[OB]

That famous spelling mistake!

OB
http://withob.blogspot.co.uk/

[OB]

Very nice work, they look great.

OB
http://withob.blogspot.co.uk/

[OB]

Yes, certainly worth a visit.  I’m tempted to see Calleva Atrebatum as Cerdic’s (the other one) home patch.

OB
http://withob.blogspot.co.uk/

[OB]

My own view is that the best Dark Age warriors were very good indeed.  Fitness levels were very high, likewise weapon skills and as for morale, well, read the poetry that set the standard expected.  They were full timers and dedicated, sometimes literally, to their profession.  But there were never that many of such people in any given population and they tended to be found in relatively small concentrations.

Now and then we get bigger assemblies of such elites and they always leave their mark. 

As for peasants, it depends what you mean, free farmers mostly had a duty to fight and wanted to as it was part of their legal status.  Unfree or semi free folk were not expected/allowed to bear arms in most cases.

OB
http://withob.blogspot.co.uk/

[OB]

There were raids and raids.  Big raids put together by important Jarls and their immediate followers, rite of passage raids by groups of young men, slave raids, inter clan raids, I could go on but you get the point.

A good starting point is to see who was expected to fight.  Even an elite raid would contain lesser warriors to do the donkey work.

OB
http://withob.blogspot.co.uk/

[OB]

Falcon 15mm are a miss and I’d really like some Feudal Castings 14th Century Scots spearmen but they live in the US now and the postage is ruinous.  Yxor 15mm League of Augsburg would be great to see again.

OB
http://withob.blogspot.co.uk/

[OB]

Seemingly so, on my fifth attempt.  Wonder what I did right?  Great stuff.

OB
http://withob.blogspot.co.uk/

[OB]

“Could 15 blokes form a shieldwall or did the other people run round the side and throw things and abuse at them in a cruel and cavalier fashion?”

Pretty much what cost Magnus Bare Legs his life, give or take some numbers.

I’m in sympathy with the post above. Various peoples and cultures organised for violence in different ways, tactics and methods could vary as could the numbers, equipment and skills of warriors brought to the fray. I like rules that enable me to try and reflect that in a game.

Realism, of necessity, is in the eye of the beholder.

OB
http://withob.blogspot.co.uk/

[OB]

Well you have to pick what suits you and how you think Dark Age warfare worked.  I don’t think all units in a shield wall have the same motivation or skills so I don’t mind if they don’t all step off like a Guards brigade.  The best troops are  always in front, lesser souls behind and missilery, if any, where ever its most useful.  You can expect the professionals to be more likely to obey orders than the part timers, that’s why you have been subsidising and pampering the professionals.

I like uncertainty in games others I know don’t.

OB
http://withob.blogspot.co.uk/

[OB]

There is a lot more to Dark Age warfare than shield walls.  Even in that case a shield wall is not a single unit, its a line of many units of varying quality and type.  

Whirlwind asked about Dark Age Skirmish rules not mass battle rules so I think Lion Rampant would do the trick.  Had he asked about mass battle rules I’d have suggested Roache’s Ager Sanguinis or MacDowell’s Comitatus. 

OB
http://withob.blogspot.co.uk/

[OB]

Good for you Konstantinos.  I don’t know nearly enough about that conflict although I’m aware of its fall out.  Keep us posted as you progress.

OB
http://withob.blogspot.co.uk/

[OB]

You could try Lion Rampant it’s very flexible and you could fit most troop types into it.  Your nobles will be heroic and your fanatics fierce, it gives a good game.  Should you want to minimise on figures perhaps using larger ones instead I think that would work too. It’s a very affordable starting point.

OB
http://withob.blogspot.co.uk/

[OB]

The rules journey is an interesting thing.  I started off with WRG rolling through various incarnations all the way to the 7th edition.  By then I had WRG fatigue.  I loved DBA, was bored by DBM and liked DBMM.  Nowadays I play Piquet variants and find them much more satisfying.  For quick games I like Lion Rampant.  Quite a change around but I’m happy with it.

OB
http://withob.blogspot.co.uk/

[OB]

Good review, thank you.

OB
http://withob.blogspot.co.uk/

[OB]

The history is fascinating, tactical variation massive and as noted above its pretty.

 

OB
http://withob.blogspot.co.uk/

[OB]

I’m slowly completing Austrians and Prussians for the SYW using Blue Moon and OG 15s.  These are the Von Brandenburg regiment.  Blue Moon with a Kronoscaf flag.

OB
http://withob.blogspot.co.uk/

[OB]

The figures are Donnington Late Romans Aaron, I find it an excellent range.  The buildings were bought unpainted from ebay I’ve no idea who made them despite a bit of investigating.

Victoria’s War of the Roses mention above reminded me I’ve two Donnington New Era 100 Years War Lion Rampant Retinues to do.  Heraldry in 15mm-gulp.

OB
http://withob.blogspot.co.uk/

[OB]

Sure Aaron, they are for the British Garrison who are all done now.  Here are some of them.

OB
http://withob.blogspot.co.uk/

[OB]

Yes, Photobucket is pretty good and easy to use.

OB
http://withob.blogspot.co.uk/

[OB]

Late Roman command bases like this one.

OB
http://withob.blogspot.co.uk/

[OB]

I’m currently doing this, for books get All Honour is Lost and Conrad Cairns The First Carlist War-both very affordable.

For figures in 15/18mm you can choose from Totentanz, QRF and Capitan some of the last two will mix.  The command here are Capitan, the rank and file QRF.

I’m currently awaiting an order from Totentanz once I have it I’ll do a size comparison here and on my blog.

Th size of engagements went from skirmishes to quite big battles.  You can see more pics on my blog if you scroll down.

OB
http://withob.blogspot.co.uk/

[OB]

First rate stuff as ever.  I often use your figures as a painting guide.

OB
http://withob.blogspot.co.uk/

[OB]

Very impressive Patrice.

OB
http://withob.blogspot.co.uk/

[OB]

They look the part, KT.  A bit more light next time for the photo. 

OB
http://withob.blogspot.co.uk/

[OB]

A few years ago I put aside the money to commission a range of 16th Century Irish figures in 15mm for the Nine Years War. While I hesitated at the last minute Khurasan released their range.  I was delighted and in pocket.  I’ve not felt the urge since though I am eagerly awaiting more Carlist War 15mm from QRF and Totentanz.

OB
http://withob.blogspot.co.uk/

[OB]

Yes, it is The Pikeman’s  Lament.  Sorry about the acronym.

OB
http://withob.blogspot.co.uk/

[OB]

Have you considered collecting a Pontic army? Lots of scope there.  Otherwise and in the same neck of the woods Armenian or Parthian have lots going for them and some nice figures about.

Carthaginians of course are great, and you already have two component parts of the army with Gauls and Celt-Iberian troops.

OB
http://withob.blogspot.co.uk/

[OB]

Hi All,  My name is OB.  I’m interested mainly in Ancients and Colonials but do other stuff to all in 15mm.  I do have a blog where I write about toys and history as you might expect.  My current enthusiasms include Piquet and Dan Mersey’s recent rule sets.

OB
http://withob.blogspot.co.uk/

[OB]

Hi Aaron, good to see you here.

OB
http://withob.blogspot.co.uk/

[Author]

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