It's Grïhm 'oop North...

...and braw as weeell. So it's ideally suited to the next addition to the characters for The Saga of Bicca Biccasson in the form of one Grïhm, a Frost/Ice Giant ~

The figure is from North Star's Frostgrave range, cast in white metal and very reasonably priced. Now, he's not the most dynamically posed sculpt is he? But he was pretty straightforward to paint I have to say, about an hour's work in total I'd think spread over a day or two amongst the other inhabitants of the painting desk here in GHQ.

So that's a Dragon and a Giant added to the encounters anticipated, joining a large cave bear, giant spider, sabre toothed tiger, and even some various small dinosaurs. All these left over from various old Pulp projects down the years... Snow has been added to the bases now, so look out for a group shot next week to see what you think.

Snàrg

I was really keen to have a dragon featuring in The Saga of Bicca Biccasson games but have you seen the sizes, and the prices? Even a pre-painted plastic dragon from Smyths would be nearly £20, and it would take up a box in its own right! So, cue Internet searches for a possible cheaper alternative...

I found several options after numerous sessions, eventually finding Kingdom Games, an on line business specialists in 3D printing. As it happened they had a weekend sale on and offered free postage so I took the plunge and selected a style and pose that I liked to become Snàrg, the Frost/Ice Dragon. He duly arrived a couple of days later in a large box! Unpacking though lead to some initial disappointment I confess. I knew the choice I'd made of a young dragon meant he'd be smaller than the full sized ones, but not that much smaller! Still, he'd only been £6.95 so I set about enhancing his bulk by posing him on a rocky outcrop constructed from my Woodlands Scenics large rocks. Happy with the outcome he was duly washed, dried and undercoated ready for painting. Just five colours in all: the Foundry British Blue-Grey triad, Bright Red Light and Boneyard Mid Shade. I fixed the completed figure to the rocky outcrop with UHU Power adhesive and washed the surrounding texture with my go-to Country Maple, finally adding a few darker grass tuft and weeds. And here he is ~

It's right of course to remind ourselves that, "Though he be small, but yet he is fiercesome in combat!" As you can see for yourselves... and, he can fly ~

As with all of the figures some patches of 'snow' will be added in due course thanks to Phil having a job lot going spare. Mind, I've had enough of the real stuff these past few days!

Three More Viking Hirdmen...

...have been recruited to the 'Fellowship of Bicca Biccasson'. As you'd obviously expect they are more of Matt's Footsore Vikings. The shield transfers are from LBMS via Phil, as I wanted to be sure of the fit before I bought any myself. I spoke to Footsore about this and was told some blending might be required. In fact some fitted snuggly, while others were a tad overlarge or under sized. Make of that what you will. The bases are of course from Warbases, again via Phil as I'd forgotten to preorder some for The Other Partizan collection!👴🏻 Doh!!

Next up in this side project should be the first of the adversaries the 'Fellowship' might encounter at some stage in the Saga.

People in Glass Houses...

I think we all know how that pans out, don't we? Anyway, here are the latest additions to the Late Roman collection: archers from Wargames Foundry and Slingers from Aventine Miniatures' Early Byzantine range.

The Archers are painted to match the recently completed Legion as a third tank in a mixed unit, but are based up so they could form either two Small units or one Standard unit as the game scenario demands ~

The Slingers are simply two bases of two figures to form a unit of Skirmishing Light Infantry, which is always a Small unit in Hail Caesar terms ~

Like their Foundry fellows the Aventine figures lack the more dynamic animated poses of more recent ranges, being what many of my generation would probably recognise as 'proper' wargames figures, designed to fit together without much fuss on a unit base, none of this sabot base stuff!

Next under the brush for this project should be a base of four Cataphractarii. The figures are lacking a shield or standard so will be able to turn out for both Minimaximus and Baldinus, making both armies more flexible, as will the Slingers of course. 

Harald Biccasson, Saxon Hero?

Things have improved sufficiently for both Paul and yours truly so that we could once again meet up in GHQ for a game. Paul fancied an Hail Caesar game, so I rooted out my 1066 & All That collection for an encounter battle between the Saxons and the Normans. As is my wont, an annotated photomontage follows which I hope will give a sense of the battle as it unfolded ~

Norman infantry occupy the centre of William the Barsteward's army, while the right is held by his Breton allies and an element of mercenary Viking warriors led by Harald the Clueless.

William himself leads the massed Norman heavy cavalry on the left of his army of conquest.

Harald Biccasson raises his personal banner on a low hill on the left of his army. Harald is amongst his Hirdman, of whom one element is mounted. These are the men he trusts to hurl back the invader and restore harmony to the kingdom.

In the centre of his line Harald has placed his Ceorls, stiffened by a unit of Thegns. Out to their front a few slingers are sent to harass the advancing Normans.

Harald has deployed his poorest troops away on his right where a large area of woodland offers cover for his troops and disruption to the Normandy if they try to penetrate it.

Rather rashly these troops leave their position on the low rise facing the woodland and advance forward. (A Blunder of course!)

The first exchanges between skirmishing Small Units open the proceedings with neither having a decisive advantage!

The Heavy Norman infantry makes little headway in the early stages! Paul had been complaining about recent poor dice luck...a bad decision given the fickle 'dice gods' about in GHQ!

The Norman army has the advantage in both numbers and quality of troops, but the terrain favours Harald's men!

Olaf the Clueless has rather pointlessly occupied a hill on the extreme right of William's line. As his chaos have no ranged weapons Harald chooses to ignore them. He has other things on his mind as the Norman Heavy Infantry finally get into gear.

The poor class troops on Harald's right are looking rather anxiously at the Heavy infantry advancing steadily on them. The two sides skirmishing units are beginning to suffer mounting losses.

Masses of Norman Archers are deploying in support of the Heavy Infantry's attack. Clouds of arrows soon begin to fall on the nervous Coerls.

Mounting losses from the Breton archers forces one element of Hirdman to fall back in Disorder. Harald plugs the gap with his Herthguard armed with Dane Axes!

Norman Heavy Infantry crash into the Ceorls on Harald's right while Heavy Cavalry appear through the woodland. The right is in imminent danger now!

The Norman Heavy Cavalry smashed into the extreme right of the Ceorls' shieldwall. Disorder is already widespread due to galling now fire and they waver. 

Harald has lost his centre and his right is wavering. Surrounded by his loyal Hirdmen Harald prepares for William's final assault. The battle is lost, but he will go down fighting!

But before that can come to pass Harald sees his right division collapse. In the chaos a second Saxon commander is slain. Even the loyal Hirdmen have had all they can stand and Harald is swept to safety amidst his fleeing army remnants. He lives to fight another day!

Once again Hail Caesar produced a game in which fortunes ebbed and flowed before the sudden climax of events swept the Saxons from the field! All you can ask for from any set of rules in my opinion. Most of the figures in the collection are from Foundry and we're sculpted by Matt back in the day. The exceptions are the Vikings, still from Foundry, and the Bretons who are mostly Crusader and Black Tree figures sourced from Colonel Bill's . Finally as a bonus, a few better pictures Paul provided ~

Raising a new Legion...

...for the army of the true Emperor, Pompus Minimaximus, rightful heir to Pompus Maximus. During the rebasing of the rump of my Late Roman collection it became apparent that they was a discrepancy between units most suited to one army or the other, with the army of Pompus coming off worst in the redistribution. I have set too rectifying this by adding the first new legion to his army ~

The figures are  from the venerable Foundry range sculpted seemingly eons ago by Michael and Alan Perry. It's generally reckoned to be one of their most successful ranges amongst wargamers and has worn well in my opinion. If I were starting out again though I might be tempted by the Gripping Beast range or the Footsore offerings. But, things being what they are it's more Foundry figures!

The bases of course are from my go-to supplier, Warbases, and the shield transfers are from LBMS, though from the range for Gripping Beast rather than Foundry as LBMS were closed for a few weeks when I needed the transfers.

The next addition for Pompus Minimaximus' army will be some archers, with only 9 figures needed for a two base unit! One base of five figures is already completed and the remaining four are well underway. There are also more Vikings underway of course for The Saga of Bicca Biccasson!

The beginnings of a 'Fellowship'...

...for The Saga of Bicca Biccasson project. My order from Gripping Beast arrived on Thursday morning in the mail joining that received much more promptly from North Star  ~ make of that what you will. What it does mean for me is that my initial plan for the project can now move forward with some variety and choice in respect of figure painting alongside the Late Romans and Matt's Footsore Vikings ~

I'll share the 'hoard' of extras I've so far acquired with you now. I shall need to flesh out a few thoughts I've had so far on developing a simple game to play with my grandchildren if they like  as I go along ~

A Frostgrave Frost Giant, not the most lively giant on the market, but he 'will do' as we say here.

Two Trolls from Copplestone next. Yes, I know it says Yetis on the label but I saw them on the web painted as Frost Trolls. A good cheap option for my project I thought!

A few Dwarves next, from Gripping Beast's Ragnarok range. 

The Undead warriors from the same range. In addition to these I'm looking for a small and cheap dragon. Lots of options about for when the Warchest is replenished mid month, so more on that later I hope.

Next up six of Bicca Biccasson's Hirdmen, from Matt's Footsore Viking range of course. In case you are wondering what I am planning for the bulk of the Kickstarter they are allocated to the 1066 & All That project. I might add a few of his Dark Age Welsh and pass them off as Hiberno-Norse to fight my Normans. Finally, Phil and I have clubbed together and pre-ordered a copy of Mudguard, sorry Midguard of course. He even has a few Vikings in his lead continent which we can add to our project to flesh things out.

The Battle of Pendalorum

For our regular Tuesday game, on a Monday this week, Phil brought over his Goths and Late Romans for a run out against an army sorted out from my Late Roman collection! Make what sense of that you can is my advice! As ever an annotated photomontage to hopefully give any passing reader a sense of the unfolding action ~

The enemy's Goths on their left flank swept around the outskirts of the village effectively blocking my cavalry wing from getting behind their army's flank!

The Goth archers hurry into the village intent on occupying one of the buildings as a base to fire on any approaching foe.

In the enemy centre a Division of infantry is tasked with advancing to capture the bridge, the second of the Victory objectives for both sides. They are reluctant to advance though early in the action.

On his right wing the enemy has concentrated his cavalry in support of a second infantry Division. 

To win the battle my lads must hold the wooden bridge and capture the village. Heavy Cavalry have advanced to confront the Goths while solid ranks of Heavy Infantry steadily advance on their objectives.

A unit of Heavy Cavalry despatched to hold the bridge make slow progress and block the line of fire for the light artillery defending the crossing.

More infantry cross the stream to deter the advancing enemy, while on my left wing the cavalry Division moves forward slowly. If I can utilise my numerical advantage wisely and the 'dice gods' smile I me my lads will cause havoc in the enemy's rear!

The Goths surge forward in an attempt to catch my Heavy Cavalry as they ford the stream. Thankfully they fall short and fail to reach their objective. On their flank Light Cavalry are skirmishing with my archers on the edge of the woods. Losses are light in this early exchange.

The enemy's advance is tardy in the centre and on his left. My advancing Heavy Infantry come under desultory fire from a small unit of archers. My own archers seemed reluctant to set their feet in the stream!

The violence of the Goths' aggressive charge drives my Heavy Cavalry back across the stream. The Army Command base is very nearly run down!

The 'dice gods' desert me! The archers holding the edge of Pendalorum fire on my Heavy infantry as they muster for an assault. One casualty causes a Morale check with a VI! Of course I throw Snakes' Eyes and they flee!!!

As my lads in the centre organise their dispositions for the defence of the bridge crossing they are unsettled by the Broken Heavy Infantry streaming towards the rear. Time for a quick revision of my plans I fear!

Heavily outnumbered my Heavy Cavalry gloriously resist the hordes to their front, fighting the enemy to a standstill. Morale of the home team soars at this point!

On my right I send more Heavy Cavalry forward skirting the melee with the Goths only to find my advance blocked by a Goth Warband. Meanwhile in the centre a second Heavy Infantry unit has braved Gothic bow fire and attacked the enemy occupying Pendalorum.

The defence of the bridge crossing is looking steady while on the left wing units have reinforced the gallant Heavy Cavalry in their melee. A decisive outcome here would see the enemy's army in grave difficulty. If my lads drive the Goth defenders from Pendalorum my army will hold both Victory objectives!

As the enlarged melee on my left swirls about I move more units forward in anticipation of taking advantage of the anticipated victory and driving the enemy before me.

On my right the Goths have routed one unit of my Heavy Cavalry! By virtue of a Blunder though my Clibanarii arrive at just the right time and place to shore up the line. Those 'dice gods' have not entirely deserted me it seems!

I spoke too soon of course as over on my left two cavalry units have been Broken and my Light Infantry charged by the victorious enemy! 

In the ensuing fight I loose by seven casualties and inevitably break despite a valiant dice throw of 11. It doesn't pay I am learning late in life to take those capricious 'dice gods' for granted at any moment.

As the remnants of my cavalry on the left wing try to reorganise to continue the fight the enemy's Heavy Cavalry sweep forward and catch my Horse Archers. The inevitable result sees my left wing Division Broken and the remnants forced from the field.

My Clibanarii loose the melee with the enemy's Goth Heavy Cavalry, who despite being Shaken survive the Morale check. My lads throw Snakes' Eyes, again, and it's all up for the right wing Division who are Broken too.

The Battle of Pendalorum is over in Turn 6 now my second Division on the right flank mimicked it's fellow on the left flank and Broke! Two Broken Divisions out of four meant the army was Broken too, it's will to carry on the fight evaporated! As ever though with Hail Caesar, a sweeping narrative of a fight, full of twists and turns, with sudden changes of fortune reflecting the uncertainty of war.