Frostgrave Warband

Over the summer several local gamers got excited about the Frostgrave Nickstarter.  The rules and background looked interesting and I was intrigued by the same skirmish fantasy setting.  I was not excited enough to jump into the pre-order but I did purchase the rules as soon as they became available.  Since I was not sure how the game would play or if it would catch on with my regular gaming friends I decided to build a warband on the cheap.  Basically, I raided my figure collection and bashed up a few models.

My wizard is from the Games Workshop plastic Empire Wizard box.  I am not sure if this set is still available but it is a really nice kit.  There are enough parts for two models with lots of leftover bits.  I had originally purchased the set to build inquisitors for =][=munda but that project never got off the ground.

From the same Empire Wizard set I built my apprentice.  This could easily be a proper wizard in hos own right but until I find a better figure he will have to do.

My Men-at-Arms are built from Wargames Factory Saxon Fyrd/Viking Bondi bodies, arms and heads.  One has a plastic Gripping Beast arm and shield.  There are also some Warhammer Fantasy parts as well.  If you look through the Frostgrave rules you will se lots of Wargames Factory figures used as the base for some cool models.

The archers are also Games Workshop figures.  This time we have plastic Rangers of Middle-earth figures from the Lord of the Rings line.  These are unconverted and fit well with the other figures.

Next are a couple of Thieves.  The first one id a plastic Gripping Beast Dark Age Warrior with the dagger hand taken from the GW Empire Wizard set.  The hands are clearly different sizes but having a gimpy hand likely drove the man to thievery in the first place.  The other figure is from the GW Giant set.  This is a plastic figure straight from the box.  Thieves are generally cowards so perfect.

Finally we have a War Hound.  This is a metal model and I think it is made by Gripping Beast but I am really not sure.  He is a big beast!

I am glad to have this project completed.  I really just did a quick and dirty paint job and I am now glad I did not spend too much time on this.  It seems this game is DOA with my group of friends so I might never use these guys.  Too bad as the game looks like a lot of fun.

SAGA 7 Point Anglo-Dane Army

A few months ago I rebased some of my old Gripping Beast figures from my WAB Saxon army.  These were painted many years ago and haven't been used much for the last 7-8 years.  I did some touch-ups and weapons swaps for SAGA but they haven't changed much.

Anglo-Dane warlord.  I actually rebased this one a long time ago with the intent of making him the general for my Hail Caesar Saxon army.  He will be used for both games.

One point of Huscarls with great axes.

One point of Huscarls with great axes.  This and the unit above are usually run as a single 8 figure unit.  They are very dangerous in numbers.

One point of Huscarls with hand weapons.

One point of Huscarls with hand weapons.  These two are usually combined for one 8 figure unit.  Not as dangerous as the great axes but more survivable.

One point of Ceorls.

One point of Ceorls. 

One point of Geburs.  I find levy troops to be a waste for most SAGA armies and the Anglo-Dane fit that pattern.  These are only really useful against cavalry forces.

I have played several games with this army and done pretty well.  Lately my regular opponents have started to figure it out and are no longer surprised by their tricks.  They are kind of anti-Vikings.

This is probably the last of the dedicated SAGA forces I will do for a while.  With two completed forces I am set for this game.  I will continue to paint Dark Age stuff for Hail Caesar and also Kings of War but those will be multi-based figures specific to those games.

SAGA Viking 8 Point Army

The completed 8 point army.

When I got back into SAGA late last year (or rather go into it in the first place) I, obviously, needed some miniatures.  Initially, I just used what I had available, which was quite a bit actually.  The core of my Viking army was some Danes I had painted for a WAB Rus project several years ago.  These are really great figures that had otherwise never been used.  Late last year I also painted some new figures for SAGA - Thralls and Berzerkers.  My latest effort, which brings me to completion for this project, is the rebasing of my Danes, the creation of a cool Warlord and painting up a couple of units of Bondi.  This gives me 8 points so I should be able to create just about any Viking army I would like for SAGA.

The Warlord with his horn-blower and trusty standard barer.

These are Gripping Beast metal figures that I based on a 50mm round wood base.  The banner is reworked from one I downloaded from An Hour of Wolves & Shattered Shields site.

One point of Gripping Beast Hirdmen.  These have been rebased onto rounds.

The second point of Gripping Beast Hirdmen.  Several of these were equipped with spears and I change that to hand weapons.  It just looks more heroic.

The third point of Hirdmen.  Also Gripping Beast metals as are the others.

The fourth and final point of Gripping Beast Hirdmen.  Sixteen of these should be plenty for just about any army build.

A single point  of Gripping Beast metal Berzerkers.  One point is all you are allowed and these will likely be in most all armies I play.  They are just too much fun!

One point of Gripping Beast plastic Bondi.  These are from the Dark Age warriors box and I must say I am a little disappointed.  They are fine figures and a great deal I was just hoping for something more.

The second point of Bondi.  These are the Viking Bondi figures from Wargames Factory.  I really like these a lot.  They are a very dynamic and characterful bunch of figures.

Twelve thralls with bows.  In reality these would have probably just be Bondi with bows but you don't get that option in SAGA.  These are Wargames Factory figures and are a mix of parts from the Viking Bondi and Saxon Fyrd sets.

Viking Berzerker/Ulfhednar

My Viking figure collection has some holes in it and to really have a good Viking force for SAGA you must have some berzerkers.  I had five of these Gripping Beast Ulfhednar figures in the dead lead pile so I painted up four. 

These are pretty handy in a SAGA Viking army but they are basically a trade off unit.  Don't let them get shot as the armor 3 makes them very vulnerable.  I have used them in a few games and they are fun.

Norman Commanders for SAGA and Hail Caesar

In the last couple of weeks I have finally been able to get in some games of SAGA.  This required me to dig out my old WAB armies to press some figures into service.  SAGA does not use too many figures but you really need a prominent Warlord figure as the army commander.  Since I am also planning to use my WAB Normans for Hail Caesar I figured I would make a couple of commanders.  One will be my HC army commander and the other will be a HC division commander or a SAGA Warlord.

The commanders

Norman Dux with vicompte standard bearer.

Norman Comes

 These figures are Gripping Beast and were painted nearly 15 years ago.  All I did for this project was to rebase the models onto larger round bases to make them stand out from the rest of the troops.  Eventually I will rebase the rest of my Normans for easier use with HC.  I might even add some more models to the collection.

Mustering the Fyrd

The other night I decided to pull out my Gripping Beast extras box and take an inventory.  My new plans to convert my WAB Saxon army to a Hail Caesar army made me realize that I just don't have enough figures painted for HC.  In particular I am short Coerls.  I need LOTS of Coerls!  The new Gripping Beast Warriors of the Dark Age plastic figures are really calling my name but before I went out and spent a bunch of money I need to know what I already have.

Turns out this was a prudent idea.  I pulled 88 figures out to use as Coerls.  These figures are mostly GB Saxon figures with a few of their Ancient Germans mixed in.  Basically, a bunch of dudes with big round shields and no armor.  This collection will allow me to run either two 40 figure, 4 rank, units or, by swapping out a stand for an extra command, I can run 4 20 figure, 2 rank, units.  This is an entire division for HC!

Even with this I still have plans to purchase some of the GB plastics.  That stuff is just too damn cool not to add to the collection.  Stay tuned for more on the project.

Hail Caesar Anglo-Dane Leaders

I finally got around to repainting and re-basing my commander figures for my Saxon army.  These guys are a must for Hail Caesar as well as Clash of Empires.  The army general will also see table time as a warlord for SAGA.

It was pretty fun to work on these guys again.  I have not touched my Saxons for 7-8 years...way too long.  I do plan on getting this army ready for some Hail Caesar games.  I might have them ready sometime this summer.

Old School Stuff - WAB Early Crusaders

This is my first army for Warhammer Ancient Battles. It represents an army from the first crusade. I was just learning how to do the 'dip' method and I made a ton of mistakes while painting this army.

All the figures are from Gripping Beast and are from a bunch of different lines. One key to a crusader army is variation. These guys came from all over and they should not have a uniform appearance.

The first couple of pictures are of the general and the mounted knights, the core of the army. The fires are mounted Normans and Crusaders. There are also some El Cid Spanish mixed in.

Next are the dismounted knights. These are a must have for a crusader army as at any given time up to half the knights were without horses. These figures are a mix of dismounted Normans and Crusaders. There are also some Anglo-Danes as well.

Next are the crusader spear men. Again we have a mix of figures, most are Normans but there are also Crusaders and Anglo-Danes in the mix.

The next unit I call Greeks. They are meant to represent Greek volunteers and the figures are Dark Age Irish and Byzantines. They are the same stats as the unit above.

This is a unit of European Archers. The figures include Normans and Spanish.

Finally, we have the religious pilgrims. This represents the unskilled troops that joined the army strictly for the religious aspect of the crusade. In game terms they are not very good but they are extremely annoying to your opponent. The figures are mostly Dark Age Irish with some Norman priests and monks mixed in.

This was a fun army to play but, sadly, it no longer exists. The figures that make up this army are still in my collection but they now make up my Norman and Saxon armies. I have been waiting for many years for a new Crusader book to come out for WAB so I can make a new crusader army.

Old School Stuff - WAB Arabs and Saracens

It is time for the next installment of Old School Stuff! Today we have my second Warhammer Acients army - Arabs and Saracens. This army was collected and painted many years ago, perhaps 1999-2000. The figures are a mix of different brands.

The first unit is the Army General with a unit fo Ghulams. These figures are all Qualitycast, which I don't think you can get any more.

Next is another unit of Ghulams, this time the figures are from Old Glory. This unit was painted by a friend, Kevin Shope, who is now MIA (Kevin, if you are out there give me a shout). Ghulams are a must for this army. The are tough fighhters, excellent shots and have all sorts of stupid horse tricks.

The archers are also Old Glory figures. I think there was two units in this army but I can't remember. Lots of bow is a must for an Arab army.

A unit of Auxilliary Infantry is a very useful unit. As light infantry they are very quick and javalins allow them to reach out to the enemy. They are cheap too. These figures are Old Glory.

The unit below is a small unit of Arab Spearmen. This unit includes the Army Standard Bearer. The figures are mostly Old Glory with a small number of Qualitycast.

The next is a unit of Religous Volunteers. These figures are a mix of Gripping Beast and old Qulaitycast miniatures.

Not pictured, for some reason, are two units of Turkish Light Cavalry. This is a 2000 point army and was a real blast to play. Unfortunately, I sold the army to a friend a few years ago.