DBR Papal Condotta vs. Imperial Spanish, the middle.

A shot of Jim's Spanish foot, pike and shot.




I try to wheel away from the ambush that Jim springs from the olive groves on my left. I knew he would probably do so but the troops I sent to deal with it were far too few and they were quickly dispatched. My lancers' charge is delayed, but no fear because when they charge home, the Spanish will turn tail like the cur they are! My light horse in the center are positioned to go either way and to hold some of Jim's troops in place, especially his other cavalry in his center rear. My foot in the center is intended to mop up what the lancers leave behind.

A view over the shoulder of my strike force at the Spanish.

The right side of my line. Here is where I made yet another large mistake. As this was the most fragile command, they were initially meant to only delay Jim's left and avoid combat if possible. However it became clear to me too late that a) Jim didn't want a fight on this flank either, and b) I had the advantage in numbers and quality of troops. I wasted blades and pike and bow here. I started them moving forward but they never got there...

I finally hold off the ambush (albeit temporarily) and line up for the kill! Look out, this game is all but over. Charge!!!!!

DBR Papal Condotta vs. Imperial Spanish, the end

Finally, the lancers crash into the Spanish lines! You can see the Papal foot forces slogging towards the Spanish to support the charge.


Another view of the melee as the Papists crash into the heretics. Soon there will be nothing left of the Spanish as God himself gives us the strength to hew them down where they stand.
Uh... maybe not. I forgot that this game requires rolling dice. Here is a shot of the lone lancer that won combat. The Spanish stood strong and the Pope's troops melted away.

The result of the big charge I played the whole game to set up and execute. 9 dead stands of lancers. Hoo boy.

The final positions of the end of the board that mattered. If you look closely, you may be able to pick out one or two stands of Papal troops. As usual, it was a pleasure to be beaten like a rented mule by Jim, who does so with a friendly smile and plenty of good advice on how to counter what he is doing. Never let it be said he isn't a great sport! Seriously, Jim is an old grognard who can beat your ass in any strategy you choose to use. He's seen and beat them all. Kudo's to him once again. A fun game that was close until we actually started.

New painting technique

Hey Group - I tried a new painting technique the other day involving minimalist painting covered with Citadel Ink Washes. After a few experiments, I discovered I liked the Ogryn Flesh color the best, but used Badab Black for the armor. The first pic shows the difference and how the two look on the same figure. Essentially the technique involves a white primer, and in my case, a quick dab of color on clothes and accoutrements, then the wash. On these guys I painted the hair after, and viola, done! I ususally spend an hour per stand to paint and an hour per mounted figure, or 3 hours per stand for cavalry. Using this method I painted *and* based 16 elements (64 dudes) in 3.5 hours!!! I am extremely happy with the results, if not the photos. They look much better in person. Now all those armies I didn't want to paint have suddenly jumped into the queue!

Chinese crossbowmen, painted in about 10 minutes from start to finish.

More.

Normans vs. Italian Lombards Part Une

Kevin Serafini and I met at Legions Hobby and Games for a 400 point DBM battle pitting his Normans vs. my Italian Lombards in Sicily circa 1000AD. Here is the initial set-up. Kevin has three Norman commands and an allied Arab command on his left. I have the typical 3 commands; a large and mobile attack force on my left and two largely defensive commands made up of militia spear. My line is refused right and anchored in a marsh.

A look from behind my extreme right over the shoulders of my mobile strike force stationed there to exploit any holes.

The center of my left wing, my attack force looks across the field towards the nasty Normans.

A similar shot from behind the Lombard lines! By the White Christ, there is a lot of the enemy!

A look at Kevin's knights. It is an impressive army, both in numbers and appearance. Kevin's armies always look good on the table top which really adds to the experience!

Normans vs. Italian Lombards Part Deux

A Look at Kevin's Arab allies. They were Reliable, damn them! Damn them all to hell! Wait, wrong Chuck Heston movie, this is The Warlord, not Planet of the Apes.

A look from behind Kevin's Norman knight line across the field at the massed Lombard militia.

Here is a good look at the swirling melee between the Norman and Lombard Irregular Knights (F), all impetuous, all the time! You can see backs and fronts of guys as they see-sawed back and forth. My dice were better.

Here my Lombards double overlap some Frenchies while they themselves are overlapped. It happens that way when knights fight knights.



What's left of a once great melee. Most of my boys had run past the action to crash into the hapless bowmen and Norman hordes who were protecting the baggage. (Didn't they ever watch Henry V?) It was a Lombard victory by the slightest of margins, due to good luck. I am learning not to feel guilty when I have good luck. Sister Marsha is rolling in her grave but I won't go to confession over it!

It was just a 'learning' game anyway as we are new to the rules. We each made and forgave some errors as we tried to grapple with some of the more intricate manifestations of 'impetuous' troops and 'spontaneous advances'. Deemed a success by this reporter, I anticipate playing it again.

Samurai vs. the Fu Manchu 5. Part 1

Got together with Jim Naughton to play a 500 point DBR game pitting my Samurai vs, his Manchu Chinese. This shot shows his CinC anchoring the far left of his line. Interestingly enough *my* CinC was leading my left as well and the two never laid eyes on each other.

A look at the advancing Samurai from behind the right of the Chinese line. His guns are in the center-right which caused major problems for my attack wing.

Some skirmishing light horse attempt to slow the Japanese advance.

Samurai blades and bows eye the Chinese CinC. He did come off the hill and barely escaped with his life as the rest of the cavalry in his command was slaughtered or fled! Luckily his foot contingent kept the whole command from demoralizing.


A view of the Japanese as they sweep towards their Chinese counterparts!

Samurai vs. the Fu Manchu 5. Part 2

The samurai cavalry finally prepares to charge after multiple recoils caused by the Chinese gun line visible upper right center.

The same Samurai, but this shot shows yet another Chinese cavalry command to their left. These guys breed like... well, Chinese!

The lines clash! This view is from behind Japanese lines.

Same fight from behind Chinese lines. It was a last ditch effort as the Chinese spanked the samurai. The samurai had the most success on their right, the flank they were not supposed to attack with, while their large left attack flank was constantly harrassed by the Chinese guns and fragmented to the point of impotence before contact! (Sounds like marraige.) No way Jim was going to let me get two wins in a row with this army. Lots of fun and very visually appealing as his armies always look good.