28mm Late Roman cavalry 'To the Strongest'.

These are the last, the final ones, there will be no more - famous last words!
The Romans basically needed a couple of bases to complete their 'cavalry' option, i.e. if I wanted to shove a mainly mobile Roman army onto the table then these lads had to be done and done they are. Never say never but that's it for the Romans, I have one 30 odd figure Romano British (or Gallic if you prefer) to paint up from scratch but it'll be a good while before I can motivate myself to get that done.
So here are a few pics of the cavalry, don't take any reference from the shield devices, I had them lying around so used them as they look slightly Roman-ish.

Getting on with 10mm French next.
Dave.

Late Roman Vs Visigoth, 'To the Strongest'.

The title gives it away. Neal and I revisited our fave ancients ruleset 'To the Strongest' Here for a first outing of my recently re-based Late Roman/Visigothic armies.
The game itself was it's usual close run thing which, as the armies were of equal points proves that either the points system in the rules works well, or that Neal and I are such crappy generals that we fight each other to a pathetic stand still! I think it's the latter but I'm sure Simon Miller (who wrote the rules) will think the opposite.
As said both sides had the same points and set up as below, Romans (Neal) on the left, Visigoths (muggins) on the right:

Both sets of cavalry on either flank pushed on towards their opponents with the infantry in the centre following more slowly:

These guys are Roman deserters fighting for the Visigoths and as can be seen are about to get their comeuppance being charged by infantry to the front and light cavalry on their flank (lights can only charge flank and/or rear of formed troops):

Both sets of infantry proceded to close and throw everything including the kitchen sink at each other before getting stuck in with the sword and spear.

The Visigothic right wing at this point, why I pushed that warband as far forward as that I don't know, they got well stuffed!

Now the Visigoth guy in the red jacket in the next picture almost saved the day for my battered left flank, his cavalry unit on it's own held off Neal's victorious Romans for at least three turns. It was at this point that Neal started swearing, something that this set of rules does to us (in a good way I hasten to add). Just when you are about to crush the opposition a well dodgy card comes up and the floofing and doofing begins - it is great fun!

For all his bravery the end result was still this:

The game was in doubt for a good few turns but in the end Neal's tactical genious (jammy bugger) pulled through.

Here's Neal firing bolts at me as I retreat:

And here's me tak'n wor lass oot for a drink after the battle!

Dave.

A nation on the move, Gothic wagons.

Done and dusted, compleate, finito, finished. That's it for the Late Roman/barbarian 28mm boys, now to get them on the table. Watch out for a AAR.
To end this session here are some pictures of the Gothic wagons etc trundling their way towards the promised land of wealth and luxury that was the Roman empire, we've heard this again reicently somewhere!

A mixture of Foundry, Old Glory and Gripping Beast figures, wagons, couldn't tell you, it's such a long time since I did the, senility strikes again!
Dave.

Barbarian 28mm figure comparison.

First up, a comparison of 28mm hard plastic Gripping Beast Dark Age Warriors on the right of the photo and Old Glory UK 28mm metal Gothic/Visigoth tribesmen figures on the left:

As can be seen there is very little difference in size, styling wise the Goth/Visigoths look slightly more 'eastern' and of course the coffin shields give away their Visighthic origins but overall much of a muchness.
The 40 Gripping beast plastics were easy to assemble, one arm (mostly spears with these guys but a couple of axes/swords chucked in. seperate heads and the shields. They were a few shields short which may be a problem to some people but I have plenty of metal shields knocking about somewhere. I hand painted these shields but there are plenty of great transfers out there.
These are fairly generic dark age figures portraying tribesmen of the lower end of the social class and will therefore be able to represent any warriors from the late Roman period through to viking age.
Very nice.
Old Glory Gothic infantry are up to the usual good standard wargame figure produced by this company, sometimes the photographs on their site don't show off these models very well but I have always found them fine 'in the flesh' as it were. the shields require sticking on as do the spears, I don't know if the company still sell spear heads but don't get them as they look far too big, I painted the guys in the picture years ago and regreted putting the spearheads on ever since!
Other than that the figs are great.

In addition here are some pictures of the re-based Gothic archers and a couple of command stands:

Last to base up, the Goth wagons and scummy civies.
Dave.