Tetlys tea and custard creams

Hello all.

A while no blogging, and even longer that I've not been around my little men. I'm still in England, enjoying tea, sliced bread, fish and chips and biscuits. I also went to a gameswork shop yesterday and was horrified to see the new lord of the rings rule book was £50! No thank you, I'm sticking with the old school first edition I got for £2!

Anyway, I've been sans figures but not without my ideas and musings, mostly on Runissia and possible armies for the setting. I might be getting some figures soon-ish, even thought I have loads of perry plastics still. Ah well, that's what it's like to be a wargamer!

As you might know, I'm planning on doing my Runissia in 15mm for a change of scale and also so I can make full scale castles, forts and towns. This is really hard in 28mm for space reasons so I really want to go smaller to go bigger.

So, I've been drawing building plans, taking inspiration from many sources. I bought a book on British castles the other day for 2.99 (instead of 14.99!) and saw Eilean Donan Castle (above, image from Wikipedia). This is the sort of look I want for Runissian castles. Kaliad places might be similar, but more round and smaller.

I could also do this in 6mm, meaning even more space, so it is a possibility and means I could have even more castles for less space. And it's cheaper and easier to hide...

Right, time to go raid some blogs for links!

Making a start

Made a start on my new 15s and painted up two of them. They went quickly and they might not win any painting competitions but i'm looking for a full force, more impressive en masse. Just the bases to do and click for more detail.

I did a little conversion on the spear man, turning the hand and clipping a hole in the spear. I did add a little axe head in plasticard but it fell off so he's a spearman. I kept highlights to a minimum, mainly on the armour and the crossbowman's surcoat.

I've also made a start on a hall and two houses for my campaigns in Runissia and the Kaliad Shore. I'm aiming for a mix of Saxon/Viking buildings for the poorer and rural buildings with later medieval manor houses and towers/keeps for the richer and fashionable men.

Figures to show the size.

The hall's big, but it has to be! I won't stick the roof on so men can go inside.

I plan on doing a tower, like the one i have already in 28mm but perhaps in stone this time, as well as some more farmers houses and a barn and smithy. That was i can have a village, a manor around the hall or a motte and bailey castle around the tower. I'll make a circular palisade from plastic sprue too. Hmmm, plenty to do!

Ideas, ideas

Ah, some sun at last! I took advantage of the weather to get out the paints and continue my crossbowmen. They're still not finished, but slowly does it. The cloths are all done, just leather (it's a bigger part than you might think!), weapons and other bits, bolt quivers, crannequins, etc.

 

I've also been wondering on he subject of figures for my fantasy world. I've really wanted to make some of these, but i didn't want to start making some, then lose intrest and have half a dozen useless figures lying around. Years of daubling with periods and having a smatering of figures for each force has taught me to focus a bit.

But, after drawing and writing so much, i just want to try and make some in plastic. I thought about making only some command figures, and proxy the other men so i can play games, but i would really like to have a full army of Runissians one day.

 

I have already made some Runissians and Kaliads, such as this one here:

 

You might notice he has no thumb! By the time i had done all the chain mail, doing one thumb was just too much.

Needless to say, it took an age to poke the chain mail, and it would be a shame if all this work went to waste.

No shield so you can see the left arm.

As not to loose steam, i decided to note down some ideas, using the Perry bodies so i can actually make them afterwards. I plan to buy a box of Perrys and use them just for conversions to see what i come up with. Christmas is coming up so...

Anyway, on to the plans. I have included a small image of each body for those not familiar with these figures.

 

The first idea i had after painting the crossbow men; a brasir (freeman) levy carrying a spear on his shoulder. The arms are pike arms, and i shall glue a shield onto the left arm, a wargames factory round one.

This one is basically a Saxon or Viking with a breastplate. I thought it might look cool.



At first, there were no faulds (the groin armour) in Runissia, but i guess there is now!

This one will be a commander or unit leader. I think he will be menacing with a full face helm, as long as i don't mess it up.

 

An easy one, i just want to try and make him aim his polearm down, rather than 45 degrees like the Perry arms.

 

 

Bashing with shield, a sutibly dynamic pose if it works. If not, i shall have him lunging with a spear or halberd.

No really a conversion, but an idea for the body. Might make a long padded tunic for him, as to change him a little.

I also found something nice in my bits box. The wargames factory kite shields are too small for early medieval, but perfect for tear drop Kaliad shields! Just round off the bottom, and Bob's your uncle!

 

Maybe a WIP Runissia sometime soon?

2 battles and a teaser...

I've been recently testing my cards for my Runissia/Kaliad setting. As said before, this is sort of a testing field for new ideas.

Both games were raids, with the Runssians attacking. I used the 'extended lists' used by Jim for his Brungundian Succession war setting, adapted for the setting.

Note these are more groups of photos than a proper AAR, as near the end i lost the light and my photos look terrible.

 

First off, an attack on a village. Here is the Runissian force, moving on the table.

 

 

The figures i used was a mix of Perry medievals and Saxons and Vikings. Lords and nobles were in plate armour, although it doesn't exist in this setitng. Some imagination was required.

Here comes the Kaliad vanguard, some warriors, levy, and crossbowmen.

Another shot of the Kaliads. Warriors form the front row, levy the second.

First clash, with the Runissians chargin against the Kaliads, who have closed ranks. The Runissians can too close ranks, but chose not to here, to their cost.

The Kaliad khorv and his cavalry spy some Runissian archers they later charge and kill half of them before being forced back.

 

The Runissian lord and some warriors watching some Kaliad levies.



 

In the end, the Runissian lord was defeated after being weakened before, depsite heroric efforts by some Runissian elites to drive back some levies. Shock was desisive, however, and they pulled back and were killed.

 

Second game, this time to pillage the great hall.

 

The Runissians again, coming over the hill.

Runissian hunters spy the Kaliad vanguard.

The Kaliad force ranked up for battle.

This one lasted longer, as either side wished to attack. A shoot out evolved, and finally the Runissians advanced in closed ranks. After some hard fighting, the warriors were destoyed and the levy pushed back. Funnily enough, the Runissians only lost 2 (yes, two) archers in the whole game.

Not sure if giving the Runissians the ability to close ranks in raids is a good idea. Seeing as the Kaliads have mostly levies, on a straight up fight the Runissians would win. Some thinking required.

 

The games also last a lot longer with more men on the table, but commanding is more challenging, just like in reality i guess.

 

Finally, i've starting thinking about a new varient, this one a bit particulier. All i'll say is it's name; Dux Mirificus (how google translate is right!).

Watch this space!

Snug in Runissia

   Hi all i'm currently south of Perpignan in the moutains, not very far from Spain. Where we're staying is on the side of a moutain and at the moment it's throwing it down with rain. Perfect for blogging.

   As i'm going to start a Runissia dux campaign soon, i thought i'd introduce some of the names/ideas and what not about this place. Sorry for those historical gamers out there, but it own't be all Runissia!

Being at the mountains is quite convinent, since Runissia is mostly mountains.

 

The north, with Runissia at the top, Kindarr and Skarn to the east, and the Kaliad lands to the south. In the south west you can see the end of Flint Island and the Fraal islands are far off to the west.

 

Introduction:

   Runissia in on the northern most part of my fantasy world, with it's eastern border on Kindarr. To the south in the Shallow Sea and the Kaliad lands, often called Kaliad Shore. It is a cold and mountainous land, being cut almost in two by the huge Korkn Mountains. To the east the lands are flatter and more like Kindarr with rolling hills and vast lakes, while the northern tip is wild and harsh.

   The seasons here are not like our own world; the calendar is split into 4 season years, birthing, flourishing, falling and sleeping year. In each of the season years there is a spring, summer, autumn and winter, just like our own, but they differdepending on the season year. So in the flourishing year, there might not be snow in winter, while in the sleeping year it has been known to snow even in summer. A cycle of four years is known as a Hudyar, basically '4 years'.

 

History:

   Runissia is an ancient nation, first formed when the legendary Rafans invaded in the year -36 according to Benden, the first Runissian historial. Before this the land was split into clans and tribal lands who fought and traded, and joined together to fight the Rafan invaders.

   The Rafan wars were bloody despite the lack of major battles, as the native populations used hit and run tactics and the invaders employed a scorched ground policy, and in the end forced the native population to give in. In the year 1 Tylk the noble, the Rafan leader, was crowned king in Hanbrik.

 

   The Rafan power was concentrated in the west, and in the north and east the lands were still very much 'barbarian'. The situation remained as such until 187, when Salyr 'the weak' abandoned Runissia and left over sea. Runissia returned to the pre-Rafan period until 203 with the rise of Malan and Karles a year after. Malan was a western warlord who based his new land, Fladia, upon old Rafan traditions and systems, while Karles was more of a traditionalist in the east, having never seen Rafan power. This eastern land was called Bulkdrom. The two powers came to blows in the Wars of the Birds, called so because the two powers used birds as their badges.

   In 204, exactly 100 years after the forming of Bulkdrom, Karles' successors conquerored the west and formed Bulkdia. This nation included all of modern Runissia except Kwenth in the north, that managed to remain independant until 392 when it was conquerored and included into Bulkdia.

   The line of kings was strong but the Fraal incursions (408-419) destabilised the realm and weakened royal power. It was then Ceres, a Longon furjuk and victor of many battles against the invading Fraals, made a bid for power. Unable to resist, the last Bulkdian king Etethel went into exile. Ceres crowned himself king in 420 as Ceres I.

 

   From then until now, in 654 the Runissian line has ruled. The land was heavily damaged during the 'Crow Wars', a long civil war between rivaling houses that brought Runissia to it's knees and opened it to foreign enemies. Now Romin, the current king, has gone to great efforts to restore Runissia to it's former power.

 

Titles and land:

   Runissia is ruled by the Taludarn (king) who rules over all of Runissia and makes it's laws and leads the armies against foreign foes. He resides in the royal palace at Hanbrik. (Taludarn is derived from Talud, the Runissian word for mountain)

   To help him rule this land, there are several furjuks (dukes) who rule one of the furjukhors; Kwenth, Dramdon, Fladon, Merkena, Bakuna and Longon.

 

   Land is divided into between the Jeruds (nobles), powerful Jeruds being called Derlens (earls). These men ensure the peace is kept on their lands and collect taxes from the brasirs and filfyrs.

   Farm land is divided into haeths, the land that can feel a family. Filfyrs are men who own at least 6 haeths but are not nobles, brasirs are those men under the filfyrs, but are still freemen. Under brasirs are the slaves, who have few rights and are not allowed to bear arms.

 

Next time, Runissia at war, Kaliad and ideas for Dux Britanniarum.

15th century lists

I've got round to blogging up my ideas for the lists proposed the last time. I have four; Burgundian ordanannce (or french if you wish), Burgundian militia, French franc archers and Esquire's tenant band. Nothing serious in the three last ones, and they might be slightly unbalanced.

 

Ordannace Burgundian:

1x4 elite shock cavalry, 1x4 warrior shock cavalry, 1x6 warrior pikes, 1x6 warriors, 1x6 warrior archers, 1x4 skirmishing hangunners.

Cavalry may not charge pikes frontally, i will eventually invent some better rules.

 

Burgundian militia:

1x6 elite, 3x6 levies, 2x6 warriors, 1x4 skirmishing handgunners. Up to three units with pikes.

The elites are gen d'armes and the warriors/levy are men of the guilds. Some might be armed with crossbows, maybe a unit or two (help equal the French cavalry).

 

French franc archers:

2x6 warriors, 1x6 warrior archers, 3x6 levies (up to 2 with missile weapons), 1x4 skirmishing hangunnners.

Although called archers, by 1477 many had pole arms and pikes. Maybe a few less warriors...

 

Esquire tenant band:

1x6 elites, 1x6 warrior archers, 2x6 levy, 2x6 levy archers.  Swap elite for warrior archers.

Inspired by reading an extract of a letter where a man offered a magnate to raise men under his name, so this particulier leader gathered the poor peasants from his estates to fight for him. The elites are men at arms.

Of course, all forces have a lord, 2 big men and a champion.

 

In other news i have made 2 more Runissians, but it is too dark to take decent photos so they will have to wait. I have also started on card ideas for Runissians and Kaliads, as well as career paths and origins. For example, Runissians may be sons of impovorished or rich jeruds (nobles) or even exiles or Kaliads serving the Runissians. The Kaliads can be sons of Merves (middle class men), khorvs (nobles), a Runissian or peasant.

 

As for careers, the Runissians start off as mercenary captains who must win victories and be declared great leaders by their men, and then they may conqueror their own estate and be rid of taxes (they riside on another lord's land before). They then make a donation to the king to become a jerud, who may do certain things with his estate. He then had a choice; fight for Runissia and become a Derlen (earl) of the Southern Coast, or become independant (testing loyalty for nobles). The Kaliads are similar, minus conqueroring estates, and they may either become the main leader for their king or despose him and take the throne.

 

Also welcome to Þorsteinn á Heiðini who has a charming blog about all things medieval. He also like Perry medievals; 10/10!!!

More musing on Dux and 2 Runissians

Many people, including me, like army lists. I also like characterful armies, so i had the idea to make 'alternative forces' for Dux. Let me explain...

In Dux, at the beginning you start off as a lesser noble, captain or whatever trying to make his mark in the world. Normally we'd start as a noble with a band of trained men, but what if we were someone else? So instead of being a landed nobleman, what if the players were constables of Burgundian guilds, or captains in the Franc archers? You're men will be mediocre, but it will be interesting.

The idea i had was the constable commanded a band of militia men from one of the Lowland towns (or a small, imaginary one) and had to work his way up the social ladder, becoming the guild master, then a militia leader and finally the town's gouvernor, and then chooses whether he will fight ofr Burgundy or the town's freedom.

Another idea could be an English Squire who has offered to raise some men for a magnate in the wars of the roses. His force is centred around some men at arms and retinue bowmen, while the rest of the force is levy tenants, half with bows and the other half with bills.

Army lists shall come soon! ;)

 

I have also made a start on my Runissians. I decided to use Perry miniatures rather than Fireforge for several reasons. First, i know the miniatures and like them very muchly. Second, i have plenty of ideas for them and also theymix well with bits i already have, while the Fireforge are entierly new to me, and they are not even out yet and i want to make some now!!!

Anyway, here are me two creations; two elite troops, the norkori or retinue troops.

Both are perry bodies with one or two wargames factory parts, and plenty of miliput. I'm happy with them, but the boots need some work. Well, it's still early days!

Runissia, now with cities!

Олег пищалев, Tim, Paul and Ray, welcome to my mead hall (or castle hall, depends on era i'm currently in)!

 

I was going to post the mercenaries i had finished, all based and nice, but time seemed to disappear and i took no photos. They'll be a weekend update.

This map is of course Runissia, and the other day i decided to add some cities to it. At first it might seem like not many, but Runissia is quite a hostile place to live in, and most of the population live in small villages scattered around the nation. There are also smaller towns but i'm not going to plot every one!

I circled them in red because a small black dot is hard to see on a black and white drawing filled with writing. Get the full size image up to read the names.

I decided that in Runissia the population is roughly 2 million, which is total guesswork and is similar to some medieval countries if i recall properly. About 10-15% live in the towns, which again is a rough figure.

 

I have seen some blogs for imagi-nations in the 18th century and they inspired me to get more done with my fantasy world, if only fireforge released their sergeants quicker! I am currently meditating on the figures to use for Runissians and Kaliads. The Kaliads are rather easy, being fireforge sergeants bodies with parts from Perry sets, while the Runissians are harder because i want a far number of men in chain mail. Wargames factory Saxons/Vikings maybe? I'm scouring the web; forums and magazines for any possible candidates; i've got plenty of time, it's a very long term project!

Runissia in pictures

While i have the computer to myself i shall post up some drawings of ideas for my fantasy world, Runissia (and other nations).

Note i'm not a great artist, and proportions may be odd.

Click on images to get a much bigger image.

I'm searching for a medieval/dark age feel, no knights in shining armour. There is plate armour, but it is limited to breastplates, greaves and hand protection, and is expensive so only wore by nobles or those who have salvaged some from plunder.

Here, the left hand armoured man is a Kindarrian jorfar, a noble in Kindarrian terms (it's not our world, so i use different terms, even going as far as calling the Runissian king the taludarn, coming from talud, the Runissian word for mountain). He wears a breastplate, leg and hand plates, and fashionable shoulder guards popular amongst the elite in Kindarr. His helmet is a variation of the basinet, being fully enclosed. The left hand man is a Runissian or Kindarrian foot soldier wearing a chain mail hauberk under a padded jacket, as well as leg plates and a basinet, the most popular helmet.

Basinet variants. The coif, a chain mail hood worn from the helmet, are very popular, and many basinets are completely enclosed, the newest versions having movable visors. At the bottom is a Runissian soldier on the left and a jerud, a Runissian noble with halberd and a mantle. These are long surcoat like cloths, some open at the front and worn in court and in battle. He carries a halberd as pole arms are very popular.

Kindarrian troops. At the bottom, a jorfar leaves his lady to go to war. Padded and studded leather vests are often worn over the mail shirt to protect against picks and spears. He carries a basinet with attached coif.

Left; a jorfar in long hauberk, breatplate and small shoulder guards. He carries a tear drop shield and wears an enclosed basinet. His chain stockings are older versions and are falling from favour against plate protection.

Middle; a foot soldier with spear and studded vest. he also wears padded protection on his legs, as well as knee caps and high boots, popular in Runissia and the lower ranks or Kindarrian society.

Right; jorfar or professional soldier in long sleeved hauberk, plated gloves and a basinet with coif. He carries a hooked spear. This could also be a Runissian.

A draft with Kindarrian basinet types and a jorfar.

Kaliads who live south of Runissia. To the bottom left is a selection of pole arms.

Left; Kaliad soldier with studded vest, high boots and a kettle helmet. Kaliad is poorer and it's foot troops are poorly equipped compared to Runissia and Kindarr.

Middle; A khorv, or Kaliad noble, in chain mail hauberk and carrying a tear drop shield. For Kaliads, nature is part of their religion (more on this later).

Right; shield or pavise bearer. These men stand in front of Kaliad units and protect the men armed with spears, halberds and pikes. This man carries a sword and wears a padded jacket and basinet with coif.

Enclosed basinets and swords.

As you may have guessed, i like thinking, and something my philosophy teacher said recently has made me think about my fantasy world (i'm in terminal). Basically, man models art and music on religion, and he mentioned weapons and i thought of the sword looking like the Cross in Christianity, so i thought 'hey, that means weapons in Runissia must have religions meanings'. So came the mass of sword pommels above.

In Runissia, the 'Dornavan Order' exalts light and goodness, so i thought along the lines of sun, gems, etc. In Kaliad, nature is part of their religion, so leaves, drops and plants. These then became numerous hilts and shields (drop shaped). For hilts i stayed simpler, with Runissian and Kaliad designs being smaller while Kindarrians prefer wider hilts.

Hope your head's not hurting.

So there you go, the basic image i'm looking for.

Pour les lecteurs francais, commentez en francais, je vous comprendrai ;) Et si vous comprenez pas quelque chose, disez moi et le traduirai! Je passe tous mes jours depuis 4 ans au ecole alors on apprend!

Impetus lists

I started this post while my cousins were here, but i have only found the time to finish it now. Today i will share some of my lists for my fravorite large battle game; Impetus.

If you don't know it, impetus is a game for fighting battles using DBx style bases, albeit larger. I use the free, basic version, which i prefer because i like a smaller amount of units. I sometimes play with my figures but normally i play using 15mm size counters, being easy to store away and cheap.

For my fantasy setting i have wrote several lists for the main factions/nations, which i shall share here. I shall also share a draft list for fighting battles in G. Martins fantasy setting A song of Ice and Fire. Use 'em, change 'em, do as you like with them, and most of all, enjoy them if you play Impetus!

This link will take you to the basic impetus page, where there are official lists and the rules.

First up, the generic Seven Kingdoms list:

Nr       Type      M         VDU         I         VD         Notes

             CP        8             7             3          3           Knights/ Heavy cavalry

             CP       8              5             2           2          Sergeants/ bannermen

             T         6              3             0           1          Short bow A levy archers

             T         6              3             0          1           Crossbow A Lord's archers

             FP       5              6             2          3           Foot knights                                                      

             FP       5              5             1          2           Foot bannermen                                                       

             FP       5              4             1          1           Pikes Levy foot                                                       

             S         8              2              0          1          Shortbow B

This is a very generic list as i have only read the first book. Lannister forces could include more cavalry units, Stark and Riverland forces mess cavalry but their infantry could be tougher.

For the Dothraki, the Mongol lists from the impetus site could be used.

Conversions #2

Two Kaliad shield and swordsmen. Kaliad is south of Runssia, a land of warring clans and Runissian colonies, i will post the map when done.

The right hand man wears a Runissian style helmet and camail, while the left wears a Venden sallet. The Vendens are the 'romans' of Runissia, they came many years ago and now are all gone after decades of colonisation. The remains of this empire are to the south of Kaliad, fighting to survive.

The Kaliad fight in clan bands with a variety of weapons, such as spears, pikes, axes and glaives. Southern clans, living nearer the Venden lands, use more pikes and more better drilled. In game terms, these schiltrons are big, slow and stubborn.

Here is a WIP of a Runissian noble wearing the latest fashion; breastplate and chain mail hauberk, and long sleeveless mantle. He will carry a kite shield like the other man (see first post on conversions).

And here we have a close up of his helm. It is a perry one with added visor, not extremly neat but should look good from the gaming table.

Conversions WIP

Decided to take the plunge and convert some figures for my fantasy setting, Runissia.

I planned to create some figures for A song of Ice and Fire, but it lost steam (although i now have some pikemen, usable for scots, burgandians or Kaliads for my setting). I had some good ideas however, and decided to put them to use.

First i made a nobleman. I didn't want a typical fantasy look, 'knights in shining armour', i want a more early medieval/ feudal look, so less plate. I will post some drawings i've done if i have the scanner out some time.

I used a wargames factory chain mail body, perry knights arms and a perry head, alde into a full helm with miliput. The shield is thin plasticard.

Can't only have nobles, so i also made a spearman, all wargames factory parts except the head which is perry with added camail (a chain mail hood that hung from the helmet, used a lot in the 14th centurt and looks nice). Pretty simple pose, but i needed something simple to start with.

Basecoated. The left hand man is a champion first created for Ice and Fire, but looks right for Runissia. He will carry a wargames factory viking shield.

Painting in progress, just left hand breeches and right hand sleeves, plus one or two other things.

Shields attatched. 

Posing time! All lined up...

Bright colours, simple, i like this one a lot!

Right arm is a firing bowman, left is a billman arm with the hand turned around. Helmet like the first man's, will get some close ups sometime.

The noble. Around his neck he has a necklace in the shape of a stag's head, showing his devotion to Stagaar, lord of beasts and creator of the First Forest.

I have just ordered more perry plastics, getting 15% off because of moving stock. I got two mercenary boxes, and some will become Runissians. In my setting, there is another land to the east, Kindarr, and i will used some perries with crossbows and horsemen to represent them, more in the future. Look at my Runissia page at the top for a map of my land.

Right, time for more gluing!