An interesting option for our armies ....

2010-07-05T14:45:00.001-05:00

enjoy the opportunities!!
A very fun post, though I suspect is also a bit humor ....

http://riowang.blogspot.com/2009/05/in-velox-libertas.html

Club game on October 31

2009-11-07T23:26:00.003-06:00

I have posted the campaign summary, battle report and photos of our club game on October 31 at http://iranistan.blogspot.com/ It is a rather lengthy post so I will not be repeating it here. A special award was given to the first participant who was able to say Rabid Rabbits Rapids the quickest and most accurately.

6mm projects completed this year

2009-10-14T19:58:00.000-05:00

http://iranistan.blogspot.com/

Painting projects

2009-10-12T21:14:00.000-05:00

Completed painting projects from this year.
http://iranistan.blogspot.com/

New post on Iranistan blog

2009-10-08T22:27:00.001-05:00

http://iranistan.blogspot.com/2009/10/prologue-to-halloween-game.html

Club Game

2009-10-06T09:00:00.026-05:00

Initial Greek Setup. Hal and my daughter.
Initial Roman setup. Ken (Cnaeus)on right side of picture and Gary(Gaius) on left side of picture.

First turn

Roman right flank advances.
Roman cavalry under attack. Greek light horse moved through wood and gained a flank attack.

Action on Ken and Hal's (Herodotos)flank.
Action in center and Roman right. Although outnumbered and outflanked, the Roman cavalry refused to die.

Ken turning Hal's flank. Ken also spotted an item in the rules that infantry could not charge cavalry. Having eliminated most of Hal's missile troops he would then proceeded to move his cavalry in front of the Greek phalanx in order to prevent it from attacking his infantry.

Fighting continues against Roman right flank cavalry. Infantry could join an ongoing melee, so Gary moved some cohorts into the ongoing fight.

The phalanx was able to advance and force the cavalry back, but Hal didn't have enough troops to hold the flank
Cleaning up. Gary and my daughter.

Ken and Hal
Ray in the background preparing to take a photograph.

Our club fought a game in August. The pictures were taken by me and the following battle report was written by Ray.

Report for Battle of the Temple of Poseidon 87 BC

THE PROTAGONISTS:

GRAECO-MACEDONIAN GENERALS

HERODOTOS of "The Windy Dells" Strategos for Macedon and Commander-in-Chief, He also personally commanded the Allied Army's Right Wing which was all Macedonian. This person at one time was a Macedonian Marine. For most of his later life he was an Engineer. After retirement as an engineer, he became a Flower Merchant in Aigai before being called up to active duty as a Militia General during the Mithradatic War.

BUCEPHALOS of "The Boeotian Butlers" Strategos for Allied Greek City States of Boeotia He was Commander of the all Greek Allied Left Wing which really included a center "hinge unit." This person came from a long line of butlers. Before being called up to active duty as a Militia General he was employed in a supervisory capacity in the Boeotian Countryside by the Theban Postal Service. He was fond of telling Postal Patrons: "Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night stays these competent carriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds."

ROMAN GENERALS

Praetor GAIUS LIVIUS ZOSIMUS, Commander-in-Chief and also had personal charge over the Roman Right Wing (Legio V + infantry auxiliaries and heavy cavalry). A long time resident of Ostia and a Member of The Patrician Class. This person was a long service Civil Servant before becoming a Praetor (Cursus Honorum).

Legatus CNAEUS RUFIUS MACRINUS, Left Wing Commander (Legio IV + infantry auxiliaries and heavy cavalry). Member of the Equestrian Order (Thus Title "Esquire"). He originally came from Tuscany, but currently resides in a Villa in Umbria. This person had a varied career: He started as an agens societas benevolens (insurance agent), later he became a praeceptor musica ( music teacher), and just before the Mithridatic War an advocatus et iuris consulti (advocate/ attorney/barrister/lawyer). The Roman Senate appointed him as a Legatus under Praetor Gaius Livius for the Mithridatic War.

The Battle's Background

This WGS wargame was a hypothetical scenario taking place in Northwestern Greece close to the small City State of Astakos. A combined Army of Macedonians and Boeotian Greek City States tried to stop Roman reinforcements to General Sulla who had just begun a siege of Athens and its Port of Piraeus.

The First Mithridatic War (89–85 BC) was a conflict fought between the Kingdom of Pontus and revolting Greek cities—Athens being the most prominent—led by Mithridates VI of Pontus against the Roman Republic and the Kingdom of Bithynia. The war lasted five years and ended in a Roman victory which forced Mithridates to abandon all his conquests and return to Pontus.

Setting up the Wargame

The Atwater Library did not open until 9:35 AM. Set up of the wargame tables and moving furniture around took over fifteen minutes. Sorting Hal Windell's miniatures into two armies took over forty five minutes.

The Romans chose the side of the battlefield which had a light woods on their right flank, a ridge on their center, another patch of light woods on their left and The Temple of Poseidon (mostly in ruins) on their further left. Both the extreme Roman Left and Right Flanks had open ground.

The Greeks were left with an area of open ground on both of their flanks as well as a large stretch in their center. They had small patches of light woods in both their left center and their right center.

GAME TIME LINE

Game Turn One began at 10:35 AM. This was twenty-five minutes of just movement.

Game Turn Two began at 11:00 AM. This was twenty-two minutes of just movement.

Game Turn Three began at 11:22 AM. Movement took up thirty-three minutes. Combat took up to twenty minutes exactly.

There was a LUNCH BREAK from 12:15PM until exactly 1:00PM.

Game Turn four began at 1:00 PM. Movement took up thirty-five minutes. Combat took up to twenty minutes exactly.

Game Turn Five began at 1:55 PM. Movement took up thirty-five minutes. Combat took up to fifteen minutes exactly.

Game Turn Six began at 2:45 Pm. Movement took up thirty minutes. Combat took up to twenty minutes exactly.

The Game ended at 3:35 PM. Counting unit strengths and casualties took about ten minutes. Clean up took up about fifteen minutes. We were out of the Atwater Library by 4:00 PM--one hour ahead of the maximum time (5PM) allotted for the game.

Game Mechanics

Harold (Hal) C. Windell's own rules, The Ancient World, were created by him over forty-two years ago. As far as I can tell from my memory and existing copies, these rules have gone through four editions. Originally, The Ancient World, was a Simultaneous Move game of sorts with the winner of a die roll (on every game turn) deciding on which flank he would begin while his opponent moved on the opposite flank. This system was modified quite often by an umpire (normally Hal himself) to the more common Move & Counter Move. The Fourth Edition of The Ancient World (02 May 1989) uses a pack or packs of playing cards to determine moves i.e. the Umpire draws a Red Card and Romans move a particular unit, and so on. This was the system used at The Battle of The Temple of Poseidon. As Scenario Umpire, I drew the cards. ( I also did not shuffle them very well.)

Game Description
Ken's e-mail of 08/12/09 (which was sent to all of you) described the Battle of the Temple of Poseidon in a "fair and balanced manner" (like FOX News?); so there is no need for me to say more. The Sixth Turn was the decisive one because over a third of the Allied Right Wing (All Macedonian) disappeared. Four units of Macedonian Heavy Cavalry survived and these would have been able to join the rest of their Right Wing (all Light Infantry) which was "refused" ( bent back). Nevertheless, Ken's destruction of all the Macedonian Light Cavalry, and most of the Macedonian Heavy Cavalry, in effect "turned" that wing. In spite of this, the Allied Army would have been able to retreat without difficulty, especially because the "off board" ILLYRIANS (fresh, organized and tough) would certainly have helped cover the retreat.

The Romans lost 6,200 (124 figures) out of 20,850 (417 figures) soldiers. The combined Greek and Macedonian Army lost 4,800 (96 figures) out of 14,000 (280 figures) soldiers.

Conclusion

The late Elliott Derman (WGS Founder & Director) was fond of saying that, "Wargaming is not a spectator sport." I respectfully disagreed with him then and still do now: There are exceptions to this observation, and the Ancients Miniature Wargame fought on 08 August 2009 is one of them. I very much enjoyed being Scenario Umpire for The Battle at the Temple of Poseidon.

Raymond Jackson

Field of Glory Fantasy playtest

2009-04-05T23:21:00.003-05:00

This past Saturday we tested several rules for a fantasy version of Field of Glory. The battle of the Pass of Shamla from Robert E. Howard's story The Black Colossus was adapted for the playtest. The battle report and pictures are at http://iranistan.blogspot.com/

Although we made a number of changes to the armies the overall battle ended up being very close to the events of the original story.

Piggs Are Grunting

2009-03-31T16:52:00.001-05:00

Due to some health issues, I have to spend sometimes inordinate amounts of time in the bathroom. So naturally, I tend to run paper and pencil imaginary games for myself while stuck there.

Now the folks who've been here a few years may remember Pigg's Hollow ... a fantasy setting for my pre-gunpowder figure. Now recently, I'd been playing against a wanna-be Dark Lord. The guy never really had enough punch to conquer everybody, and the alliances against him managed to survive some treacherous break-ups. (yes, I have ... and sometimes lose ... dice in there too).

I was stuck for a way to bring the series to a conclusion I liked. While the Dark Lord rarely appeared in person at the battles, his armies could be worn down and defeated. Being a mega powerful mage, the Dark Lord could hold a few of his strongholds indefinitely. It was a bad logic loop until it occurred to me that many mages follow funny diets ... what if part of the guy's diet wasn't so much magical power as food allergy? So, three tries later, on a campaign to secure the ever important ancient ruins, a batch of biscuits cooked in peanut oil ...

Okay, the Dark Lord is gone. One by one his lieutenants have either killed each other or been driven off. But there are these areas of miasma where much of the earlier battles and long term conflicts were waged. I'd like to run a set of skirmish games for mopping up exercises, but had a brain fart.
Used to be, I could rattle off formations and officers for several Medieval armies ... and suddenly could only recall that the lance was five to six folks and mounted and that English archers basic squad was 20 folks.

So I'm interested in basic TO&E's for basic small patrol and picquets and drawing a total blank. These spots of anemia are, unfortunately, another side effect. I couldn't even remember the last name of my old friend who ran the Wackamania campaign (a very Daisy sort of D&D ,,, saving throws could be adjust by how much your playing could make Brian laugh -- my wife told me his name when I got upset).

So rather than trying to recall lost data, I'd hoped that we might have bits of trivia floating around I could steal ...
:)
Arthur

The Roman Civil War

2008-08-07T10:18:00.001-05:00

The Jackson (Miss., USA) Gamers recently were introduced to the "Fields of Glory" rules with a grand Roman versus Roman game using beautifully painted 20mm plastic legionnaires. Please stop by for a look at:

www.angelfire.com/games3/jacksongamer/Romans01.htm

www.angelfire.com/games3/jacksongamer/Romans02.htm

Jim

The Fall of Pigg Hollow

2008-05-05T11:41:00.002-05:00

I was setting up a game for Pigg Hollow .... using my old lead 25's.
Alas, I fell ... breaking the tubs and trays holding the figures!
Now I'll have to resort some 2000 figures and buy new trays before I can game with them again!
:(
Arthur

Zamora attacks Corinthia

2008-04-27T21:46:00.008-05:00

my friend and i got together for a couple of games saturday evening. The Zamoran army would also pass as a Turanian.

fixed link

http://iranistan.blogspot.com/

War between Corinthia and Nemedia

2008-04-19T21:06:00.002-05:00

A Corinthian army under the command of Pyros the Maniac invaded Nemedia and defeated forces under the command of Maximus Dentius near the village of Numalia Minor. details can be seen at http://iranistan.blogspot.com/

HOTT Armies

2008-02-11T16:39:00.000-06:00

Just a note to say that I have got my latest set of moulds back. The first comment is - it really is great to be able to produce a Stygian chariot from 1 mould instead of having to use 5. The next thing is that I am starting to go through some of the pricing structures for army deals based on these moulds. The first few are already on my site, more will be following over the next few days. Suggestions always welcome.

More Samurai Pictures

2008-02-02T06:07:00.001-06:00

Well, I've posted a few better pictures of my Samurai. Why? Because Greg Horne wanted to see them.

Remember, click on a photo to get a much larger version of it.

The first photo shows some of the figures in my figure case. You can see a group of mounted; and, on either side of them are foot.

The foot has Samurai in the front, followed by some Monks, with Ashigaru in the rear.

The other photos show both a front and rear view of a cavalry stand and a stand of Samurai.

While these figures are all by Ral Partha, the sashimonos are from what used to be Dixon (but I believe that this line was sold to another company). I used a pin vise to drill holes to fit them in.

For the last four photos, I've proped on edge of the base up in order to get a better angle on the photos.

Yes, you're correct, the prop is just an ordinary pencil. What did you expect? Something fancy?

While I'd like to claim the credit for painting these figures, I actually traded a Roman army to a fellow in exchange for his painting these.

I'd happily tell you his name, but it was well over 20 years ago and I simply don't remember it. He was another local gamer, not a professional painter.

Sadly, they were painted for WRG 7th . . . but by the time I got them back from the painter, I'd quit playing WRG.

I did get them on the table once . . . for a game of "Warrior" (a sort of WRG 7.5 rewritten to eliminate the "Barkerese").

I'm pleased to report that they did win that single battle . . . but they've been put away since then.

Once I finally get everything unpacked, I will probably see if I can find some rules that I like and get them on the table again.

-- Jeff

Jeff's Photos

2008-01-21T05:56:00.000-06:00

I tried taking a few photos of some of the Ancients armies that I've got in my display case . . . but sadly most were pretty blurry.

(Remember to 'click' on the photos to see larger verstions.)

One that did turn out shows some of the mounted troops of my Feudal Spanish army.

Most of the Moorish cavalry and all of the foot are elxewhere, but it does give some idea of the army. Figures are mostly 25mm Ral Parthas.

The second photo (not as sharp, I'm afraid) is of my Samurai army. Again these are 25mm Ral Parthas.

I still don't know what army I would like to play . . . or even if I want to take the time from my Lace Wars projects . . . but these photos should at least let you know that I do have some Ancients (actually I've got an awful lot of them . . . but most are still packed away).

-- Jeff
http://jeffs-ancients.blogspot.com/

Orders of Battle, Army lists?

2008-01-19T14:33:00.000-06:00

I recall seeing a post which listed some links to various concepts for the army lists for Hyperboria ... but I can't find it now?
Help?

Gazetteer of Hyboria

2008-01-18T18:07:00.000-06:00

Came across the following link, looks useful.

http://www.dodgenet.com/~moonblossom/Cgaze.htm

The Sealed Temple, first raid ....

2008-01-16T21:35:00.000-06:00

A brief battle report ... no pictures, I'm afraid.
But a quick skirmish ...
At Pigg's Eye Land

Foes?

2008-01-11T13:19:00.000-06:00

Okay, we've barely started, and there's no need for a bubble map yet.
But, where are those Crow clan Picts located? North, middle, south in their range?
Perhaps my Flying Pig or Crashing Boar Picts would ... ah ... interact with them?
Or if they're in the south land, would they like to join Pigg's Eye Land in raiding into Zangoria?
Or would somebody like to resolve a collision between us ... as either party could be doing a slave raid on the other ....
Just to stir things up a tad ..
:)

To Jeff, But Might Be Of Value To Others

2008-01-03T17:02:00.000-06:00

I have taken the time to give Jeff's earlier post some more thought (along with the comments received), and would like to offer the following suggestions, for what they're worth:

Off of the top of my head, my currently painted 25mm Ancient armies are:

Greek Hoplites - Corinth
Alexandrian Imperial - Corinth
Syracusan - Ophir, Koth, Corinthia
Carthaginian - Ophir, Koth
Feudal Scots - Nemedia
Feudal Spanish - Zingara
Samurai - Khitai

I know that I have unpainted lead for these 25mm armies:

Ancient Indian - Vendhya
Illyrian - Corinth?
Gauls - Hyperborean or Cimmerian
Early Imperial Romans - Argos
Ayyubid Egyptian - Iranistan
Knights (3/4 painted) - Aquilonia or Nemedia

In 15mm I have the following painted armies:

New Babylonians - Shem
Greek Hoplites (early & late) - Corinth
Late Imperial Romans - Argos
Franks/Goths - Hyperborean?
Arab Conquest - Iranistan or Turan, depending on makeup
Medieval German Kn - Aquilonia, Nemedia or Brythunia

This should give you some general ideas, and you can always add a few "specialty" or command figures that really make the army "fit" the profile. You could even combine troops from some armies to create a Kingdom. Check out some of the Hyborean links to the right if you haven't already Jeff.

Sir William

Some pictures of my troops

2008-01-03T16:51:00.000-06:00

I finally got a digital camera and took some pictures of my troops. As i learn to handle the camera better i will be posting additional pictures. http://iranistan.blogspot.com/

Picts of the Hooded Crow

2008-01-02T17:29:00.000-06:00

I have begun a blog for my Picts of the Hooded Crow warband. Currently they are being mustered for a WAB skirmish campaign, but they will likely see service against a variety of oponents including some Fantasy types.

The Picts of the Hyborean Age were definitely an inspiration for them.

Pigg's Eye locale

2008-01-02T01:15:00.000-06:00

Since this set seems to focus upon the Hypberborean period, I've flagged a spot from which I could enjoy my Medievals, Byzantines, Turbans, and even some of my Dark Ages figures.
However, most of my gaming, being solo, will actually be on the matrix I drew up a couple of years ago which vaguely represents positional relationships somewhat analogous to Europe ....
Anyway, one can take a gander at the map at Pigg's Eye

A New Year's Welcome From The Great Hall

2007-12-31T23:31:00.000-06:00

Gentlemen,

As we enter this Year of the Rat, or the 8th Year of the 2nd Millenium of the Modern Era, Let us all follow these words of wisdom once spoken by The Great Philosopher, "Live Long and Prosper!"

I thank you all for visiting The Great Hall and hope that your New Year brings you favor from the Gods, old and new, and that you each enjoy the Year in your own way and time. Here in the Great Hall we have declared that the trumpets shall sound in the New Year, and shall celebrate the establishment of this Hall. Let the cups overflow, the wenches be warm, and the merriment begin!

Sir William

Happy New Year - when it comes...

2007-12-31T11:45:00.000-06:00

Gentlemen

Best wishes to you and yours for 2008! The drawing was done by Anna my daughter and depicts her Aunt,Uncle and dog we shall be dining with tomorrow!

The Taifa of Allives

2007-12-30T15:06:00.000-06:00

In the northern part of Zamora, in the mountains where Zamora meets Brythunia and Corinthia, lies the feared Taifa of Allives. Ruled by the iron hand of al-Saffah, known in the west as "the shedder of blood". Raiding into Corinthia and Brythunia al-Saffah has amassed a great deal of wealth. From here, his black robed worshipers of the Spider Gods.

This will be my contribution to the site....

The kingdom of Adessa

2007-12-30T10:53:00.000-06:00

Gentlemen
I include on the map the location for the Kingdom of Adessa. Should you wish to find out more please see the Kingdom Blog...

The World of Hyborea

2007-12-30T00:43:00.000-06:00

Above you will see a map of the World as We know it, brought to us by a traveler to The Great Hall. It should be noted that some of the Territories or Realms depicted actually have more than one people or sovereign. For instance, the Ghazi of Turan only occupy the northern reaches of that land. Their capital city is Shahpur and their Realm only extends southward as far as Akif and the southern banks of the Ilbars River and its delta. It is for certain that there are Turanian Sultanates to the south, but they have not chosen to reveal themselves in this Hall as of yet. Viewers may click on the map to view it in greater detail if they wish.

Pigg's Eye Land

2007-12-29T14:37:00.000-06:00

Just started piggseye/blogspot.com
I'll need to start new map ...

fantasy and Medieval leads ...
Crusades, Hundred Years War, etc. , Normans (Aquilonians)
Byzantines,
Elves, Half Elves, Orcs and goblins of course ....
in 15's I've got Byzantines, Hoplites, and Alexandrian / Successor and a fantasy Medieval force.
In plastics: each probably big enough to field a DBA army (which I hate, btw)
Hoplite Greek, Imperial Romans, Crusades / 100 years war, Saracens, Mongols,
Gaul / barbarians, Vikings (old Giant of Hong Kong figures)

My Ancient Armies

2007-12-29T04:07:00.000-06:00

Gentlemen,

I'm not sure if I'll take an active part in the "Kingdoms of Antiquity" group blog or not . . . but I'm starting to think about it.

Off of the top of my head, my currently painted 25mm Ancient armies are:

Greek Hoplites
Alexandrian Imperial
Syracusan
Carthaginian
Feudal Scots
Feudal Spanish
Samurai

I know that I have unpainted lead for these 25mm armies:

Ancient Indian
Illyrian
Gauls
Early Imperial Romans
Ayyubid Egyptian
Knights (3/4 painted)

In 15mm I have the following painted armies:

New Babylonians
Greek Hoplites (early & late)
Late Imperial Romans
Franks/Goths
Arab Conquest
Medieval German Knights

All of the above are full armies (at least 200 figures -- often far more). Generally they are based ala WRG (I played 7th Edition for far too long), although the Feudal Scots and Alexandrian Imperial armies are based for WAB.

I also have several smaller DBA-size armies . . . and I'm probably forgetting several since I really haven't played much in the way of Ancients for twenty years or so.

If I do participate in the Kingdoms of Antiquity, what would I want to play?

Suggestions welcome.

-- Jeff

http://jeffs-ancients.blogspot.com/

Iranistan Blog

2007-12-28T20:54:00.000-06:00

Information about the Kingdom of Iranistan can be found at
http://iranistan.blogspot.com/

Please visit our kingdom and feel free to comment.

Kingdom of Adessa

2007-12-28T14:24:00.000-06:00

Gentlemen please have a look at my new Blog

http://kingdomofadessa.blogspot.com/

Once you have travelled there ,across the sands and over the mountains you will find us.

I hope you find it interesting and do please comment...

2007-12-28T14:21:00.000-06:00

Once I get some available time, I plan on adding a couple of armies to this mix. Haven't decided which I'd prefer to work with but my choices are:

Painted (but not really this period):
Macedonians
Republican Romans

Unpainted:
Christian Spanish
Almorhavid
Celtic

I'll take a look at the Hyborian wars sites and see what I can match up with what. I plan on using the WAB rules for these armies. Comments welcome!

Greetings and Salutations

2007-12-28T09:37:00.001-06:00

We bring gifts from the Great Bilzanes, Shah of Iranistan. We hope that you will enjoy these delicious fruits and fine wine from our capital city of Anshan. In addition, for your amusement we have brought one of the great beasts of our country known as an elephant.

Welcome To The Great Hall!

2007-12-27T16:34:00.001-06:00

Welcome one and all to the Great Hall, meeting place for the sovereigns, visiers and potentates that represent the Kingdoms of Antiquity. If you wish to take a seat in the Great Hall, simply foward a dispatch to Sir William with your bona-fides requesting inclusion among this Hallowed Company.

Those who do not have a brave courier at hand with a suitable steed may employ that dark art known as e-mail and send it to wpmchenry@charter.net stating your name, the name of your Kingdom (we'll get to physical locations later), and a link to your own blog (if such already exists). Your particulars will then be added to the links viewable on this site and you may post to introduce yourself to the assembled Host.

Sir William