Orctober (5)

Not much progress with the Orcs, but done some more for Idol of Gorktober

(mainly brown)

And Orktober

(Mainly brown, but with added squig mouth)

Orctober (4)

Bought to you by the colour yellow

Or Iyanden Darksun as yellow used to be known at GW Towers.
Also purple wash on the squig.

Orctober (3)

Some more progress. Including actual Orcs!

Orktober continues as well

And naturally Idol of Gorktober got some work done too

Having fun so far

Orctober (2)

Slapped a little paint on a couple of models last night.
Ironically nothing done for the actual Orcs for Orctober. Instead...

Idol of Gorktober

Some Necron Abyss highlights on the cothing and the face painted Knarlock, Goblin and then Goblin/Rotting Flesh. There's a lot of fiddly detail to get done on this model. Hmmm.

Orktober 

Foundry Wine Stain on the Squig, Mechrite ed on the Power Klaw and then Orkhide, Knarlock, Goblin on the flesh.

Some washes next I reckon

NWF Scenery

I've been making some bits and pieces of scenery for my NWF games of TMWWBK.

I've decided to base them on CDs with the trees on magnetic coins and pieces of magnetic sheet on the CD so they hold in place but can be removed to accomodate troops.

Here's a couple of close up shots

Orctober

It's that time of year when the leaves turn to orange and brown and thoughts turn to greenskins.
The month of Orctober

I know some in the hobby world are engaged in "Zomtober", but as that's not even a proper pun I can't be joining in with that. Plus zombies are up there with Steampunk on my list of "geeky things I just don't 'get'".

So Orctober it is for me.
No real plan just going to paint some things with green flesh.
I grabbed some Arrer Boys that have been sitting on my painting table since Adam were a lad (as we say Oop north)

 Venerable Orc boys these

 No idea why i thought glueing four to a base before painting was a good idea

Unit filler/diorama

 

Generous General Ballroom (to give him his full title) recently gifted me this Ork warboss (a limited edition plastic model from some recent starter set or other). So I guess that makes it Orktober (which still makes more sense than Zomtober)

 Some of his skin has already been started

And I've also got Oddgit the Shaman on the go. He's a greenskin, so he kind of qualifies but the real reason for starting him is that Steve and I are planning to start out on the old Idol of Gork campaign shortly, so i need him to lead the greenskins in the first battle. Gobtober? (even that sounds better than Zomtober to be honest). Or possibly Idol of Gorktober.

Oddgit

 Apologies for the poor picture quality - camera out of charge and no access to my usual image software. Still, as they're just undercoated black in the main, you're not missing much.

Dux Bellorum Late Romans v Saxons

Having finished painting some of the lovely 10mm Pendraken Late Romans recently I thought it time to give them a run out on the table. So I set up a solo game.
I did consider another trial of One Hour Wargames, but in the end decided I'd rather play Dux Bellorum and I had the time to do so.
I used the Saxon force from the campaign I began many months ago, and diced up a Romano British type force to oppose them.
The Saxons had seven units, the Companions, two units of nobles and four units of warriors. Their Romano British opponents had Companions, noble shieldwall, ordinary riders and three units of shieldwall. Both armies had an extra LP.

I decided on a basic annals battle and used some blinds to lay out the Romans and then gave them all a free move forward.

The game unfolded with both sides pushing forward and the Romano British occupied a hill on their left with a group of three shieldwall. Their right saw the companions and nobles also push forward whilst the cavalry, who had begun by shielding the left flank pulled across toward the centre to support them.

The main Saxon strength lay in the centre with two small units forcing their way through the woods whilst a larger mixed group held the right.

As the lines closed the Saxons moved to encircle the smaller group of Romano British warriors on their left. The Roman cavalry bravely moved to force the Saxon Companions to break ranks and charge them instead of the more inviting infantry target. On the Saxon right a stand off developed as the warriors opted to stay away from being forced to charge a shiledwall on the hill.

As the lines clashed one of the Romano British units on the hill hurled itself into the Saxon companions in support of the riders.

The battle now degenerated into something of a grind. The Romano British nobility braved the wild charges of the Saxons and held their ground, but were unable to make much impression in return.

Over by the hill a further large fight broke out as warriors and shieldwall alike were drawn into the combat.

The Romano British riders left the Saxons companions locked in combat with the shieldwall and instead added their attacks in support of their leader.
Whilst the fight by the hill ground on, with first one side, then the other gaining a slight advantage.

Finally the Romano forces gained the upper hand on the Saxon left, eliminating a unit of warriors and allowing the Companions to begin rolling up the flank.

With their enemies being eliminated the riders were able to throw themselves into the rear of one of the warrior units by the hill, tipping the balance in that area.

With the extra numbers now free to join the battle by the hill and LPs in short supply the number was up for the Saxons and they melted away.
This part of Britannia remains Saxon free for a while longer.


I had fun getting the toys out, and it scratched a growing Dark Ages itch. I'd forgotten the rather grinding nature of games of Dux Bellorum, and it was late before I remembered some of the tactics of throwing numbers at units near to collapse. Once a unit or two has gone the impact on LPs means the game rapidly races to a conclusion. It feels like a plausible simulation of Dark Age warfare - a bit of jockeying for position, followed by a long shieldwall huff and puff before the dam starts to break...

I am now eyeing (once again) the part finished Musketeer Late Romans and thinking if I get those finished maybe I can persuade Steve or General B to give the game and period a go.