Captain's Blog

 This unit was also painted as an entry in the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge, as well as to provide some much needed troops for my Late Roman Saga Warband. It consists of a Warlord with a Draco bannerman and a 8 man Warrior Unit. This was the project that was start and go in the middle of the night during the long winter season. I am afraid I am of an age where getting up in the middle of the night, and being awake for a couple of hours is quite common.  A good time to paint. 

I purchased an unpainted Arthurian warband second hand in 2024. However it came without any horses for the calvary. I had tried various solutions including some Persian plastic horses that I had stored away but nothing meant with my satisfaction. In the end since the figures originated with Gripping Beast I wrote to the source and inquired if they could sell me the horses separately. Loki from the Beast responded positvely.

I believe that this was the old Aventine Hellenistic/Carthaginian elephant before they made the switch to resin. I painted the elephant and howdah early last year when I first purchased this Warband. However the 4 crewmen have sat around gathering dust. Since I was working on the Greeks it was only natural to finish this option as part of the The Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge. 

Aventine Hellenistic/Carthaginian elephant

These figures were posted as part of The Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge. 12 Companian Cavalry. I had another 24 figures of the same pose based to WRG/DBX standards as part of my Ancient Greeks and that was the same fate that awaited them until I started playing SAGA. 

12 Companian Cavalry - Warbands or Hearth Guard

 Last night was the Montreal Historical Wargamer's monthly Saga night at the Abyss. I choose to show up with my Romans from the Age of Invasions book. One option that was planned was I was to be one of two Roman players against a coalition of Picts and Britons. Due to problems with the weather, the Picts failed to materialise and we decided to go with a three player game, using the Book of Battles as our guide. 

Initial Deployments and after my first move. My warband is archored between a rough patch and a marsh.

We choose to each deploy a 5 point warband on a smaller than recommended table, so things were tight. Nonetheless it was a fun evening and served as an excellent introduction to a mass combat in Saga.  Gavin’s Romans were rendered hors de combat while my force didn’t fair much better. David's Britons came out on top. 

Late in the game. My Warlord was broken against Gavin's troops, while David's Britons close in.

My Levy, armed with javelins inch closer to the enemy. My Warlord is already deceased.

At the end of the evening. Gavin's Warband was eliminated. Their ghostly remains can be seeen near the field. One of my mounted Hearth Guard has been reduced to two figures, the forward unit to just three. When I attempted to fall back, Gavin used my two fatique points to hobble my movement. The unit is frozen in place and awaits its fate at the hands of the Briton's

The Levy exclaim "Mission Accomplished. " They closed with the enemy and destroyed the bolt thrower for the loss of one figure. A win in their book. They were lucky.

Last night was the last SAGA meet-up for 2025 by the club. For the evening we returned to the Age of Vikings and I dug out my Normans, lead by Bishop Odo. I was matched against Eric and his Norse Gaels. It was a fairly bloody affair with the game declared a draw, 21 vs 20 points. 

Crossbowmen anchor the line. Bishop Odo on foot between two units of warriors.

The battle lines are drawn. The setup was diagonally across the board.

Both sides received an extra SAGA die each turn. Brutal.

 The final project I had in mind to complete on last weekend's Paint and Chat was this bombard and crew from Black Tree Design. It was given to me but a fellow gamer at the Club two months ago. It fits in with my Scots for SAGA and that is where it shall be stored. 

HYW1019 - Bombard and Crew

 Last Sunday afternoon during my Paint and Chat, another project I wanted to complete was this set of Objective Markers from Footsore Miniatures and Games. They are also useful as objectives when playing SAGA.

Objective Markers - The Barons' War (SKU: WHV022+WHV023) My Roman Auxiliary man puts everything into scale.

 I purchased a box of Guards figures from the Wargames Atlantic Classic Fantasy line. I kept half the figures and swapped the other half with a buddy so I could obtain a sampling of the Villagers from the same line of figures. They still await treatment. As I stated before I am truly amazed by the breathe and range of hard plastic figures and am very happy with how this unit turned out. 

The Night Watch originally designed for Guards of Traitor's Toll.

Useful in both RPG fantasy game and they might even pass off  as a SAGA unit of Levied city Militia. I really enjoyed the geese that can serve as a burglar alarm throughout the ages.

 This afternoon on my Discord Paint and Chat I put the push on to produce a third unit of Levy Archers. They will be needed for next weekend's SAGA Grand Melee here in Montreal. The figures are from Claymore Castings.

 This was a second unit from the army of Jef Lauzon. My guess that the source of these figures was originally Minifigs. They have been rebased for any number of skirmish style gaming, such as SAGA, Clash of Spears or Dragon Rampant. In their previous life they were ready for action in any number of WRG/DBX formats. The figures soaked for a week in water to facilitate the debasing process. After a week, they just lifted off their previous base. I did a touch up on the shield as the white trim was flacking off.

Flacking white trim on the shields.

Above two photos showing the effects of the restoration program.

Last night was the monthly SAGA night held at the Abyss by Saga Montreal and the Club de jeux de figurines historiques de Montréal Historical Wargaming Club. We had a small turnout last night with just three tables in play. A bloody affair was fought between the Age of Chivalry Flemish and the WOTR  Lancastrian English under the flag of the perfidious Earl of Northumberland, The scenario was Raise the Scared Banners. I will admit that the dice gods were definitely in my favour, consistently scoring 60-70% possible hits or when required saves when rolling. The Flemish ranks were greatly reduced, verses the loss of a Warrior, 2 Levy Archers, and 4 mounted Hearth Guard figures on the side of the English. We had raised our banner on three of the five objectives. 

Canon at the centre of the line. Warlord with Warriors standing nearby to absorb losses suffered by their leader.

The Fleming levy pike men advancing on the centre objective.

The War Wagon providing covering fire as well as its special abilities on the Flemish left wing.

End of turn 5, my warlord has taken the central objective. The 24 Flemish pike are reduced to two units. One of two figures hiding behind the war wagon. Four Figures to its front. Two loss Saga Dice.

End of turn 5, my left flank showing the advance by two levy archer units. In the back third of the table 2 Flemish Archers remain in control of their objective. Alas they do not generate any Saga Dice.

On my right wing my unit of foot Hearth Guard remain in firm control of their objective, supported by the remains of the Mounted Hearth Guard unit. My mounted unit primarily was responsible for the destruction of the two Flemish Pike units as well as the 3 of the enemies mounted Hearth Guard which came charging off the hill in turn 4. Turn 5 the survivors were unable to destroy my field piece.

 Fantasy Games Unlimited published two RPG games that I enjoyed playing in the 1980s, Bushido and Daredevil Adventures. I ran a Daredevil Adventures campaign and my buddy Harris ran a Bushido campaign for our group. A few years ago I was able to purchase on eBay a group of figures for the  Clan Wars - Legends of the 5 Rings game. I never played the game, but the figures were very appealing. I thought that maybe one day I would get the figures painted and use them in a Bushido campaign of my own. When I received my introduction to Garry of the Scarlet Lancer Painting Service, I thought it would be a great project to have him look after for me. I may have mentioned I am triaging the mountain of lead, figures I will paint, those that I will have someone paint for me and finally the dustbin of history. The Clan wars figures were shipped off to be painted. I am extremely happy with the outcome.

The above two photographs show the extent of the collection. There are approximately 50 foot figures which I would divide up into three clans, a mix of Samurai and Ronin for each group. Locally it has been suggested that I can also throw together a Warband to use in the local SAGA Age of Magic night. I have to find a couple of suitable monsters that I know I have that would be a fine addition to a fantasy style game.

Since January of this year, with the arrival of the new supplement the club has been focusing on playing the Age of  Chivalry.  The first warband I began in anticipation of AOC was the Scots, in honor of my mother's heritage.  I compiled a collection of  photos showing various units of this warband in different stages of preparation for the tabletop.

First is a collection of 32 of pike figures that were repurposed for SAGA. These had long sat in a Mastercraft toolbox as part of an army based for various DBX style games.  I had picked these two units up rather a long time ago at the Ottawa CanGames consignment booth. 

Warlord and Bodyguards

Mounted Knights circling the woods

Next are figures I painted in the last year. Two units of Levy Archers, with the figures being from Claymore Castings. I recently added a third unit that is sitting on my painting table..

Levy Archers advancing in a tabletop encounter.

Next are the Hearth Guard or Foot Warriors of the Scot's warband. I went with a blue motif for their main colour. Some Saracens are in the background.

Finally a display of national pride. The banner of St  Andrew is a bit early for the period but it was readily available to produce some banners, both for foot and  mounted figures. In the background is the cookie tin that will be used to both store and transport the warband.

The pike are repurposed figures while the mounted figures are new purchases from Claymore Castings.

Finally a couple of photos of the Scots in their first encounter with the English. The knaves from south of the border won the first match. 

 

The latest SAGA project I have been working on is my House of York Warband, for the Age of Chivalry.  Assembled a collection of photos taken of different units in various states of readiness. I have two units of levy bowmen that haven't completed their journey across the pond. Canada Post has them and has yet to make delivery. They will be painted in the red-black livery of the Earl of Northumberland, which depending upon the time line, may support either side in the struggle for the throne.

A unit of Mounted Warriors or possible Hearth Guard

An infernal contraption that may or may not work.

The Flag of Henry Percy, the 4th Earl of Northumberland.

Another unit of Warriors, supposedly supporters of Richard, or are they?

A Unit of hearth Guard and a flag of the House of York

A Unit of Warriors

The start of a possible Mounted Hearth Guards Unit