The First Crusade

Earlier in the year I purchased some Crusader miniatures 28mm Norman crossbowmen and spearmen, which were to be used as the start of the Norman force for my 1066 armies. However, painting up the Numidians got me inspired to carry on the desert theme so while waiting for the next batch of Numidians to arrive decided to paint up the Normans as the start of a First Crusade force.

I painted these up last night and will paint up the 2x units of spears tonight. Of coruse this means I've had to order the knights (Crusader and also Black Tree design- which I've never tried but are on special so thought I'd get a few packs to sample this line) and also some Syrians to oppose them,.

The Syrians (IV/6) are one of my favourite DBA armies and I've enjoyed using my 15mm version but have decided to upsize them to 28mm. So I've another couple of projects to add to the ever growing list. For the Syrians I'm using a mixture of Perry figures and Old Glory (mainly for the Cavalry units), we'll soon know how well they mix. I have never bought Perry but decided their infantry figures in their Crusades- Muslim Armies range exactly what I need.

I've designed both armies to start with 250 pts for Impetus but that is also similar in size to the DBA army and tried to keep closely to the units in the DBA list as well so that I can use them for either ruleset. I do prefer Impetus these days (and will be having a game of Numidians vs Imperial Romans using he full rules this Wednesday night at the club) but want to be able to sue them for either.

Here are the first two units of Crusaders.








Craig

28mm Numidians

Inspired by my 15mm terrain project I've decided to finish off my 28mm Numidians. Finn and I had a 15mm game of DBA (Carthagians vs Numidians) and he said he much prefers the look/size of 28mm figures and that was all the encouragement I needed!

This project has been on the back burner for a while. I ordered some of the Warlord Games Numidians with my Imperial Romans and go some of the Wargames Factory Numidians last Christmas when I was first starting my Carthaginian- Republican Roman project.

So I've paint up the cavalry and ordered a few more bits and pieces (mainly Crusader Miniatures) to finish them off. I also needed a few Libyan Spears for the Carthaginians and decided to go with Old Glroy for those. The two armies are going to be a miss mash of ranges: Crusader, Renegade (Spanish infantry, Carthaginian Cav and Numidian elephant), Old Glory, and Wargames Factory.


Wargames Factory Numidians: Wasn't sure if I would like these (purchased them a few months ago) but they are cheap and paint up okay (see below). These guys are tonight's painting project. Being multipart plastic they took a while to put together.


Renegade Elephant and Warlord Games Numidians: I'm not happy with the shields and may make them darker and more leathery but the figures actually paint up okay. The key I've found it to take a drill to the neck and drill it out for a better fit for the head. These are to represent the irregular foot (actually auxilia under DBA) but will replace them with Roman trained infantry once my Crusader order arrives. The elephant is Renegade and was purchased with a sample order I got from them earlier in the year. Not sure whether or not to add grass (Woodlands Scenics) to the bases as well as Silfour grasses, I might have to do an experiment.


Warlord Games Numidian Cavalry. I like the look of these guys. They need a general though and will be led by some Crusader miniatures Numidians.

So I only need a couple of bases worth to complete the army and then it is onto the Carthaginians.

Desert Terrain

Here are the finished hills and woods for the 15mm Numidians and Carthaginians

Numidians & Terrain

Here are the first couple of stands of 28mm Numidian Light Horse.





15mm TERRAIN

Yesterday I also decided it was time to make some appropriate terrain for the 15mm Numidians. As their terrain is hilly I need a couple of steep hills and some woods (amongst other thinngs).

Here are the woods I made last night. They are on a base of cork covered in PVA and then dipped in sand. The trees are removable and are offcuts of 3mm MDF.




And work in progress, the first of three hills. As you can see these are quite low and shallow- the price you pay for having them so that figures don't keep rolling off.

The hill is on a cork base to which I've glued (using PVA) some polystyrene. Then the permafilla is applied. The next step, once the permafilla is dried is to paint it and then cover it in PVA and
cover in beach sand. Once that is dried a light dry brush and some light green Woodlands Scenics foliage added and it will be done.




Craig

DBA Battle Report- Numidians

I haven't managed to do much painting this week as I was in Wellington for work for a couple of days but I did manage to paint my first couple of stands of 28mm Numidians and also get 3 games of DBA in with the 15mm Numidians at TAG.

I was really pleased with the way they played. Light, fluffy and annoying best describes them (IMO). I managed 2 wins out of 3 games and two of the games came down to the wire and could have gone either way. The one thing I do need to learn is how to use my light horse more effectively. I tend to be rash throwing at least one or two down a flank early to go after the camp but more often than not they tend to die or be ZoCed by my opponents. They tend to do much better when I keep them back threatening to do flank moves! I must learn to curb my impetuous nature on the gaming table.

Overall the army, although to my mind not a powerhouse army, can provide a challenge to opponents as the mobility means I can quickly react to changing situation so I think they will be the force I take the the CHCH gaming comp.

Game 1: 4-1 vs Mark (Patrician Romans) I took photos of this one- see below

Game 2: 3-5 vs Dave (Ostrogoths? 2x LH, 6x bow and 4x knights)
I killed the enemy general and was 3-3 but failed to kill a second unit (of flanked bow) needed to win the game and the next turn the vengeful Romans cut a couple of elements to pieces to take the victory-a great game though.

Game 3: 4-3 vs Stephen- (Mid Imperial Romans)
Another hard fought game as I sought to match up my elephant with his cavalry while avoiding his blades. I was controlling things quite nicely until the last couple of turns when his his blades got into contact with some of my auxillia and started hacking through them and almost won the game for him!

The First Battle vs Mark's Patrician Romans

The enemy general is one of the central knights.

















Result: 4-1 to the Numidians.

28mm Gripping Beast Vikings

I've finally finished the Gripping beast Vikings.





Craig

Impetus

Finally got round to a game of Impetus. Kent and I used the basic rules but the points from Extra Impetus 2 for the Ancient Britons and Early Imperial Romans.

Neither of us minded which side we went so Kent rolled and went Romans. Each army was just under 200pts:

Romans

• 1x Cav
• 3x legionnaires
• 3x auxilia
• 1x scorpion

Ancient Britons

• 2x Chariots
• 2x light cav
• 8x warband
• 2x javelins (skirmishers)

The Romans, outnumbered, wisely decided to defend.

If in doubt go up the middle- Warband on one flank. Cav and chariots on the other.


Here we come! The Romans pretty much stand and await developments.


Waiting for the flanking troops to catch up.


Kent begins to reposition his troops- slightly, after my cavalry imploded against them. Memo to self: light cavalry is called that for a reason!


Well, since plan A worked so well, time for plan B- charge with the general's chariot!


The battle lines are becoming disjointed but alas my impetuous warband can't finish off any Romans.


Kent sends in the Roman Cavalry to support the flank.


Death of the last chariot! Game, set and match.


Outcome:
Crushing victory to the Romans (I only managed to kill his artillery). Those Romans and their pilums are very hard! We'll get them next time though.

It was a fun game and only took about an hour and a half from start to finish, ran smoothly and was a lot of fun. My only issue now is convincing other TAG members to give it a try. I think that it will be the main rules we use for 28mm gaming.

The only issue now is to order my Chariots and Warlord Games Ancient Britons...