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Miniatures Adventure => Fantasy Adventures => Topic started by: Padrissimus on October 26, 2019, 06:12:16 PM

Title: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on October 26, 2019, 06:12:16 PM
Biagino, archpriest of Nagash, attended by his unholy clergy, the vampire thralls of the La Fraternita di Morti Irrequieti, about to beckon the mob of zombies named the Disciplinati di Nagash!

(http://i.imgur.com/y7gTdOe.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/jlJHmQc.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/ygksYxh.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/dTdUf0x.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/Lx9bSSf.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/dLNi5XR.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/T0PQzJh.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: has.been on October 26, 2019, 07:28:25 PM
Who makes the figures & are they 28mm?
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on October 26, 2019, 07:53:01 PM
28mm. The vampire-bishop is a West Wind miniature, from one of their 'The Antagonists Vampire Counts/Slayers' sets. The three attending priests are Eureka Miniatures: 28mm - Fantasy & Science Fiction - Cultists, Fantasy & Miscellaneous - Cult Followers. The ex-cultist zombie is a kit-bash confection of some combination of Frostrave cultist/zombies/ghouls, perhaps with a bit of GW thrown in too. I can't fully recall.The skeleton guards are Mantic I think, the skeleton officer Frostgrave I think.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Mr.J on October 26, 2019, 07:53:55 PM
They look great, where’s the castle from?
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on October 26, 2019, 08:02:10 PM
As with almost everything I do it is a weird mish mash. The towers are from a 1970's plastic white, silver and red toy castle ...

(https://i.imgur.com/bUlJ9TX.jpg)

The central tower's door and stone steps are old bits of dungeon scenery just balanced together to give some more complicated 'form' to the scene.

The walls are more modern. I think they're Renedra, but I am relying on my rubbish, flawed memory!

The stone statues were obtained from a bargain bucket in a 1980's wargames convention. The figures are some old, almost flat, range, and I think I bought them intending them to be old statues.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Gibby on October 26, 2019, 08:06:14 PM
Glad to see your stuff here. Big fan of your Tilea campaign, sublime narrative!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on October 26, 2019, 08:08:50 PM
Thanks Gibby. I was intending just to put pictures here, but in the meantime if anyone wants to disappear into the tangled web of battles, characters, stories, histories, and thousands (I think) of photos, then go to ...

https://www.bigsmallworlds.com
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on October 27, 2019, 09:00:47 AM
Next, what they turned to look at - the crazed, animated corpses of the cultist 'dedicants' of the Disciplinati di Morr.

(https://i.imgur.com/UNZV9Qk.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/fFaiq3r.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/cbM7hx9.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/ghc5Y9k.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/ozqglaV.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/tCq8Xxi.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/DKrdpSh.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/gD2hb77.jpg)



Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on October 27, 2019, 06:53:13 PM
The cruel 'cleansing' of Palomtrina ...

(https://i.imgur.com/JrPI2Rv.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/BjITIqS.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/lBHJ7ey.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/yp5Zwcv.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/yIO1QfE.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Gibby on October 27, 2019, 07:35:52 PM
I see a priest of Morr being chased and attacked there by one of the Disciplinati. Presumably he was not devout enough!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on October 27, 2019, 07:49:00 PM
Exactly so! Who would have thought (a) priests of Morr could be wanting in faith and (b) other Morrites might get violent about it!

Next I'll put the scenes of how the official church punished the leader of the cultists.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: randycarter on October 27, 2019, 08:47:47 PM
Lot of good stuff here! I think I will pay soon a visit to your blog. Keep on updating the tread, please!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Elk101 on October 27, 2019, 08:49:39 PM
Very cool setting.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on October 28, 2019, 08:27:34 AM
The tyrant Razger Boulderguts' army moves away after thoroughly looting Ridraffa.

(https://i.imgur.com/w2dszrq.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/fxzBJaw.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on October 28, 2019, 08:18:50 PM
A few days before the above pictures was when the ogres assaulted Ridraffa ...

(https://i.imgur.com/qVQrXQ2.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/34Bk4DD.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/JJq7C6a.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/zrzmJ4X.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/WPKXhUA.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Gibby on October 28, 2019, 08:41:17 PM
There were such high hopes for the wizard...
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on October 28, 2019, 09:04:43 PM
You can blame me. I was playing the NPC army of Ridraffa, and I thought I could walk him out from the defences just one turn to get a spell within range. Then the ogres tore him to pieces with all the missile weapons they had and I should have thought about.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Aesthete on October 28, 2019, 11:08:42 PM
What game system are you using? I mean, I'd guess some form of WFB? And how are you running the campaign?

This is fascinating.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on October 28, 2019, 11:32:36 PM
I'll try to answer that without it turning into a long essay! So a kind of bullet point attempt.

The system is WFB, 8th ed but with various (modified) campaign lists originally part of internet forum campaigns ('Animosity', 'Treachery and Greed' etc from around 2008 to 2014) and so not really just made up by me.

Most of the players run strong 'theme' armies, so not power gaming. We had a player who was big on that, but he ran the undead, which technically everyone else could have ganged up on, so I wanted him to. He left and so the undead are now one of the many 'NPC' forces.

Strategy, allies etc are as important if not moreso than size of armies. The NPC rulers' armies, of which there are many, are very strongly themed, and many arose from the story. For example, I had to build and paint an entire, nearly 200 model, flagellant/cultist army in robes, then later build a 50 strong mob of the same guys, who had lost a battle and been turned into zombies!

The campaign rules are very heavily modified Mighty Empires - changed over the decades, with ideas from other systems added in, and always interpreted by the GM. Players can ask to try anything, but whether or not it is possible, and what it costs in time and money, that's for me to work out, and them to worry about!

There is one GM (me, also the story writer, photographer, army painter, model and scenery maker, etc etc) and 6 players (some close geographically who can play the rare games, some too far away and so stand ins command in tabletop encounters).

The players are effectively roleplaying one character each, who happens to be the ruler of a realm or 'other' form of force. They can die, and several have. It can then take their new character, whether or not connected to the old one, a while to establish themselves, or perhaps they just take up where the last one left off if they were in a right old pickle!

It has been nearly 6 years running. I think. Battles when we can, maybe 5 a year, due to the preparation involved, my mad detail for all the stuff in between, and the fact that we are all working, family peeps with busy RW lives!

My photo technique has developed over time, the campaign reports being a visual record. I started hiding bases about half way through and wish I had thought of it from the start!

A long and ever more complicated history recorded in battle reports and many a connecting story, plus thousands of photos like the ones you have seen, which can be viewed on the Oldhammer Forum at ...

http://forum.oldhammer.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=2889

or on my own web site (always slightly behind but the blog part almost keeps up to date) at ...

https://www.bigsmallworlds.com

Photobucket wrecked many a forum thread with my campaign, but the people at Oldhammer rebuilt all the photos with a technical trick for which they could never understand how grateful I was and am. But I built the website of my own to try and ensure against such a disaster happening again!

Oh, and recently a member of this forum, who I have met but once in the real world in an entirely unconnected capacity, has just become a new player with a character that might become the biggest bane of all to the poor men, halflings and dwarfs of Tilea. Hopefully. The clue is, most of his forces are underground right now.

Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: HappyChappy439 on October 29, 2019, 12:50:47 AM
Thanks for sharing! A lot of character in these pictures, keep up the great work!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Blackwolf on October 29, 2019, 12:54:09 AM
Great work, and very inspiring  :-*
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on October 29, 2019, 09:56:20 AM
A very pleasant afternoon spent 'shooting at the butts' in Terrene. The halfling militia prove their prowess before their lord, Lucca Vescussi of Verezzo.

(https://i.imgur.com/KifWHe5.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/XSwycK8.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/2YxR5p3.jpg)

(If you look down the rank of shooters a little way you can make out the infamous Roberto Cappuccio, aka the Pettirosso, who was once an outlaw but now serves the philosopher Lord Lucca.)
(https://i.imgur.com/6GwZ1yA.jpg)

(Is it insane to say the pic below is my favourite one of this batch?)
(https://i.imgur.com/WJNeOxY.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/Jd7lSZT.jpg)

An then they assemble in rank and file to listen to their lord ...

(https://i.imgur.com/wiNNKEq.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/tH0fceD.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/fIPlkgx.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Grumpy Gnome on October 29, 2019, 10:34:53 AM
Lovin‘ it! Thank you for sharing. Brilliantly inspirational on several levels.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on October 30, 2019, 09:43:34 AM
Thanks Rick W.
------------------------------------------

"There! In the trees. I see something!"

The mounted crossbow of the Compagnia del Sole scout ahead on the journey to Campogrotta.

(https://i.imgur.com/lM2zsc8.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/izQECD6.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/rAopMHx.jpg)

"There!"

(https://i.imgur.com/eNgbGKj.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/Xj31xEc.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Legionnaire on October 30, 2019, 01:26:50 PM
 :o :o :o.  I just stumbled across this thread and I am in awe of your attention to detail, dedication and fortitude in this project. Lovely pictures and really enjoyed the last 'foggy' one with the undead horsemen riding. Thanks for sharing.

Legionnaire.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on October 30, 2019, 01:34:09 PM
There is a vastly silly amount yet to come. Thanks for commenting so kindly.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on October 30, 2019, 10:20:52 PM
The Great Hall of Karak Borgo, where King Jaldeog (the Short) holds court ...

(https://i.imgur.com/WKCAGJO.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/NOAAvyE.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/ShFRQy6.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/7wzUaQc.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/Nx1tzbA.jpg)


Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: ragbones on October 31, 2019, 01:26:10 AM
Outstanding! Your photos are very atmospheric.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Swordisdrawn on October 31, 2019, 07:45:29 AM
This is superb. Please keep it coming!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on October 31, 2019, 09:46:37 AM
Thank you Swordisdrawn and Ragbones. Very kind of you.

Remember the earlier pictures of the 'cruel cleansing pf Palomtrina'? Well the local dedicants went a tad too far, even for fanatical cultists, and as a consequence the Disciplinati di Morr's Admonitor decided that the Palomtrinan shepherd ought to be punished. And so he was.

Here the shepherd is blessed in the hope that Morr will allow him passage into the eternal Garden.

(https://i.imgur.com/5ju5gX1.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/sbEVtUG.jpg)

And here is his final moment ...

(https://i.imgur.com/Nj1ELal.jpg)

(I hope you noticed how the blessing priest stepped back and clasped his hands in prayer - not an easy thing to convince lead miniatures to do!)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: EskeiraSees on October 31, 2019, 10:21:56 AM
 :-* Fantastic photos
Its this type of extended, in depth, home brewed, narrative, well modelled, immersive campaign that I think best represents the pinnacle of the hobby for me, very cool.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Gibby on October 31, 2019, 10:44:42 AM
:-* Fantastic photos
Its this type of extended, in depth, home brewed, narrative, well modelled, immersive campaign that I think best represents the pinnacle of the hobby for me, very cool.

Agreed. This is precisely the sort of thing I am in the hobby for; fully narrative and immersive stuff. The Tilean campaign is well worth a read from beginning-now for any fan of fantasy worlds.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on October 31, 2019, 11:06:43 AM
Better put the link here again: https://bigsmallworlds.com/
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on November 01, 2019, 06:30:17 PM
An emissary from the arch-lector of Morr pays a visit to Maestro Angelo da Leoni's workshop studio ...

(https://i.imgur.com/WcNJbtQ.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/RbkqpZY.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/WLTYh8D.jpg)

It was these pics that clued me in on more possibilities for indoors scenes - like sunlight streaming in through windows!

Next, I will put up images of what they were talking about!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on November 02, 2019, 08:52:46 AM
This was going on outside, on the streets of Remas, and it was what the maestro and his visitor were discussing.

The Maestro's new machine was being paraded through the streets, by the city had changed somewhat since the paradng of his steam battery. The Disciplinati had taken the city for themselves and their god.

(https://i.imgur.com/uZxqj5Z.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/N8VNJhT.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/sao55tI.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/QWhbvtn.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/n1dqHnj.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/VrDZOJM.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/b61IXpY.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/ceGk4XX.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/CZ4eBeV.jpg)

A short excerpt from the story which had the above pictures ...

“You have made a war engine for them,” said Marsilio. “I saw it myself on my way here, being pulled through crowded streets. I was surprised you were not with it. You rode your steam engine before Calictus.”

Angelo shook his head. “I could not bear to accompany it, to be in those crowds. When I returned to the city I found what I found, whether I liked it or not. Yet Remas is my home. I offered the Praepositus Generalis a new engine to buy his favour, so that I might not suffer whatever ignominies he would otherwise demand of me. The work was as nothing compared to my steam engine, but he does not know that. In truth this engine was already almost completed, having been laid aside when I commenced work upon the last. The glasses were ground, the mounting done. All that was required was to assemble the parts. I had originally envisaged it as armament for the steam engine, but then Remas acquired a remarkable artillery piece, and when I saw what it could do I chose instead to mount that.”

“However it was made,” asked Marsilio, “will this new engine not wreak destruction upon the foe?”

“Oh, I assure you, it is capable of truly awful effect. As to how reliable it is, I cannot say. The artillery piece depended upon the quality of the black powder and the expertise of the gunners. This machine relies on the vagaries of the winds of magic, and the mathematical cunning with which its glasses are deployed.”

“It looks impressive, I can assure you.”

The maestro narrowed his eyes, then asked, “Did you see who rode upon it?”

“Two men, both in clerical robes. One fellow, an old man, bald on top with tufts of hair sticking out from the side, was holding a skull aloft.”

“Oh yes, he came with them for the machine. I showed him as best I could how it should be used. I heard they tested it yesterday upon a blaspheming heretic – some drunken fool who questioned aloud whether Morr had abandoned us. They tied him to a stake at a hundred paces distance and in a few moments burned his body to ashes from the neck down. Only his head remained, and that fleshless.”

“Thus the skull?” suggested Marsilio.

“Aye, thus the skull,” said Angelo.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on November 02, 2019, 11:50:04 PM
A mad priest (one of the Disciplinati di Morr) preaches somewhat enthusiastically to the Pavonan soldiers in Duke Guidobaldo Gondi's army camp ...

(https://i.imgur.com/bj6leC3.jpg)
 
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on November 03, 2019, 08:56:25 AM
Just some gobbos having a chinwag ...

(https://i.imgur.com/dgnFYQR.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/cOR5kY6.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/EIutq5J.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/79irWAx.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/gU1RK4U.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/I687knq.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/FtdbrXA.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/v37m4Qy.jpg)


Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: HappyChappy439 on November 03, 2019, 11:54:21 AM
Thanks for posting these!

Silly question but are the minis based (and stealthily hidden)? or have you got a crafty way of keeping them upright?
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on November 03, 2019, 04:31:00 PM
They are based, and I use a surprisingly simple technique that nevertheless did not occur to me until about three years ago. The method = Flock. Sometimes lots of it. Occasionally some railway modelling gravel type stuff.

Materials = flock, little brush for positioning it, big brush for sweeping it up after and a receptacle to sweep it off the table edge into.

An example (a recent photo for my campaign to accompany a conversation between two characters in an army camp tent):

Position some models and take test photos (to save the extra hassle of re-positioning when the flocking has been done)...
(https://i.imgur.com/gmLr00u.jpg)

Then apply the flock and take the pic again ...
(https://i.imgur.com/YKwO01N.jpg)

So ... you can imagine the faffing about that goes into a pic like the following ...
(https://i.imgur.com/CZ4eBeV.jpg)


Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on November 04, 2019, 04:52:06 PM
The terrible day of reckoning in Urbimo, when the dedicants of Morr, with Barone Pietro Cybo's enthusiastic permission, executed (by various means) all those they suspected of evil magic and other crimes against their god ...

(https://i.imgur.com/j30w0Kq.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/r88rGby.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/P6eddnh.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/MyWN8bu.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/lErJU0P.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/471kgKH.jpg)



Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Gibby on November 05, 2019, 04:38:10 PM
Great scenes. Ever been tempted to lay out, for example, your entire human figure collection to see how big of a coalition force could be mustered?
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on November 05, 2019, 05:54:09 PM
About 10 years ago, maybe more, I did indeed have the mad thought of photographing everything together. I managed to get just the 'Good Guys' onto a table, including pygmies, and dwarfs, and elves, as well as many, many men (Empire, Arabyans, Brettonians, Border Princes (i.e. Normans etc) ...

(https://i.imgur.com/QUPkKAZ.jpg)

Since then I have added several new armies (Cultists, Dogs of War, Tilean Militia) several more new brigades, and LOTS of reinforcement regiments. The table would not longer be big enough!

I never got round to putting out the "Bad Guys", of which I think I have as many figures, as it took me so long to get all of the Good Guys out and put them all away again.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Gibby on November 05, 2019, 07:30:30 PM
Wow! Seems like you have large forces for every city state in Tilea and more!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on November 05, 2019, 07:34:01 PM
I might set up all the pikemen one day as that would be fun (although my fingers wouldn't like it - ouch!)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on November 05, 2019, 07:37:43 PM
Baron Garoy inspects an archer company of the Brabanzon mercenaries camped by the Iron Road from Karak Borgo to Campogrotta ...

(https://i.imgur.com/MuE764U.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/OSshUC4.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/X1NPJsf.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/iXm4JVM.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/SoKV7Qq.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on November 06, 2019, 10:03:21 PM
Two unusual wizards, the fallen damsel Perrette and the dwarfen wizard Glammerscale Hamgorn, talk about the battle to come at Campogrotta.

(https://i.imgur.com/N1H0AW2.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/Qly86ko.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/gF6WGRQ.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on November 07, 2019, 07:48:03 PM
The Disciplinati di Morr marches to war ...

(https://i.imgur.com/7abCj1T.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/XSSQBxY.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/NoFPejh.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/eT8fp1q.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/eC8pbIK.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/bFKtxR6.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/ECKHden.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/TRbBJZE.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/nCk5LCD.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/MzbbY4Z.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/3fviXU4.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/u2m4rXa.jpg)



Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: dadlamassu on November 07, 2019, 08:41:10 PM
A magnificent project.

Superb cast .... including Brian Blessed!

(https://i.imgur.com/471kgKH.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Elk101 on November 07, 2019, 09:40:54 PM
This really is a spectacle. Very well done.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Aesthete on November 07, 2019, 09:57:46 PM
Thanks for the reply outlining what you're doing, Padrissimus. It's really incredible and inspirational :)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on November 08, 2019, 05:18:02 PM
Thank you for your kind comments. Here are some more pictures. 

The dwarfen siege lines at Campogrotta, featuring the behemoth gun 'Granite Breaker' ...

(https://i.imgur.com/kGKNxa5.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/XCzlt6L.jpg)

Ain't she a beaut' ... I mean brute?
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on November 09, 2019, 10:14:45 AM
The walls of Campogrotta before and after Granite Breaker's battery ...

(https://i.imgur.com/myVdejZ.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/1o5266W.jpg)

(My favourite of these three, with their odd blanket sky - why did I do that?)

(https://i.imgur.com/4rhEY4l.jpg)

And after ...

(https://i.imgur.com/smSDxsm.jpg)
(It you're on a pc/laptop, open the above one in a new tab and see the damage in its full-screen fullness!)

(https://i.imgur.com/1xjjDMD.jpg)

Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Gibby on November 09, 2019, 06:41:35 PM
Ready for some stout Dwarfs to rampage over!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on November 09, 2019, 07:25:05 PM
Which, of course, they did! (This pic' is from the First Assault battle report.)

(https://i.imgur.com/tvPCep9.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Maddoc on November 09, 2019, 11:29:30 PM
Wonderful and eclectic mix of figures!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on November 10, 2019, 09:02:54 AM
Grave robbers?

(https://i.imgur.com/sTAsoh6.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on November 10, 2019, 06:46:06 PM
Sartosan Pirate Council ...

(https://i.imgur.com/VoD1sPm.jpg)

Captain Leopold Volker chairs ...
(https://i.imgur.com/Q1C5Is6.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on November 11, 2019, 06:52:38 PM
The Disciplinati di Morr scour the streets of Viadaza looking for the enemy that has been preying on them during the darkest hours. Open in a new tab for a larger, clearer image - this one is (of necessity) dark!

(https://i.imgur.com/k9qg66P.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on November 11, 2019, 09:32:00 PM
The streets of Trantio made macabre by its new occupants ...

(https://i.imgur.com/wzU447Y.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/ty0aa21.jpg)

I like how the zombies are shambling frantically one way, while the horses gallop the other. Do these guys know what they are doing? Of course not. Best of all I like how one ex-cultist zombie has stopped to watch the riders speed by!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on November 12, 2019, 06:49:10 PM
Two little companies of Brabanzon riders meet after scouting, talk as they ride, and then make their joint way back to the rest of the company to report what they have learned ...

(https://i.imgur.com/0Cds7kk.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/9ffMbrH.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/6Feebxa.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/s4cYJOU.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/i23IiWT.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on November 13, 2019, 05:56:23 PM
The archpriest Biagino administers an unholy mass to his wretched, pathetic congregation, while his undead servants both attend him and make sure the congregation cannot leave!

(https://i.imgur.com/osPG4nj.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/6tVa0cT.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/ZCqcPnY.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/82cuShT.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Swordisdrawn on November 13, 2019, 06:38:37 PM
This a marvellous thread! Fantastic and epic.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on November 14, 2019, 09:31:23 PM
Thanks Swordisdrawn!

It is my birthday so I want to put what I think is a good sequence today. Here are the scenes from the time the Disciplinati di Morr marching army finally cornered the bestial vampire Lord Adolfo who had been preying on them nocturnally throughout their march.

I will put them in the correct sequence, (I think) just as the accompanying story had them ...

(https://i.imgur.com/Et7QeW2.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/WqRWDke.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/wWGIN13.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/s14WQfN.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/cyE94Ot.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/Z1jjpXN.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/iy9KjkW.jpg)

Yes, he died. But he took some very important members of the Disciplinati di Morr down with him, including the leader, Father Carradalio and the Admonitor Father Vincenzo. This spelled doom for the 'dedicant' brotherhood.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Gibby on November 14, 2019, 09:37:28 PM
Now the question is, was he sent to die or was he trying to prove he wasn't a coward after fleeing the allied army before?

Also, happy birthday!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on November 14, 2019, 09:55:28 PM
Some things even I am unsure of. As Carradalio was a PC, then only the player really knows. I suspect that he suddenly realised how he had become distracted by politics and power in Remas when his true goal had been and still was to fight the vampires. So he just stopped the Machiavellian nonsense and marched off directly to fight them. Not sure the idea that he was a coward idea works (although it might) as he was moving away from an army he could possibly fight, perhaps easily, to face the vampire duchess's potentially much more powerful, and horrible, army! But maybe he though the the Duchess Maria had been weakened and so was an easier foe to face? Or maybe marching off to face them was intended to be another piece in his power puzzle? Imagine how respected and feared he might have been if he had returned a victor, having delivered the whole of Tilea from the undead threat?
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Gibby on November 14, 2019, 10:02:46 PM
Sorry, I should have been clear. I meant the Vampire Lord Adolfo, who had fled during the battle against the besieging army. Perhaps his mistress sent him to atone, or perhaps he was off taking his own vengeance (and thus proving himself along the way, however it ended). Or perhaps he was just insane!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on November 14, 2019, 10:17:25 PM
Silly me! I should have known you meant Adolfo. I think it entirely possible all three of your reasons applied. Oh and there was the fact that when he began preying on the army, Maria was still a PC (it was just before Daz left the campaign), so the player (may have) ordered him to do this - again, perhaps for all three reasons!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on November 15, 2019, 04:21:46 PM
Biagino and his 'Disciplinati di Nagash' zombies fleeing the Battle of the Valley of Norochia ...

(https://i.imgur.com/CYc6LZC.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Mister Frau Blucher on November 15, 2019, 05:35:41 PM
Hey, Padrissimus, I stumbled across your blog a year or two ago, and really love what you do! Glad to see you here. Keep the photos coming, please!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on November 16, 2019, 09:55:50 PM
Thanks Mister Frau!

Here is Lord Lucca Vescussi reviewing his troops as they march to war ...

(https://i.imgur.com/srQMMoj.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/N3ENehh.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on November 17, 2019, 09:25:02 AM
The army council before the Battle of the Valley of Norochia. Featuring Lord Alessio Falconi of Portomaggiore (the captain general), the Arch-Lector of Morr Benado Ugolini, Lord Silvano Gondi of Pavona, the Verezzans halfling Barone Iacopo Brunetti of Poliena and Captain Muzio Vanni, and General Marsilio da Fermo, commander of the Luccinan brigade, and various other lesser captains and advisers ...

(https://i.imgur.com/4wnFUXP.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/gri6EtT.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/PjMNDqm.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/XcM9wti.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/kP28tg9.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/J9pPeXW.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/khABNov.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/LkCnS0b.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/d6cAY9j.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/F0IcTsK.jpg)

Also featuring Lord Ned (for some reason my favourite figure here) ...
(https://i.imgur.com/qSMOYPs.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/ORfxCx8.jpg)

Here a messenger reads a missive to the council ...
(https://i.imgur.com/TICHNZC.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on November 17, 2019, 10:02:50 PM
The allied army artillery battery at the Battle of Norochia ...

(https://i.imgur.com/emoJTlr.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/1fU1cvC.jpg)

There are Reman, Pavonan, Verezzan and Portomaggioran guns in the line, thus the different liveries, although Pavona and Portomaggiore both have blue and white livery just to be confusing!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Codsticker on November 18, 2019, 03:50:38 AM
Great atmospheric pictures.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on November 18, 2019, 05:49:10 PM
Swearing before Myrmidia ...

(https://i.imgur.com/A5Da7xo.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/c8qETiz.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/YpD4F6z.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/6YAC87J.jpg)


Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on November 19, 2019, 06:22:47 PM
Tending the Baron ...

(https://i.imgur.com/MveRG9G.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/LLK32aw.jpg)

A physician and a sister of Shallya.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on November 21, 2019, 08:04:34 PM
Prayers for the coming battle ...

(https://i.imgur.com/ARlGkBM.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/to7cvgr.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/2h3rmIR.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Bearwoodman on November 21, 2019, 08:20:12 PM
No atheists in foxholes pike blocks. I can feel the tension in the air!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on November 22, 2019, 06:28:36 PM
You are right Bearwoodman! I gave up being a pikeman while I was still religious, and only became an atheist after I had become a musketeer. Not sure there is any direct connection though!?!

The vampire Duchess Maria shows favour to her captain before the battle ...

(https://i.imgur.com/LUUKDgT.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/G4WOumz.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Nordic1980s on November 23, 2019, 12:10:35 AM
Epic thread with inspiring imaginery.  :-*
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Mallo on November 23, 2019, 12:34:47 AM
Fantastic! I'd seen your work before and loved it, but I've just been through this whole thread and it's blown me away. What superb photos, it's like I was sitting watching a film come to life, has all the atmosphere and mood of the old 1970s horrors!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Neunfinger on November 23, 2019, 06:12:35 AM
These pictures are some of the best war gaming story telling I've ever seen. Please keep making them, it's really a joy to look through this thread.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on November 23, 2019, 01:47:04 PM
Thanks very much! Cheers me greatly to hear people like the pics You can see the story with all the pics at www.bigsmallworlds.com . The pics are the least time consuming part of the process - the modelling/painting and the story writing take much longer!

Here's a pic of the Duchess Maria and her captain riding with the army vanguard on their way to battle ...

(https://i.imgur.com/y21f18z.jpg)

This is one of my favourites!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on November 24, 2019, 11:57:24 AM
The dwarf wizard Glammerscale Hamgorn (and entourage) meets with the commanders of the Brettonian mercenary company known as the 'Brabanzon' (pictures in the wrong order, thus the wagon in the background that seems to be moving backwards at one point!)  ...

(https://i.imgur.com/PTWHPKU.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/eH9GRat.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/dPdnmjB.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/5916DKd.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/2c4iGg6.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/6uGyarq.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/e4hYuGF.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/oPZYUMR.jpg)
(That's a big jack!)

(https://i.imgur.com/YAtVLhj.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on November 25, 2019, 04:37:33 PM
Sartosan pirates debating during the looting of the realm of Luccini ...

(https://i.imgur.com/ik3Z375.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/2bg1nKL.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/Uq6DfhJ.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/DTok40t.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/8LNaOdS.jpg)

And a view from further away ...

(https://i.imgur.com/KU8IVHq.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on November 26, 2019, 04:39:39 PM
And today. the looters with the loot seen close up ...

(https://i.imgur.com/DPUewp4.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/rQjB1M3.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/1WMTUa5.jpg)

The captain keeps a watchful eye ...
(https://i.imgur.com/LSBRfLQ.jpg)

As do others ...
(https://i.imgur.com/9dFZbWk.jpg)

While in town, 'accidents' will happen!
(https://i.imgur.com/shREJnS.jpg)

Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Neunfinger on November 27, 2019, 04:58:41 PM
Wonderful additions.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on November 27, 2019, 09:07:23 PM
The letter-message ...

(https://i.imgur.com/0jYp6Pv.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/kJDw4sA.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/6dTtjAp.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Dr Mathias on November 27, 2019, 09:14:23 PM
Very evocative scenes!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on November 28, 2019, 04:46:43 PM
Thanks Doc.

Scenes from the 'Rape of Spomanti' and the ensuing skirmish ...

(https://i.imgur.com/T74J8hV.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/vPhqwm7.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/7zZln8d.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/Aj8yiTc.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/c2lKQww.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/QB92coq.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/6ykcGlB.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/3KpUKz2.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on November 29, 2019, 04:14:08 PM
Marching underground!

(https://i.imgur.com/q2yblvb.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/W94AJWl.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/1SMXOJD.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: HappyChappy439 on November 29, 2019, 06:23:42 PM
Love those classic clanrats!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: swiftnick on November 29, 2019, 10:16:25 PM
Great stuff and very inspirational.
Are you able to give details on The figures when you post?
Some are obviously recognisable but some of the character figures I don't know.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on November 30, 2019, 08:35:22 AM
Which figures in which pictures do you want to know about swiftnick?

'Sfunny, I'm being 'Swift Nicks' the highwayman, aka John Nevison, next Wednesday!

(https://i.imgur.com/jal1nYY.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on November 30, 2019, 08:38:00 AM
And now from a real castle door to a slightly smaller version: Welcoming father home ...

(https://i.imgur.com/4l9qXCN.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/JBE46Hh.jpg)

(Duke Guidobaldo Gondi returns to Pavona, there to be greeted by his son Lord Silvano.)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Neunfinger on November 30, 2019, 04:49:10 PM
Great pictures and dashing outfit. Btw, that doorstep you're standing on must have seen quite some action in it's lifetime, being as worn as it is.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on November 30, 2019, 04:51:17 PM
Or perhaps I am just so heavy that the sheer weight of me crushed the stone beneath my foot?!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on November 30, 2019, 05:58:33 PM
... dashing outfit ...
Which I made. (Well, the coat, waistcoat, shirt and neck cloth. I can't make hats and boots!)

Visiting the maestro Angelo da Leoni ...

(https://i.imgur.com/2rJ9936.jpg)

Same room as a previous photo, but a different visitor, a glimpse of the maestro's gnomish servant and different table clutter. Also a weird metal globe, mad-scientist style!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Gibby on November 30, 2019, 10:08:00 PM
Hmm, the sculptor of that Gnome never offered me any likeness rights...  :-[

Stunning scenes as always, Padrissimus. As always, I look forward to more story developments! For anyone who enjoys a stirring and game-driven narrative and also likes reading detailed stories while enjoying a cuppa/beer, I say again, read the whole story from the start. It's worth it!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on November 30, 2019, 10:24:15 PM
Apparently the 'gnome' is from a very old range of figures listed as 'evil goblins' (or something akin)! I always thought he and his mates were gnomes ... beardless, yes, but gnomish nevertheless.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Gibby on November 30, 2019, 10:27:52 PM
They work very well as Gnomes, that's for sure.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: swiftnick on November 30, 2019, 10:53:20 PM
Which figures in which pictures do you want to know about swiftnick?

'Sfunny, I'm being 'Swift Nicks' the highwayman, aka John Nevison, next Wednesday!

(https://i.imgur.com/jal1nYY.jpg)

Just in general really but saying that I don't want to add to your considerable workload.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on December 01, 2019, 01:11:04 AM
To continue Gibby's strand of thought, and give swiftnick a first answer to his general query, I searched for the FB comment to re-learn what the gnomes are ... they Late 70's Minifigs 'The World of Greyhawk' range, called Evil Halflings. (I even got that wrong! My memory is rubbish.) I also found an image of the ones I own ...

(https://i.imgur.com/QEg3RQV.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on December 01, 2019, 10:33:16 AM
A bustling tavern in Campogrotta, the city recently captured from the occupying brute ogres by the dwarfs of Karak Borgo. You can see some dwarfs at a table, as well as some soldiers from the mercenary company of the Compagnia del Sole ...

(https://i.imgur.com/QCVa2jw.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Steam Flunky on December 01, 2019, 03:08:35 PM
Wonderful photos
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: swiftnick on December 02, 2019, 12:49:33 AM
To continue Gibby's strand of thought, and give swiftnick a first answer to his general query, I searched for the FB comment to re-learn what the gnomes are ... they Late 70's Minifigs 'The World of Greyhawk' range, called Evil Halflings. (I even got that wrong! My memory is rubbish.) I also found an image of the ones I own ...

(https://i.imgur.com/QEg3RQV.jpg)

Interesting old school figures there.
There was some interesting long snouted Goblins in episode 7 mangled facts. Was really taken with them especially the one carrying the huge club.
Could you mention who made those please?

By the way chose the handle swiftnick as was playing loads of highwaymen and pirate games when I joined LAF years ago.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on December 02, 2019, 05:34:14 PM
You asked about the one with the huge club. If you meant the one with the ogre's club bound with spiky iron rungs, that's a plastic model from either the GW Bulls set or their gnoblar's set, or maybe their ironguts' set. Not sure, but defo a GW plastic.

The one with the plain wooden club, as with most of the figures in this batch of photos, is from a good 25 years or so ago, from a range I cannot recall (if I ever knew). I am going to search the interweb now ....

... hang on! You said long snouts - they are all plastic gnoblars. Only the other, ugly-bugly ones are metal.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on December 02, 2019, 05:45:03 PM
Got it ... Alternative Armies, different sets, but definitely some from OH15 GOBLIN ELITE (https://www.alternative-armies.com/collections/goblin-hordes/products/oh15-goblin-elite) which has the other gob with a club and the one leaning heavily on the halberd.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on December 02, 2019, 07:34:01 PM
The somewhat frustrated, young King Ferronso watches secretly from the shadow of the trees whilst some of the large army of Sartosan pirates who have captured his town of Aversa drill with the pikes they have stolen from the town's magazine.

(https://i.imgur.com/fgEcCe6.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/zSzbpQG.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/Ca6qBs6.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/ON7Y7F9.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/lmFsV12.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/We6sj65.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/hnfu7yn.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/ZFFcSsq.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: swiftnick on December 03, 2019, 06:02:34 AM
You asked about the one with the huge club. If you meant the one with the ogre's club bound with spiky iron rungs, that's a plastic model from either the GW Bulls set or their gnoblar's set, or maybe their ironguts' set. Not sure, but defo a GW plastic.

The one with the plain wooden club, as with most of the figures in this batch of photos, is from a good 25 years or so ago, from a range I cannot recall (if I ever knew). I am going to search the interweb now ....

... hang on! You said long snouts - they are all plastic gnoblars. Only the other, ugly-bugly ones are metal.

Ahhh thanks for that. He has a very Prehammer look about him.
The AA one with the halberd is a cracker too.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on December 03, 2019, 02:51:45 PM
Rise up! Rise up to fight once more!

(https://i.imgur.com/XowdPdf.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/BNjAet8.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/MRcs9kf.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/kXDp8JX.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/lV1l1p2.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on December 04, 2019, 05:26:06 PM
The necessary cleansing of Trantio, after its horrible occupation by the vampire duchess's army ...

(https://i.imgur.com/ddWFF9B.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on December 05, 2019, 04:58:12 PM
Run boys, run!

(https://i.imgur.com/mO2YlEk.png)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Commander Carnage on December 05, 2019, 06:23:34 PM
My favorite post thus far is the raising of the dead to fight again. Very atmospheric pics.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on December 06, 2019, 09:37:11 AM
Thanks Commander!

Now working (kind of) backwards from the first post in this thread, to the pictures that were on Photobox not Imgur and thus ruined by watermarks and blurring (etc), which I was too lazy to convert but now am willing to because you guys seem to be enjoying the pictures.

Here is the Holy Army of Morr on the march. First up, the dwarf mercenaries serving the Arch Lector of Remas with the crossed keys of Morr on their shields (he is the gatekeeper of the heavenly garden) ...

(https://i.imgur.com/1mGnlWt.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/pr0DxGw.jpg)

Now a bigger view so you can see both columns.

(https://i.imgur.com/6TOzgtA.jpg)

Here you can see the newly elected arch Lector, Bernado Ugolini, talking with his young clerical servant Brother Duarte.

(https://i.imgur.com/aRjcb9f.jpg)

Close ups ...

(https://i.imgur.com/1LjwVk2.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/cUUUecV.jpg)

Then they halt to speak to Father Benvenuto and Brother Marsilio walking behind them ...

(https://i.imgur.com/uLFe9hK.jpg)

As you can see the dwarfs continue to march on by in the other column ...

(https://i.imgur.com/Lmfgix3.jpg)

The other Morrite clerics report as best they can ...

(https://i.imgur.com/dWKzj2n.jpg)

While the soldiers of the arch-lector's guard stand patiently.

(https://i.imgur.com/WgC2EGS.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Elk101 on December 06, 2019, 02:27:28 PM
These narrative photo shoots are great, I'm loving the stories you are telling with them.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on December 06, 2019, 02:35:57 PM
These narrative photo shoots are great, I'm loving the stories you are telling with them.

Thanks! If you want to read the actual story, rather than just some brief descriptions of the pictures, see the part titled The Battle of the Via Diocleta: Prequel at https://bigsmallworlds.com/2017/10/28/tilea-campaign-part-15/
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Elk101 on December 06, 2019, 02:44:44 PM
Thanks, I'll look that up.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on December 07, 2019, 07:06:52 PM
I thought instead of story-piece pictures from the campaign, I should put up some battle report pictures from an actual game write up (which intersperse the story pieces).

Not sure that I should post all 53 battle report pics so I will pick and choose in a roughly chronological order and try to get it down to about half that number!

Pictures from the Battle of the Via Diocleta, in which an allied army of Pavonans and Remans took on the 'Double Army' of the ogre tyrant Razger Boulderguts ('double' because it included the tyrant Mangler's mercenary army too!)

(https://i.imgur.com/CNwa6pu.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/7epxZT2.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/VBdmnvw.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/tHAcLpg.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/MDchcDJ.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/WUluBHt.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/0AWVLep.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/6RBKfxF.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/PepIyov.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/uzXIcYE.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/VOaIKcM.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/4z2Zmou.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/wKHygHP.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/yYKapEH.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/cmHmjmF.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/9VTVpDO.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/u5PEo0R.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/GkdWg9z.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/dBLmtwP.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/fHT8ayb.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/hOFwYL3.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/VgyXkLO.jpg)

And then some 'posed' photos used to bring the battle report's story to a proper conclusion (re: events immediately after the last turn) ...

(https://i.imgur.com/nV5lfJT.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/9Ubvs5P.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/zvPRfXU.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/uBKJqkS.jpg)

To see the full report on the Oldhammer Forum, with all the pics and a very full description indeed, go to the prequel at http://forum.oldhammer.org.uk/viewtopic.php?p=85876#p85876 then read the next four of five posts!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on December 07, 2019, 08:27:51 PM
BTW, perhaps interestingly, the ogre army had already fought several battles (mostly as two separate bodies) in the campaign up til this point, pillaging their way through central Tilea. What you see here is Razger's force in a diminished form!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on December 08, 2019, 12:40:06 PM
Discussions with the palace guard.

Here are two images from when a dedicant of the Disciplinati di Morr and the Morrite priest Father Gabrielle made a deal with Captain Luppolt Vogel of the arch-lector’s guard, in the gardens behind the Palazzo Montini. As a result of their agreement, the palace guard did not interfere while the Disciplinati violently seized control of Remas from the nobles and their bravi soldiers.

(https://i.imgur.com/jWOsW07.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/qNOm2tY.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on December 08, 2019, 11:29:28 PM
Scenes of the street fighting during the Disiplinati di Morr's seizure of Remas. They launched their attacks simultaneously, taking the city quarter by quarter from the noble families' militia ...

(https://i.imgur.com/euYo2Dx.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/ro5I25f.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/BrCksHK.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/3YO6aqE.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Elk101 on December 09, 2019, 07:51:43 AM
Thanks again for posting these.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on December 09, 2019, 09:25:36 AM
As the city is seized, reports come in to the Disciplinati's Admonitor at the ruins of Tragustan’s Forum

(https://i.imgur.com/d96gy2K.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/NOP4NFh.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/ZFsPKXf.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on December 10, 2019, 09:26:16 AM
Questioning the prisoners (before their death and resurrection!!)

(https://i.imgur.com/v8hzO2h.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/ZXnH7Ep.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/8btKtFF.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/a3TR1fi.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/XEVCwIK.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/w3is5JZ.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/Zf9EIUQ.jpg)

The next pair I am proud of. How often can one make a lead miniature actually move?

(https://i.imgur.com/C6Pxcwx.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/RKc2bK8.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: LordOdo on December 10, 2019, 01:09:09 PM
Such a creativity!!

One can only imagine what a joy it must be for the players in your campaign!  :o
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on December 11, 2019, 09:50:37 AM
Repairs after recapture.

First, the one that 'worked' ...

(https://i.imgur.com/BFr3sSC.jpg)

And now the ones I needed to tell the story ...

(https://i.imgur.com/8DFAuY6.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/IM44jR7.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/purSPzS.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/3PnV581.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/m7XvCN9.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/g7PBxUY.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Elk101 on December 11, 2019, 07:10:09 PM
Excellent attention to detail!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on December 11, 2019, 07:48:19 PM
A lot of stuff like this happens by accident. Like the last scene. I had made the rubble filled wooden board defences as scenery for the army of the VMC's assault on Monte Castello. The castle had been taken by Khurnag's Waagh! and their war engines had badly damaged the walls. The wooden defences were what the goblins had cobbled together to 'repair' the gaps - partly nailed, partly tied with rope, wholly unsuitable for defence against gunpowder artillery!

But then the VMC player decided to negotiate with the goblins left inside, and lured them out without having to fight. So, loads of scenery made for nothing, I thought. Except, I used it in the scenes of the parley (when the goblins come out of the castle) and then I used them again for these story scenes to show the VMC's labourers beginning the work of repairing the castle properly.

This way I got some use out of the stuff I had built. And the story (a conversation) was fun to write, being a means to impart campaign information in a story form.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: swiftnick on December 11, 2019, 11:16:40 PM
It does look like the dream campaign to take part in.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Dr Mathias on December 12, 2019, 12:11:10 AM
Very cool. You have a very eclectic variety of manufacturers- they work well together.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on December 12, 2019, 03:35:12 PM
The mighty tyrant Mangler talks with his butcher during his grand chevauchee ...

(https://i.imgur.com/mfZyfEI.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: LordOdo on December 12, 2019, 04:02:42 PM
Very atmospheric!

How does the campaign work? Do the players tell you their actions over the internet?
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on December 13, 2019, 10:17:51 AM
I have 6 players, 4 local and 2 removed at some distance. They differ in many ways - some have armies, some don't (and so use mine). Some are full on hobbyists who have RPd and wargamed for decades, some only play this campaign and have only gamed through me before. Some come to mine or local shops to play, some only with their own armies, but several are very happy to command NPC forces too. My Portomaggioran player, Damo, for example, is a good player, a good tactician, and always tries to win battles (or, achieve whatever objective I have secretly revealed the NPC wants) when he commands NPC armies. This means I can GM, photograph, write notes and be a host without trying to game as well. When I have to command also, then I tend to be a bit rubbish at it because I have so much else to do!

Some of my players don't really read the stories in detail at all, others go so far as help me create them by telling me their character's words or actions to allow the story to unfold. The latter do not always do this, however, as there is a strategic element to the game, of course, and so they do not want to reveal intentions, motivations and plans to their enemies. This is why a whole host of non-player characters act is dramatis personae in the stories. One player, who I had met only once before at a reenactment event, read the whole thread in great detail, then I asked him to take command of the newly emergent skaven!

The ways I communicate are different too. One player I meet for a pint in the pub, carrying maps and notes with me. Another I telephone and then confirm with e-mails. Most I e-mail and message, or talk during and after games.

The NPCs are fully active and interactive, but I do not make up stuff for them as a GM or decide what they will do. Instead I roll dice to determine (based on their previous character and their current situation) how they feel (brave? reckless? cautious? etc  on a scale) then I create a chart of options for their next actions and roll. I always stick with the result, even if I think another result would have been more exciting or fun, that way the world feels more real to me too, and not just in my head!  Often I include a 1-in 6 chance to do something else. if I roll that then I have to come up with much wackier options and roll between them. This has led to some interesting decisions.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on December 13, 2019, 10:18:44 AM
The Reman Captain General Duke Scaringella at the head of his small army ...

(https://i.imgur.com/u723p0y.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on December 13, 2019, 04:20:11 PM
Capitano Mazallini reviewing a regiment of the Compagnia del Sol outside a temple to 'The Three' (being the holy trinity of Morr, Myrmidia and Mercopio) ...

(https://i.imgur.com/y0hvyiK.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on December 14, 2019, 08:24:09 AM
The vampire Duchess Maria leading her army south ...

(https://i.imgur.com/5n4D8B6.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on December 14, 2019, 07:19:30 PM
Hauling the loot, and lots of it! Brutes from Mangler's Band and Boulderguts' army have so much loot here, some of them are even having to help pull the wagons! It caused some arguments I can tell you!

(https://i.imgur.com/pXahD0c.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/HYo9Abj.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/ZS4QAkO.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/8pyCbJ0.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/p1bnMwq.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/ybPBY7R.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/5dvq4iT.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/S9xpMNd.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/csn5r9Q.jpg)


Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: LordOdo on December 14, 2019, 10:35:30 PM
I have 6 players, 4 local and 2 removed at some distance.
[.....]
 This has led to some interesting decisions.

Awesome, this sounds like the dream!
Might want to do something like this once... when I have enough mini's and time and so...
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on December 16, 2019, 09:30:59 AM
The Compagnia del Sol's two chancellors watch as the company's mounted crossbowmen ride by ...

(https://i.imgur.com/7lhFpF6.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/KPfVUwW.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/RfaJxC3.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/THQXV0Y.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/SsBbDZ3.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on December 17, 2019, 12:24:32 AM
Never made my mind up about whether this one worked or not. I have 'issues' with it of many and varied kinds.

(https://i.imgur.com/kTh0BZU.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Neunfinger on December 17, 2019, 10:37:13 AM
I think it works just fine.
Doesn't look as natural as your usual scenery, but that's because your usual scenery is very well made. I think the photo-backdrop is a great idea for setting up scenes for which not enough models/terrain is at hand.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on December 17, 2019, 06:50:39 PM
Thanks for saying. I tried the same technique (once again with some of the cardboard mounted image reprinted, cut out, and stuck down over the original to add at least some minimal 3Dness) on this one too. It is the young King Ferronso III of Luccini at court ...

(https://i.imgur.com/p3SDrwV.jpg)

Did what I could to hide the bases (part holes in the floor and part MSPaint fiddlyness) but all in all, I prefer using a 'real' models background, if I can create it reasonably quickly!

The most recent 2D backgrounds were featured earlier in the thread, being of the dwarf-hold of Karak Borgo, and those figures I just snapped off their bases for the photographs! I'll stick one here for comparison's sake.

(https://i.imgur.com/NOAAvyE.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Blackwolf on December 17, 2019, 07:43:15 PM
Lovely work,and very inspiring. So much so that I'm going to start  a campaign of my own,first up a map :)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on December 18, 2019, 10:16:05 AM
Preaching Morr's Holy War!

Father Carradalio, Praepositus Generalis of the Disciplinati di Morr, delivers a rousing speech in Remas  ...

(https://i.imgur.com/yzycy8W.jpg)

(Camera pans back!)

(https://i.imgur.com/G48e1r7.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/aoh2OSM.jpg)

Some close ups of his faithful (in two different ways!) guards ...

(https://i.imgur.com/7FKnBCF.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/IyG02pY.jpg)

(Keep a respectful distance!)
(https://i.imgur.com/jMatwvW.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/9iq9NW5.jpg)
I like how you catch a glimpse of the city in the background here. Sometimes photos just work by accident!

(https://i.imgur.com/eepnFCc.jpg)

Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on December 20, 2019, 05:30:49 PM
A confession made in the garden of the Palazzo Sebardi, near Viadaza ...

(https://i.imgur.com/hFygpNl.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/MThLXAj.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/8WYIqjT.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/AAo6HLV.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/b5NbLRk.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/xMJickD.jpg)



Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on December 22, 2019, 12:19:02 PM
Scenes from the (periphery of) an army camp - building earthwork defences ...

(https://i.imgur.com/jjgbNyw.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/sJCwqnI.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/ygywojX.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/dVMUia2.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/OfIKib5.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/drGQ8n8.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/JZtvnhe.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Dr Mathias on December 22, 2019, 04:50:07 PM
Cool scenes! I really like the garden confession...

How did you make the wicker baskets?
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on December 22, 2019, 08:04:38 PM
I'm glad you like the garden confession scene - it's one of my favourites. It is funny how the ones I think "Why am I doing this when it'll be so boring" sometimes turn out to be good. I think I like the confession because I was surprised how much like a garden it looked.

The wicker baskets are made from pound shop cheap oven mesh (like this https://www.amazon.co.uk/Baking-Reusable-Sheet-Crispy-Cookamesh/dp/B00WNF0NQQ) which I cut, bent and sewed together into baskets with thread. Then I poured the gravel in.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on December 24, 2019, 04:01:36 PM
A merry dance for Christmas! (Cultists of Morr style!)

(https://i.imgur.com/KZkHodF.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/0Mbspg6.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/umz2Kfa.jpg)

(My favourite of this batch, and a jovial looking fellow indeed!)
(https://i.imgur.com/slQIpit.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/9MFmKKX.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/I4YMQGt.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/0NK6IFs.jpg)

And watching the cavorting was the arch-lector ...

(https://i.imgur.com/IAsurD1.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/1tbAKEX.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Neunfinger on December 24, 2019, 08:17:24 PM
(https://i.imgur.com/1tbAKEX.jpg)

"Sometimes I wonder... are we the bad guys?" ;)

Lovely scenes, as usual.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on December 27, 2019, 10:21:55 AM
@ Neunfinger: Hee hee! Pretty much sums up the arch-lector's state of mind at that point in time.

Ready to defend Pavona:

(https://i.imgur.com/lTyL3w3.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/pC4OmoN.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/sor8SOe.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/0AnEsTy.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/odGZfbq.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/YkJ5S9T.jpg)



Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: LordOdo on December 27, 2019, 05:22:01 PM
Lovely character in those last two pics! Where's he from, I have never seen him before..
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on December 27, 2019, 05:30:05 PM
He's Artizan. See https://www.artizandesigns.com/prod.php?prod=1824

BTW, all these years I have had him and I only just noticed I forgot to paint his legs! I really should pay more attention, but I have a habit of churning figures out rushing to get the armies/pictures/stories done!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on December 31, 2019, 02:15:00 PM
More foot-soldiers for the vampire duchess ...

(https://i.imgur.com/Er0OiCU.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/9QOcXDp.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on January 02, 2020, 11:40:16 AM
The goblin commanders emerge from Monte Castello to parley with the general of the VMC ... (pictures from before the time I began hiding bases) ...

Pike march out:
(https://i.imgur.com/eluabCC.jpg)

Then form a guard ...
(https://i.imgur.com/0lBtzTh.jpg)

Then out come the brave commanders ...
(https://i.imgur.com/H1127P5.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/BXBKKVk.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/kaQJyta.jpg)

Whilst watched by the various defenders on the ruinous walls ...
(https://i.imgur.com/0QrcTqs.jpg)



Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on January 03, 2020, 05:50:16 PM
And here are views of the meeting between General Jan Valckenburgh of the army of the VMC and the goblins occupying Monte Castello ...

Waiting for the goblins
(https://i.imgur.com/SGVb8mo.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/2Da3JLe.jpg)

The goblins approach
(https://i.imgur.com/HTYZbFm.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/cqeE03R.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/TYKyBiI.jpg)

Words are had, agreement is (surprisingly) reached ...
(https://i.imgur.com/kapsrgZ.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/AHA2qWZ.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/9orh1g3.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/N4JKdOJ.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/47PlDLl.jpg)

Some close ups of the VMC officers and guards ...

General Valckenburgh and his 'linguister' Pieter Schout
(https://i.imgur.com/UzSdlNy.jpg)

Myrmidian Standard Bearer (I forget her name!)
(https://i.imgur.com/5hKl77q.jpg)

VMC wizard Jan Deeter
(https://i.imgur.com/WeloBPh.jpg)

A file of company handgunners
(https://i.imgur.com/KhRagai.jpg)

And a rank of company pistoliers
(https://i.imgur.com/DpuG2l7.jpg)




Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: dan97526 on January 04, 2020, 12:58:30 AM
Absolutely glorious.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Nordic1980s on January 04, 2020, 09:50:29 PM
Nice photos with interesting plot in them. Now that I think of it, why there was no similar material in White Dwarf ever? Negotiations between a goblin and human warlords would make a fine wargaming scenario or mini-campaign.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Elk101 on January 04, 2020, 10:39:23 PM
Great stuff, as usual!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on January 05, 2020, 11:40:09 AM
Thank you, you three!

@ Nordic1980s: The decision to parley was the campaign player's decision - he is commander of a trading company's army and his aim is always maximum profit, minimum loss, but still with ambitious and occasionally long term goals. Interestingly, the agreement reached with the band of goblins (a minor force in the campaign) had consequences neither the player nor myself as GM foresaw, and badly affected another player later in the campaign, causing him just a bit of trouble, but exactly at the moment when he was at his weakest and so with considerable consequences!

Just one pic today, but (for some unfathomable reason - perhaps an accidentally good composition) one of my favourites. Bernado Ugolini receives a report from a priest:

(https://i.imgur.com/Gv7ipmQ.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Mallo on January 05, 2020, 11:43:28 AM
Wonderful. The old hunchback chap looks like he's taken more than one good clout from Bernados cane!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on January 06, 2020, 06:35:39 PM
The same priest, earlier that day, negotiating with the members of a newly created cult of Morr ...

(https://i.imgur.com/NRrsrnz.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/1PsKvE7.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/jW61JX9.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on January 07, 2020, 09:09:34 PM
This scene from my Tilean campaign is actually set in Estalia (from before the 'other' Compagnia del Sole returned home), when the company chancellors Ottaviano and Baccio delivered their reports to Capitano Bruno Mazallini ...

(https://i.imgur.com/WzSrjRp.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/H499Hvz.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/4VpTntC.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/GsDIQHi.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/iO6YrVO.jpg)

Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on January 09, 2020, 08:35:58 PM
The day Captain Presrae's mercenary elven 'Sharlian Riders' were ordered out of Trantio upon some secret errand, although they made no efforts to conceal their departure - quite the contrary ...

(https://i.imgur.com/ZRjC3AM.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/4tKnuSf.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/kRKtSNW.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/Lockzvc.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/dwMv9Xj.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/rwI8KUl.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/2gOFJiL.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/X4Exr2s.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/il98wHZ.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/l9zFNMV.jpg)

Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Hannibal on January 11, 2020, 10:33:59 PM
Wonderful, thrilling Story and excellent, inspiring pictures. All the nice details, catched by several photos. It makes great fun to read. A bit like these great Blockbuster-Films. Keep on going and many thanks!!!! :-*

Cheers Hannibal   
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on January 12, 2020, 11:03:52 AM
Thank you for saying, Hannibal.

The actual story that goes with the last bunch of pictures (which reveals something about the captain's famous unicorn) can be found on the Oldhammer Forum at http://forum.oldhammer.org.uk/viewtopic.php?p=70885#p70885

While the whole campaign story (almost up to date - it lags a bit behind the forum) is at https://bigsmallworlds.com/
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: WuZhuiQiu on January 12, 2020, 04:26:36 PM
Thank you for the links in your latest post! After reading about the negotiations with the goblins, I was very curious to learn more about the campaign itself.

By the way, is that an Airfix La Haye Sainte kit in the background of one of the pictures...?
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on January 12, 2020, 05:49:09 PM
It is the Airfix model - behind Lector Bernado in one pic, and behind a ratto uomo spy in another. I never throw stuff out and have some pretty ancient stuff in my collection. Often stuff has been re-modeled and repainted, sometimes several times. I am toying with the idea of painting my grey stone walls into a sandstone colour, all the better for Tilea!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on January 13, 2020, 08:32:58 PM
Scenes from the day that the 'Mighty' Mangler's Band seized Scorcio.

(https://i.imgur.com/0EFIxyu.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/nBP81jQ.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/WMzL0lL.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/N71sN9R.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/Yp8YPYD.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on January 19, 2020, 11:21:18 AM
As the corpses burned in Viadaza, there was trouble in the army camp outside the walls, with the soldiers of Pavona and the outcasts from Campogrotta trying to kill the Ogres among the army, while the arch-lector of Morr's foreign mercenaries were ordered to stop them ...

(https://i.imgur.com/SXWrWJ7.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/dsgemTv.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/zPFMktu.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/BADZalr.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/U3qgE0k.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/KJAwtWL.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/v7cSaBn.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/KE3UTN2.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/E66fhgL.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/QL2y3dz.jpg)

Interesting times in the campaign from a coupla years ago.

Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: WuZhuiQiu on January 19, 2020, 03:21:28 PM
Renegade Warring States Chinese!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on January 19, 2020, 03:24:19 PM
In this case mercenary Cathayans.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on January 22, 2020, 02:45:43 PM
High clerics and their military captain discuss matters in the garden of the Palazzo Sebardia, south of Viadaza ...

(https://i.imgur.com/T2YxEyl.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/DQwMy4Z.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/kguie1W.jpg)

Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on January 28, 2020, 09:13:54 PM
The trial of the Pavonan and Campogrottan mutineers at Viadaza ...

(https://i.imgur.com/LgtpbqT.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/OSf88bE.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/rQfIjfj.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/fZjQAHj.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on February 07, 2020, 09:39:16 AM
These pictures are so new I am still writing the story that goes with them ...

A View from the Siege Lines

Soldiers of the VMC in the works before the walled city of Pavona

(https://i.imgur.com/48zK4H8.jpg)

Pan out ...

(https://i.imgur.com/vbmP41R.jpg)

And further ...

(https://i.imgur.com/kh0bh36.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Grumpy Gnome on February 07, 2020, 01:40:42 PM
At the risk of repeating myself, this thread just continues and continues even more to deliver. Outstanding photography and sense of narrative world building. Much respect.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on February 08, 2020, 07:46:11 PM
Thanking you for your kind words Rick W.

Back to some older (pre-hiding-of-bases) campaign pictures now with some images of the undead forces in and near Viadaza back when they possessed the city:

Patrolling the realm ...
(https://i.imgur.com/otdbTfC.jpg)

Upon the walls ...
(https://i.imgur.com/SIUHg0F.jpg)

Inside the city ...
(https://i.imgur.com/IIybsRo.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: scatterbrains on February 09, 2020, 12:57:49 AM
They demanded a fair trial, but the executioner was already sharpening his blade.

That vignette with the clerics has a lot of atmosphere, love it  :-*
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Metternich on February 09, 2020, 04:28:02 AM
Wonderful, immersive story-telling.  I love how you have adapted so many different ranges of miniatures to each represent what you need to tell your tale, and made a coherent whole out of them.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Bloggard on February 09, 2020, 11:54:29 AM
At the risk of repeating myself, this thread just continues and continues even more to deliver. Outstanding photography and sense of narrative world building. Much respect.

yep. couldn't put it better. Superb.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on February 09, 2020, 12:35:42 PM
Thanks again guys. This time some scenes from an actual wargame (the reports of which are 'littered' throughout my campaign account). The Holy Army of Morr attacks Viadaza; the former led by the arch-lector Calictus II, the latter being commanded by the vampire Lord Adolfo.

Many of the pics (59 in total) are just your standard 'in game' shots to illustrate and accompany the story of the battle, but quite a lot of them I like just as pictures. I will try to select mainly those  ... 

The allied army arrays for the assualt ...

(https://i.imgur.com/EmZ8G75.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/RnJgFs6.jpg)

Amongst it are regiments of Morrite 'Dedicants' ...

(https://i.imgur.com/56DHmcG.jpg)

And Angelo da Leoni's marvellous steam engine ...

(https://i.imgur.com/pWk5mVg.jpg)

Behind was the army's extensive baggage ...

(https://i.imgur.com/EeZKvYh.jpg)

The undead defenders watched ...

(https://i.imgur.com/TiiCgpb.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/Zt3U4I0.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/mcLeURQ.jpg)

... as the army advanced towards the walls ...

(https://i.imgur.com/K6lwK10.jpg)

Then the undead appear before the walls! First zombies raised by necromancy from the ground outside ...

(https://i.imgur.com/ChbtmRt.jpg)

Then skeletal riders seem to ride through the walls themselves ...

(https://i.imgur.com/yBnHseC.jpg)

Fights ensue ...

(https://i.imgur.com/igxkhXH.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/o5IUhDQ.jpg)

But the allies prevail and push through the foe to reach the walls. Some ascent on ladders ...

(https://i.imgur.com/JfelGK2.jpg)

Others clamber over the stone piles left where their guns have brought down parts of the walls ...

(https://i.imgur.com/ZYYwY80.jpg)

And so the fighting spread onto the streets with the city ...

(https://i.imgur.com/TTY9l4m.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/hnTyI4B.jpg)

As more and more allied soldiers gained access to the city ...

(https://i.imgur.com/NXociJF.jpg)

Eventually even Lord Adolfo could see that the battle was lost, and so he ordered a retreat in the hope that he could return to his beloved mistress (and sire!) the Duchess Maria ...

(https://i.imgur.com/heutoJf.jpg)

His ghouls followed him out as a bodyguard ...

(https://i.imgur.com/eelrQqb.jpg)

Meanwhile the guns outside fell silent ...

(https://i.imgur.com/vua6cZ8.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/mlo8PtB.jpg)

.., the fight was over.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Gibby on February 09, 2020, 12:37:53 PM
VMC at Pavona! Great photos!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on February 09, 2020, 12:40:39 PM
Ah but, Gibby, you know my frustration. And by 'ah' I mean 'Aaagh!'
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Elk101 on February 09, 2020, 03:22:10 PM
Great shots of the street battles
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on February 10, 2020, 07:00:26 PM
Thank you.

Here is a little scene from the time Portomaggioran pistoleers were sent to scout the neighbouring realm of Raverno after the VMC had sent a force to 'punish' the Ravernans for the defenestration of their emissaries. They discovered the survivors, and their houses, had been beaten up pretty bad!

(https://i.imgur.com/OXubumO.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/p9GRyXM.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on February 12, 2020, 04:09:58 PM
Goblin Boss Gurmliss meets with Mig the ratter near some ruins ...

(https://i.imgur.com/D97OcfI.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/PuCeoW7.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/DOoAmFt.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/ZlxLh6p.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on February 14, 2020, 10:31:47 AM
On hearing the sound of chanting and the ringing of a bell, Biagino looked out of the window ...

(https://i.imgur.com/Vj9topL.jpg)

There he saw fanatic dedicants and the Disciplinati di Morr upon the street, with burning torches and a wheeled bell carriage ...

(https://i.imgur.com/ZHCe9Jz.jpg)

The carriage trundled by ...

(https://i.imgur.com/CIWDENP.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on February 14, 2020, 10:33:10 AM
BTW, has anyone else ever tried taking a photo through a 28mm scale window? I was surprised anything came out at all!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Smoke Frog on February 14, 2020, 06:30:45 PM
Really fantastic work. I had a lot of fun going through your thread; there is a ton of great material in here. Well done!!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: scatterbrains on February 15, 2020, 03:41:24 PM
Legendary stuff! Exactly what I imagined when I read my first army book!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on February 15, 2020, 07:19:34 PM
Thanks guys.

Here are some night-time pics of the bestial vampire Lord Adolfo instructing a body of zombified warehouse guards concerning their duties!

(https://i.imgur.com/QxSnkbt.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/i18oebv.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/eJQC8YD.jpg)

Then he turns to stare at the spy observing him ...

(https://i.imgur.com/USUCbjW.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on February 18, 2020, 09:56:19 AM
Back to some of the latest pictures in the campaign ... lifted from a story I have just posted in the forums.

Scenes from the discussion between Lord Silvano Gondi of Pavona and General Valckenburgh of the VMC in Tilea, concerning Duke Guidobaldo Gondi's previous actions and slander ... not an easy conversation!

(https://i.imgur.com/DCFTnEO.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/tSnpsTv.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/VzqPofd.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/UW4Yo7O.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/SryFq6L.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/hRagc3H.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/FwzoCVa.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: LordOdo on February 18, 2020, 02:01:30 PM
 :o Those last set of pictures! Great atmosphere!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on February 18, 2020, 03:05:04 PM
Thank you, Lord Odo. I forgot to put a link to the actual story. Here it is .... http://forum.oldhammer.org.uk/viewtopic.php?p=100641#p100641
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: scatterbrains on February 20, 2020, 05:12:22 AM
Thank you, Lord Odo. I forgot to put a link to the actual story. Here it is .... http://forum.oldhammer.org.uk/viewtopic.php?p=100641#p100641

Cheers! I had no idea where you posted those!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on February 27, 2020, 09:36:05 AM
While the tyrant Mangler's army marches by behind him, the Hunter has a word with his greenskin scouts concerning what they have learned from their trip into the forest ...

(https://i.imgur.com/TsIOdhJ.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/FJE9dJn.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/TSjAVSe.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/eFoSlRR.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/6GObKf1.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/iHvVvzS.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/5cmQ0Np.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Bearwoodman on February 27, 2020, 12:50:09 PM
As evocative as always!
But... is one of the Hunter's green-skinned scouts (with the horned helmet) related to a well known talking frog puppet? ;D
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on February 27, 2020, 12:53:42 PM
Oh yeah! I see what you mean. I'll have to look for the rest of the cast in my figure collection. Puts a whole new slant on the hobby!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on February 28, 2020, 09:50:15 AM
Lord Polcario Gondi is escorted back to Pavona by his bodyguard, on his journey to eternal rest in the Garden of Morr.

(https://i.imgur.com/01odDlv.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/ssEJGsO.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/GdNDFgr.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on February 28, 2020, 11:05:58 PM
Will no one show respect for Lord Polcaro? The guy died a hero!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on February 29, 2020, 06:49:13 PM
I can prove it. Here is a picture from the moment before brave young Lord Polcario and the tyrant Prince Girenzo killed each other in personal combat! (I forget the weird rules that caused them both to be dead at the end of the combat, but it was something to do with a magical weapon's wounds multiplying or something.)

(https://i.imgur.com/R88VEI2.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Metternich on February 29, 2020, 09:35:49 PM
The funeral cortege was a great picture.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: scatterbrains on March 01, 2020, 01:44:10 AM
(I forget the weird rules that caused them both to be dead at the end of the combat, but it was something to do with a magical weapon's wounds multiplying or something.)

That sounds like a contraption from a race that only exists in people's nightmares!

Beautiful funeral cortège !
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Grumpy Gnome on March 01, 2020, 05:32:16 AM
Some very cute goblins there!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on March 01, 2020, 10:31:29 AM
I have loved goblins ever since the film Labyrinth.

Here is a scene from the looting of Trantio after its capture by the Pavonans, in which they find a soldier of the Compagnia del Sole and decide what to do with him ...

(https://i.imgur.com/5wSQBDr.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/gM8pt5O.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/1yEWHTJ.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/nDIwp6D.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/ecV6Gdg.jpg)

How much better would all these older campaign pictures have been if I have concealed bases like I do now? Maybe if there is reincarnation, I will do the pictures again and edit the posts accordingly. Unless I come back as a rabbit, in which case I am not sure I will care any more.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Metternich on March 01, 2020, 10:43:49 PM
Your town being looted vignette is another great shot.  Really tells the story.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on March 03, 2020, 09:34:08 PM
The Reman yard of maestro Angelo da Leoni's workshop, where his new steam-powered war-machine is being built.

(https://i.imgur.com/rtizdl3.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/FCuK5RO.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/H9eNRQp.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/pSKXRHp.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on March 04, 2020, 04:36:08 PM
Gedik Mamidous, commander of the famous mercenary company the 'Sons of the Desert' holds court during his stay in Luccini ...

(https://i.imgur.com/COpjknE.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/o1doz7f.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/ZMZmNHV.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: scatterbrains on March 05, 2020, 02:01:54 AM
Great scenes as usual!  I bet those cookies are delicious.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Bearwoodman on March 05, 2020, 03:02:46 PM
I bet those cookies are delicious.

I wouldn't want to be the guy holding the tray if they are not! I hear Commander Mamidious takes his baking seriously...
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on March 05, 2020, 03:37:24 PM
With that in mind, I hope I can tell you a story I read in a book called "White Gold" about Barbary Corsairs capturing slaves from Northern Europe (by Giles Milton) ...

There was once a tyrannical and cruel sultan (of Fez or Marakech perhaps, can't recall exactly). He ordered his slaves to build a huge and long wall between two palaces. Dig the required materials, bake the clay-like bricks, and build the wall. It took a LONG time. When it was  completed he ordered the slaves to destroy it completely, pulling down the wall and grinding the bricks back into dust. That was HARD work. Then he ordered them to build it again exactly as it was before in exactly the same place. A very brave courtier (the sultan had a habit of testing the sharpness of his blade on random courtiers' necks!) asked him why he had done so. The sultan honoured him with an answer: "When you have rats in a sack you have to keep shaking it, otherwise they will gnaw their way out!"
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on March 05, 2020, 05:25:35 PM
How do you build an undead army? Well, first you collect the bones, and while you are there, why not get some other stuff too ...

(https://i.imgur.com/ilRp31U.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/Z0NsGld.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/n0vZrRE.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/2UfUKwB.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/jrLC3Ms.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: scatterbrains on March 06, 2020, 01:21:48 AM
Hahah, picking up spare parts, hilarious!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on March 06, 2020, 05:07:18 PM
@ Scatterbrains: The undead view a graveyard in the same way you and I would view a bits box!

Here are some pics that are from my brand new story ...

The Sartosans march out, part 1 ...

(https://i.imgur.com/8kXJ6oR.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/iTpMWRB.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/kY7FqzY.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/JclpiFM.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/hfChgU1.jpg)

(Part 2 tomorrow. But if you want to read a story that has had some very kind comments, then go to ... http://forum.oldhammer.org.uk/viewtopic.php?p=100890#p100890 )
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Legion1963 on March 06, 2020, 07:59:22 PM
Indeed. What excellent stuff. The photos are mega inspiring. The time that has gone into them must be beyond the 'wow-factor'. On top of that i really like the style of your painting. Love it. keep it up. ;-)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on March 07, 2020, 09:37:31 PM
Thanks muchly Legion1963 (I believe you must be 4 years older than me).

Here are the rest of the pirate army leaving Luccini pictures ...

(https://i.imgur.com/wnTjQ5y.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/4JBTAUN.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/ncLjOag.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/Z8eyDsa.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on March 08, 2020, 10:16:14 AM
Here are some pictures from the subsequent battle (played by me and one of my campaigners on Thursday eve). This is the moment some peasants decided to join General Marsilio's desperate charge against the dwarf pirates sneaking up on the camp's flank ...

(https://i.imgur.com/1Ljwmqw.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/LxXZZne.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/i0EWsrz.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/yV0PwHR.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/7VQ2Ttj.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: WuZhuiQiu on March 08, 2020, 11:36:12 PM
Do you have a picture of the goblin crew?
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on March 09, 2020, 06:06:59 AM
Yes! I will post them up when I can get to my computer.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on March 09, 2020, 05:04:22 PM
Do you have a picture of the goblin crew?

Here are the goblin pirates on deployment at the start of the game ...

(https://i.imgur.com/JYMDfpl.jpg)

And here's a short sequence showing the moment a cannon took out part of the earthwork defences in front of them, when Captain Bagnam Farq stepped forward to take a shot with his (magical) pistol at the fleeing wizard Lord Ercole ...

(https://i.imgur.com/89pGi6L.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/fN3WWdk.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/vSuqMGu.jpg)

Here's the post I made on the kitbashing of the plastic goblins to turn them into pirate gobbos, showing also the four unit fillers I made for them ... http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=120442.msg1510580#msg1510580

I never took separate pictures of the metal pirate gobbos I got from 'Treps' but if you want I could dig them out and take a shot or two.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on March 11, 2020, 08:46:10 PM
Back to some older campaign photos. Here is the moment that two Compagnia del Sole soldiers who had fled the Battle of the Princes were discovered by a company of Pavonan halberdiers ...

(Starting close, then panning out!)

(https://i.imgur.com/Rkeoe0D.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/hlDfD4o.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/WpmerhS.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/ScqmQ2q.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/u9dKN3z.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/q8lRhfd.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Neunfinger on March 12, 2020, 03:58:41 PM
Really cool
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on March 12, 2020, 06:40:53 PM
Prince Girenzo of Trantio leads his little relief force out to join the Compagnia del Sole mercenaries he has contracted so that they can face the Pavonans together in battle ...

(https://i.imgur.com/XLK5TqF.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/sk3DWXM.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/S4kr6zo.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/aIcWltf.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on March 13, 2020, 09:25:23 AM
A proclamation of holy war is delivered by the Arch-Lector of the Church of Morr ...

(https://i.imgur.com/SuiZVTL.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/fJr3zjz.jpg)

Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: scatterbrains on March 13, 2020, 01:56:20 PM
Hah it was you! Why did you flee the battle of the Princes?
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on March 13, 2020, 07:19:55 PM
It took me a while to work out what you were saying, then suddenly I got it!

The prequel to the battle, and the battle itself, can be found near the end of this chapter from my Campaign records: https://bigsmallworlds.com/2017/07/19/tilea-campaign-part-6/

Here are some chronological scenes from the battle, but with none of the words in the report. You can probably see what happened in the battle by looking at them in order ...

(https://i.imgur.com/rT0HA45.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/vWRjnX1.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/AbLakJG.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/UCvB2Gb.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/f2CZmMa.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/BKPgItM.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/WwoXnEe.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/2HkGGb9.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/IlKdQWG.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/W6Hk9Xa.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/VT2wnuT.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/CVyV6Aw.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/FMNF8gm.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/QuSxVWs.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/dB11u9p.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/Og0ftBf.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/cx4UnWC.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/dMOWiME.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/7zbtqAl.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/trJBLK8.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/wQJeUJN.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/cqHAMdv.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/O0ERVHF.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/jtgDNYb.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/hrmlLMB.jpg)





The sequel to the battle, where Ruggero and Placido are captured, and in which 'my' pic appears, can be found here: https://bigsmallworlds.com/2017/08/03/tilea-campaign-part-7/
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on March 15, 2020, 07:21:25 AM
If you will permit me, I am putting the whole of my recent report here. It went up on another forum last night and already has some nice comments. So, for the first time here is not just some of the pictures, but the whole of the text ...

How Not to Save a King
Winter 2403-4, North-East of Aversa

It was a crisply cold day when the Sartosan fleet’s army arrived before the Luccinans’ fortified camp in the rolling hills where the westernmost reaches of Sussurio Forest peter out. Admiral Volker’s entire strength was not present, for he had left Captain Ansselm and his crew back in Luccini to guard the fleet and the captured king. As soon as he saw the enemy’s camp and less than impressive force with his own eyes, he was satisfied that his decision to split his army had been sound.

The admiral was personally in command of his own crew, their number diminished by the short but bloody fighting of weeks before when Luccini was taken. By his side was his personal standard, the same design as his ship’s ensign - bleached bones crossed behind a skull atop a cutlass. The fleet’s most powerful sorcerer, Adus Arcabar, accompanied him, using his staff more as a badge of office and occasional walking stick than a focus for sorcerous energies. Still, with a battle about to be joined, no doubt magic would soon begin flowing through it.

(https://i.imgur.com/41AciWL.jpg)

Arcabar’s able apprentice, Esorin Vedus, had sprinted away from his master’s side a few moments before to clamber up a nearby mound, all the better to observe the enemy camp.

Upon the admiral’s right was the newly formed body of pikemen, who were being subjected to a veritable torrent of corrective orders and criticisms from their Marienburger sergeant. Having once served in the city-state’s army, the sergeant was well-aware how badly they compared to a trained regiment of Tilean militiamen, never mind the professional condottiere regiment that the scouts had reported spotting in the enemy army. At least he could hope the Sartosan pirates’ firepower would make up for the discrepancy in skill at arms, and indeed behind the pikemen, set upon raised ground so that they could shoot over the main battle line, was one of the army’s brace of guns and one of its two companies of swivel gunners.

(https://i.imgur.com/aX9315B.jpg)

To the admiral’s immediate left was Bagnarm Farq’s goblin crew. Fifty in number, they vastly outnumbering Volker’s little company. Farq himself was at the fore, dressed in the long, braided coat he had won in a game of bones and the gold trimmed, cocked hat he took from the very same gamester after the duel they fought when the fellow accused Farq of cheating. Considerably more noise came from the goblins than from the pikemen, for while only the one irritable sergeant could be heard among the men, almost every goblin was keen to whoop, yell and ululate in a peculiarly inharmonious manner, a confusion made all the more discordant by the occasional blast of their musician’s horn and the peppered cracks as pistols were excitably discharged into the sky.
 
(https://i.imgur.com/JYMDfpl.jpg)

Two bodies of deck gunners formed the other elements of the battle-line. Captain Jamaar Garique’s crew had moved up in front of the second gun, which like its counterpart had been placed upon a low hill. Garique’s pirates mostly wielded long handguns, apart from the captain’s one-legged mate Jambalo who cradled his many-barreled muskatoon.

(https://i.imgur.com/FexwSt3.jpg)

The rest of Admiral Volker’s crew were out on the far-left flank of the line, armed with blunderbusses. Their master was the black-bearded dwarf Hurmaes, who made a point of not being bothered by the fact that only the two goblins in the company were shorter than him. One of the men was so tall he was known as Long Jack, being nearly a bald-head taller than all others in the company, but only because the great orc Draja, despite being more than twice as heavy, was bent almost double, so that his head seemed to grow out of his chest rather than his shoulders.

(https://i.imgur.com/DbltF3V.jpg)

Draja lugged a mighty blunderbuss bigger than a ship’s espingole – a wide-muzzled, swivel gun that would have to be mounted on stanchions if a man were to attempt to fire it. He called it ‘Mine’. Once, when asked why he called it that, he had simply said, “Because it is.” Over the years, Draja had suffered several, self-inflicted injuries as a consequence of his general clumsiness - he lost an eye to the flash of an over-charged pan and obliterated his foot entirely when he squeezed the trigger at just the wrong moment. Even so, his love for it remained true and the bloodthirsty excitement he got from discharging it had diminished not one jot. Luckily, he was not known for nimbleness and his companions nearly always had sufficient time to get out of his way when he hefted it to give fire. Several of those who had hesitated, or just failed to notice him bringing the piece to bear, were no longer part of the company. When the rest of his crew told tales of what ‘Mine’ had done over the years, Draja usually just sat grunting, “Hur, hur, hur!” whilst affectionately patting the gun by his side.

(https://i.imgur.com/6rNiD5C.jpg)

The second little company of swivel gunners had found a little sheep pen to fortify themselves in, and now waited, with lit match cords, for the larger pieces to fire as that was the sign to loose their own first volley of heavy lead-shot.

(https://i.imgur.com/9NlYCuI.jpg)

The remnant army of Luccini was drawn up behind its earthwork defences. They had but one piece of artillery, ensconced in a semi-circle of earth filled gabions, by which their small regiment of professional pike stood.

(https://i.imgur.com/GTNIBgo.jpg)

Although the pikemen had not fought in years, they had marched many a mile fir many a month until finally camping here in the hills. They had been present at the Battle of the Valley of Death, but had done little more there than spectate as the guns big and small had torn into enemy sufficiently to convince even the undead that to stay would be madness. Here, however, it seemed inevitable that they would engage the foe, unless, as some of them had darkly muttered, the Sartosans’ guns proved as effective as their own had in the necropolis valley.

(https://i.imgur.com/aZO4YNs.jpg)

Upon the other side of the piece was one half of the peasant militia that had been formed from those who had escaped the city and the surrounding realm when the Sartosans landed to begin their depredations. They had arrived at the camp for want of anywhere else to go, and General Marsilio had made it clear that if they were to stay then this time they must be prepared to fight. He could not arm them, however, for he no longer had access to the city’s magazine, and so while some had weapons of war such as spears and fighting axes, and one or two had swords, just as many again were armed with nothing more than pitchforks, scythes, cudgels or knives.

The other half of the peasant militia (they had been divided on the general’s orders so that they might better man the defences) were on the far right of the camp’s front, with the condottiere crossbowmen between them and the pike regiment.

(https://i.imgur.com/pbmvIE9.jpg)

The wizard Duke Ercole Perrotto, uncle to the captured King Ferronso, watched from the defences in between the pike and the crossbow, whilst behind him was General Marsilio and the few remaining royal bodyguard who had pledged to fight to the last as a penance for the fact that they had allowed the king to be taken by the pirates.

(https://i.imgur.com/2auvZcl.jpg)

Captain Girhur Brewaxe and his dwarf sea dogs had struck out to the left as the Sartosan army made its approach, so that they could now advance upon the camp’s flank.

(https://i.imgur.com/1Ljwmqw.jpg)

Girhur carried a club carved with a magical rune that added an unnatural strength to its blows, more than compensating for the fact that his lack of a left hand meant he could only wield it one-handed. His compass was also magical, stolen from an Arabyan corsair, and possessed the mystical power to guide its user in many more ways than a needle of iron fed with lodestone could ever do. Indeed, it was the compass that had allowed him and his dogs to move so close to the enemy so quickly, despite having had to travel a wide arc to get there. 

Behind the palisade, the wizard duke moved over to stand with the crossbowmen and watch the enemy deploying with a heavy heart. Only luck, he thought, could grant him victory today, for nothing else was in their favour.

He did not feel lucky.

(https://i.imgur.com/WwK6KGj.jpg)

Yet there was nothing else he could have done. His nephew, the king, was the pirates’ prisoner, and the city was theirs too. He could neither retake the city nor leave, for he lacked the strength to do the former and was too honourable to do the latter. Nor could he rescue the king by other means – the enemy had magicians of their own, and capable ones at that. They would no doubt sense whatever spells he conjured to assist a party of rescuers, and then both they and a large army of pirates would be roused to put a stop any attempt made. All he had was the remote hope that, despite the wars against both vampires and ogres, someone would send some sort of force to assist them. Perhaps the Portomaggioran ruler Lord Alessio might do so? He had attended the king’s crowning and seemed even to like Duke Ercole’s nephew somewhat. Yet even that was made unlikely due to fact that Lord Alessio was currently marching north to face the vampires, many hundreds of leagues distant. First the news had to reach him and then whatever relief he dispatched would have to travel all the way to Luccini.

Duke Ercole’s thoughts were interrupted by a sudden crunch and violent motion along the earthworks to his left. He turned to see a rapidly rising cloud of dirt and debris, from which a man staggered screaming, his shirt bloodied, accompanied by the booming sound of the enemy’s guns. It seemed the enemy’s iron-shot had traveled quicker than the noise of their firing! He tried to recall what had been there moment’s before, then as the debris tumbled down, he saw it was their own gun, or, more accurately, what remained of it, for one of its wheels had been smashed to pieces and the rest of the crew had been felled by the strike. Both he and the crossbowmen were momentarily stunned into inaction, even as the sound of the enemy’s other guns rattled out and splinters of the wattle fencing holding their walls of rubble together span through the air.

They had lost their gun before it had even fired one shot!

The sound of gunfire ended abruptly, and after a moment's silence, a cheer went up from the enemy and their entire line began to advance. The duke then gasped as he sensed a coiling burst of magical energy sizzling in his vicinity. He had been too distracted to sense it a moment earlier, and now had insufficient time to counter it. He heard screaming from behind and turned to see three of last surviving mounted nobility of the king’s bodyguard slide off their mounts to crash heavily onto the ground. General Marsilio and the standard bearer’s own horses were considerably perturbed by this turn of events and as they bucked their riders allowed the reaction to turn into a canter towards the gate on the flank of the camp’s defences. The general had spied the advancing dwarfs.

Duke Ercole returned his attention to the enemy. As the men around him hefted their crossbows to loose a volley at the pirates with Admiral Volker, he conjured a curse to fall upon the same body. Moments later it was Volker’s turn to be surprised, for in a a matter of seconds his already diminished crew had been thoroughly decimated yet again!

(https://i.imgur.com/GMqWpYT.jpg)

As Girhur and his dogs now drew close to the defences …

(https://i.imgur.com/pCy2HfM.jpg)

… the peasant militia had noticed their movement, as well as that of their own general. The leader, an old wheelwright (no less than master of the city’s guild of wheelwrights), pointed and announced that if the general was going to charge to dwarfs, then they would too!

(https://i.imgur.com/LxXZZne.jpg)

As the general and his lone companion rode their barded horses through the gate, the peasants clambered over the defensive fence and began hurtling towards Captain Girhur and his dwarfs.

(https://i.imgur.com/i0EWsrz.jpg)

The dwarfs fired their pistols with practised skill against the two riders, but their shot was insufficiently powerful to pierce the steel armour encasing men and horses.

 (https://i.imgur.com/7VQ2Ttj.jpg)

As bullets pinged off its metal carapace, General Marsilio’s horse picked up speed and began thundering directly towards Girhur, whose eyes widened as he realized the force of the blow he was about to receive!

(https://i.imgur.com/yV0PwHR.jpg)

The horse battered into the dwarf to send him reeling and the general struck a deep blow with his sword, cutting Girhur’s face, then drew the blade back to thrust it right through the dwarf’s throat. It took the rest of the dwarfs a moment to realize their captain was dead, for they were occupied with the easy slaughter of the peasants, whose charge had been considerably less damaging than the general’s. Once they knew, a fury gripped them. Fury, however, did not make their legs longer, so when the surviving peasants turned to flee, as did the general now that the impetuous of his charge was spent, the dwarfs could not catch them!

The condottiere pike now steadied themselves as the enemy drew close. Some in the rear ranks witnessed General Marsilio’s flight, and a muttering spread through the regiment concerning whether or not they too should run. Why die for a cause when it is not only almost certainly lost but it is not your own? They fought for pay, not for the honour of Luccini. They saw to their left that their Sartosan counterparts had now engaged the peasants at the fence line …

(https://i.imgur.com/mg1bPQf.jpg)

… and it was immediately apparent that the enemy pike would feel little real resistance. To their right they saw that round-shot had smashed a substantial gap in the defences, killing several of the crossbowmen and a few of the peasants who had moved from the camp to stand near them.

Captain Bagnar Farq’s goblins were marching right up to that gap …

(https://i.imgur.com/89pGi6L.jpg)

… while the last of the crossbowmen and even Duke Ercole were now running away. The duke, not exactly spritely for his age, was not quick. Looking through the gap, the smartly dressed goblin Captain Farq could see the enemy wizard clearly and raised his cutlass as a sign that his crew should halt.

Loudly, he shouted, “Watch dis, lads!” and stepped forwards from the body to aim.

(https://i.imgur.com/fN3WWdk.jpg)

Pointing right at the wizard, with the confidence of knowing his magical bullets never missed …

(https://i.imgur.com/vSuqMGu.jpg)

… he pulled the trigger and watched with glee as the bullet did indeed strike the wizard. The evil grin was soon wiped from his face, however, when he saw that the wizard had not been killed and was still running.

“Bugger!” he shouted as he fumbled to find his powder flask to prepare for the next shot.

(Game Note: Auto hit, Strength 5 magical pistol, against a wizard already reduced to one wound due to enemy magic and shooting. The player rolled a 1 to wound!)

As the peasants broke on one side of them and the goblins now rushed past their captain (still fiddling with his pistol) to pour through the gap upon the other side, the pikemen dropped their eighteen foot burdens and joined in the general flight.

No-one was going to rescue King Ferronso today!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: WuZhuiQiu on March 15, 2020, 02:46:25 PM
What a masterful, inspiring account! Where in the real world is your gaming group located? What campaign system do you use, or how do you run the campaign?
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on March 15, 2020, 04:03:48 PM
I have five active players and one who is very quiet and yet to fully commit to their new character. One player left the game, and Warhammer, last year.

We are mostly in West Yorkshire (northern England). I did do a post early on in the thread to describe the campaign as a game. See http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=120392.msg1509765#msg1509765

The campaign (completely up to date) is in this Oldhammer Forum thread: http://forum.oldhammer.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=2889

My own website (ironically always a bit behind but containing 95% of the campaign so far and a section on the modelling and painting involved) is here https://bigsmallworlds.com/
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Neunfinger on March 15, 2020, 06:41:55 PM
That report was great fun to read, I wouldn't mind seeing more.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on March 15, 2020, 06:46:15 PM
That report was great fun to read, I wouldn't mind seeing more.
Have a look at the whole campaign and maybe skim until you find something of interest ... http://forum.oldhammer.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=2889

Or if you like I could try to compile a 'best of' list of links (my own opinions though).
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on March 19, 2020, 07:34:08 PM
Might as well put the whole story with these three new pictures as well, as it is a relatively short one ...

New Friends and no Rest for the Wicked
An Alley, Somewhere in Tilea, Winter, IC 2403-4

Baldassarr had known the meeting would not be pleasant. He had never heard anything good about the ratto uomo, only that they were foul, lice-ridden creatures, with invariably murderous intent. Yet despite the fear and disgust he knew he would most likely experience, he was sufficiently desperate to seek their assistance, for it was indeed murder he had in mind.

Why they had chosen to help him, he did not really know. His accomplice in crime, Naldo, had arranged the meeting, promising that he could trust them. They had apparently assisted Naldo with his own problem, being that of a rival cutpurse who had moved in on his domain. When Baldassar questioned their motive, Naldo had simply answered,

“The enemy of their enemy is their friend.”

“I can’t see why the ratto uomo bear some grievance against the Besutio gang,” said Baldassar.

His friend laughed as if the reason was obvious. “Everyone hated the Besutios!”

Right now, having laid eyes on the creature for the first time, he was having second thoughts on his choice of new ‘friends’.

(https://i.imgur.com/vH55O1y.jpg)

At first glance, the creature seemed to be half his size, but when he considered its squatting, hunched posture, he realised it was most likely at least as heavy as him, if not heavier. Its face was almost exactly like a rat’s, but its body and limbs much more like a man’s, albeit with a horribly large, fleshy tail sprouting from its back and matted fur covering much of the rest. It was clothed in little more than a ragged over-sized hood and had half a ratto uomo skull clamped oddly over the right-side of its long face. What had drawn Baldassar’s attention immediately, however, were the four heavy blades apparently sprouting from its clawed hands.

(https://i.imgur.com/VzHrObI.jpg)

He could not help but stare at them, and in so doing saw that they were bandaged to the back of the creature’s hands, leaving its fingers free to clutch and unclutch beneath. When the creature spoke he almost jumped with shock, not because of the strangeness of hearing a giant rat speak, or even the lilting timbre of its gravelly voice, but because whatever had intruded so suddenly into his nervous gaze upon the blades would have had the same effect.

“Balda-Baldasssssar?” said the creature, its coarse tongue fluttering in a quiver to hiss every sibilant component of its words. “Friend-accomplice of Naldo, yesss?”

“I am,” he said, unsure whether he should ask for the creature’s name - to do so seemed as preposterous as asking a dog or rat.

(https://i.imgur.com/0Kyonyo.jpg)

“You are, are you?” came the response as the creature looked him up and down with its red, seemingly pupil-less eyes. “No sharp-ssword? No pissstol? Yes?”

Baldassar felt his throat tighten and stomach knot as he wondered why it was asking him this. Then he remembered Naldo had told him to take nothing but a small knife.

“Only my knife,” he said, tapping the hilt protruding from behind his belt bag and beginning to wonder if he had made more than one very bad decision.

“Always knives, yess of course, always those,” said the creature, whilst its own four blades twitched and scraped, perhaps ensure Baldassar kept them in mind.

“Naldo said …” began Baldassar, then faltered.

“I know Naldo said-spoke this and that. I listened-heard,” said the creature. “You have enemies, nastiness, yess?  You want to cow-rule your corner of the nesst? With our aid-help you can-will. Naldo has his choice-pick of purses – no interference, no troublesome worries. Now you too, yess, want rid of trouble?”

Baldassar nodded. “The Scarria Brothers have been taking what is mine. People are paying them not me …”

The creature raised the back of one of its blades to its lips, as if to shush him.

“So ssad. Poor you. You want all the gold, yes?” The creature grinned, revealing its large, horribly sharp teeth. “You want me to slice-cut; chop and chop Sciarra into rot-corpses?”

“You could just scare them,” suggested Baldassar.

“No, not enough. Never enough. I kill-remove, yess? Then they are gone for good.”

“That would work too.”

“Yess. Best for all. You will be happy-glad, and I will feel satisfied in a job well done.”

“What of payment?” asked Baldassar. “What do you want from me in return?”

“Do not worry-concern yourself,” said the creature. “Naldo knows. You become my good friend, and when I need-require, you return the favour, yess?”

Baldassar frowned. “You want me to assassinate someone?”

The creature gave out a sound, part cackle, part giggle, yet wholly horrible to hear.

“No, no. I can always kill, easy, quick. You help, yess? You find, you open, you lure, you reassure. I am happy-willing to do the rest. No blood-mess for you.”

“Who do you want to kill?” asked Baldassar, immediately regretting his question.

“Later, my friend. So many choices to make. Put it from your mind-thoughts. These are things for me to worry about. Yess?”

Baldassar nodded.

“Now,” continued the creature, “you tell me where and you tell me when, then all your desire-dreams come true.”

Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: WuZhuiQiu on March 19, 2020, 11:44:41 PM
That was a suspenseful beginning; am looking forward to reading more...
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on March 27, 2020, 01:24:57 PM
I got distracted there for a little while (I wonder why?) and forgot I had been putting reverse chronological campaign pictures here.

I will now continue.

Biagino and his guide/guard watch the vampire duchess processing towards Viadaza ...

(https://i.imgur.com/Z0aQDwH.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/0UKi70K.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/4mBLvD0.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/fxx1o1P.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/OdU6So9.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Elk101 on March 27, 2020, 07:08:29 PM
That last shot is fantastic.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on March 28, 2020, 09:40:50 AM
Grave robbing ghouls ...

(https://i.imgur.com/OM3Nqgu.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/MwpNjgh.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/iUUt3HS.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/5wYy0x5.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: WuZhuiQiu on March 28, 2020, 02:34:52 PM
Nice work on the ghouls and the graves!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on March 29, 2020, 10:33:29 AM
Now for a look in the crypts.

Hey, I think I see something in there ...

(https://i.imgur.com/pA2BxXU.jpg)

Pass me the lantern so I can get a better look.

(https://i.imgur.com/n15x4cC.jpg)

Oh!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Swordisdrawn on March 29, 2020, 04:25:03 PM
This is a marvellous thread :o
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on March 30, 2020, 01:00:49 PM
Thank you Mr Bared Blade.

A letter for Prince Girenzo ...

(https://i.imgur.com/5TodzOQ.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/zQvjdCY.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Dr Mathias on March 31, 2020, 05:07:26 AM
I really like that crypt scene.

“...as my eyes grew accustomed to the light, details of the room within emerged slowly from the mist, strange animals, statues, and gold - everywhere the glint of gold. For the moment... wait... no. It's skeletons!"
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on March 31, 2020, 09:55:08 AM
A military procession before the most holy leaders of the Triumverate churches of Tilea (Morr, Mercopio and Myrmidia) ...

(https://i.imgur.com/RtiPly3.jpg)
(As you can see the condottiere Captain General Scaringella is present too, as well as the leader of the church of Blessed Shallya)

His holiness the Arch-Lector of Morr, Calictus II
(https://i.imgur.com/JuQ17Rq.jpg)

Myrmidian Arch Priest De Sicca
(https://i.imgur.com/QYJ4WaL.jpg)

High Priest of the Mercopian Church Flavio Tognazzi
(https://i.imgur.com/3IcYqfi.jpg)

Cathayan Mercenaries
(https://i.imgur.com/rjHcOV2.jpg)

Dwarf Mercenaries
(https://i.imgur.com/xVF2FzX.jpg)

And of course, being Tilea, pikemen
(https://i.imgur.com/qUXYOge.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Thew1 on March 31, 2020, 12:23:26 PM
This is a really fun narrative thread with some brilliant evocative scenes. Thank you for sharing and I hope the campaign isn't being held up too badly with the current situation.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on April 01, 2020, 11:12:54 AM
Ta muchly, Thew1. I'm busy on a story for the campaign right now!

Meanwhile, here's another old scene in which I think the pictures tell the story ...

(https://i.imgur.com/z3XbUs8.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/x0UBY4S.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/lHkdqEZ.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/REKt7ks.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on April 12, 2020, 10:52:25 PM
Now for some very recent pictures from my ongoing campaign.

Scenes from the Portomaggioran army camp ...

(https://i.imgur.com/3u0OKeW.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/guKgGCK.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/35BJ79h.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/1WA78gJ.jpg)
(Yes, that guy is doing what you think he's doing.)

(https://i.imgur.com/zK6Vltc.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/8QD1IHK.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/wzCgEiX.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/ISX62r5.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/MlS9n6M.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: WuZhuiQiu on April 13, 2020, 01:19:39 AM
Are those bags hand-stitched?

Good use of the Zvezda tower that is in the background!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on April 13, 2020, 08:04:24 PM
Yes WuZhuiQiu they are hand stitched - pure linen material, pure linen thread. I make entire costumes for my hobby and job.

Here are the very latest pics from my Tilean Campaign, showing a Grey Seer meeting a messenger.

(https://i.imgur.com/Lw9bcqG.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/btYeSOP.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/AVx46gl.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/aJLfOlj.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/W3Kskm0.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/tE7fSHb.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/sEwDJyo.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/CNoWyan.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/jxmxxNY.jpg)

You can see the story that goes with these pics at http://forum.oldhammer.org.uk/viewtopic.php?p=101351#p101351

Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: WuZhuiQiu on April 15, 2020, 02:11:16 PM
Uh! Oh! Clan Skryre nukes?
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on April 15, 2020, 02:47:30 PM
Did you see the modelling post regarding the 'super mortar', WuZhuiQiu? See http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=120442.msg1558966#msg1558966
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: WuZhuiQiu on April 15, 2020, 05:28:54 PM
Did you see the modelling post regarding the 'super mortar', WuZhuiQiu? See http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=120442.msg1558966#msg1558966

No, I hadn't. Nice work! By the way, which edition of WHFB have you been using for your campaign? 3rd? 6th? Some other?
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on April 15, 2020, 05:47:03 PM
No, I hadn't. Nice work! By the way, which edition of WHFB have you been using for your campaign? 3rd? 6th? Some other?

The campaign is so old in real time that we started with 7th (using lots of 6th ed non-official campaign lists) and moved to 8th. We then got stuck there, for obvious reasons. There would be weeks of work to try to alter the lists etc. There are reams of rules re: recruitment, reinforcement, supply and upkeep, etc and what not. I'd rather just GM, and play and write the stories than try to rebuild the engine from within!

There's a lot of home rules, modified from existing internet campaign rules, as well as loads I have had to make (with the players' agreement) to cover what the players do and have.

TBH, I really wish the players knew just how much they can role-play the campaign, asking for information, spying, playing tricks, learning of the detailed history, geography etc. Some have a tendency to play as if it is the set rules of a boardgame. It might be, however, that progress seems so slow to them (no matter how hectic I am - modelling, painting, photographing, writing, GMing, etc) that they just don't feel involved enough to be immersed on that level??!?
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: WuZhuiQiu on April 15, 2020, 06:52:40 PM
Thanks for your thorough answer! Yes, the diplomacy, espionage, and unconventional tricks could be the most fun!

Have you tried involving some of the players in building scenery or in raising units, to be lent to you for the campaign, or even as the equivalent of volunteer painters and modellers with respect to your figures and building kits?
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on April 15, 2020, 07:03:02 PM
Funny you should say that. The player whose army is even now the most northerly of the living forces (thus nearest the undead, in fact marching to take them on - when he feels like he can do it) had been painting loads of undead for me to use in the enemy undead forces!

The undead armies are detailed, listed and painted already (mine), but as they grow over time, or as new forces are raised, I will employ his models to bolster my own. The original undead player (who left) had monster heavy forces, and I have never really painted such forces. I go for 'hordes' (thus 100 zombie cultists yet to see a fight!!!!!) This player has painted the monsters necessary to keep the right feel for the undead forces, even though they are now an NPC force!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on April 15, 2020, 07:04:32 PM
Thanks for your thorough answer! Yes, the diplomacy, espionage, and unconventional tricks could be the most fun!

Don't get me wrong, there has been a LOT of that already, and it has led to some very unexpected and interesting situations, but not every player does it. Only about half.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on April 22, 2020, 11:14:42 PM
Pictures for the story I am working on right now, being co-written by me and one of my players (who will be answering as his character, the seated general).

(https://i.imgur.com/ioqlnyT.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/EWL2bFi.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/hlVUIi4.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/UVS23Df.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/bvhcsFA.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/X0baxhA.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/ADTyZnv.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/lpxNFwS.jpg)

Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: WuZhuiQiu on April 23, 2020, 12:27:16 AM
It looks as though a serious confab. is in progress...
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on May 01, 2020, 12:03:02 AM
Oh yes, WuZhuiQiu. Here's a link to the just today completed story which uses these pics  - http://forum.oldhammer.org.uk/viewtopic.php?p=101717#p101717
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: WuZhuiQiu on May 01, 2020, 01:28:16 PM
Interesting, as always!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on May 17, 2020, 09:42:27 PM
The very latest pictures from my campaign, the story around which had been written but is yet to be posted anywhere! (I usually leave a day, then proof read.)

Here Clan Skryre attendants escort a novel, new engine (to us, a self propelled mortar) through a mountain pass. This thing, however, lobs an incredibly powerful grenado!

(https://i.imgur.com/qK8HyEG.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/tu0g2am.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/c1T8nEa.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/Lm2spas.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/EdN4cjk.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/9JzNgUN.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/2vgbsrb.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/E1RiKsb.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/dX2XLfb.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/tJa0sH7.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/mMNJ2Y3.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/3mhbo6x.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/3zUvnff.jpg)


Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Grumpy Gnome on May 18, 2020, 01:23:32 AM
Great stuff!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: WuZhuiQiu on May 18, 2020, 01:25:03 AM
I'm looking forward to the story!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on May 18, 2020, 02:38:58 PM
I'm looking forward to the story!

Then here you go ... http://forum.oldhammer.org.uk/viewtopic.php?p=102007#p102007

I have to say I am proud of this one. I think it is possibly one of the more unique stories!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: scatterbrains on May 18, 2020, 03:03:43 PM
Ah Skaven stories are always fun!

They speak talk like absolute lunatics!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Tauntaun Scout on May 18, 2020, 03:14:16 PM
Amazing pics!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on May 18, 2020, 03:45:35 PM
Thanks ScatterBrains and Tauntaun Scout.

BTW: Tauntaun, are you the same Tauntaun Scout who is also on the Rancor Pit forum?
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Neunfinger on May 18, 2020, 04:21:39 PM
Cool as always
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: WuZhuiQiu on May 18, 2020, 08:01:35 PM
Then here you go ... http://forum.oldhammer.org.uk/viewtopic.php?p=102007#p102007

I have to say I am proud of this one. I think it is possibly one of the more unique stories!

Great stuff! And his shovel was useful, after all!

Would that I could participate from across the Pond, lol!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Ockius on May 18, 2020, 09:58:03 PM
I must say, I find this quite fascinating on various levels.

Do the players in the campaign pay you to organise it? It seems the time you invest is colossal, and tehy are very lucky!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on May 18, 2020, 10:24:56 PM
No payment, no. That had never occurred to me! Besides my players would have to be very rich and a bit mad!

I have been a GM for nearly 40 years (!!!) always running games (RP and WG), mainly in the form of campaigns. This Tilean thing is the second longest, involving and detailed campaign I have ever done. (The first was a life consuming project which had to end when family and work came into my life).

I have always aimed to move forward in new directions, and this campaign took my experience as a GM, a hyper-active participant in several internet campaigns, a modeler, kitbasher, painter, author and photographer to new levels. It is (as you have worked out) a very time consuming process, but it moves at whatever pace real life allows, so as not to consume my life as the first project did, and so has been going on for many, many years.

I am both amazed and grateful that my players are happy to continue, considering there can be months  of inactivity at their end, then many months more, with perhaps only 3 to 6 battles a year! This lock down has meant there has been only one battle this year so far!

Putting the campaign story up on a few forums, like the Oldhammer one, and on my own website - https://bigsmallworlds.com/ - means I get to add another aspect, which is the newest and most exciting one: an audience. This had meant that I really get to explore all sorts of new things - in terms of all the writing I do, trying new styles and angles, with the huge challenge of making it work as a detailed story without also ruining the players' strategies and secrets and thus damaging the gaming component of the experience.

I do understand that it takes a lot of commitment to really read and follow this campaign, as it is now several novels in length, but as it has thousands of pictures along the way it is I hope a lively ride. It has a certain 'verity' to it too, because ultimately, as they are the most powerful characters on the world, the players drive events, working with and against each other as well as NPCs. Even the NPCs are not really under my control, as I make all their big decisions using quickly drawn up options charts and die rolls, sometimes several in succession as one result requires a new, more detailed decision. That way, even I get to watch the story unfold with almost as much surprise as a reader!

With all that in mind, did you read the latest story? Did you read any of the rest of the campaign? Because the idea that people are enjoying it, and I do know at least a few really are, is my payment.

NB: I am currently toying with idea of putting the record of my first, very different, campaign, up on my website, in installments. But that could be the obscurest project ever, I think, despite being the one I am most proud of.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on May 18, 2020, 10:37:36 PM
An example of the hard work this campaign takes is the project I am working on right now as I write: a Carroccio (war altar) turned into a corpse cart!

When the undead army of the Vampire Duchess defeated the Holy Army led by the Arch-Lector of Morr, they captured the Morrite church's war altar. Now I jhave to convert it from it's original kitbashed and scratch-built form into something pulled by skeletal horses and piled with corpses!

My table right now ...

(https://i.imgur.com/Og2U3id.jpg)

8 horses should do, don't you reckon? I mean, if I'm gonna do it I might as well do it right!

This will be surrounded in battle by quite literally hordes of now-zombified cultists!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Ockius on May 18, 2020, 11:21:50 PM
I hadn't actually read any of the fiction until you asked just now, but have been to your site and begun reading the very first entry. It's good! Well-written, and works well as a narrative. I really like the shots of models to illustrate it; it's like a multimedia artwork! Will read on and work my way through some more of the story.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on June 07, 2020, 08:20:00 PM
These are the pics for an upcoming little story ...

(https://i.imgur.com/sq9Z6nc.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/PSHCoJK.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/kNl5fU3.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/mnEPNS9.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/B8JGGSv.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: WuZhuiQiu on June 07, 2020, 10:32:15 PM
Uh! Oh!

I am looking forward ro reading the story, especially since the Skaven are involved!

By the way, have you considered including tags among the various episodes in your blog? It could be nice, for example, to be able to follow one faction or another through the episodes that pertain to it.

Finally, in your campaign, how have you been ensuring that the need for a battle to be resolved somewhere does not hold up the entire campaign for too long? Is the campaign such that a given faction would tend to fight only a small number of battles per turn? In a discussion about Mighty Empires campaigns, the potential need to fight several battles per campaign month has represented a challenge.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on June 07, 2020, 10:42:41 PM
I love the tags idea. I wouldn't have thought of it myself. I will look into how it could be done. I'm sure it won't be too difficult, although I bet the application could take some time. I could maybe start with Biagino, so that the reader could follow his progress from refugee to warrior priest to vampire high priest!

As for the need for battles holding up the campaign - they really do. I warned the players years ago when we started that this was to be a very drawn out affair. They said ok, and bless them they are still active in the campaign. Some of them have had gaps in activity of man, many months. Some have skipped more than a year without an actual game! Meanwhilem I sometimes agonise for days and days just trying to get a story right!

Basically because of all the work I put in to the stories, and the need to live real life, it couldn't go any quicker. Or ... it could, obviously, but it would be nothing like it is!

When I put up the most recent pictures you'll inderstand that sometimes it takes hours just to set up a scene - and that's after weeks of painting and modelling!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: HappyChappy439 on June 07, 2020, 10:45:24 PM
Love the lighting on those most recent pictures! (also the classic Night Runners are a nice bit of nostalgia!)

Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: scatterbrains on June 08, 2020, 12:23:36 AM
When I put up the most recent pictures you'll inderstand that sometimes it takes hours just to set up a scene - and that's after weeks of painting and modelling!

And it really shows!  Beautiful work, can't wait to see what the Skaven are planning to achieve with this assasination... starting the Old World War 10 maybe?
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: WuZhuiQiu on June 08, 2020, 01:11:56 AM
As for the need for battles holding up the campaign - they really do. I warned the players years ago when we started that this was to be a very drawn out affair. They said ok, and bless them they are still active in the campaign. Some of them have had gaps in activity of man, many months. Some have skipped more than a year without an actual game! Meanwhilem I sometimes agonise for days and days just trying to get a story right!

It's great that they're still active! If a player can't fight a battle within a reasonable delay, do you arrange for a proxy to fight it on his (or her) behalf, as I think that I saw had been done for at least one battle? Do you sometimes resolve battles and sieges by rolling on some table? Thanks again!

Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on June 08, 2020, 10:22:01 AM
Love the lighting on those most recent pictures!

Hi tech too! I put a red cotton cloth over my phone torch, moved it around until the shadows seemed ok, and snapped the pic with my camera in the other hand! No expense spared!!!

If a player can't fight a battle within a reasonable delay, do you arrange for a proxy to fight it on his (or her) behalf, as I think that I saw had been done for at least one battle? Do you sometimes resolve battles and sieges by rolling on some table? Thanks again!

The proxies are for players who can't get to mine. Such geographically removed players have a political, strategic role as leader, but stand-ins usually command their forces (my figures) on the tabletop. Some players are happy to play as much as possible, and volunteer to stand in just to get more games in. One is painting figures for h.several of his enemies to use right now!

NPC forces are sometimes commanded by me, but only in small games, because I am so busy photographing and scribbling notes to inform the report I will write that I am a rubbish general! On occasion I have given stand-in players character backgrounds for their general, and secret notes regarding what the general is really trying to achieve. Being role-players as well as wargamers my players are great this. I've seen players lure their tabletop ally into doing most of the fighting because their general's motive was to win, but with as much of their own army intact as possible. I have watched them role-play so well that even when doing so might even hurt their own PCs' campaign plans, they still play the role they have adopted for the game

...can't wait to see what the Skaven are planning to achieve with this assasination...
.

They have all sorts of plans! I love writing for them.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on June 10, 2020, 03:57:25 PM
Here are some pics from the next story I am working on, probably in the top ten of the largest scenes I have put together! The Vampire High Priest Biagino rides atop his corpse wagon while the zombie cultists of his Disciplinati di Nagash swarm around him. (196 figures to be exact!)

(https://i.imgur.com/5dGWdMk.jpg)
.

(https://i.imgur.com/nPhF7Ro.jpg)
.

(https://i.imgur.com/cfZ9r0i.jpg)

If you're interested I can put up some close ups as well.

Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: swiftnick on June 10, 2020, 10:26:43 PM
Wow! Looking forward to this story!!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Ockius on June 11, 2020, 10:47:08 AM
Here are some pics from the next story I am working on, probably in the top ten of the largest scenes I have put together! The Vampire High Priest Biagino rides atop his corpse wagon while the zombie cultists of his Disciplinati di Nagash swarm around him. (196 figures to be exact!)

(https://i.imgur.com/5dGWdMk.jpg)
.

(https://i.imgur.com/nPhF7Ro.jpg)
.

(https://i.imgur.com/cfZ9r0i.jpg)

If you're interested I can put up some close ups as well.





This is amazing!
Great shots.
I really like the cultist type guys with the hoods and polearms too, and the way they are escorting the carriage.



Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Bloggard on June 11, 2020, 03:13:37 PM
beautiful (in an undead kind of a way) vignettes / dioramas !  :-*

Magazine / book worthy.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Steam Flunky on June 11, 2020, 03:40:22 PM
Great campaign!!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Gibby on June 11, 2020, 09:50:33 PM
Stunning pictures! What a dark parade that is! Look at what Biagino has become!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on June 12, 2020, 05:46:23 PM
Thanks everyone! Here's a link to the report which includes the last pictures -

http://forum.oldhammer.org.uk/viewtopic.php?p=102576#p102576

That link takes you to the first part, the second part follows immediately after.

If you don't like links, however, here are some more of the pictures ....

(https://i.imgur.com/fhK01rM.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/01cmKzM.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/EkrYSMB.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/ifvSS6p.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/rJNyWIf.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: WuZhuiQiu on June 14, 2020, 04:23:36 PM
Great stuff!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on August 12, 2020, 11:30:03 PM
Warlord Gurthrak of Clan Skravell atop his Bonebreaker mount, leading his regiment of 50 clanrat warriors towards the gate tower of the city of Ravola ...

(https://i.imgur.com/f3LZNQt.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/Ym7Q80n.jpg)

Some of the defenders might not be up to the task!

(https://i.imgur.com/XDiRLr8.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: WuZhuiQiu on August 13, 2020, 01:01:10 AM
This'll be good...

Hmm, might the defenders be a general calling-out of townsmen or of peasants who have evacuated to the town?

Are there any sewers...?

That red banner is eye-catching!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Neunfinger on August 13, 2020, 03:27:36 PM
Good  to see more of your great work.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on August 13, 2020, 04:20:52 PM
Tired of waiting in Covid limbo, we're in the process of a play by e-mail battle, with the table set up here in my room!

I have to send pictures like the following to the players to explain options, in this case re: targeting magic ...

(https://i.imgur.com/gKilN1w.jpg)

Meanwhile, as the battle commences, I also get to create the photos that will form part of the report, such as this one showing the red haired 'fallen damsel' Perette looking over the battlements at the ratmen army as it approaches!

(https://i.imgur.com/bmAf9sB.jpg)

I think I should do a close up of that!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Neunfinger on August 13, 2020, 05:10:14 PM
That's dedication!
Have you tried a video call with a camera showing the battlefield? That might allow a more fluent gameplay.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on August 13, 2020, 05:22:37 PM
That's not an option for one player. This way is working, so far, and allows me to stop and take more time over pictures. But I am certain our methods will evolve with time, and change according to the players' circumstances.

I am having lots of fun right now!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: WuZhuiQiu on August 14, 2020, 06:36:11 PM
I was reading a compilation of Storm of Chaos novel excerpts the other day, while deciding whether to keep it or not. Does Chaos have much of a presence in your campaign, or are their forces generally from too far to the northeast of Tilea?
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on August 14, 2020, 07:08:09 PM
Little to no influence in my Tilean campaign ... except Skaven are chaotic, and they have arrived big time. In fact, in our play by mail battle, a skaven warlord has just moments ago been 'skitterleaped' onto a tower much to the surprise of the organ gun crew on said tower!

(https://i.imgur.com/2fCqmZg.jpg)

(Yes, I quickly edited the picture to put it here, but at least, now it is done!)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: WuZhuiQiu on August 14, 2020, 09:08:42 PM
In fact, in our play by mail battle, a skaven warlord has just moments ago been 'skitterleaped' onto a tower much to the surprise of the organ gun crew on said tower!

(Yes, I quickly edited the picture to put it here, but at least, now it is done!)

Nice move on the part of the Skaven, yes, yes!  8)

Errm, you edited-out a gunner's feet...
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on August 14, 2020, 09:10:48 PM
Kind of. My medium is MS Paint so I AM blaming my tools!

I had to get rid of the whole skaven base, with a wooden platform mounted on it. I did well there, yes?
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on August 14, 2020, 10:17:49 PM
Fixed!

(http://i.imgur.com/xDSRmk2.jpg) (https://imgur.com/xDSRmk2)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: WuZhuiQiu on August 14, 2020, 10:47:43 PM
Fixed!

(http://i.imgur.com/xDSRmk2.jpg) (https://imgur.com/xDSRmk2)

That looks better! I suppose that that may be one of the advantages of using clear bases - easier blending with imaging software, although I couldn't imagine mounting anything but a skirmish force on clear bases.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Gibby on August 14, 2020, 11:22:02 PM
Such excellent photographs, capturing some dramatic moments!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Neunfinger on August 15, 2020, 07:13:03 AM

(http://i.imgur.com/xDSRmk2.jpg) (https://imgur.com/xDSRmk2)

So...Can the organ gun now open fire on him?
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on August 15, 2020, 07:28:19 AM
It could! It seemed daft he would stand there while they turned it and made final adjustments re: loading, so I told the gun player that as GM I would probably give the skaven a chance to avoid by moving (which would mean then he couldn't charge them in his turn).

The player chose not to shoot and took another shot at the advancing units outside the city.

Now I think of it in the clear light of morning and not in a boiling hot cellar late at night, one way to interpret the rules would have been to say that skitterleap makes the character appear not quite instantaneously ... And that while he was shimmering into existence the gun could turn to shoot him
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on August 15, 2020, 12:37:01 PM
We have discussed. No back track this time!

Meanwhile Crack's Call brought down the gate tower!

(https://i.imgur.com/kzGwN0d.jpg)


(https://i.imgur.com/JKD2F2l.jpg)

And the Rat Ogres have taken Wall 4!

(https://i.imgur.com/asQAqHX.jpg)

Last Pic: Viewer's right = metal rat ogre, old-ish. The other two are plastic, from machines originally I think, and kind of kit-bashed to be a pair (one is holding the other's chains!)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on August 21, 2020, 09:34:17 AM
"What do you mean, 'We've run out of rocks'?"

(https://i.imgur.com/IrqSq1c.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: WuZhuiQiu on August 21, 2020, 03:08:14 PM
That's a very nicely-painted trebuchet!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on August 21, 2020, 03:12:23 PM
Ta muchly, WuZhuiQiu!

Here's a link to the just completed story with this picture in, being the prequel to the battle report I am working on now ... http://forum.oldhammer.org.uk/viewtopic.php?p=103368#p103368
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: WuZhuiQiu on November 01, 2020, 05:44:34 PM
How has the campaign been going?
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on November 01, 2020, 06:03:39 PM
Oh, sorry! It has been going. There's a whole new play-by-mail battle record replete with pics. I just stupidly thought I had put the pics here. I will rectify, and put some more pics from this battle here too

I am now in the process of doing some of the strategic GMing, moving things around on the campaign map and communicating with players, but I have slowed myself by starting several painting projects and being about to enter my busiest work month of the year (especially as Covid virtually stripped every booking in the last 7 months!!!)

Some more pics will follow ....
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on November 01, 2020, 06:09:45 PM
More pics from the battle I had started to put pics up from! This was the skaven assault on Ravola .

(https://i.imgur.com/IYZz9Ai.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/L0mPhwH.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/E56EArT.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/asQAqHX.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/dK4JIqh.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/N4lPxUU.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/Ld61GeB.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/xZXGNPh.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/oKzysyY.jpg)

Time to flee, my lady!
(https://i.imgur.com/kqaPcaW.jpg)

Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Smoke Frog on November 01, 2020, 06:26:29 PM
Glorious! Beautifully painted, love the green and yellow shields!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: WuZhuiQiu on November 01, 2020, 06:50:18 PM
More pics from the battle I had started to put pics up from! This was the skaven assault on Ravola .


Great stuff, as always! It was well worth the wait.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: sir_shvantselot on November 01, 2020, 08:27:10 PM
Fantastic.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: WuZhuiQiu on November 03, 2020, 02:56:21 PM
I went over and read the battle report. I know that it was fought within the context of a campaign, which means that either side could have had a stronger force, but I would be curious to know what the points would have been for each side?
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Luigi on November 04, 2020, 01:37:30 AM
 :o

PadreMack from BSW!!

I had no idea you were also on this forum.

Man, you are the single biggest inspiration for keeping my hobby fun and making my approach to painting/modleing/playing truly personal.


I've been following you since I stumbled onto the Bragovo battle report(I still remember looking in awe at a battle report between dwarfs and undead that felt more like a movie than a game with painted toy soldiers) and I've always been a fan of your painting style: so unique and so personal.

It's what inspired me to come up with a painting style that I liked and that I thought looked good for my miniatures instead of just doing what I thought other might like on the table.

And all that rich background, lore, history and creativity put into creating a wrold that make each game feel alive and truly engaging....

I'm not ashamed to say that I blatantly copied your approach and came up with my own lore for my dwarfs; who, incidentally, are also from a Tilean stronghold.

One of my hobby dreams is to actually one day have a game with you and just be part of one of the many episodes in your campaing.


And... nothing, keep up the amazing job, you really are an endless source of inspiration.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on November 05, 2020, 08:32:02 PM
Thank you for your very uplifting words, Luigi. You have cheered me right up when I needed it. It is wonderful to know someone enjoys reading my stuff and looking at the pictures.

Here is a first batch of pictures from my latest battle, when the army of Portomaggiore (with some Reman allies) fought the vampire Duchess Maria's army and the army of the Church of Nagash.

The vampire Captain Bernhardt.
(https://i.imgur.com/i0RdWwQ.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/Z5O2EWW.jpg)

The duchess.
(https://i.imgur.com/a1Ma4u0.jpg)

Lord Ned
(https://i.imgur.com/nIRdN0D.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/GuEXUHc.jpg)
These are my campaign player Damian's figures, mostly. You can see Lord Alessio of Portomaggiore here with his 'Sea Wolves'.
 
(https://i.imgur.com/K56OKJc.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/E6c4Y07.jpg)

Damo's figures ... The Black Guard
(https://i.imgur.com/GuBiVgd.jpg)

The army of the Church of Nagash
(https://i.imgur.com/uPGIfeY.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/fvuLtzJ.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/phxTt6K.jpg)

The colossus of Portomaggiore
(https://i.imgur.com/xFtIlgh.jpg)

Damo's lovely figures - he loaned figures for the enemy army. But I loaned some for his. Nice, eh?
(https://i.imgur.com/qDNJ2JW.jpg)

Living deployment
(https://i.imgur.com/OV3wovY.jpg)

Undead deployment
(https://i.imgur.com/ICXi2nM.jpg)

Keep up lads!
(https://i.imgur.com/q2djXwp.jpg)

Damian's gorgeous Mortis Engine
(https://i.imgur.com/csPVw1E.jpg)

The undead brutes
(https://i.imgur.com/qvD6RVj.jpg)





Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Luigi on November 05, 2020, 09:47:21 PM
Can't wait to read about the battle!

Where's the colossus from? Is it being used as a giant or does it have rules of his own?
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on November 05, 2020, 10:01:48 PM
Where's the colossus from? Is it being used as a giant or does it have rules of his own?
Damian asked to have it in his campaign army, paid extra points for it, and awaited its construction over a fairly long period of game world time. We use the rules of a Tomb Kings model, slightly modified. I will look it up when I am in the correct room tomorrow and post it up.

I'll be moving the battle over to Bigsmallworlds soon, but if you want to see it now it is already 'up' at http://forum.oldhammer.org.uk/viewtopic.php?p=103692#p103692

I went over and read the battle report. I know that it was fought within the context of a campaign, which means that either side could have had a stronger force, but I would be curious to know what the points would have been for each side?
I can answer tomorrow when I can get to my files (see my comment above). The allies had a substantially greater points value than the undead, and the duchess was taking quite a risk making such a bold attack. But she has had some easy victories in the past, even when the enemy technically had more points, and so she was willing to risk it.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on November 06, 2020, 08:45:28 PM
WuZhuiQiu

The Living
The Portomaggioran force was 4492 pts, less several hundred as I think two units of light horse were not on the field but were ready elsewhere to assist in a retreat (flight?) if necessary!
949 pts of Remans were attached to the army.

So about 5200 pts or so in total. On the wrong side of a river in flow (difficult terrain for everyone, even foot soldiers, except ethereal troops of course) and with most of the missile troops in defences.

The Undead
Maria's army was 2864 pts, and the Army of the Church of Nagash was 860 pts. So 3724 pts in total. Although the Corpse Wagon (which would have been 265 pts) had been looted and so we counted only the 120 pts to give it corpse cart rules. So you could add the 265 to make almost 4000 pts. Still, more than 1000 pts less than the living.

Luigi
The Colossus was a Hierotitan from Tomb Kings's list, and was counted as costing 175 pts (standard) although Damian had paid more than that to obtain it as such non-list additions cost more and need a story behind them. It was relatively easy to convert the rules, for example the +D3 to casting within 12" worked for the wizard who had designed its construction. It still had Shem's Burning Gaze and Spirit Leech bound spells.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on November 06, 2020, 09:02:56 PM
Some more pics, this time from the actual fighting (i.e. post deployment)

(https://i.imgur.com/jOgnsen.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/l29CPni.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/a9PXnhn.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/SevrMWW.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/h14lmKa.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/NWpSnrV.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/RMJaIda.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/lPszZEE.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/RLr9Ff8.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/E21waCM.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/0KJRuJw.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/caSlbYW.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/KG78mAu.jpg)
(Yes, the enemy had taken down nearly all the horses. It was such a big model we counted the skellie horses as like a unit, and the wagon as a unit. The more horses were killed, the slower it got!)

In case anyone is interested, these are the sorts of pictures I had to put out by the many dozen for the players - we were doing play by e-mail due to the pandemic. The game took about 5 days, and I had to send out LOADS of orientation pics like this - for magic, movement, missile ranges, etc etc.

(https://i.imgur.com/VHI2Pny.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/2klLHLa.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/SUxBLil.jpg)
You might be able to see the extraordinary amount of damage the undead recevied from the enemy's magic, missile, and magic enhanced missiles in the pic compared to the one two pics above. The hexwraiths, mortis engine and vargheists have all gone!

Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Luigi on November 06, 2020, 09:18:18 PM
Thank you for the clarification.

I like the idea of using a "fixed" version of a different army's unit for a point tax.

Where's the actual model from?

I enjoy these technical shots (that show the mechanics of each game) just as much as the whole report.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: WuZhuiQiu on November 07, 2020, 01:18:24 AM
WuZhuiQiu

The Living

The Undead


Thank you! I was inquiring about the earlier siege, but this was informative, none the less. Given those range indications, I suppose that there would not have been much guessing of artillery ranges, then?
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on November 07, 2020, 01:30:43 AM
@ WuZhuiQiu

Oops. I'll look up the pts values for the other battle tomorrow. As for ranges, in 8th ed' WFB, you can measure anything, anytime. Basically the rules say do what you like with a tape measure. Thus my pictures.

@ Luigi
I will ask Damian where he got it from.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on November 08, 2020, 11:19:38 AM
@ WuZhuiQiu

Perette's 'Brabanzon' mercenaries and Baron Garoy's company of knights: 1000 pts (not including peasant wall defenders and the organ gun gifted by the dwarfen engineer, who built it from abandoned leadbelcher barrels!)

Grey Seer Urlack's force = 2000 pts (cos they left all their engines of war at the tunnels being slowly 'extracted'!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on November 08, 2020, 11:46:50 AM
More pics, from later in the battle ...

(https://i.imgur.com/TxTVFa3.jpg)

Run away!
(https://i.imgur.com/MDwk0ZY.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/uvQ0N3e.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/LbgiVgr.jpg)

(The duchess had died, and Biagino really wanted to stay undead, so he ordered the army of the Church of Nagash to skidaddle!)

Berhardt foolishly tried to obtain revenge for the death of his beloved mistress
(https://i.imgur.com/m671IDb.jpg)

These didn't hold the knights up for long at all!
(https://i.imgur.com/Dkd3b8g.jpg)

'Where do you thing you're going?'
(https://i.imgur.com/96LmxF0.jpg)

The necromancer Saffiro desperately trying to repair some of the damage
(https://i.imgur.com/ss5e00V.jpg)

While failing (somehow) to notice what was behind him!
(https://i.imgur.com/zcpmB2Q.jpg)

My favourite undead charactter, Biagino esapes (again!)
(https://i.imgur.com/Ghh75jG.jpg)




Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: WuZhuiQiu on November 08, 2020, 02:26:35 PM
@ WuZhuiQiu

Perette's 'Brabanzon' mercenaries and Baron Garoy's company of knights: 1000 pts (not including peasant wall defenders and the organ gun gifted by the dwarfen engineer, who built it from abandoned leadbelcher barrels!)

Grey Seer Urlack's force = 2000 pts (cos they left all their engines of war at the tunnels being slowly 'extracted'!

Thank you! It was a spirited defence, one which lasted longer than one might have expected based on points alone!

Yesterday, I was tempted to buy a copy of WHFB 8th, just to follow along with more insight! Sadly, there would not seem to be a critical mass of focused players around here such that a campaign like yours would even be feasible...
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on November 08, 2020, 02:30:12 PM
Spirited indeed. And she got away! I'm working on new riders to accompany her, and a mounted version of Perette too!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Luigi on November 08, 2020, 02:45:16 PM
More pics, from later in the battle ...
Amazing as always. It's incredible how a few well palced pictures bring a game to life.

Sadly, there would not seem to be a critical mass of focused players around here such that a campaign like yours would even be feasible...

Where in Canada are you located? I've been half planning a campaign for a very long time and would love to get something started (even a few small introductory games) as soon as this whole situation normalizes again.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: WuZhuiQiu on November 08, 2020, 07:53:11 PM
Amazing as always. It's incredible how a few well palced pictures bring a game to life.

Where in Canada are you located? I've been half planning a campaign for a very long time and would love to get something started (even a few small introductory games) as soon as this whole situation normalizes again.

Hey, Luigi. I am located near Ottawa. And you?
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Luigi on November 08, 2020, 10:27:27 PM
arggggg

I'm in Toronto  :'(
Hey, Luigi. I am located near Ottawa. And you?

i would have loved to get something similar to this thread started with regular encounters.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Mark on November 12, 2020, 02:52:03 PM
I have read your campaign from start to present over the last week - it is absolutely inspiring stuff!

Poor old Tilea - on the brink of defeating the undead and with the ogres gone, it is just typical the skaven show up!

And when will vengeance be had on dastardly Duke Guidobaldo!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Gibby on November 12, 2020, 04:59:07 PM
Duke Guidobaldo is simply the victim of the biased Tilean printing presses!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on November 12, 2020, 05:13:35 PM
His player is really devious. I play the part of his NPC advisers and sometimes end up toning down his plans!

I haven't seen the guy for a while. I hope and pray he's still up for it when I can get it all flowing again!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Mark on November 12, 2020, 09:01:12 PM
I hope so too - a true machiavellian prince!

Though I hope he gets his comeuppance in the end...

Which factions are controlled by players?
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on November 12, 2020, 09:11:34 PM
Gibby (this forum) is the Skaven Grey Seer (most recently joined)

Daz was the vampire duke and the vampire duchess, but he pulled out of the campaign at the start of a massive battle because he wanted to play a football league equal points every game type of affair!

Matt is Duke Guidobaldo

Ant is General Valcenburgh

Jamie was Boulderguts and is now the Sartosans

Craig was Remas (Arch Lector Calictus) then Fr Carradalio of the Disciplinati di Morr, and is now the dwarfen king Jaldeog. Some of the dwarfs were his own figures in the 1980s.

Damo is Lord Alessio of Portomaggiore.

Remas, Luccini, the Compagnia del Sole and the (still to appear) Wood Elves are all NPCs, as was Khurnag, the Sons of the Desert and the tryant Prince Girenzo. Lots of the smaller realms are NPC, like Verezzo and Urbimo. The most 'talkative' characters, like Biagino and Glammerscale and Perette and the Compagnia Chancellors are of course all NPCs, and allow me to give a story insight to the world, which is driven by the players actions. Every now and again a player will help me write the actual words of a story, especially if it involves a conversation with their character. Some players have written proclamations and letters, etc, some get me to write them as if they have ordered their servants to do it.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Luigi on November 13, 2020, 12:22:58 AM
reading how the campaign work is just as exciting as reading the story itself.

It really shines a light on the amount of work this requires to pull it off. How long did you plan for the campaign to last?

Do you already an ending in mind (no spoilers!) or are you just going to let it run its course?
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: WuZhuiQiu on November 13, 2020, 12:28:58 AM
His player is really devious. I play the part of his NPC advisers and sometimes end up toning down his plans!

I haven't seen the guy for a while. I hope and pray he's still up for it when I can get it all flowing again!

That sounds true to character for Skaven!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on November 14, 2020, 05:23:49 PM
...How long did you plan for the campaign to last? Do you already an ending in mind (no spoilers!) or are you just going to let it run its course?

The campaign will last as long as me and the players allow it to, and there is no ending planned as the players' actions and dice-determined events mean I have no idea where it is going. I simply report events, and have NPC ponder the future (etc) along the way. Characters die unexpectedly all the time (including favourites) while other fade into obscurity and then sometimes re-emerge. The players add a huge element of realism, as me, the GM, only knows how events will actually unfold as decisions and orders are sent to me, battles are played, and NPCs roll on hastily made charts of 'likely' actions made be me as and when necessary. So even with NPCs I might come up with 6 different possible actions or responses, but I don't know which one the dice will pick!

I have to say, doing it this way really carries the GM along too. Of course I do influence it in the sense that I play the part of PC's NPC advisors, and my figure collection can sometimes drive what stories are possible. But a lot of the time I am modelling and painting to keep up with events and what might be happening next! I have painted entire armies (plural) for this campaign!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: WuZhuiQiu on November 14, 2020, 06:39:21 PM
@Padrissimus might you eventually publish a summary of your campaign rules?
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Mark on November 14, 2020, 10:37:31 PM
I agree it is good to get an insight into how you run the campaign. I think it is really cool how you never know what will happen next.

Having read the whole shebang over a short period, it is striking how many of the original characters are dead (or undead!) or otherwise missing.

The thing that tipped Guidobaldo over the edge for me was the killing of the lord of verezzo. Before that he was heartless but understandable. Framing someone else for brutal assassination was just too much!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Luigi on November 14, 2020, 10:54:08 PM
I also would love to learn the campaign rules, it's sure to be a great source of inspiration.

I'm also curious to see pictures of  your complete collection, especially after this comment
my figure collection can sometimes drive what stories are possible. But a lot of the time I am modelling and painting to keep up with events and what might be happening next! I have painted entire armies (plural) for this campaign!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on November 15, 2020, 01:09:03 PM
I am afraid I haven't time to lay out the armies and take snaps, but I can dig out some old pictures of some of the armies ...

I painted a large army of Morrite cultists (the pics are in this thread earlier, but here's one)
(https://i.imgur.com/7abCj1T.jpg)

And a large force to be the zombies they became after defeat. Here are some close up ...

(https://i.imgur.com/6x1ucgT.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/iDLcyW0.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/x2GcLCi.jpg)

I painted the condottieri army of the Compagnia del Sole ...

(https://i.imgur.com/oELEaR3.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/BUq7LZh.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/LOtYxmQ.jpg)

I painted these (and more since) to be used as part of the Tilea NPC realms' little armies and militia ...
(https://i.imgur.com/0TkhpwU.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/N3ENehh.jpg)

I painted these halflings to be the militia of certain parts of Verezzo
(https://i.imgur.com/tqGhg4i.jpg)

Lots of conversion...
(https://i.imgur.com/BTFBQaW.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/ACyow8p.jpg)

I painted a small force of Bretonnian Mercs to be the 'Brabanzon'
(https://i.imgur.com/oJphwR3.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/iorazbb.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/Nz3iMxJ.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/53MouYi.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/xz8Hvvm.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/A1dDVCg.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/s4cYJOU.jpg)

Of course, I always have to model a few 'standing around' types for the story pics.
(https://i.imgur.com/WHVpFRi.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/8vFATca.jpg)

I added a lot of models to my pirate army, most recently after they looted pikes, a new regiment ...

(https://i.imgur.com/4hlckK8.jpg)

(I also have an undead pirate army cos you never know)
(https://i.imgur.com/pQ8Uqah.jpg)

Sometimes I just have to convert figures, like changing livery and shields to suit their new masters. Here are dwarfen mercenaries in the employ of Remas ...
(https://i.imgur.com/1mGnlWt.jpg)

And right now I am working on, among other things, some new riders for the brigand 'Arrabiatti' Brotherhood (the name in the Rennaissance sense.)
(https://i.imgur.com/7srBbSN.jpg)

There's a few I can find fairly quickly. I have also added substantially to me Skaven and Remans, amongst others.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Grumpy Gnome on November 15, 2020, 02:15:55 PM
This thread continues to deliver. Great work!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Luigi on November 15, 2020, 04:24:37 PM
I'm in awe at the amount of work and dedication it must have taken you over the years to achieve these numbers.

painting, planning, converting...
and everything ends up fitting together just perfect.
 
Where are those dwarfs miniatures from?
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Dr Mathias on November 15, 2020, 05:07:26 PM
The halfling pike unit looks sweet.

Excellent work overall, I love this thread.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on November 15, 2020, 05:28:11 PM
I'm in awe at the amount of work and dedication it must have taken you over the years to achieve these numbers.

painting, planning, converting...
and everything ends up fitting together just perfect.
 
Where are those dwarfs miniatures from?

The dwarfs are ancient Grenadier models, I think. My friend painted them in circa 1987 very very simply. At some point I touched them up. Then recently I added the basic crossed keys of the Reman Church of Morr (my Warhammer version of the Renaissance Catholic Church).
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: WuZhuiQiu on November 15, 2020, 11:07:23 PM
It's nice how the campaign enables you freely to create new units, without much need to worry about some tight army list constraints
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on December 06, 2020, 07:35:12 PM
If you will allow me I thought I would put up the story and not just the new pictures ...

..........................

Examples
Ravola, Spring 2404

Gradger sounded breathless when he arrived in the square, but this indicated nothing for certain as the wheezing function of his mask always made him sound so. He made his way immediately to the chattel overseer, Adragash.

“I have order-commands from the lord-master himself. You must obey prompt-quick. Yes, yes?”

(https://i.imgur.com/AvtgGe0.jpg)

Adragash’s lips parted to bare his teeth. He clutched a long whip as did all his helps, the handle of which he rested upon his shoulder so that the twisted hemp and wire cord hung down his back. Upon his head he had a leather cap with little iron cheek plates a-dangling at the sides, and in his other hand he carried a blade in the way in which one might carry a cane.

“Calm yourself,” Adragash hissed. “I always obey and never delay. You have no need to deliver such advice-warnings. Just-simply say what should and must be done, and it will be.”

Gradger now remembered how much he disliked the overseer. Admittedly, there were few skaven, if any, he did like, but there were gradations to his antipathy, from minor irritation to deep loathing, and Adragash was on the higher end of the scale. Still, this was the overseers’ domain, and all the skaven around were his to command, and so (as almost always) his dislike was something he had to make at least some effort to conceal.

“The chattel-slaves,” he said, pointing needlessly at the crowded cage that had been erected in the square, “they needs-must be prepared.”

Agradash did not move, nor did he speak, merely narrowed his eyes a little.

“Well,” said Gradger more loudly. “Prepare them!”

(https://i.imgur.com/kmrV2A7.jpg)

“I will do so, most keen and carefully. But you must speak-say more, Gradger-friend. For here they are, penned and patient, awaiting our command-orders. But what is the order? Are they to be fed? Moved? Made ready for labour-work? Speak-reveal exactly what the lord-master requires.”

Gradger was mentally lifting Adragash’s name up his list, to join those he despised the very most.

“They must be moved, made ready to be butchered if-when the order is given,” he said.

“Then they will be, I promise and assure,” answered the overseer. “But where to go? And how to kill?”

“They are to be made examples of, if necessary-needed” said Gradger. “Outside the city walls. I will show you where.”

“Examples ‘if necessary’? ‘If needed’?” said Adragash, in a curious tone. “How so? For whom? And why?”

“No question-talk is required. Only dutiful obeisance, yes?” said Gradger in a commanding manner.

“At least,” asked the overseer, “if nothing more, reveal-tell how they are to be butchered, so that preparations might be made for a suitable, satisfactory and swift execution of their execution.”

“Their corpses are to adorn-decorate the land around the city, to strike fright-fear into any foe that approaches.”

“Is this enemy expected or one that might merely perhaps come?” asked Adragash.

(https://i.imgur.com/Iq1XYJ3.jpg)

For a moment Gradger’s urge to appear important and informed got the better of him, and instead of again insisting on Adragash’s immediate action, he said,

“Manthing riders have been seen close-near to the city. Perhaps outrider-scouts for an army bringing aid-relief too late? If-when that army does arrive, they are to witness what is promised to be done to them, so they know terror-fear.”

“Grisly deaths and mangled corpses?” suggested Adragash.

“Yes, yes! They are to be stake-skewered and left to stink-rot,” said Gradger.

“Stakes, you say-speak,” said the overseer, his curious tone carrying a hint of sarcasm. “Stakes yet to be made?”

“Yes, yes. You must make them and you must place them. The soldiers have much else to do and are to be ever and always ready for battle.”

“The chattel-slaves will make their own stake-skewers,” said Adragash. “If necessary, if needed, then they will be put upon them. If not, then both stakes and chattel will further serve the lord-master howsoever we wish-desires.”

Momentarily satisfied that at last the order had been delivered and apparently accepted, Gradger looked over at the iron-railed pen. He was confused. It would be sufficient to hold meat animals like swine and goats, but surely, if they tried, the manthings could climb over? Then he noticed two of the overseers’ servants close the cage, and inside, a manthing lying prone, and he understood immediately what happened to those foolish enough to attempt to climb the iron railings - one sharp thrust of a halberd and the attempted escape would be ended.

(https://i.imgur.com/PIJDO4Y.jpg)

Suddenly he noticed that most of the living chattel-slaves were looking not at the freshly fashioned corpse, but at him and Adragash.

“They stare and glare,” he said. “Those there and there, they are looking at us. They have defiance-rebellion left in them, yes, yes?”

Adragash grinned. “They do. Yet, Gradger friend, this is not so bad. What strength of will they harbour-possess reveals a strength left also in their bodies. That will be necessary-needed to cut, carry and carve well.”

Gradger was not convinced. One of the females had fixed her gaze upon him, and despite her lack of fangs and the absence of red in her eyes, he could clearly see her hate-anger. “If they have such resistance-rebellion left in them, then they will surely not make their own skewer stakes.”

(https://i.imgur.com/b0Txgbo.jpg)

“No, they will not. But when they are told to make stakes for a palisade meant to skewer-spit the enemy’s horses, and that if their work-labour is done fast-quick they will be allowed to eat, then they will have motive to work as well as the required strength.”

In that moment, despite his dislike of the overseer, Gadger understood why Adragash had been given command of the chattel-slaves. 
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Dr Mathias on December 06, 2020, 08:09:11 PM
Wow, great story.

The very first thing I read in the Old World setting was a story in Dragon magazine advertising Warhammer FRP. Some Skaven show up at the end of the story and I was immediately taken in by their way of speaking- you nailed it. Takes me back!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: WuZhuiQiu on December 07, 2020, 02:34:42 AM
If you will allow me I thought I would put up the story and not just the new pictures ...

The story is just as enjoyable as the pictures, and is what brings them all together.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on December 10, 2020, 09:11:06 PM
The ‘Arrabiatti’ (angry) Brotherhood
(A band of brigand horsemen in northern Tilea)

These are an infamous band of brigands, with a ‘popular’ tradition of fighting for justice, supposedly lending aid to good causes and against cruel enemies, yet at the same time robbing and plundering to enrich themselves, and to live. They were until recently, and perhaps still are, led by a mysterious Morr-worshipping wizard called Lord Totto, and took part in the first battle of Ebino allied with the (then living) Duchess Maria. Since their magical mauling there (Lord Totto was apparently wounded) they have been quiet, certainly not reappearing in the campaign stories, but that does not mean they have not been active. I reckon they have been recruiting, an easy enough task when northern Tilea has been ravaged by ogres and vampires, and many a young man has been displaced and exiled from his home. They are selective though, and so take only the most able.

I noticed during their first appearance in a battle report I had mentioned they were known as the 'Shadowy Brotherhood'. I had been assuming they were secretive, cunning fellows, like Robin Hood's Merry men. But I did not want them dressed in Lincoln green to blend with the foliage like Hood's band, but instead dark colours to blend with the shadowy realm of their crepuscular activities!

I used Perry plastics and metals, for a Tilean look. Apart from basing, and attaching them to their horses (which I might not do in a permanent fashion, in case I need the horses on their own in a scene) they are done. Keep in mind that although I have been painting for 35+ years, I only recently switched to acrylics and I have been struggling to use them in my usual ‘cartoon’ style. These are the best I managed yet!

Here is the command, plastic Perry's Light Cavalry 1450-1500, with an old GW Empire Militia head thrown in for good luck. (That’ll be the big one in the middle, then.)

(https://i.imgur.com/qbYdsS9.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/MQLM5Qe.jpg)

I added cloaks to two of these, as I have done to several of the others, using a Fireforge sprue, I think. I used subdued, dark hues to their clothing.

Here are the metal riders (Perry ‘Westernised Stradiots’) ...

(https://i.imgur.com/fqUCrwM.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/oN8nDVG.jpg)

I like these guys and I think they fit my initial idea for the Arrabiatti slightly better than the Light Horse. I modelled one of them with a flask, which hopefully will become useful in a story ...

(https://i.imgur.com/Itvm1TL.jpg)

Looking at the pic, I think I have some corrective work yet to do on the face. My eyes are rubbish, and I often only spot problems in the photos!

Here are the plastics, with a stray metal on the viewer's far right. I didn't notice when I was photographing them!

(https://i.imgur.com/FG4q7a3.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/AZfi2rz.jpg)

Four are just a-riding along, and so great for story pics. One, however, I got clever with, and I used some other Perry arms to have him being a bit more dynamic. I have to get this guy into a story as I really like him.

(https://i.imgur.com/kMNsdtG.jpg)

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Appendix!

I painted another new figure while I was working in these - the new, mounted version of the Bretonnian fire wizard Perrette L’Amy (aka the ‘Fallen Damsel’), now the commander of what little is left of the Bretonnian Brabanzon mercenary company. She's 'Warlord 2' from Elite wargames and models range, with a magical staff from one of the Frostgrave wizards sets.

(https://i.imgur.com/634JLST.jpg)

Help me here, you acrylics experts. I have been using enamels for 40 years and haven't much of a clue. Is there a way I can make the orb-gem (?) on the top the cane look jewel like?

Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Gibby on December 10, 2020, 09:20:56 PM
Love the flag! Excellent range of figures. The Perry plastics are so versatile, and work great alongside a lot of the other ranges out there, even the older Warhammer figures which, whilst chunkier, aren't so oversized as to be jarring next to Perrys.

Perette lives!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on December 17, 2020, 06:21:40 PM
Here are some of the pics the above now feature in ... (The actual story, with more pics, is currently at http://forum.oldhammer.org.uk/viewtopic.php?p=104940#p104940 and yet to be transferred to my own website) ...

(https://i.imgur.com/uR30Sew.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/ZLaRNDA.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/ZqUXk8n.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/G7UsS3l.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/IJa9Rn7.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/DL6BS4h.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/2bYu3GH.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/VvUIThP.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/kY6d3xV.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/yinFP8j.jpg)

Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Luigi on December 17, 2020, 07:55:06 PM
the plot is getting quite intricate, I'm hooked! I really like where the Arrabbiati are going (or at least I think are going)

You must have the patience of a saint to set and re set such beautiful scenes.


Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: WuZhuiQiu on December 18, 2020, 03:35:19 AM
I look forward to reading more!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Little Odo on December 18, 2020, 08:41:11 AM
Those images are superb  :o :-* Each one tells a compelling story and they are so well orchestrated. Hurry up and put them on your blog so I can go visit and relish all of your work in one place. The miniatures are beautifully painted and the scenery is sublime. Your world is so well thought out and coherent. Great stuff!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on December 19, 2020, 07:20:32 PM
Thanks guys.  Much appreciated.

...

RW Year ago (!) the Holy Army of Remas was planning to assault the moated walls of Ebino. They started converting the steam tank into a huge, mobile ramp and began to make a large wheeled petard. So, I began modelling said petard ...

(https://i.imgur.com/qlFlC59.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/YsybuXD.jpg)

BUT they never finished their engines, because the undead force sallied out and utterly defeated their army.

Time passed, and various bits (mainly the carriage) of the petard went into other projects.

Now, however, Lord Alessio's army of Portomaggiorans and Remans are intending to assault the same city of Ebino, this time with three large, mobile ramps to cross the moat- after which ladders will be used in the normal manner. They also have decided to turn a misfired mortar into a petard, and so the project was picked up again!

(https://i.imgur.com/IiiWBPo.jpg)

New wheels, and room for more pushers.

(https://i.imgur.com/NvtEhJg.jpg)

Roll it up to the gate (over the stone bridge) and BOOM! Gate and portcullis blown to pieces. Hopefully the brave (possibly drunk) petardiers will survive too!

As for the mobile moat bridges ... roll them up, cut the rope, and let the bridge fall over the moat. Simples!

(https://i.imgur.com/oBU2Dj9.jpg)

(The boulders are necessary counterweights!)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Gibby on December 19, 2020, 08:32:36 PM
This is going to be somewhat epic.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on December 19, 2020, 08:36:28 PM
Here's hoping!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: sir_shvantselot on December 19, 2020, 09:13:21 PM
So much creativity.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Neunfinger on December 20, 2020, 12:43:33 PM
Really loved reading the story of the bretonnian mercenaries. Especially the picture to words ratio is well done. While the writing is great on its own, the picture really let it come to life.

Bit of nitpicking:
Why aren't the mobile ramps falling backwards? It seems to me they are mounted on a hinge and could only be held in place by the ropes if the ramp was tipped slightly forward, not backward. Is there some sort of torsion rope to bring tension to the ramp? I'm only asking because details like the counterweight are well thought out, and so my brain is a bit puzzled: " Wait, this isn't just some fantasy-bs, he actually thought about the practical use of those siege engines, so there has to be a reason the ramp is at this angle" :D
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on December 20, 2020, 12:47:58 PM
Why aren't the mobile ramps falling backwards? It seems to me they are mounted on a hinge and could only be held in place by the ropes if the ramp was tipped slightly forward, not backward. Is there some sort of torsion rope to bring tension to the ramp? I'm only asking because details like the counterweight are well thought out, and so my brain is a bit puzzled: " Wait, this isn't just some fantasy-bs, he actually thought about the practical use of those siege engines, so there has to be a reason the ramp is at this angle" :D

In RL, one is forwards slightly, the others slightly backwards - it's just the way the wood bent as I was fiddling with bits of string. They were all slightly forwards when I started, but I got the tension wrong 2 out of 3 times! Game World - easy: a big pole, like a pike, sorts the problem - just cut the rope, push with the pike, and down it goes.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on December 20, 2020, 12:50:45 PM
For you, Neunfinger, I will make sure a pikeman accompanies every unit pushing one of these. If I remember (which I am appalling at doing.)

BTW, I have a volunteer to play the NPC force, one of my players who ain't playied n a while. Just a bit more painting to do and it'll be play by e-mail time for me over the lock-down hols. Huzzah!

Edit: Actually you are of course right. They will look much better if they are visibly leaning forwards. now I know the length of the strings I can easily create new ones. I will redo the ropes.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Mister Frau Blucher on December 20, 2020, 03:37:25 PM
Fantastic stuff, Padrissimus! I actually like falling behind in your stories, so on a rainy day I have a lot of good material to get caught up on!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: WuZhuiQiu on December 20, 2020, 05:52:51 PM
For you, Neunfinger, I will make sure a pikeman accompanies every unit pushing one of these. If I remember (which I am appalling at doing.)

BTW, I have a volunteer to play the NPC force, one of my players who ain't playing in a while. Just a bit more painting to do and it'll be play by e-mail time for me over the lock-down hols. Huzzah!

Edit: Actually you are of course right. They will look much better if they are visibly leaning forwards. now I know the length of the strings I can easily create new ones. I will redo the ropes.

A pair of simple triangular brackets along the tops of the two lengthwise beams would suffice to keep any siege bridges from falling backwards :)

Should you ever have openings for more NPC players, I would be happy to participate.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on December 20, 2020, 05:57:19 PM
I like your thinking. I will put something on the bar to make sure the bridge cannot fall backwards.

My mistake was putting the rope on and tying multiple knots along the line to try and get it to the right length. But obviously overdoing it.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: BZ on December 20, 2020, 07:27:07 PM
Fantastic siege machines! I maybe copy some ideas here and there, if You dont mind.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Neunfinger on December 20, 2020, 09:23:09 PM
They will look much better if they are visibly leaning forwards.

I actually like them being tipped slightly backwards - my first impression was of a large shield to protect the men pushing the ramp from missiles. I like WuZhuiQiu's idea to add triangular beam constructions. That way you could use them both as shield and ramp.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on December 21, 2020, 05:13:20 PM
I like them better now, and they would still provide cover (if the undead enemy had any missiles!).

(https://i.imgur.com/HrK4Tl3.jpg)

This sort of thing has happened a lot on the internet for me - I have modified quite a few such scratch-builds over the years based on helpful suggestions. It's very useful!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on December 21, 2020, 09:35:24 PM
Just managed to lay out the tabletop for the assault on Ravola, based on the last tabletop battle here 5 years ago (https://bigsmallworlds.com/2017/07/10/tilea-campaign-part-3/)

This is the walled and moated city those mobile bridges have to capture ...

(https://i.imgur.com/YKxlUsG.jpg)

We shall play over the xmas hols. It won't be quick. But ... Huzzah!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Neunfinger on December 21, 2020, 10:01:26 PM
Great setup! Really looking forward to the siege.

One more thought on the mobile ramps: a diagonal beam on either side from the back axis to the upper cross beam would add some more stability to the construction.
I like that you redid the angle of the ramps. It would have looked great either way, but this is real commitment.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on December 21, 2020, 10:54:37 PM
Ah! I now understand what people meant by an extra triangular beam. I genuinely could not work out what you meant, and was too embarrassed to ask as everyone else seem to think it was obvious. I thought you meant adding something to the top!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Luigi on December 21, 2020, 11:34:42 PM
What's the size of the table? The set up looks promising, can't wait for the siege.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on December 21, 2020, 11:41:17 PM
6 feet by 4.5 feet. I know because deployment in a normal game is always 15" in!

This will be another play by e-mail game. At least we have found a way of continuing the campaign despite an 9 month-long inability to meet up to play!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Neunfinger on December 22, 2020, 08:44:13 AM
Ah! I now understand what people meant by an extra triangular beam. I genuinely could not work out what you meant, and was too embarrassed to ask as everyone else seem to think it was obvious. I thought you meant adding something to the top!

Haha, don't we all feel like that sometimes? :D
I guess a picture would've been worth a thousand words.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: WuZhuiQiu on December 22, 2020, 07:57:58 PM
I like them better now, and they would still provide cover (if the undead enemy had any missiles!).


Couldn't you resurrect (pun unintended) some skeleton crossbowmen of the kind that a gaming friend reportedly moans about having been edited-out of WHFB sometime after 3rd edition...?   ;)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on December 22, 2020, 09:11:14 PM
Couldn't you resurrect (pun unintended) some skeleton crossbowmen of the kind that a gaming friend reportedly moans about having been edited-out of WHFB sometime after 3rd edition...?   ;)

I have 1980s figures of Citadel skellie archers, which I do recall using!

(https://i.imgur.com/3LJhtus.jpg)

Only one xbow skellie though, who appears to have been mutated in life!

(https://i.imgur.com/iCylOsN.jpg)

Also some weird Grenadier boney bowmen ...

(https://i.imgur.com/Lb423DQ.jpg)

But they ain't on the walls!

I ought to have some undead scenario special rules for the land around the city, to do with the fact that the undead have possessed it for some time, but I might save such houserules for closer to their heartlands!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on December 22, 2020, 09:14:02 PM
Oh, and something that makes me happy - I have this evening finally completed the last of the new models I need for this battle .. AoS models (banshees?) being used as four bases of 8th ed WFB Spirit Hosts!

(https://i.imgur.com/tiMZ8ji.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/zDLQ3Rm.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/Ly1nraj.jpg)

If they survive magic, then I wonder how they will do defending a wall (when the enemy has no rank bonus and can only hurt them with magic weapons!)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Grumpy Gnome on December 23, 2020, 06:49:56 AM
Those Banshee look great and the Spirit Host idea is one I may take for our Middle Earth project. Thanks for continuing to inspire!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: has.been on December 23, 2020, 11:40:43 AM
I like the contrast of white & bronze.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Luigi on December 23, 2020, 06:25:55 PM
If they survive magic, then I wonder how they will do defending a wall (when the enemy has no rank bonus and can only hurt them with magic weapons!)

If I remember correctly, there's some obstacle in the 8th edition BRB. I particularly remember the following.

Blessed bulwark
It is common practice in the Empire for a Warrior Priest to bless any wall which might have to serve in the battle against
the foul creatures of Chaos. Such enchantment lingers on long after it takes root, and even endures through the destruction of
the wall itself. Many farming fields and fortress walls in the Empire are bounded by walls constructed of stolen fragments
from the blessed bulwarks, and retain a portion of that power.

Blessed bulwarks are obstacles that grant hard cover to units behind them, and a -1 To Hit modifier to
charging models in base contact with them. In addition to this, models from the Forces of Destruction
(see the Allies chapter) that are in base contact with the obstacle must halve their Initiative.


perhaps you can tweak them to grant magical attacks vs ethereal? or just a combat bonus? Justifying it as the priest blessing (sections) of the wall in advance to ward off spirits.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on December 23, 2020, 06:31:35 PM
The spirits will be doing the defending, and if on the castle walls, then the enemy will be attacking them using ladders! It's the living attackers who are going to struggle! But they should, in the fight to take a walled and moated city teeming with the living dead!

Except, the living army's commanding player is experienced and canny and might have ways of hurting the spirit hosts first!

Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: WuZhuiQiu on December 24, 2020, 04:25:26 AM
It should be a challenging siege for both the besiegers and the besieged. The besiegers likely couldn't starve the besieged, so would eventually have to assault, possibly after some battering and mining. As the besieged cannot, apparently, shoot, they would need to resort to some combination of magic, flyers, mining, and sorties to impede the besiegers. And the indentation before the main gate may not be as dangerous for the besiegers as it might be if the besieged could shoot, although it could still be employed as a kind of trap...
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on December 24, 2020, 04:38:08 AM
The attackers are going straight for an assault, as besieging in the blockade sense will achieve little against undead like you suggested, and might allow a relief force to arrive.

Due to the nature of the campaign (forces listed and monitored closely, with subsistence rules etc) the undead have only the small 'Army of the Church of Nagash' plus the small 'standing force', although I have allowed (using GM discretion) the addition of a level 1 necromancer in the role of city governor. So no flyers.

To be honest, even when facing a living garrison, few of my campaign players opt for a starve them out and/or batter the walls type siege. Not sure why.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: WuZhuiQiu on December 27, 2020, 12:02:25 AM
I suppose that besiegers would have balanced strategic urgency against the number of possibly irreplaceable casualties...
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on December 27, 2020, 07:11:01 PM
The mobile moat bridges are right this very moment being pushed up towards Ebino!

(https://i.imgur.com/egqyyWd.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: WuZhuiQiu on December 27, 2020, 10:31:14 PM
Impressive! Would they use ladders, once they're across the moat?
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on December 27, 2020, 10:39:26 PM
Impressive! Would they use ladders, once they're across the moat?

Yes. Although in my excitement at finally starting the game, I have forgotten to put the ladders on the regiments. They will appear when they reach the wall!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Gibby on December 27, 2020, 11:46:56 PM
Will this be the end of Undead Biagino?!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: WuZhuiQiu on December 28, 2020, 02:27:36 AM
The attackers are going straight for an assault, as besieging in the blockade sense will achieve little against undead like you suggested, and might allow a relief force to arrive.

Due to the nature of the campaign (forces listed and monitored closely, with subsistence rules etc) the undead have only the small 'Army of the Church of Nagash' plus the small 'standing force', although I have allowed (using GM discretion) the addition of a level 1 necromancer in the role of city governor. So no flyers.

To be honest, even when facing a living garrison, few of my campaign players opt for a starve them out and/or batter the walls type siege. Not sure why.

Oh, couldn't the undead have raised a few "extras" from the local potter's field and graveyards...?  ;)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: WuZhuiQiu on December 29, 2020, 12:08:42 AM
@Padrissimus about WHFB 8th edition, I've discovered that I have had a Tomb Kings army book, from before I even bought the main rules. However, I am wondering if official errata were ever issued for 8th edition?
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Luigi on December 29, 2020, 02:38:01 PM
@Padrissimus about WHFB 8th edition, I've discovered that I have had a Tomb Kings army book, from before I even bought the main rules. However, I am wondering if official errata were ever issued for 8th edition?

Hope this helps
http://www.blacklibrary.com/Downloads/Product/PDF/Warhammer/Tomb-Kings%20.pdf

and this, too
http://www.blacklibrary.com/Downloads/Product/PDF/Warhammer/WARHAMMER-RULEBOOK-.pdf
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: WuZhuiQiu on December 29, 2020, 04:27:34 PM
Hope this helps
http://www.blacklibrary.com/Downloads/Product/PDF/Warhammer/Tomb-Kings%20.pdf

and this, too
http://www.blacklibrary.com/Downloads/Product/PDF/Warhammer/WARHAMMER-RULEBOOK-.pdf

Yes, it does, and thank you very much! It's good to see that they fixed the point limit on the Banner of the Hidden Dead, so that chariots could actually be raised as per the description...
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: amunptah on December 31, 2020, 12:18:13 AM
Truly, a stunning collection, campaign and body of work. I’m going to start reading from the beginning on the website now.
I love your painting style. Do you leave the base coat for the shadows, or paint them in later?
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on December 31, 2020, 12:29:57 AM
As all the figures until a year ago were done with enamels, I could just black undercoat then block paint over leaving gaps, then correct the black if I messed up here and there.

For a year now I have been trying to find a way to do a similar technique with acrylics, and I still haven't mastered the new medium. I just want my new figures to match my old ones in the pics!

Now I have to prime and varnish and anti shine - none of which was necessary for 35 years of enamels! Aargh.

I hope you like the campaign - do please comment whether you like the writing or not. To me, the writing is the important bit, despite the fact that I spend more than 90% of my hobby time on the modelling and painting for the story pictures and the battles! I'm right in the middle of a third play-by-mail battle right now, involved in some very complicated rules debates, whilst embarassingly having to report shockingly bad die rolls to the players!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: amunptah on December 31, 2020, 12:33:30 AM
Ah it’s the enamels that make them so special. I’ve only ever used acrylics, growing up in the old Citadel era of paints that became Coat d’Arms. Are enamels still available?
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on December 31, 2020, 12:39:44 AM
Are enamels still available?

They are. They are expensive and problematic, though. Every fourth or fifth pot was no good from the off! And the reds and yellows rarely worked well. But I was so used to them that it was all to be expected. What stopped me from using them a year ago was when I realised how much white spirit fumes I must have breathed over the decades working for a vast number of hours in small, ill ventilated rooms, cleaning brushes with white spirit every few minutes to keep them from hardening and being ruined, while the kitchen roll pieces I had cleaned the brushes on dried a foot from my face, evaporating the white spirits constantly.

I hope I am putting you off experimenting, for your health!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: amunptah on December 31, 2020, 07:46:54 AM
I wonder if the same effect can be achieved with acrylics?
I do have a vague memory of tying to paint a starter kit set car with Humbrol tins that came in the pack. Or was it a nightmare...
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on January 01, 2021, 11:15:59 PM
I wonder if the same effect can be achieved with acrylics?

Apprently, not easily. And maybe not at all. If I try to get the same solid colour with acrylics, the paint is too thick and looks bad.

I think am going to have to find a way to paint which creates something similar to my old style. Or maybe stop trying, and learn how to paint the 'modern' way!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on January 02, 2021, 07:17:16 PM
The petard just exploded in our play-by-email battle.

Moments before ...
(https://i.imgur.com/j89UUor.jpg)

Then
(https://i.imgur.com/YoZ2ekp.jpg)

Holy Moly! I just blew up my toy castle!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: WuZhuiQiu on January 03, 2021, 05:04:01 PM
That's a spectacular effect!

P.S.: I hope that the spearmen will beware of a pincer attack from the towers...
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on January 03, 2021, 05:27:06 PM
Except the defenders are the fragment that survived a previous battle, and a small 'Standing Force' of little consequence. The walls and moats were their only real hope!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Luigi on January 03, 2021, 06:54:49 PM
IS that a moat around the walls?
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on January 03, 2021, 06:58:37 PM
IS that a moat around the walls?

Yes! You can see it in the earlier pic, as well as two of the three moat bridges that are being trundled up to it. See http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=120392.msg1630189#msg1630189

The table top ...
(https://i.imgur.com/l761cs0.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on January 04, 2021, 12:18:08 AM
We have only the last three combats in turn 8 (siege games are longer) of our play-by-email battle left to do.

Here are some of the 'in-game' photos the game generated so far, which I cleaned up a bit while waiting for my players to respond. We have been at the game on and off for a week!

(https://i.imgur.com/KBMMJhc.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/WmpHE4g.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/1n1NVGc.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/auIoIjZ.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/FI3FS0A.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/I96NmAM.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/iChgVpB.jpg)

I will enjoy writing the story/report! I will want to do a prequel story first, as usual, with posed, more artistic photos, so it'll be a while before the report is out.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: swiftnick on January 05, 2021, 11:29:20 PM
Apprently, not easily. And maybe not at all. If I try to get the same solid colour with acrylics, the paint is too thick and looks bad.

I think am going to have to find a way to paint which creates something similar to my old style. Or maybe stop trying, and learn how to paint the 'modern' way!


I also had to suddenly stop using enamels. I literally became allergic to them overnight.
The technique for acrylics I have found to be very different. Nowadays I use a white undercoat. Paint on block colours and then brush on a dark dip.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on January 05, 2021, 11:39:28 PM
Help me out, Swiftnick. It is all so alien to me, and I think many folk oversimplify what actually has to be done. I tried a white undercoat with some and the paint just peeled off.

So, is this the actual sequence

Primer coat (brushed?)
white undercoat
block colours
dip
Varnish
Antishine

Which of these is acually unnecessary? Perhaps one of them, done well with the right product, makes another redundant?

And, what is 'Dip'? What named products consitute dip?

I lterally have no clue.

Like tonight I was 'priming' some ghosts (never had to prime enamels, just black undercpoat and away). The white primer doesn't go on, and bubbles bizarre. The black is better but I want a lighter base to experiment on. So I mixed my black and white primer and made a grey primer! Which, when dry, I intend to undercoat grey over.

I have some GW 'effect' paint bllue to wash over it, but I might no do so 'cos it was basically a rubbish result last time and I painted over it all!

So a really simple description of the sequence of products would be ace!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: SotF on January 06, 2021, 12:26:56 AM
Help me out, Swiftnick. It is all so alien to me, and I think many folk oversimplify what actually has to be done. I tried a white undercoat with some and the paint just peeled off.

So, is this the actual sequence

Primer coat (brushed?)
white undercoat
block colours
dip
Varnish
Antishine

Which of these is acually unnecessary? Perhaps one of them, done well with the right product, makes another redundant?

And, what is 'Dip'? What named products consitute dip?

I lterally have no clue.

Like tonight I was 'priming' some ghosts (never had to prime enamels, just black undercpoat and away). The white primer doesn't go on, and bubbles bizarre. The black is better but I want a lighter base to experiment on. So I mixed my black and white primer and made a grey primer! Which, when dry, I intend to undercoat grey over.

I have some GW 'effect' paint bllue to wash over it, but I might no do so 'cos it was basically a rubbish result last time and I painted over it all!

So a really simple description of the sequence of products would be ace!

For priming issues, you need to wait for it to fully dry most of the time or you can create issues, you also have to deal with moisture/temperature if you're using a spray primer. Normally, the spray primers tend to be the best option if you can.

If you still have trouble with it, you might look into priming with gesso, it works rather well there.

The dip is a method that involves a large container of what is basically a wash, you dunk the mini in and pull it out before shaking off as much of it as you can. It's mainly for certain types of speed painting, it's also often used for making certain pre-painted minis look a bit better by adding the dip and then varnishing the mini with a dullcoat as most dips end up extremely glossy.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on January 06, 2021, 08:26:33 AM
The white primer I bought literally does not actually cover it just smears and streaks. Vallejo. I even checked reviews before I bought and they said it was ok. The black one from the same company seems to work ok.

So specifically what brand of brushed on white primer actually works and makes a figure neatly and uniformly white?

As for the dip, again it is specifics I am craving. Can someone name a brand of dip that works well?

The brush on matte varnish I bought is also a bit rubbish as it dries to a satin sheen. Does anyone know of a brush on matte varnish that works well?

I may have been painting for 35 years but with enamels I never used primer and I never used varnish. I did try varnish back in the mid 1980s but stopped using it when it turned an entire regiment of 40 goblins white!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: amunptah on January 06, 2021, 09:05:34 AM
I use a brush on grey primer, and manually pop any bubbles if they appear with my brush. I found spray primer would always bubble, especially in damp England!

Then I block colour, with washes of various colours afterwards if I have them. For example I use a flesh wash or green wash on top of the matching colours.

Areas I haven’t washed I use brush on “dip.” The Army Painter produce these, and I think there are equivalents from Vallejo and GW (eg contrast paints, but I get poor results if I don’t block colour before). These are basically another wash that you brush straight on.

Strong Tone always gets recommended, but I prefer to use Soft Tone as the brown is less pronounced and stops the miniatures looking too muddy. The dip basically runs across the miniature and likes to sit in the recesses more than it does the flatter surfaces, so it will create shadow and highlights. I’ve found it generally behaves very well but a little encouragement with the brush makes sure it gets to the right area and doesn’t pool too much. Also it looks a little darker than you expect until it dries, so don’t panic!

It gets called dip as Army Painter sell large tins of it. People literally dunk miniatures into the tins and flick off the excess! Their tutorial guide to painting is here: https://admin.thearmypainter.com/files/downloads/guides/TheWargamer_ArmyPaintingGuide_byTheArmyPainter_2019.pdf

I haven’t used Matt varnish or anti shine but should do as I'm getting chips. Will invest in some soon. Spray and brush on variants exist of course.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: swiftnick on January 06, 2021, 10:13:18 AM
Hello there a quick post but will come back when have taken some pictures.
I simply
1. Wash figures in warm soapy water, rinse and dry.
2. Undercoat/prime I use a spray can off Plastikote matt paint. The colour I use is a creamy off white.
Allow to dry for at least a day.
3. Block colour with Acrylics. The new contrast paints are incredible and have really sped up my painting.
Allow to dry for at least a day.
4. Apply Dip. I use the coat d arms product. Less smelly and dries quicker than army painter. Apply with a brush, brushing from top to bottom. This is your dip and combined first coat of varnish.
5. When dry apply matt varnish. I use Windsor and newton Acrylic varnish.

I have recently been knocking out about 50 figures a week using these methods no problems
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on January 06, 2021, 11:10:04 AM
Thank you Amunptah, Swiftnick and SotF, plus Gibby who messaged me instead for entirely technical reasons! I now have loads to go on.

Re Swift Nicks

1. Wash figures in warm soapy water, rinse and dry.
Oops! I have rarely done this!

2. Undercoat/prime I use a spray can off Plastikote matt paint. The colour I use is a creamy off white.
Allow to dry for at least a day.

I will look into sprays - I have only ever used for scenery before, as I did use acrylics on scenery even when I was exclusively using enamels for figures. Amunptah mentioned brush on grey if the spray isn't helped by the climate! SotF mentioned gesso which I have used often for scenery and other projects, never figures. Of the two I have used, one was way too thick and ironically the other perhaps too thin. Again, I am looking forward to experimenting.

3. Block colour with Acrylics. The new contrast paints are incredible and have really sped up my painting.
Allow to dry for at least a day.

I have no contrast paints, only 'base' but if contrast are better I will get some.

4. Apply Dip. I use the coat d arms product. Less smelly and dries quicker than army painter. Apply with a brush, brushing from top to bottom. This is your dip and combined first coat of varnish.

Coat d'Arms, check! I will try to source some. Gibby mentioned Army Painter Dark Tone dip, another which I was entirely ignorant of. Amunptah mentioned 'strong' and 'soft' tone which might be the same thing, I will research. Gibby did say I will have to get out my white spirit again (which is why I am abandoning enamels) but I will be careful with it from now on, and it won't be all the time! I really have been in my own little familiar world of enamels for 35 years!!!!!!

5. When dry apply matt varnish. I use Windsor and newton Acrylic varnish.
Cool, another brand I knew nothing of! I will research how to obtain.

I will get some 'dip' ASAP, and a fancy new contrast paint for the boney bits, and try it on my ghosts. Colour me excited! While I'll be colouring my models like never before!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on January 06, 2021, 11:15:20 AM
'The Army Painter Dark Tone Quick Shade' yes? At more the £30 I really don't want to buy the wrong thing!

(Edit) Arrgh! There IS a 'Strong' tone too? Which should I get.

Note: I do want to get as close as possible to my enamel 'cartoon' style!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: has.been on January 06, 2021, 11:20:31 AM
Take a look at the various wood varnishes out there.
I use Dark Oak as  Dark Shade,
        Light Oak as  Light Shade,
        Mahogany as... well anything that needs a reddish brown tinge.
MUCH cheaper.
Some companies do small tester pots, though they are getting
harder to find.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: amunptah on January 06, 2021, 11:57:29 AM
Yep, washing miniatures is a must!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: swiftnick on January 06, 2021, 04:07:48 PM
This is the undercoat/primer I use

(https://i.imgur.com/XHDvC9R.jpg)


The dip I use.
I honestly wouldn't use army painter dip. It is strong smelling, takes a while to dry. Is expensive and only comes in larger tins. Which invariably dry up before they are used.

(https://i.imgur.com/9fCp4Su.jpg)

The matt varnish I use.
Some people think it is a bit soft. So maybe not so god if you are handling the figures a lot. I think it gives a nice finish and dries quickly.

(https://i.imgur.com/DXwKjx4.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on January 06, 2021, 04:14:50 PM
Excellent information.

I'm so keen to try I have already ordered some army painter dip earlier today, so I will try that and see what happens. The Primer I will definitely look into and the Varnish sounds good as I don't handle that much, really, and take care with the figures anyway!

BTW, having just googled the Windsor and Newton Galleria Matt Varnish, everyone seems to be talking about airbrushing. Does it work as well with brushes too?
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: swiftnick on January 06, 2021, 04:43:52 PM
I only ever apply it with a brush.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on January 06, 2021, 05:32:21 PM
I only ever apply it with a brush.
Excellent! I am reassured
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on January 08, 2021, 02:46:12 PM
WIP Cairn Wraiths

So, like I said I would, and after more than a year trying to replicate my 35 years enamel painting style in acrylics, I am gonna try a more 'modern' method. On advice, I got myself some Army Painter Quickshade Dark Tone and have just finished the basic block painting of 10 Cairn Wraiths. I have yet to decide what varnish, but I think I will get the Windsor and Newton Galeria to try first.

BTW, I say 'Cairn Wraiths', but they are some AoS figures (Night Haunt or something) I obtained at a bargain price with the crazy bases hacked up so that they now fit on 20mm bases, and even rank up.

WIP - here they are ready for the dip! (My first ever attempt at such!)

(https://i.imgur.com/2BG1ye2.jpg)

I may see if I can apply the dip everywhere but NOT on the light blue part, as even I can see it probably won't work well there. I tested on the light blue and the dark grey. It seems of on the latter! I am hoping it will make the skulls and hands and gravestones pop! I will just dry brush the light blue with an almost white blue, I think. Unless the dip stray's onto it. But hey, it's my first attempt!

I will try it at the weekend. Pray for me to unholy Nagash - may his curse fall upon all the living.

PS: A unit of 10 if these (rare choice, VC) are expensive, I know. But all the regular VC field armies in the campaign have been beat and now the living armies face marching into the spooky heartlands to finish the job off. I want that region to be tough, filled with ghosts and monsters and such as these!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Bearwoodman on January 08, 2021, 03:33:43 PM
Good luck Padrissimus! Despite using acrylic paints myself (although I have never used the Army Painter dip) for some reason following your venture into acrylic painting is making me nervous. I do hope you are pleased with the results!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: amunptah on January 08, 2021, 06:05:05 PM
Me too! To see someone who is so skilled taking their first steps again is nerve wracking. Yes, the dip can be a challenge with some colours and ends up looking too muddy. But I’ve had good results washing it over bone colours and it really pops!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on January 10, 2021, 08:43:46 PM
Thanks for your good wishes, gents. I am now just waiting for the dip to dry before moving on to the next part of the process!

Meanwhile, although I know this is only supposed to be pictures from my campaign, and 8 years of previous story and battle text are already missing, I thought I would put the whole of my next battle here so the pictures make more sense!

I will start with the prequel, which is all I have written so far!


...

Hoist!

Prequel to the Assault on Ebino, IC2404

Guccio had been pondering the audacity of his recent behaviour, and whether the consequences of his boldness might prove the ruin of his career prospects in Lord Alessio Falconi’s army, or indeed any army. Faced with the prospect of attacking the strongly walled and deeply moated city of Ebino, defended by an enemy that not only never slept but who had likely forgotten what sleep was, the general had turned to him, as siege master, for advice. He had immediately offered two solutions, both of which now laced his every waking moment with fearful doubt, somehow even surpassing the fear engendered by the prospect of once again facing the undead in battle.

The moat, he had said to Lord Alessio, required bridging, therefore they should fashion carriages to carry suitably long platforms up to the moat’s edge, there to drop into place. Once made busy by the necessarily hasty construction, he had become so caught up in the practicalities of wheels and axles sufficient at least to travel one, relatively short journey, as well as how to counterweight the carriage so that the large platform hanging at the fore would not cause it to topple over, that he had pushed all other concerns from his mind.

Now, however, that the former difficulties had been overcome, howsoever ingeniously, he had to face up to the several many other considerations. Would the sheer weight of both the primary load and necessary counterweight upon such a hastily built carriage simply cause it to shake itself apart as it negotiated the rough ground it would have to pass before reaching the moat? Could any number of men successfully push the thing that far, now that large boulders had been strapped to the rear to compensate for the force of the large, leaning bridge platform hanging precariously from the front? And when the timber platform was allowed to fall, would it stay in one piece as it crashed into the ground, as well as sufficiently strong to bear the weight of the many armoured men (carrying long ladders) who would then pour over the top of it in order to reach the foot of the wall?

While these were just some of his worries concerning the bridges, all paled into insignificance when compared to his worries regarding the petard.

The scouts had reported that the city’s southern gate had a stone bridge leading to it, which obviously could not be drawn up – a rather unexpected opportunity for access given the fact that the city’s builders had gone to the trouble of digging a moat. Knowing therefore that the gate could be reached relatively easily, Guccio immediately wondered how the gate itself might be broken through. Of course, there were artillery pieces that could do the job, and master gunners to tend them, but only two, and not the half a dozen they had fielded in the Valley of Death. If one or even both should shiver as had the mortar at Pontremola, then the gate might not be beaten. Furthermore, the scouts had reported that it was made of iron-bound oak, ancient and hard, reinforced by a huge iron portcullis, which of course made sense considering the lack of a drawbridge. It was clear that the army needed another string to its bow when it came to the gate. To Guccio’s mind there was no choice - breaking gate had to be attempted, if simply as an alternative mode of access should his doubts concerning his bridges prove warranted.

Thus it was, as if he were a boulder rolling downhill, entirely unable to stop, he found himself making a second proposal to the general, immediately following his first: they would need a petard, one of substantial size and great potency, and he knew where to obtain just such a thing. The mortar that had shivered at Pontremola had not blown itself entirely apart, but rather had merely cracked, rendering itself entirely unsafe for the purpose it was made to perform. Guccio said that if it were loaded with grenade and triple the weight of powder and mounted upon a carriage, then it could be rolled right up to the gate, placed against it, and exploded. It would surely blow itself apart, considering its visibly fractured state, but in so doing most likely tear the gate to pieces, dislodge the portcullis and provide a breach through which the army could pour.

That moment, as all those gathered in the army council nodded appreciatively, including the general himself, should have been a moment of great satisfaction – if he had not immediately realised how little certainty he had that any of what he had claimed was even vaguely likely to succeed.

Thus the knot in his stomach ever since!



Its carriage completed - utilising the wheels of one of the army’s better baggage wagons, much to the disgust of the proud carter who had coaxed the carriage all the way from Portomaggiore - the petard was now being rolled out of the camp, just as the rest of the army was readying itself for the challenge ahead.

(https://i.imgur.com/LdpyI3F.jpg)

Guccio watched, standing beside the sergeant of the handgunners who had been volunteered as petardiers, a fellow named Vasari. Until now the sergeant had said very little, although from his gruff attitude it was clear he was not thrilled at what he and his men had been ordered to do. A bearded veteran of several wars, which included serving with Lord Alessio in the northern Old World, he was tall and every bit the image of a soldier, albeit one dressed (as so many in the Portomaggioran marching army) in Empire style clothes.

“I was told it would be a simple task,” the sergeant suddenly declared. “Yet here we see how hard it is even just to move it. Tell me, siege master, why don’t we haul it with draft animals like the bridges?”

(https://i.imgur.com/vUELIXh.jpg)

“We could, I suppose, at least until we drew close to the walls,” said Guccio. “If we were not using nearly every horse to haul the bridges instead. Besides, your men will learn how to push it along the way.”

“Ah, the fine and noble art of pushing,” said the sergeant, rolling his eyes.

This made Guccio smile. “Aye, well, not noble, but your men must familiarise themselves with the work, all the better to move speedily and without hindrance when they draw near.”

“Yet such an enemy will not shoot at us. Not once have I seen them so much as lob a stone, never mind span and shoot a crossbow nor load and fire a piece,” said the sergeant. “We could haul it up all leisurely, take a breather now and then, have a little repast as and when we like, and still it would be delivered.”

“The enemy might not shoot, but who knows what might sally forth from the city if we approach so slowly as to allow them to get the measure of us? Who knows what magical incantations their foul masters might conjure against us? And we needs must time our arrival as best we can with the arrival of the bridges and the ladder assault on the walls, so that the enemy cannot concentrate its strength against us.”

“I doubt the bridges will be moving fast at all”

“That’s as may be,” agreed Guccio. “But if we are to coordinate the arrival perfectly, we must light the fuse as we draw near, after which your men cannot afford to slip or stall, otherwise the fuse will have to be pulled out and replaced and re-lit, allowing the enemy even more time to thwart us.”

“My men,” mused the sergeant. “You mean my men and I.”

Guccio fell silent, for what could he say? Every veteran knew the dangerous reputation of petards.

“When the arch-lector was considering attacking Ebino,” said the sergeant, “they say the maestro Angelo da Leoni built him a huge ramp, hauled by his steam engine, up which the army could stroll right up and over the walls into the city.”

Except the maestro failed, thought Guccio. “Would that we could, sergeant” was what he said. “But we have no such engine.”

The construction of a ramp for Da Leoni’s steam engine had taken so long that the vampire Duchess had sallied forth from the city and defeated the living army in the field. The maestro’s engine, stripped bare of its armaments, had sputtered forwards and ground to a halt when swarmed by ghostly monsters. The thought made Guccio’s stomach knot the more. If a genius like Da Leoni had failed, with his unique marvel of an engine, how could his own ‘grenado in a hand cart’ hope to work? Or his clackety timber bridges?

(https://i.imgur.com/pZADXoI.jpg)

Just now four men were pushing the petard, as indeed his design intended. But when it approached the city, Sergeant Vasari’s whole company would accompany it, to guard it should that prove necessary, and more importantly to assist if it were to get stuck, or one or more of the pushers should fall from whatever harm the enemy inflicted.

(https://i.imgur.com/XVgHp17.jpg)

“You’ve tested the fuse, I take it?” asked Sergeant Vasari.

The fuse hung from the touchhole at the rear, a particularly potent, hempen matchcord boiled in a concentrated saltpetre solution, that would spit spluttering sparks when lit, the flame burning up at a speed much faster than that of any handgunner’s ‘slowmatch’.

“That I have. I made four, all exactly the same. Two I tested and timed, the third you see there, the fourth I will have with me should we need to replace that one.”

“You will be with us?” said the sergeant, with evident surprise.

It had not occurred to Guccio that the sergeant did not know he was to stay with the petard. “I will, although I might be of little use should it come to fighting, for my skills with a blade are somewhat rusty.”

“Well, siege-master,” said the sergeant, his tone lightening. “We’ll do any fighting that’s needed, you just make sure that thing goes off when it is supposed to go off, and not a moment before.”

(https://i.imgur.com/frnTYMp.jpg)

That’s the trick, thought Guccio. And that is what every soldier in Vasari’s company had on his mind. Now that the sergeant knew the petard’s maker was to be with them, he seemed less anxious. Knowing the man responsible for building it was to risk his own life also had to make anyone feel a bit better about the prospect of success, for why would a man make a petard with which to hoist his very own self?

Except Guccio was the maker and knew full well what a man might do when he allows ambition and pride to take the reins of his own voice. It was a good thing that the sergeant could not feel how dry Guccio’s throat was or sense the ever-present knot inside his belly.

Behind them several companies of soldiers had already mustered and begun their march. An Estalian mercenary commanded one band of handgunners …

(https://i.imgur.com/VIr0Pkd.jpg)

… while a swaggering youth with an oversized panache strode with bared blade ahead of another company.

(https://i.imgur.com/tswCGqc.jpg)

Elsewhere in this part of the camp, soldiers rushed to arm themselves and collect whatever they might need for the short march and the battle ahead. A number were drawing fortified wine from a cart, for it was the custom for every soldier to drink a deep draft before an assault, not just to calm their nerves but to embolden them. It was a practice made all the more appropriate when the enemy consisted of those who had already died!

(https://i.imgur.com/TfycZOx.jpg)

Behind the petard trundled Guccio’s three large bridges, made slow by the huge, counterweight rocks he had ordered lashed to the platforms.

(https://i.imgur.com/CN9GkSc.jpg)

These were to be pulled by beasts to within sight of the walls, and then distributed to three of the larger regiments to be pushed the remainder of the way. To ask soldiers to push them was impractical but entirely necessary, for if the draught animals were to be alarmed by the enemy, startled in such a way as to buck or rear, then the bridges could topple before they reached the moat. 

(https://i.imgur.com/EwMRK1k.jpg)

Still, thought Guccio, I will be so busy with the petard I might not even notice such a disaster!

May blessed Myrmidia, he prayed, protect me in the battle to come. And should I die in the blast, then may the goddess take my life as a sacrificial offering in return for breaking the gate, so that my life may not be wasted and that our army, dedicated to her, may gain victory against this the foulest of foes.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Neunfinger on January 10, 2021, 09:16:27 PM
Delightful to read, thanks for posting it.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: WuZhuiQiu on January 11, 2021, 05:37:20 PM
That was an enjoyable read - thanks! About the siege itself, had the undead repaired all damage from their own siege, or was there little damage to speak of?
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on January 11, 2021, 06:09:39 PM
There was no damage at all from when the undead took the city of Ebino. The battle that took place there was all about the attempted escape of Duchess Maria. The battle report claimed she did get away, but not all was quite what it seemed, as the Viadazans were to learn at their very great cost a few months later!

The original battle report can be found at https://bigsmallworlds.com/2017/07/10/tilea-campaign-part-3/
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: WuZhuiQiu on January 11, 2021, 08:21:34 PM
There was no damage at all from when the undead took the city of Ebino. The battle that took place there was all about the attempted escape of Duchess Maria. The battle report claimed she did get away, but not all was quite what it seemed, as the Viadazans were to learn at their very great cost a few months later!

The original battle report can be found at https://bigsmallworlds.com/2017/07/10/tilea-campaign-part-3/

Thank you! With hindsight, the zombies might also have formed an undead pyramid or ramp against the walls!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on January 12, 2021, 01:49:55 PM
Working on the bat rep right now. In the meantime ... my first ever experiment with dip is done. I now have a 8th Ed WFB, points-expensive, rare unit of 10 CairnWraiths!

I like them a lot, despite being pretty different to what I have done in the last 35 years of painting. I have plans to use this same technique on a few projects, including a small (ish) regiment of Skaven next.

(https://i.imgur.com/KBvXcqk.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/tXAtFYZ.jpg)

Thanks for your encouragement gents.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: WuZhuiQiu on January 12, 2021, 04:21:09 PM
Nice work on that unit! Given their general dirtiness (unless Skaven groom?), fur, and subterranean habits, skaven should be very suitable for the dip!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: amunptah on January 12, 2021, 04:45:05 PM
Great job with the wraiths, and a good decision to avoid dip on the blue and grey. I think you will really enjoy the results with the skaven.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on January 12, 2021, 05:21:52 PM
I did apply the dip to the grey, and it looks pleasingly dirty IRL
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: swiftnick on January 12, 2021, 06:55:13 PM
Good going! Those wraiths are looking good.
I use the dip on all colours although admittedly it can look a bit muddy on light colours.
What did you think of the process?
Quick enough?
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on January 12, 2021, 07:25:25 PM
I think I will get much quicker now that I have gone through the 'What am I meant to be doing' phases!

BTW, here's the next part of the ongoing bat rep, again with the story attached.


The Assault on Ebino, Part One: Deployment

Biagino had grown more and more furious on the journey from the defeat at Pontremola to the city of Ebino. When the duchess Maria had died, his mind, twisted with all the proud hatred and dark cruelty of vampirism, had been released from his slavish, besotten enthrallment to her, so that now he was enraged almost to madness by the thought of the glamour she had cast over him. As he passed through the gates, anger had so suffused his being that he cared not a jot for the army that was pursuing him, and instead of fleeing further, as was surely the most sensible course of action considering the recent defeat and the enemy’s obvious strength, he decided he would rule her city, take all that was once hers, as partial recompense for her treatment of him.

He had been a pathetic creature in life, and even in undeath, until Maria’s demise, he had been the same. No more.

Now, however, more than two weeks later, with the enemy soon about to attack the city, and with only his paltry, remnant army to defend it, his fury had abated to be replaced with much more mixed emotions, flavoured throughout with a hearty dose of self-interest. Luckily for her, the witch who Maria had left in charge of the city had not met Biagino immediately upon his arrival, otherwise he would most assuredly have killed her on sight, out of sheer spite. When he finally met her, he had regained sufficient composure to realise he needed to hear her report concerning what forces she commanded within the city, and that he needed whatever help she could give to defend it.

The enemy had been preparing for their assault for days, fashioning up contraptions to allow them entry. He knew very well the strength of their artillery, big and small, having watched the volleys at Norochia tear his massive army to pieces, then witnessed the same yet again at Pontremola. Although the city was circumvallated with strong walls, parapeted throughout, he was unwilling to risk even a fraction of the battering they had delivered previously, not when his own forces were so meagre, and so he commanded that none of his soldiers should mount the walls, but rather slink unseen in the shadows below and await his command before marching up to reveal themselves.

So it was that the Disciplinati di Nagash, commanded by the two remaining thralls of La Fraternita di Morti Irrequieti, were now mustered in their full remaining strength in the yard below him, silently waiting for his order to climb the steps.

(https://i.imgur.com/25IZw2H.jpg)

Upon the other side of the city gate the witch’s garrison of skeletons stood similarly …

(https://i.imgur.com/kB38yqF.jpg)

… with a corpse cart close by to augment the magical current feeding their animation.

(https://i.imgur.com/SWpZqsH.jpg)

The witch had conjured a host of restless, accursed spirits from the most haunted corners of the city, and they too awaited command, swirling and swooshing around each other like the fronds of water plants might plait and unwind in the eddies of a stream.

(https://i.imgur.com/hANwa5p.jpg)

The witch herself, an old crone who had mastered only the most basic rudiments of the necromantic art, yet to her credit had still managed over time to raise the force aforementioned, was hiding too. Like Biagino himself, she was tucked away in a corner of the battlements, under the shadow of a nearby tower, from where she could watch over her garrison force but also take an occasional peek at the enemy.

(https://i.imgur.com/WgsCyGc.jpg)

His chess pieces set, Biagino now waited impatiently for the enemy to make the opening move. Upon several recent occasions, one of his thralls had crept out in the darkest hours of the night to spy upon the foe and had reported the mustering of their force and their constructions. He knew they had bridges with which to cross the moat, but only a few. Surely, Biagino mused, there is sufficient strength here to prevent frightened men clambering up ladders at only a few places along the walls? But then, they also had their guns, and their magical colossus; their wizards and priests. At least their mounted men at arms, of which he had spied a good number at Pontremola, would be forced to wade through mud on foot, unable to bring their lances to bear. They would be little better than militia, if somewhat better armoured. With the walls of Ebino in his favour, he rated his chances.

The duchess, he could see now most clearly, had been a vainglorious fool when it came to war. Despite knowing her uncle (and vampiric sire) Duke Alessandro, had perished in battle at the bridge of Pontremola, she had forsaken the stone walls of the city which would hinder the foe tremendously, and had charged out to attack the enemy, entrenched at the very same place, there to die. He was glad of her folly, for her death had freed his mind. Now all he had to do was survive this assault and he would have time to enjoy his freedom, to revel in the power that could now be his.

 (https://i.imgur.com/B2qd7ZO.jpg)



Having glanced over the crenelations several times, Biagino saw that the enemy had indeed left all their horses behind, and that even their wooden constructions were being pushed by men not beasts. They were divided unevenly by the road to the city gate, with two of their bridges upon one side and the third on the other. Along the road itself they were pushing what at first appeared to be an ancient bombard, but which Biagino’s wickedly nimble eyes made out to be a huge petard, so heavy it had to be mounted on a carriage.

(https://i.imgur.com/lSFkYjp.jpg)

The largest enemy regiment, consisting of spearmen, obliquely flanked the petard, and if he were to guess, he would have said the enemy general intended them to storm the gate once (if) it was blown. The rest of the soldiers on that flank were heavily armoured, and in smaller companies. Biagino knew they must be the nobility, denuded of their steeds by the necessities of an assault. He could not help but smile as he imagined their steel-carapaced bodies sinking deep in the moat or plummeting from a ladder to crash hard into the rock footings. Also on that flank were two cannons, which perhaps explained why the soldiers on that side had only one bridge. They must have been expecting the artillery to breach one spot, while they then poured across the moat to access the gap thus made.

(https://i.imgur.com/RY5vY5q.jpg)

Upon the other side of the road were the Reman contingent as well as more Portomaggiorans. Biagino had seen, when his eyes were alive rather than just not dead, several of the regiments before, including the mercenary regiments of dwarves. The colossus drew his gaze first, as it would anyone’s, but there were also two bridges, a large regiment of armoured footsoldiers and three regiments of crossbowmen, one of which was pushing a bridge. And well they might, he thought, for they nothing to shoot at!

(https://i.imgur.com/5HUoAOW.jpg)

The whole army was on the move. Soon they would discover how much more difficult the fight against him would prove compared to the Duchess!

---------------------

Game Notes

This was our third play-by-email battle. We are getting quite good at it!

The Tabletop
(https://i.imgur.com/l761cs0.jpg)

The Living Army Deployment, with labels
(https://i.imgur.com/R7AqBoC.jpg)

The Reman Brigade
(https://i.imgur.com/7uxzFUO.jpg)
This pic was sent, along with the army list, to the living army player, Damo (aka Lord Alessio Falconi) as orientation. He did not need a pic of his own forces, as they were his own figures which I had picked up several months ago from his house for the previous play-by-email!

The Undead Forces
(https://i.imgur.com/CRvBDdf.jpg)
This pic was sent, along with the army list, to the Undead army player, Matt, who is actually the villainous Duke Guidobaldo Gondi of Pavona in our campaign, but who had bravely volunteered to command this NPC force in battle.

The City Sections
(https://i.imgur.com/IrnhL07.jpg)

This being a siege game, it would last for 8 turns, and victory was to be decided according to the number of sections held by an unengaged, unfleeing unit by the end of turn 8.

New Rules

PETARD
Movement: With 8 men attending, with 4 of them pushing, it can march move. Once the attendants fall below 2, it cannot march. Once there are no attendants, it loses 1" movement per lost pusher. It must be pushed right up to the gate, then the fuse lit.

(The idea here is that the pushers are the muscle, while the attendants help shift it, direct it, remove obstacles, and add a bit of extra muscle in the moments such is required.)

Explosion: I reckon we should modify the shooting at the gates rules from 6th ed, p.252 -253. Auto hit the gate (for obvious reasons - it will be placed right against it). Roll artillery dice twice for misfire chance (as per the packing an extra charge rule) but the worst misfire result actually counts as a success (except the success also includes potential casualties - D [whatever number of men are present] deaths)! Damage cause = Str 10 + D6 +2. That's a +2 to the standard rules. 15+ breaks the gate, 16 + destroys it utterly (so need a 3+ roll on the D6). If it's a miss a turn type misfire, it can be relit by one of the petardiers for another try!

MOAT BRIDGES
These will start behind the 24" line deployment, with the pushing unit behind. They should therefore be dropped at the start of turn 3, and although technically the carriage has to be pulled aside, I will allow the unit behind to declare a charge over and against the walls (should be a 10" charge). A failed charge means that the rolling aside of the carriage prevented their progress! They can then attempt their charge in turn 4.

Movement: With 15 men pushing, and at least 5 attending, the bridge can march move normally. Once the attendants fall below 5, it can only march move in a straight line, if it turns it is a non-march move. Once it falls below 15 pushers, it cannot march move at all. At only 10 pushers it loses 1" movement, then 2" lost for 7, 3" lost for 4. At 3 or less, it cannot move at all.

‘Other considerations’ (as passed on to the players)  ...

In past battles, including the recent Ravola game, it occurs to me that not all non-missile defenders, were on the walls, thus minimising further the damage from the attacker's missiles. There are no missile troops in the undead army, and so they could perhaps (as Matt and I have already discussed briefly) deploy behind the walls, ready to mount the parapets as the enemy close in?

If the defenders are not on the walls (apart from tower window wizards (perhaps) then the first few turns will be about the cannons' battering and whatever magic is conjured. I can't really discuss anything else here and will shift to individual e-mail threads for that. BUT if there's an issue with any of the above, you can and should say here!

A last consideration ....
Taking a walled and moated city should be hard, although in this case the lack of defender missiles makes it easier, the fact that they are undead might make it much, much harder to take the walls! The Portomaggiorans might finally face a real challenge, after two great, if easy, victories!

This could be a great and hard fought battle, and as such a great 'finale' for Biagino (if it is his finale).
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Gibby on January 12, 2021, 07:58:38 PM
Fantastic! I can't wait for the next bit. I insist you forego sleep to deliver it sooner!

I especially liked this line:

Quote
The witch had conjured a host of restless, accursed spirits from the most haunted corners of the city, and they too awaited command, swirling and swooshing around each other like the fronds of water plants might plait and unwind in the eddies of a stream.

Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on January 12, 2021, 08:00:46 PM
All I can say is that's what the figures look like. Write what you see!  ;D
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Gibby on January 12, 2021, 08:10:13 PM
The text conjured the image of their motion perfectly!

Interested to see what the colossus does against the walls!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Elk101 on January 13, 2021, 08:17:36 AM
So much undead miniature coolness there!

Great write up.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on January 13, 2021, 10:43:05 PM
Thank you Gibby and Elk101. This next installment was a lot of work, but I enjoyed it ...

...

The Assault Begins
Turns 1 – 3

Biagino chanced a better look at the enemy, to ascertain what, if anything, he might have missed before. The wheeled petard was making progress up the road, but at a pace that meant it would be some considerable time before it reached the gate – time he intended to make use of as best he could. His keen eyes could make out that the men pushing it were already tired - even from this distance he could see the throbbing arteries at their throats as their hearts pumped hard and fast to feed their muscles with sanguine sustenance. The thought caused a pang of hunger to suffuse his being – it had been some time since he drank!

(https://i.imgur.com/WmpHE4g.jpg)

Several handgunners escorted the petard and in its rear the large regiment of spearmen had angled their march to bring them onto the road behind. Biagino’s earlier guess was proving more likely to be correct – they obviously intended to swarm the gate once it was broken.

(https://i.imgur.com/wIBLsIN.jpg)

It occurred to him that all the enemy could presently see were stone walls, as if they were attacking an entirely undefended city.

(https://i.imgur.com/mo6YEFW.jpg)

He wondered now whether the sight would encourage or worry them. The living always feared his kind – he remembered feeling that fear himself before receiving the gift of his curse. He laid his hand upon the stone wall, his mighty ally in this fight, and allowed himself a moment to recall his mortal years. What could be learned from his murky memories of that life which might help him here and now? Suddenly, however, his nascent train of thought was lost completely, as pain surged through him, sapping the unholy vigour that sustained his corpse-body in the material world. Clutching tight at the stone to prevent himself falling, he turned to look across the front of the gate at the wall upon the other side.

(https://i.imgur.com/JmpuWbj.jpg)

There was the witch, visibly reeling from a similar shock, and he knew full well what must have happened. Her amateurish bungling of the winds of magic, no doubt intended to supplement the ranks of the osseous warriors below her, had whirled uncontrollably from her grasp and so surged savagely as to sting both her and he!

Hissing in anger, he knew he been weakened by the hurt, before the enemy had so much as fired a shot or loosed a bolt! Why, he asked himself, had he not killed the witch as soon as he found her?
 
Shaking his head in an effort to clear it, he snuck another peek at the enemy. More time had passed than he had thought – his pain had been quite a distraction – and they were considerably closer than the last time he looked. The colossus strode ahead of all the rest, directly towards the moat. This intrigued Biagino, for he had watched the monstrous artefact move on two previous occasions, and knew its gait was stiff if steady, imbued with a sturdy deliberateness. He would be very surprised if it were able to cross the moat, for such a feat would surely require a nimbleness it did not possess?

(https://i.imgur.com/z6KkgnE.jpg)

Beside the colossus were two of the moat bridges. Perhaps the enemy intended their metal giant to step over one of those? This too seemed an unlikely prospect, for its weight would surely splinter the timbers to send its foot into the water and so topple the whole?

(https://i.imgur.com/egqyyWd.jpg)

Lurching to one side, still dizzied by the magical harm, Biagino glanced instead at the enemy’s other flank. There the third bridge had made similar progress, pushed by the dismounted noblemen and flanked by more handgunners.

(https://i.imgur.com/a2mSPXA.jpg)

Just then he felt the enemy’s magic – not any harm from it, but merely its use. The etheric winds flowed through the foe, and he realised the fellow he had spied earlier walking behind the colossus, red robed with a white turban, was their strongest wizard. Perhaps it was that man who gave the colossus its purpose, directing its mindless activities? Again, however, he sensed a burning sourness to the etheric flow, just enough to reveal that the enemy had also suffered harm in their attempts at conjuration. At first, he smiled in satisfaction, but that did not last long, for it now occurred to him that something might be tainting the winds of magic, as if to make them noxious, so that his own attempts to cast magic might prove further detrimental to his health. 

(Game Note: In turn 1 alone, in the Undead magic phase a miscast roll of 9 had wounded both undead magic users, then in the Living magic phase a similar miscast result wounded Hakim the wizard and all three priests!)

Two loud thuds followed the sound of the enemy’s cannon blasts, announcing the first of their artillery shots, likely intended for the gate but hitting the wall it that bore it. Splinters of stone spattered out to splash in the waters of the moat below. They would have to do much better than that, thought Biagino, then turned to look at the courtyard behind him. There his bambinos, commanded by his thralls, stood waiting, satisfactorily unperturbed by the sound of shooting.

(https://i.imgur.com/KBMMJhc.jpg)

Both Biagino and the witch now thought to cure themselves magically of the injuries they had suffered, but Biagino attempt was quelled by the enemy’s countermagic, while the witch simply fumbled the words of her incantation. No matter, he thought, there is plenty of time yet. At least the winds were becoming more favourable, or at the least, less dangerous to the caster.

Outside the enemy pushed onwards. Unknown to Biagino, Lord Alessio himself commanded his regiment of Sea Wolves, armed with great-swords and clad in plate armour, urging them on as they shoved their burden towards the defences.

(https://i.imgur.com/DcAAhpX.jpg)

Again, Biagino sensed the workings of the enemy’s magic, and although not all seemed to be successful, he knew that at least one of their spells had come to fruition. If he had been looking over the parapet just then, he would have seen the dismounted knights momentarily move with unnatural swiftness to push their bridge that bit closer to the moat. He did, however, look just in time to see all three moat bridges come crashing down to span the moat. The first had mercenary crossbowmen pushing it …

(https://i.imgur.com/2TFI0lA.jpg)

… the second was moved by the plate armoured footsoldiers …

(https://i.imgur.com/XGzLoIW.jpg)

… and the third was accompanied by the dismounted nobility of Portomaggiore.

(https://i.imgur.com/hFmZc8l.jpg)

The men at the second, led by their general himself, were champing at the bit to get at the walls, and swiftly pulled aside the bridge’s carriage to allow themselves to begin pouring over it immediately.

(https://i.imgur.com/f3Dh1jI.jpg)

The enemy’s cannons now shifted their aim and lobbed two iron roundshots at the wall to the east of the gate. Once again, the shots buried themselves into the stone, flaring cracks from their points of impact, but the wall stood.

Now, thought Biagino, was the time to mount the walls. His command was unspoken, and indeed little more than a thought, for his bambinos and thralls were like unto marionettes for him to make dance as he pleased. Up went the Disciplinati di Nagash, but not onto the wall targeted by the enemy artillery, which no doubt the enemy intended to breach rather than assault with ladders. There his horde of zombies stayed put, to face whatever attempted to climb through any breach caused. Now the men at the third bridge could see Ebino was not undefended!

(https://i.imgur.com/hp0Tt0j.jpg)

The witch too ordered her city garrison up, so that the enemy commander would be required to do work very hard if he was to take possession of the wall before him.

(https://i.imgur.com/Qsyz5lM.jpg)

Embarrassed by her earlier failure, perhaps, the witch now wound together as many magical eddies as she could muster to cast the Invocation of Nehek, if only to restore herself to full strength, and so be best prepared to face the fight ahead. But the curse Biagino had sensed earlier still lingered, so that she lost her hold again on the slippery swirl of arcane energies and they spun instead into an uncontrollable maelstrom which once again knocked the (foetid) wind out of her. So befuddled was she by what had happened, she failed entirely to notice that this time, just like the last, several skeletons had indeed been raised to join the ranks of the regiment now climbing onto the wall.

Biagino felt the blow too, and as the pain of his fresh injuries fuelled the fury of his anger, he staggered on the battlements, struggling merely to stay on his feet. Somewhere in his mind, little more than a flicker within the whirling rage engulfing the rest, real doubt had crept in. Perhaps, said a whispered voice, today is not your time after all?

(Game Note: Biagino down to one wound. The witch was a more complicated matter – which began a debate concerning the rules. See the note below this post, but if you do, brace yourself for a full and frantic foray deep into the 8th ed WFB rules!)

As both the undead commanders reeled, Lord General Alessio Falconi of Portomaggiore led his Sea Wolves in a ladder assault of the wall.

(https://i.imgur.com/1n1NVGc.jpg)

Yet this was the only bridge used for an assault. At the first bridge, the crossbowmen lugged the carriage away to allow a company of skirmishing bravi to cross, led by the Reman brigade’s commander Captain Soldatovya, while at the second the dismounted knights simply waited, watching as another roundshot shook the wall to the left of their bridge. Then they shuddered as a second, louder sound rolled over them, after which they turned to see that one of the guns had shivered apart, killing the crew and master gunner serving it.

(Game Note: Each gun had an ‘artillerist’ serving it, being the Tilean list equivalent of an Empire engineer, the second having bought their ‘mercenary skill’ at double the usual cost as per the rules. Both guns could thus re-roll misfires. Apparently, that does not always save a gun. Statistically I supposed it fails to save a gun 1 in 36 times, or fails to save an already misfired gun 1 in 6 times).

On the road the petard was gaining momentum, its pushers thankful that they had a road to traverse and not rough ground.

(https://i.imgur.com/FxasSpD.jpg)

Behind it, the spearmen came on too, with the famous Reman Morrite priest ‘Fighting’ Father Antonello at their head, along with the Portomaggioran nobleman Marcus Portelli.

(https://i.imgur.com/l7xblJF.jpg)

Biagino was vaguely aware of the flow of magic channelled by the enemy, but so dazed was he that he only managed to dispel one of their conjurations, and even then, he knew not what he had prevented. One spell that did get through was a Lore of Light blessing which enlivened the climbing Sea Wolves and perhaps was the reason the fully pate armoured Lord Alessio was the first to top the wall, great hammer in one hand, and commence the first close combat of the assault.

(https://i.imgur.com/lK2LQwa.jpg)

Despite all the advantages gained when defending a wall against ladder climbing attackers (Game Note: And there are a lot!) the attackers, filled with hatred for the foe (being divinely inspired by the presence of the Morrite priest, Father Dado Bendali), enspelled to move with unnatural speed and with their leader armed with an enchanted blade, rained down blow after blow. The fleshless defenders began tumbling from the wall in droves.

(https://i.imgur.com/auIoIjZ.jpg)



Turn 3 Completed. Turns 4-8 to follow!

……………………………………

Appendix to Turns 1 – 3 (for players who like detailed analysis of the rules)

Game Note
The miscasting witch (a level one necromancer) had been on her last wound, but just before I removed the figure as dead, I read the rules. There I was surprised by what I found and did not remove the figure! I began the inevitable debate with the players, which I fully expected as I too had initially believed the witch’s death was surely inevitable, but luckily I had just joined the ‘Eighth Edition For Life’ forum. So, looking for back up from a more knowledgeable and entirely disinterested source, I posted the following in the “Get the Rules Right” section of said forum …

Quote
Here is a ruling I have (as GM) just made in the play-by-email game we are running right now.

A Vampire Count's army level 1 necromancer had only 1 wound left after a previous turn's miscast had caused a S6 hit on him.

The necromancer now irresistibly casts 'Invocation of Nehek'. The Lore attribute 'Curse of Undeath' says that "When a spell from the Lore of the Vampires is successfully cast, the wizard (or another friendly model with 12 inches) instantly recovers a single wound lost earlier in the battle". The WFB core rulebook says (p.33) "A spell cast with irresistible force automatically succeeds..." so it is a 'success'. And (p.34) it says that one should "... first resolve the effects of the spell the wizard was attempting to cast ... [&] The casting player can enjoy the effects of his spell before something ... bad happens to the wizard ..." so the spell's effects are sorted before rolling on the miscast table.

Thus I ruled that in terms of ‘rules as written’ (RAW), exactly in the order stated in the rules, the necromancer casts the spell successfully, instantly recovers her wound (part of the effects of the spell which the rules say she must 'enjoy' first), then when she then rolled 9 on the Miscast table and received another S6 wound, wounding her on a roll of 2, she goes back to 1 wound.

I checked and rechecked, made sure of the actual wording, and this seemed right. The non-vampire player however, disagreed, saying "As it is a lore bonus that happens after the spell" BUT as there is a GM in the game he then graciously wrote "but that is an argument for over a cold beer so happy with [the GM's] view of the rules”.

I was very glad we could carry on. And [was] reminded how having a GM can really help (although we once lost a player from the campaign over his annoyance at army lists, etc)

I had tried to fully research the decision and felt I had gained a level of clarity that meant I didn't even think we should 'roll to decide'. However, I knew that my [own] initial perception before reading all the rules was that he surely must die and so I had dreaded the debate …

Fidelis Von Sigmaringen, self-styled “Attorney-at-RAW”, who has helped me several times on other forums, reassured me by posting the following …

Quote
Your judgment was correct.  As specified in their respective rules, different Lore Attributes take effect at different times. It can be:

- when the spell is being cast by the Wizard (e.g. Wildheart, Kindleflame)
- when the spell has been cast succesfully (e.g. Lifebloom)
- when the spell is being resolved (e.g. Metalshifting, Exorcism, Roiling Skies)
- after the spell has been resolved (e.g. Smoke and Mirrors, Life Leeching).

It can even be later in the same Magic phase, when a spell is being cast by another Wizard. Indeed, it can even be in a later Magic phase (Roiling Skies in the case of Casandora’s Comet per FAQ – an error IMHO).

The relevant rules have already been quoted above:

Vampire AB p.60: "When a spell from the Lore of the Vampires is successfully cast, the Wizard (or another friendly model within 12 ") instantly recovers a single Wound lost earlier in the battle."

BRB p. 34: "When irresistible force occurs, first resolve the effect of the spell that the Wizard was attempting to cast. As the spell has been cast with irresistible force, the casting player can at least enjoy the effect of his spell before something almost indescribably bad happens to the Wizard and everyone nearby. Once the effect of the spell has been resolved, the Wizard now needs to roll 2D6 on the Miscast table to see what happens to him."

As far as I can tell, the BRB does not specifically state that the Lore Attribute as such is a spell effect, but it is indicated in the description of Roiling skies (BRB p. 497): "When a spell from the Lore of Heavens targets an enemy flying unit or a model with the Fly special rule, the target suffers , D6 Strength 4 hits, in addition to any other effects caused by the spell" (Italics mine).

In any case, the Curse of Undeath Lore Attribute takes instantly effect when the spell has been successfully cast, ergo before the spell resolution, ergo before rolling on the miscast table.

Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: WuZhuiQiu on January 14, 2021, 12:27:05 AM
Wonderful stuff!

With hindsight, had the defenders demolished the bridge (do the undead need to trade or bring in provisions?), then they might have improved their defences.

Note: If the sound of the impact from the cannon shot preceded the sound of the cannon fire, then the cannon must have had a high muzzle velocity...  ;)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on January 14, 2021, 12:39:38 AM
Oops, I got my mph difference the wrong way around. About 200-300 mph slower than the speed of sound, not faster! I will correct tomorrow. I know it is a fantasy world, but not (in my mind) a 'high fantasy' world!

(edit)Actually, I made that mistake years ago, and have been labouring under that impression ever since. I bet I have made the exact same mistake in other stories!

I think I confiused the difference with that of light and sound, having noticed that difference in reenactment events.

Re: The bridge, I reckon it was arrogance and carelessness that meant they had not demolished it. And the fact that the undead are NPCs (now) and as GM I didn't think of it, and so didn't make it an option for them. (I tend to roll for what NPCs do, given multiple options!)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: WuZhuiQiu on January 14, 2021, 03:17:54 PM

Re: The bridge, I reckon it was arrogance and carelessness that meant they had not demolished it. And the fact that the undead are NPCs (now) and as GM I didn't think of it, and so didn't make it an option for them. (I tend to roll for what NPCs do, given multiple options!)

Biagino does seem arrogant, which may lead to his downfall or will it have...? I'm looking forward to more, ha ha!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on January 16, 2021, 04:37:48 PM
Thanks WuZhuiQiu. I wanted his transformation from life to undeath to be complete. He was a worrier and humble, in life, trying desperately to not put himself down, but in death he is arrogant and proud, trying desperately to face reality. Here is the final part ...

The Assault Continues
Turns 4 – 8

Still more angry about his predicament than afraid, Biagino attempted to conjure a curse upon the massive marching body of spearmen closing in on the gate. Distracted by his anger, however, he fumbled the spell and failed to bring the curse to fruition. Aware, however, that his efforts to spin the winds of magic must have been noticed by the enemy’s magic users, he moved along the wall in the hope that their own curses might not find him!

As the fight at the wall continued furiously, with more than half a dozen skeletons falling for every Portomaggioran who perished, the petard and spearmen moved ever closer to the city gate.

(https://i.imgur.com/j89UUor.jpg)

Captain Soldatovya led his bravi over the bridge to begin moving around the city’s corner tower, hoping to find an undefended spot where he might gain entry.

(https://i.imgur.com/uOnc8vT.jpg)

The wizard Hakim once again blessed the Sea Wolves, gifting magically enhanced swiftness to their blades, although the uncontrolled shards of magic released by his unintentionally overpowered spell spun away to visibly sting the colossus. Even Hakim was beginning to wonder if this place was cursed by much more than the presence of the undead.

At the third moat bridge the dismounted knights simply stood their ground, watching as several of the robed zombies on the wall were felled by the handgunners’ bullets. Before the second bridge, however, the fight raged on, and as a consequence of their magical blessing, spurred on by the furious efforts of their commander Lord Alessio, the Sea Wolves hacked and slashed so vigorously at the skeletons that they felled the last foe and took possession of the wall.

(https://i.imgur.com/jdq5DvR.jpg)

The living had once again set foot in city of Ebino. Whether they would stay there had yet to be ascertained.

Biagino could see the witch fleeing along the wall into the tower by the gate, which spurred him also to conceal himself, dismounting the wall and entering the courtyard below. As he emerged, he saw the two brutes who had made it back from Pontremola standing patiently behind the gate.

(https://i.imgur.com/uN3zQI5.jpg)

Presuming they survived the petard’s blast, Biagino knew the pair could not hope to prevent the horde of spearmen from accessing the city. Most likely all they could do was cut down a few before they themselves fell - unless, it occurred to him, he himself could bring magical harm on the spearmen and weaken them. He decided he would try his curse again, despite the risks, and so conjured the Curse of Years. Yet again the magical forces broiled so wildly as to be uncontrollable, and once more his body was wracked by the energies he had failed to properly channel, but this time he knew the spell had bitten because his keen ears could hear their dying screams!

(https://i.imgur.com/Ch1eGEY.jpg)

(Game Note: 9 spearmen died, Marcus Portelli was wounded. Biagino’s irresistible miscast wound was compensated, as with the necromancer before, by the Lore Attribute wound gained ‘instantly’ by the successful casting of the spell!)

Before the western wall, Soldatovya and his bravi were suddenly horrified to see a writhing swarm of ghostly beings emerge from the very stones, surging forwards to block their path threateningly.

(https://i.imgur.com/hy3tAx7.jpg)

As they staggered back in surprise, the Sea Wolves above them had already begun pouring down into the courtyard to attack the corpse cart sitting therein. Known for his initiative in battle and a long military career forged by making the right decisions at just the right time, Captain Soldatovya shouted to his men and led them up the ladders (left behind by the Sea Wolves) onto the wall! Considering the alternative, the bravi were only too glad to obey. As they climbed, they glanced behind to see that the mercenary dwarfs were already crossing the first bridge, but not one of them delayed their climb to forewarn their comrades of the threat which lay just around the corner!

As the petard was pushed and placed against the gate, the regiment of spearmen came to a halt. Despite being distracted by his wounds, Portelli knew that to advance any further would leave the petardiers with only two options – to throw themselves into the moat waters or to die when the petard blew. Halting now meant they could run over the bridge to escape.

The wizard Hakim used much of the magical power he could summon to dispel the curse afflicting the spearmen, so that neither he nor the colossus could find sufficient remaining etheric energies to successfully conjure any other spells – although both did try. At the same time, a cannon ball struck the already shaken wall and brought down a fair strength of its crenelated top, but not the wall itself; while the famous captain Lupo ‘the wolf’ Lorenzo shot three blessed bolts from his magical arbalest at the spirits he now spied across the water, visibly diminishing their number.

All this was quickly forgotten a moment later, however, as the flame fizzling along the supposedly 25 second fuse (which the siege-master Guccio had lit exactly 17 seconds earlier) reached the petard’s touchhole to send a massive blast of flames and broiling smoke in all directions, shattering the gate into pieces and tearing off the bottom half of the portcullis.

(https://i.imgur.com/YoZ2ekp.jpg)

Thanks to the noble Portelli, only half of the petardiers perished in the premature explosion, although those who did survive were so distracted, dazed and deafened that they could do little more than collapse to the ground, there to lie for the remainder of the battle. At the moat’s edge, near to the damaged but still (surprisingly) intact bridge, lay Guccio, with one leg torn and bloody, reddening the water. It would be some time before he woke, but he lived.

(Game Note: The petard, which by the rules had to roll two artillery dice, so doubling the chance of misfiring, did misfire, and the subsequent roll was a 1, a ‘catastrophic’ result. This meant it still blew up, causing the full damage that it would have done if it worked properly, but in the process it would also kill D(number of attendants). 5 out of the 10 died.)

In the courtyardi, Alessio and his elite guard dispatched the corpse cart easily, while above them the bravi were torn between watching them and looking behind to watch the dwarfs who had been assailed by the host of spirits. Several dwarfs died, but despite being entirely unable to harm the spirits with their mundane-steel blades, they fought on stubbornly.

(https://i.imgur.com/MNA5Y5E.jpg)

Inside the courtyard the Sea Wolves now divided the better to clear out the city, with half going onto the nearby wall which overlooked the road, and the other half into the tower by the gate. Alessio led the latter company, and it was he who caught a glimpse of the witch fleeing across towards the other side.

(https://i.imgur.com/a1CSbsn.jpg)

(Game Notes: (1) Our siege/assault rules allow the division of large units, 20+ models, into two, in order to occupy and thus hold more ‘sections’) (2) The petard had blown the gate open, but not destroyed the stone wall into which it was set, thus the witch was still able to move across the top.

Meanwhile the bravi scrambled into the corner tower, if only to allow more of their comrades to climb the wall, and outside the Reman crossbowmen were indeed manoeuvring to cross the second bridge and do exactly that – praying that the dwarfs could hold back the ghostly foe. And indeed the dwarfs, despite their utter inability to harm the foe with their weapons, did so, bravely holding their ground against their spirits, a defiance which in itself began to unwind some of the necromantic magic holding them in this world.

The dismounted knights at the far bridge chose the same moment to cross, but not to attempt a ladder assault, but rather to ready themselves for the fall of the wall to their left, so that they could storm it immediately when it did.

(https://i.imgur.com/bT5Gbk3.jpg)

As the smoke at the gate thinned a little, Father Antonello, at the front of the spearmen who marching towards the breach, could just make out the silhouette of the two brutes upon the other side. They had already been wounded by the blast, but both stood ready, for being zombies meant they felt no pain. He used his magical ring to hurl a fireball at them, but to little apparent effect beyond disturbing the smoke!

The cannon, firing again at the wall, had more luck, as this time the wall finally came tumbling down!

(https://i.imgur.com/OASWSvU.jpg)

Several of the Disciplinati di Nagash were crushed by the collapsing masonry, the rest being entirely untroubled by the occurrence, just as they were untroubled by anything at all. Biagino watched the wall’s fall with fascination, his heightened senses magnifying the impressiveness of its collapse, an intricately clattering, part tumble, part slide of a hundred irregularly broken stones swathed in dust and smoke. With little more than a flick of his wrist, he commanded his bambinos in the courtyard to divide, sending half towards the gate while the other half remained to await whatever attempted to clamber over the rubble. His half-hearted attempt to resurrect those crushed by the masonry was to prove a failure.

(https://i.imgur.com/Ck60gmV.jpg)

The petard’s explosion had left the ears of every living soldier near the gate ringing, but not Biagino’s, and he now heard the cacophony of footfalls as spearmen advanced over the bridge. Scowling, he summoned every scrap of the winds of magic he could and once again cursed the spearmen, slaying another ten and again wounding the nobleman Portelli.

As his men pushed by, Portelli let them pass, winded as well as wounded, and would take no more part in the battle. (Game Note: This is my way of interpreting the fact that he was not included in the ten models subsequently selected to assault the gate – using the p.129 ‘Assaulting a Building’ rules. Both the player and the fictional character seemed to know he was too close to death!)

As three more of the dwarfs fell to the deathly chill of the spirits, panic finally got the better of them and they broke and fled away. The spirits, who tarried a while as if to revel in their success, failing to catch them!

(https://i.imgur.com/YYPFkpy.jpg)

The Reman crossbowmen, several of which had already crossed the bridge, now rushed to climb the ladders, spurred on by the sight of the spirits heading their way, while Hakim the wizard stepped back as if to shelter in the shadow of the colossus!

Fighting Father Antonello now led the surviving spearmen, of which there were still many, in a charge through the shattered gate …

(https://i.imgur.com/1h07qIX.jpg)

… and into the brute horrors waiting on the far side of the threshold. Lord Alessio himself had also spied the brutes and, leaving his Sea Wolves to scour the tower for more enemies and to better guard that quarter of the city, he personally charged to join Antonello at the gate. While the priest and spearmen struggled to best the brute they faced, Lord Alessio’s cuts dug deep and he brought down the other with ease. Father Antonello’s blade was somewhat less effective, however, and although the grey cassocked, sandaled holy man fought with rare courage …

(https://i.imgur.com/0eijqvc.jpg)

… the brute finished him easily with a blade longer than the priest was tall. Then, even as the magical forces animating its corpse-body dissipated, the brute stamped down to crush the priest’s head under its foot, before falling itself on top of the priest.

(Game note: I rolled to see whether its stomp attack might be used in this manner, resulting in a kind of ‘overkill’ wound. It was. The Remans, although here commanded by Damian (whose character of Lord Alessio of Portomaggiore) ate NPCs, as are the Undead, so as GM I like to roll on little hastily created tables sometimes just to decide between options! The significance is that Father Antonello, being ‘overkilled’, cannot now roll on the campaign rules recovery chart. He is most definitely and very dead.)/

Captain Hans Wiedmuller, the artillerist tending the last surviving cannon, was able to enchant the iron ammunition using his magical Matrix of Undoing, and so dissipated several more of the spirits with a very well-aimed shot. But the surviving spirits’ attention had been caught by the crossbowmen hurtling past them to rush up the ladders and so they swirled in a graceful arc up and over the wall, chasing Remans before them and right across the courtyard into the city.

(https://i.imgur.com/I96NmAM.jpg)
(Game Note: The crossbowmen declared a flee action.)

Outside the fallen wall the dismounted knights were approaching the breach …

(https://i.imgur.com/660mrZt.jpg)

… but as they drew near the Disciplinati lurched up and onto the rubble. The lesser nobles thus realised that the next while would involve considerably more than struggling over rubble in full plate armour!

(https://i.imgur.com/34HfZEv.jpg)

Biagino had willed the Disciplinati on, but at the same time he ordered the thrall upon the wall commanding the other company to come and join him. It was, he now acknowledged, time to leave. He was not willing to die attempting to hold onto Ebino. He had only really taken the place as a species of vengeance against Maria, but he cared nothing for it, nor had any real desire to stay.

He had hurt the enemy enough, he presumed, to make them think twice about venturing any further north. That was enough. Miragliano lay to the north, a much mightier realm, once ruled by the vampire Duke Alessandro. He would rather take his chances there, to see if he could wrest it from whoever currently ruled – if indeed anyone. And if the enemy chose to follow him, then he would fight again with whatever forces he could raise. Perhaps now that Lord Alessio’s army were further weakened, the next time would be easier, and he could finally, properly defeat them?

So it was that the vampire arch-priest Biagino, with his servant thrall loping behind to keep up, flew through the streets of Ebino and out through a hidden postern, leaving his bambinos to keep the enemy busy a while and so buy him time!

Which that they did.

While Father Bendali, the second Morrite priest with the army, summoned up the courage to attempt a prayer on the host of spirits pursuing the crossbowmen …

(https://i.imgur.com/ecSBKgl.jpg)

… the dismounted knights scrambled up the toppled masonry to become caught up in a frantic tangle of a fight with the frenzied, zombified dedicants of the Disciplinati di Morr, now having become what was once their own enemy!

(https://i.imgur.com/FI3FS0A.jpg)

And as the other company of men at arms struggled up ladders to face as exactly similar foe …

(https://i.imgur.com/ZCGM5ZT.jpg)

… Lord Alessio himself personally led the charge against the third such body of zombies, who defended the tower upon the other side of the shattered gate.

(https://i.imgur.com/iChgVpB.jpg)

The living, armed and armoured well and with much greater fighting prowess than the walking corpses they were fighting, were almost certain to prevail. And so they did. But it took time, which Biagino, exactly as he had intended, used well. By the time they had wrested real control of the city, Biagino was long gone, and entirely out of their reach.

Game Over, end of turn 8.

Thank you, Matt, for running the Undead, and thank you Damian for commanding your army once again in a week long play by e-mail battle. That reminds me, when I am allowed, I must return your army to you!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You can find all the events that led to this battle at https://www.bigsmallworlds.com
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Gibby on January 16, 2021, 08:00:15 PM
Fantastic report! Some really excellent photos in there. Shame to see the fighting Father fall after all this time!

Glad Biagino unlives, though! He's a great villain!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: WuZhuiQiu on January 16, 2021, 09:19:22 PM
Great stuff! To echo Gibby, that Biagino continues to unlive (along the lines of "I shall be back, mua ha ha ha!") means that there should be some interesting times later on in the campaign. What happened to the witch, by the way? Was one of her miscasts fatal?
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: voltan on January 16, 2021, 10:05:23 PM
A very enjoyable report, always enjoy it more when it's narrated like this.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on January 28, 2021, 10:54:02 PM
Remember my ongoing quest to change my 35 years black undercoat enamel painting method into a more modern (2010?) grey undercoat acrylic paint, dip and varnish method?

Well, I just completed my second unit. I needed as many foot men-at-arms as I could scrabble together from my bits boxes and sprues. I managed 25. They are needed for a garrison unit in my campaign. Also, they are something I have needed for a long time 'cos players keep dismounting mounted knights for siege assault games!

I had fun 'cos they had to be in heavy/plate armour (i.e. work as both) and have shields, which the Perry sprues didn't have. There were now enough simple sword arms either - lots of two handed weapons! So I had some scalpel work to do!

Here are the first batch modelled ..

(https://i.imgur.com/droHSfI.jpg)

I really enjoyed coming up with poses. I especially like the several I did with swords casually resting on their shoulder like the middle one here ...

(https://i.imgur.com/iclycj4.jpg)

I then primed, solid-block painted without leaving little black line gaps  (such a weird thing for me to do) ...

(https://i.imgur.com/K2tkdII.jpg)

Then I applied the dip ...

(https://i.imgur.com/sHQRF2K.jpg)

Already I was liking what I saw.

Once dry, and the shields added, I could anti-shine varnish. Here they are now, with the black on their unfinished bases still wet!

(https://i.imgur.com/hZkQAl3.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/Y3nrFz8.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/CWlOX8H.jpg)

Here is the real test. One of my old style (cartoon I called it) figures, next to the new style ...

(https://i.imgur.com/x0WbakL.jpg)

I still like the old style, but boy do I like the new style. I also like how the enamal figure is giving the new figure a funny look!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on February 02, 2021, 10:26:38 AM
And here's the story featuring one or two of the new figures. This is the prequel to the play-by-email game I am gonna run asap.

...

For Love of Hearth and Home
Prequel to the Fight at Sersale

City of Alcente, Spring 2404

Most folk in the city considered Captain Hector Perdigon’s soldiers to be scum, the worst kind of mercenaries. They were presumably unwanted in whichever army they originally served, either because they had refused to obey, or to fight, or had simply run away. Nor had they formed a company of their own, with a condottiere to command them, gaining a renown for their service. Several spoke with a Pavonan accent, presumably having left to seek service that paid, but their accents revealed that they hailed from every corner of the Old World, not just Tilea, and some had accents of a kind entirely unknown to most Tileans. Some came from the darkest corners of the Border Princes, others had fled defeat in some Empire civil war, and a good number were Estalians who had flitted from contract to contract in Tilea. It was said, based on nothing more than rumour, that a good half or more had been exiled from their own lands.

Reluctantly, the citizens could not claim the mercenaries did not know their business, or that they were ill-equipped to go about it effectively. They had been employed by the VMC, whose clerks were experts at getting their money’s worth. Had they been in rags bearing rusty blades, then they would have been bought cheap, with particular economy in mind, but these men were clad in plate armour from head to heel with a healthy vigour about them. The company must surely have paid dearly for them, and to equip them. Nor would they go to the expense of the latter if the mercenaries were not worthy of such expense. This should have given the lie to the common opinion of these men. The VMC’s officers did not throw gold at a bad investment. The truth of their origins was known to the VMC’s clerks and to the men themselves, neither of whom felt any compulsion to explain it.

The citizens consoled themselves by thinking of the alternatives. General Valckenburgh could have left Ogbut and his brutes as a garrison force! Or no force at all. Either way would have been more dangerous for the people of Alcente.

The main army of ‘The VMC in Tilea’ was composed almost entirely of mercenaries, as even those recruited in Marienburg (the trading company’s home) were not pressed to serve a local lord, nor had they volunteered in their city’s militia. They had been hired to serve a mercantile company as part of a joint stock enterprise. They had been purchased, just like the ships and supplies. A good number of the soldiers had been recruited in Tilea, and as such they had every reason to serve willingly in an army fighting first against Lord Khurnag’s Waagh and now the vampires of the north, defending their homelands from such evil foes. Even they had to admit, however, that they were not serving nobles or even Tileans, but businessmen. Indeed, the Tilean lawyers who drew up the contracts under which they would serve had utilised a combination of Condottiere contracts and the bonds signed by caravan and warehouse guards. They might have hearth, home and a noble cause in mind, but they knew merchant adventurers who commanded them only really had profit in mind.

Perdigon’s garrison regiment was not part of the main army, having been raised to bolster the standing militia force of Alcente while General Valckenburgh marched to the far north of the peninsula. So far, Perdigon’s men had done their job well - if simply remaining at full strength and ready while nothing much happened counted for anything. The citizens had learned that as long as they stayed out of their way, the mercenaries kept themselves to themselves. Several inns had become theirs, whether or not they were officially lodged there, and in truth the citizens, even the city’s Tilean militia guard, were glad they were there, considering the proximity of an army of Sartosan pirates ravaging the realm’s smaller settlements to the west.

This morning, however, something had changed. Perdigon’s men were frantically busy preparing to march, while the captain himself was striding through the streets with several of his lads, as if on a mission. People watched from the windows or pressed themselves back in the doorways while he passed, and everyone knew that his activity did not bode well. The city’s bells were quiet, however, which made some think it could not be a real emergency. Captain Perdigon knew the truth, however. The bells were being kept deliberately quiet, to maintain a necessary surprise! The Sartosan pirate army was nearby, and alarm bells might encourage them to hurry!

(https://i.imgur.com/lA9g8fW.jpg)

The captain knew where he was going, and before long he found exactly who he had been looking for - the militia’s watch patrol, with their current commander. A mere handful of crossbowmen and halberdiers doing the rounds as the militia had done for many a year.

“Ho! Sergeant Ivo,” barked the captain. “Gather up your lads, you’re marching out with us at noon.”

(https://i.imgur.com/A9ueuDj.jpg)

“What?” answered the sergeant. “Look you, captain, maybe you’re marching out, but our job is to stay here and defend the city. So we ain’t going anywhere.”

“You’ll be defending the city when you march out. Now, make haste.”

Sergeant Ivo snorted as if he found what Perdigon had said very funny. He looked around at his men, rolling his eyes as if to say ‘Get this fellow’ then fixed his eyes on Perdigon.

“The problem that comes to my mind, captain, is that I can’t see any way in which we can defend the city if we are not in the city to defend it.”

Perdigon narrowed his eyes, which was all the sergeant could see what with the captain’s sallet and bevor covering the rest of his face. “You think that you and your militia can hold these walls against an army?”

“Not if we are not on the walls, no,” said the sergeant, with a mocking lilt.

(https://i.imgur.com/xlwDnHP.jpg)

Perdigon chose to ignore the tone. “You would not last an hour,” he said. “The stone is strong, but with only your petty militia to hold it is no defence, only an inconvenience.”

“Look you,” said the sergeant quickly, and in a more serious manner. “We live here. Our families are here. If we leave then there will be none but boys and old men to guard the walls. We serve the city. That’s what all of us agreed to, and that’s all we agreed to.”

From behind he heard Adelchi shout, “Aye!”

(https://i.imgur.com/37t0y7V.jpg)

The sergeant glanced back at the lad, thankful, and warmed somewhat to his theme. “We’re not soldiers, to be marched off to war. We are citizens in arms, ready and willing to defend our homes. We will obey any order to that end, but we cannot leave the city. We will not leave the city.”

The sergeant glanced back again, but the lad was quiet this time. Perhaps Adelchi did not like the fact he had been the only one to shout before?

“You’ve sworn an oath to defend the city!” said the captain. “And now you must do so by marching out! The Sartosan filth have burned Mintopua and razed Motolla. Now they march on Sersale. If they burn that then your proud city will be surrounded by wasteland on all sides.”

“Ah, but … but our city will stand!” said the sergeant, thinking quick. “And … crops can be resown.”

Someone behind him muttered something about the vines won’t come back in a hurry.

“Think, fool,” said the captain. “The Sartosans will not stop there. You think they’ll complain at how heavy their loot has become and decide enough’s enough? Their greed only grows with the taking, and they know there’s much more to be had from the city itself. And now they think you Alcentians are weak. With good reason! They won’t fear assaulting the walls if they know you all to be cowards.”

“You … you take care what you say, Perdigon,” said the sergeant, his voice strained by equal measure of panic and hurt pride.

A dark cloud drifted over head as hands clutched a little tighter to hilts. The crossbowmen suddenly regretted not having spanned their crossbows.

(https://i.imgur.com/nqAA0ML.jpg)

From behind Adelchi spoke again, and the sergeant wondered if he was the only one present who felt any sort of confidence.

“Maybe it’s you who’s afraid?” declared the youngster. “You’ve been ordered from the city I bet, and you don’t want to go alone.”

“I’m not afraid of Sartosans,” laughed the captain. “I’ve faced far worse than them – enemies that would loose your bowels on sight, boy. The truth is I like drinking wine here in Alcente and sleeping on soft beds. In fact, I’d like to do that some more. If we do not take on the Sartosans right now then all that will be lost. Such a shame.” Then, like an afterthought, he added, “Oh, and o’course, your sisters will be raped, your homes burnt, and you will be chained in a galley for the rest o’your days.”

(https://i.imgur.com/kYVs8CO.jpg)

“Well,” said the sergeant, shaking his finger at the captain, “I say if you want to keep what you have, then you should stay and help us hold the walls.” He swung his arm to point toward the nearest city gate. “They outnumber us, yes? Well, see … I say the walls will even the odds. And General Valckenburgh could be back any day – just the sight of his army would send the Sartosans running. If we go out there now, we could end up fighting unnecessary.”

“Dying unnecessary,” someone muttered from behind.

“The general is hundreds of leagues away. Chances are he doesn’t even know what’s happening here. Look, we have orders and you have orders. This is my last offer of advice, and then there’ll be no more talking. The militiamen of Sersale have mustered and called for the city’s help. They intend to make a stand and will die to a man if we do not help them. Now, I don’t care much for them as I don’t know them. But they’re your cousins and countrymen. Do you want them to die?

“No …  but see …” stuttered the sergeant uncertainly.

“And the road wardens are riding in force from Pavezzano, while we have Captain Hidink’s pistoliers here in the city. You think their skills in battle are best put to use on the walls?

“Well, no,” admitted Sergeant Ivo.

“This is your one and only chance to save the city. Do you understand? Wait any longer and that chance is gone. Right now we can muster us, you, the men of Sersale and all the horse left in the realm, and bring all to bear as one. The general isn’t coming in time, and if left to their own devices, the men of Sersale and the road wardens will all die. Altogether though, we can put on a show of force that should make the sea dogs think twice about fighting.”

(https://i.imgur.com/4vKnu9q.jpg)

“Well, when you put it like that … “

(https://i.imgur.com/tqpFVbH.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Grumpy Gnome on February 02, 2021, 10:41:52 AM
This thread continues to deliver! I love your work mate.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Neunfinger on February 02, 2021, 05:48:11 PM
Great build-up to the fight, I'm looking forward to reading about the battle.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Little Odo on February 03, 2021, 10:12:11 AM
This just gets better and better. Keep it up!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on February 03, 2021, 10:22:30 AM
Thanks you three.

I assume you know that this is just the most recent of more than a hundred stories and bat-reps in the campaign, which can be found at https://www.bigsmallworlds.com/
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Galloping Major on February 03, 2021, 12:06:10 PM
I've only just come across this thread, I really love the creativity of the visual story telling here  :)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: swiftnick on February 03, 2021, 09:13:24 PM
Looking forward to this!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Luigi on February 06, 2021, 05:55:20 AM
I have to say; I always feel like a kid when reading entries from your story.
It's just such a fantastic display of creativity, ingenuity and skills. I can't get enough of the story, the pictures, the battles, the miniatures and just of the whole world you've created.
Keep it up!
 
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on February 06, 2021, 07:11:01 PM
Thank you Galloping Major, Swiftnick and Luigi!

Galloping Major, a friend of mine, gave me an idea a couple of days ago and I have dived in: to make youtube videos

It could  be a sideline project to my ongoing campaign. I thought I would do a test run and produce the first installment. It is a bit over 10 minutes long. I was not fond of the original pictures, so I redid them, but this should not be something I have to do that often, especially as my later installments have hidden bases. Now that I have begun to master (if you can call it that) the basics of the audio-editor and video-editor, I should be able to create each installment quite quickly, and so it won't eat too much into my available hobby time!

Basically, I am trying to be a bit more 'modern' in my approach.

The thing is, as the person who made it, listening in agony to my own voice, I have no idea if this works, and so I do not know whether it is worth pursuing further. I want to get at least to a battle report, to see how they work in this format as I have high hopes for them. Then I will make a proper decision. In the meantime, if any of you can spare 11 minutes, I would very much appreciate if you could tell me whether you think anyone would actually want to listen to this sort of thing!

Oh, and I suppose this will test whether the link works for others too!

Part one is here ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AamIElnej-Y&t=594s

(https://i.imgur.com/LLuMgPj.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Grumpy Gnome on February 07, 2021, 04:31:19 AM
I think your video compliments the rest of your project nicely and is a natural step in its evolution. You have a great voice for narration.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: BZ on February 07, 2021, 08:25:32 AM
Great work!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Luigi on February 07, 2021, 08:34:28 AM
I like the video idea.

This will also give me more "background material" to listen to while painting.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: WuZhuiQiu on February 07, 2021, 07:23:26 PM
I like the video, although videos are not really my thing, apart from "how-to" videos. As for news, I find that I can extract more information more quickly by reading text instead.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on February 07, 2021, 07:40:56 PM
I like the video, although videos are not really my thing, apart from "how-to" videos. As for news, I find that I can extract more information more quickly by reading text instead.

I have promised my players that making the video record will not get in the way of continuing the campaign and writing new stories. It has these last few days, admittedly, but that was because I was struggling to learn how to do it, from scratch!

Soon I will start a proper YouTube channel for the videos and then begin putting the stories up. I have just 'laid down' the audio for the next two installments - I joined them together to make a 24 minute piece!

I will redo the pictures again as they look quite simple, but I won't redo the battle report pictures when I get to them as that would be too hard, for there are so many, and sometimes other people's figures were on the tabletop anyway! The bat reps are meant to show genuine table top play (usually).
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: barney_leadhead on February 08, 2021, 10:28:03 AM
Like the entire thread, I enjoyed the video very much.

It made me think of the tv programmes from my younger days where good story telling and decent visuals supported each other to enhance the whole experience rather than poor stories relying on cgi which is often the case nowadays.

Can't wait to tune in for further episodes  :)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on February 08, 2021, 11:05:11 AM
Thanks Mr Leadhead. I will put a link here as soon as the real YouTube channel, with publicly listed videos, is up. I am working on a 28 minute one right now. Audio done, pics edited or re-done entirely, so all I need to do is put the two together!

After this one is the first actual 'storyfied' bat rep, which should be easier as there are no character voices for me to do and the pics are what they are!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on February 08, 2021, 06:55:20 PM
I have now created a public channel YouTube version of ‘Big Small Worlds’ and uploaded that first story.

barney_leadhead please subscribe to the actual channel as that's where the videos will go.

Some of you may have seen my first ‘test’ version linked earlier. This final cut has had a couple of simple tweaks at the very start (a better title page) and end (a legal disclaimer).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOj-q60cwFY&t=606s

I am already half-way through putting together the next one!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Neunfinger on February 09, 2021, 09:47:00 PM
I listened to the video yesterday and really like it. It's a bit like an audiobook improved by nice, fitting pictures. I was a bit sceptical at first because I really like reading battle reports/figure stories or whatever one should call this format, instead of watching a video, but I think the audiobook style is a very good fit.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: barney_leadhead on February 09, 2021, 11:20:06 PM
barney_leadhead please subscribe to the actual channel as that's where the videos will go.
It is done  ;)

I am already half-way through putting together the next one!

I wait with antici-pation  :)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Metternich on February 10, 2021, 12:24:32 AM
Wonderful storytelling.  Thank you for the post.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on February 10, 2021, 09:52:29 AM
My second video story is up!

The Greenskin Corsairs’ and  ‘A Weakening of the Faith’.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Da5VyweaCU&t=1201s

I put two parts (2 and 3) together, so it is 25 minutes long. I probably won’t do that often, however – I was testing to see if I could work through a longer one. The battle reports might be longer as they should be easier to do, what with the pictures fixed as they are and so I can’t be tempted into redoing them!

(https://i.imgur.com/bPSkmy1.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/Hm4Crrc.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on February 10, 2021, 11:13:02 PM
Some other pictures from the video story above ...

(https://i.imgur.com/M6JhXOd.png)

(https://i.imgur.com/6qWgHjz.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/aW1OYsc.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/bJcBgxM.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/HpcQuIQ.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/ZFluS5v.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/KBJitgl.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/uQnXQxQ.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/9wVpkIh.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/jj7DXRn.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Galloping Major on February 11, 2021, 06:46:43 AM
Congratulations Paul, a great start on the YouTube story telling  8) , we all sound strange listening to ourselves, but I think your style of delivery is bang on  :)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Dr Mathias on February 12, 2021, 02:56:57 AM
I love the narration, very cool!!!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: dwbullock on February 12, 2021, 03:13:33 PM
I'm a big fan of pistols with goblins, and have several similar conversions.

In one of the pictures, there is a goblin in the background with a blue hat drinking.  Is that a conversion, or did he come like that?  Any additional information or pics of him possibly?

Great job!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on February 12, 2021, 11:21:52 PM

In one of the pictures, there is a goblin in the background with a blue hat drinking.  Is that a conversion, or did he come like that?  Any additional information or pics of him possibly?

There's actually information on where I got him at the end of the video, but ... I am still learning, and the text on that page is fuzzy. I will use a bigger font next time. Oh, and btw I have just bought a microphone to use instead of my son's headset mic. Hopefully my voice won't be as grating!

He's a Kev Adam's sculpt, which I got in a kickstarter, bit which seems to be currently available from Via Ludibunda.

I'll get him out and photo him tomorrow, if I remember (age is already working against that!).
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on February 13, 2021, 09:05:38 PM
The next play by email battle is about to begin. The Sartosans intend to raze yet another Alcentian settlement, the supply centre of Sersale, and the locals have desperately mustered everything they can to attempt to defend it. The battle will take place over the next week.

The field of battle
(https://i.imgur.com/sX2Tyg6.jpg)

The desperate defenders
(https://i.imgur.com/xvFPvZs.jpg)

The Sartosans
(https://i.imgur.com/8dzkbyF.jpg)

And their already loot-heavy baggage train
(https://i.imgur.com/xclemFM.jpg)

A proper report will follow in a week or two.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: WuZhuiQiu on February 14, 2021, 06:01:17 AM
I look forward to reading that battle report. Are both the Sartosans and the Alcentians player-run factions?
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on February 14, 2021, 09:23:34 AM
Are both the Sartosans and the Alcentians player-run factions?

Yes, except the Alcentian (VMC) player cannot commit the time and so another player (the skaven player) is gonna run his defence force for him, roleplaying his specific orders as best he can to try and get the result the actual player wants! Needs must. Play by email requires constant turn around and if a player can't answer 100 or so e-mails quick enough the game would never end! So far the games have been spread out, with lots of breaks, over 3 to 5 days.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: WuZhuiQiu on February 14, 2021, 07:18:38 PM
Yes, except the Alcentian (VMC) player cannot commit the time and so another player (the skaven player) is gonna run his defence force for him, roleplaying his specific orders as best he can to try and get the result the actual player wants! Needs must. Play by email requires constant turn around and if a player can't answer 100 or so e-mails quick enough the game would never end! So far the games have been spread out, with lots of breaks, over 3 to 5 days.

Hmm, the Alcentians have very defensible-looking terrain, yet are outnumbered (and outgunned), but do have some mobile mounted units. This should be interesting!

Have you tried running battles online, e.g. through Discord or Zoom?
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on February 21, 2021, 03:54:27 PM
@ WuZhuiQui: I do other things through Zoom or Discord, but these battles take too long and e-mail, believe it or not, works well as a consequence!

Here's the first part of the battle report ...
(2781 pts of pirates are taking on about 1600 pts of militiamen and mercenaries.)


We Know Our Business
The Assault on Sersale, A Battle Report

(https://i.imgur.com/GUvzZvw.jpg)

As the village of Sersale came into view, Admiral Volker could see that this time the Alcentians had chosen to mount a proper defence. There had been squabbles at Mintopua and Mottola, and some of his scallywags had died, but for whatever reason the defenders had not mustered any real strength to oppose them. His captains had become convinced it was because there was no strength to muster, which indeed had been the thinking behind their decision to target this particular realm. Everyone knew the Alcentian marching army, mainly composed the VMC’s foreign mercenaries, had marched to fight the vampires in the north. Even then, they had stopped to argue on the way with the duke of Pavona, so apparently, they were not in a hurry to get to the north.

(https://i.imgur.com/kh0bh36.jpg)

“Maybe,” Captain Van Baas had joked recently, “they ain’t in a hurry to return either?”

Volker had pondered over this a while, to consider what possible reason the VMC might have for delaying their return. In the end, considering the wealth of this realm, all he could come with is that they were too far away to return quickly. But if the company had been prepared to dispatch their army so far, then it was likely it had left something behind to defend its precious new possession, its milch cow. 

Adding weight to his internal argument, here at Sersale there were not just militia men and light horse, but regimented bodies of soldiers, one of which was well armoured. As far as he could ascertain, it still seemed too weak a force to have a hope of thwarting his own army, but there could be some trickery at play, or at least a relief force on its way. Had they decided to defend this place rather than their city walls to buy time? Or were they simply, desperately unwilling to watch any further destruction of their property?

(https://i.imgur.com/xvFPvZs.jpg)

The enemy possessed one piece of ordnance for his three, which meant his own guns would have a little work to do before they could send their shot at the main bodies of soldiers. Two regiments bore Alcente city standards, chequered red and white bands on a field of blue, with black crenelations presumably to represent the city walls. These were probably the city’s drilled militia, endowed with some skill in their halberds and crossbows. A large body of well-armoured soldiers bore the orange and blue colours of the VMC itself, most likely professional mercenary soldiers bought with the ample funds available to such a rich trading company. They could be trouble, as could the pistoliers carrying the same colours.

Then there was a large body of swordsmen, rivalling the men at arms in size, but with no standard. These were possibly the local militia, but that did not mean they could be discounted as a threat. Being so close to the Black Gulf, even the part time soldiers of this region were likely to know their way about a sword. And if this was indeed their home, then what need had they of a standard to inspire them to fight?

The village itself was flanked by a river, crossed by a stout stone bridge. Several large dwellings were surrounded by small, enclosed fields and orchards, making the place fairly defensible, even without any further work.

(https://i.imgur.com/sX2Tyg6.jpg)

No bad thing, then, thought Volker, that this time had brought his entire strength to bear. Previously, at Mottola, he had dispatched Captain Van Baas and his crew to take and raze the village, while he and the rest of his army waited close by to lend support if required, but most importantly to counter-attack any relief force dispatched from the city. This last is exactly what had happened, and several many VMC horsemen had perished in their pathetic and abortive attempt to relieve the village.

(https://i.imgur.com/kZZjrBd.jpg)

He and his three surviving captains had brought their crews. Both his crew and Van Baas’s had been badly mauled in previous fights, so, as he approached the village, he had commanded them to amalgamate into one body, all the better to apply strength of numbers in any fight they took on. Van Baas did not complain, and indeed seemed relieved. Maybe his crew had been grumbling about their losses, becoming a tad mutinous, and this strengthening had reassured them?

(https://i.imgur.com/8dzkbyF.jpg)

Volker’s Sartosan army was heavily reliant on black powder, for as well as the three pieces of ordnance, he had two companies of handgunners, another of blunderbusses and two armed with swivels. The goblin Captain Farq’s lads also favoured powder, being verily festooned with pistols, but unlike the dwarfs (bereft of their captain, Brewaxe, since the battle near Luccini), their pieces were somewhat ill-kept and unreliable. Such was the way of goblins. Volker often wished it was not also the way of several of his own crewmen, but it was not the place of a pirate captain to apply the lash, rather to persuade with promises of wealth gained, and inspire by example. Although keeping their weapons free of rust, well-oiled and ready for battle was stipulated in the seventh clause of his own  ship’s articles, there had been some pettifogging debate of late whether said articles applied on land.

His recently raised, but already reduced in strength, pike regiment was intended to add a better defence against enemy horse soldiers, and his two wizards, Arcabar and Vedus, were there not just to dish out magical harm but to counter whatever spells the enemy could muster. Right now, however, it looked like the only horse the enemy possessed was on the wrong side of the river, and Arcabar had commented that he could not sense the presence of any wizards at all in the village. Still, thought Volker, better to be safe than sorry. More horse could come, and any wizards might be hiding right now, biding their time before they struck.

The defenders had deployed mostly within the confines of the village boundary, except for the pistoliers upon the far side of the river. Volker had sent no-one that way, having failed to find a bridge to cross, but was not concerned, for he reckoned his lads would make short work of them, the river notwithstanding. The young horsemen would surely learn the folly of prancing about within range of his pieces!

(https://i.imgur.com/IKhi7XJ.jpg)

A few archers were lurking among the trees of the stone-walled orchard, like brigands awaiting the passage of prey to rob, while the city-militia crossbows manned a hastily made barricade of ladders and planks between the orchard and the hedged field.

(https://i.imgur.com/e1ldpxk.jpg)

The enemy’s largest regiments waited behind, on the village’s street, obviously hoping to thwart his Sartosans’ advantage in numbers by fighting within a restricted space. What use was an hundred men if only those six at the front could bring their weapons to bear? Volker knew from ship to ship fighting that with such restricted access even ten men could hold back a hundred, if bold (or desperate) enough.

(https://i.imgur.com/IKhi7XJ.jpg)

The enemy’s single gun was out on their far-right flank, concealed behind a hedge, and well sited so that it could aim its muzzle at almost any part of Volker’s army. It was heavier than his own pieces, but this was a fight for field pieces, not great guns, and so he was not too concerned.

(https://i.imgur.com/9j5OO25.jpg)

Volker intended to bring the full strength of his own army to bear and in so doing present such a sight as to strike fear into the outnumbered enemy, which is why he commanded his army array in one long line of battle. Such a deployment would also help his guns big and small to play at the foe unhindered. So it was that he put his ordnance, swivels and handguns, on either flank, while his three largest bodies, being the pike, Farq’s goblins and his and Van Baas’s conjoined crews occupied the centre.

(https://i.imgur.com/jIuC9nj.jpg)

His dwarfs he put out to his left, to ensure that flank – and the baggage - was protected by something that could fight hand to hand, and hard. Out on his right, the river, in full flow due to the season, meant he did not need to worry so much. Only the foolish, or the desperate, would attempt to cross it. And they would fail.

(https://i.imgur.com/jfyf8qY.jpg)

Nevertheless, his right flank would present quite a challenge if the pistoleers thought they could harry his troops from the far side of the river, what with a body of swivel gunners ensconced in the trees and two companies of handgunners flanking them. It would be interesting to see how pistols fared against their larger cousins!

(https://i.imgur.com/5WIZyvz.jpg)

As well as the dwarfs on the left, he had placed two of his artillery pieces and his own blunderbuss-armed crewmen, including Draja the great orc and his mighty firearm ‘Mine’. Volker had seen what Mine could do - it was colourful if not exactly pretty.

(https://i.imgur.com/DEvxgmX.jpg)

Behind them was the baggage, and although the wagons, carts and mules carried much of the loot so far stolen (a considerable fortune) Volker was not too worried about the enemy attempting its capture, for they would surely be far too busy defending what they already had to bother with trying to take more. Still, it comforted him to know that the dwarfs were close by to keep an eye on it.

(https://i.imgur.com/8KO022l.jpg)

He himself personally commanded the joint regiment of his own and van Baas’s mariners. His yellow shirted navigator, Ubaida el-Noor stood to one side of him, and on the other was his standard bearer, carrying his colours of a death’s head above a cutlass.

(https://i.imgur.com/R4RrTAK.jpg)

Next stood Van Baas’ bosun, Moukib Brahimi, then the wizard Adus Arcabar, and on the far-left Van Baas and his own standard bearer.  Crab, the young lad who carried the drum, had been relegated to the second rank for want of space amongst the officers and artists at the fore.  Vedus, the other wizard, was marching with the pikes, whilst Captain Jamaar Garique was commanding his handgunners on the right. Volker was glad that Jamaar was out there to keep an eye on things – the fellow had proved himself competent many times over, a safe pair of hands.

(https://i.imgur.com/jgGFDmz.jpg)

Volker’s booming voice, a startling sound to issue from so slight a man, signalled the advance, and the Sartosans began to close upon the village, keeping in step for now, with the dwarfs, thus maintaining a straight line and ensuring plenty of unobscured targets for the artillery big and small!

(https://i.imgur.com/E66pBci.jpg)

The three central regiments fair bristled with steel, either sword blades, pistol barrels and pike heads, and made a sight to see as they moved as one. Volker was under no illusion and knew full well that Captain Farq’s horde of goblins on his right were pretty much all show and little substance, but to the enemy they would look frightening enough.

(https://i.imgur.com/pb0Fg0f.jpg)

Quieter, so that only the men near him could hear, Volker said, “That’s good lads! Steady and neat. Let’s show ‘em we know our business.”

He wondered what it must be like to be in the village looking out, to see an entire army of renowned robbers closing in, an enemy that had already devoured the western reaches of the realm and was clearly intent on continuing its feast. Would the sight sow fear or resolve?

(https://i.imgur.com/jtZrDD1.jpg)

No matter, he thought. We’ll find out soon enough how they feel about fighting today. 

He could hear Farq’s shrill shouting as he too ordered his mob onwards. The goblin captain had spent the previous night bragging how he and his lads would surely get to grips with the enemy before anyone else, leaving little work for the rest of the army, then trying to convince the other captains to offer him and his lads a reward in advance, which he said was only appropriate as some of his lads would be dead afterwards and so would not enjoy their rightful reward if not given immediately.

(https://i.imgur.com/CLe5ub8.jpg)

Volker had probably spent too long trying to work out if the goblin was joking, until he remembered that goblin humour invariably involved inflicting suffering on some poor unfortunate, even one of their own. If it was a joke, then he would have to keep an eye on Farq. Goblins were renowned for having more cunning than orcs, but too much cunning could make Farq dangerous to any who believed him to be their friend or follower.

(https://i.imgur.com/jt0bMXE.jpg)

Of more immediate concern to Volker was his chief wizard, Arcabar, for the man was on the wrong side of old for a battle, toothless and wizened, despite his obvious ability to weave formidable conjurations.

(https://i.imgur.com/5umnYqd.jpg)

The previous night Arcabar had reassured him that if he was strong enough survive the flip they were drinking, a heady mixture of rum, beer and sugar, heated up with a red-hot poker, then he was strong enough for battle. When asked if he lived that morning, Arcabar had belched before opening his eyes, then asked, “Can the dead do that?” Now, as they advanced, Arcabar proved he was indeed strong enough to hurt the foe, for he conjured up a magical shower of lightning bolts to hurl towards the crossbowmen at the enemy’s front and centre, cowering behind their makeshift barricade.

(https://i.imgur.com/WecSPh4.jpg)

Three of the crossbowmen fell, one screaming horribly, the other two deathly silent as their blackened bodies crumpled. Volker could also see several balls of fire arcing towards the archers concealed in the orchard, undoubtedly invoked by Vedus, but unlike Arcabar’s blue bolts, they dissipated before they reached the enemy. Arcabar himself did not seem to notice his fellow wizard’s failure, busy as he was with killing two more of the crossbowmen with yet another spell, this time causing a sheet of fire to burst from the very ground they stood upon.

Just as Volker wondered what the guns were up to …

(https://i.imgur.com/g0mi55C.jpg)

… he heard the rippling sound of shots, loud and louder, from all along the line. Impressive, he thought, as the gun on his right sent chain-shot into the already mauled crossbowmen, killing three more. The militia, half their number already charred or torn to pieces, with hardly a moment having passed since the Sartosans began their advance, could take no more and fled from the barrier.

(https://i.imgur.com/602zZT6.jpg)

“Fare thee well,” said some wit from the ranks behind.

A moment later there came another boom, this time louder, followed by the sound of shouting from his own lines. One of the brace of pieces to his left had blown up! Volker didn’t know it, but the other had failed to fire altogether. Its crew were not bitter - not after what they had just witnessed. They were just thankful to be alive!

(https://i.imgur.com/w18yEDT.jpg)

As the enemy’s mounted pistoliers had cantered forwards one of the swivels found its mark and tore one of them from his saddle. The rest, however, closed in on the handgunners on the far flank.

(https://i.imgur.com/aRmNsMe.jpg)

The volley of pistol fire proved surprisingly accurate as they killed five of the nine pirates. Luckily for the rest of the Sartosans, their success was not equalled by the Alcentian ordnance on the other far flank. The gunners lined their muzzle up on the surviving Sartosan gun facing them …

(https://i.imgur.com/WE6WokV.jpg)

… but their shot merely clipped the piece as it passed harmlessly through the shaken crew.

Father Vettorio, the Morrite priest serving Sersale and several surrounding villages, seeing militia Sergeant Ivo bravely rallying his battered crossbowmen despite their recent mauling, thought to help them with a blessing of protection, but found his prayer thwarted by the enemy wizards.

(https://i.imgur.com/TYTQFQR.jpg)

It seemed his prayers were not going to be strong enough, not with such powerful magic users in opposition. Despite the doubt he suddenly felt concerning the defence of his parish, Vettorio’s courage was not diminished. Neither he nor the Sersalian militia swordsmen he led intended to depart the village.

Live or die, they would stay here either way.

(Turn 1 completed)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Mark on February 22, 2021, 10:05:06 AM
I do love an update to my favourite thread... can't wait to see how the battle unfolds.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Grumpy Gnome on February 22, 2021, 11:06:40 AM
Whenever I start losing enthusiasm for my projects I can always turn to this thread to inspire me. Thank you for sharing your continuing work on this!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on February 23, 2021, 11:50:17 AM
Thank you ever so much, you two. I am very happy that you enjoy reading these. Here is the next installment ...

The Fight for Sersale Continued

(https://i.imgur.com/RS8OFuE.jpg)

Admiral Volker did not need to command his army to continue the advance as everyone knew to do so. The enemy stood their ground, obviously satisfied with their deployment. He would be too if he were one of them, thought Volker, for despite the basic and limited nature of their defences, they had used them well.

(https://i.imgur.com/dQUYU7P.jpg)

Volker did, however, shout across to Arcabar, then pointed towards the archers lurking in the orchard.

(https://i.imgur.com/MaLb9RE.jpg)

Arcabar nodded and lifted his staff to signal to Vedus further down the line, advancing with the pikemen.

(https://i.imgur.com/nS3d7L5.jpg)

Vedus did not really need the encouragement, for they had been the target of his last spell. Forcing himself to ignore the blaring horn being sounded beside him, he fixed his eyes on the archers and once again began his incantation.

(https://i.imgur.com/gSbJeAv.jpg)

This time twice as many flaming orbs coalesced from the ether, already in motion as they rent their way into the material realm to course at speed towards the trees, trailing blue sparks. Upon hitting the branches, they spewed sheets of fizzling flames which rained down on the men cowering behind the stone wall below, incapacitating half a dozen and causing the remaining handful to leap, smoking and screaming, over the rear wall and through the men at arms on the other side. They only stopped when they reached the building over the street.

(https://i.imgur.com/qXPHUQi.jpg)

[(Game Note: The men at arms, having no character to lead them, were in danger of fleeing too. But they rolled snake eyes for their Panic test!)

As he squinted to look through the smoke and ascertain how well he had done, Vedus suddenly noticed a coiling eddy of excess magical energy coalescing above him, at the very spot where the fireballs had crossed the seam dividing the realms. He had badly misjudged the etheric force drawn into his spell and clearly failed to control even half of it. His squint turned into a wince, less than a second before the broiling energy folded itself inside out then exploded with an exponentially magnified power (yet no sound at all). The blast sucked the very air from his lungs and he struggled to stay upon his feet. When he finally managed to draw a choking breath, his throat blazed with pain at the heat of it. Opening the one eye he could, he saw that many more than half the men he had been marching with had fallen to the ground, lifeless or senseless, while those few still on their feet, like himself, reeled and wheezed in shock.

(Game note, a miscast roll of 4, Dimensional Cascade, killed 15 pikemen! Remaining casting dice lost.)

The blast’s soundlessness meant that Volker noticed the horror on Arcabar’s face before he spotted the confusion amongst the pike. It appeared that the company had stumbled into a patch of potholes and so taken a tumble, and for a moment he entertained the thought that the enemy might have dug more pit-traps around the village, but then the look on his wizard’s face made it obvious that something much more serious had happened. When Arcabar spat the word ‘Fool’ out, Volker knew Vedus was to blame.

First the cannon, now Vedus. It seemed neither powder nor magic were to be relied on today! Yet the next few moments suggested that powder, with which his army was plentifully supplied, could still contribute to their success. First, an iron roundshot punched through the hedge before enemy’s gun to smash into the gun itself, disabling it and badly wounding its crew. Then the surviving four handgunners out by the river, their comrades lying dead or dying around them …

(https://i.imgur.com/1KoS64l.jpg)

… fired their pieces to throw three more pistoliers from their saddles. The horsemen turned quickly around to gallop away somewhat quicker than they had come. Not quick enough to outrun the shots of the swivel gunner’s in the trees, though.

(https://i.imgur.com/AVhGKLk.jpg)

Not wanting to miss out on the sport, the swivels also fired and another three horsemen died. This only hastened the pistoliers’ frantic retreat!

(https://i.imgur.com/Kh51qUK.jpg)

The swivel gunners now found themselves somewhat at a loss, for with the only enemy they could see galloping away, it seemed there might be little else for them to do.

“Wait” shouted one of them in jest towards the last of pistoliers. “Come back! We’ve still got powder!”

(https://i.imgur.com/z1PbNBx.jpg)

The cannon on the Sartosans’ right fired chainshot into the halberdiers in the village, tearing three of them almost in half! Fearing the recently rallied crossbowmen might once again falter at the sight (and sound) of this, Father Vettorio now ran ahead to join them at the barricade.

(https://i.imgur.com/JEikYS9.jpg)

There he prayed that Morr would curse the wizard in white, and indeed could sense his god’s will manifesting though him, but this momentary hope was dashed as the enemy’s countermagic proved too strong. Disheartened he found himself surprised by the sudden snaps of the crossbows as they brought down four of the goblins now charging at him. There were so many goblins, though, that it was doubtful the rest even noticed, and the next moment Vettorio found himself suddenly close to the greenskin mob!

(https://i.imgur.com/eD7PJaQ.jpg)

Volker had begun to order his own regiment to charge the crossbows, but that had faltered as Farq’s mob hurtled by, blocking the way. When he spied the four trampled goblins left in their wake, quarrels piercing their corpses, he found it quite easy to console himself at the lost opportunity. Better them then my boys, he thought. Still, knowing the goblins, his boys might yet have to do the real work. Farq’s boast of the previous night, that he and his lads would get stuck in first, might well have proved true, but that did not mean they would stay ‘stuck in’!

Arcabar, having apparently spotted the damage done to the halberdiers by the chain shot, was obviously intent on seeing what he could do to further their misery. He conjured up a shower of burning blue bolts to equal the cannon’s tally. The halberdiers, however, were apparently made of strong stuff, for they took this as they had taken the chainshot and stood their ground.

(https://i.imgur.com/j0Ktbrz.jpg)

Vedus and his shattered pikemen were now very close to the men at arms, but their will had been sapped and they came to a halt. For now, the thought of ditching their pikes to cross two stone walls and assail the armoured professionals massed on the other side, seemed like madness. Apparently, the men at arms understood the pike were no longer a threat, for not a one of them even glanced at Vedus and his comradees, intent instead on watching how the crossbow fight against the goblins up ahead.

(https://i.imgur.com/j91Qdxj.jpg)

One of the pikemen was shouting something about going around the orchard, but what with the resumption of the horn’s incessant blaring and the continued confusion of his thoughts since his dreadful miscasting, Vedus failed to respond either by word or deed!

(https://i.imgur.com/szAPEO0.jpg)

(Game Note: I know, I know, Jamie, you chose not to charge the pike attack simply because you believed they would fail and so pointlessly endanger your wizard, which is no good thing in a campaign game. That wizard might be needed for moving on to capture the city, where the real loot lay. But when a picture comes out like that, and after what the wounded wizard had been through, this ‘spun’ version of events seems utterly undeniable! Look at the guy shouting and pointing!)

While the handgunners and swivels fired yet more bullets at the broken pistoliers, killing all but one, and the two remaining pieces of ordnance shot chain to fell a handful of halberdiers as well as some of the men at arms, Captain Farq and his horde fought the crossbowmen at the barricade.

(https://i.imgur.com/28RODhw.jpg)

Several goblins died as their shoddily maintained pistols blew apart, while Bagnam Farq himself malingered in the second rank trying to look busy without committing himself to any real fighting.

(Game Note: The campaign list rules re: ‘Robbed Pistols’ and Farq’s ‘goblin merchant boss’ rule ‘Not the Bravest of Sorts’ came into play here. These guys truly are nearly all bluff and bluster!)

It was a bitter fight, and despite the fact that the casualties were pretty much even on both sides, the sheer weight of numbers was on the goblins’ side.

(https://i.imgur.com/ujUg8Pi.jpg)

Father Vettorio and the crossbowmen, no longer numerous to defend every part of the barricade, broke, to be cut down almost immediately by their whooping and baying foe. Sheer press of numbers meant the goblins burst right over the barricade and within moments had slammed into the men at arms, calmly awaiting their arrival.

(https://i.imgur.com/4LBD5oo.jpg)

(Game note: You can probably see from the penultimate picture above that the goblins pursuit carried them into the three leftmost men at arms. More than a mere clipping. As per the rules, or certainly as we have always played them, we then maximized the number fighting on both sides and thus the full-on clash of the last picture.)

Half way through Turn 3!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: swiftnick on February 23, 2021, 12:38:32 PM
Great stuff!!
Magic seems to be very much a double edged sword.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: WuZhuiQiu on February 23, 2021, 08:02:10 PM
Great, as always! Might a defending unit get a flank charge into the Goblins...?

How fordable is the river? With hindsight, might the pistoliers have been better-employed as a reserve, either on that same flank, or behind the foot units in the village?
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on February 23, 2021, 08:10:55 PM
All good questions. The river is in full spring flow, so I told the players that every model that attempted to cross would have to take two dangerous terrain tests. I guess that put them off.

As for your suggestion of a flank charge ... oh yes, then some. It leads to my favourite picture of the report!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: WuZhuiQiu on February 25, 2021, 02:32:17 AM
Wait a moment - where are the Black Gulf Road Wardens? Did they go to fetch reinforcements, or have you tweaked the rules to allow for flank attacks...?
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on February 26, 2021, 10:34:58 AM
Ha! You are a very observant fellow, WuZhuiQiu! If only Jamie the Pirate player had noticed that they weren't on the field at the start? He might have altered his deployment and moves a little, perhaps holding something back? I did send him the picture of the enemy's full force, as he has been operating in the realm for a few turns now and his scouts had the measure of local forces. But I guess he just didn't notice!

Yes, we were using the ambushers rules, but I had the defending player name which of three sides (not across the the river) they would appear on at the very start of the game before deployment.


...

The Fight at Sersale Continued
Turns 3.5 – 6

(https://i.imgur.com/AJo93XC.jpg)

Although it was some time before he would know it, Volker’s earlier musings concerning the possibility of a relief force proved to be partially correct. A company of light horse, the Black Gulf Road Wardens, a band of mostly Arabyan mercenaries who patrolled the VMC’s protectorate realm, now galloped onto the field of battle close to the Sartosans’ baggage and their left-most piece of ordnance. There were not enough of them to swing the advantage of numbers, nor realistically to increase the Alcentian’s chances of victory, but their presence near the gun, and especially the baggage, was a very worrying development for the pirates.

(https://i.imgur.com/z3FbR5h.jpg)

Certainly, the gunners and those men tasked with guarding the baggage were alarmed. The first made extra haste in the reloading of their piece with chain-shot, while the second commenced a heated debate concerning whether they should form a body to fight or hide amongst the baggage to better their chances against arrows. The loudest was shouting that the enemy must have intended this all the time, and that the village’s defence was a merely ruse to draw the army into a fight while the baggage was taken. Louder still was the answer from an old, one-legged sea-dog,

“Aye, I reckon you’re right. Now catch up and help us decide what to do about it!”

Being near the village and in the front rank of his marching crewmen, Volker attention was held by what was going on ahead of him. Farq’s goblins had already poured over the defences, cut down the last of the crossbowmen and crashed pell-mell into the armoured men at arms awaiting beyond. They would have their work cut out for them, thought Volker, as the enemy they now faced were obviously not militia but professional mercenaries, carapaced in steel.

(https://i.imgur.com/4LBD5oo.jpg)

The goblins might just find their rust-ridden, ill-sharpened blades would struggle to penetrate such armour. Still, Volker thought, if Farq can hold the enemy back just long enough, he and his own lads could get at the swordsmen. Suddenly, as he belatedly realised they were bound to do, the swordsmen charged into Farq’s flank.

Now it would take divine help for Farq’s scurvied scallywags to stand their ground for any time at all.

(https://i.imgur.com/INkaUvx.jpg)

The remnant of the pike body to Volker’s left were clearly no longer in a fit state to assist anyone effectively, and even if the goblins held long enough for his own men to join the fight by charging the swordsmen, that would give the enemy halberdiers an opportunity to flank charge him! What resulted would be right, royal mayhem, and possibly exactly what the defenders had been planning.

He needed a moment to think.

(https://i.imgur.com/TyYoZ30.jpg)

So he took that moment, while his lads watched the goblins’ fate with sick fascination.

Game Note: My campaign players are in truth roleplaying one character. If they die, they are effectively out of the campaign, until we can work out who they can be and how to get them back in! Establishing their new character can be a long, hard struggle! Jamie is Admiral Volker, and commander of the Sartosans. He was once Razger Boulderguts the ogre tyrant, who left Tilea with a huge haul of loot after his chevauchee. Now Jamie is Admiral Volker, which is not so different as he is after loot yet again. But he has to stay be alive to enjoy it!

As the butchery began in the village, with nearly four times as many goblins falling as men, the horse archers in the rear loosed a flight of arrows at the gunners, killing one, even as the gunners hauled the piece about to face them. Staring down the muzzle, more than one of the riders felt their stomachs knot in fear as they reached for a second arrow - they knew the gun would fire before they could loose.

With eleven goblins killed, and large enemy bodies assailing from two sides …

(https://i.imgur.com/Zfixj61.jpg)

… Farq and his boys did what everyone else knew they did well. They ran away. The men at arms stood their ground, but the militia swordsmen, rage momentarily getting the better of them, pushed forwards a good few steps before their captain could halt them.

(https://i.imgur.com/FMHEVWu.jpg)

The goblins hurtled through the enclosure towards Captain Garique’s handgunners, leaving an only slightly disrupted enemy line behind them.

(https://i.imgur.com/06fQt3s.jpg)

Farq later swore that Garique’s lads presented their pieces at his goblins, to which the captain answered that no such thought ever crossed his mind. Only those involved knew the truth of it, and they stuck to their stories. For whatever reason, the goblins halted and reformed to face the enemy. The consensus amongst the rest of the army was that it would have taken just such an event to stop the goblins’ flight. Farq himself claimed that he when he heard Volker’s command, he simply and obediently did what he was told.

Volker had decided the enemy needed a touch more softening up before he committed his own boys to the fight, and so while the blunderbusses and dwarfs continued their long march towards the orchard on the flank, he ordered his own men to move a little to the right, clearing a line of fire for the gun behind.

(https://i.imgur.com/4UN0iIT.jpg)

Vedus now headed off alone towards the horsemen. The pikemen were only too glad to see him leave. He could have commanded them to go with him, so not to expose himself to too much to harm, but in light of his previous, dreadful mishandling of the etheric winds, he decided he had put them through quite enough and ought not endanger them anymore. It also meant he could be less concerned about any spellcasting missteps.

(https://i.imgur.com/BLiDxyc.jpg)

Fixing his eyes, indeed his whole mind, upon the riders, and happy to see they had to get too close to the baggage or the gun, he nervously wove what little magical breeze was available to generate and loose a flurry of fireballs. Three horses and their riders perished in the conjured conflagration, while the rest were singed by the heat.  Yet they did not falter or flee.

He cursed, silently, for it had seemed to him that he had missed his chance at redemption. Then watched as a fourth rider crumpled to the ground, both horse and man horribly torn by the chain-shot fired by the cannon before them, and yet the riders still did not flee. Vedus cursed again, for as they spurred their horses and began to level their spears, he knew they were not going to try archery again. He could see from the surviving gunner’s wide eyes that they too had the measure of what was coming their way!

The other gun, a way cleared before it to reveal the recently victorious men at arms …

(https://i.imgur.com/43YMivM.jpg)

… now blasted chain-shot. Armour proved insufficient against such a missile, and five of the mercenaries perished most bloodily. Rather than panic them, the event seemed merely to act as some sort of sign. In good order, they moved into the building behind them. Volker assumed at first that they were seeking somewhere to shelter, but then changed his mind for their calmness made that seem unlikely. They moved with precision, entirely unlike hard-pressed men looking for somewhere to hide. What new trickery was this?

His line of thought was broken, however, as the swordsmen charged Farq’s mob yet again. After a brief but messy fight, in which the goblins hurriedly fired counter-shot and famous ineptness with powder killed two of their own to add to those cut down by the foe, Farq and his boys broke and fled right through Garique’s handgunners, this time failing to notice whether any muzzles pointed their way!

(https://i.imgur.com/XPeVlQf.jpg)

This left the swordsmen somewhat exposed, especially as the halberdiers had about faced like the men at arms and were now marching off towards the city. That settled it for Volker – he knew what the enemy had surely intended all the time. The enemy had never expected to win, but only to delay and wound him, before returning to the city to man the walls, where they would face his army in a weakened state, or perhaps bolstered by a relief force now given just enough time to arrive?

(https://i.imgur.com/p3LFPa4.jpg)

If he had known what was happening to the rear, it would only have bolstered his theory, for the horsemen had cut down the gun’s remaining crew. Several of them quickly dismounted to work out how they might disable the gun permanently. They knew a spike would be only temporary, for it could be drilled out, and so now argued whether to attempt to drag the gun away or blow it up with its own powder.

(https://i.imgur.com/hcnWMEP.jpg)

The baggage close by, heavily weighted with loot, seemed of no interest to them. They were surely operating under orders, as part of some desperate strategy and were only interesting in disabling of stealing the gun.

(Game Note: My players and I have had to come up with some campaign house-rules to cover the ‘recovery’ of cannons that have not exploded but just lost their crew. It is easy enough for the BRB to say the crew models indicate the remaining number of wounds, but when it comes to campaign casualty recovery, more thought is required!)

As Farq once again managed to halt his goblins, this time from a position of safety in the rear of the fighting line, Volker gave a simple command,

“Have at them!”

And led his crews over the hedge into the swordsmen.

(https://i.imgur.com/z7yCDoZ.jpg)

The fight was brutal, just as Volker knew it would be. His men might not have armour and shields, but they were festooned with blades and pistols, and he and van Baas were famously skilled in the art of applying both. Arcabar the wizard cast the spell Flaming Sword to further improve the Sartosan’s deadliness, just before he himself was wounded. Several of the enemy had gone for him in particular, at the cost of letting down their guard to the other pirates. Here too was a sign that they were acting on orders to weaken Volker’s army, not to save the village.

(https://i.imgur.com/zrsqyM4.jpg)

Arcabar’s pain meant he failed to notice a sudden flare in the etheric breeze. Vedus, his apprentice, had summoned up fireballs to fell another pair of horsemen, but yet again, perhaps catalysed by the continued discombobulation of his mind caused by his previous failure, he had lost control of the conjuration and the energies he had failed to bind now seared his mind. Staggering dizzily, he clutched at his temples, temporarily robbed of his senses. Moment’s later, as the sights and sounds of his surroundings began to reappear, he knew something was badly wrong. And part of what was wrong was that for some time he could not for the life of him work out what it was.

Game Note: Another Miscast, ‘Power Drain’. He lost two levels and all his spells, now becoming level zero. You might have guessed this was coming, but my players and I have now had to come up with some campaign house-rules concerning the ‘recovery’ of wizard’s magic levels. It is easy enough for the BRB to say the wizard’s level is ‘permanently’ reduced, but that is in terms of the tabletop game, one battle, not an ongoing campaign. Some considerable debate ensued, and I had to do a bit of haggling. I try not to be a tyrannical GM!)

Indeed, so befuddled were Vedus’ wits in that moment, that he failed to notice that the last surviving gun and the swivels in the central trees (the latter yet to contribute to the battle at all) between them now killed four more of the riders. The last survivors, spattered by the blood of their dead and dying comrades and their horses, abandoned their now fruitless efforts to drag the gun away and fled the field. They would not stop galloping until they reached the city walls. Nor did their mounts complain, being only too happy to put the fires and bullets ever further behind!

At the little enclosure before the village, a queue was forming! The Sartosans were stacking up in a column with the goblins at the rear and Volker’s men at the front.

(https://i.imgur.com/HMH3lhi.jpg)

The main body of Sartosans had cut down a veritable swathe of the swordsmen. Unsurprisingly, the Alcentians turned and fled, running right through the halberdiers behind.

(https://i.imgur.com/8QuqfhE.jpg)

But even this did not break the defenders’ will, as both the halberdiers reformed to face the foe, as did the swordsmen to the rear!

(https://i.imgur.com/JHl99uZ.jpg)

Another jump been made in this deadly game of leapfrog, with more surely yet to come. Volker knew exactly what the enemy were up to. Each time he assaulted them, his wizard Arcabar was carried into the fray. If the Sartosans halted to allow the wizard to leave, then the enemy would do the charging.

(https://i.imgur.com/7JDUWg8.jpg)

Volker had not expected such bravery and stubbornness. And Arcabar had not expected to be wounded in the melee.

(https://i.imgur.com/a8ZauxC.jpg)

(Vedus, on the other hand, had forgotten what he had expected, along with pretty much all that he had done that day. It would take him some time to realise he has forgotten all his incantations too! )

So it was, as the sky began to darken that Volker and his men had to fight and break the halberdiers, then fight the swordsmen yet again!

(https://i.imgur.com/06e5SkD.jpg)

The day was won, bar the last bout of fighting. None of the swordsmen would ever leave Sersale. Volker learned later that it was their village, and thus unlike the rest of their force, they had never intended to leave.

At what cost, though, this victory? Volker asked himself. The city lay before him, but it would be defended, and not only by the men at arms who snuck so cleverly away, but by whatever other forces had been obtained or raised while the battle here was fought. He had begun the day with three pieces of ordnance. Now he had only one. Two wizards had marched here with his army. Now one of them was a mere shell of a man, emptied of all magical powers. Volker’s mauled regiments were mostly intact, especially as his army could now tend the wounded, but he was far from home and there would be no reinforcements for him before he attacked the city.

Meanwhile the Alcentians not only could recruit and hire from the eastern parts of their realm, or the city itself, or even by way of the sea, for lack of manpower meant his fleet was unable to blockade the city. His ships had skeleton crews, for most of his mariners were here with him.

All this fighting, and he had yet to face the VMC’s actual army! Of course, the army’s absence was the very reason he had come, but he had now been in the realm of Alcente so long now that it could conceivably arrive any day. The reports had said they were far to the north, but reports could be wrong. 

Perhaps, even with a famously rich city so close, it was time take what he had, plus what his lads could loot from Sersale, and return to Sartosa? Surely that was enough to sate his army?

He had more thinking to do!

...


Thank you Jamie and David for your patience during this week-long pay by e-mail battle. Now I have the last campaign map moves etc of the season to make, and 6 long (private) reports to write!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: WuZhuiQiu on February 27, 2021, 05:16:04 AM
Another enthralling battle report! Is Vedus going to recover at a sanatorium...?
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on February 28, 2021, 12:04:56 PM
He'll need some rest alright. And a good recovery die roll!

I know this goes 7 (real world) years back from current campaign events, to a simpler time, but part 4 of my video version of the account is up on YouTube. The delay was mainly because of the work on the above new battle report - I am apparently working at this campaign from both ends, as well as currently kit-bashing a new regiment of gas-masked skaven!

You can find the new video, 'All That Astiano Has to Offer', a short and simple battle report to get the campaign going, at ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n15rCmaUuko

(https://i.imgur.com/GC1bNIW.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: WuZhuiQiu on February 28, 2021, 04:07:47 PM
Gas-masked Skaven? What fiendish weapon are they going to unleash next...?
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: dwbullock on March 01, 2021, 03:25:14 PM
Okay, I've decided.  You need to narrate all battle reports from here on out.  And most of my audiobooks, too.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Mark on March 02, 2021, 11:33:31 AM
Another great battle report - enjoyable as ever!

A good result for the Alcentians it would seem - looking forward to the next installment!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on March 02, 2021, 11:40:51 AM
I was going to write "Keep in mind there are loads of battle reports from the campaign on my website," then I remembered you had already read the whole campaign!

I agree it is good to get an insight into how you run the campaign. I think it is really cool how you never know what will happen next.

Having read the whole shebang over a short period, it is striking how many of the original characters are dead (or undead!) or otherwise missing.

The thing that tipped Guidobaldo over the edge for me was the killing of the lord of verezzo. Before that he was heartless but understandable. Framing someone else for brutal assassination was just too much!

Guidobaldo will be back ... I know 'cos the player is stubbornly plotting even now! As for the characters that have disappeared, I must remember to revisit some of them as soon as possible. The chancellors are still alive, and should feature in the next Compagnia story, for example. One day Razger might come back, even!

(edit)(Which may be ironic) I have been re-doing some of the earlier pictures because the originals won't do for the video version of the campaign. The process of reading the stories for the audio is quite frustrating, however, as I keep finding typos, then I want to edit the text too! I am desperate to keep moving forwards, and here I am going backwards!!!!!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on March 02, 2021, 01:50:02 PM
Gas-masked Skaven? What fiendish weapon are they going to unleash next...?

Getting close to completing the unit. Painfully slow and fiddly work, though. You just gotta have LOTS whenever you're modelling skaven!

(https://i.imgur.com/gVVEEfu.jpg)

They will guard the uber-engine, and we will have some rules about anyone within a certain distance of it being poisoned. Not these guys though! Not after all this effort by me!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Mark on March 02, 2021, 11:08:46 PM
I was going to write "Keep in mind there are loads of battle reports from the campaign on my website," then I remembered you had already read the whole campaign!

Guidobaldo will be back ... I know 'cos the player is stubbornly plotting even now! As for the characters that have disappeared, I must remember to revisit some of them as soon as possible. The chancellors are still alive, and should feature in the next Compagnia story, for example. One day Razger might come back, even!

Yep, you can count me a confirmed fan! I hope to put together something inspired by your work in the future - though it will not be anywhere near as involved or epic!

Glad to hear we will see more from Guidobaldo and the other quiet characters in the fullness of time.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on March 03, 2021, 07:35:32 PM
Talking about the chancellors, I have just this moment finished putting together new, better, replacement pictures for the first story they appear in, to make the forthcoming video version better!

(https://i.imgur.com/EpAtZYT.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/jhRxA5p.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/9TDywMo.jpg)

I am pleased with them. My players might not be, though, as I am supposed to be spending my hobby time putting together the end of season reports for them! Still, this was a change in pace. And I am going straight back to the reports now. Eventually I will need new pictures for the 'public' version of the reports! I will try to get them right the first time, so that I don't have to redo them all about 5 years from now when the video story catches up!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Neunfinger on March 03, 2021, 08:48:24 PM
Fantastic pictures once again. I've enjoyed the battle report very much.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: The Rock on March 11, 2021, 09:45:08 AM
Nice pictures and reports
Thank you for sharing
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on March 12, 2021, 04:58:29 PM
Thanks.

Here's the one I have just put together for the end of season report. I have loads more to do!

Portomaggioran light horse scouting the fringes of the haunted realm of Miragliano  ...

(https://i.imgur.com/vswpouh.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: randycarter on March 13, 2021, 08:03:03 AM
As an italian living in Bologna, the light cavalry of Portomaggiore is the sweetest thing I've ever seen in warhammer, I should say.  lol
Great job and keep sharing!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on March 14, 2021, 08:33:11 PM
Thanks RandyCarter. Here is the end of Season 13 campaign report that scene is taken from ...


(https://i.imgur.com/swYpmAC.jpg)

To His Holiness Bernado Ugolini, Most Highly Favoured of Morr, from your faithful servant, Brother Migliore
Upon the second day of summer, 2404


If it pleases your holiness, I hereby and humbly present that which I have learned from my correspondence with the servants of our Holy Church of Morr, scattered throughout Tilea.

Several great battles were fought this Spring, and as one old enemy was pushed further from Tilea’s heart, another revealed itself to present an open threat. Two undead armies were annihilated by the Lord Alessio’s alliance force, in which your own Reman soldiers honourably serve, but even as these great victories were obtained, a swarm of ratto uomo emerged to the east to capture Ravola, driving out the Bretonnian Brabanzon mercenaries who had only recently taken possession of the walled city from the last of Razger Boulderguts’ ogres. What few Brabanzon survived, led by the wizard Perette, escape to find refuge in the forests, there meeting with the outlawed Arrabiatti Brotherhood, before making their way south to the city of Campogrotta.

(https://i.imgur.com/DL6BS4h.jpg)

It is possible the Arrabiati brotherhood of shadows grew in strength during the time of Razger Bouldergut’s rule, as those who fled slavery joined them to strike at the ogre tyrant’s forces wherever and whenever they could. I can report that they have amongst them at least one Morrite priest, whose name I do not know. Once the ogres departed Tilea, it seems they intended to contribute to the war against the vampires, but now the rat-men present a more immediate threat to their traditional home. The people of Campogrotta have joked that the Arrabiatti would accept with open arms all those they once called tyrants, if it meant that rats, brutes and walking corpses were finally gone!

Campogrotta’s ruler, the condottiere General Mazallini, was awarded governorship of the city realm by the dwarf King Jaldeog as part-payment for his service in the war against the ogres. The general had already dispatched relief north to Ravola after receiving a report that the ogres had returned to lay siege there. That force soon learned it was rat-men not ogres, and that Ravola had already fallen, then travelled back to the city with the wizard Perette and the surviving Brabanzon to report on the situation.

(https://i.imgur.com/dmGz0ls.jpg)

Mazallini has apparently failed to send out another, larger force as yet. It may well be that he is awaiting advice or assistance from his patron, King Jaldeog of the mountain realm, or perhaps he is instead simply preparing for the defence of Campogrotta in the struggle ahead?

The general has published the sent the following missive to all Tilea’s rulers and governors  …

Quote
A warning freely given to all the lawful rulers and powers of Tilea, concerning a new threat in the north.

I, General Bruno Mazallini, commander of the Compagnia del Sole and Governor of the city realm of Campogrotta, do hereby advertise to all those with ears to hear that once again the wretched Ratto Uomo have poured forth in strength from their vile lairs to taint the land of Tilea. They have already taken the realm of Ravola, and doubtless intend to swarm further south. Reports of their forces have also come from the vicinity of Trantio, where they were sighted by Lord Alessio of Portomaggiore’s soldiers, despite a complete lack of reports from the lands between Ravola and Trantio. From this, two inferences can be made:

First, that the ratto uomo assuredly seize and befoul much more than Ravola alone.

Second, that they have tunnelled under a significant stretch of the realm.

These undeniable facts mean that every Tilean state needs to ensure its preparedness for the oncoming fight, and to join in alliance to bolster the strength of arms that can be brought to bear. Tilea, Estalia and the Border Princes have suffered greatly at the hands of the rat-men throughout history, sometimes caught by surprise due the adversary’s cunning ways, but here is a warning – their hand has been shown. We must act quickly and assuredly. Forewarned is only forearmed if each and every state ensures it preparedness, making what efforts are required, spending the necessary gold and mustering sufficient forces. A forewarning ignored forespells only doom.

No engines were used in the assault on Ravola, instead they arrived only after the city was taken. Whether their tardiness was deliberate or the result of some delay, we know not, but any general would surely consider an assault against a city whilst lacking war machines a foolhardy exercise. 

(https://i.imgur.com/WqDsx64.jpg)

Their noxious catapults and incinerating cannons are only too well known from the many occasions they have been used in the past. Furthermore, my own scouts and others have reported that the ratto uomo have in their possession a poison that can taint large swathes of land, and indeed has already done so, despite not yet being deployed in battle. This is something new, housed in some kind of engine, able to kill every living close to it, even before it is brought to bear against a foe. Something so destructive that it bleeds poison merely by its passage. Its true nature can only be guessed at, but every blade of grass, every tiny, crawling creature upon the ground over which it passed, withers and dies. Those of my men who spent only a short time at the site of its passage have sickened and remain in perilous health. All of which suggests that great ruin and terror might result should this weapon’s potential be unleashed.

(https://i.imgur.com/L0Vt1LD.jpg)

Even now brave scouts are attempting to discover the engine’s true nature. I have ordered my own servants and soldiers to do all they can to learn more and am preparing for the battle ahead. But if Ravola, defended by a not inconsiderable garrison, failed against what seems to have been nothing more than an advance force of their main strength, then all should know that any one state alone is unlikely to withstand this enemy.

If you do not wish to see Campogrotta fall, so allowing the enemy to take a step closer to your own realms, and to be made bolder by their victory, then I would advise you act decisively and swiftly, immediately sending what relief you can to assist mine own forces in thwarting this threat. The ogres have ravaged city after city, and the vampires also cut deep, but let not a final, fatal blow be delivered by the ratto-uomo. There remains in Tilea strength sufficient to the task in hand, now is not the time to let it lie idle, nor to squander it for want of trust and cooperation among us.

May all the gods pour their blessings upon us their dutiful servants and may brave Myrmidia inspire sound strategy in our commanders, and true courage among our soldiers.


As I have already alluded to, in the north west, Lord Alessio Falconi’s alliance army fought two great battles, first defeating the vampire duchess at the Second Battle of Pontremola, then driving out the last of the undead forces from the city of Ebino. Not only were the undead armies annihilated, but the vampire duchess herself and nearly all her lieutenants were finally, truly killed. Determined to see his grim task through to its conclusion, despite the threat to his own realm presented by the Sartosan pirates raiding the peninsula’s southern coasts, Lord Alessio forces are even now probing the nightmare realm of Miragliano …

(https://i.imgur.com/S5JBghn.jpg)

… intending to cleanse the city state of all corruption. In his first victory, the Portomaggioran and Reman soldiers recaptured the carroccio looted by the vampires’ servants from Arch-Lector Calictus II’s defeated army. Lord Alessio has ordered that this be re-sanctified to holy Morr, so it can be used to help in the cleansing necessary in the rotten realm of Miragliano. A young priest from Campogrotta has travelled to assist Father Bendali in this task.

Lord Alessio’s efforts are to be further assisted by the somewhat late arrival of the army of the VMC to join his alliance force, or, more accurately, by the arrival of half of the VMC’s marching army. The VMC general, Jan Valckenburgh, shortly after being entertained in Remas by Arch-Lector Bernado Ugolini and having received the gift of the greatest piece of artillery in Remas, learned of the depredations of the Sartosan pirates in his realm of Alcente, including the razing of his town of Mintopua. So it was that he decided to return post-haste with half his army …

(https://i.imgur.com/QIgGZ5t.jpg)

… to the relief of his beleaguered realm, while the Mryrmiddian priestess Luccia La Fanciulla led the remainder of his forces northwards to rendezvous as promised with Lord Alessio and assist in the war against the vampires.

(https://i.imgur.com/pmuIm1P.jpg)

It is said that General Valckenburgh saw fit to take the mighty cannon he was gifted by the leader of the Morrite church with him towards home, despite the fact that it would surely slow him down, or that it was intended for the war against the Morrite church’s old enemy, the undead. Many a Tilean is unsurprised by this, what with the callous, profit-centred nature of the VMC widely spoken of.

(https://i.imgur.com/M1VEeJD.jpg)

Nevertheless, Luccia la Fanciulla, the wizard Johannes Deeter and his apprentice Serafina Rosa and a considerable force of pike, shot and brutes, have joined the Portomaggiorans and your Reman army in the camp outside Ebino, perhaps thus forming the mightiest army mustered in Tilea for an hundred years.

(https://i.imgur.com/jBR3p6u.jpg)

This great army now ready to advance boldly into Miragliano, and it is widely assumed that it will surely sweep all enemies before it, cleansing the realm and exterminating this current line of vampires.



In the far south, Admiral Volker’s army of Sartosan pirates has looted its way through no less than three settlements in the realm of Alcente. They began with the town of Mintopua, where their arrival caught the inhabitants entirely by surprise, then marched on to raze both Motolla and Sersale, facing only minimal resistance at the first and more stubborn but ultimately futile resistance at the second. Made rich by the plunder of all three settlements, Admiral Volker is presumably now weighing up his chances of taking the richest prize, the city of Alcente itself. At Sersale his ordnance was much reduced by mishaps, and one of his two wizards suffered almost catastrophic consequences of his mishandling of magic, thus reducing exactly the elements the Sartosans might need to assail the walls of a major city successfully.

(https://i.imgur.com/IYDTKeL.jpg)

Meanwhile, in the city itself, despite the fact most of the militia tasked with defending the city had already died at Sersale, a compliment of battle-hardened mercenaries survived, while supplies and reinforcements were able to reach the city almost entirely freely, as the Sartosan fleet, stripped of most of its manpower to form Volker’s land army, was unable to hinder the VMC vessels’ passage to and from the port.

(https://i.imgur.com/UDPXvpJ.jpg)

Three Alcentian settlements may lie in ruins, their populaces mauled and bruised, anything of value stolen, but the VMC possess several other settlements to the north and east, from which supplies came by way of road and sea, which should allow the VMC to recruit, arm and train new militia and even bring in new mercenary forces. And better still, half of the VMC’s marching army, still a considerable force in its own right, is marching home and is generally believed to be no more than a few weeks away. All of which means the citizens are confident that the enemy cannot take their city, and once again – after a period of some doubt – are of the opinion that their city council made the right decision when requesting the VMC’s protection from their enemies. The orc warlord Khurnag barely harmed their realm, and now, it seems, despite having done more harm, the Sartosan sea dogs’ stride has been broken, and their chance of taking the richest prize has possibly slipped out of their grasp.

It is generally presumed, for want of any report to the contrary, that the Sartosans still possess the person of the Luccinan king, Ferronso. A ransom was neither agreed nor forthcoming, and the young, royal hostage’s uncle, the wizard Duke Ercole Perrotto, remains resident in Portomaggiore, pleading daily for aid in raising the required sum in gold. The duke’s requests have fallen on worse than deaf ears, but rather no ears at all, as Lord Alessio is campaigning far to the north against the vampires. Such a sum as would be required to satisfy the Sartosans could never be raised nor released without the ruler’s express command, and he has many more immediate concerns to occupy him!

General Marsilio da Fermo, once commander of Luccini’s army, has returned to Luccini to take charge of the healing of the grievous wounds inflicted by the pirates. Very little of value escaped their avarice, from precious gems and metals to livestock, but crops remain in the fields and vines still have grapes to harvest, for the Sartosans’ goal was theft, not complete destruction. They took anything of value which could be carried, and all the meat and drink they could find, but grain and grape remain, and enough people to harvest it.



Meanwhile the realm of Pavona continues its own recovery from its mauling by Bouldergut’s grand chevauchee. Much of the city state lays in ruins, but the town of Scozzese has become an almost thriving market and promises the chance yet again for Duke Guidobaldo to raise tax revenues from his subjects - a very necessary source of income now that no banking house will loan him even a copper token. His own, much diminished, army remains intact and retains a core of fanatical, veteran soldiers of several campaigns from which he could possibly, given time, begin to rebuild the sort of army he once commanded. This reassures the people of Pavona and worries the neighbouring realms in equal measure!

As a consequence, there has been much activity in the neighbouring realm of Verezzo, where Barone Iacopo, Lord of Poliena and now the realm’s Capitano del Popolo, is raising new forces to counter any future threat from Pavona. The barone served in the allied army at the Valley of Norochia, then later rushed home to Verezzo when he heard of the death of his beloved lord Lucca.

(https://i.imgur.com/q3bjFHd.jpg)

Duke Guidobaldo was never punished for his most treacherous murder Lord Lucca of Verezzo, nor his subsequent attempt to have either the Portomaggiorans or the army of the VMC blamed for the crime.  The VMC general, Valckenburgh, did not see his retaliatory siege of Pavona through to completion, and although once-mighty Pavona has been much battered by Boulderguts’ brutes, and its recovery subsequently slowed by the short-lived siege of the army of the VMC, it seems that Guidobaldo still rules with an iron grip. The barone has warned all his neighbours that if Guidobaldo was willing to attack Astiano and Trantio when his realm was prosperous and powerful, out of a simple greed for more power, then now that his realm has been much diminished and he has become desperate and friendless, he is hardly likely to be less dangerous. The duke of Pavona was always a proud man – his own subjects were taught to call him ‘Morr’s chosen prince’. Now that he had been humiliated by the forced apology he had to make in order to convince the VMC to leave, he could become an even greater danger. He attacked and looted Verezzo out of mere lust for gold and was willing to have others blamed for his evil actions. Having failed in that (and suffered further as a consequence) his want has only increased. What terrible, faithless deeds is he willing to contemplate now?

(https://i.imgur.com/5xGJToj.jpg)

So it is that a new regiment of pike has been formed to bolster Verezzo’s forces; or, more accurately, half-pike, for it is halflings who carry them. They drill almost daily, under Iacopo’s watchful eye, while the entire realm is kept in perpetual readiness should the Pavonans raid again.

(https://i.imgur.com/V4DgOZA.jpg)

There is one Verezzan who is most keen to exact vengeance on Duke Guidobaldo – the famous ‘Pettirosso’, Roberto Cappuccio. It is widely reported that this brigand turned captain turned outlaw has pleaded with Iacopo to attack the Pavonans immediately, while they are weak and before the righteous anger at their crimes diminishes (although Cappuccio claims it can never fade for him). The Capitano del Popolo, however, refuses to launch a hasty attack, instead busying himself with ensuring Verezzo’s defences, whilst raising and drilling an army able to face the Pavonans in the field of battle head on. Which leaves the Pettirosso and his dwindling band of outlaws fighting their own petty war of ambushes and assassinations, picking off Pavonans, firing farms and stealing supplies.

(https://i.imgur.com/S4VFK31.jpg)

Barone Iacopo has even sent secret missives to several Pavonan nobles, even the heir Lord Silvano, in which he declares that perpetual peace and even amity between the two realms is achievable in return for merely handing over Duke Guidobaldo to be tried for his crimes by a jury of peers from neighbouring realms. So far, every missive has been ignored. Indeed, it is said that the duke’s own family and servants have ensured he remains entirely ignorant of the letters, for fear that he might suspect them of treachery simply for the act of receiving them!

So it is, in the very heart of Tilea, while vampires and rat-men threaten the north and Sartosans ravage the south, two once-noble realms are wholly lost in mutual hatred, their long-lived animosity now locked into a desperate squabble over the death of one nobleman.

I hope, your holiness, my letter proves of some use to you. Should you require more particulars, then you have only to ask and if I myself cannot answer I will do my utmost to learn from those who can do so.

Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Dr Mathias on March 15, 2021, 12:26:05 AM
Nice showing of halfling pike! Interesting continuation of the storyline :)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: swiftnick on March 15, 2021, 07:20:26 PM
Wow! Great stuff there is a lot going on there.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on March 15, 2021, 08:13:45 PM
Put it this way - there's four sources of trouble atm. The vampires in the NW, the ratmen in the NE, the Sartosan pirates in the South and in the middle, a bunch of bitter Tileans out for vengeance!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: WuZhuiQiu on March 16, 2021, 12:28:28 AM
Great stuff! Is there a current map?
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on March 16, 2021, 07:37:45 PM
I should include maps more often. I have been putting them in the video reports! I need to add them into most reports I think.

Here's a rush job to help give orientation for the above Spring 2404 report

(https://i.imgur.com/0YM58Ho.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Mark on March 16, 2021, 11:42:48 PM
 Enjoyable updates as ever, and great to see the map.

With your great experience building tilean armies, I don't suppose you know of a good pagan style priest miniature? I am looking at a campaign set in a "historical" warhammer time period, where Luccini fights in the "old way" - I.e. an ancient Rome surrogate, so I want a priest/priestess of Lucan/Luccina (or both!)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Luigi on March 17, 2021, 02:05:58 AM
As always, amazing stories and amazing pictures.


definitely my favourite tread on this site.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on March 17, 2021, 05:36:36 PM
Enjoyable updates as ever, and great to see the map.

With your great experience building tilean armies, I don't suppose you know of a good pagan style priest miniature? I am looking at a campaign set in a "historical" warhammer time period, where Luccini fights in the "old way" - I.e. an ancient Rome surrogate, so I want a priest/priestess of Lucan/Luccina (or both!)

Do you mean ancient world (aka Roman style)? If so I really wouldn't know.

Or are you thinking of a later sort of a look? I have some dark ages and Middle Ages priests and monks in my armies, but with any crosses they wear or carry altered either into armless rods or some other sort of ornament.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: dadlamassu on March 17, 2021, 06:03:40 PM
Enjoyable updates as ever, and great to see the map.

With your great experience building tilean armies, I don't suppose you know of a good pagan style priest miniature? I am looking at a campaign set in a "historical" warhammer time period, where Luccini fights in the "old way" - I.e. an ancient Rome surrogate, so I want a priest/priestess of Lucan/Luccina (or both!)

If you are looking for a Roman priest (haruspex) the Agema Miniatures have this one (https://agemaminiatures.co.uk/shop/haruspex/ (https://agemaminiatures.co.uk/shop/haruspex/)

(https://agemaminiatures.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Haruspex-Agema-Miniatures.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Mark on March 18, 2021, 11:36:07 AM
Do you mean ancient world (aka Roman style)? If so I really wouldn't know.

Or are you thinking of a later sort of a look? I have some dark ages and Middle Ages priests and monks in my armies, but with any crosses they wear or carry altered either into armless rods or some other sort of ornament.

Thanks - I was thinking more ancient Greece/Rome.

If you are looking for a Roman priest (haruspex) the Agema Miniatures have this one (https://agemaminiatures.co.uk/shop/haruspex/ (https://agemaminiatures.co.uk/shop/haruspex/)

(https://agemaminiatures.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Haruspex-Agema-Miniatures.jpg)


Yes, thanks - this sort of thing!

Having clicked around the web, I think the Footsore Mortal Gods Mythic range might be where I go - a priest of Zeus and a priestess of Hera can become devotees of Lucan and Luccina!

Apologies for the slight hijack - we now return to your regular programming...
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: WuZhuiQiu on March 20, 2021, 12:12:31 AM
Thank you; being able to see the map is very helpful!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: WuZhuiQiu on March 20, 2021, 03:22:39 AM
Thanks - I was thinking more ancient Greece/Rome.

Yes, thanks - this sort of thing!

Having clicked around the web, I think the Footsore Mortal Gods Mythic range might be where I go - a priest of Zeus and a priestess of Hera can become devotees of Lucan and Luccina!

Apologies for the slight hijack - we now return to your regular programming...

Apologies for the return to the slight hijack; here is another (I forget how to link to images such that they can be displayed):

http://www.baueda.com/28kleos1.html#28sac

(http://www.baueda.com/images/28sac_promo.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on March 20, 2021, 08:07:30 AM
[img]http://www.baueda.com/28kleos1.html#28sac/img] I can't get the image to work either. (Edit) sorry, of course it won't work, it's a web address not an image link. Oops!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: WuZhuiQiu on March 20, 2021, 02:10:50 PM
[img]http://www.baueda.com/28kleos1.html#28sac/img] I can't get the image to work either. (Edit) sorry, of course it won't work, it's a web address not an image link. Oops!

The second one should have been an image link, but my laptop crashed as I tried once again to get it to work and display within the page!

"http://www.baueda.com/images/28sac_promo.jpg"

How do you set imgur such that images can actually be displayed elsewhere, once linked-to?
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on March 26, 2021, 09:04:45 AM
WuZhuiQiu I am afraid I do not know. I just muddle through, and IMGUR images worked from the off withoutany need change settings!

...

My new campaign video is up, Part 5. It was delayed by my need to move the campaign on, writing a bunch of end of season reports. Hopefully, now, the videos will appear slightly more frequently!

The Chancellors.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGbcGjPYdgM

(https://i.imgur.com/9TDywMo.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on April 05, 2021, 06:51:59 PM
The next campaign video, part 6, is done! It starts with a spot of history then continues with a prequel story to a forthcoming battle report.

This should get easier, especially as I won't have to re-do the photographs for the later reports, and I should find the process a little easier too.

A Monstrous Assault
https://youtu.be/Tp_0QLYmjKo

(https://i.imgur.com/7KHt8CT.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/p0PciIS.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on April 07, 2021, 08:26:52 PM
Reworking the Terme Castle bat rep for a video report, and need some better, additional pics.

Just done this scene of the Bretonnian chivalry sent to relieve the castle - I feel sorry for the horses!

(https://i.imgur.com/Wgkqa5z.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/Ap0LJs8.jpg)

The paladin, Sir Gregoire de Vienne, leads them ...
(https://i.imgur.com/JL82Amw.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: commissarmoody on April 08, 2021, 12:03:15 AM
Horse's are going to be blown by the time they get to battle  :o
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: mikos khan on April 08, 2021, 01:25:57 AM
Those knights are nice!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: swiftnick on April 08, 2021, 04:46:12 PM
Very enjoyable, that is some tricky pronunciation and good acting right there.
I liked the sapper figure but don't see him in the Essex catalogue. Did you add the hood?
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on April 08, 2021, 04:47:52 PM
Sorry. Two of the mounted figures are old Essex. The hooded sapper, I think, is old Citadel.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: swiftnick on April 08, 2021, 06:31:27 PM
Ahh he is exactly the same as an Essex sapper but the Essex version has a pointy helmet on
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on April 08, 2021, 07:01:00 PM
Oh, I genuinely thought he was Citadel. I bought stuff in the 80s and 90s with no regard whatsoever for the source/packaging. It was the figures I wanted. A good number were bought in WG convention bargain buckets, loose, so I had no idea.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on April 08, 2021, 10:11:40 PM
Ahh he is exactly the same as an Essex sapper but the Essex version has a pointy helmet on

Is this the guy? https://www.essexminiatures.co.uk/collections/25mm-medieval-later-period/products/m21
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: swiftnick on April 08, 2021, 10:21:05 PM
Ahh I thought F48 with a headswap.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on April 12, 2021, 08:38:52 PM
My next campaign video is up, part 7. I am hitting a weekly stride. It is the second battle report of the campaign, in which Razger Boulderguts' ogres assault a Bretonnian held castle. It features the original battle pictures from 7 years ago, plus new ones using some of the same figures.

https://youtu.be/F7N_k1AHIMA

(https://i.imgur.com/St0lDxT.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on April 15, 2021, 08:41:46 PM
I'm working on more pictures for the video reports of the early campaign stories. I need more relevant stuff on the screen, and more frequent, for the videos, compared to the written stories. But I will edit the new pics into my BigSmallWorlds website pages too!

These were done tonight, for a piece that mentions stuff happening all over the penisula ...

(https://i.imgur.com/19e4TB7.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/9fG5w6C.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/VWR5j9V.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/dlUKzSr.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/dhL15BX.jpg)

I won't replace all the pics in the various forums, as that's twelve jobs too many when I am supposed to be moving the campaign on. In fact, I should stop faffing about with these tonight, and instead go back to sorting out the campaign orders and record keeping duties involved!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on April 25, 2021, 10:45:20 AM
Part 8 of Tilea's Troubles is done and uploaded!

https://youtu.be/mz86e8glWFY

(https://i.imgur.com/8x3r8Cz.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Dr Mathias on April 25, 2021, 01:34:19 PM
Excellent :)

Really enjoying these.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on May 03, 2021, 10:30:16 PM
Thanks Doc!

Part 9 of Tilea's troubles is completed:

https://youtu.be/h7L2ryx2kEM

(https://i.imgur.com/wpQWOsd.jpg)

(Yes, those heavily milliputted figures are ancient, and still in their 1980's paint job. A good friend of mine painted them when we were students.)

I am also currently in the middle of making scenery for the next battle, as well as writing a new story for the campaign thread, not just more video stories from early in the campaign. This will involved many new pictures and perhaps some painting. There are three battles to do soon, although I do not know whether to wait until the lockdown rules allow us to play them together or whether I should do one or two of them as play by e-mail like the last three!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on May 05, 2021, 01:44:04 PM
Now back to the campaign's 'present day' stories ...


Pavona’s Hero
Summer, 2401, The City of Pavona

(https://i.imgur.com/myTfoRC.jpg)

The sound of drums could be heard, growing louder. Giovacchino leaned forwards to look over the crowd between him and the street. When the strong ale in his pot sloshed and threatened to spill, he relaxed a little turned to his companion.

“I think this is lunacy,” he announced. “There’s a new war brewing, right on our very doorstep. I think the bloody Verezzans believe they’re strong enough to take us on. Even if they’re not sure, they might be bitter enough to try anyway. Yet Lord Silvano is taking nearly the entire army away on another foreign war! We should finish off the Verezzans first - put an end to their pathetic whining and make sure they don’t try anything else.”

Corporal Aldus was also peering down the street, and answered without glancing at his friend, “Why don’t you take the matter up with the duke?”

“I’m taking the matter up with you!” said Giovacchino. “Look, see, I know this is what Lord Silvano does - riding off to fight monstrous foes - but there’s a time and a place for that sort of nonsense. This ain’t the time at all, and Campogrotta’s too far away to be the right place. I mean, do the Campogrottans even need our help? They’ve an entire bloody army of their own, and that the gods-forsaken Compagnia del Sole, cousins of the very enemy that put us to all that trouble years ago. Why in all the hells are we sending our boys to do the fighting for them? I tell you, there’s no part of this makes sense.”

A company of drummers, being the first in the column, were now passing by, beating up a jaunty march indeed, which was everything to do with this sort of parade and nothing to do with battle calls.

(https://i.imgur.com/8C07Zb7.jpg)

“So, let me get this straight,” said the corporal. “You’re questioning the duke’s orders, yes? Well, my answer to you, my friend, would be that you should think hard about what you say and who you say it to.”

“No, no, no! I’m no fool,” replied Giovacchino. “I’m not saying the Duke is wrong. I just want to understand it myself.”

“Look, the duke’s a hard man, noble, yes, but a man of war. He takes whatever he believes is his by right. He doesn’t suffer fools and exacts swift vengeance on all who trouble him in any way whatsoever. And yet, all that said, what father would deny his only beloved son?”

“Aye, well, that only shifts the blame to the son. Doesn’t make the decision any less foolish.”

Corporal Aldus fixed his stare on Giovacchino. “You’re really not listening, are you? I already warned you - have a care! There are many would take offence to such words. I shall assume you’re trying to understand why Lord Silvano wants to go.”

“That’s it. That’s all. Why?”

“That’s easy. Lord Silvano is what you call a hero, always has been. I reckon since his brother died fighting Prince Girenzo, he’s been desperate to prove himself a worthy successor in his father’s eyes, to show he’s afraid of no challenge and willing to take on any foe.”

(https://i.imgur.com/ZkYjye1.jpg)

“So, you’re saying our army marches off when we’re at our weakest, and when our closest neighbours and others besides have a whole bag o’ bones to pick with us, because a young lord wants to prove his mettle? Maybe he should worry more about being a worthy successor to rule Pavona when his father dies, and to do that he needs to be alive, and there needs to be a bloody Pavona left to rule.”

“You can’t help yourself, can you? Your mouth’ll be the end of you one day, if you don’t die on the end of an enemy’s blade. Stop complaining. We have the city militia, and I reckon there’s many an old soldier would happily muster for the city’s defence if it proved necessary. Pavona will survive and grow strong again. Who cares how loud the Verezzan dogs bay and howl? Any one of us could take on three of them.”

The drummers had passed by, although the sound they made was still filling the street. Now came the colours, marching together as a little company of ensigns. All were quartered blue and white, with some little extra added to each to mark them out on the field – a border, or tassels or a symbol upon the white.

(https://i.imgur.com/H7jJStI.jpg)

Giovacchino sniffed. Then in a quieter voice said,

“It’s not just them though, is it? The VMC scum have unfinished business with us – they left off their siege only because they were persuaded the undead were the bigger problem. And the Verezzans may have been weak in the past, but everyone says they’re building an army squarely intent on revenge for Lord Lucca’s death. Their petty, brigand robbers have already begun the fight, sneaking about in the shadows to pick off our soldiers when they can get away with it without risking a fight. Scouting for them; learning the lay of the land.”

Corporal Aldus grinned. “Then it’s no bad thing Lord Silvano is marching our boys away, ‘cos then brigands won’t be able to kill them.”

Giovacchino spoke even quieter than before. “Except we’ll be among the few that remain, and it’ll be us they’re loosing their arrows at.”

Still cheerful, despite the notion, the corporal said, “I didn’t think of that.”

Now came a body of handgunners, one of which stared over at Aldus and Giovacchino as they passed.

(https://i.imgur.com/e0bYay0.jpg)

“There’s Mariano,” said Aldus. “Does he still owe you sixteen silvers?”

“Aye. He’d better bloody survive ‘cos I need that money.”

“He’ll survive. He’s always been careful. Once told me he never fired his piece in that fight in the Trantine Hills. When I asked him why, he said it was so he wouldn’t have to clean it afterwards.”

“That’s the wrong sort of careful. The stupid sort!” laughed Giovacchino. “Aldus, you say be careful of my words, but it seems to me most people ain’t too pleased about the army leaving. The best anyone could say about this crowd is that it is respectful. None would claim any signs of enthusiasm.”

“They’re just tired,” said the corporal, whose head still ached from the old wound.

(https://i.imgur.com/Cw9pULm.jpg)

“Ha!” laughed Giovacchino. “They’re tired? They want to try marching all the way to Trantio and back, with only fighting to break the journey. If Lord Silvano has the urge to fight a righteous war, then why isn’t he going off to help in the march on Miragliano. The priests are always preaching that we live in Morr’s most cherished realm. Shouldn’t he be fighting the undead?”

(https://i.imgur.com/mVd36a3.jpg)

“Oh, it’s too late for that,” said Aldus. “Duke Guidobaldo announced in his address that the war against the vampires is all but over. The enemy lost army after army trying to take on the Portomaggiorans and Remans, and now they’ve got the VMC against them too. All that’s left is the filthy job of cleaning up Miragliano, and I wouldn’t waste Pavonan lives on such nasty work. I reckon more’ll die of disease in such a wretched realm than in battle! If that war is over, then Lord Silvano obviously wants to make sure that the ratto uomo don’t gain an advantage while the living realms are weakened by the fight against the undead. Verminkind love ruinous places, and the north is one big ruin right now.”

(https://i.imgur.com/N43LRFr.jpg)

“Not just the north,” said Giovacchino. “Pavona’s no better! All Boulderguts left us is the city and the southern side of the river. Astiano and Trantio are ruined too. Every realm hereabouts is as sickly and broken as the north.”

“Then praise the gods that our brave young lord is helping to quash the threat of ratmen before they grow too powerful.”

As the corporal spoke, he gestured to the street, for Lord Silvano himself, clad in brightly silvered armour and sporting a tall panache-crest of blue and white, his lance lowered as if to indicate his intention to advance, rode into view.

(https://i.imgur.com/8to9Ul1.jpg)

By the young lord’s side rode his knghtly standard bearer, and behind him rode the city’s young nobility, their shields decorated with Morr’s fleshless head, crowned as king of the gods.

“If you have the answer to everything, Aldus, then tell me this: Why didn’t the duke send Visconte Carjaval with the army instead of his only son and heir?”

“Oh, that was the plan. The Visconte had orders to that effect. But then the orders changed. You didn’t attend the temple this morning, did you?”

“My head still hurt from last night. Why? D’you think my soul’s in need of cleansing?”

“Ha! That and the rest of you!”

Giovacchino sniffed at his armpit, spilling some of the ale as he did so, then cursing.

“What about the temple?” he demanded. “Did you receive divine enlightenment? That’d explain all your answers.”

(https://i.imgur.com/iPzyGqi.jpg)

“The priest prayed for Lord Silvano’s success, then told us how the duke knew his son possessed a compassionate heart and a desire to serve the lawful gods, Morr Supreme above all, and that he yearned to defend the innocent, weak, the young and old, from all further upsets. Apparently, the duke even said his son was the better man than he, for where he had always taken rightful anger to bloody conclusion, his son was willing to temper his reactions with an urge to understand and forgive.”

(https://i.imgur.com/Ui6U16K.jpg)

Giovacchino frowned. “That doesn’t sound like the sort of thing the duke would say.”

“Maybe not, but that’s what the priest told us. And more than that, he said the duke had vowed to live ‘quiete and pacifice’ until his son’s safe return from victory.”

“Oh, that’s lovely,” said Giovacchino sarcastically. “It’s like poetry, ain’t it?” Then, more seriously, he asked. “Doesn’t sound like the duke either. Tell me though, is it true? Will the fighting end?”

Aldus shrugged. “I suppose if the Verezzan brigands stop what they’re doing, and everyone else leaves us alone for a while, then why not? Besides, the answer’s right in front of you. The army’s marching off. Say farewell to the young lord and our army.”

“Ha!” laughed Giovacchino. “And say hello to some peace and quiet.”

(https://i.imgur.com/myTfoRC.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: sir_shvantselot on May 05, 2021, 09:56:37 PM
Something very special about this. Thanks for sharing.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: WuZhuiQiu on May 06, 2021, 12:03:26 AM
Now back to the campaign's 'present day' stories ...



At last!  ;D
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Mark on May 07, 2021, 10:56:32 AM
At last!  ;D

+1

Can't wait for the next installments!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on May 11, 2021, 08:41:49 AM
Thanks you, you three. I am still working the campaign 'at both ends"!

Part 10 of Tilea's Troubles is done, in which Prince Girenzo of Trantio plots against his rival, Duke Guidobaldo of Pavona.

https://youtu.be/ns-_0mULANY

But I am also, right now, working on scenery and figures (well, bits of figures - fiddly indeed!) for the next new story, set in a marsh.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: swiftnick on May 11, 2021, 09:03:24 PM
Great stuff!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on May 17, 2021, 06:15:46 PM
Swiftnick, thanks!

Part 11 of the video account of my campaign is complete. It is a battle story/report, in which victory was determined by whether or not the Duchess Maria could escape across the table! 

https://youtu.be/HZQiSoXFW-o

(https://i.imgur.com/sSLR0Xv.jpg)

The new story is almost complete too. Like I said. I am working at both ends of the campaign!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on May 20, 2021, 09:52:37 PM
Now to the other end of the campaign, the (ongoing) present day ...

This to Reginaldo Scalise, Sindaco of the city of Portomaggiore, from Chimento Gagliardi, Chief Clerk to Lord Alessio Falconi.

My Lord Alessio has commanded me to inform you of the allied army’s current circumstances and condition. He wishes me to deliver a comprehensive account, for as his deputy in his beloved city, you must better understand the army’s requirements, the urgencies arising from our situation and the necessities of the daunting struggle before us. Furthermore, there is a task you must complete without delay. 

We had rendezvoused with a brigade of the army of the VMC at Ebino, led by the Myrmiddian priestess Luccia La Fanciulla.

(https://i.imgur.com/pmuIm1P.jpg)

It was a force considerably weaker than that which was expected, and most disappointingly, lacking in guns, yet Lord Alessio was nevertheless undeterred. He ordered the entire allied army, including the Reman brigade under Captain Soldatovya’s command, consisting of mercenary dwarfs, crossbowmen and Reman bravi, to march along the dread road leading west towards Miragliano.

(https://i.imgur.com/163HQZF.jpg)

Our scouts reported that the watchtower of Soncino had been abandoned, which the army council took to mean that the enemy was aware of our approach and most likely drawing in its foul servants to concentrate his strength.

(https://i.imgur.com/4eNe70a.jpg)

The army marched boldly to the watchtower’s vicinity and set about making an orderly and defensible camp.

As this work was accomplished, our scouts travelled further abroad to learn the villages of Leno were as quiet and empty as Soncino, having also been abandoned by the foe. The city of Miragliano itself, however, swarmed with the vampires’ servants, and its ancient, grey-stone walls hosted a force of rotting-but-walking corpses.

(https://i.imgur.com/f4l2SNj.jpg)

What most concerned the army council was the news that the putrid waters of the Blighted Marshes had been allowed to overspill their artificial bounds to claim the land around the city walls and, most likely, a good deal of the city within.

(https://i.imgur.com/LMDQE3r.jpg)

For several many years the dykes built to protect the city from the vast expanse of wetland to its immediate west have been left untended, so that now the once noble city seems to be sliding inexorably into the filthy waters. Even the road leading to the city has sunk beneath the mire, and the moat has merged with the wide expanse of stinking swamp stretching out for almost a mile in places, riddled with bloated corpses and bustling with clouds of filthy, fat flies. Miragliano is become, as indeed most of those in the army council had ominously anticipated, like a behemoth’s noisome corpse, washed up on the shore of a murky, accursed lake, infested with a host of maggots.

(https://i.imgur.com/sy5Gt7C.jpg)

Lord Alessio spoke the plain truth when he said all this was only to be expected of a realm wracked by necromantic magics for so long. He ordered the army to march to the closest dry land to the city, there to build a strongly defensible camp …

(https://i.imgur.com/J3RzXjr.jpg)

… and dispatched the scouts with orders to patrol orbitally about the camp to ensure nothing could approach unnoticed. The siege-master Guccio was instructed to begin work on siege towers and a ram able to approach the city walls. Meanwhile, a force drawn from both our army and that of the VMC should venture into the marshes there to clear out and burn the corpses, so that none remained to be re-animated by the foe in the oncoming assault.

(https://i.imgur.com/MpwkdIB.jpg)

Captain Guccio willingly took on his task and began pressing the men needed to better speed the work, from all three allied forces. Having questioned the scouts closely, he learned that the swamp may be crossable by foot soldiers, but only with great difficulty, thus it is he intends to mount the two towers and ram upon large rafts, which can then be poled, paddled or pushed to the walls, whichever proves feasible.

(https://i.imgur.com/LGPaHpb.jpg)

While Guggio’s men laboured to fell the necessary timber, much of the rest of the army set about not dissimilar work, building the camp on a large, relatively flat hill, about two miles from the city. Guards have been set in watches, ordered to maintain strict vigilance both day and night, with execution promised for any found to be derelict in this duty in any way whatsoever.

Having been here almost a week now, it has become evident that the enemy is in no rush to sally forth to give battle but seem content instead to lurk behind the city walls and the enveloping marsh. Whenever the wind, even but a breeze, blows from the direction of the city, the stench it carries is almost overwhelming, even for soldiers inured to the noisome airs of Ebino. Every day, soldiers bring the freshest water they can find to the camp, yet there is always corruption lurking in the taste of it, eliciting many a complaint. Our supplies of ale and wine are low, for we are now at such a great distance from the living realms, and there is a dearth of foraging opportunities within reach. Worse still, a considerable proportion of the supplies we brought with us - salted flesh-meat, cured fish, even the grain – has prematurely rotted. Perhaps inevitably, although still surprising considering how little time we have been here, a number of men have contracted a camp fever and their misery rings throughout the camp as they moan and thrash delirious upon their pallets!

The scouts have, so far, consistently reported that there is nothing out there. The land around us is truly dead. They know little concerning the marshes as it would be deadly for their horses to attempt to pass through such, so for several days we knew nothing concerning the areas closest the city and out to the south and west, where the marsh has overwhelmed the land. Until, that is, the clearing party returned from their attempted labours.

The VMC’s commander, Luccia La Fanciulla, acceded to Lord Alessio’s request to employ some of her troops for the cleansing of the marshland approaches. She ordered her mercenary ogres, under the command of a Captain Ogbut, as well as the wizard Serafina Rosa to join with the crossbowmen from both Remas and Portomaggiore, the latter commanded by Captain Lupo.

(https://i.imgur.com/5hChqNL.jpg)

This force returned, however, after two days, reporting that they were entirely unable to complete their task, claiming that to do so was impossible, for not only did the marshes contain the dead, but hide the undead too. Concealed beneath the stagnant waters and quicksands, bloated and slimy zombies would suddenly reach up to clutch with a deathly grip at the legs of anyone attempting to pass through.

(https://i.imgur.com/z8BWXBf.jpg)

Several crossbowmen perished, dragged to their doom by an enemy that the others often could not even see, never mind kill. They had tried, shooting into the waters whenever they espied ripples, or the sudden appearance of a clutching, black-fingernailed hand, but learned quickly this was simply a waste of quarrels.

(https://i.imgur.com/n2zwdLc.jpg)

One of Ogbut’s ogres also perished …

(https://i.imgur.com/QI75e9y.jpg)

… tripping in the undergrowth as he tried to reach a skeletal corpse, and so tumbled into quicksand …

(https://i.imgur.com/xZCUeTR.jpg)

… there to be grabbed and pulled down, head-first, to join with the undead below.

(https://i.imgur.com/ddSo6bZ.jpg)

Half a dozen crossbowmen have apparently been frightened out of their wits, and to add to those who perished, half as many again have since succumbed to the sickness assailing the camp.

Before they left off their grisly, impossible labours, this same party discovered that the city’s moat has become an impassable stretch of noisome water, which merges with the marshland reaching out, passable but, as already revealed, dangerous, some way from the moat. The road to the city, despite becoming submerged, is wadable, like the swamp, and indeed possibly passable all the way to the gate. In answer to Lord Alessio’s query, the wizard Hakim agreed that his colossus could most likely use the road, very much doubting that any bloated zombies lurking beneath the waters could either slow or hurt it, but he immediately warned that there would be the risk of the brass, mechanically-magic giant straying from the road and succumbing to the marsh, becoming stuck or perhaps even sinking below the surface completely.

The siege master attempted to reassure the Lord General by reporting that he and his men were making good progress on the rafts, towers and ram, which should much more safely allow soldiers to reach the gate and walls, first by dragging and pushing, then by use of barge poles or oars, so that even the moat would prove no obstacle.

(https://i.imgur.com/nhQYVVO.jpg)

Lord Alessio accepted that Guccio’s ingenious moat bridges had had great success at Ebino, but stated that here there were many more difficulties to overcome, and that even should the rafts reach the gate and walls, it was unlikely that sufficient soldiers could be carried thereby to successfully overcome the defences. The rest, were they to follow by wading behind, might succumb to a multitude of dangers.

(https://i.imgur.com/60hHbOA.jpg)

This is why Lord Alessio ordered that I write to you and to several other rulers and governors of the realms between here and Remas. He is thinking of a way in which our forces might be better enabled to reach the city. What he has I mind will require a great workforce, consisting of expendable labourers and not the soldiers needed for the assault.

You are commanded to empty the gaols and prisons directly of all able-bodied prisoners, including debtors and those awaiting either trial or execution, and to gather all sturdy vagrants and beggars (whether imprisoned or not), no less than 1,000 in number, and send them all here to us, under sufficient guard to ensure that none can abscond, by whatever means and route is the quickest. You shall inform them that they are to be employed upon essential and righteous work, and furthermore, that should they survive this reparative labour, they will be pardoned of all past misdemeanours, felonies, debts and wrongdoings of any kind. And if insufficient numbers are thus obtained, then you are also to press into service all common youths unengaged in either apprenticeship or gainful employment that they too might be dispatched to us forthwith, to serve as guastatori sappers, for which service they will be suitably rewarded at the completion of this campaign.

Make haste and obey these orders in full, for the fate of Tilea lies in the successful conclusion of this war against the vampires.  They cannot be allowed to recover their strength, nor even lick their wounds, but must be exterminated completely as soon as possible.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: commissarmoody on May 21, 2021, 10:24:32 AM
the Great siege awaits!  :o
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Mark on May 21, 2021, 12:31:19 PM
Oooohhhh... the anticipation!

Looks like this will be an epic one!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on May 21, 2021, 01:40:53 PM
I hope so. But it is a campaign and if Damian (Lord Alessio) decides to delay or do something else, then the battle might not be either soon or quite what anyone expects!

I was already preparing for the assault on the city of Alcente in the far south, but the pirates have decided to ransack and raze some other settlements first. So that's another battle that may or may not happen and not for sometime. Still it keeps me on my toes and means I am not god-like in my sentience!

I'm pretty certain there will be a skaven battle soon, however. Huzzah!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: WuZhuiQiu on May 23, 2021, 03:17:25 AM
The suspense is building...

Might the pressed labourers be set to work on a causeway and more rafts...?
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on June 02, 2021, 10:19:22 PM
I think you have it, WuZhuiQui!

And now back to the other end of the campaign! A new video. This one took longer to put together. I can't wait til I get to the stories which don't need all the pictures re-doing!

Part 12:  https://youtu.be/r2bzYe_zUCg

(https://i.imgur.com/dkDbt5p.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/t59b9pW.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on June 11, 2021, 01:13:42 PM
My campaign video part 13 is now completed. 'The Little Waagh', a battle report involving a wholly goblin force taking on professional and modern Marienburg soldiers. You might already see where this is going!

https://youtu.be/pkn6dlVycd4

Booglebor says: "Watch it. It's fun!"
(https://i.imgur.com/SimqeQW.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on June 21, 2021, 08:53:43 PM
Part 14 of the video account of Tilea's troubles is up! See it at ...

https://youtu.be/bQdvhZT5S7Q

(https://i.imgur.com/hCkgZ6E.jpg)

I am now going back (for a while) to the campaign's 'present day' - I have stories to write, games to arrange, figures to paint, not necessarily in that order.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: commissarmoody on June 21, 2021, 11:41:58 PM
Love the videos.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on June 27, 2021, 09:39:20 PM
Thanks, Commissar.

Now back to the 'active' end of the campaign. Gibby, who IS the Seer Lord Urlak has checked it over and is happy with his character's thinking!


...

Annihilation
South of Campogrotta, Summer 2404

First out had been the scouts, scurrying off in all directions to ascertain if it was safe for the rest of the army to emerge. They learned that the land immediately south of the river was only partially forested, with curving valleys through grassy sloped hills in between the scattered copses and larger woods. The forest proper began to the south, a little way off, which was where, they hoped, any sylvan elves would stay. Not that they were really scouting for elven forces, but rather to ensure the Campogrottan manthings were not present on this side of the river in any strength. They had also been ordered to slaughter any and all patrols they encountered, the ensure that word of the army’s presence did not pass back to Campogrotta too soon.

When enough scouts had returned to report no sightings – apart from a band of soldiers at the bridge leading to the city, several miles off, Seer-Lord Urlak Ashoscrochor himself, with some chieftains, clawleaders and his bodyguard regiment, had been the first of the army proper to leave the tunnel mouth. The scouts had already picked a route for the army, and what scouts had not returned were concealed at intervals along it, the better to spot any enemy approach and to carry the news back before an enemy got too close to the army.

Normally, when above ground, skaven would be expected to take the most concealed route, which would mean favouring the wooded stretches, but this was not to be the case on this occasion. Urlak had observed the annihilation bombard’s progress and knew that not only was its passage best facilitated by even ground and open spaces, but that it would likely prove catastrophically disastrous to move it through any other terrain. The engine’s attendants scurried ahead to remove rocks and fallen branches, fill holes and test the firmness of the ground, having become skilled in the art. But it would be impossible for them to clear away the tangled mass of undergrowth in the woods, never mind clearing roots and branches, in anything like sufficient time to allow the bombard’s continuous progress. It could never be allowed to stop for more than a few moments at a time, otherwise everything around it, even its protectively-gowned attendants, would wither and die. Nor could it be allowed to topple or crash, or even just jolt too hard, for then the grenado carried within might prematurely detonate. And so, despite all usual practice and the strong desire to lurk in the shadows, the bombard had to travel in the open, with the army moving necessarily ahead of it (for nothing could survive very long in its wake). That said, their route would at least favour the valley bottoms, with the hills providing at least some cover from prying eyes.   



At Urlak’s request, the scouts led him to a hillside from which he would be able to watch the army embark upon the short journey. He had some decisions to make and had it in his head that it would be easier to make them if he could have a good look at the component parts of the large force at his disposal.

First to heave into view were the warriors of Clan Fiddlash’s ‘Red Jullgak’ Regiment. Armed with barbed spears and bearing round, iron-rimmed shields, they marched in good order, the sound of their hissing and snarling mingled with the clattering of their armour and gear, both louder than the noise their footfalls made upon the soft ground.

(https://i.imgur.com/qRzSXUT.jpg)

These warriors had already marched through the underpass far to the south of here, only to return without joining in battle, too late to join in the assault on Ravola. Unbloodied as they were, nevertheless, they seemed keen for a fight, and it was hard to imagine that any foe could withstand the charge of such a swarm of warriors.

(https://i.imgur.com/IXwaHOL.jpg)

Urlak’s chief scout was pointing at the regiment’s rear.

“Great and most noble lord,” hissed the scout, “See, see? How they push and shove? How even those at the back strain and strive to march on. They are eager-keen for the battle-fight, yes?”

(https://i.imgur.com/54CKFtr.jpg)

And well they might be, thought Urlak. Fiddlash’s warriors had missed the looting of Ravola, instead marching almost non-stop in the underpass for many a week (on his orders). He had taken measures to ensure that few in his army knew just how dangerous the annihilation bombard was – especially to their own army, so the warriors must be assuming they would be ordered into battle soon. Their pent-up desire to fight could well be reaching fever-pitch. Or … perhaps the bombard’s potentially disastrous deadliness was no secret at all, and those at the regiment’s rear were pushing due to a desire to keep as far as possible from it. Everyone knew it poisoned the ground wherever it passed, but he had been hoping the otherwise ignorant masses had yet to realise just how much damage it would do if it were to miscarry in some way.

(https://i.imgur.com/tcb3Mr1.jpg)

Urlak watched the warriors intently, for he had to decide which parts of his army to send ahead with the annihilation bombard. When it fired, hopefully bringing about the death of every single creature in Campogrotta, it had to be close enough to lob the grenade into the city. It would need guards to ensure it attained the required proximity, and not an insubstantial number, otherwise it could fail simply because an enemy patrol intercepted it.

He did not intend, however, to have his entire force, or even the greater part of it, close to the weapon when it fired, for if anything went wrong, he could lose quite literally everything. He had lived long enough to know that when it came to such experimental novelties, they should never be relied upon. Even the army’s tried and tested engines, used for many a century, were prone to catastrophic malfunctions, and indeed there was barely a warpstone weapon of any size, even as small as the jezzails, that could be fully trusted, such was the chaotic nature of the magically powerful, supralunary stone. Furthermore, the instability of the stone waxed in direct proportion to its potency. From what he had been told of the bombard, the grenado housed within its massive barrel contained possibly the most substantial and dense concentrations of powdered warpstone ever fashioned. If it was to misfire, then every living thing within a mile (or more) would likely become a fatality – which is exactly what it was supposed to do when it worked successfully, too, but at a location more conducive to harming the enemy.

(https://i.imgur.com/A3haH8r.jpg)

While he had been pondering, the plague monks had passed, and then the lesser war machines had trundled by – some propelled by their own engines, others hauled by slaves. Bundles of jezzails and pavaises were strapped to several of them, a practise permitted by the engineers provided the jezzailers assisted, as required, to facilitate the engines’ passage. Such activity was rare enough that that jezzailers were happy to oblige in return for not having to lug their heavy weapons and shields on the march. Urlak knew some of the army’s lighter troops, such as the globadiers and giant rat swarms, were not moving in the line of march, but travelling on a parallel course, like outriders might in a manthings’ army, as a further precautionary measure against ambush.

By the time the slaves began to pass, he knew the bombard would be close. His commanders had planned the army’s order of march according to the importance of its regiments. The most valuable, the clan warriors, were at in the vanguard, whilst towards the rear, where the bombard was, were the more expendable regiments, including the slaves. This way, if the bombard were to be toppled by holes in the ground, strike a fallen tree, be struck itself by a tumbling boulder, or the ever-broiling grenade within it were simply to grow catastrophically hot, any of which could catalyse its premature explosion, then it would be the slaves who suffered most from the ensuing blast.

Even if the bombard suffered no fault, then mere proximity to its peculiarly poisonous ammunition was enough to sap the life from all forms of flora and fauna, and any unprotected skaven. It was therefore considered best, by all who had a say in the matter, that the slaves ought to be the ones to suffer the consequences of its deadly caress rather than anyone other part of the army. Of course, the protectively clothed warriors, the bombard’s attendants and guards, had to be close to it, but then they breathed filtered air and shielded their eyes with thick, tinted lenses.

Clan Fiddlash boasted a great many slaves, most of which were mustered as a fighting force. They passed by in ranks and files, escorted by whip wielding overseers to encourage the steadiness of their pace and the maintenance of their dressing.

(https://i.imgur.com/Xdwezol.jpg)

It now occurred to Urlak that the overseers were unprotected, a notion that had not previously crossed his mind. He reassured himself with the thought that should the slaves’ masters succumb to the bombard’s poisonous proximity, then the slaves would surely be suffering exactly similarly, and thus unable to take advantage of their guards’ incapacity.

(https://i.imgur.com/oBDtPbz.jpg)

Urlak was pleased to see that none appeared to be in any way affected by the poison. He knew how useful such a horde of slaves could prove, and he would much rather they died serving his purpose in battle than perished simply moving from one place to another. They were not armed with spears, only short swords, giving the advantage to their whip-armed overseers. Any who had shown a hint of intransigence were chained, which would make their journey considerably more difficult. He noticed few were so chained, which boded well regarding their usefulness in battle. Of course, they did not possess shields, for that would make the whips a much less effective encouragement.

(https://i.imgur.com/Xdwezol.jpg)

Studying the slaves, he pondered. Could they be trusted to form part of the bombard’s escort when it advanced to do its cruel work upon the city? Certainly, any force attempting to reach the war engine would struggle to make headway through such a mass of blade-wielding desperadoes.

(https://i.imgur.com/zy6Xlz0.jpg)

But no - he had other tasks in mind for them. Should the bombard be successful in launching its deadly burden, the slaves would be the perfect choice to enter the city afterwards and ensure nothing had survived, as well as to fetch from it whatever treasures and goods could be salvaged. The warpstone poison harmed only living things, not precious metals and the like, and so there could well be good plunder to be had. Better to employ his more dispensable soldiers for such a task.

His musings were disturbed by the chief scout hissing, “Slave scum-filth!”

(https://i.imgur.com/m2E2eOc.jpg)

Urlak glanced at the scout.

“Forgive-forget, please-please, great lord. My words were unnecessary-unedifying.”

Urlak was not really listening and instead returned his attention to the slaves. They were led by what looked like a standard, and in a sense it was, but not one to show allegiance or to symbolize their honour or bravery, but rather solely to guide them – to indicate the direction and speed of their march and where exactly to form up whenever the command was given. Failure to do either resulted in the usual punishment.

(https://i.imgur.com/7ttHtFN.jpg)

On the hill behind Urlak were his best soldiers, his bodyguard regiment, the Yellow Hoods, who accompanied him at all times.

(https://i.imgur.com/otZknO3.jpg)

This regiment’s officers provided a useful source of intelligence for him, especially regarding the mood and disposition of the army. Despite the fact they almost always disagreed over some details, the very nature of their disagreement could itself assist Urlak in ascertaining the truth.

(https://i.imgur.com/nZ31Km8.jpg)

His bodyguard had fought very well at Ravola, never once leaving his side even when suffering heavy casualties from the enemy’s arrows and hurled rocks. He now wondered whether, as it had so proven its obedient loyalty, this was the regiment he should send ahead with the bombard?

(https://i.imgur.com/JI9QXNP.jpg)

Of all the regiments he commanded, this was the one he could trust most to follow the letter of his commands, and not to allow fear or caution to dilute their obedience. Yet, if he were to order them upon that task, they would not then be under his eyes, and who knew what weaknesses might manifest when they were bereft of his stern gaze? More importantly, if he did send them away, he himself would have no bodyguard, and that would not do at all.

(https://i.imgur.com/YKuT4LR.jpg)

Put simply, he did not trust either Clan Fiddlash or Clan Skravell anywhere near enough to risk being separated from his guards.

He turned to the nearest Yellow Hood clawleader …

(https://i.imgur.com/px7Bsp8.jpg)

… and asked,

“Where is the bombard? It ought and should be here now. Is it delayed? Is it stalled? What and why?”

“Noble leader, it comes. I feel and smell it, in the ground and on the wind-breeze.”

Moments later Urlak sensed it too. The clawleader had sharp senses, better than his own. Urlak would remember this, for it could prove useful in future.

“There, there, most high commander,” said the chief scout, pointing down the valley.

(https://i.imgur.com/DnnpriU.jpg)

Before long the Clan Skryre warriors of the bombard’s guard regiment were below, the swish of their waxed linen and leather robes adding an extra sheen to the rattling sound of their passage. The bombard rolled behind, pushed by the mechanical wheel in which a new driver had to be placed almost every week, despite the several protective layers he wore!

(https://i.imgur.com/QhS76Bl.jpg)

Urlak could see the most senior ranking Skryre commander upon the guard regiment’s other flank, a warlock-engineer named Golchramik. He wore a mask about his upper face, and his eyes were covered by glass, but, unlike all the others, he had no muzzle-mask.

(https://i.imgur.com/ZxJxzBP.jpg)

This intrigued Urlak. Was the engineer just careful, always staying ahead of the bombard? Or was he impervious to its poisonous aura, perhaps due to long exposure to similar warpstone effects? If the latter, then it did not bode well for the bombard’s effectiveness, for if this fellow could develop sufficient immunity to forego the wearing of a full mask, then could the grenado really be as deadly as Clan Skryre had promised? Perhaps the engineer was employing some other trick? It was not inconceivable that the substantial tank upon his back was plumbed into his throat or lungs, or that he employed subtle magics to counteract the poison. Urlak knew he was guessing, so decided not to consider the issue further. It mattered not.

(https://i.imgur.com/R9Pp8Ih.jpg)

The rest of those close to the bombard were much more comprehensively covered. Every warrior in the guard regiment wore a full mask, from the snout of which stretched a flexible, filter tube leading to an arrangement of tanks on their backs. There were several different kinds of mask, and an equally varied selection of tanks. Urlak wondered whether, after the engine’s firing, the proportioning of the survivors would reveal which combination was the most effective?

(https://i.imgur.com/PviuWNv.jpg)

The warriors’ visibility must be restricted, he thought, for they saw the world through bulbous lenses of smoked glass fixed tightly in their leather masks. Whether this part-blindness would prove a perilous impediment was debatable, for if they were fighting near the bombard, whoever they faced would no doubt be seriously suffering (as did any unprotected creature) from its poisonous aura, which would surely more than even the odds. It seemed to Urlak that a more likely source of trouble was the proximity of their bared blades to the long filter tubes, especially when employed in the swish-swash of frenzied combat.

(https://i.imgur.com/O0v7GIA.jpg)

Squinting, he wondered whether this was the reason the tubes were so thick? It looked like the Skryre warriors had bound coarse cloth about them, perhaps hoping that a blade would cut only as deep as the binding and not all the way through to the tube within? Or perhaps, and this seemed more likely, the cloths were intended to seal (if only partially) any gashes and allow sufficient continued breathing until the tube could be properly patched?

(https://i.imgur.com/0HyXZLe.jpg)

Again, however, what did any of this matter? Right now, he needed to think like a warlord and not a tinkering engineer. 

(https://i.imgur.com/F3t37B3.jpg)

The obvious choices regarding to send ahead with the bombard where those warriors garbed in protective gear. Of course, the bombard’s attendants and crew must go, and its guard regiment should obviously accompany it, for they were the only substantial body of troops who could fight in close proximity to it without suffering.

(https://i.imgur.com/dAFk4r9.jpg)

But who and what else to send? The globadiers were similarly protected, and so they would be a sensible choice. As for the rest, he might send those he considered expendable, and if not the slaves, as he had already considered, then perhaps the Plague Monks, their numbers having been sorely diminished by the assault on Ravola? What was left of them could prove useful instead of simply perishing in amongst the multiple melees of a large battle?

Or should he send those that might prove useful to the bombard’s efficiency, such as the warlock engineers? They could assist in its movement and firing should its crew and assistants become casualties. And if he were to send the engineers, then why not send one or more of his army’s lesser engines of war? It could be a cunning ploy to order several machines ahead, for then the bombard would be less conspicuous, hidden ‘like among like’, and whatever enemies were encountered might be distracted by the other engines, no less massive than the bombard and indeed some of them more so. The enemy might thus attack entirely the wrong machines and waste what little time they had stop the bombard. 

(https://i.imgur.com/wUxJJKU.jpg)

The bombard itself was chugging by below, three attendants on ether side of it. He chuckled for it looked almost comical, like a massive clockwork toy. Clatter-clatter, clunk-clunk it went. But then he saw how the grass behind it visibly withered then crumbled into powder moments after its passage, and the sight pushed all ideas that it was a toy from his mind.

(https://i.imgur.com/9ny0F5a.jpg)

Could it really destroy a city, and the army within? If so, how best to ensure it got close enough to do so?

He had until the evening to decide.
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Dr Mathias on June 28, 2021, 01:23:24 AM
Great write-up. "Thinking like an engineer" :)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Gibby on June 28, 2021, 06:26:13 PM
Some of your finest photos yet, and a great story!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on June 28, 2021, 11:23:37 PM
Some of your finest photos yet, and a great story!

Thanks Gibby. We have a game to arrange. Maybe (considering the ongoing RW situation) another play-by-email?

I would roll for what part of their forces the enemy had in the area, what they could get there in time, how well your 'ruse; works, and (importantly) how seriously they took the threat. They know you have a new kind of weapon, from what the Arrabiatti and the Brabanzon told them concerning Ravola. But it is highly doubtful they could guess its real potential.

Point is, if I am gonna roll anyway to determine Mazallini's response and the forces present, should I speed the process up by also commanding the NPC force? Then again, this could be a very important fight, maybe I should ask one of the campaign players to volunter as per usual?

I wonder if Perette will be there, and/or Glammerscale? Either on the field or in the city, they could perish. Also, Ottaviano and Baccio are most likely in the city! Like I said, an important game!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: WuZhuiQiu on June 29, 2021, 02:32:37 AM
And the suspense builds!
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on June 29, 2021, 09:40:06 PM
I know, WuZhuiQiu. I can't wait for the battle. Gibby needs to decide what portion of his forces Urlak will send ahead with the machine. Which portion is needed for success and most expendable if it goes wrong!

And now back to several years before in this yo yo account of the campaign. Part 15 of the video record ...

See it here - https://youtu.be/kVzC91tV2ug

It is short and meant to be a bit silly!

(https://i.imgur.com/gTJweTT.jpg)
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: dwbullock on June 30, 2021, 12:59:41 PM
Love these.  You've sent me down quite the rabbit hole of purchasing orcs and goblins, and more pistoler bits.

Good job.
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on June 30, 2021, 01:17:18 PM
Love these.  You've sent me down quite the rabbit hole of purchasing orcs and goblins, and more pistoler bits.

Good job.

Have a look at this post all about my gobbo pirates from an old thread ... https://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=120442.msg1510580#msg1510580
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on July 07, 2021, 09:11:21 AM
Here is Tilea's Troubles Part 16 - a story concerning the Viadazzan Crusade's birth pangs, as the Duchess Maria unexpectedly arrives at the city.

See the video at https://youtu.be/2J0VUSI2tag

(https://i.imgur.com/u5H884J.jpg)
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on July 12, 2021, 02:37:11 PM
Part 17 of Tilea's Troubles is up.

The common people of Viadaza, with a smattering of priests and minor nobility, prepare for war against the vampire duke!

See it here  -  https://youtu.be/f6_gQ3REQBs

(https://i.imgur.com/cKNRUuc.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/I4cMi7h.jpg)
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: swiftnick on July 12, 2021, 07:12:59 PM
I have finally caught up. Great stuff!
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Codsticker on July 13, 2021, 04:56:30 AM
A fantastic tale!
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on July 20, 2021, 05:22:39 PM
Thanks muchly, Codsticker.

...

Tilea's Troubles Part 18 is completed!

This is the second prologue to a greenskin versus greenskin battle report. The Mighty Khurnag accuses goblin boss Gurmliss of lying to hide his cowardice!

See here: https://youtu.be/xhsfgxtQmHs

(https://i.imgur.com/iMcrWS7.jpg)
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: swiftnick on July 22, 2021, 07:33:58 PM
Ha I had actually forgotten about this bit of the story!
Have bought some of those lads from Alternative armies
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on July 23, 2021, 07:19:39 PM
It really does seem like ancient history to me, Swiftnick. But still fun to turn into videos. Meanwhile, here is something from the present day of the campaign. I did say I was going to try and work both ends!

...

Twice, Thrice and More Shall I Kill-Slaughter, and Never Look Upon Thy Face

A Battle Report, Part 1

Just south of the city of Campogrotta

(https://i.imgur.com/6qLqHrt.jpg)
(The Table)

The first of the ratto uomo to arrive within sight of the river were the gunners of one of the jezzail companies. They hefted their burdensome barrels and pavaises to the top of a little hill from where they could see the bridge, the toll keeper’s cottage and the body of mercenary crossbowmen guarding the place.

(https://i.imgur.com/AHQ8OQu.jpg)

The enemy had obviously been forewarned of their approach, as they were formed up in an orderly manner, and sheltered behind their own pavaises, some of which were painted with their company’s emblem, also visible on the little ensign fluttering in the breeze above them.

(https://i.imgur.com/nfJpteU.jpg)

Lord Urlak had sent the jezzails with exactly such a target in mind. His orders were clear – they were to kill any enemies who might threaten the annihilation bombard with missiles, and do so as quickly as possible. Of all the forces available to him, Lord Urlak must have thought them best able to do so due to the range of their long pieces and the potency of their warpstone bullets. Annoyingly, however, the two companies of jezzails had been ordered to advance separately, to cover a wider area. This first company, five in number, saw immediately that the enemy crossbowmen were numerous enough that it would take considerable time to drive them off, time in which they could possibly shoot their own weapons at the engine.

Their concerns were not that different from those of the other jezzailers, far to the right of them, who had similarly crested a hill. From there they descried a body of horsemen.

(https://i.imgur.com/P80bOrp.jpg)

The riders were one of the several companies of light horse that had been continuously circumnavigating the city of Campogrotta, presumably because the enemy commander suspected an attack was imminent. Of practical necessity, the horsemen carried lighter crossbows than their foot counterparts, but their mobility meant they could move quicker and closer to bring them to bear. So it was that the leader of the second company of jezzailers was also cursing the decision to divide the two.

(https://i.imgur.com/i4lfyFB.jpg)

Nevertheless, knowing what else was approaching to guard the engine, the jezzailers had to admit that the situation was nowhere near as bad as it could have been. They faced only thirty or so light troops, nothing like an army. Campogrotta possessed considerable forces, of both men and dwarfs, and if even half its strength was brought to bear here, the annihilation bombard could not possibly get close enough to launch its deadly burden.

Perhaps Lord Urlak’s plan to draw the enemy’s attention northwards to Buldio had worked? Despite the recent death of the underworld emissary he had lodged in Campogrotta, the remaining ratto uomo’s spies and assassins (who had assisted the emissary) still had considerable influence on the criminal fraternities of Campogrotta, most importantly debts they could call in to command the menthings to commit arson and stir up riots in Buldio. Once the town was burning, then whether the enemy mistakenly believed Urlak’s assault had begun there or recognised the truth that violent unrest and fiery rebellion had broken out mattered not, as either way they would surely be distracted, and forced to take their eyes off the southern approach. Considering Lord Urlak’s army was last known to have captured Ravola in the north, then it was doubtful that many eyes were looking south in the first place.

Below the first company of jezzailers the horde of slaves now marched towards the bridge.

(https://i.imgur.com/OrA2qPP.jpg)

Just like the rest of the army, the slaves had marched ahead of the engine throughout the long journey here. If the engine had moved in the vanguard through the underpass, then its poisonous passage in such an enclosed space would so have corrupted the tunnel that it was unlikely even one warrior would have emerged. Here, however, even above ground, there was more to the slaves’ advance positioning – their sheer weight of numbers was expected to block and hold off any enemy attempting to reach the engine.

(https://i.imgur.com/RQexF3e.jpg)

Lord Urlak had given considerable thought to the matter of who exactly to send ahead with the engine. No-one had been surprised when he included the slaves in the escort. This was exactly the sort of task such despised, disposable and desperate troops were best suited for. As they approached the river the chains had been removed from their wrist shackles and blades had been distributed liberally amongst them. They were told the enemy was weak and easy to kill, unworthy of the attention of the rest of the army, and that once defeated they would be freely permitted to feast on the enemies’ flesh as a reward. The half-starved slaves now moved with an alacrity never before witnessed, chattering and salivating in equal measure, and in so large a mob that it was difficult to imagine anything could get through them.

(https://i.imgur.com/ZEG0bTj.jpg)

On the right of the line, although not as far out as the second jezzail company, the remnant of the once large plague monk regiment advanced between two clumps of trees, the sun behind them. Despite having been badly mauled when taking the walls at Ravola, rather than perturbing them, the experience seemed only to make them more keen for battle.

(https://i.imgur.com/xj48GUf.jpg)

The bells on their standard and born by their musician clanged, interspersed with cymbal crashes as and when the musician thought fit. Lord Urlak had apparently decided that at less than half their original strength they were no longer particularly useful to his main army, and so ordered them to join the dangerously unstable engine’s escort. If they perished, he had been heard to say, then it would be like finishing off an already wounded beast of burden and so no great loss. He simply intended to get some use out of them before they died.

At the centre of the ragged line trundled the annihilation bombard, accompanied as ever by half a dozen mask wearing attendants, scuttling busily around it to ensure its smooth progress.

(https://i.imgur.com/hklOzqB.jpg)

They were a little less active now, for they were approaching the moment it would finally fire, as well as drawing close to the enemy. Clutching bared blades, they understood that on this last stretch of their journey, defending their ward from attackers should be their priority. And then, when the engine reached the river side – which the engineers had deemed was just close enough to the city to launch the grenado - they would be needed to assist in its firing. The city killing bomb it contained was as unstable as it had ever been, for with every broiling moment that passed it only ever became more so. Indeed, in the dark tunnel and even last night under the light of the moon, the attendants noticed the huge iron barrel enclosing the grenado had begun glow with the etheric heat of its burden. The engine itself looked as new as the day it was built, however, for such was the poison and heat it gave off that neither mould nor rust were able to find a foothold. For a week now the driver, the last of a succession of such, had not left the seat at the heart of the wheel that pushed the bombard. Not only was there no-one left to replace him, or just work a shift, but most of his bones had become almost wholly fused in place. Besides, he had long since realised he was effectively already dead – he just hadn’t quite crossed the seam into the afterlife.

(https://i.imgur.com/OAXmuTB.jpg)

The bright light of the sun seemed to spur the engine on. One of the front-most attendants bore a sharp-edged shovel, which as well as being necessary to smooth the ground, would now, if required, be utilised as a weapon; while the other bore a staff tipped with an ancient, once almost completely  sapped, warpstone shard, which in the mysteriously sympathetic manner of magical attraction, was able to draw off some of the stray energies emanating from the engine so that the attendants might survive that little bit longer. And it had apparently worked, for it now glowed brightly like a shard of sky stone fallen fresh from the heavens, brimming with the arcane energy it had leeched over the last months. Its bearer was, in his own increasingly addled way, fascinated to see what it would do if employed as a weapon!

Inevitably, the engine’s guard regiment marched close by, every warrior garbed similarly to the attendants, though bristling with many more blades.

(https://i.imgur.com/tFmFzlX.jpg)

This was their moment, of course, and they had to be here. Thanks to their waxed robes and copper filtration tanks, they alone could march close to the engine without succumbing to its deadly aura  – without blood pouring from blinded eyes, without their bones fusing or their muscles withering to nought, without their lungs crumbling into dust or their hearts shrivelling into dry husks.

As they approached the river, their commander, the warlock engineer Golchramik, strode in the front rank, clutching his novel firework and bent under the weight of the massive copper contraption upon his back, part of which powered his experimental weapon while the rest fed cleansed air to his lungs.

(https://i.imgur.com/nZRKTWJ.jpg)

He glanced about him: at the engine, at the regiments in the line and at the enemy up ahead. This fight was to be the culmination of all that he had worked for, for many a month, so he wanted to get it right. It now dawned on him, despite the safety any skaven naturally felt when part of a mob, that he was not in the right spot.

(https://i.imgur.com/nUJh5oA.jpg)

He had to be able to move nimbly, to spot, target and launch his rocket at anything that threatened the engine, wherever they came from, whilst directing both the guard and the engine as changing  circumstances required. So, he made his way to the regiment’s flank, then stepped out alone. The huge mob of slaves and the deadly jezzails on the hill would surely prove sufficient to guard the engine’s left …

(https://i.imgur.com/vjDSQum.jpg)

… but here on the right, with woods up ahead where anything could be hidden in the trees, and a cottage which might also harbour some unseen foe, he would have to be ready himself to react quickly.

(https://i.imgur.com/8LdhiZN.jpg)

This was how the engine and its escort approached the river upon the southern outskirts of Campogrotta. If the annihilation bombard successfully reached the river’s edge and launched its burden without mishap, then the entire population of Campogrotta, as well as the army within, would be destroyed.

(https://i.imgur.com/RXpq8cs.jpg)

What a glorious way to defeat the foe!

Battle to follow.
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on July 23, 2021, 07:24:15 PM
(BT, Too late to change it now but I should've straightened the annihilation bombard model. Just too caught up in it all to notice at the time!!!)


Appendix

This is for those among you who like this sort of thing. I can’t imagine there are many of you!

This was a ‘play-by-email’ battle (due to distances and pandemics!) Put very simply, the scenario was as follows:

The skaven player must get the annihilation mortar to the river’s edge to be in range of the city. If he achieved this then the engine could attempt to fire, which might actually kill just about everyone in the city.

In truth, the situation was much more complicated, as the annihilation mortar was a very unreliable contraption, and the grenade it was to fire entirely untested and unstable. (See the rules below.) Indeed, should it be damaged, destroyed or misfire, it was potentially deadly to everyone on the tabletop! This means that the skaven player, as described in the prologue story (link) had to choose the escort/guard force carefully – getting the balance between effectiveness and disposability just right!



The skaven had several 1000 points of forces in the tunnels (other forces were acting as garrisons), plus the annihilation mortar. Their scouts reported there were likely 3500+ pts of men and dwarfs in the city, being the Compagnia del Sole mercenary army and a brigade of Karak Borgo dwarfs, with plenty of guards posted and regular light-horse patrols. Also present in the city was the fire wizard Perette, commander of the last remnant of the Bretonnian ‘Brabanzon’ company.

The men and dwarfs were NPC factions, or at least, the dwarf king PC wasn’t present in the city and so couldn’t technically be involved. They knew a lot about the skaven assault on Ravola as Perette was there, and were also aware of the existence of some sort of new and incredibly poisonous contraption which arrived at Ravola after its capture. Despite not having seen it with their own eyes, the brigand ‘Arrabiatti’ riders had reported the dead and deadly ground left behind it wherever it travelled.

In order to make success more likely, Lord Urlak (well, the campaign player playing him) ordered a distraction involving arson, riot (etc) at the settlement of Buldio to the north of the city, in order to draw out as many of the enemy's forces as possible, so that they would have less available to send against the engine. Annoyingly, however, the emissary he had previously sent to create a secret, underworld faction of servants had recently died. Such work is inherently dangerous! Obviously, the emissary would have been the best by far at organising such distraction - not only was this area of expertise, but it was he who had fashioned the bonds, cemented the allegiances, and created a secret, petty ‘empire’ of criminal scum he could manipulate (see the story – link). Now only a spy and assassin remained operational within the city, both of whom excelled in other skills!

I would have given the emissary a 6+ (on 2D6) chance of getting a 'good' result at Buldio, but as it was the spy and assassin attempting to employ the 'network' the emissary had already built, I stipulated an 8+ (on 2D6) chance of getting a properly noticeable result. A poor result (7 or less) would mean perhaps one fire, or some bar brawling, etc, which would most likely only cause a small force to be sent to investigate, if even that. A good result, 8+, would achieve something more impressive - several fires spreading, joining, and some frantic activity in the form of panic, plundering and rioting, which could even appear like a skaven attack. This would mean the GM (me) determining what % of the available forces were sent to deal with the trouble &/or threat, with the exact choices of units being rolled for. Importantly, whoever and whatever went to Buldio would NOT be able to ‘support-move’ south onto the tabletop of the game.

Do you follow me so far?

Myself and the Skaven player had a great time hatching all this. Boy did we feel foolish near the end of the game when it dawned on both of is that there was a massive error of logic in Urlak’s thinking!

His aim was to destroy the enemy army. He intended to use Clan Skryre’s deadly invention to do so. Worried that the enemy might send out enough of a force to prevent the engine from approaching close enough, he orders the distraction.

Sounds great, eh? But can you spot the flaw?

It is this: Suppose everything works. The distraction draws a substantial, enemy force northwards out of the city, while the engine manages, despite the force sent southwards from the city to stop it, to shoot. The city is destroyed! Hurr …. Wait! How much of the enemy army is now in the city?

All this effort and it is possible the enemy army is still substantially intact!

Still, Lord Urlak’s player could console himself that if the engine failed spectacularly, then at least (at the cost of him losing whatever he sent with the engine) the enemy forces sent south would all most likely perish!



Further scenario details …

The skaven had to decide exactly what units would enter the field (i.e. table) with the mortar, and what unit(s) he wanted near enough to the field to have the option of a support move onto the table from his own edge. These latter units would be affected by a table-wide miscast blast result, but at a reduced effect as they are that bit further away - 1 T test per model instead of D3?

The mortar must cross the field to the river's edge (near the far side of the table) to be in range to shoot at the city. The river would be about 28 or 30" from the edge of the skaven deployment zone, and as the engine moves 2D6" a turn, i.e. an estimated 7" per turn, it would take (on average) 4 turns to get there.

The game, being neither a set battle (6 turns) or a siege (8 turns), but somehow in between, would last 7 turns. If the mortar was not in range by the end of turn 7, it could fire for a 50/50 chance of reaching the city, which after all the misfire possibilities, etc, would not leave it with much chance of success. Indeed, if it had not reached the river by the end of tit’s last move it would really have to fire, because by then it would have been clattering around faster than ever done before leaving the crew terrified not to fire the grenado for fear of it almost certainly blowing up in the barrel. Up until now, the engine had been ‘steady as she goes’ with attendants clearing a path. Not so careening around a tabletop!

The enemy was to have one randomly chosen light horse unit (possibly with a character) on the table. As one of three such units on regular patrols they would be the one that spotted the engine’s approach. They would also have whatever unit (plus character(s)?) were guarding the bridge, again randomly chosen from a list of the sort of units that might be assigned such a duty.

The enemy's other two light horse units would be able to attempt a support-move onto the table, on turn 2 with a 4+ roll, then by rolling 3+ on any subsequent turn. The GM to roll a D8 to determine where exactly they arrived: 1-4 via the bridge, 5-6 left-flank table edge, 7-8 right-flank table edge.

The rest of the men/dwarf army, whatever remains left in the after the GM has rolled for whatever goes north, can begin support moves onto the table from T2. Each turn it can allowed to support move one unit (with a 5+ chance of a character) on from its own table edge, being the far side of the river. The GM is to roll to determine which exact unit, using a list of what is in the city. This would represent whatever happened to be close enough!

(Note: If a player had been in charge of the men/dwarfs, I would have allowed them to choose the unit they wanted to support move, then roll to see if the unit did so. If it failed, they could choose another and try again, and so on until a unit arrived.)



The annihilation mortar

This is meant to be the current culmination of Clan Skryre’s warpstone weaponry. Not high fantasy, I don’t think, but very ‘low fantasy’, due to all the difficulties it presents, even to its users. Even just moving it – or more accurately, not moving it – is difficult due to its poisonous aura! And I has all innate unreliability and instability such an experimental skaven weapon should have.

It was a fun modelling project, has inspired three stories so far, and is a challenge even for the Skaven player to employ. It was meant to make the skaven a suitably challenging campaign threat as the Ogres are gone, the Undead are fading fast, and the Sartosan pirates are somewhat limited in the threat they present (certainly in terms of their likely longevity). Oh, and the skaven have been part of the campaign from the start, from before the start, sneaking about, manipulating, spying, etc. They were even mentioned in the second campaign story! (Unresolved as yet.) Also, it is a case of: “Have army, will get it into the campaign!”

...

First, we needed rules for the now well (story) established poisonous area around the engine.

The grenado has been brewing for some time. This is why the attendants and the engine’s guards wear lots of protective gear. Units coming close to the mortar should suffer from its now famous poisonous aura, presenting an interesting challenge in tabletop battles.  It leaves a trail of withered vegetation and dead animals wherever it passes!

It could be damaged (admittedly at great risk to everyone on the table) by a war engine. BUT it is likely that skaven advance scouts would spot any war-engines ahead and that therefore there could be a game when the skaven try to knock out said engines. If an entire army was with the engine, or any substantial force, then skaven advance troops would fail, or just not attempt an attack, but the enemy force would be in great danger if it ends up on the tabletop with the engine.  Besides, the skaven advance guard could forewarn the mortar’s attendants and it could then travel a different path to close in on its target.

All of this means that it is likely (though not guaranteed) that it would be some speedy, mobile enemy force that tries to take on the engine. It could be deployed with an army, and fighting against an army, obviously, but this is not what its designers intended, and if such a situation was about to happen, the engine might just lob its very long-range globe at the enemy army anyway! Probably, while it was a safe distance from the skaven main army! Which again leads to a tabletop scenario in which enemy scout types take it on, or some other form of outlying force, even a defensive force!

Whatever sort of tabletop scuffle it became involved in, it is an engine which kills the very land over which it passes, and requires suitably protected attendants, and thus will harm any who get too close. We needed rules!

There was potentially useful information in the existing Skaven rules:

Skaven Book, p. 46 Censer Bearers, Plague Censer rule
This is useful as it shows the effect of being close to the gaseous mixture (described as a ‘fog’) of warpstone and poisons.

Skaven Book, p. 49: Plague furnace “Enshrouded by fog” rule
There is also similar T test (etc) when the furnace uses the Billowing Death effect (template based) in Shooting phase.

Also from the  Skaven Book …

p. 47 “Fume addled crew” - Plague-claw catapult crew’s senses dulled by the toxic fumes.
p. 59  Poisoned Wind globes.
p. 63 Poisoned Wind Mortar.

So, I came up with a first draft set of rules, passed it to the skaven player, tweaked quite a lot, then got the other campaign players to ‘ok’ them.

The rules …

Proximity to the Mortar

At start of each of its own side’s turns, roll D6 on following table. Effects apply until the next turn, then roll again.

1 Everyone feels queasy near the engine. No game effect.
2 Everyone within 12" of the engine's muzzle is at -1 S & -1 Init (being dizzy & disorientated).
3 As 2. Also any unit within 6" of the engine's muzzle during the skaven shooting phase takes D3 hits, each affected model rolls a T test, with no armour saves, & if fails, takes a wound.
4 As 2. Also any unit within 12" of the engine's muzzle during the skaven shooting phase D3 hits, each affected model rolls a T test, with no armour saves, & if fails, takes a wound.
5 As 2. Also any model within 6” of the engine's muzzle during the skaven shooting phase, takes a Toughness test, with no armour saves, & if fails, takes a wound.
6 As 2. Also any model within 12” of the engine's muzzle during the skaven shooting phase, takes a Toughness test, no armour saves, & if fails, takes a wound.

Note: The engine attendants & suited guards do not take these tests unless they are currently engaged in combat, when they are not quite as sealed up and protected (what with flailing around etc), in which case in each combat phase they are fighting the above rules apply, but they do get a 5+ ‘protective gear’ save (which works just like an armour save).   

The mortar’s crew/attendants

If all the mortar’s attendants are killed (like a war engine's crew) the engine cannot fire! 5 attendants, not 6, as the model in the wheel part cannot fire it. Kill him too (6th wound) and it cannot move. The crew should fight as per the normal war engine in combat rules. This vulnerability is why the protective gear wearing guard regiment travels with the engine.

Also, the attendants are required to nurse the engine continually, to regulate it and vent it's emissions as required. As soon as the 5 attendants are dead, roll an artillery dice per Skaven shooting phase. A misfire counts as a misfire as if it was shooting. This is another reason the engine has an assigned guard regiment.



Firing the engine

Size-wise it is a bit like a plague claw catapult; in terms of mobility, it is like a doomwheel; while its armament is akin to a poisoned wind mortar in weapon - but much bigger and very much more powerful.  One firing only.

A ranged shot into a settlement or an army
Range: Several table lengths (Effectively 3 or 4)

Strength and damage: It can kill a settlement, even a city, leaving only a handful of survivors, weak and ill. Each character in the city has to pass D3 Toughness tests to escape, with no character recovery roll if they die. (Most characters should, I think, get out alive.) Each unit within the city must pass D3 Toughness tests for every model to escape, with no casualty recovery rolls. (This should more than decimate the units.)



If it goes off anywhere on the tabletop
Use the same rules as above to escape the tabletop. Already received wounds might have weakened characters already, making it less likely that they escape alive. All deaths are counted as 'overkills' for casualty purposes, so there is no recovery roll. The attendants etc, do not get to count their special armour - this blast is way more than a mere poisonous leak!



To fire the mortar
Roll TWO numbered artillery dice. If either one is a misfire, it has misfired …

Misfire Chart, D6
1-2 Foomph! Explodes in the tube. The tabletop explosion rules apply. Anyone within 8" of the engine is drained of all life and becomes a dried husk (like the Nazis at the end of Raiders of the Lost Ark!).
3-5 Wildly off target. Roll D6, on 1-4 it misses the target city/army/camp/settlement and poisons a large swathe of ground nearby. GM to determine if anyone is hurt by the blast. 0n 5 or 6 it lands somewhere on the table, and then the tabletop explosion rules are applied.
6 Clogged. The super-grenade is stuck on the barrel. It can attempt to fire again, but next time must roll 3 artillery dice. Additionally, on any subsequent turn it does not fire, it has to roll a single artillery dice in the shooting phase to see if it misfires just sitting inside the barrel. If it does, roll on this modified chart …

1-2 Foomph! Explodes in the tube. The tabletop explosion rules apply. Anyone within 8" of the engine is drained of all life and becomes a dried husk (like the Nazis at the end of Raiders of the Lost Ark!).
3-5 Shoots. Roll D6, on a 1 it hits its originally intended target, on 2-4 it misses the target city/army/camp/settlement and poisons a large swathe of ground nearby. GM to determine if anyone is hurt by the blast. 0n 5 or 6 it lands somewhere on the table, and then the tabletop explosion rules are applied.
6 Clogged. The super-grenade is stuck on the barrel. It can attempt to fire again, but next time must roll 3 artillery dice. Additionally, any subsequent turn it does not fire, it has to roll an artillery dice in the shooting phase to see if it misfires just sitting inside the barrel. If it does, roll on this same chart again.



If it is destroyed (before firing) by either a war engine or a unit/character/monster

When it is destroyed, and every Skaven turn afterwards (unless it has already exploded), roll D6

1-2 Foomph! Grenado Explodes. The tabletop explosion rules apply. Anyone within 8" of the engine is drained of all life and becomes a dried husk (like the Nazis at the end of Raiders of the Lost Ark!).
3-6 Roll on the “Proximity to the Mortar” table.



The rest of the rules

* The mortar moves like a doomwheel, but due to its extra burden only goes 2D6 inches per move, not the usual 3D6.  Due to the fact that the engine has made it this far there must be some sort of ‘release the pressure’ deceleration or brake, so the player always has the option, after rolling the 2D6 for movement, of rolling 1D6 to reduce said movement.
* The attendants and engineer fight like the 'crew' of a normal doomwheel, 2D6 Attacks, but at S3 not 2. (They are not rats, but rat-men!)
* Rolling Doom rules apply. (p.67) but at 2D6.
* Loss of control rules apply - including the ‘Out of Control’ rules
* Grinding down the foe rules: Impact hits apply, but there is no 'grinding down' as the big gun is in the way of the wheel.
* There are NO ‘Zzzap’ rules.
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: einarolafson on July 24, 2021, 05:43:00 PM
I didn't see this thread before!! It's great and very enjoyable!! I'm reading your narrations and looking all those pictures on your blog/website!! Very inspiring.
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: WuZhuiQiu on July 24, 2021, 07:07:51 PM
At last! I look forward to reading about it in action (or in misfire, ha ha)!
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: swiftnick on July 24, 2021, 07:24:28 PM
Padre how are you getting on with the contrast paint?
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on July 25, 2021, 10:03:46 PM
Thanks einarolafson. And yes, it's the toss of a coin when it comes to success or terrible failure, WuZhuiQui. Swiftnick, I have been using base paints and washing on a dip, so far. Yet to experiment with contrast. I am still desperate to get something close to my old style.

.......

Part 2, The Fighting Begins

Being the nimblest body upon the field, it was the enemy’s horsemen who first came up, unsurprisingly making directly for the engine, a motion which revealed that they must surely possess more than an inkling of the engine’s terrible potential.

(https://i.imgur.com/sIU6RV8.jpg)

(Game note: I forgot to vanguard move them. Doh! If I had they probably could have shot this first turn.)

The trees, however, still concealed the engine from the riders and so it was only the foot-crossbowmen by the bridge who let loose their quarrels. These reached the engine, but with no noticeable effect, other than to clatter off this and that part, and to stud the ground around with fletched shafts. Not one had struck an attendant. The engineer on the rear platform, whose job in directing the engine in battle had become incrementally more important as the driver’s miserable condition further deteriorated, was much encouraged by this turn of events, and now wondered whether his engine might simply roll straight up to the bridge, where the paved surface would provide a reassuringly firm footing for its firing.

(https://i.imgur.com/2v0utMA.jpg)

Glancing left he saw the slaves and his mind was made up. Despite their many deficiencies, their numbers alone would surely make them capable of thwarting any aggressive moves by the crossbowmen. And so, he ensured the engine maintained its current bearing, which was achieved so neatly that it remained perfectly in line with the rest of the advancing army.

(https://i.imgur.com/nmpmGpJ.jpg)

Due to the trees, the engineer knew nothing of the enemy horse galloping obliquely across the field, but Golchramik could see them plainly.

(https://i.imgur.com/6xHjzhi.jpg)

It was obvious they were making for the engine, and he knew that could not be allowed. Even if they were unable to reach it, or harm it with their shots, simply forcing it to change course, or merely to jolt or shudder, could have catastrophic results. Hefting his rocket launcher, he knew this was his moment. He had one chance, and he would not let it slip by. As a single rider fell to what was presumably a shot from the second company of jezzails, Golchramik turned to aim at a spot just ahead of the horsemen’s current path, while his clawed fingers curled tightly around the release lever. Raising the muzzle to what felt like the correct height, he yanked hard and whoosh!

(https://i.imgur.com/irxkjgn.jpg)

As the rocket arced away at a most satisfactory angle, Golchramik noticed several horsemen look upwards in fear, pulling hard on their reins. They were too late, however, for the rocket thumped into the ground almost in their midst and exploded in a great ball of fire.

(https://i.imgur.com/b5Hakhd.jpg)

The three surviving riders could do little more but cling to their panicked horses as they fled towards, then over, the river. One was swept away by the waters so that only two gained the far side, from where both raced away towards the city.

(https://i.imgur.com/Y9bo1Vl.jpg)

As they departed several other enemies arrived. Both of the other light horse companies had received word of the force approaching the river and had galloped post-haste to the bridge. The second company of mounted Compagnia crossbowmen were already upon the southern side of the river, and so came from the ratmen’s left …

(https://i.imgur.com/msBhL8V.jpg)

… while Perette and her Brabanzon riders arrived along the road leading from the city directly to the bridge.

(https://i.imgur.com/J8WORes.jpg)

Another, considerably slower, component of the Campogrottan forces also arrived upon the northern bank of the river, being one of the two dwarven artillery pieces. The dwarven crew had already been making their way to the bridge, ordered to assist in the guarding of that approach, and would have arrived at that moment anyway.

(https://i.imgur.com/hmzLj2U.jpg)

The fiery wizard, enchanted staff in hand, boldly led her riders onto the bridge, intending to waste not one moment of time in assaulting the engine, howsoever she could. The clattering of horses’ hooves off the stone was louder even than the grinding clunk, clunk of the engine.

(https://i.imgur.com/eoMX44X.jpg)

The Compagnia’s riders were somewhat more cautious, arriving as they had closer to the enemy, and came up looking for some way to shoot past the slaves at the engine.

(https://i.imgur.com/fbOtc8L.jpg)

Despite the slaves’ presence, the hulking engine was clearly visible to them and so they slowed to span their light crossbows and load their quarrels.

(https://i.imgur.com/IwE77Jk.jpg)

The dwarfen cannon crew cursed as they could not see the engine to target it. All the riders, however, were closing as best they could upon it.

(https://i.imgur.com/4ggasYD.jpg)

As those at the front of the Brabanzon pulled arrows from the quivers attached to their saddles, Perette could sense the arcane power of the engine, perceiving how the winds of magic were perturbed by it, coiling chaotically in contrary eddies. She also knew what the huge barrel, its muzzle steeply elevated, must mean. This was some sort of mortar, and whatever it fired would surely be much more deadly than any ordinary grenado.

(https://i.imgur.com/K16ejJk.jpg)

And so, she hastily conjured a fireball to hurl at it. Then, as she watched its strength wane to wash ineffectually over the foe, she discovered the cost of her impetuousness. A small part of the magic she had summoned had slipped from her control, and now rushed back, burning, at her. She gasped as the pain seared into her, and might well have fallen from her mount had not one of her companions reached out to steady her, asking, “My lady, what ails thee?”

Still, the Compagnia’s riders loosed their quarrels at the engine …

(https://i.imgur.com/NfynVcj.jpg)

… as the frontmost of the Brabanzon did likewise with their arrows.

(https://i.imgur.com/JarWbEd.jpg)

All to no effect.

The foot crossbow, however, had been taking their time, now that the engine was closer and they had a better measure of it. When they shot again, half the engine’s attendants fell, pierced deep with steel tipped bolts, while several quarrels tore into the machine there to be crunched apart by the spin of its workings.

(https://i.imgur.com/XVQAUQD.jpg)

The engineer at the rear felt one quarrel speed within a hair’s breadth of his ear, then another clang from his filter tank. This, the dead attendants, and the sudden arrival of several more enemy companies, one of which was thundering across the bridge straight at him, quickly changed his mind about his present course. Screeching so loud that the even the dismally distracted driver would hear, he pulled as hard as he could on the rudder wheel’s auxillary whipstaff, so that the engine turned sharply to the right and began moving beside the trees. The turn was so sharp that rather like a ship changing tack which missed its stays its speed was reduced almost to nought, so that it only barely managed to gain the concealment of the trees.

(https://i.imgur.com/TflWDdf.jpg)

The engineer still intended to reach the river, but would now aim for the grassy ground further along bereft of enemies to hinder his mechanical ward’s progress. It would take longer, but he had no real choice in the matter. To continue his previous tack would have meant another heavy shower of arrows and bolts, which he knew that would be the certain end of the engine.

Golchramik, meanwhile, was also screeching and signalling with his now rocketless tube, ordering the guard regiment towards the bridge. If the machine was to reach the river’s edge, then the riders could not be allowed to reach it.

(https://i.imgur.com/B0CuCr5.jpg)

The slaves also moved on, surging like a tide towards the crossbowmen.

(https://i.imgur.com/RcF13iQ.jpg)

Golchramik cursed, for their continued advance had left a way through behind them for the mounted crossbowmen. Glancing at the jezzails on the hill he doubted they could deliver sufficient punishment to stop the riders, and so he spun around to shout towards the plague monks. They would have to turn and head this way, the better to block the enemy horse if they did get around the slaves. Reforming as quickly as they could, they now moved as he commanded.

(https://i.imgur.com/yAyp03f.jpg)

Satisfied, Golchramik took a breath, and tasted the acrid smoke still curling from the muzzle of his rocket tube. Then something caught his eye, something shiny, over by the cottage. Squinting as his eyes adjusted from looking into the sun, he could see an armoured manthing had stepped out of the building’s rear doorway, with a great sword in his hands.

(https://i.imgur.com/VFcrb4L.jpg)

“No, no!” he hissed, as he realised this was a new threat to the engine, then stepped forwards through the trees knowing that only he was left to thwart this particular enemy. Not for the first time he cursed the fact that despite asking for two rockets, he had been given but one.

Distracted and angry as he was, he did not know that the jezzails on the right of the line had simply moved down from the hill, being no longer able to see any enemies, whilst the jezzails on the left had missed the crossbow horsemen completely.

(End of Turn 2)
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Askellad on July 26, 2021, 03:20:37 PM
What a campaign!
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Mark on July 26, 2021, 08:25:44 PM
So happy to see the latest installment - roll on turns 3-6!
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: swiftnick on July 26, 2021, 09:03:16 PM
Sorry padre I was getting mixed up. Of course you were trying the dreaded dip for the first time.
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on July 28, 2021, 10:14:06 AM
Part 3, The Fighting Ends

(Game Note: The annihilation mortar took 3 wounds from the crossbowmen in turn 2, and so was now reduced to a mere 2 wounds. This explains David’s attempt to move it to the river’s edge by another, safer route. The trouble is, whichever enemy unit arrives per turn from now on, they can deploy anywhere on the table edge behind the river (having come from that side of the river), and so most likely will be close to the engine &/or facing its intended destination. Luckily for David, as the enemy is an NPC force, so the particular units which arrived were being randomly rolled for from a list of those still in the city (i.e. those not already having been lured away by the ‘distraction’ in Buldio.) David also knew a last desperate course of action could simply be to attempt fire the engine anyway, for a 50% reduced likelihood of reaching the city.)

Now back to the story account of the game’s events.


Upon the far side of the river, entering the field with a flamboyant fluttering of flags, the largest regiment of the Compagnia del Sole, the halberdiers, marched on. They bore their enchanted banner, blessed by the goddess Myrmidia. Apart from their armour, both leather and steel, they were clothed in the company’s maroon and blue, some sporting the Myrmidian white baton and yellow half-sun emblem that was also emblazoned upon their standard.

(https://i.imgur.com/SOreZm6.jpg)

Leading them, and carrying an older, smaller, but more precious banner (the oldest in the company and the army standard) was Marshal Luigi Esposito, General Mazallini’s second in command. He had been left to govern the city while the general led the relief force to Buldio, and so it was he was the first to hear from the scouting riders of the enemy’s approach from the south. A small man, he had proved himself in battle on many an occasion, a reputation encouraged if not solely enabled by his famously magical armour. Time and time again, blows that ought to have severed his arm or even decapitated him, had proved jarringly ineffective. On this occasion, however, his urge to reach the river quickly had been so pressing he had forgone the buckling of his leg armour and left his helmet lying in his chamber.

(https://i.imgur.com/o2lUXvm.jpg)

Not so Captain Venusto - the fully steel-carapaced fellow who had stepped boldly from the bridge-keeper’s cottage. The captain raised his visor momentarily to look at Marshal Esposito, waved and then slammed it shut again, before charging headlong at the warlock engineer striding purposefully towards him. The overgrown rodent was much taller than the captain and made to appear even more massive by his swirling yellow robes and the hulking brass apparatus strapped to his back.

(https://i.imgur.com/mnO6nJr.jpg)

Entirely inured to the weight of his armour, Venusto arrived in front of the ratman and immediately stepped, nimbly, to one side. Golchramik was bewildered, still clutching the smoking, now useless rocket tube. When Venusto’s vicious cut was made, it sliced deeply, through fur, flesh and ribs. Golchramik fell heavily to the ground, the great weight of his many burdens speeding his collapse, then breathed his last as Venusto hauled the blade up and thrust it through his chest to scrape past the copper contraptions and plunge into the grassy ground underneath.

The captain took a deep breath, yanked the blade free, then shouted “Next!” before running into the trees which lay between him and the engine.

From over the river, the marshal watched, peering through the trees Venusto had penetrated at the dark shape moving noisily on the other side. He immediately realised two things: first, the captain would have to be lucky indeed to reach the engine, as fully armoured fellows rarely fared well in a sprint through the woods; and secondly, he and his halberdiers could not cross by the bridge, not if they were to have any real chance of reaching the engine.

On the Campogrottans’ far right the mounted crossbowmen made their way as best they could between the trees and the huge mob of slaves, hoping to find a way to catch the engine.

(Game Note: Their failed Ld test meant they could not march within 8” of the enemy.)

(https://i.imgur.com/MoeCaGi.jpg)

Those upon the front-left of the body who could see the engine had high hopes of reaching it, for it lurched and careened most ungainly as it moved over the rougher ground malformed by the trees’ roots, like a badly-trimmed ship might sail in choppy waters, crankily heeling over for too long and too far.

(https://i.imgur.com/Bt9U9QR.jpg)

Indeed, it looked like it might itself be the author of its own demise, for if it were to keel over it certainly would not be firing anything that day!

Perette and the Brabanzon crossed the bridge, but then she raised her hand to halt them.

(https://i.imgur.com/xEVCuKi.jpg)

She knew if they rode any further they would put themselves between the crossbowmen and the engine, preventing another shot, which would be a shame considering their volley had done so much to discourage it previously! Besides, from here her riders could shoot and she could conjure more magic. There was no need to move on, especially when that would almost certainly mean she and her companions were hit from two sides by a veritable horde of ratto uomo. She did not know it, but her caution caused the dwarven cannoneers’ cursing to redouble, for now the Brabanzon blocked any glimpse of the engine they might otherwise have had.

Kissing the ruby ring she wore on her right hand, she released its magic and sent several fireballs curling towards the engine. But the etheric winds were weakened by the enemy’s will, and all dissipated before reaching their target.

(https://i.imgur.com/d6LMsa3.jpg)

Annoyed by the sight, she allowed her anger to add a sharp edge to her own incantation and conjured more fireballs, this time of her own volition. One alone reached the engine, bursting to send sparks washing over it. An attendant fell, squealing in agony, his waxen robes ablaze, his squeals ceasing suddenly when the copper tank on his back popped.

(Game Note: The engine was, at this moment, down to its last wound!)

Perette cursed, for the engine was still moving. Worse still, she was horrified to see that the paths of several stray fireballs and the volley of quarrels from the crossbowmen had crossed, diverting most of the missiles to spin over and into the ground. Their third shot had thus failed completely.

Neither she, her riders nor the Compagnia’s crossbowmen had managed to stop the engine. Nor could Captain Venusto, for as he emerged from the trees the engine was picking up pace, and just before he could reach it to land a blow he was tumbled by a tree root.

(https://i.imgur.com/HFcairh.jpg)

(Game Note: Venusto’s overrun, directly towards the engine, after defeating the warlock engineer, had proven a little bit more than 1 inch too short!)

(https://i.imgur.com/NRTjn3a.jpg)

The engineer at the wheel’s rear knew his mechanical ward was closer to catastrophe than ever before. Barely any attendants were left to assist its passage, and the driver at the heart of the wheel seemed to have finally perished during the shower of fireballs that had washed over and through the engine. He alone remained to steer the engine, which would take all his strength, perhaps requiring more than he had to give. And if the engine was to fire, then he could only hope that he and those attendants who survived were up to the task.

The regiments here to guard the engine, however, had little understanding of its precarious state, and now launched charges intended to ensure its continued progress. They could not allow the Brabanzon and the fire-wizard to continue their pursuit, nor could they risk another shot from the crossbowmen. And so, as the slaves hurtled into the footsoldiers behind the painted pavaises, the guard regiment began its charge against the riders.

(https://i.imgur.com/L9wxki7.jpg)

Several slaves perished from the crossbowmen’s countershot, but such was the size of the mob that their demise went entirely unnoticed by either friend or foe. Like the arrival of a heavy wave upon a beach, they crashed against the pavaises; then they set about the bloody work of blades, claws and teeth.

(https://i.imgur.com/gNRvuov.jpg)

So busy were they in slaughter, that not one slave noticed the Brabanzon riders’ flight across the bridge.

(https://i.imgur.com/yvvQ6KO.jpg)

Of course, the guard regiment were fully aware, for barely had they taken two steps before the enemy was off, away and out of reach.

(https://i.imgur.com/8LYE5R0.jpg)

In truth, Perette had had little say in the matter. Weakened as she was by her conjurings and wounded by the magical flames she had earlier failed to master fully, she simply went along with the riders as a jumble of instructions tumbled at her: “This way, my Lady”, “Come, now!” and “We must flee!”

 

(https://i.imgur.com/uwL48SO.jpg)

The riders had not come here to sacrifice themselves as martyrs to Campogrotta’s cause. Nor, after all they had been through, not least witnessing the slaughter of almost every other Brabanzon soldier at Ravola, did they intend to throw their lives away for the sake of pride or honour. Most of all, perhaps, they could not allow their beloved lady to die. Instead, they would ride away, regroup, and when the enemy was far enough behind that they could think, they would then decide what was for the best.

As the engine rolled on between the two woods, the engineer, despite his mask, could suddenly taste the poisonous vapours leaking from the grenado even through his mask, and feel the sting of the etheric heat as it wormed its way into the material world to become sharp tendrils of real heat. The last of the attendants stumbled in pain as they tried to keep up, while two of the plague monks and two more of the jezzailers close by succumbed to the surging toxicity of the unstable orb within the bombard’s barrel.

(https://i.imgur.com/dOTUDGS.jpg)

Captain Venusto also stumbled as he raised himself from his fall, having to clutch at a branch with his steel-gauntleted hand to prevent himself from falling again. There he hung for a moment, wheezing, as his head swam, his great sword trailing on the ground.

The engineer’s throat was burning, his eyes pouring tears that misted up the tinted glass of his mask’s lenses. Suddenly, he realised the pained screeching he could hear close by was emanating from between his own clenched teeth. Somewhere in the deepest recesses of his fevered mind a quiet voice declared, “So this is the end?”

The slaves brutally mauled the crossbowmen, so that only a handful escaped the rusted blades to perish instead in the river water. The jezzails on the hill first cheered when at last their bullets hit home and tore two riders from their saddles, while a third was thrown hard onto the ground when another bullet shattered his mount’s head, but then they cursed as the remaining riders simply rode on after the engine.

Meawhile, a newly arrived regiment of Karak Borgo quarrellers were marching up the river’s edge (being part of Narhak, the Thane of Dravaz’s Campogrottan contingent) to further threaten the engine’s demise.

(https://i.imgur.com/QLSbDSB.jpg)

Desperate, yet also glad he had left off most of his armour, the Compagnia’s marshal led his men into the rushing waters, where a dozen sank to their deaths.

(https://i.imgur.com/5IFMCzx.jpg)

Somehow, he knew he must reach the engine. Whatever it was, whatever it did, the enemy were obviously deadly determined to do it. He could see even the ratmen were dropping around it, and he could feel the awful aura it exuded. If the engine merely reached the river, there to plunge to its ruin, the waters would likely run poisonous for many a league, perhaps even to the sea, and a vast throng could die as a consequence. The city of Campogrotta itself would most likely be poisoned too.

(Game note: Dangerous Terrain tests seem a bit too ‘weak’ at times. This was not a stream, but a large river which carried river traffic, deep enough to require a bridge. So, not wishing to rule the river impassable as I have in past games, and thus deny a dramatic attempt to cross, I ruled that the 41 models would take two Dangerous Terrain tests each. It is summer, when the rivers are lower than Spring, and this is quite some distance from the sea, so it wouldn’t be at its deepest. 82D were rolled, 12D came up 1. I think the halberdiers did well. The sad thing is that they were still in the river at the end of their turn, being unable to march move, and so would have to take the double tests again! I did say the marshal was desperate!)

As the dwarf quarrellers prepared their crossbows for a shot …

(https://i.imgur.com/Bqi5Z63.jpg)

… the engine was decelerating, its warpstone-heated tanks leaking spark-laced steam out of several ruptures. Again, the wheel lurched wildly to one side, which the engineer only just managed to correct using all his remaining strength.

(https://i.imgur.com/aHyXo68.jpg)

It was now obvious to him that the engine would not reach the river’s edge, from where all the engineers had agreed it should definitely be within range of the city. Worse still, if the dwarven quarrellers were to shoot, or the horsemen caught up from behind, it might never shoot at all!

(https://i.imgur.com/xgDUOrd.jpg)

He managed to transform his screeching into a shouted command. And very simple it was too, being just, “Now!”

“Now! Now! Now!”

Yanking the brake handle to full lock, the engine slowed to a stop, and he jumped from the platform. He hit the ground hard, buckling his legs, and as his body thumped down, his mask slipped. Involuntarily gasping a mouthful of foully metallic air, his life was lost before his roll was complete.

Nevertheless, two attendants remained, of which one retained the wit and strength necessary to make his way to the bombard’s rear, where its carriage was connected to the driving wheel. He then scrambled up onto the carriage so that he could reach the firing hammer. All the while, the other surviving attendant was reeling about, utterly lost in confusion concerning some rhyming instructions he had attempted to rote-learn concerning how to fire. They had to be wrong, he finally decided, because they no longer rhymed!

The first attendant, however, still had an idea what to do. He now yanked at a little chain to release the preventer pin, then tore off the cracked-leather stall covering the shard of flint. Some part of his mind was complaining about the procedure, in particular the order in which he was supposed to proceed, but with most of his thoughts screaming about the pain he was experiencing, he couldn’t sift out what was nagging at him. Fumbling in his apron’s pouch, he pulled out an iron tool. It was the wrong tool, but one of its edges would suffice for scraping, which is what he now began to do, clearing away the sticky gobbet of wax protecting the touch hole. One of his eyes wouldn’t open, so nothing was quite as near or far as he thought it was, but most of the wax came away. His finger tips fizzled as he scraped so close to the barrel. Thrusting his hands back into the pouch he began pulling things out and discarding them. The fourth thing he dropped was a powder flask, which clattered down between the carriage parts to the ground below. Whilst clutching at the fifth he realised the flask was what he needed. Stretching to reach down between the timber and iron parts, his feet clutching as hard as his hand to keep a hold while he strained down with the other. The tip of his middle finger claw scraped at the flask. His head was swimming, the flask spinning, so he stopped for a moment and grabbed a strut to steady himself.

As he hung there, he sensed the carriage was, almost imperceptibly, moving - slowly tipping sideways. He twisted head to look back and saw the wheel behind was leaning over precariously, and as it was still linked to the bombard carriage, it was beginning to haul that over too. Straining his one good eye, he could see why - the starboard wheel was still, howsoever slowly, turning, and grinding the mud.

“Never stop. Never, ever stop,” they had said. Many times.

Then, amongst a confusion of contrary instructions concerning what to do if the engine did stop, someone had said, “And do not stop on soft ground.”

Blinking the one eye he could, he looked down to find the flask, which was lying in mud. He stretched out his arm again.

The wheel was leaning more than should be possible now, but the great weight of the bombard, still attached, was apparently sufficient enough to stop it going over the whole way. Except, the bombard had also moved a little bit. And maybe, just now, a little bit more.

He had the flask, his claw hooking its leather strap to lift it. Hauling himself back up to the pan beneath the touch hole he commenced pouring. The black powder spilled in and began to spill out. The whole thing must be leaning over much further than he thought!

“More then,” he muttered and poured the entire contents of the flask onto the pan.

Suddenly the carriage began to lift on one side, and a great groaning came from the fatal connection joining the wheel to the carriage. It was going over.

It was going over right now.

“Never stop,” they had said. More than anything else. “Never stop.”

As the whole world around him was tipping up, he pulled the hammer’s release.

(https://i.imgur.com/vMgvf84.jpg)


And After

Very few survived the fight at the bridge. One of the crossbow horsemen was found later, without his horse, sobbing on the southern bank of the river more than a league from the bridge. The marshal, soaking wet, red-faced and wheezing, with no armour about him whatsoever, was helped to the city’s southern gate by two of the halberdiers. No other halberdiers returned. Four dwarfen crossbowmen returned, each one with the same crazed expression, but none of the cannoneers.

Perette and her riders had been far enough away to survive, although all needed tending by the city’s chirurgeons to rebalance their badly skewed bodily humors.

This was all just the start of the city’s new misery.
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: swiftnick on July 28, 2021, 03:10:16 PM
Ooof!
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: WuZhuiQiu on July 29, 2021, 01:04:34 AM
Why didn't the Skaven advance in two waves, one to secure (and fortify) the bridgehead (as a first battle), followed by another with the mortar?
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Dr Mathias on July 29, 2021, 02:05:37 AM
 o_o

Amazing.
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on July 29, 2021, 07:20:24 AM
Why didn't the Skaven advance in two waves, one to secure (and fortify) the bridgehead (as a first battle), followed by another with the mortar?

That is a much harder question to answer than you might think.

Put very simply, the engine is almost impossible to use, with actual & potential problems and difficulties however it is employed.

Put another way, ask the player. (Gibby, wanna join in?)

Have you read the rules and/or the previous stories featuring the engine? How it cannot be allowed to stop due to the poisonous aura pouring from it? How the army cannot march in its wake? (Although this not applicable in your suggestion.) And just how unstable it is? Yes it could possibly kill an army &/or a city, but boy it is difficult to use. It has to be close enough to the target to reach (nearly close enough means only a 50/50 chance even if it doesn't misfire), while anything on the tabletop when it fires risks being obliterated if it blows up.

The enemy is active too, capable of playing slippery tricks too.

BUT for ease, I will focus on your specific tactic without getting drawn into all sorts of alternatives. Here are some answers ...

1. If the skaven army moved to secure the bridge then that could mean a full on pitched battle. But the whole point of the engine is to destroy an enemy without committing the skaven army to battle. Battle means risking great losses.

The enemy forces in Campogrotta were not much smaller (points wise) than the skaven army, which the scouts had reported to Urlak. There were more than 2000 pts of Compagnia del Sole, about 1000 pts of Karak Borgo dwarfs, as well as Perette and her riders. This is why Urlak (David) ordered the distraction at Buldio - although whether it was sensible to divide the enemy army when the whole point was to have it all in one place to destroy with the 'uber-weapon' is debatable. And we did debate it, but too late to change his plans!

Also, if the engine was trailing behind while the skaven were attacking &/or fortifying the bridge, then any enemy scout units on this side of the river (or another force sent out specifically) might ambush it and scupper it. So a guard force would have to accompany it, weakening the army that advanced ahead.

2. Due to the fact that a misfire can (as it did in the actual game) kill almost every model on the table, if the skaven army was successful in capturing and fortifying the bridge, it would then have to move away before the engine arrived, otherwise it would be too close when it attempted to fire. When the army moved away the enemy army, or any portion of it, could then cross the bridge to thwart the engine. By then the enemy would have had time to learn of the engine and plan accordingly. All surprise would have been lost.

Bizarrely, there were many many far worse outcomes than what actually happened, including losing a main battle while failing to employ the engine to attempting, or employing the engine and it misfiring and destroying the skaven army or a substantial part of it in the process. It could even have destroyed the enemy city but not the enemy army!

Like I said, the engine is almost impossible to use - which balances its incredible power.

So, just a matter of ensuring that the whole enemy army stays in one place and remains entirely ignorant of the engine's approach or the skaven army, while the noisy, poisonous engine gets close enough without mishap and without risking the death of too many guards!

If the skaven get another such engine, then all the above will apply, plus the fact that everyone now knows what they can do, which could work in their favour (by way of the fear factor if they make threats) or could work against them as the forewarned enemy puts great thought and effort into stopping the engine.



Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: WuZhuiQiu on July 31, 2021, 05:04:32 AM
Thank you for your reply. I am not sure that it would have been quite so impractical. For example, what is there to stop the engine from circling or weaving, admittedly at some risk of toppling, to slow down its overall forward movement? And fortifying a bridgehead could enable it to be held with a smaller force, no?

I must admit that I was thinking of it as a siege engine, yet the strategic context was not that of a siege, with two almost equal field armies, one a possibly insufficient besieging force and the other having perhaps little incentive to shut themselves in as a garrison.

Anyway, the story was suspenseful and the outcome rather Skaven-ish!
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on July 31, 2021, 10:44:14 AM
It's ... complicated. Very. Lots of ifs and buts and maybes. BTW, it did circle the city of Ravola for many days as seen in a previous story. It had to while the army looted the city and readied itself for the march.

...

Part 19 of Tilea's Troubles is complete - a video story/battle report of orcs 'n gobs vs orc's 'n gobs!

Scarback's Greenskin Corsairs face the might of Khurnag's Waagh! Well, they face whichever parts of the Waagh! can be bothered to turn up. Organisation is not exactly goblinoids'' forte.

https://youtu.be/GCoTgToilt0

Here's a selection of some of the pics ...

(https://i.imgur.com/Q63ZI0c.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/VNYTyqk.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/slitEgf.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/LJzowAC.jpg)

Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Gibby on August 01, 2021, 10:24:08 AM
Padrissimus has covered a lot of the reasons things went the way they did. What's not too clear from the outside of the campaign is the sheer amount of fog of war involved in every decision. You almost never have perfect intel - Padre is a masterful and fair GM and everything is fairly plotted on various maps, notebooks (heck, I think he must be writing quick notes on his kids' foreheads in a pinch sometimes to keep track of all this!). What this means is that alongside the strategic implications of every decision, you also have a lot of doubts about what you know, what the enemy know, and where everyone will be. There are ways to help with all this, but you have limited resources and time to do so (limited scouts, agents, emissaries etc). You can't even always trust what your minions report to you (especially as the Skaven!).

It's amazing!

In the end I had a plan to do a lot of damage, but the main plan was the make a demonstration of the weapon (ideally right into a major city).

Anyway, I'm delighted with how this ended up. The story that came out of it was brilliant, and it's just by the chance of the dice that Perette got away once again! Ultimately, I lost some disposable units, the enemy lost a reasonable chunk of troops (not as many as I would've liked, but Padre did mention we suddenly realised my distraction plan had a huge flaw in it), and there's now a toxic wasteland that'll get the attention of everyone in the realm. I can't wait to see the fallout from all this.

Who'd have thought that Clan Skryre would sell me a dodgy machine?
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: WuZhuiQiu on August 05, 2021, 01:01:17 AM
The campaign as the players experience it sounds even more amazing than what can be shared through Padrissimus's already amazing posts here!
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on August 15, 2021, 06:06:02 PM
Part 20 of Tilea's Troubles is completed ... see https://youtu.be/uBezVITEfrE

It is the prologue to an exciting battle report, which will follow soon. (After I do another 'present day' story, and some GMing, and some painting!)

Some of the pics ...

(https://i.imgur.com/kKygIEJ.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/eMzI7iJ.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/LFAouMs.jpg)
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on August 23, 2021, 10:06:22 PM
Tilea’s Troubles Part 21 is up! It is the battle report, the longest yet, describing the Viadazan peasant crusaders’ stand against the vampire Duke Alessandro Sforta of Miragliano at the bridge of Pontremola.

See it here …
https://youtu.be/SIf_f27Fw1g

Some pictures from the report …
(https://i.imgur.com/L7uVa6B.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/UXr1JMk.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/GZBGUae.jpg)
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: dadlamassu on August 24, 2021, 11:27:07 AM
I really enjoyed your tale.  Stirring stuff.
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on September 01, 2021, 10:24:07 PM
Thanks muchly dadlamassu.

Tilea's Troubles, Part 22 is 'up'. The Viadazan Terror!

After the crusaders' great victory, Biagino learns some very bad news!

See https://youtu.be/YiOR-gGsbfo

(https://i.imgur.com/yPAVsiY.jpg)
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Grumpy Gnome on September 02, 2021, 05:38:37 PM
Amazing work as always mate! Great narrative.
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: swiftnick on September 02, 2021, 07:03:32 PM
Wow! An epic battle indeed.
An interesting aftermath too.
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on September 02, 2021, 07:13:28 PM
The undead campaign player had planned the aftermath. He didn't know his character the vampire Duke would die in the battle at Pontremola though!!

You have probably worked it out by now, from the clues I put in (there for my other players too) but the duchess Maria never escaped Ebino. She was captured by the vampire Duke, turned into a vampire, then commanded to go to Viadaza, masquerading as human, and ensure the fall of the city. Thus her strange companions on arrival , and her behaviour during the meeting with Biagino, as well as lord Adolfo's strange behaviour (he was beguiled by Maria, and became a vampire himself). The biggest clues were Biagino's dreams, sent by Morr to warn him.

The undead player's cunning plan had worked despite his character dying!
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: WuZhuiQiu on September 06, 2021, 01:40:15 AM
Are these episodes reworked versions of campaign turns from long ago, or are they about recent campaign turns? What happened in the siege of that undead area in the swamp?
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on September 06, 2021, 07:13:16 AM
I mentioned a while back, and apologised too, for the confusion. The videos are stories from the start of the campaign years ago, while the text stories are from the present day. The text stories will be turned into videos eventually (years from now ... There's a lot of catching up to do.) I am working both ends of the campaign!

As I make the videos, I am taking the opportunity to rework the text so it reads better, as well as re-do the pictures and add new pictures too! It's a lot of work, but fun!

The swamp siege is ongoing. The campaign moves slowly! I have 45 swamp zombies yet to paint for the battle.
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on September 12, 2021, 06:28:27 PM
Here is Part 23 of Tilea's Troubles. This time it IS a prologue to a battle report and not an epilogue confused (by me) for a prologue like the last one. I promise to be more careful in future - I think late-night hobbying was to blame!

See https://youtu.be/izxQbI3KkJo

(https://i.imgur.com/FTwq8aU.jpg)
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on September 24, 2021, 06:22:23 PM
Here is video Part 24 of Tilea's Troubles ...

https://youtu.be/JC66icAsWss

The Pavonans...

(https://i.imgur.com/h1XmnPs.jpg)

Take on the Compagnia del Sole...

(https://i.imgur.com/X2WbNR7.jpg)
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on October 05, 2021, 04:24:29 PM
Finally got around to a 'paint test run' for my new swamp zombies regiment. Having ditched enamels after 35 years, I am going with acrylics and army painter dip (wash), then anti-shine. I have been experimenting for a year and I think I'm getting the technique about right now.

(https://i.imgur.com/u8aehg9.jpg)

The first model is a Black Tree Designs metal figure, which I am glad to see fits in with the plastics well as I bought all of their swamp zombies. I replaced his thin, bendy, lead spear shaft with a brass rod.

The middle one is one of the very new GW plastic zombies, but with all the roots/branches weirdness chopped off.

The third has a new GW top half, and a Mantic skeleton's legs! This sort of kit-bash mish-mash is how I made 23 zombies from the sprues instead of the official 20!

I think I am convinced by this very simple technique. So ... 3 done, now for the other 33!

Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Elbows on October 06, 2021, 06:02:09 AM
Have you considered the Fireforge zombies?  They're superb...

(link to some that I painted - also with AP dip)
https://myminiaturemischief.blogspot.com/2020/03/zombies-wander-into-dungeon.html

I think they're the best of the "medieval" style zombies out right now.  Just the right amount of gruesome while being dead easy to paint.  You get 18 per box too, which is nice.  Around $25 or so.
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on October 06, 2021, 07:20:16 AM
Coincidentally I bought the box of Fireforge peasants this weekend. I never have enough peasants!
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: swiftnick on October 06, 2021, 08:44:09 PM
Good going! Once you tune into the technique you can certainly churn the figures out.
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Ockius on October 07, 2021, 04:38:49 PM
I love the shots of the communities when they come together, with a few civilians, churchmen and so on, along with militia and soldiers.

Those two Tilean armies look excellent lined up for battle too!
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on October 07, 2021, 07:43:28 PM
Part 25 of Tilea's Troubles is up! 

https://youtu.be/RkRFgpwyVl4
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: has.been on October 08, 2021, 10:14:37 AM
Loving the statue (shushing, death)
where does he come from?
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on October 08, 2021, 10:33:25 AM
It is listed with nearly every other figure and piece of scenery at the end of the video. I got it only last weekend in a shop in Sheffield. Zeiterdes I think? (I am guessing at the spelling right now.)
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on October 08, 2021, 10:35:02 AM
I liked the statue as a representation of the god of death and dreams, Morr. As if he is saying: "Shush, calm yourself, for when you die I will look after you. Be at peace."
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: has.been on October 08, 2021, 12:15:10 PM
You were right about the manufacturer.
I've book-marked the site until after
payday :D
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Gibby on October 09, 2021, 08:53:50 PM
I like the look of the new zombies! I think the dip technique works really well, especially for army painting!
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on October 09, 2021, 09:17:37 PM
Thanks Gibby. All done on your recommendations and advice. I have been painting more of them tonight, along with four pole-punting soldiers (!), two doctors and several rafts, including a battering ram raft! These are all needed for the already written new campaign story, after which, knowing the story has progressed up to date, I am going to push events forward as best I can to make a battle happen!
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: swiftnick on October 11, 2021, 11:11:07 PM
Finally managed to catch up. Great stuff very enjoyable!
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on October 12, 2021, 06:09:34 PM
I am currently working on a bunch of figures needed for my next campaign report (a 'present day' one rather than a video report of a story done years ago). It occurred to me that I could try some different techniques as part of my ongoing experiments moving to acrylics from enamels.

I used three methods, as described on this picture ...

(https://i.imgur.com/Ao4kGn4.jpg)

I think I like them all. But the first is an attempt to continue my traditional cartoon style, but with washed faces and not the clumsy ones I used to do. The second is washed flesh but no 'cartoon' blacklining on the rest of the figure. The last, which I showed above, is full ondip/wash.

The last looks dirty, as it was supposed to. Dirty seems to work well on Zombies and Skaven. But of the other two styles, not meant to be filthy, I still think I prefer my old cartoon method, even if I never attempt it on faces again! At least any new figures would fit in better with my existing collection.

What d'ya reckon?
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: swiftnick on October 13, 2021, 01:23:51 AM
The first method ( left) certainly fits in better with your collection. I like the full dip personally but just personal taste.
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on October 17, 2021, 11:20:34 AM
I put this question to several different forums and got one hell of a lot of different suggestions. Swiftnick here,  and the guys on the Oldhammer forum, encouraged me not to give up on trying to replicate my old style (cartoon) because (a) it is my signature style and (b) any new figures I paint will fit it.

I agree, although I AM going to use the new techniques on certain kinds of figures, like skaven, zombies, heavily armoured characters and peasants.

However, this did leave me with those two figures I had already base coated without black lines. So ... I went to the GW shop and bought two shades - Nuln Oil and Agrax Earthshade, a Contrast paint - Black Templar, and some black base - Abbadon black.

The guy in the shop said shake it ridiculously loads, then try running the contrast into the gaps. That failed for me. So I tried running Nuln Oil in, which kind of worked on the yellow breeches, but on the darker colours, worked well enough so I slapped it on. The yellow breeches I tidied with the base black, then with some dabs of yellow again.

(https://i.imgur.com/29GwLxF.jpg)
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Gibby on October 17, 2021, 12:43:11 PM
Looks like it has added blacklining nicely! I am glad to see you going back to emulating your signature style - especially as new figures will fit in well with your vast collection.
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on October 24, 2021, 07:14:29 AM
Discord, Dangers and Disinclination

An Excerpt from Bonacorso Fidelibus’s Work: The Many Wars of the Early 25th Century

The First Months of Summer, 2404

(https://i.imgur.com/VWH5EJq.jpg)

In the far south there was much relief in Alcente when the Sartosan Corsairs’ army moved away from the city, without commencing a siege. Perhaps the mauling they had received at Sersale, or more likely, the haul of loot they had already taken, had convinced them to depart.

(https://i.imgur.com/wMbDPfk.jpg)

When it became clear, however, that they were not making their way to their ships in the Black Gulf, but instead had begun marching east along the ancient road towards Pavezzano, the citizens’ relief was coloured by concern. Soon, those who liked to boast of their wisdom in the ways of the world, were claiming that they had always known this would happen, for pirates never attack strong foes, like a dragon might challenge another of its kind, but instead seek out the weak, like wolves pick out the feeblest amongst their prey.

(https://i.imgur.com/Vajzpjs.jpg)

Pavezzano would prove a much easier prey to capture and consume than the stone walled city of Alcente.

Despite being hindsight, there was undoubtedly truth to this professed wisdom. The Sartosans had struck first at the relatively small city state of Luccini, while the prince and his army were absent. Then, upon learning that the army of the VMC had marched far north to assist in the war against the vampire duchess, they attacked the realm of Alcente (although the westerly winds of the recent spring storms had likely played a part in restricting their options, by making an easy return home to Sartosa unlikely). They had not attacked the much richer realm of Portomaggiore, for although Lord Alessio was also fighting in the far north, he had left a substantial force, in size an army, to protect his realm. Nor had the Sartosans sailed to Remas, similarly protected despite its own continued involvement in the war to the north.

(https://i.imgur.com/2Lbs9DX.jpg)

The Sartosans now discovered that despite their destruction of several companies of Alcentian militia, the stalling at Sersale had allowed time enough for more professional soldiers, including a renowned regiment of mercenary pikemen from the northern parts of the Old World, to be landed at the city of Alcente. If there was one thing the VMC could get plenty of, it was gold. Their investors’ contributions would only dry up if the prospect for future profit began to look less likely.

(https://i.imgur.com/keKlrzg.jpg)

The VMC’s ships were still able to serve the port, for although the Sartosan fleet was massed out in the gulf, only skeleton crews remained aboard - sufficient, it was thought, to defend themselves (or at the least, sail away from any threat) but entirely lacking in the fighting strength required to actively blockade the city from the sea.  Furthermore, Captain General Valckenburgh was widely reported to be returning from his northern enterprise, with a significant portion of his army, to relieve the city.

With all this in mind, no doubt, the Sartosan Corsairs had decided now was the time to leave the city’s environs. And if they were to return to their ships, then why not do so from the port of Pavezzano? For it was a place their fleet could easily sail to and which they could loot at their leisure en route to the wharves! 

(https://i.imgur.com/4BGcake.jpg)



At Pavona, only a few days after the young Lord Silvano’s departure to assist Campogrotta in the war against the ratto uomo, grave news came to the city of a most inauspicious event. Duke Guiodobaldo had been attacked during one of his hunts in the hills to the north of Montorio. The Verezzan brigand, Pettirosso, had attempted to assassinate him with a poison tipped arrow, seeking vengeance for the death of Lord Lucca.

(https://i.imgur.com/TAIHoyt.jpg)

Of course, such a slippery fellow had subsequently escaped, along with his band of robbers, into the wooded hills, while those with the duke had, at least in the first instance, been distracted by the need to get their master back to the city. Only once that was done did they pursue revenge, sending search parties out to scour the southern stretches of the Trantine Hills.

It was feared the duke had been mortally wounded, for his physicians reported that the arrowhead had pierced deep and the poison had entered his blood to bring about a deathly fever, the gangrene setting in at thrice the normal speed.

(https://i.imgur.com/a95l3IY.jpg)

Within a day, however, his two most able physicians, from the best universities in Estalia, a realm renowned for its medicinal knowledge …

(https://i.imgur.com/p38r74X.jpg)

… announced that his humours had been re-balanced and the poison countered with a potent combination of healing magics and efficacious medicaments, thus thwarting the duke’s death. This cause great relief in the city, and even celebrations, encouraged by the duke’s officers and courtiers, who paid for wine to flow from the city’s fountains and conduits!

Yet the duke remained bed-ridden …

(https://i.imgur.com/Beu04k1.jpg)

… and it was whispered that he was so weak as to be unable even to feed himself. It was clear he could not continue his daily duties as ruler. His most trusted advisors and privy councillors, knowing this to be a dangerous time for the recently ravaged city state, what with the ongoing discord with Verezzo, the new dangers of the ratto uomo and pirates, and the disinclination of the banking families of Tilea to loan the duke any more monies, agreed with their lord and master that his son, Silvano, must immediately be recalled to the city to serve as regent during the period of his father’s ill health.

Lord Silvano was to have full and unbridled authority, so that his father need not be troubled by any affairs of state, neither great nor petty. Indeed, the young lord would effectively be serving an apprenticeship for that he would attain upon his inheritance. Silvano thus abandoned his noble quest and returned with great alacrity.

(https://i.imgur.com/kQjpgvv.jpg)

There to be welcomed home by the city’s populace much more keenly than they had so recently bid him farewell, for he was generally considered a hero, having always strived his utmost to fight evil, at no small risk to himself, whether near or far from home, and was known to love both his father and the people of Pavona dearly.

(https://i.imgur.com/QZdFgUc.jpg)

Indeed, his new rule, in practice total (at least until his father recovered) was welcomed by many a ruler in Tilea, including not least the Arch-Lector of the Holy Morrite Church, Bernadino Ugolini, who knew Lord Silvano well, having served with him in the vampire wars and even once cleared the young nobleman in court of all wrongdoing (during the Pavonan brigade’s mutiny at Viadaza). Most were agreed that Silvano’s regency bode well for Pavona and its neighbours, although many were too cautious to admit this was because it meant Duke Guidobaldo’s tyranny had, at least for now and perhaps forever, ended.

The young lord’s regency was considered a chance for a renaissance for Pavona, an opportunity to begin again afresh: to thrive in trade, to build new alliances and new bonds and to forge a bright future under the enlightened rule of a valiant, principled, and compassionate ruler. 

It remained to be seen whether Barone Iacopo, regent of Verezzo, would remain implacable in his distrust of Pavona. He himself had served alongside Lord Silvano in the war against the vampires, and so knew full well how different the young man was compared to his father. Yet such was the wickedness of Duke Guidobaldo’s past actions, that the halfling lord, who loved his old master well and yearned deeply for revenge, might find himself unable to forgive Pavona. If he were to continue his hatred, perhaps it would manifest in something as small as choosing not to punish the brigand Pettirosso for his actions? Or perhaps it would manifest in continuing to prepare for war against Pavona?

Another even more powerful captain, General Valckenburgh of the VMC …

(https://i.imgur.com/ta5FESi.jpg)

… also had unfinished business with Duke Guidobaldo, concerning a most vile defamation. But the VMC’s considerable forces were engaged in wars both to the far north and the far south, providing entirely sufficient distraction to tie them up for some time. Besides, the general had himself yielded to young Lord Silvano’s persuasive requests to leave off the siege of Pavona, finding his petitioner to be an honourable enough fellow. All this considered, it could well be that like several other rulers, General Vlackenburgh was amenable to the notion of turning over a new leaf in his affairs with Pavona.




In the north-west, Lord Alessio Falconi’s mighty alliance army was floundering at the edge of the corrupted marshes that had overspilled to claim the environs of the city of Miragliano. On one night, early on in the attempted blockade, a vampiric fiend crept from the city under cover of darkness intent on assassinating the captain general himself. It seems that the unholy priest Biagino hoped to emulate the success his now truly-dead mistress had had when she sent Lord Adolfo into the camp of the Disciplinati di Morr, so killing both their Praepositus Generalis, Father Carradalio, and his second in command, the Admonitor Vincenzo, subsequently having such a deleterious effect on the Disciplinati that they were utterly, even easily, wiped out in the field of battle. 

Luckily, Lord Alessio’s personal bodyguard regiment, his brave Sea Wolves, discovered the monstrous assassin before it reached Lord Alessio, and (at the cost of several many of their own lives) they cut the monster down. Afterwards, Lord Alessio ordered its foul head cut off and placed atop a pike within sight of the city walls.

(https://i.imgur.com/IFK9flT.jpg)

It was doubtful such a sight would in any way stir fear in the foe, but it was at the least an advertisement of the alliance army’s defiance. Several soldiers began taking it in turns to guard the grisly trophy, whilst at the same time adding to the line of observation posts strung about the large army as it prepared for battle.

(https://i.imgur.com/iK02TmK.jpg)

Then, as well as knighting one of the wolves who fought the most bravely, Lord Alessio posthumously honoured those who had died by ordering their names recorded upon the city realm’s roll of honour, which kept the memory of all the heroes who had served the state with distinction.

It was one thing, however, for soldiers to defeat an assassin, another thing entirely to defeat sickness. The army camp’s proximity to a corrupted marsh harbouring a festering mass of undead had concerned Lord Alessio …

(https://i.imgur.com/DHnjxRl.jpg)

… which was why he had initially attempted to cleanse a route through it in order to attack the city promptly. This proved impossible, due to the dangerously slippery nature of both the foe and the land which harboured them, and so the captain general ordered a redoubling of the efforts to make rafts, battering rams and towers with which to assault the city walls. Then, at the first (inevitable) signs of camp fever and the flux, the general ordered the army moved to the nearest, properly dry land and instructed his soldiers and those of the Reman and VMC forces also under his command to drink only the water brought from the river near the Soncino watchtower by a dedicated contingent of horse and foot soldiers.

Meanwhile, his newly appointed siege master, Captain Guccio, oversaw the construction of several large rafts, including some to carry siege towers and one to carry a battering ram.

(https://i.imgur.com/RYDejR1.jpg)

These were to be propelled through the deeper waters of the marsh now surrounding the city by way of setting poles. Guccio, being a man of great practicality, had ordered the soldiers to practise along a deeply flooded stretch at the eastern edge of the marsh.

(https://i.imgur.com/kPHKBfl.jpg)

Where the waters were not so deep, the soldiers would have to dismount the rafts and carry them to the next flooded area. That task did not really require practise, just strength, and the army’s Captain General, Lord Alessio, had commanded that the soldiers should not be put to unnecessary exercises before the fight ahead, as he did not want them weakened, injured or made ill by wading the foul waters. The sickness threatening his camp was bad enough, he declared, without risking further losses from the rank and file. Punting, however, he permitted, for the soldiers need not go into the water, nor was it the most taxing of activities.

(https://i.imgur.com/ekVUmGZ.jpg)

It did, however, require learned skill, and practiced coordination between the men involved. If necessary, closest to the city walls, where the moat added considerably to the water’s depth, oars would have to be employed, but Guccio hoped that would just be a short distance. There would be a lot more punting to do, and plenty of opportunities for insufficiently skilled men to fail. 

(https://i.imgur.com/vv3EydY.jpg)

So it was that the alliance army, so close to the foul enemy and about to embark upon their most difficult assault yet, witnessed the incongruous sight of rafts coursing back and forth along the waters, not entirely unlike gentle-folk at play in gondolas on a moat within a grand city park.



Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on October 24, 2021, 07:14:56 AM
In the north-east, the vile ratto uomo had pushed further southwards, presumably employing the ancient tunnels known as underpasses, which had long been generally thought to have collapsed. Emerging south of Campogrotta, upon the far side of the River Tarano, they had sent a terrible engine towards the city with sufficient guards to ensure it would get close.

(https://i.imgur.com/TflWDdf.jpg)

Luckily for the city, although not at all for those who went out to thwart the engine’s advance, it failed to lob its grenado over the walls, but instead blew itself up, instantly killing almost everyone, friend or foe, within two thousand braccia!

A good number of the Compagnia del Sole and the Karak Borgo dwarfs survived, for several companies had remained within the city during the attack, and more had the night before marched north to Buldio in response to reports of multiple instances of arson, believed to be the ratto uomo’s main attack, later presumed to have been a deliberate distraction.

A regiment of King Jaldeog’s dwarfs had been among the casualties, which left Lord Narhak with a much-reduced garrison in the city. The Compagnia suffered even more significant losses - several bodies of foot soldiers and companies of light horse, which for a mercenary company was no small matter. One of its captains, the respected Venusto Masin, perished in the blast, but the company’s marshal, Captain Luigi Esposito, strode away as if untouched by the effects of the poison, supporting the only two survivors of the regiment he had led onto the field of battle. Or at least, he was untouched bodily, for the state of his mind was another matter entirely, and compared to his past self, he was ever after like another man entirely.

The wizard Perrette, despite having approached the engine to cast her fire magic against it, also escaped, along with her Brabanzon riders, for they departed the engine’s vicinity just in time. In hindsight, no-one questioned the Brabanzon’s actions, for whether they were fleeing in panic or retreating in good order and with good reason, they had avoided almost certain death. To suggest they had done wrong was thus a moot point. 

Perette had been wounded during the skirmish, and subsequently kept her own counsel concerning her plans. Only she and her riders knew why they rode from the city so hastily, heading north.

(https://i.imgur.com/5knzoFB.jpg)

It was suggested she might intend to return to Ravola now that the ratto uomo’s main strength was removed from thence, or that she would cross the Nuvolonc back to Bretonnia, or that she looked to hide in the forests and wilderness again, with or without the Arrabiatti’s aid, there to nurse her wounds as she had done after Ravola. The most hopeful citizens wondered if she had gone to fetch the Arrabiatti to aid in Campogrotta’s defence, while the more pragmatic knew she had no real reason to do so.

She left behind confusion within the city. A huge area of dead and deadly ground now lay to its immediate south, and it was very likely that a ratto uomo army was close by somewhere.

(https://i.imgur.com/RzLduyA.jpg)

Those who knew something concerning past wars assumed, with good reason, that the ratmen had exited through one of their legendary tunnels hidden somewhere in the rocky, forested hills to the south.

(https://i.imgur.com/TcEUVd3.jpg)

If the enemy were there, then they would have to find a way around the poisoned land and cross the river elsewhere, with no bridge to carry them over - which was possibly why they had yet to appear at the city. Nothing lived in the newly corrupted land; nor, if it entered, could live, and even the river waters were poisoned as they passed through, so that the trees closest to the river began to wither all the way to its junction to the River Bellagio. It was most fortunate that no large settlement lay any further down river, for such a place would surely have suffered from the corruption in the waters, but the elves of Tettoverde must surely (and quickly) have noticed the poisoning of the northernmost reaches of their ancient, sylvan realm.

The Compagnia del Sole’s condottiere general, Bruno Mazallini, was less than happy to be the governor of a realm now half-poisoned, with sickness spreading through the city, and panic all around. The dwarven thane, Lord Narhak …

(https://i.imgur.com/2URQG6j.jpg)

… recorded in his personal book of grudges that the general and the remaining portion of the Compagnia del Sole intended to quit the realm and flee southwest, leaving it to the rat-men, with the general declaring in council that an army can never win when it goes into battle against a plague!

Lord Narhak, keenly aware of the danger of remaining in the city when all others were likely to leave or had already left, and that his loyal, dwarven warriors were just as susceptible to the rat-men’s foul poisons as any soldier, marched his small force to the watchtower of Lugo on the Carraia del Ferro.

(https://i.imgur.com/TxcKWSO.jpg)

There he halted and garrisoned the place, apparently intending thus to guard the gateway to the road to Karak Borgo, and at a suitable distance from the miasmic horror to the city’s south.

(https://i.imgur.com/qy8n8Bs.jpg)

There was little in the way of defences, for the tower was more a toll house than a stronghold, so he ordered his soldiers to make what defences they could, and quickly. What few engines the possessed were placed to face towards Campogrotta, for Lord Narhak reckoned any ratto uomo advance must surely come from that direction.

(https://i.imgur.com/v71lLP2.jpg)

He either knew or presumed that the rat-men’s tunnels could not possibly reach his mountain home, for the mining skill of dwarves was renowned and so any such passageways must surely have been discovered and collapsed or otherwise rendered impassable. The Iron Road was the only way to Karak Borgo. So, while his messenger made his way to King Jaldeog, and any reinforcements made their way down the Iron Road to him, he and his rump of a force would have to stand their ground as best they could.

(https://i.imgur.com/8MPc45U.jpg)
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on October 30, 2021, 03:15:34 PM
Swamp zombies done! (Bar bases.) Spray primer/base coat, block painting with acrylic base paints, washed with an Army Builder dip. I love them – so different to my old style, and a lovely (!) change.

The command, all Black Tree Designs swamp zombies. The standard came out much darker than I wanted but I will know next time …
(https://i.imgur.com/yc0ZLSV.jpg)

Part of the front two ranks, Black Tree Design …
(https://i.imgur.com/5SSFFS0.jpg)

Other part of the front two ranks, Black Tree Design with lovely long spears (I replaced the bendy originals with brass rods) …
(https://i.imgur.com/haCW2pP.jpg)

Rear of one of the guys. Those skulls, that chain – they are far more realistic than I ever achieved in 35 years of enamel ‘cartoon’ style. And I bloomin’ love it …
(https://i.imgur.com/rTRVPat.jpg)

3rd rank, GW, de-rooted ...
(https://i.imgur.com/2mLoe5Z.jpg)

4th rank, GW, de-rooted …
(https://i.imgur.com/S8fe466.jpg)

4th rank - the one ‘space filler’ I needed to make 35 into a 6x6 footprint! Stake still needs more work, obviously …
(https://i.imgur.com/CnvQMGQ.jpg)

5th and 6th ranks, all GW, de-rooted!
(https://i.imgur.com/88Ge88a.jpg)
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: swiftnick on October 30, 2021, 05:09:52 PM
Looking good. When you tune into the dip it really speeds up the painting.
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on October 30, 2021, 05:10:07 PM
(edit: Thanks Swiftnick. We posted simultaneously there, so I missed your answer.)

Part 26 of Tilea’s Troubles (short, but not particularly sweet) is up. Please see …

https://youtu.be/vkytc-HXkNA


Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: LouieN on October 30, 2021, 11:41:11 PM
I love the camp life sceens. 
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on November 18, 2021, 07:50:13 PM
Thanks.

Tilea's Troubles, Part 27 is done! A 3000 pt 8th ed battle report with a Marienburg Mercenary army (fan list) taking on the Mighty Khurnag's Waagh! It uses original in-game pictures as well as re-posed ones. See ...

https://youtu.be/9pe5oj79bQM

(https://i.imgur.com/QjbZo1c.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/jYFp6WU.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/e7VOcA0.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/Ss0NcoO.jpg)
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Metternich on November 19, 2021, 08:30:38 PM
Tremendous fun.
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on December 10, 2021, 04:38:32 PM
Thanks for saying, Metternich.

Video Part 28 is done. See https://youtu.be/BmRf0WpOSv8

(https://i.imgur.com/M3VKxWE.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/NZQ6CFR.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/InBn0UE.jpg)

We were supposed to have a BIG battle with myself and four players last Saturday, but illness (and nervousness re: the Pandemic) got in the way. I am getting desperate to play properly again. I might suggest another play by mail to my players over the xmas holidays, but I am not too sure they are keen. They too want a 'real world' get together and battle!
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on December 20, 2021, 05:25:19 PM
I present Tilea's Troubles, 29: The Battle of the Princes

It's a 'holiday special', again including the original, in-game pics (from about 7 years ago) with plenty of new additions to improve the visuals. The tyrant Prince Girenzo Medizi takes on Duke Guidobaldo Gondi in a close, hard fought battle.

https://youtu.be/OMGJ1_f00hQ

(https://i.imgur.com/WYOfSd8.jpg)
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: swiftnick on December 20, 2021, 05:55:49 PM
Need to open a bottle of red and just take the time to enjoy the last couple of episodes. A nice christmas treat.
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Metternich on December 23, 2021, 07:57:29 PM
Wonderful world building !
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on January 07, 2022, 10:01:37 AM
Thanks Metternich and SwiftNick.

Part 30 is done. A (short) epilogue to the Battle of the Princes.

https://youtu.be/-5jsnH0hLCo
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: swiftnick on January 07, 2022, 10:48:36 AM
I am saving these up to savour!
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: WuZhuiQiu on January 23, 2022, 04:52:19 AM

We were supposed to have a BIG battle with myself and four players last Saturday, but illness (and nervousness re: the Pandemic) got in the way. I am getting desperate to play properly again. I might suggest another play by mail to my players over the xmas holidays, but I am not too sure they are keen. They too want a 'real world' get together and battle!

Is the battle in the swamp any closer to taking place?  :)
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: KarwickWingmaker on January 23, 2022, 10:42:50 AM
This is such an inspiring campaign!!
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on January 23, 2022, 11:18:49 AM
Is the battle in the swamp any closer to taking place?  :)

Covid fears (and actual, non-covid player illness) postponed the game in December. I will recommence arranging the battle as soon as I complete the next video.

The slowness is partly my own fault due to me working the campaign 'at both ends' - turning the earlier stories into videos while also continuing the present day, ongoing campaign. The videos get such lovely comments and a much bigger audience so I can't help but keep at them! But I really want to do the swamp battle asap. Loads of new figures have been painted for it - entire regiments!!!!
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on January 25, 2022, 01:23:33 PM
(I have recommenced communications with my players re: the swamp battle!)

Meanwhile, Tilea's Troubles, Part 31 is up! A battle report in which the city of Trantio is assaulted by Duke Guidobaldo's Pavonans.

https://youtu.be/gbVGMrFT7s0

Some of the 40 (ish) images ...

(https://i.imgur.com/12qYNYa.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/EfyK75V.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/mnZk2z9.jpg)
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on February 15, 2022, 12:13:49 PM
Tilea's Troubles Part 32 is up! Three stories concerning events in the northern and central parts of Tilea ...

https://youtu.be/LKiCFYmyQuI

(https://i.imgur.com/kt7M6mn.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/okyMrDH.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/Kl1QPDl.jpg)
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: swiftnick on February 15, 2022, 12:58:04 PM
I know what I am watching in bed tonight!
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on March 22, 2022, 10:48:29 PM
Hope you enjoyed it Swiftie!

Part 33 of Tilea's Troubles is live! Now I can go back to working on the new battle report, the playing of which got in the way of this video. I even did a 'Behind the Scenes (Modelling and Painting) video in between to keep the output going!) Like I have said before, despite not being able to get my head around it myself, it will be years before the videos catch up to the campaign's present day!

See - https://youtu.be/daXl2D0NDdg

(https://i.imgur.com/IbDZUT9.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/PFz4hWS.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/b1shYAb.jpg)
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on March 25, 2022, 04:04:13 PM
Please, once again, forgive the out of sequence nature of my posts. But here is the next (brand new) story from the 'live end' of my campaign, set several years after the latest video!

Prequel to the Assault on Miragliano

A Cornucopia of Corpses


They had already approached the city walls as close as they dared and had no intention of doing so again. Nofri convinced the other two that there was no real need, for their orders were to scout the sodden land around the city, and did not specify any need to draw particularly close to the walls. Indeed, as he mulled the matter over, he was able to justify their caution further. For example, if they were to approach the walls too closely, then that would likely result in their demise, ensuring they never returned to report what they had found, which he considered to be the most important element of their orders. And, added Benedetto with a wry smile, their animated corpses would only swell the enemy’s ranks, thus greatly annoying their captain.

They were but one of several parties of Portomaggioran handgunners sent out from the alliance army by the Captain-General Lord Alessio to ascertain what exactly might be the best approach to the city. As foul flood waters had spilled out from the Blighted Marshes to surround the city, just drawing close was not going to be easy for the army, never mind the act of assault. Miragliano was moated - a moat which had swelled as the water level rose, to become, on the face of it, three times as wide. Of course, it ran deep only along its original course, while the newly extended reaches were much shallower. Nevertheless, it now presented a much greater challenge for the army - not just because of the difficulty of moving through the sinking muds and tangled weeds, but because of the horrors that dwelt (or should that be un-dwelt?) within.

The city had been ruled by vampires for several years, and their necromantic dominion had turned it and the land around into a kind of hell. The three soldiers had quickly learned this upon their initial, more direct approach, when they had witnessed first a bubbling in the putrid moat waters, and then the emergence of a monstrous, plated creature, something akin to a crab or a scorpion, but as big as a boat.

(https://i.imgur.com/OtsbtRV.jpg)

It lolled heavily in the waters, splashing and scraping in equal measure, while its elongated, barbed mouth-parts chittered and spurted gobbets of noisome fluid. Red in colour, it undoubtedly hailed from the corrupted waters of the Blighted Marshes, tainted to grow unnaturally large and foully twisted. A nightmare made real, so that just the sight and smell of it sapped strength from the soldier’s legs, to leave them staggering in unsteady fear.

“Not this way then!” Benedetto had declared loudly, as the three of them turned away to move as swiftly as their weakened limbs would allow over the soft ground.

Glancing back, they saw the beast had begun to lift itself out of the deeper waters, as another of its kind surfaced behind.

(https://i.imgur.com/KDFVooh.jpg)

Once they had put some distance between them and the beasts, sufficient that they could no longer be seen, and had satisfied themselves that the monsters were making no attempt to pursue them, they all agreed that this particular stretch of the city walls could not be considered a suitable approach for the army. The beasts were massive enough that even while submerged and unseen, they could surely tip a raft, even a large one. And if they instead chose to rise up and attack, then they would surely make short work of all the unlucky souls it carried. Zanobi had voiced a concern that the creatures might move anywhere in the moat, and so should be considered to present a threat across its full circumference, but both his companions argued that they could make no such presumption. Neither beast had chased them, which could indicate they were of a somewhat sedentary nature. And even if that were not the case, then what more could they do than report where the beasts were spotted. Surely a confirmed sighting in a particular place counted for something, Nofri had suggested, and only a fool would subsequently choose said place for the armies crossing?

They picked their way forwards, adopting an arcing route that would keep them out of sight of the moat and the walls.

“A moat is a moat, and a wall is a wall, from wherever you stand,” said Nofri, feeling a need to further justify their continued caution. “Whatever spot we attack from, there will be the moat and the wall. Our task is surely to find a sound route to the moat’s edge, not to assess the moat itself.”

“They’d have given us a boat if they wanted us to test the waters,” said Benedetto, to bolster his friend’s argument.

“True enough,” agreed Zanobi, happily.

(https://i.imgur.com/ZFUzEuJ.jpg)

The three of them carried matchlock handguns, with all the necessary accoutrements, although only Zanobi and Nofri had a bandoleer, each of the several wooden boxes containing the necessary measure of powder for a single shot.

(https://i.imgur.com/tpK4NwD.jpg)

Benedetto preferred to pour directly from his powder horn into the muzzle, judging for himself the necessary amount, and believed he had the knack of getting it just right. Nofri was now glad of Benedetto’s decision, for even without a breastplate, the wooden boxes’ clattering was worryingly loud, especially when creeping around such a dangerous place as this. With a breastplate, the clickety-clack of the boxes against the steel would have seemed deafening.

(https://i.imgur.com/dDhiNLu.jpg)

It was that clattering, however loud, and the need to keep a match lit at all times, that meant hand-gunners on the move were never likely to gain surprise. Nofri had consoled himself with the thought that many of the undead may well be deaf, and a lit match was not such an advertisement in daylight as it was in the dark, but he had not fully defeated his fears concerning the matter. 

The occasional grey rock protruded from the ground, both large and small, although the pot-marked nature of the stone in these northern parts made them appear as if they too had begun to rot and fester. Other than the rocks, which were occasionally sharp and so not the most reliable stepping-stones, the ground was boggy at best and treacherously mud-sucking at worst. There was still some life in the land, limp greenery in the form of weeds and marsh plants, but despite the summer season every tree was leafless. Perhaps the miasma fermented from the foul marsh waters had poisoned them? It had certainly begun to work its harm on the army, forcing it to remove to a considerable distance from the city for the sake of its health, which in turn necessitated the discovery of a suitable route by which to approach the city whilst maintaining a good, fighting order.

Nofri took the lead, by a few steps, as he often did, his piece at the ready, match affixed. At regular intervals he would shift the hempen cord, so that the end did not burn down to the serpentine’s metal jaws, either to extinguish itself or burn through and thus cause the match to fall out. Like the others, he knew that while carrying his piece in such a way meant he could heft and shoot almost immediately should it prove necessary, needing only to open the pan as he did so, it did mean there was the constant risk of a spark landing on the pan, where, despite the closed lid, all it would take was a few stray powder-corns to cause a premature firing. So, he ported his piece at an angle, taking care never to allow the muzzle to point at his comrades.

(https://i.imgur.com/srRvcKS.jpg)
 
For some time, Nofri’s only utterances were in the form of, “Have a care,” or “Watch your step here.” As they settled into a steady pace, however, and the fear of monstrous pursuit subsided, he became more conversational.

“I profess no particular knowledge of the foul art of necromancy,” he began, “Nor have I seen the undead particularly close, what with them retreating so promptly at Norochia and with us doing nought but waste powder firing volleys up at wall-tops at Ebino, but I do find myself wondering what exactly drives them.”

“Evil, plain and simple,” offered Benedetto.

“Aye,” agreed Nofri. “I understand it is evil that conjures them into existence, through foul and despicable magics, but I’m asking what makes them do this and not that, attack one and not another? What directs them to do particular things?”

“The will of vampires or necromancers,” said Benedetto, with a tone implying the answer was obvious. “Otherwise, they would come on in battle like a mob, or like a herd of enraged kine, with no order nor cohesion.”

“I always thought they might have some memories of drill,” suggested Zanobi. “Despite having died since they learned it – enough at least to maintain their dressings. I don’t think I could ever rid myself of the memory of such an aching misery as early morning drill.”

(https://i.imgur.com/XoRKDDT.jpg)

Nofri frowned. “There’s more to it than that though. They know to attack the enemy and not each other; and they can stand regardless of provocation and opportunity until the moment is right for a charge.”

“Again … it’s evil magic that both raises them and drives them forth, directing them,” said Benedetto.

“So, without a vampire to play them like marionettes, they would flail and founder?” asked Nofri.

“Who’s to say they are played like marionettes? They might have just enough will left in them, howsoever wracked and tortured it is by what they’ve become, to imbue them with a burning hatred of the living – those who still possess what they have lost. Puppets possess no such will. Think of a necromancer as more like a hunter with a pack of hounds. He raises them vicious but loyal, makes them fit for the hunt, then chooses when and where to let them off the leash. The hounds have a hungry lust for the kill, but they obey their master’s commands. Out alone, the hounds are still dangerous, just less particular about who they attack.”

“Do necromancers tie them up like hounds?” asked Zanobi.

“What?” said Benedetto, obviously confused by the strange question.

“Look, see,” said Zanobi, pointing ahead. “Like that one!”

(https://i.imgur.com/Fkp3PYY.jpg)

The three halted, and Nofri and Benedetto followed Zanobi’s gaze.

(https://i.imgur.com/eilfoip.jpg)

Up ahead stood a zombie, clothed in filthy skirts, it’s face almost entirely hidden by long, greasy, matted hair. Its hands were shackled in iron and chained to a sturdy looking post set into the ground by its side.

(https://i.imgur.com/sJRTm54.jpg)

“That’s odd,” said Nofri. “Why chain it up like so?”

“I haven’t a clue,” said Benedetto. “She can’t act as a guard, as anyone can walk around her. She can’t be a look out for she ain’t going to cry for help. And she surely hasn’t been raised to swell the ranks of the defenders, for if so, why is she here?”

“Do you think she was chained before or after she died?” asked Nofri.

“And was it before or after she became undead?” asked Zanobi.

Nofri’s brow furrowed. “Eh?”

(https://i.imgur.com/51Vm09X.jpg)

“That’s not the mystery here,” said Benedetto. “Think on it. The undead are raised to serve necromancers and vampires, yes?”

“Aye,” the others both agreed.

“So why did they trouble to raise her then leave her chained?”

Nofri’s face drained of colour. “Is she a vampire?” he asked, gulping. “For they have their own wills, not beholden to those who sire them?”

“That’s debatable,” said Benedetto, hinting at a whole new argument.

(https://i.imgur.com/3eYGJuD.jpg)

“Well if not a vampire, then is she alive?” asked Zanobi. He took a step forward and asked, “Shall I go see?”

“No, Zanobi, there’s no need. Stay put,” ordered Benedetto. “We can just ask.”

He cleared his throat, then shouted: “You there? Are you hurt?”

The zombie’s head snapped up, the ragged and rotten mess that was its lower jaw made visible as its hair fell away, and it issued a disgusting, gurgling groan. 

“It’s a zombie,’ declared Benedetto. “Why is it here, though?”

“Perhaps whoever magicked it up couldn’t be bothered to go to the trouble of freeing it?” suggested Nofri.

“Then why go the trouble of raising it in the first place?” asked Benedetto.  “Necromantic magic has to extract a price, surely? I can’t imagine one goes about it lightly.”

Zanobi sniffed, then pointed at the zombie, shaking his finger. “Then maybe it raised itself, only then to discover the somewhat inconvenient fact that it is chained?”

“It can’t raise itself,” said Benedetto.

“Can’t it?” argued Nofri. “This place has been corrupted long enough, surely? Maybe the magical taint of necromancy has rooted and grown to curse the whole land?”

Benedetto pondered this, while the others stared with sick fascination at the zombie. He then said,

“More likely whoever raised her decided they had plenty enough defenders and she was surplus to requirements, not worth the effort of freeing. But we can’t be sure and you could be right. Whatever the truth, we must tell the captain that here in the marsh, the undead require no necromancers to sustain them; nor to command them, nor perhaps even to conjure them up in the first place. In a realm as old as Miragliano, that could mean one hell of a lot of walking corpses. Worst of all, it could be that Miragliano is so replete with defenders that they have no need of more!”

“Should we shoot it?” asked Zanobi.

“No,” said Benedetto. “It’d be a waste of powder. She’s not going anywhere. And I don’t want the shot to alert every foul creature around to our presence.”

“Best be away, then!” suggested Nofri.

They now began to veer away from the city, intending to navigate an arc which would cover a rockier stretch of ground to the south-west and bring them back to the army’s current camp. To reach the rocks, they would pass some stone ruins, once a farmstead, which they had been ordered to scout due to a report of activity there in the night. The three of them now moved even more carefully, picking their way slowly and carefully around the boggy pools and stopping frequently to look around, hoping to espy any enemies long before they drew close.

Their caution proved justified, for as soon as the ruins came into view, they could see movement –several long polearms and spears, even a ragged banner. The idea that it could be some of their own comrades did not even enter their minds, for they could see immediately that the banner took the form of a human hide, daubed crudely with blood.

(https://i.imgur.com/HqmbEqq.jpg)

“Have a care!” whispered Nofri, needlessly, as the three of them halted. “There are more here, and these aren’t chained.”

“I don’t see anyone to command them,” said Benedetto, squinting against the grey-glare of the sky. “I was right. This place is swarming with zombies, and not because some vampire is leading them to war, but because the land is thoroughly cursed.”

(https://i.imgur.com/mMlzcq8.jpg)

Each of them adjusted their match and blew on their coals, in readiness, while straining their eyes to take in the details. Beside the bearer of the grisly standard stood an armoured figure, in mail and plates of some strange and archaic design. Such might be expected on the animated bones of long dead warriors, but not on the still rotting carcasses of zombies. Nofri wondered if the bog waters had preserved the corpse’s flesh over the centuries.

(https://i.imgur.com/F9uhBXf.jpg)

The closest zombie seemed to be looking at them with malicious intent, but what else would such a creature feel? It clutched a long staff upon which two blades had been clumsily tied, as if to make kitchen tools and a staff into a polearm. Perhaps some ancient dweller of these parts had been forced in desperate circumstances to fabricate the makeshift weapon when faced with wicked foes, only now to become that which he had once fought?

No wonder he looks so annoyed, thought Nofri.

(https://i.imgur.com/N5VfRzh.jpg)

The clutch of zombies to the left also carried odd-looking weapons, of equally long proportions. Nofri suspected they had all died together in the same incident, during which encounter they had presumed, for whatever reason, that they would be best armed with very long weapons. Perhaps they had been trying to keep zombies at bay? Or even attempting to round them up? Whatever they had intended, they had presumably failed, and died clutching their unusual weapons. Now, in undeath, they had found those weapons quite literally ‘to hand’.

(https://i.imgur.com/9Q2JT31.jpg)

“Right,” Benedetto said. “We’ve seen the ruins. We know what’s here. There’s no need to get any closer. I say we skirt around the rocks rather than head straight for them. I don’t fancy finding out if those blades have kept their edge!”

The other two said nothing, instead just loping off after him as he altered course. They moved less cautiously now, splashing through the muddy waters, stumbling occasionally. They removed their matches from the serpentines to clutch in their left hands, so as not to cause an accidental firing. Even just the noise such a shot would make worried them, never mind the damage they might do to each other, for like Benedetto had said, they did not want to advertise their presence to all within a mile. They could see the southern spur of the rocks they had intended to pass through and made for that.

Suddenly Benedetto, who had taken the lead momentarily, halted, raised his hand and shouted: “No!”

Nofri and Zanobi stopped also.

(https://i.imgur.com/JgcCram.jpg)

“Not this way either,” Benedetto added. “This place is swarming with the devils.”

Up ahead was a pond, upon the far side of which were more zombies. A score or more, reckoned Nofri.

(https://i.imgur.com/GLeEWU2.jpg)

“Too many,” said Zanobi, breathlessly. “There’s too many!”

Nofri glanced at his friend. “Fear not, Zanobi. They’re not known for speed, and they’re on the wrong side of that pond.”

“Aye, but they’re already coming around,” said Benedetto, affixing his match once more.

The zombies were dividing, some to go one way …

(https://i.imgur.com/yyziJ61.jpg)

… the rest to go the other.

(https://i.imgur.com/IcM6cSC.jpg)

Nofri could see that the enemy’s passage was somewhat obstructed by thorny, scrub-bushes, and that they would have to cross a rocky stream before they reached this spot. Emboldened, and regardless of the fact his two companions had already turned to flee, he stood a while, hoping to see who or what, if anyone, commanded this particular mob.

His attention was drawn immediately to a tall figure in the centre, who seemed yet to have decided which way to go.

(https://i.imgur.com/6XGJZ1P.jpg)

The heavily armoured, cloaked warrior carried a huge iron mace and what appeared to be a broken sword. His face was hidden behind his horned-helmet’s steel vizor, so that Nofri had little to go on regarding the true nature of the warrior. It could be a zombie, a vampire or even a living man for all he knew. The manner in which it stood, simply waving its mace about its head, might suggest the dim wits of a zombie, but it could well be the pose of a vampire urging his foul servants on to do the dirty work of fighting for him. Perhaps he knew how worthless his armour would prove against handgun bullets at close range?

“Come on, Nofri!” shouted the others, almost in unison.

The barked command dislodged Nofri from his ill-timed reverie, and he too turned and ran.
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Mark on March 25, 2022, 10:37:25 PM
Very happy to see a new installment - looking forward to the Battle report!
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Elk101 on March 26, 2022, 06:24:24 AM
Great photos, I especially like the one of the chained up zombie, very atmospheric.
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: WuZhuiQiu on March 27, 2022, 02:09:43 AM
And the suspense builds...
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on March 28, 2022, 04:49:30 PM
Thanks, you three.


The Assault on Miragliano
Part One (Deployment)


When Captain-General Lord Alessio had received all his scouts’ reports concerning the approaches to the city, it was obvious that no route was safe, but that one, at least, was potentially better than the rest. The taint of necromantic magic had permeated far beyond the city itself, so that (in places) the marsh and moat veritably teemed with animated corpses. Lord Alessio simply chose a way through which avoided what seemed to be the worst of those accursed spots. It wasn’t where the flooded moat was narrowest, nor where the outlying ground was least boggy, but there were gates in the walls there, which was the only absolute necessity.

(https://i.imgur.com/TRbQ0z7.jpg)

His plan was simple: his army would drag the rafts, as quickly as they could, to the moat’s edge, then launch and ride them to the walls. Most rafts would carry ladder armed companies, but the two heaviest had siege towers and the next heaviest carried a ram. Lord Alessio was hoping that sheer weight of numbers would allow his army to overwhelm the enemy, which in truth had been part of his strategic planning from the very start of the campaign against the undead.

(https://i.imgur.com/bOXrThA.jpg)

He deployed most of his missile troops on the left, including his own Portomaggioran handgunners and crossbowmen (the latter commanded by Captain Lupo ‘The Wolf’ Lorenzo), as well as the Reman crossbow regiments, both men and dwarfs. The VMC’s handgunner detachments, he allowed to accompany their pike regiment on the far right, along with their independent handgunner regiment. He had lost all but one cannon on the march hither, and had been denied artillery reinforcement by the VMC commander’s strange decision to send only foot troops to support him. He placed this last piece on the far left, to play against the gate as best it could and, should it prove necessary, to fire upon anything monstrous emerging from the foul waters.

(https://i.imgur.com/yShspUg.jpg)

His intention was that such a weight of shot and bolt on the left would disrupt or destroy any enemy attempting to flank his assaulting troops either in the moat or the marsh. Surely very little could withstand the combined firepower of over sixty handguns and crossbows plus a heavy artillery piece?

(https://i.imgur.com/DnyUu08.jpg)

The dwarf warriors, captained by the Kislevite commander of the Reman brigade, Soldatovya, were (like every melee regiment) equipped with a raft, and if necessary would be available to engage an enemy on the water …

(https://i.imgur.com/BTlwBJB.jpg)

… while the skirmishing bravi were ordered to protect the gun from anything approaching from the flank or rear. The VMC apprentice wizard Serafina added a magical element to that flank, and the Reman Morrite priest Bernhardt (also with the dwarven warriors) should bolster the soldiers’ resolve in the face of the undead foe.

(https://i.imgur.com/rcylPSo.jpg)
On the right, where his main fighting regiments were placed with the bigger rafts and the siege tower rafts, there was the re-sanctified carroccio. This, the general hoped, would lift the soldiers’ spirits, by channelling the mystical blessings of Morr, while the rather more mundane VMC ogres, led by the infamous Ogbut, were to smash through the gate with their raft-mounted ram.

(https://i.imgur.com/CtYVfbM.jpg)

Alessio’s largest Portomaggioran regiment, the spears, took position in the very centre of the line.

(https://i.imgur.com/RtILkzG.jpg)

Such was their weight of numbers that he was happy to have them commanded only by their own champion. They would flank the ram, so that if anything were to attack from the waters, they might prevent it interfering with it. Then, of course, should the ram prove capable of smashing through the gates, they would join the ogres to swarm through immediately, crossing from their raft.

(https://i.imgur.com/r6BMNTj.jpg)

General Lord Alessio himself was with his Sea Wolf guard regiment, atop the siege tower from where he could scrutinise the entire line. Beside him strode the colossus, taller even than the tower top, and entirely capable (the wizard Lord Hakim had reassured him) of fording the moat waters.

(https://i.imgur.com/8huoQFE.jpg)

To the general’s right, the crew of the carroccio had been ordered to get as close as was safe to the water’s edge, so that the holy aura of the relics contained within its chest would remain near enough to the fighting men that they felt its inspiring vigour.

(https://i.imgur.com/wHHojGF.jpg)

The enemy had distributed its strength across the full length of the walls facing the assaulting alliance army.

(https://i.imgur.com/jGYlIU2.jpg)

Ghouls and zombies swarmed on most of the walls, in some cases so numerous that they could not all fit upon the parapet, while the flanking walls contained even more disturbing defenders, nightmarishly ethereal in form. The vampire priest of Nagash, Biagino, was hidden away inside one of the towers, as were his two necromantic lieutenants. He presumably saw no need to subject himself to the attentions of enemy shooting, although unlike at Ebino, he had not commanded his regimented warriors to remain hidden behind the walls. Perhaps the defeat he suffered there meant he now thought the tactic worthless. If it failed to help him previously, why employ it again? Or perhaps he believed the enemy might become dismayed by the numbers on the walls? Being an alliance force suggested the possibility that particular parts might refuse to fight as hard as the rest.

(https://i.imgur.com/Z5YkTkP.jpg)

Fell bats awaited behind the far-right wall, beneath the Cairn Wraiths atop the parapet, chittering and flapping their wings in anticipation. The wraiths, in contrast, moved silently,

(https://i.imgur.com/XEWDWWC.jpg)

On the far-left wall, ghostly manifestations swirled eerily about each other …

(https://i.imgur.com/0dc5Hjd.jpg)

… presenting the living soldiers across the water with an uncanny glimpse of just how tortured an afterlife could await those unlucky souls who fell under the dominion of vampires.

(https://i.imgur.com/isYkJhS.jpg)

An uncanny light shone about them as they danced and wove around each other vigorously, but it was a brightness of such strange origins that it cast no reflection in the waters below. 



Game Note: This is the field in terms of game play. As per our usual siege/assault rules, the outcome is determined at the end of turn 9 (if the fighting is still ongoing), based on the number of sections each side controls.

(https://i.imgur.com/0AQ1LqN.jpg)

Sections 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 consist of both a tower and the adjacent wall. Section 4 is the gate tower itself. Sections 7, 8 and 9 consist of three equally large portions of the city’s interior.

… Part two to follow asap …
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on March 30, 2022, 12:51:09 PM
The Assault on Miragliano
Part Two (The Assault Begins)


As swirling spirits danced mystical around the crenelations, as if to lure the enemy towards them …

(https://i.imgur.com/QOr5VM1.jpg)

… elsewhere along the walls, the defenders stood peering and leering over the parapet, their own lurching motions much clumsier. The zombies were almost silent, apart from their effortful gurgling as their ragged throats dragged air to and fro from their rotting lights.

(https://i.imgur.com/5twn8er.jpg)

The ghouls were louder, issuing forth curses and other corrupt words as they thought impatiently of the mountain of flesh they would feast upon when the battle was done.

(https://i.imgur.com/Qzti3Eb.jpg)

Biagino sensed the failure of one of his lieutenants to employ necromantic magic, and so before the other could wastefully sap the winds of magic further, he cast Invocation of Nehek to summon up more than a score of zombies, so bolstering the regiments defending the walls on either side of his tower.

(https://i.imgur.com/xpgf0az.jpg)

Satisfied, and having willed not one of his servants to take so much as a step, he watched as the enemy began to draw closer. Not all moved, certainly not those with bows or guns, but the dwarfs pushed their raft closer, as did the large regiments propelling the ram and siege tower rafts.

(https://i.imgur.com/GialWnH.jpg)

Several other large regiments stood their ground, for want of opportunity to advance, what with so many others in the way. The grey-clad Marienburger pikemen of the VMC brigade simply watched from behind.

(https://i.imgur.com/H4QNAVJ.jpg)

Of the umpteen conjurations attempted by the alliance army’s magic users, only Wizard Lord Hakim’s spell, Shem’s Burning Gaze, was successful in harming the foe, causing a good quarter of the spirit host to dissipate from this realm whence they came. The handgunners were as yet unable to find a target, and of the crossbowmen, only Lupo and his Portomaggiorans found their mark, felling a handful of the zombies (unaware that the loss was but a fraction of what had been raised only moments before).

(https://i.imgur.com/iQHjwrD.jpg)

When the Remans behind, shooting over the Portomaggioran’s heads, failed to add a single zombie’s demise to the tally, they began to wonder what magical blessing was guiding the bolts launched by Lupo’s men.

(https://i.imgur.com/ekafVw4.jpg)

(Game Note: Campaign Mercenary Combat Skill: ‘Superior Markmanship’ – The unit the character is with ignores cover.)

Biagino had noticed the small yet surprising number of casualties also, and with a mental gesture, commanded the cairn-wraiths to dismount the wall and await the foe unseen, just in case the enemy’s bolts were indeed blessed with some magical power.

(https://i.imgur.com/swaqNxK.jpg)

Once he was satisfied they had done so, he looked from the window and descried that a swarm of bats had swooped from the marshes to the rear of the enemy’s line.

(https://i.imgur.com/DTi1zhY.jpg)

They were close to the artillery piece, which pleased him, so he focused his malignantly magical will upon them to make sure that their first action would be to attack the crew.

(https://i.imgur.com/bj4lsUj.jpg)

Their arrival reminded him of the zombies who inhabited the marshland. He knew this would be exactly the right moment for them also to arrive at the enemy’s rear, before the rafts had been launched to carry the soldiers out of reach. Closing his eyes, he muttered the words of an incantation to call on them, but as the magical current flowed aimless away he sensed immediately that there were none within reach.

Game Note:
Quote
House rules for the Marsh Zombies

This zombie horde lurks in the marsh, already re-animated by the necromantic energies spilling from the city. The vampire player may pick any spot on the table on the far side of the moat and attempt a ‘Raise Dead’ spell, needing a wizard who can do the spell. The spot does not have to be within 18” of the wizard, because the zombies are already wandering the marsh somewhere, just ‘itching’ to be prompted into action. Also, the player doesn’t roll 2D6+3 but gets the whole regiment of 36. The vampire player can only try this twice, after which it is clear the horde is not nearby, and so any further ‘Raise Dead’ spells work as normal, in which case the figures are used to represent whatever is raised (if anything).

36 Zombies - M4 WS1 BS0 S3 T3 W1  I1 A1 Ld2  //  Musician; Standard Bearer; All zombie rules, but also unit does NOT suffer any Marshland Dangerous Terrain effects! They’ve gotten used to the terrain.

Nevertheless, he peered through the window (of the dank tower chamber he was hiding in) to spot any sign of them.

(https://i.imgur.com/IPHxVcR.jpg)

Nothing. He cursed angrily, then dismissed his frustration and (along with one of his lieutenants) simply summoned yet more zombies to swell the rank and file of his wall defenders. He was damned if he would yield this city easily.

(https://i.imgur.com/YmtMgKo.jpg)

With little to shoot at upon the walls, and nothing yet to appear in the moat, the Reman crossbow regiments (dwarf and human) and the Lord Alessio’s handgunners, turned to face the swarming bats. More crucially, perhaps, so did the Reman ‘bravi’ swordsmen, ensuring that the bats could not reach the gun except by taking on them!

(https://i.imgur.com/2SkDUHJ.jpg)

Further along the line, Ogbut’s ogres reached the moat, heaved their raft onto it and mounted it in readiness for the crossing.

(https://i.imgur.com/x6Y9N1C.jpg)

Game Note:
Quote
Raft rules (second draft after player consultation)

The rafts are carried by units to the moat’s edge, which should be about 5-6” away from the allied army deployment line. Upon reaching the moat’s edge, the raft is set down ready for embarkation, and the unit auto moves onto the raft (if the player wishes). Units cannot march whilst lugging the rafts. The three heavy rafts must be accompanied by large units, who move at -1 mvmt penalty whilst dragging them to the moat’s edge (like rams in 3rd ed WFB).

Once at the moat’s edge the rafts are placed on the water (thus extending 4”, 6” or 8” into the moat, depending on the raft) and the unit moves onto the raft at the end of the turn they reached the moat.

Once on the moat, the rafts (large or small) are moved by the soldiers on board paddling and punting as best they can. The big rafts roll 2D3” initial movement, due to the delay in the unit boarding. The smallest rafts roll 3D3”. All rafts can opt to move up to D6” less (rolling another dice) if they wish to slow down or stop. Big rafts that moved in the previous turn, moves 2D6”, the small rafts 2D6+2”.

The thoroughly flooded moat area should be on average 17” across … so considering the largest raft, when placed, will already extend 8” across by being placed, it will thus have only 9” to move. The other large ones extend 6”out, so 11” to move. They thus should take 2 or 3 turns crossing the moat. If a raft arrives at a wall with any move distance to spare then the unit counts as having charged the wall – and a ladder/tower/battering ram assault immediately commences.

The rafts can turn as per the old 3rd ed WFB chariot rules, the large ones (most of them) using an arc equal to their movement distance, the smaller ones using an arc of half their move distance. Arcs are closed if they contact the wall.

On reaching the wall, the men aboard will fasten them up and they become platforms from which to launch ladder assaults. The ram, siege towers and ladders all use the old 6th ed Siege Rules.

The assault game will be 9 turns long. If the attackers take 2 turns to arrive at the water’s edge, then 2-4 turns to cross the moat, they could be attacking the defences sometime from turns 4 to 6, thus with 3 to 5 turns of combat.

Magic users and missile troops can support as best they can, from the moat’s edge, or rafts. Probably the moat’s edge for missiles. Or they just join the assault. The city defences will be in defined sections as per the usual rules.

This moat is not like Ebino’s, as this one has silted up a bit, and also flooded to cover a large area (thus it’s new width). Thus the Colossus can wade through both the marsh and the moat. It would take dangerous terrain tests only if it marched, charged, fled or pursued. (I wish the model had a detachable torso cos it would look cool wading waist deep! I know Damian, who has a spare, actually considered sawing the spare in half and painting it.)

(Luckily, I managed to edit the subsequent photo of the colossus to show it starting to wade into the murky waters.)

The magical construct known as the Colossus, guided as ever by its creator the Wizard Lord Hakim, now also began to wade, somewhat tentatively for such a massive creation, into the waters.

(https://i.imgur.com/LP8uzgP.jpg)

(Magic 12:6)

Serafina’s fireball killed but one single bat amongst the swarm, having veered to one side so that it barely singed the rest. The Morrite cleric, Bendali, who had entirely failed to notice the bats’ arrival, employed his Amulet of Coal to send his own fireball to burst into the parapet and wash flames over, killing no less than ten zombies.

(https://i.imgur.com/5yp3tFY.jpg)

His happiness was only slightly marred by the fact that the Amulet shattered in the process. Annoyed that he had not thought to do so first, he now cast Morr’s Touch upon the surviving zombies, weakening them.

The Colossus cast Shem’s Burning Gaze on the ghouls, but Biagino was quick enough to dispel it. Lord Hakim tried again where his servant had failed, and this time killed two of the enemy. The rest of the ghouls seemed not to care a jot, nor even to notice their comrades’ demise.

(https://i.imgur.com/s6XCdNZ.jpg)

Lupo’s crossbowmen, despite their blessed weapons and the enemy’s magically induced weakness, now slew less of the zombies than previously, much to their confusion. The gun crew had yet to fire, having been waiting for the monsters they were told lurked in the moat. Now, however, they decided the bats were a priority, and turned their piece to fire. They were over-hasty, however, and sent the shot into the dirt!

Turns 3 onwards to follow ASAP.

Appendix

Quote
Biagino's Last Stand Army (1651 pts)

Biagino (Vampire Lord; General; Level 2 Wizard)
Book of Arkhan (Vanhel's Danse Macabre); Talisman of Preservation; Aura of Dark Majesty

Necromancer (Level 2 Wizard; Master of the Dead)
Dispel Scroll; Ruby Ring of Ruin

Necromancer (Level 1 Wizard)
Talisman of Endurance

Cairn Wraith (1#, 60 pts)
   1 Cairn Wraith, 60 pts (Great Weapon; Chill Grasp; Ethereal; Immune to Psychology; Terror; Unbreakable; Undead; Unstable; Always Strikes Last)

2 Cairn Wraith characters

30 Crypt Ghouls with Crypt Ghast

4 Cairn Wraiths as a unit

4 Spirit Hosts

40 Zombies (Musician; Standard Bearer)
Split into two bodies of 20 to defend walls (as allowed in campaign rules)

6 Fell Bats
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: WuZhuiQiu on April 02, 2022, 07:00:38 PM
More coolness! What was the besieger's list?
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on April 07, 2022, 06:46:34 PM
Oops! Forgot to attach that list (actually 3 separate lists). If I remember, I'll try to out the list up later.

.......

The Assault on Miragliano
Part Three (The Assault Continues)


The swarming bats in the rear of the allies’ line now swooped in an arc to attack the smaller of the two handgun companies, not the bravi before the gun.

(https://i.imgur.com/M4blZ44.jpg)

Zanobi, Benedetto and Nofri were in the front rank as the swarm came at them, and the sudden proximity of such fearful foes made their legs weaken, their stomachs churn. Those in the company whose pieces were made ready gave fire, but to no particularly noticeable effect.

(https://i.imgur.com/yA2Zdhw.jpg)

When the bats hit them, they became engulfed in a tangle of fur and leathery wings, then pierced all over by claws and teeth. All three were killed, as well as another of their comrades. Those handgunners who survived this initial onslaught failed entirely in their attempts to flee. Indeed, the swarm’s progress was barely slowed by the bloody contact, and as the last of the handgunners splashed lifeless into the soggy ground, the bats crashed into other company. It was all so quick that the second company never even fired a single shot! Barely half managed to draw their blades, the rest making do with the butt of their handguns as the swarm hit them.

Frustrated that he could see so little through the leaded-glass window of the tower chamber, Biagino burst through the door and plunged into the mass of zombies swarming upon the parapet, there to hide amongst them.

(https://i.imgur.com/I9tVZx0.jpg)

Having attempted twice to call the zombies of the swamp, without sensing their presence at all, he now knew that wherever they were, it was too far for them to be brought to the field of battle. He sensed his lieutenant’s magical conjuring and guessed it was another attempt to lure one of the leviathans inhabiting the moat. But nothing came of it, and so he too stared into the water as he wrestled with the winds of magic to make them conform to his own will. He too failed, as the enemy had several wizards, one of whom employed a counter spell to unwind and wash away the winds before they could sufficiently coalesce in the material realm.

(Game Note: First attempt to raise the Leviathon dispel scrolled; second stopped with a 6D dispel roll of 24.)

Game Note:
Quote
Rotting Leviathans (from the old ‘Luthor Harkon’ White Dwarf army)

These dwell in the expanded moat, being the preserved remains of ‘crab-like Prometheans’ which rose to the surface during the time of the corruption of Miragliano, carried in by the flood waters.

In their own magic phase, the vampire player may choose a spot in the moat, then roll a scatter die & 2D6 for the distance. (If the spot goes off-table, then the beast can appear in the vampire player’s next turn, as an ‘Ambusher’ (p.79) /‘Reinforcement’ (p.27), arriving within 6” of the point at which the line crossed the table edge, if it gets its 3+ roll.) If the spot is on the table, the player then rolls 1D6 & on a roll of 6, a Leviathan appears. Before rolling the D6, however, they can bolster this attempt by successfully casting Invocation of Nehek on 12+ or 18+ depending on if the beast is raised between 6 and 12 or between 12 and 18 inches away, measuring from the caster to the point in the moat. On a successful casting, the beast appears on a D6 roll of 4, 5 or 6. If the spell fails, the attempt to lure the beast up has hindered the rising, so the player cannot even roll the D6 for a 6 chance. They can try again next and subsequent turns, on 5,6 chance or 3+ using Invocation. (A successful dispelling will thus stop their appearance, or a failed D6 roll.)

If the player is successful, they may attempt summon the other creature in another turn, or even in the same turn if they have another wizard who can cast Invocation of Nehek. Once both leviathans have been raised, however, there are no more others nearby to raise. Note that calling one from beyond the table edge might be the better tactic, but still with a potentially indefinite delay!

Rotting Leviathan – Stats, attributes and special rules as per the old White Dwarf list.

The apprentice wizard Serafina was unnerved by all the deaths so close to her and ran back towards the high ground in the rear, struggling all along to cross the difficult ground.

(Game Note: Anything more than a normal move in the marsh meant taking a dangerous terrain test.)

As the colossus and the ram-raft drew closer to the city walls …

(https://i.imgur.com/FdfbSP0.jpg)

… the dismounted knights mounted the siege tower.

(https://i.imgur.com/eeGogem.jpg)

They were commanded by Lord Marcus Portelli, who had been wounded in at Ebino. Despite requiring help to climb the ladder, he nevertheless projected a fearlessness which inspired his men, and he looked the very essence of a warrior as he took his place at the front, leaning upon his huge, iron-barbed mace.

(https://i.imgur.com/BaUZqCi.jpg)

While Father Bernhardt prayed for Morr to protect the dwarf warriors, only one wizardly spell successfully pierced the mystical defences mustered by the vampire and his lieutenants. Five ghouls tumbled from the wall as a banishment took grip on them, yet still, the rest showed no sign of caring, nor even noticing.

(https://i.imgur.com/bez7yQo.jpg)

Lupo’s crossbowmen slew five more zombies …

(https://i.imgur.com/BurzLmf.jpg)

… but like the ghouls, the remainder just peered through the crenelations, entirely ignorant of their fellow defenders’ second demise.

(https://i.imgur.com/iH5yNQZ.jpg)

Biagino noticed, however, and in a fit of anger he ordered the fell bats and the cairn-wraiths to burst from the defences onto moat, from where they could charge at the foe.

(https://i.imgur.com/uKo1LAC.jpg)

The wraiths moved ethereally through the very stones, to glide eerily and terrifyingly over the water towards the raft carrying the Reman dwarfs, Father Bernhardt and Captain Soldatovya …

(https://i.imgur.com/lXha1Gb.jpg)

… while the monstrous bats flew speedily across the full width of the moat towards the handgunners already engaged with their smaller kin.

(https://i.imgur.com/ZTyiItK.jpg)

Inside the city, the diminished host of spirits drifted towards the gate tower, while the similarly reduced company of ghouls moved to take the spot on the far-left wall the spirits had recently departed. One or two amongst them seem somewhat put out at being commanded so to move, having previously been greedily eyeing the approaching foe.

(https://i.imgur.com/46XskYo.jpg)

When they discovered enemies were also approaching this new wall, they satisfied themselves that they had not been denied their share of flesh-meat!

Biagino could now clearly see the approaching dwarfs and the enemies crossing further along the moat. If the deadly cairn-wraiths made short work of dispatching the dwarfs, then it was likely they could move on to one or even more the other rafts before the enemy reached the walls. So it was he attempted to conjure a curse to weaken the foe, only to fumble it when momentarily distracted. While several more spells were either foiled or simply failed, including a further attempt to lure the moat-dwelling leviathans, ever more zombies were successfully raised to swell the horde now defending two stretches of the wall.

(https://i.imgur.com/3nsd83X.jpg)

The swarming bats quickly sapped the second body of handgunners’ will to fight, killing all who fled away as they became mired in the stinking mud.  This meant the fell bats could swoop down on a clear run towards the cannon crew. Yet despite this success, the massive bulk of the enemy lay further along the moat, and so far, there had been no hindrance at all to its passage. The large regiment of Portomaggioran spearmen, who had so bravely assaulted the gate at Ebino after it had been blown to pieces by siege-master Guccio’s petard, recently reinforced with the survivors of several no longer field-worthy companies and regiments, had already boarded a large raft to commence their own crossing.

(https://i.imgur.com/gg6vsZx.jpg)

Desperate to avoid a moat-top combat with the nightmarish wraiths, Captain Soldatovya ordered his mercenary dwarfs to propel the raft as speedily as possible, even if it endangered the lives of some of those aboard.

(https://i.imgur.com/cJk2efE.jpg)

He was praying they would pass by before the ghastly creatures could sweep around at them.

(https://i.imgur.com/PNGjhXc.jpg)

With a sinking heart, the Kislevite captain recognised their progress was just too slow. Clutching his blade tight, he turned to look at the foe, wracking his brains at how he might survive the inevitable encounter, when suddenly four of the foul spirits disappeared, as a storm of bolts came whistling through the air from Lupo’s crossbowmen. This confused him, for such mundane missiles would not normally be expected to harm ethereal beings.

(https://i.imgur.com/f11d4dV.jpg)

Serafina had halted her flight and was the first wizard to notice the wraiths. She failed, however, in her subsequent attempt to manifest fireballs to hurl at them. That failure, however, was perceived by her master, the wizard lord Johannes Deeter, who was close to the carroccio. When he looked through the leafless trees to see what Serafina had been attempting to harm, he too saw the wraiths. Being well versed in the art of fire magic, he immediately conjured a ‘Rhuinous’ blessing upon Lupo’s crossbowmen, so that their bolts would carry just enough magic to sting the foe, despite their ghostly nature. And sting they did, enough to slay more than half.

(https://i.imgur.com/XQLEb0A.jpg)

An enchanted round-shot was also blasted at the wraiths, but it missed and instead crunched into the wall beyond, while the rest of the allies’ crossbowmen brought down merely a handful of bats and zombies. Even the gunners on the carroccio blasted their swivels at the wall, but again, with little effect. The Ogres, however, had already reached the gate, and had begun swinging the ram to crash repeatedly into the iron-bound, anciently-hard oak. They did not yet know that they were going to be there a long time, for the gate was strong.

(https://i.imgur.com/SGO0duT.jpg)

The last two wraiths now did exactly what Soldatovya feared and tore into the exposed flank of the dwarfs on the raft.

(https://i.imgur.com/hu8ymTO.jpg)

The raft tipped precariously to one side, as Soldatovya, clad head to toe in armour, knew there was little he could now do but pray for his own soul.

(https://i.imgur.com/XPEGUQU.jpg)

The Kislevite veteran, the portly priest Bendali and each and every dwarf upon the raft would be dead or dying within moments, most taking only as long as it took for the air to run out in their lungs as they fell like stones into the stagnant but deep moat water.

The fell bats swooped gracefully to smash into the artillerist Captain Hans Weidmuller and his cannon crew.

(https://i.imgur.com/Ggoab7n.jpg)

The crew died quickly, while Hans put up a little more of a fight. Bleeding from his wounds, he turned to flee, pursued by the unthinking creatures, and died from their attentions. His demise was unwitnessed by any in the allied army.

While the swirling spirits occupied the gate tower, the bat swarm hove back into view and flew towards the rear of the dwarf crossbowmen.

(https://i.imgur.com/cFkR3L7.jpg)

Biagino concentrated wholly upon his magical efforts and summoned up nigh upon a score more zombies to further swell those on and behind the walls.

(https://i.imgur.com/Yhqitwe.jpg)

He even returned a cairn-wraith into the mortal realm. Beyond these successes, however, nothing he nor his lieutenants tried proved effective, so that still no leviathon could be hailed to attack the multitude of enemies now teeming precariously upon the moat.

As the allies all drew ever closer to the walls, some rafts moving quicker than others.

(https://i.imgur.com/VbADrF4.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/JkC8Mpq.jpg)

Serafina, having found an inner peace despite the terrors of the marsh, sent a streaming blast of fireballs into the wraiths, and burned away all trace of them from the waking world.

(https://i.imgur.com/L9T0Jx3.jpg)

This left only the bats, large and small, outside the walls, caught up with harassing the crossbowmen at the far left of the allied line. There was nothing now to even slow the massed rank and file in their journey to the walls.

As the living wizards cast magical blessings on the large regiments, Lupo directed his crossbowmen to slay more and more of the zombies …

(https://i.imgur.com/xE65KsR.jpg)

… while Lord Marcus drew even closer to the wall …

(https://i.imgur.com/3ZZ82XM.jpg)

… and the VMC pike regiment crowded on their raft behind waiting their time to climb the siege tower’s ladders and mount the walls.

(https://i.imgur.com/JlMtElF.jpg)

The captain-general, Lord Alessio, had already reached the far-left wall, and immediately set about assaulting the ghouls defending it.

(https://i.imgur.com/98i9ccD.jpg)

Despite being fully armoured, he leapt from the platform-top of the siege tower to crash into the foul creatures massed on the parapet, the magical glare of his shield dazzling and paining the ghouls’ eyes. His men followed quickly and obediently, and the slaughter was great, with three of the Sea Wolves falling, but many, many more ghouls. If they had not already suffered injuries to magical attacks, the foul flesh eaters might have delayed the Portomaggioran soldiers a little longer, but they simply did not have the numbers, and Lord Alessio quickly took full possession of the wall.

Despite the moat, despite the marsh, the living were already in the city.

As the bat swarms swooped between the crossbow regiments …

(https://i.imgur.com/cFkR3L7.jpg)

… the fell bats also careened around at the rear looking for another company to attack.

Biagino cursed and cursed again as neither he nor his lieutenants could summon the leviathans, nor could they manifest any other magic to thwart the enemy. He heard the enemy’s cheers and knew they must have taken at least one wall, and despite having raised a veritable host of zombies to defend two other stretches …

(https://i.imgur.com/SRBU0aq.jpg)

… he knew full well that they could only ever buy him time, not victory.

(https://i.imgur.com/5twn8er.jpg)

The foe was too numerous, and the force left to him entirely insufficient to the task of holding the city. Suddenly he felt an etheric heat and strained to look down into the yard. The colossus was obviously able to see over the walls and had burned away almost all the spirits with a magical gaze, leaving but a handful hidden beneath the stone arch.

(https://i.imgur.com/kgvFzkN.jpg)

Out beyond the moat, the bats had concentrated their last assault on the dwarven crossbows …

(https://i.imgur.com/cV7JEAc.jpg)

… but found them to be a much harder challenge than the handgunners and cannon crew. Meanwhile, Lord Alessio had already led his men from the first wall through the tower and onto the next, before the dismounted knights could mount it from their own siege tower. There Alessio and his men lay furiously into the first large body of zombies, finding the work a tiring but simple act of butchery.

(https://i.imgur.com/hKxHgay.jpg)

Lord Marcus could only watch as his master hacked and slashed through the stinking mass of rotten flesh, and the Portomaggioran army-standard moved across the wall right in front of him.

(https://i.imgur.com/dBp3Vl4.jpg)

It was clear the city was lost.

Every one of Biagino’s cards had been played. The bumper crop he had expected from the corpse-filled, foetid marsh and moat, had proved entirely disappointing.

He had been chased from the very heart of Tilea all the way to Miragliano, and now he knew that if he was to (un)live any longer, he must flee yet again, right now, before the enemy could reach him.

And flee he did.

(https://i.imgur.com/C8xMfSl.jpg)

He knew not whether he would go to the marsh or the mountains, but he did not have time to ponder the matter.

The last of the vampires’ possessions, the once great city of Miragliano, had finally fallen. And so the great war against the Undead had ended.
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Gibby on April 07, 2022, 08:44:38 PM
I have an idea of where he could go...

Simply stunning battle report, Padre!
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on April 07, 2022, 10:06:22 PM
Oh I bet you do! But I am afraid, as he is an NPC, the dice will decide. Besides, could you ever trust him?
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: WuZhuiQiu on April 10, 2022, 05:38:52 PM
Great stuff!

Could NPCs be "influenced" somehow...?

Oh I bet you do! But I am afraid, as he is an NPC, the dice will decide. Besides, could you ever trust him?
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on April 10, 2022, 06:11:51 PM
They might be. If there was someone (something?) there to influence them?

If he had any forces/real prospects, WuZhuiQiu, I would gift control of the character to you. But he is just one, lone (pathetic) vampire now! He would be very boring to 'play'. Especially in a campaign which is (by necessary circumstances) this incredibly slow!
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: WuZhuiQiu on April 10, 2022, 07:12:19 PM
Thank you for the offer. Actually, it could be fun to plot in some remote corner of Tilea while learning the campaign rules...

My question was more in terms of current players influencing Biagino, but then what incentive might even a "Machiavellian" (who is the Old World equivalent?) leader stoop to offer to a vampire...?
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on April 10, 2022, 07:22:08 PM
I was going to dice for choices, after making a little chart of options. When doing this sort of thing for NPCs, I usually include a result of 'Do something else' so that I have to come up with even more ideas to dice between.

Something like (but this probably won't be exactly what I use) ...

1. Hide somewhere (marsh or mountains), and skulk, until the need for blood (or stimulation) drives him out, after which actions tbd
2. Go off to hide in the inhabited parts of Tilea, feeding secretly off the people there. Later actions tbd.
3. Leave Tilea, possibly for good.
4. As 2 above, but immediately looking for potential allies/servants or other vampires (perhaps even siring some), his later plans/ambitions tbd.
5. Seek immediate personal revenge against the commander(s) of the forces that defeated him. How exactly, tbd.
6. Something else - create another table of options.

That sort of thing!

I fear it would be the opposite to fun to play a currently almost wholly powerless character in a campaign that has gaps in activity that can stretch for months!!!!!
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: WuZhuiQiu on April 10, 2022, 07:28:09 PM
I have been following the campaign with interest for a couple of years now, so also being able to play an admittedly minor role would still be fine.
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on April 10, 2022, 07:29:50 PM
I'll be in touch (PM) properly soon.
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on April 16, 2022, 10:14:23 AM
Tilea's Troubles, Part 34 is up on YouTube : https://youtu.be/ICmxp3FNzNE
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on May 05, 2022, 05:36:36 PM
A new Tilea's Troubles 'behind the scenes special' video is up, which shows the construction of three scratchbuilt war-engines. They appeared here in some form in the past, but now they have a video!

BTW, if you do watch it, and you do like it, then please do 'like' it, if you see what I mean?

https://youtu.be/0ZLC9nPhlYs
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on May 10, 2022, 07:34:25 PM
And now Part 35 of Tilea's Troubles is also up!

Two Compagnia del Sole mercenaries, Baccio and Ottaviano, are in a predicament, albeit one which involves chatting in an alehouse. So, not that bad then!

https://youtu.be/G4rcU9Nvhes

(https://i.imgur.com/XuU5ekW.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/lALXPnK.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/iYgKgiU.jpg)
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Knightofspades on May 17, 2022, 09:05:12 AM
This thread is fantastic! Great moody pictures and awesome story telling!
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on May 19, 2022, 05:17:46 PM
Thanks ever so much for saying. I'm glad you're enjoying it Knightofspades.

'A Need For Nightmares', being Part 36 of Tilea's Troubles, is now up. Nightmares in both the sleeping and the waking worlds! And some Oldhammer figures in the mix.

https://youtu.be/93TT3eRgOdk

(https://i.imgur.com/ILl8nNA.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/YNS2zjk.jpg)
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on May 29, 2022, 10:31:28 PM
Tilea's Troubles, Part 37 is up, being some connecting stories. Goblin Big Boss Gurmliss returns, and the 'Sons of the Desert' make their way to Remas.

See: https://youtu.be/HJiLALROqU8

(https://i.imgur.com/GYR2yQZ.jpg)
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Grumpy Gnome on May 30, 2022, 04:19:45 AM
Great stuff as always mate, you continue to inspire!
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on June 20, 2022, 08:45:02 PM
I am much obliged, Grumpy, for your words.


Tilea's Troubles, Part 38 is done. See - https://youtu.be/IhfTg9xchD0
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Garanhir on June 21, 2022, 02:49:46 PM
I'm sure your voice work is getting better, too, it's like listening to a well-recorded audiobook.
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on June 21, 2022, 02:57:13 PM
Thanks. Maybe the more I do the more at ease I am? Or the more I am willing to experiment? Or the more confident I am just to get on with it? But either way, I am glad it seems well-recorded to you.

(I have learned not to do it when the boys are running around in the house, or when the washing machine - directly above me on the floor above - is not operating!)
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: WuZhuiQiu on June 22, 2022, 04:31:00 AM
That was a good listen! I'll have to go back through previous episodes.
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Dr Mathias on June 22, 2022, 06:43:58 PM
Always enjoy it when a new episode pops up :)
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on June 23, 2022, 02:42:11 PM
Good to hear, good Doctor.

Here is the new special modelling and painting video (number 3), packed with pikes.

https://youtu.be/67PnAMEmLdA
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: WuZhuiQiu on June 27, 2022, 04:01:44 AM
That is an effective-looking unit!

I like the mention of a Cathayan Panda Pelt, by the way!

As for other units, have you modelled Ogre pike yet? Perhaps, they might be only two ranks deep, but able to skewer riders off of their mounts, or lift horses and riders together! Rules for bolt-shooters might be adapted, enabling them to pierce at least two ranks of opposing infantry, but at -1 strength for each additional enemy rank after the first. Or, would their multiple attacks already take care of that, so that their pikes would at least enable two ranks of Ogres to fight?

Rat-pike could be clumsy in tunnels, though, unless they are of the tree rat variety?
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on July 13, 2022, 08:50:58 PM
Ogres already fight in two ranks, and unlike man-sized warriors, the second rank gets to use all 3 Attacks! Pikes are superfluous to them, I reckon!

Meanwhile ...

The next part of Tilea's Troubles, being Part 39, a two part prequel to a battle report, is up. Find it at

https://youtu.be/Ju8asZ_WDGE

Some scenes ...

(https://i.imgur.com/00OJQAg.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/aqMIAB2.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/2m3wD7r.jpg)
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on July 24, 2022, 09:32:57 PM
A new battle report for Tilea's Troubles is up: The Assault on Viadaza, entitled "Death Becomes Them."

See - https://youtu.be/C68OzxqLkkY

(https://i.imgur.com/P59davA.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/S8TrFDT.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/cMtaarz.jpg)
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on August 06, 2022, 10:37:49 AM
Tilea's Troubles Part 41 is up. Featuring Arabyans and ogres!

See https://youtu.be/CfS2xFROcWQ

Some pictures ...

(https://i.imgur.com/VpLk8AT.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/m7OnTIq.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/9odPgDT.jpg)
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Furt on August 06, 2022, 12:41:56 PM
I never knew this thread existed.  :o

What a great project and labor of love. Your telling of the stories on YouTube is very entertaining.  :-*
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on August 06, 2022, 12:43:16 PM
Glad you found it. Hope you enjoy the videos.
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on August 14, 2022, 01:44:38 PM
At long last I have a report from the campaign's present day, which means my players (hello, guys) should now be able to forward their orders for the new season to me. Here goes ...

An Excerpt from Bonacorso Fidelibus’s Work: The Many Wars of the Early 25th Century

The Last Months of Summer, 2404


Having tried but failed to rid the marshes surrounding the city of Miragliano of the foul undead …

(https://i.imgur.com/5hChqNL.jpg)

… the grand alliance army, under the command of Captain-General Lord Alessio Falconi of Portomaggiore, had constructed raft-mounted siege towers and a ram …

(https://i.imgur.com/JZGPE7D.jpg)

… while fresh water was carried from the vicinity of Soncino to the army’s camp every day …

(https://i.imgur.com/JBcofsl.jpg)

… hoping thus to stave off the sickness bred by the foul, miasmic vapours. Those who did fall ill were sent the other away to the watchtower, there to breathe untainted air.

(https://i.imgur.com/BlCRXe7.jpg)

All these sensible measures bought his army just enough time to complete the construction of the rafts, after which Lord Alessio ordered the assault to commence forthwith.

(https://i.imgur.com/bOXrThA.jpg)

The battle was hard, but not over-costly to the living. Most of the army’s soldiers praised their general for his haste, for they knew full well that had they tarried longer then sickness would surely have killed many more than died in the assault. The enemy’s walls were captured. The city was taken.

(https://i.imgur.com/3ZZ82XM.jpg)

Many hundreds of the undead were slain, and at long last, notwithstanding the vampire priest Biagino’s escape, it seemed the war against the vampires was finally won.

Despite the foulness of their surroundings, the victorious army was in a celebratory mood, incredulous at their very light losses and glad simply to be alive. The Remans had suffered worst - their commander Lukyan Soldatovya, the priest Bendali and the mercenary dwarfs having all sunk to the bottom of the moats foul waters ….

(https://i.imgur.com/lXha1Gb.jpg)

… while the VMC brigade was almost entirely unharmed.

(https://i.imgur.com/H4QNAVJ.jpg)
Lord Alessio now intended that his soldiers should live – it seemed the least reward they could expect from their grateful commander - but he could not risk wasting his long campaign and hard-won victory. Staying in, or even close to, the tainted city for any length of time, even a few days, would most likely decimate his army or worse. Sixty years before, when the notorious Reman Arch-Lector Frederigo Ordini’s massive alliance army journeyed into the Blighted Marshes, they died almost to a man. The Remans serving Lord Alessio were most concerned, for the story of the army in the marshes was very familiar to them. Nonetheless, Lord Alessio knew full well he could not leave without thoroughly cleansing the city of corruption.

Command of the surviving Remans had fallen to the captain of the mercenary dwarven crossbows, who was unwilling to tarry even one day more, despite the VMC’s Myrmiddian commander, Luccia La Fanciulla’s attempts at persuasion. (Her pleading was not helped by the fact that her second in command, the wizard Johannes Deeter, was just as keen as the Remans to depart immediately.)

(https://i.imgur.com/iad2pCK.jpg)
 
Every drop of water was unsafe, every intake of breath filled the soldiers’ mouths with the rank taste of death. The entire city and the noisome waters surrounding it, stank of rotting flesh. Fat, sluggish, swamp-flies infested the whole land, while not a scrap of edible food remained in the city, nor for leagues around.

(https://i.imgur.com/LMDQE3r.jpg)

The army’s supplies had been stretched to the limits and were now almost wholly depleted, as the soldiers’ homelands were so distant that re-supply had long since become a sporadic, insufficient affair. While the army had passed through living lands, it had supplemented its limited stores by foraging from its surroundings. But that had not been the case since it drew close to Miragliano.

(https://i.imgur.com/dOemDFO.jpg)

Lord Marcus Portelli, the captain-general’s most trusted adviser, declared this accursed realm to be the sort of place in which vile uomini ratto might breed, or goblins would scavenge, or lizard creatures from beyond the seas could dwell, but for men (he waxed poetically) it was:

“A map of misery, a world of woe, a microcosmos of miasmas; with more disease in it than the pest house at plague-time, and a stink worse than the Mayor of Olessi’s dog-house on mid-summer’s day!”

He then suggested that with the wizards’ help, and what flammable supplies still lay within the city (oil, pitch, tar and all such stocks, which he doubted the undead had had any use for), then even such a sodden place might be wholly consumed by fire, leaving only charred and cracked stones.

(https://i.imgur.com/V7k7r5s.jpg)

He also suggested that a new settlement could be built some safe distance to the south or east, to serve as a bastion against any further disturbance in these parts, and as a base from which the slow recovery of the land might be directed. Perhaps from there the work of repairing the dykes and damns might be done, so that gradually, over years, the marsh’s recent expansion would be pushed back.

The captain-general agreed to consider the matter. In the meantime, he ordered the speedy, but thorough, burning of the city, aiming to leave only when it was properly ablaze. Nevertheless, the Remans now marched away - their only Morrite cleric had died in the assault, so there were no magical prayers or blessings they could offer in the cleansing of the city. Nor did they have any black-powder, or any wizard to conjure fire from the etheric winds.

The VMC’s wizards, Johannes Deeter and Serafina Rosa, and the ingenious siege master Captain Guccio, took charge of the preparations, being assigned a third of the army to assist, plus nearly all the remaining powder supplies.

(https://i.imgur.com/kDqC3p7.jpg)

The rest of the army was ordered to search the city for valuable goods, especially gold and silver, as well as locating all the flammable stocks to assist the arsonist contingent.

The resulting conflagration was impressive, as was the amount of plunder - the undead had left most such things as they lay.

(https://i.imgur.com/zTs4OzS.jpg)

When the army marched away, its officers agreed unanimously that the cleansing had been most effective. But any pride they felt was soon sapped, for lingering just those few extra days proved costly. As they marched east along the road to Ebino, the fever became fatal for many, so that every regiment and company suffered losses.

None knew the whereabouts or condition of the vampire Biagino. But, unlike his mistress the duchess Maria, or her sire Duke Alessandro, he had proved repeatedly weak, having fled from fight after fight, so that most were satisfied he had most likely become but one more desperate denizen of the Marshes; a foul monster haunting some noisome valley, like a wild, territorial beast.

(https://i.imgur.com/1dcGKgO.jpg)

The people of Urbimo, who had lived in fear for so long, had somewhat mixed feelings. The war was won, but a vampire still (un)lived. Pietro and Carlo Cybo began pressing the Reman arch-lector to establish some sort of permanent watch over the state of Miragliano, sufficient to thwart any resurgence of vampires.


In the north-east, General Mazallini of the Compagnia del Sole, the governor of Campogrotta, had lost a great many soldiers when the ratmen’s bombard had exploded – including entire regiments of halberdiers and crossbowmen, and two companies of horsemen. Only a handful of survivors had staggered out of the now deadly ground. After the explosion, the Karak Borgo dwarfs marched up the Iron Road …

(https://i.imgur.com/TxcKWSO.jpg)

… and Perrette and the last of the Brabanzon riders departed northwards.

(https://i.imgur.com/5knzoFB.jpg)

Those who dwelt in Sermide and Buldio made their way to the walled city, fearful of another attack. There were bitter disputes between the Compagnia del Sole and the citizens, but, perhaps inevitably, what with the injuries already received, the lack of allies to assist, and the proximity of the rat-men with their terrible new weapons, Mazallini soon ordered what was left of his once army-sized company to march away along the road to the west.

(https://i.imgur.com/y10nO9A.jpg)

As the Compagnia made its miserable progress along the road …

(https://i.imgur.com/knvndJ1.jpg)

… those few who had escaped the battle at the bridge died, after which many more grew similarly sickly …

(https://i.imgur.com/GWV4Exw.jpg)

… for the river Tarano, running beside the road for long stretches, and from which they had been drawing water, proved to have been tainted by the bombard's poison.

(https://i.imgur.com/DW3bhxr.jpg)

They attempted to remedy this by taking water only from the northerly streams feeding the river. They had no new contract, nor any particular destination in mind, but their urge to avoid a miserable death in Campogrotta drove them on.

(https://i.imgur.com/pPOte4C.jpg)

Despite the absence of soldiers to defend the city, apart from the dwarfs camped some distance away at Lugo, the ratmen moved cautiously. Perhaps they were fearful of a trap? Or their own army had suffered in the explosion? Whatever the reason, several weeks passed, while all remaining in Campogrotta feared another explosion, or an assault. When the wind blew southerly, the city air tasted foul, and flesh-meat, fish and fruit rotted unnaturally fast. The populace learned to use only water from upriver, and to eat nothing from south of the river or even close to its banks. Sickness was rife, and some died. None were foolish enough to venture into the poisoned land, where fatal illness could set in within an hour, while others hid their illness until they could do so no more, some even dying suddenly in the streets. 

(https://i.imgur.com/neh6FEO.jpg)

Then, half-way through the last month of summer, the attack came. Tarano Keep was suddenly captured, despite the meagre garrison blowing up part of the bridge with gunpowder.

(https://i.imgur.com/SRyYwib.jpg)

From there, having made the bridge crossable for their many engines, the rat-men swarmed over.

(https://i.imgur.com/QfuWXYW.jpg)

With days the city was captured, its populace becoming prisoners. The dwarfs at Lugo did not come to the city’s aid, for they were already close to their mountain home. No riders came from the wilderness to the north, and the Compagnia del Sole was so far away that the blood in the river-water had thinned to nought by the time it passed them by.

None knew what the dwarfen king in Karak Borgo intended, but he had until recently invested a great deal of gold in the recovery of Campogrotta and Ravola from the Bentiglovio and Boulderguts’ rule, hiring not one but two mercenary armies to assist his own warriors in the fight.

(https://i.imgur.com/WKCAGJO.jpg)

Now all his efforts appeared to have come to nought, for both realms were now lost to a new enemy; one which was likely to prove far more troubling to trade and prosperity than the ogres ever were; one that could destroy an army with the launch of but one grenado.

(https://i.imgur.com/E1RiKsb.jpg)

Perhaps not unsurprisingly, there were signs that the sleeping, sylvan elves of Tettoverde had been awakened by poisoning of their forest’s northern-most tip. Having long since spurned nearly all interaction with human and dwarfen realms, other than the activities of the Sharlian Riders (a mercenary company of adventurers who were rumoured to have been outcasts from the forest) it they could not ignore such a threat. And indeed, there were reported sightings of animated trees lurking at the forest’s edge …

(https://i.imgur.com/oGpZFEE.jpg)

… and giant hawks bearing riders high in the sky over the forest canopy to the south-east of Campogrotta.

(https://i.imgur.com/QWh7w3I.jpg)

Such tales had, however, always been quite commonplace. Only time would tell whether, as in more ancient times, the elves would send a host out from the forest’s shadow to thwart their enemies, or whether, as many thought more likely, they would simply prepare to annihilate any and all who dared to trespass upon their realm.

Continued ......

Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on August 14, 2022, 01:45:17 PM
Lord Silvano, heir to the bedridden Duke Guidobaldo Gondi, was now ruling Pavona as regent. While his father lay in his palazzio, visited only by physicians and his most trusted servants …

(https://i.imgur.com/a95l3IY.jpg)

… the young lord was glad to see that the city realm had at long last begun to recover from the cruel battering it received at the ogres’ brute hands. The town of Scozzese was thriving, having extended its cultivated lands and stocks of sheep and kine, while the once fruitful lands of Casoli and Todi showed signs of natural recovery, as Pavonan gentry, traders and peasants flocked to them, there to repair, rebuild and replant. Many were keen to leave the overcrowded city, where hunger had become quite normal.

In the previously conquered realms of Trantio and Astiano, there were signs of a similar recovery, although both presently lay outside of Pavona’s control. Lord Silvano announced that he had never yielded his authority as ‘Gonfalonieri for Life’ (governor) in Trantio, and had only appointed a substitute governor because he himself had been required to fulfil his holy and heartfelt vow to serve the arch-lector against the vampires. That substitute - the wizard Bellastra - had failed to defend the city against Boulderguts’ double army. Lord Silvano declared that he took not just his vows but also his offices seriously, and so (unable to travel there himself due to his many and necessary duties as regent in Pavona) he sent a  small force to ensure the safety of Trantio until he himself could return. These soldiers were ordered not just to protect the realm against an advance by the uomini ratto, but also to encourage the city’s healing and enforce the good behaviour of the populace. Trantio, he declared, was to become a bastion from which to thwart any advance by the foe into Tilea’s heartlands. 

As a consequence of the attempted assassination of their duke by the Verezzan brigand known as the Pettirosso, a new hatred of halflings festered in the streets of Pavona.

(https://i.imgur.com/j2WYNKK.jpg)

It was said that the duke should have gone much further than banishing the dwarfs several years previously, and instead banished every kind of non-human, including halflings. Of course, this would not have stopped such enemies secretly infiltrating the realm, but it would have meant such assassins found none of their kind to help or harbour them. Indeed, it was presumed exactly such had been the case, which is why the few halflings living within the city state were arrested, either to be imprisoned or worse. The luckiest were thrown into dungeon cells, supposedly to await questioning, but oftentimes forgotten, while any considered able-bodied or quick-witted enough to have assisted Pavona’s enemies in some way, were hunted down by lynch mobs, to be most roughly handled.

(https://i.imgur.com/45Ybss4.jpg)

This became a cruel sport in the realm, which Lord Silvano failed to rule against. Here was a first glimpse that perhaps he possessed some of his father's notorious wrath? Or perhaps it was his love for his wounded father that spurred his own hatred? Many halflings were pilloried and branded, while those believed to have been part of the Pettirosso’s band were strung up, exhibited alive so that the people could see the fate awaiting all traitors. Some such poor souls were so treated for many days, so that once the baying mob grew bored and drifted away, the more genteel Pavonans might spend a while viewing them, laughing at their pathetic state and fate.

(https://i.imgur.com/rU9XwWE.jpg)

Some were alive when finally cut down, but most had died, as a consequence of the rough handling they had received from the crowd, the lack of food or drink, or a brutal combination of both.

(https://i.imgur.com/6taCE4R.jpg)

Meanwhile, the city state of Verezzo, now (during Lord Lucca’s nephew’s minority) ruled in practise by the bitterly angry halfling noble, Barone Iacopo, continued to prepare for war against Pavona.

(https://i.imgur.com/wZN92nm.jpg)

The barone bolstered the realm’s forces as best he could, mustering new pike and crossbow soldiers in the Tilean style …

(https://i.imgur.com/sHTjVVi.jpg)

… yet it remained commonly doubted that he had anywhere near enough strength to defeat the stoutly walled city of Pavona, defended by its still not insignificant army.

(https://i.imgur.com/w0eCZyz.jpg)

Barone Iacopo became further angered by the Pavonan accusation that a Verezzan agent (the Pettirosso) had attempted to assassinate Duke Guidobaldo, publicly declaring that the duke of Pavona had now most likely added slander to his litany of well-known and proven crimes, the worst of which was the murder of Lord Lucca Vescussi in an entirely unwarranted predatory attack on Verezzo at a time of emergency in all of Tilea. And even if the Pettirosso was responsible for the attempt, then it would be due punishment for Lord Lucca’s assassination, and no bad thing. Upon hearing of the maltreatment of halflings in Pavona, the barone became almost apoplectic with rage!

And so he declared publicly, that as Duke Guidobaldo was (perhaps mortally) wounded, and in light of his litany of crimes, the duke must urgently seek to prepare his soul for its journey into Morr's heavenly garden. Furthermore, the barone demanded ...

* That Duke Guidobaldo personally apologise for Lord Lucca’s cruel murder, by travelling to Verezzo to attend a public service in the Morrite Temple there.
* Or if he was too ill to do so, then he should send his son, Lord Silvano, as his proxy, just as he sent the same son to answer to General Valckenburgh of the Army of the VMC before the walls of Pavona, after he slandered the said general by claiming it was his forces that had killed Lord Lucca.
* Or if Duke Guidobaldo refused to apologise and beg for the forgiveness of Morr and the good people of Verezzo, that he should allow himself to be subjected to a church led, legal enquiry (in holy Remas) concerning his actions and claims, and if found guilty of any crime, should pay whatever reparations were judged appropriate and undertake whatever penance was deemed necessary.
* Or if he was too ill to do that, then he should send his son, Lord Silvano, to stand as his proxy in the church enquiry.

The Pavonan nobility advising Lord Silvano considered these demands outrageous, especially as they came from a petty noble ruling a city state that had committed numerous slights and slanders against Gondi family in the past. The Morrite Lector of Pavona, Mauro Capolicchio, thought the halfling lord was foolish to believe he could make such demands of the Reman Church of Morr.

(https://i.imgur.com/8YcngUc.jpg)

Besides, he added, were Lord Silvano even to allow said enquiry, then as a part of the committee charged with the duty to discover the truth of the matter, then he could prove Duke Guidobaldo had only ever served Morr and the gods first, his own realm second and Tilea third – which was all that can rightly be asked of a noble, Tilean ruler.

The young Lord Silvano, however, being of his own mind, chose to satisfy Barone Iacopo’s demands by sending a proxy (Erkhart, the refugee lector of Trantio) to answer the summons and attend any judicial procedure.

(https://i.imgur.com/DCmC7gi.jpg)

This was indeed done. Upon arrival in Verezzo, Lector Erkhart met with the Barone Iacopo, who was attended by several of his newly raised guard companies.

(https://i.imgur.com/3ojD9Dr.jpg)

The lector informed the halfling lord that Duke Guidobaldo was indeed far too ill to travel, or even to leave his bed, having been so badly wounded by the assassin-brigand Pettirosso, and that his son, Lord Silvano, could not possibly leave his many duties as regent, especially as Pavona itself also lies wounded still.

(https://i.imgur.com/bGn5Z8v.jpg)

With father and son so disabled from attending, Erkhart was there to stand in place of both, to offer the duke of Pavona’s apologies for any and all assumed and proven offences. Bowing most humbly before the barone, he offered himself as Duke Guidobaldo’s substitute, to receive punishment.

(https://i.imgur.com/YogXVb2.jpg)

Barone Iacopo was said to be lost for words, for he considered this sending of an unasked for proxy to be but another Pavonan insult. His advisors were equally stunned, and indeed afraid to offer advice to their obviously irate master.

(https://i.imgur.com/LkrOtAC.jpg)

When the barone finally spoke, it was to curse the lector, the duke, his son and all Pavonans, and in no uncertain terms.

(https://i.imgur.com/GvSbOp7.jpg)

At that very moment, one of the lector’s two Pavonan guards brought down his halberd’s blade and struck the back of Erkhart’s head, apparently attempting to lop it off. Prevented from completing his attempt by the Barone’s more numerous guards, both he and the other Pavonan guard were restrained. When questioned, the guard confessed that this act was a misunderstanding; that he thought that such a punishment was required and believed it only right and proper that a soldier of Pavona should carry out the execution.

Lector Erkhart subsequently lay unconscious under the care of a doctor of physic in Verezzo, who were doubtful he would ever recover. His attacker was imprisoned, as Barone Iacopo was not at all satisfied with the account offered. The second guard was sent back to Trantio, there to deliver the message that this response to Barone Iacopo’s justified demands was in every way entirely unacceptable.

What the Reman arch-lector, Bernado Ugolini, truly thought concerning this dispute was anyone’s guess, for his holiness did not reveal his mind when he learned of these events. He had fought beside both Duke Guidobaldo and his son in several battles, against both the vampires and the ogres, forging a strong alliance with Pavona. Yet at the same time, he had long respected Lord Lucca Vescussi of Verezzo, the two having been friends and fellow students under the same Reman tutor in their youth. During the vampire wars, Bernado, just as Calictus II before him, strove to avoid any division or conflict between the city states of Tilea, and now, with the threat presented by the rat-men, could not reasonably be expected to steer a contrary diplomatic course. Nevertheless, it was openly rumoured among the high clergy, that his holiness Bernado knew a good deal about the disagreement between Pavona and Verezzo, having a deep insight into the true nature of those concerned.



By the end of summer, having stripped Capelli of every horse available to replace his army’s broken mounts, General Valckenburgh of the VMC and his shattered men arrived at the ruins of Mottola. Much of his foot, with the artillery, were somewhere just south of Raverno, and he had yet to hear from Luccia la Fanciulla in the far, far north.

(https://i.imgur.com/32qYZjz.jpg)

Leaving the bulk of his exhausted men at the ruins, Valckenburgh went ahead with a small party to the city of Alcente.

(https://i.imgur.com/Rc68brG.jpg)

There he learned that the city’s hastily raised garrison force had not chosen to pursue the Sartosan army along the road east, as they suspected the enemy’s manoeuvre was a ruse to lure them away from the city, exactly as the Sartosans had previously (successfully) tried, leading to the losses incurred at the Battle of Sersale.

(https://i.imgur.com/INkaUvx.jpg)

This time, however, it turned out not to be so, for it soon became clear that the pirates intended to sack the newly prosperous port-town of Pavezzano, where they could also embark upon their ships if it proved necessary. They razed the watchtower of Tursi as they passed, taking prisoners (which they later butchered) …
(https://i.imgur.com/ttKlEbH.jpg)

… and there was now nothing the general could do to stop them.

(https://i.imgur.com/vqNUHst.jpg)

Pavezzano was indeed assaulted, while the Sartosan fleet, which had arrived offshore before the army, cannonaded the defences. There followed a cruelly comprehensive sacking.

Presumably, General Valckenburgh cursed his decision to take so much so far north. For the first time since the VMC had defeated Khurnag’s army, the native Alcentians had begun to wonder whether they really could expect prosperity and peace under VMC rule, and some began rueing the day that military governorship was granted to these foreign soldiers. None, however, were foolish enough to voice their concerns too loudly, for the VMC’s soldiers were still  numerous, with more yet to return, and the mercantile company employing them was itself backed by investors with deep pockets, who knew full well just how much they could profit from possession of such a large swathe of fruitful lands in southern Tilea, and who were no doubt willing to send whatever was required to ensure that future income.

The Sartosan fleet, carrying Admiral Volker’s battered but still intact army and a vast quantity of plunder, passed by Alcente on its way back towards Sartosa, bearing some distance south. Even after a string of victories and so many settlements looted, they remained cautious of the VMC’s ships and soldiers, probably aware that if reinforcements had arrived by land or sea, then the enemy might well have regained sufficient strength to defeat them easily in battle.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, despite the vast wealth stolen from no less than five settlements under Alcentian (and thus VMC) rule, the Sartosan’s insatiable greed was not yet satisfied.

(https://i.imgur.com/tfNfzTP.jpg)

And so it was that the wizard, Duke Ercole Perotto, uncle to the hostage King Ferronso III of Luccini, became, at long last, involved in serious negotiations for his nephew’s release. He met with several of Admiral Volker’s emissaries at one of the coastal watchtowers studding the shore for several miles south of the city.

(https://i.imgur.com/RbwA05H.jpg)

Luccini had begun to heal after the pirate’s incursion, and several Tilean banking families recognised that there was a profit to be made by lending Duke Ercole the sums of money required, underwritten by a share of the recovering realm’s future tax income. Of course, the Sartosans cared not a jot for these details, only getting as much gold as they could, while ensuring they gave no hint concerning just how much Admiral Volker wanted rid of his annoyingly troublesome prisoner. 

(https://i.imgur.com/8SWyW0G.jpg)
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: WuZhuiQiu on August 14, 2022, 04:56:22 PM
Another great read! Are there any Halfling Morrite priests...?
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: LouieN on August 14, 2022, 05:15:39 PM
Epic story
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on August 14, 2022, 05:20:29 PM
Another great read! Are there any Halfling Morrite priests...?


I don't think so, but you have put the idea in my head now.
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: WuZhuiQiu on August 14, 2022, 07:57:22 PM

I don't think so, but you have put the idea in my head now.

I've just done some quick searches, and these would seem to be decently-priced and UK-sourced:

https://www.midlamminiatures.co.uk/halfling-clerics-mages/HCO07.html

https://www.midlamminiatures.co.uk/halfling-clerics-mages/HCO15.html

https://www.midlamminiatures.co.uk/halfling-clerics-mages/HCO08.html

https://www.midlamminiatures.co.uk/halfling-clerics-mages/HCO16.html

Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on August 14, 2022, 08:00:20 PM
Hee hee! I am waiting right now for an order from Midlam for 4 children figures I need for the next but one video. They're in the post and should arrive tomorrow. Jinx!
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: WuZhuiQiu on August 14, 2022, 08:03:57 PM
Hee hee! I am waiting right now for an order from Midlam for 4 children figures I need for the next but one video. They're in the post and should arrive tomorrow. Jinx!

 lol

And should any go the way of Biagino...

https://www.midlamminiatures.co.uk/undead-halflings.html
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Battle Brush Sigur on August 15, 2022, 12:29:24 AM
It's been a while since I looked into this thread. All I can say is that I require more time to catch up, and that you're presenting something grand here. :D Cool stuff.
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on August 23, 2022, 09:45:57 PM
Thanks ever so much for saying!

Part 42 of Tilea's Troubles is now on YouTube. Troublesome news reaches the army camped at Viadaza. Campaigns can get messy!

See     https://youtu.be/X4Zlg9kV-BE
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on September 07, 2022, 10:31:29 PM
Tilea's Troubles Part 43 is now done.

The commanders spiritual and military of the Holy Army of Morr have to deal with a mutinous 'incident'.

See - https://youtu.be/iDjnkfRmjbo

Some pics ...

(https://i.imgur.com/PX4sDXe.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/BFq2PN9.jpg)
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Garanhir on September 14, 2022, 11:25:44 AM
Another excellent installment. Your collection is inspiring, too.
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on September 16, 2022, 02:43:51 PM
Thanks very muchly, Garanhir!

Tilea's Troubles Part 44 is now available, being the prequel to a battle report. (A somewhat faster turnover than usual.) I am currently working on four extra models I need for the battle report, but hopefully it will be up within 2 or 3 weeks!

See
https://youtu.be/on2a-8yJg-w

Some pics ...

(https://i.imgur.com/K9dqaWU.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/FKzVuce.jpg)
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Codsticker on September 18, 2022, 09:43:38 PM
I've missed so many episodes... I am now playing catchup. :D
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on October 01, 2022, 11:01:36 PM
I hope you enjoy(ed) them, Fishpoker Codsticker!

Tilea’s Troubles, Part 45 is now up! It is a battle report, but from a somewhat unusual angle. Four young lads meet in a cellar to learn what one of them saw when watching the battle unfold. I have to admit, it was a strange feeling turning the account of a game of toy soldiers between two friends (both campaign players) into a child’s description of horrors witnessed!

https://youtu.be/PHeGOduXsmU

Some pics …

(https://i.imgur.com/Sqw5su0.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/Xuv1jBk.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/L1wTv47.jpg)
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on October 15, 2022, 06:49:10 PM
Tilea's troubles Part 46 is now up.

Father Biagino meets some schismatic Morrites from Pavona, keen to discuss their struggle against Boulderguts' ogres.

https://youtu.be/xvE-XzR7_Sk

(https://i.imgur.com/gGwHznP.jpg)
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on October 21, 2022, 02:58:20 PM
As it was not too long, I thought I would dive in and do the next a little sooner than I usually manage.

The two chancellors answer questions from their new captain, in Part 47 of Tilea's Troubles.

https://youtu.be/ZH3FRno2Lgs
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on October 24, 2022, 08:58:13 PM
Please forgive the jumping back and forth through time, but this story is set in the campaign's present day, which I am sure will please my players.


The Great Arcanum
Somewhere near Campogrotta, Autumn, 2404

(https://i.imgur.com/i1yUuuh.jpg)

They had been sent to meet the new engine of war, to ensure it took the prepared path upon the final stretch of its journey, the surest and quickest way, to be brought safe and sound to the army. They had already visited its attendants’ camp, placed several hundred yards ahead of it, along the rocky valley. They had held their tongues, and none had spoken to them, for all were commanded so. The engine’s crew and guards were to speak to no-one, nor vice versa, under the pain of death. Gradger and Farrgrin must show the way with gestures alone!

Now, as they approached the engine itself, there was a disagreement between them, as Gradger suddenly came to a halt.

“No and never,” declared Gradger. “Not I. I shall go no closer. I saw-full the curse afflicted by the first such engine. Bursting boils and bleeding sores. Corpse piles. If it has stopped, then whichever idiot-fool allowed it to do so should be punish-whipped. We can show them the way without being close-by. We need not even look upon it.”

(https://i.imgur.com/Op3gWFY.jpg)

Farrgrin had rarely seen the engineer’s mate so terrified – a fuming fury of fear! Gradger had been nervous before, much worried, as was to be expected of all servants, and he was often inquisitive, on occasion perilously so, but never this filled with dread.  It suddenly occurred to him that as an engineer’s mate of considerable experience, Gradger might be afraid he would be ordered to tend upon this new war-machine, to become part of its crew. That would explain his behaviour.

“Calm-quiet yourself,” soothed Farrgrin. “You know-understand little. This engine is not the same as the last. Not at all. This one does not bleed-leak death.”

(https://i.imgur.com/ag4qnFb.jpg)

Gradger’s snorted laugh in response could not, thought Farrgrin, be a pleasant thing to experience inside his mask.

“I know not which, but you are mistaken or false-lying, for if what you say were so, then what use would this engine be to all and any? What use is a bombard that does not kill?”

“You would do well-better if your mask did not make you deaf. I said-spoke only that it does not leak death. I assure you, this can kill-destroy just as well as the first – whole cities and armies entire.”

Gradger was shaking his head.

(https://i.imgur.com/G6v2Wvg.jpg)

“How so?” he asked, “If it can be approached without harm, does it not bear the same poison as the first? Tell-explain.”

“Come now, brave friend, and I shall show-reveal all. When you look upon it you will see; you will understand.”

“No, and never. Only a double fool would draw near-close to it by choice. I have seen its attendant-guards. Each and all carrying goggle-masks and breathing tubes. Each and all in waxed-cloth and leather robes. Just as before. Just the same. If what you claim-say is the truth, then why would they do so? Why and what for?"

(https://i.imgur.com/SpZU40d.jpg)

“Those are only the ones who are close to it every day, week after week. Those who merely pass by, to glance upon it, even those who guard it this night or that, occasional and rare, for only hours at a time, need wear no such things.”

(https://i.imgur.com/tQrVV22.jpg)

Gradger pointed a crooked, clawed finger at Farrgrin,

 “How can you know for certain-sure? You do not attend it. You have never even seen it!”

“I know for I have eyes and ears, and I carry messages for many a chieftain and clawleader. I have heard orders, read words. Come, we shall see. I would not go myself if it were not safe, yes? This engine is made better, bigger. Deadlier in use yet safer to move. All will run-flee before it or die and die by the thousands. None can face such a weapon as this.”

(https://i.imgur.com/x3jrnAW.jpg)

Farrgrin began to walk further down the rocky gully and Gradger reluctantly followed, the sound of hissing breath from inside the mask revealing his ongoing trepidation. Almost lost in the rush of fear, something was niggling at Gradger’s mind, something about Farrgrin knowing such secrets.

When they turned into the clearing to stand before it, Gradger gulped and pulled his mask tighter about his head.

(https://i.imgur.com/jcqIoBX.jpg)

“Look-see,” said Farrgrin, attempting to sound reassuring. “There, there it stands, and yet the green-grass about it does not wither-die. Its attendants busy themselves about it, with ne’er a sign of sickness-pain.”

Gradger was, for a moment, speechless. What Farrgrin was saying was clearly true, but now a new concern assaulted him. All that he knew of bombards meant he could not believe what he was looking at. The barrels, both of them, were so huge that the carriage seemed altogether insufficiently sturdy.

“It launch-fires two grenadoes?” he asked. “Why would anyone try-attempt such? How will it not shiver-break on first firing? How could it ever fire twice?”

(https://i.imgur.com/yzc83PL.jpg)

“Yes. Yes - it throws two,” said Farrgrin, feeling glee at knowing more about the engine than his engineering friend. “And at one and the same time. That way it need not fire more than once, for once is all and everything.”

Gradger seemed to understand. “Two to make one,” he said.

“Two to open a very hell upon the foe-enemy,” declared Farrgrin, getting a little carried away. “Each grenade carries only half that which is needed, and not the same mix at all. So, no poison-leaks; no forever moving. Only when broken and mixed are they made deadly: explosively and massively. The poison is a gift only the enemy-foe will know.”

(https://i.imgur.com/CD1AeVB.jpg)

Inside his mask, Gradger’s eyes squinted as he scrutinised the engine.

(https://i.imgur.com/ra2ZCBv.jpg)

“No, no,” he said quietly. “This is asking too much. Both to fire at once; to follow the same course; to travel the same distance; to break at the same moment. This cannot be done! Such would surely need too perfect-pure an alignment, in elevation, in weights, to the tiniest degree. Even the burning of the primer would have to be exactly equal. Besides, such a carriage could never bear the strain-shock of a double discharge.”

(https://i.imgur.com/zWK7UG1.jpg)

“Perfection is not required,” explained Farrgrin. “The grenadoes are made to burst big, and that which they hurl forth only need to caress the cloud made by the other to bring forth their destruction. I saw-read it. I carried the orders, the explanations. An infusion of occult virtues, they said. The incendiary sublimination of both sulfurous and mercurial warpstone, to ferment a projected multiplication of a deathly quintessence.”

On any other occasion, Gradger would surely have immediately questioned how it was that the likes of Farrgrin was allowed to peruse such arcanum, but just now he was still too tangled in other thoughts.

(https://i.imgur.com/adkACjs.jpg)

“Yes, yes, stirred together,” he said, “even the vapours thereof, it could be done, but only by one who was prepared to die in the doing of it. For this to do it, that is too much. The first engine was simple: wheels, barrel and bomb. It was to throw already blended death, already potent poisons, which need only shatter and burst in the right spot-place. All it had to do was fire-shoot but one grenado. Simple indeed, yet still it failed. Who would think that by attempting twice as much, necessarily in one and the same moment and in perfect unison, success was more certain?”

(https://i.imgur.com/5Lo1txm.jpg)

“You can think it,” said Farrgrin. “Consider why the first one failed. It plague-burned all and everyone who approached. Even those who attended it, despite their protective filterings and robes, were slowly poisoned. Its very own crew, in the moving of it alone, themselves suffered a slow death. How could they expect-hope succeed when so pained, so afflicted?”

Gradger was not satisfied with this answer. “You can believe it, but you cannot know. There are none alive who really know what happened to the first, only that it burst-blasted the land through which it rolled, and not the city.”

“Yes, yes,” replied Farrrgin. “I and all know that. All within sight-view of its failure died. But Gradger, you saw those who attended it - escorts and guards. You saw them weaken-fail. You saw the corpses of those who died on the journey. You saw the ground poison-burned wheresoever it moved, the circumexpiration it scratched around Ravola. Whatever mistake-blunder its crew committed, whatever foolish fault, whatever shoddy choice-decision they made before Campogrotta, their pain-addled minds cannot have helped. This time, with this engine, there will be no such failure. Those who tend it will have clear minds, and the strength of will and body to do all and everything that must be done. “

“Maybe so,” said Gradger. “Perhaps they could practise a most perfect precision. But timber, iron and black powder are what they are, no more. Bolts, braces and brackets are only as strong as they can be. The mere moving of such an engine will stress-strain every part, slowly but surely weakening the whole.”

“Hush now,” ordered Farrgrin. “Speak-say no more of this. Keep your worry-fear to yourself. Much is expected of this engine. None may ridicule-mock, none may cast doubts, not without punishment.”

Gradger fixed his eyes on Farrgrin. “Friend Farrgrin, promise me. If ever you carry orders to make me tend this engine, scratch out my name-mark. For that I will be in your debt-service and will pay much and more.”

“Willingly, friend Gradger, I promise and assure,” said Farrgrin. “If I am given such to carry. For now, you work hard upon your own engine. Be necessary-irreplaceable. That way and then you will not be asked to tend this one.”

Gradger was not convinced, for he saw a dilemma. Hard work might well mean being kept in place, but it could easily mean promotion instead. If this engine was the most important in the army, then would not the best engineers and mates be assigned to it? And double the dilemma, for shoddy work and laziness might lead to punishment, which could take the form of being assigned to this, the most dangerous of weapons to its own crew. Depending on the commanders’ whims, either good working or lazy shirking could mean being forced to work this engine!

How could he possibly know what to do?
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on November 13, 2022, 10:04:27 PM
Back to the past ...

Part 48 of Tilea's Troubles is now available. It features a Bronzino galloper model, plus my attempt to scratch-build a second!

https://youtu.be/CowtaAlbPns

Some pics

(https://i.imgur.com/uz4uw7s.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/UnyP7OQ.jpg)
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: stroblight on November 14, 2022, 04:49:08 AM
So impressive! I'm starting from the beginning on your YouTube channel and loving it.
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on November 26, 2022, 10:01:01 PM
Thanks for the kind comment, stroblight.

Ever wondered how to negotiate with goblins? Then take a look at part 49 of my Warhammer Fantasy Tilean campaign. See https://youtu.be/THomiJiJ5U8
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: swiftnick on November 27, 2022, 01:22:10 PM
So impressive! I'm starting from the beginning on your YouTube channel and loving it.

Yes I did that too and loved it over a few quiet nights at work. I also save up a few months worth and then enjoy a session. Very inspirational!
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on December 12, 2022, 07:22:14 PM
Thanks Swiftnick.

Tilea's Troubles, part 50 is up. Master Mugello's letter focuses on Razger Bouldergut's rampage across the realm of Pavona, but also knits a lot of past events from the campaign together. Hopefully those of you who want a clearer understanding of the general situation will like this one. 

https://youtu.be/u0Te_QW7fTM

Some pics ...

(https://i.imgur.com/UOFxb19.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/HLsGeF6.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/rn79Wz2.jpg)
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Luigi on December 12, 2022, 07:24:45 PM
I really like those toothpick fences next to the buildng.

So simple yet so effective
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on December 18, 2022, 10:15:28 PM
Coincidentally found some more toothpicks today when tidying a forgotten draw!

Now back to the present day. Dizzying, eh?

...

Eyes and ears, of different kinds

Part One: Somewhere in Tettoverde Forest, Autumn, 2404

(https://i.imgur.com/GpsSM1y.jpg)

The spellsinger, Ascal Arconvale, could see that High Lord Veluthil was dreading the reports, for they might reveal something much worse than that which he already feared.

Was the rat-men army even greater in size than the most bloated of previous estimations? If so, the enemy might be willing to sustain the cruel losses that encroachment into the forest realm would inevitably incur, knowing they could nevertheless retain sufficient strength to gain victory in the final battle. Did the rat-men possess more of their terror weapons? Merely one such engine could fatally poison the very heart of the forest and bring about its complete ruin, transforming the sylvan realm of Tettoverde into a desert. Had the enemy already begun corrupting the forest’s denizens, twisting them into servants of evil? Or were they introducing potent pestilences to moulder the trees and fatally infect the fauna.

(https://i.imgur.com/mENMpyX.jpg)

Apart from their novel war-engine, all these things the rat-men had attempted before, in ages past. There was no wickedness they would not stoop to, no danger they would not hazard (at least, when it came to their own servants’ lives). Theirs was a twisted, cunning genius, if grasping and impatient, which lured them down cruel and destructive paths. They loved only their own lives and power, looking upon all other creatures with disdain, even disgust. To them, every thing was to be consumed or possessed, having worth only in so far as it could benefit their own selfish lusts and ambitious cruelties. There was no destructive novelty so hazardous or dangerous that they would not attempt to harness it fully, going to the extreme, and what they had done near Campogrotta proved they clearly still possessed this predilection.

(https://i.imgur.com/PDwYWZL.jpg)

Cioran Brightmoon, commander of the Waywatchers, and Captain Hedre Eedwillow of the River Watch, had come to deliver their reports. Two weeks before, Lord Veluthil sent servants to all sides of the Campogrottan realm: on boats, on foot, on horseback and even flying upon war-hawks. He admitted to Ascal that by doing so the rat-men would surely learn that they were being watched, but he considered it far more important right now to know as much as possible concerning the enemy’s strength, disposition and plans, than to remain hidden. Upon consideration, Ascal thought it was no bad thing that the enemy knew they were being spied upon, intently and from all about, for it might make them think twice about encroaching further into the forest. Despite being thoroughly wicked and as cruel as devils, the rat-men were also craven cowards. When the forest was angered, as it indeed was after the poisoning of its north-western reaches, it took on a terrible countenance and became very dangerous to strangers.

After the formal greetings such an audience required, and upon Lord Veluthil’s instructions that they should both endeavour to be thorough and concise, Captain Hedre delivered her report first.

(https://i.imgur.com/BcrRW03.jpg)

She had ventured west along the River Ancar to learn that any who may have dwelt there had long since gone, with only a handful of signs of more recent habitation, perhaps little more than campsites where travelers had stayed but one or two nights. Upon approaching the city of Campogrotta, she encountered not just the first ratmen in any real numbers, but also several engines within range of the river, one of which spat an unnatural lightning which boiled the waters wherever it touched into an ill-coloured steam. Knowing it would be suicide to remain, she ordered her vessel rowed away. 

(https://i.imgur.com/muVCsb8.jpg)

Having nothing more to report, it was Cioran’s turn. He had more to say, for he and his waywatchers had crept much closer to the city, some few even going within the walls in the darkest hours of the night, and lingered longer.

(https://i.imgur.com/Z7SYJ3D.jpg)

“The city swarms with them, my lord, as one might expect of their kind. Counting them is no easy task, indeed quite impossible, for they scurry about incessantly, and from a distance look much alike. But they are army, and nearly all we spied were warriors.

(https://i.imgur.com/ALCYmHR.jpg)

They have placed guards throughout the city… 

(https://i.imgur.com/YCOdeS8.jpg)

… at every portal, whether door or gate …

(https://i.imgur.com/GmIk9uM.jpg)

… and at every junction and bridge, with still more guarding the poor souls they have enslaved. We caught only glimpses of their war machines, for they are within the city walls …”

Lord Veluthil raised his hand to silence Cioran, asking, “Within the walls? Are you certain of this?”

(https://i.imgur.com/MsJqLr0.jpg)

“Yes, my lord. They have several large artillery pieces, kept in the city’s squares with guards and attendants a-plenty.” Glancing over at Hedre, he added, “We too saw one upon the walls close to the river.”

(https://i.imgur.com/PxqK7Vz.jpg)

Although others would struggle to notice, Ascal could see a hint of relief in Veluthil’s face, and she knew why. If the machines were kept close to the ratmen, in the very heart of the city, then they could not be akin to the terror engine, for that had poisoned the very ground over which it had travelled and destroyed all life in every place it rested. If these engines were within the city, attended by many, then many would be suffering.

And yet, Lord Veluthil was clearly not completely re-assured, for he enquired further.

“Were the enemy in any way suffering weakness or illness, or showing signs of injury?”

“Not that I could see, my lord.”

“And the engines’ attendants and guards – were they like unto the rest of the army? Garbed in the same manner? Or were they masked, and swathed in robes and leather?”

(https://i.imgur.com/V2I3aUL.jpg)

“Some, my lord, had masks, but not all and not many. Others elsewhere were also masked, even away from the engines. It seems to be a fairly common practise among their kind. There were robed warriors patrolling the roads about the city in strength, but they wore no masks.”

(https://i.imgur.com/8gBRU6o.jpg)

Cioran had always been thorough, and Ascal knew he would not be feigning knowledge he did not possess.

“Did you ascertain the enemy’s purpose?” enquired Lord Veluthil. “Are they making preparations to leave?”

“They gave no sign of such preparations, my lord. But they are present in strength, and well-armed.”

“How so?”

“They most commonly carry heavy bladed polearms, somewhat akin to halberds …

(https://i.imgur.com/sep5aFg.jpg)

… but considering how many also carry shields, these must be employed like spears. They act as any garrison would: eating, sleeping, watching. I myself saw one cooking up some kind of pottage in a great cauldron …

(https://i.imgur.com/YeXB6e5.jpg)

…  the stench of which was foul, for despite the boiling in of herbs and weeds the fact that the fleshmeat had turned could not be concealed. I dread to think it, but I doubt it was the flesh of an animal.”

(https://i.imgur.com/p8ZWRBw.jpg)

“Beyond the usual activities of garrison soldiers, they have placed strange totems about the city, bearing rags or brass icons, even cymbals, and sometimes a cluttered mess of several such things. The purpose of these I could not ascertain …

(https://i.imgur.com/Y1gGp3R.jpg)

… for the ratmen do not seem to pray before them or show any form of respect. They do not muster at them as they might regimental standards, nor use them to mark boundaries of some kind, although such could be possible, I suppose, without being obvious to any but their own kind. They have no cavalry of any sort, but they have some beasts, and the city swarms with rats, some as large as cats or even bigger, flitting around frantically in packs.”

(https://i.imgur.com/syFPs2m.jpg)

“Have they sent out any scouts?” asked Ascal. “Or foraging parties? And are there any signs at all they intend to march forth at some point?”

“What few venture out do not go far,” answered Cioran. “As for supplies, they appear to have sufficient for their current needs within the city itself. My best guess, giving all that I have seen, is that they are waiting. For whom or what, there is yet no sign.”

“My lord, they suffered casualties when their weapon exploded,” said Ascal. , now addressing Lord Veluthil.

(https://i.imgur.com/1gTBDge.jpg)

“And likely lost more in the fighting before and after that event, in the taking of the realm. Despite their current strength, they themselves might well consider their army too weak to pursue further conquest, especially if they intend to leave a force behind to hold their newly acquired possession. Considering their past behaviour, their need to swarm against their foes, it seems likely they are awaiting reinforcements.”

Lord Velthuthil nodded gravely. “And when they receive them, what will they do next?” he asked.

Ascal presumed it was a rhetorical question. If the enemy were awaiting reinforcements, that would be bad enough. But should they bring another engine capable of the poisonous destruction of the first, then the situation was dire, and the need for action urgent. Ascal held her tongue, however, for there was little she could offer by way of reassurance. Beyond simply risking everything in an attempt to attack and defeat the foe immediately, when such sacrifice might prove unsuccessful, even unnecessary (if the foe had no intention of advancing into the forest), she could think of no plan of action beyond biding time and hoping for an opportunity.

If the rat-men presently believed themselves to be weak, then considering their historic spinelessness when faced with real challenges, perhaps the elves’ best course of action was to attack as soon as possible? But fighting outside of the forest would put Lord Veluthil’s army at a great disadvantage, especially assaulting a walled city. On the other hand, waiting for the rat-men to enter the shadow of the trees might prove too late to defeat them, especially if they had more
terror weapons.

Ifs and buts a-plenty, thought Ascal. Such was ever the way of war. She was glad Lord Veluthil bore the burden. She had only to obey.

Caught up in these rather unpleasant thoughts, Ascal had not heard Cioran’s last words – a fault she sought to rectify immediately.

(https://i.imgur.com/MsJqLr0.jpg)

“We did find the tunnel’s mouth, which they must have used to approach the city from the south,” he was saying. “Large enough for engines, and presently abandoned. It looked to have been recently made, though within a hundred yards or so was what appeared to be a more ancient passageway, passing deep into the ground, in complete darkness. I considered exploring further, but already several of our number had become too sick to journey onwards – an affliction which began when we crossed the river on the salvaged vessels. The air within the tunnel seemed to exacerbate their illness. So we left and returned to the forest proper. I ordered the sick remain in the vale of Corcalen, there to be tended, while I came to you my lord.”

Again, Lord Veluthil nodded, and the company fell silent. At last, he spoke,

“There is much to consider, and to weigh. I will listen to what the warhawk riders have to say before I decide our next moves. In the meantime, consider the matter yourselves, for I may ask for further counsel.”



Part Two: Somewhere in Campogrotta, Autumn, 2404

(https://i.imgur.com/7UinX7E.jpg)

Farrgrin was not exactly happy this task had fallen to him, despite knowing that if he was now considered worthy enough to speak directly to Seer-Lord Urlak Ashoscrochor then his own status had surely improved. His only previous encounters with Lord Urlak had been when handing missives to clerks, when he had simply been in the Grey Seer’s vicinity, not expected to speak at all, and certainly not to Lord Urlak. He was more nervous now than he had been when out with the scout-spies, knowing the enemy was both near and watching.

His heart was racing, his throat dry, even his vision had blurred. He shook his head, as if to rid it of the fog. As his surroundings refocused, he realised Lord Urlak was staring right at him!

(https://i.imgur.com/50FWGBO.jpg)

“Well, speak-explain. What have you learned?” demanded Lord Urlak.

Despite how obvious it was, it still took Farrgrin a moment to understand it was he himself who was being addressed.

(https://i.imgur.com/xZzKjTn.jpg)

“Elves, Lord and Master, great and noble. By … by which I mean to speak-say, not that the elves are great and noble, but you, mighty lord, great and …”

“Cease and stop your blather-babble. Answer quick and to the point. You have but one-single chance, here and now, to satisfy me, or I shall find someone who can and will, and you shall learn quick and painful what it means to disappoint me.”

Farrgrin sensed an increased malice in the yellow clad warriors of Urlak’s bodyguard regiment. They lurched almost imperceptibly forwards, their clawed hands gripping their weapons’ hilts and shafts a little tighter.

(https://i.imgur.com/wlZ5KbB.jpg)

“We have seen-spied elves. Sk … skulk-hiding in the green leaves. Watching, spying.”

“And counting, no doubt. I myself know of the sky hawks, yes, for I saw-spied them with mine own eyes over the city. But you saw more. Where and what?”

(https://i.imgur.com/rb0rhF4.jpg)

“At the edge of the green-trees, near-close to the bridge at Tarano. Not many but a few, with spears and bows and green-cloth cloaks.”

(https://i.imgur.com/VJtyj6g.jpg)

“On the far side of the river-water?” enquired Lord Urlak.

“Great and noble lord, no, no. On this-here side, where the forest-trees grow between the west-road and the river.”

(https://i.imgur.com/dc3cUtG.jpg)

“Then you were able to capture-catch them, yes? With the river behind to prevent their escape-flight.”

“We would and could, high and mighty master, if the trees had not been so thick-close, and the elf-things so slippery-quick, and had there been more than four of us. The trees there, they are no copse-grove, but many and more, for the forest itself crosses the water, then on to a width of nearly a mile and more than a league long.”

“A satisfyingly long list of excuses, I am certain sure, and all delaying your answer. You did not catch them?”

Farrgrin dreaded answering, for there was a hint of criticism and disappointment in Lord Urlak’s tone, and it did not do to upset one’s master. But as they had no elves to offer up, he could only speak truthfully.
 
“No, no, your high and mightiness.”

He was surprised when Lord Urlak’s next words were neither threatening nor cruel, yet a part of him knew it would have been foolish to expect such. Lord Urlak was wise and therefore had the measure of his servants. Only a fool would expect so few to catch fleet-footed elves in their own forest.

“Tell me, did they cross the river-water by the bridge?”

“No, great lord. We questioned the guard-soldiers there. Only our warriors have crossed - nothing and no-one else, neither way and for many a day.”

“Then they can cross the waters some other way,” mused the grey seer. “The forest, you said - a mile by a league? Large, and big enough to hide an army?”

“Such a thing could stand within, but I assure and promise you, your mighty highness, there was no army there.”

“Yes, yes. But if they wanted-chose, they could hide one there. Perhaps the trees ought to be burn-destroyed, so that none remain north of the river, leaving nowhere for them to creep and hide.”

No-one answered, as they knew Lord Urlak was merely thinking aloud, and would only have been annoyed by someone speaking.

He turned to look at the claw leader also present.

(https://i.imgur.com/lEEqUFl.jpg)

“And you, and your scouts, whither-where did you go?”

“Great lord, we crossed the bridge, south and south-east, to the very edge of the poisoned land. There we scour-searched, along each and every path, old and new, looking for signs of passage, and enemy-foes.

(https://i.imgur.com/aUWEYoR.jpg)

“And you found such?”

“We saw horse-riders, a dozen or so, who fled-escaped upon seeing us.”

(https://i.imgur.com/5ro16Rg.jpg)

“How many were you?” asked Lord Urlak, a hint of mockery in his tone.

“Six and me, all ready, all keen.”

“And you think and believe the riders fled because they were afeared of you? Yes?”

The claw-leader’s eye twitched, and his tail flicked involuntary. His lips curled in fear to reveal all his teeth as he spoke.

“I would never and not claim such a thing, great and mighty mightiness, only that they rode fast and passed. Away and not towards. They loosed no arrows; threw no spears.”

(https://i.imgur.com/rdmspGI.jpg)

“They rode where they wanted to ride, simply spying you as they did so.”

“Yes, noble lord, yes. Too far away and too quick for us reach them.”

Lord Urlak shushed the claw-leader with a gesture of his finger.

“Riding errands, hither and thither. Carrying messages and dispatching spies to creep and sneak. There’s an army somewhere, I am certain-sure. But will they emerge from the forest’s-shadow? Have they come to assault-attack, or just to watch and wait?”
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: WuZhuiQiu on December 18, 2022, 11:22:59 PM
And the suspense grows-builds...
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on December 19, 2022, 10:48:09 AM
Good to hear that High Lord Veluthil approves. Strange to hear him speaking like an uomo ratto!  lol
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on December 23, 2022, 08:27:59 PM
The fourth modelling and painting special video for my Tilean campaign is now available, all about horse riders, and featuring models from as far back as the early 1980s!

https://youtu.be/67l6T8uIXLo
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on December 28, 2022, 05:08:30 PM
Tilea's Troubles part 51 is a story set in an autumnal garden. Good job I had a figure of a gardener with some buckets!

https://youtu.be/p4cMiok_RlM

(https://i.imgur.com/CUYnNg5.jpg)
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on January 12, 2023, 05:40:04 PM
The prequel to a new battle report is up - being part 52 of my Tilean campaign. The Holy Army of Morr will face the vampire duchess's army!

It's at https://youtu.be/8F7lhAa71xc

Some pics from it ...

(https://i.imgur.com/10zOZpZ.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/KnuvrBl.jpg)
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: StygianBeach on January 14, 2023, 03:44:45 AM
I have been enjoying watching this over the last few weeks.

I would love to do something similar one day.
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on January 28, 2023, 05:11:54 PM
Thanks StygianBeach.

Tilea's Troubles Part 53, is now available. The Holy Army of Morr, commanded by the arch-lector of Remas and his general d'Alessio, take on the vampire Duchess Maria's army. Will Father Biagino survive?

Loads of old figures in and amongst 40 years' range of figures.

See https://youtu.be/qBplW2Gy7VM

Some pics ...

(https://i.imgur.com/51mgE9Y.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/Xfm7ddN.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/2xQbZm7.jpg)
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Pattus Magnus on January 28, 2023, 05:16:49 PM
That is very impressive! This whole campaign, the pics and the write ups really are inspiring.
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on February 01, 2023, 02:02:46 PM
Thanks muchly, Pattus Magnus.  :)

... And now back to the present day end of my campaign.

But Does It Augur Well?
The Island of Sartosa, Autumn 2404

(https://i.imgur.com/iNz4YkQ.jpg)

Five captains and first-mates, of different crews, being the quorum required by the grand articles for the swearing of a new captain into the fleet, had gathered near the pledging ring, where Kroll awaited them.

(https://i.imgur.com/OAmvipn.jpg)

The admiral, Leopold Volker, was present, of course, as well as Captain Anssem van Baas, and three first mates, being the dwarf Bald Kuzmoul of Captain Leadforge’s crew, the goblin Coboc Draald of Bagnam Farque’s crew and Geordt (more commonly known as Jambalo), the one-legged representative of Captain Garique.

(https://i.imgur.com/0QrqftX.jpg)

Kroll towered over them, as would any ogre, although he was tall even among his own kind.

(https://i.imgur.com/lnVqOcU.jpg)

His blade alone was the length of a boarding pike, and his piece, held like a pistol in the other hand, was akin in size to a swivel gun, and not one of the smaller ones. He wore an iron belly plate as did so many ogres, which might be supposed a hazard for a seafarer, considering how much quicker he would sink should he ever enter the water, but then his general bulk, heavy woollen coat and huge leather boots would not prove conducive to floating anyway.

(https://i.imgur.com/tpk0FSR.jpg)

Coboc emitted a strange, guttural, squeaking sound, as if his breathing had become suddenly laboured. Most took it to mean he was afraid, what with him being a goblin. Only Bald Kuzmoul was shorter than he, and in truth, the taller men next to him were nearly as nervous, just much better at concealing the fact. All except the admiral, who had seen such terrors in his days that a brute ogre was simply another encounter along the way. So it was, he was merely studying Kroll, as if to judge him, to weigh his worth, to decide what use he might be. And well the admiral might, as Kroll was here to be admitted to the fleet, and to receive a seat at the Captains’ Council table. (Despite the fact there was no seat large enough to accommodate him, nor even quarters high enough to admit him, apart from those upon his own ship, but that was a concern for later!)

He was the only ogre among his crew, the rest being men and orcs, some of the latter weighing twice as much as the men, but not taller. There were rumours that he once had ratmen in his crew, but they seemed to be none now, which allowed those who doubted such could be the case to be more convinced it never was!

(https://i.imgur.com/rdogSmZ.jpg)

The crew were mostly armed with axes, either two-handed or boarding axes, being famously skilled in their use, either in a fight or to expertly and quickly hack their way through bulkheads. One might wonder why they were needed when their captain Kroll could surely slice (perhaps even punch?) his way through even the hardest old oak, but he could hardly be everywhere at once could he? Besides, as he himself had declared - having adopted what he believed were the ways of a gentleman captain - such manual labour would disparage the height of an ogre in him. Why stoop to the level of a rude, mechanical, seaman when he had servants to do such work? Fighting was of course a suitable pursuit for a noble captain, but carpentry was not.

Kroll’s standard bore a death’s head above an hourglass, not because he and his crew were Morrites in faith (being instead worshippers of Stromfells or Ranald, according to their current needs) but because the image was intended as a statement of intent: “If you argue with us your time will run out.”

(https://i.imgur.com/b0iJTTE.jpg)

The crew were grizzled veterans in the main, as were so many in the fleet, having served various realms, whether on fighting ships or merchant vessels, until greed, misfortune, desperation, or devilry drove them to become pirates. Some had the dead-eyed stare of men who had long since abandoned any hope or compassion for others …

(https://i.imgur.com/mBJ0pC2.jpg)

… while some bore the determined expression of men driven by a powerful desire for wealth, with not a care for what mayhem they caused in its pursuit.

(https://i.imgur.com/dVj3Tyj.jpg)

The orcs, however, were simply happy to eat when they wanted, fight when they could, and make cruel sport out of their enemies’ misfortunes. None, however, misbehaved in Kroll’s presence, for he was a hard taskmaster, and all knew that he would slice a crewmember in half at the drop of a hat if they displeased him, acting as judge and jury in such matters. But that was rare, for they went out of their way to keep him happy, and so it was they had had a fruitful career upon the seas so far, despite the malicious rumours of dealings with the ratmen.

Until, that is, recently, when more and more ships, even merchants, were carrying guns, and ever larger contingents of professional fighters as well as sailors. The threat of the Sartosan Fleet had caused this sudden increase in armament, making piracy by individual ships that bit harder. This is why Kroll had decided to join the fleet itself, as it was a force large enough to plunder entire cities. He desired a share in such rich prizes, and knew there were several great cities yet to be looted.

(https://i.imgur.com/MiOGFLj.jpg)

Admiral Volker, as was his right, spoke first.

“This oath you are to take, Captain Kroll, is no petty thing. You are about to stand in the pledging ring, also named the auger circle, and not just because of the giant augurs it is fashioned from, but because any lie told within it augers ill, very ill, for he who speaks it.”

(https://i.imgur.com/ZLfMa2b.jpg)

Kroll grinned, revealing several teeth fashioned of gold. It was a sight somehow more disturbing than his usual scowl.

(https://i.imgur.com/GM6veyI.jpg)

“That I need not fear, but I do expect that by holding to my oath it will auger well for me.”

“I shall do my best to ensure that,” answered the admiral. “For when my captain’s thrive, I thrive. We all thrive. You know how well our enterprises have gone? They were just the start. This is a time for pirates.”

“Then let’s waste no more time on swearing and get to sailing,” said Kroll.

The admiral nodded his agreement, then spoke to Geordt ‘Jambalo’,

“You know the words of the oath, Geordt. You shall speak them. And you, Kroll, must affirm all the clauses. Now, take your place in the ring.”

(https://i.imgur.com/VVSIurw.jpg)

Kroll strode into the ring, stepping over a broken augur shell, then turned to look back at the gathered officers as they shuffled over to face him better.

(https://i.imgur.com/yJ5gm30.jpg)

Geordt began immediately …

(https://i.imgur.com/2OLJkCP.jpg)

“Do you swear to obey the admiral in battle?”

“Aye,” growled Kroll.

“And to be faithful to your fleet companions in all designs?”

(https://i.imgur.com/iJpg7Qk.jpg)

“I will,” answered the ogre. “So they’d better be good designs.”

“And to strive to accomplish all ventures agreed to by vote of the fleet’s captains?”

“No point in starting what you don’t intend to finish. I’ll see everything through to the end.”

(https://i.imgur.com/X2LVzws.jpg)

“Do you promise always to attend at the agreed rendezvous, responding whenever called upon?”

“If the wind and weather can be overcome, I’ll be there.”

“Will you die fighting rather than flee from an equal number of opposers, unless ordered to do so by the admiral?”

“I have never fled any opposer, and damn them who claim I might have done. But aye, if the admiral thinks there’s nothing to be gained from a fight, then I’ll follow his orders accordingly.”

(https://i.imgur.com/DMLT9Jz.jpg)

“Will you swear never to desert your fleet companions, or leave them wounded in an enemy’s hands, if the admiral demands them back?”

“The dead can rot on the sea bottom, but aye, if the admiral wants a fellow rescued, then I’ll do what I can, for all the usual compensations.”

(https://i.imgur.com/WrZYvg6.jpg)

“Will you help your fleet companions if captured, imprisoned, sick or otherwise in need?”

“I will do as much as any pirate on this fleet, but I don’t profess any knowledge of physic.”

(https://i.imgur.com/6ZlHEZ5.jpg)

Geordt glanced at the admiral, who said,

“That’ll do. He is joining as a ship’s captain, not a ship’s surgeon.”

(https://i.imgur.com/ccqSPmP.jpg)

Geordt nodded, then continued,

“Now repeat after me: ‘And this oath, when I break in the least tittle’ …”

“And this oath, when I break in the least tittle …”

“… ‘may Manaan and Stromfell’s curse befall me’ …”

“may Manaan and Stromfell’s curse befall me …”

“… ‘and may the greatest scurvies, plagues and damnation seize me here and hereafter’.”

“And all those things, and worse if you like, for I shall never break my oath. Are we done?”

(https://i.imgur.com/6ZlHEZ5.jpg)

“We’re done, captain,” said the admiral. “Welcome to the fleet.” He turned to the crew and asked,

“What say you?”

In answer came a confusion of ‘Ayes’ and ‘Huzzah’s’, but not a complaint amongst them.

(https://i.imgur.com/iAKaZ6B.jpg)

Admiral Volker’s fleet and army had just grown that bit stronger.
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: WuZhuiQiu on February 03, 2023, 02:06:13 PM
Arrrr....!
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on February 03, 2023, 02:07:43 PM
Maybe I should've given them all Devon/Cornwall accents?  ;D 'Tis fantasy after all. Hmm. Too late now.  :D
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on February 04, 2023, 02:34:25 PM
The sequel to the Battle for Ebino, being part 54 of Tilea's Troubles, is now up!

See https://youtu.be/-Nn-OXisR7M

If you watch you may be surprised to learn the actual fate of a certain character.
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: WuZhuiQiu on February 04, 2023, 03:40:25 PM
Alright! This is going to interrupt my viewing of the ADLG Tibetan battle reports, which'll have to be postponed.
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on February 09, 2023, 02:28:31 PM
And now, like a yoyo, back to the present day ...

Admissions and Admonishments Abound

Verezzo, in the Great Hall of the Palazzo Davandati. Autumn 2404

(https://i.imgur.com/YcPOkXm.jpg)

Barone Iacopo was feeling confident about the meeting with Lord Silvano Gondi of Pavona, especially as he had recently obtained firm promises of defensive military support from Verezzo’s old ally, Ridraffa. He believed the joint forces that could thus be fielded against Pavona now matched the enemy’s strength, perhaps even exceeding it. The Mayor of Ridraffa had long been (effectively) a nominee of Verezzo. Lord Lucca himself had ensured the current mayor’s position. This made the two states natural allies, and their shared suspicions of the Pavonans’ aggression now made them keen allies also. Yet Ridraffa had not directly suffered Pavonan abuses as Verezzo had, and so of the two, the Ridraffans were a somewhat less hungry for war.

Still, Iacopo was glad the Mayor was present, so that Lord Silvano would realise he was now contending with two city states. Previously, the barone had done all he could to strengthen Verezzo’s forces, but progress was slow, due to a combination of factors, including the small funds available and the limited numbers of experienced mercenaries to hire after all the recent wars. Verezzo was not the largest of city states and so even raising native militia proved difficult, for want of able youngsters to fill the ranks.

Mayor Rafaelle was accompanied by his wife, Lorena, which was perhaps a little unusual, for this was to be a parley between warring states, not a trade discussion or social meeting. Yet her presence might lend a degree of civility to the process. Barone Iacopo was familiar enough with the young Lord Silvano to know that he was less likely give vent to unrestrained anger before a noble woman, and certainly not commit an act of assassination like a Pavonan soldier had done weeks before. The barone was happy for her to provide inhibiting influence on his own behaviour. He harboured furious hatred towards the duke, but he wanted to remain in control, to play and more subtle game and play it well. Her presence might provide a check against sudden fits of anger.

As well as Captain Muzio Vanni, the old condottiere commander of the pike regiment, now made lieutenant general of Verezzo’s army, the famous ex-brigand, Roberto Cappuccio was also present, for it was he who had most recently been the subject of Pavonan lies. Upon his return to Verezzo, after his sojourn through the realm of Pavona with his band of archers, causing as much trouble as he could (which turned out to be quite a lot), Barone Iacopo had rewarded Cappuccio’s commitment by commissioning him as Verezzo’s Scout-master General. Cappuccio had since begun wearing the livery of Verezzo, although still sported his famous green hat, and he never went anywhere without his trusty bow.

When the infamous Pettirosso came into the hall, the barone was pleased to witness momentary surprise, if not discomfort, upon the young Lord Silvano’s face. To have such a fellow as an officer surely revealed the strength of the barone’s hatred of Pavona, and strongly hinted that he knew the truth concerning the claims of the recent assassination attempt upon Duke Guidobaldo.

(https://i.imgur.com/3dKTfxg.jpg)

The young lord was accompanied by a single guard, armed with a handgun, although he had travelled with a large company of similarly armed soldiers. Perhaps, if he had attempted to bring more guards to the meeting, then objections may have been raised. But no-one thought to complain about a single companion, as such might be considered a necessary servant to accompany a nobleman, with duties beyond acting merely as an armed escort.

(https://i.imgur.com/pBIva3M.jpg)

“So, your father has finally deigned to send you to me, as I demanded many weeks ago?” said the barone. “I was not happy that he sent a babbling priest to me before, only for one of your own soldiers to slay him.”

“I myself wanted to come,” answered Silvano. “And my father, ill though he is, at last gave me leave to do so. As for the soldier’s actions, I know not what came over him. He clearly had the wrong idea concerning what was expected of him.”

(https://i.imgur.com/FdQoSFg.jpg)

Barone Iacopo fixed his eyes upon the Pavonan lord. “Oh, I think he knew full well what was expected of him, be it nothing more than to make more of a mockery of the supposed apology.”

“I wish, barone, you would not presume such wickedness on my father’s part. Mistakes have been made, but this time the guilt was that of a foolish guard.”

(https://i.imgur.com/WDh5yew.jpg)

“Are you here, then, to confess your father’s sins and pray publicly for forgiveness? Or are we to play more cruel games and hear yet more excuses and lies?

“Good barone,” said Silvano, “I humbly and honestly wish to forge a peace between our realms, in light of the new and deadly threats facing all of us. We cannot allow our realm’s disagreements to weaken us in such dangerous times.”

Iacopo, and several other of his attendants, laughed.

“And why should I believe you want peace, when your own father murdered our beloved Lord Lucca and plundered this, his realm even at a time when both vampires and ogres threatened all of Tilea? Your father had long sought any excuse to attack Verezzo - a despicable and base yearning he finally yielded to”.

The young lord stiffened, and when he spoke his words were uttered likewise,

“I am not my father.”

Iacopo was quick to respond. “An apple does not fall far from the tree.”

(https://i.imgur.com/pJo9rvL.jpg)

“You know me, barone. We marched together and took the field beside each other in the valley of Norochia, there to face hordes of ghouls and walking corpses. And with arrows, bullets, swords, and great courage, we did prevail. You and I, and those we commanded, proved ourselves that day. You know me.”

“Aye, you were there,” countered the barone. “But not your father. He was too busy robbing our realm. Murdering our master.”

The brigand Pettirosso suddenly interrupted, “I saw him and his knights slay Lord Lucca with mine own eyes.”

(https://i.imgur.com/3oWm5qn.jpg)

“And all heard his lies afterwards,” added Iacopo. “Claiming it was the VMC’s soldiers who had disguised themselves as Portomaggiorans to do the deed.”

“And now,” spat the Pettirosso, “he lies again, telling the world it was myself who attempted to assassinate him. I wish that it were, and that I had succeeded, for then vengeance would have been gained. But it was not I, despite my vow to do so, making his claims yet more lies.”

There was silence, though there was something about the young lord’s demeanour that gave the impression it was not due to him being stuck for words.

Iacopo broke the silence with a direct challenge,

“I ask you, in earnest, is everything your father utters false? Has he ever spoken a word of truth?”

Lord Silvano began silently, slowly, shaking his head, and this time answered with the slightest hint of anger in his voice.

(https://i.imgur.com/yOwd0ze.jpg)

“I am not my father, but I rule now in his stead and will rule in my own right when my father enters Morr’s garden. Pavona’s present and future lie with me. I was never party to my father’s lies, nor present when they were spoken, only later learning of them. Now I look to find those willing to befriend me, not my father.”

The Pettirosso was pointing at the young lord, quite contrary to what was customarily expected when addressing a noble superior, even of another city state.

“So, you admit your father was lying?”

Silvano answered easily, “I do, as did my father to General Valckenburgh, through me, having tasked me with explaining all that was done and why.”

(https://i.imgur.com/CIGO0ey.jpg)

“Lord Silvano,” asked Iacopo, “you would have us believe that we can trust you? How is it that you are made so much better than your father? Or is it simply that you are a good enough liar to make it appear so.”

“Since the war against Prince Girenzo, and the death of my brother,” said Silvano, “I have ever and always striven to do that which was right and proper, and to venture my own life in the defence of greater Tilea, not just Pavona. I have served the greater good, and holy Morr, both demanding and receiving permission to do so from my father. All I ask is that you judge me by my own merits.”

Iacopo put his hands on his hips and looked askance at Silvano.

“You did nothing more than the good Captain Vanni here and myself – serving in the alliance army under Lord Alessio, upon the orders of your lord and master. Why should we presume your good service makes you a more honest man? Even a goblin might obey his brute master’s commands, yet still lie with almost every utterance.”

The mayor of Ridraffa’s wife gave a polite cough, and all turned to look at her.

(https://i.imgur.com/kJz39sq.jpg)

“By your leave, barone and my lord Silvano?” she asked.

(https://i.imgur.com/B0Ygirq.jpg)

Both nobles nodded.

“Norochia was not the only time the young lord fought against the vampires,” she continued. “He was at the terrible battle of Ebino, leading the charge against the enemy’s massed ranks. There his holiness Calictus died, the army scattered, forcing Lord Silvano to ride away. But had personally led his riders into the fray. Then, having only just recovered from near fatal wounds received when bravely fighting Boulderguts’ brutes in the Battle of Via Diocleta, he marched with you, my lord, in the alliance army to fight the vampires once again. Is all this not adequate proof of Lord Silvano’s earnestness to serve the common good?”

(https://i.imgur.com/aMO3S4Q.jpg)

Iacopo had forgotten that the mayor’s wife had Gondi blood, being a cousin of Duke Guidobaldo. It seems she possessed a great interest in her relations’ affairs, or perhaps just Lord Silvano? This would hardly help her understood the duplicitousness they were capable of. And yet … it was hard to argue against her. Lord Silvano was indeed a proven hero of battle after battle. A thought tickled at the edge of his consciousness, concerning how Duke Guidobaldo kept his son busy in the wars, or more accurately why he might have done so, but he lost a hold of it when Mayor Rafaelle spoke.

“My wife speaks the truth, as you do too, Barone. There is good and bad in the Gondi family, as with any family perhaps. But we should surely not allow the faults and frailties of a dying man to prevent our proper defence of the realm?”

(https://i.imgur.com/mC2nwxf.jpg)

Lord Silvano turned to speak to Iacopo, but the barone spoke first,

“Yes, we know. You are not your father.”

(https://i.imgur.com/pBIva3M.jpg)
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: dwbullock on February 10, 2023, 02:14:39 PM
I don't comment a lot on these, but wanted to say I enjoy them immensely.  I'm not really sure why, but it reminds me of watching Thomas the Train with my daughter before they went all CGI (with orcs, obviously) - and that makes me smile.

Good job, keep them coming.
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on February 11, 2023, 08:22:27 PM
Thanks muchly for saying!

Meanwhile, back to the past ...

Here is Tilea's Troubles Part 55, which concerns several struggles in the Reman Church of Morr - the election of a new arch-lector and a schismatic uprising led by a ranting, radical preacher!

Please be aware, there's a full hellfire and damnation sermon in this one. I can only apologise, but the story required it, and the muse carried me along. 

https://youtu.be/IPPLXZjECSQ

An image ...
(https://i.imgur.com/SjbuFcN.jpg)
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on February 26, 2023, 08:26:45 PM
In this new Tilea's Troubles' video, the brute ogres Mags and Brindill, then the two Compagnia del Sole chancellors Baccio and Ottaviano, discuss their woes, while Antonio Mugello's letter to Lord Lucca unfolds.

See https://youtu.be/f3VU9rdJVXY
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on March 04, 2023, 01:26:20 PM
Tilea's Troubles Part 57 is up. The vampire Biagino begins his new work, for the 'other' side!

It's here ...

https://youtu.be/KAIPLt4CjEU
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: WuZhuiQiu on March 04, 2023, 11:54:11 PM
More great stuff! How many times did you practice those prayers before recording, lol?
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on March 05, 2023, 12:09:44 AM
It's a lot easier than you think because Latin is pronounced phonetically.  :D
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on March 12, 2023, 08:14:25 PM
Tilea's Troubles, Part 58, is now available. Antonio Mugello imparts more of what he has learned in the second part of his letter to Lord Lucca of Verezzo.

See https://youtu.be/n5n9HRJAYAY

Some images from the video ...

(https://i.imgur.com/sdjMRSp.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/T4WZAMB.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/WDwcbjx.jpg)
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on March 17, 2023, 07:42:12 PM
The new Tilea's Troubles video is up.

Remas has come under Morr's thumb! Not the old Morr, the new Morr!

https://youtu.be/1_6CWYe67ng

Some images ...

(https://i.imgur.com/km1Grny.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/HxNuzNx.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/56SRnvP.jpg)
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on March 29, 2023, 10:22:21 AM
Part 60 of Tilea's Troubles is now up - the prequel to a big battle report which I am very excited about.

(Meanwhile, in the 'present day' of the campaign, I am frantically painting for a new, forthcoming battle. Even more exciting!)

See https://youtu.be/0OEvLMItqJ4
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Spinal Tap on March 29, 2023, 10:45:57 AM
I've started listening to these on YouTube after a mate of mine raved about them and sent me the link; really enjoyable and I don't even play Warhammer Fantasy.
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on March 29, 2023, 10:49:14 AM
Thanks very muchly for saying. I love the idea that someone 'raved' about them. I must be getting something right!
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on April 06, 2023, 02:26:21 PM
Tilea's Troubles, Part 61 is here.

It is a big battle report in which a massive army of ogres take on a Tilean alliance army. Hard fighting indeed!

https://youtu.be/6yFQO_E8nD0

Some images ...

(https://i.imgur.com/Rq457Ck.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/sj2Xp9J.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/mSjNOIX.jpg)
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on April 14, 2023, 06:35:06 PM
Tilea's Troubles Part 62 has two stories, both about religious movements. One is schismatical, while the other is as heretical as you can get, being a mockery of religion itself! And boy do they hate each other!

https://youtu.be/51tPMeHQS5Y

A couple of images ...

(https://i.imgur.com/hyQ4uL1.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/NaVRq2G.jpg)
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on April 25, 2023, 03:05:10 PM
Part 63 is a short, dramatised battle report of a relatively simple game. I believe I have adequately mastered campaign GMing but am still lacking real skill in commanding on the tabletop. My poor NPC realms!

https://youtu.be/ac4FDMAlAwU
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Spinal Tap on April 25, 2023, 05:09:19 PM
Just wanted to say again that these videos are excellent, I've been watching for a few weeks and have just gone through the horrors of the The Battle for Ebino; what a disaster.

Even worse Biagino is dead - I really liked him.

Lord knows how the Living are going to recover from this disaster.
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on April 25, 2023, 07:12:52 PM
Ebino was 'fun'. I am glad you are enjoying the videos. The next one (64) has some original pics I was very proud of.
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: President Buer on April 30, 2023, 03:22:39 PM
Your videos received a ringing endorsement from The Bard (of BardicBroadcasts and Heroquest fame) on his Twitch stream this morn as he was looking through some old Warhammer army books. High praise, and a series well worth it.
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on May 03, 2023, 02:11:39 PM
Thanks for saying. I found out the video you mentioned and it cheered me up no end to hear someone praising the videos in such a manner. Lovely!

Halflings make their first appearance in my campaign. Of course, their little part of the world is a pleasant looking place. I would love to sup a pint with them! Part 64. 

https://youtu.be/FjhQ3l3Zd7k
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on May 08, 2023, 07:28:00 PM
I managed to get this one done a little quicker than usual. Tilea's Troubles, Part 65 is 'up'. Angelo da Leoni, the Reman maestro's latest, wacky war-machine is revealed, and some politics are discussed, a Machiavellian tangle of secular and religious shenanigans!

See https://youtu.be/9aUGzmW2evE

A picture ...
(https://i.imgur.com/lBMnXqF.jpg)
Title: Re: Pictures from my Tilean Campaign
Post by: Cacique Caribe on May 09, 2023, 04:46:22 AM
A very pleasant afternoon spent 'shooting at the butts' in Terrene. The halfling militia prove their prowess before their lord, Lucca Vescussi of Verezzo.

(https://i.imgur.com/KifWHe5.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/XSwycK8.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/2YxR5p3.jpg)

(If you look down the rank of shooters a little way you can make out the infamous Roberto Cappuccio, aka the Pettirosso, who was once an outlaw but now serves the philosopher Lord Lucca.)
(https://i.imgur.com/6GwZ1yA.jpg)

(Is it insane to say the pic below is my favourite one of this batch?)
(https://i.imgur.com/WJNeOxY.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/Jd7lSZT.jpg)

An then they assemble in rank and file to listen to their lord ...

(https://i.imgur.com/wiNNKEq.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/tH0fceD.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/fIPlkgx.jpg)

Fantastic assortment of halflings.  Who is the manufacturer?  Thanks.

Dan
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on May 09, 2023, 05:04:18 AM
At the end of every video there is a list of manufacturers. Sometimes that list takes me ages to do!

Edit: It just occurred to me, that despite exactly this video coming out 6 days ago, you may not have seen it. I was just assuming your mention was not a coincidence!

This is the link, so check out the last minute ... https://youtu.be/FjhQ3l3Zd7k
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Spinal Tap on May 09, 2023, 06:03:01 AM
Just watched Part 65 this morning - excellent work.

I'm intrigued as to the real position of Brother Marsilio's arm though.
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on May 09, 2023, 06:15:29 AM
Hee hee! See https://www.perry-miniatures.com/product/cu28-clergy-mixed-priests-and-monks/
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Spinal Tap on May 09, 2023, 06:19:19 AM
Hee hee! See https://www.perry-miniatures.com/product/cu28-clergy-mixed-priests-and-monks/

And I really thought it was the other way around.

 :D
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on May 19, 2023, 02:04:04 PM
Part 66 is now 'up'. Dwarfs, mercenaries and ... more mercenaries! Well, it is Tilea.

https://youtu.be/GlWRyOmDO_E
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on May 31, 2023, 11:07:47 AM
Back to doing goblin voices! (I'm dreading the appearance of Skaven in the future, as I still can't decide how I am going to their voices!)

Part 67 of Tilea's Troubles is now 'up', featuring some old characters (Pooshin Cotchwallop & Frokit Anglegrinch). Please see ...

https://youtu.be/PvKriQ3ka-U
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: stroblight on May 31, 2023, 08:09:12 PM
Great job on the gobbo voices! This series is seriously my favorite thing on YouTube. Thank you so much for sharing!
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on June 09, 2023, 02:38:43 PM
Thanks muchly, Stroblight. Funnily I was listening to an earlier episode and the whispering voice of a skeleton made be jump! Scared by my own voice reading my own story! Crazy!

For those of you following the 'present day' edge of the campaign stories, to save (lots of) time I am going to start putting them straight onto my Big Small Worlds website, and linking to them in the forums I frequent!

So, here's the latest story, being a prequel to a battle report ...

https://bigsmallworlds.com/2023/06/09/trappings-prequel-to-a-battle/
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: WuZhuiQiu on June 09, 2023, 05:33:39 PM
Suspenseful! How did a Dwarf end up among a unit of Orcs and Goblins?
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on June 09, 2023, 07:21:33 PM
Well, a dwarf and a goblin and a few orcs in amongst a human unit. But my full-on goblin pirate's unit doesn't have any dwarfs in. That's just a step too far!

I reckon once you ditch the laws and society of the world to become a pirate, then one feels less bound by the old ways and behaviours. Pirates!
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on June 10, 2023, 04:18:55 PM
Tilea's Troubles, Part 68 is uploaded. Glammerscale Hamgorn, the dwarf wizard, continues his efforts to find a place in the world!

https://youtu.be/RQNUgcFOR6I
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on June 12, 2023, 08:10:40 PM
Again, for those following the 'present day' end of the campaign, here's a link to the start of a new battle report ...

https://bigsmallworlds.com/2023/06/12/the-battle-for-eclano/
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on June 16, 2023, 02:32:36 PM
And ... before the next bat rep installment ...

In a world where evil magic is real, fear makes people do terrible things. Part 69 of Tilea's Troubles is up.

​https://youtu.be/MQV_LsyeBzE
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on June 18, 2023, 07:25:21 PM
Back to the present day bat rep ... I forgot to put the second part link up, so here it is with the third part link ...

https://bigsmallworlds.com/2023/06/14/the-battle-for-eclano-continued/

and

https://bigsmallworlds.com/2023/06/18/the-battle-for-eclano-conclusion/
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on June 27, 2023, 01:13:49 PM
Link to the latest 'present day' campaign report ... https://bigsmallworlds.com/2023/06/26/the-blessed-knights/

Some images from the story:

(https://i.imgur.com/kihWic3.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/TWfHGB4.jpg)
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: stroblight on June 28, 2023, 02:33:55 AM
Love the new knights! This campaign is truly epic.
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Spinal Tap on June 28, 2023, 11:53:51 AM
Are these going to video as well?

I love the video reports.
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on June 28, 2023, 11:56:38 AM
Eventually yes. The videos are several years behind the current events in the campaign. If you don't want to get confused stick to the videos otherwise you will be jumping back and forth in time!!
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Spinal Tap on June 28, 2023, 09:29:50 PM
Eventually yes. The videos are several years behind the current events in the campaign. If you don't want to get confused stick to the videos otherwise you will be jumping back and forth in time!!

Quite happy to wait.

I always save the videos for Saturday mornings; big pot of coffee and Tilea's Troubles before the family get up.
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on June 28, 2023, 10:05:39 PM
Excellent! I'm just about to upload the next video. But not sure if I'll do it when I get home from the pub or tomorrow morning. Either way it makes no difference as it will be ready for Saturday! 🤪
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Spinal Tap on June 29, 2023, 07:54:20 AM
Excellent.
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on June 29, 2023, 08:29:39 AM
As promised, Tilea's Troubles Part 70 is here ...

https://youtu.be/bSsSR3OxG20

An image

(https://i.imgur.com/nmCrw6B.jpg)
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on July 08, 2023, 05:32:44 PM
Tilea's Troubles Part 71 is a battle report - an army of cultists assaults a city defended by the undead!

Q: "War, huh! What is it good for?"
A: Erm, killing the undead, obviously!

https://youtu.be/QALaONhy1Ro
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Spinal Tap on July 09, 2023, 06:07:25 AM
Tilea's Troubles Part 71 is a battle report - an army of cultists assaults a city defended by the undead!

Q: "War, huh! What is it good for?"
A: Erm, killing the undead, obviously!

https://youtu.be/QALaONhy1Ro


Nice relaxing Sunday morning in Tilea with a good cup of coffee.
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Belligerentparrot on July 09, 2023, 08:50:39 AM
That pic of the column on the march is wonderful, tells a whole story in itself. Keep up the amazing work!
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: stroblight on July 09, 2023, 04:13:16 PM
I love it when a new installment of your Tilean campaign pops up on YouTube. Thank you for putting so much effort into the videos, minis, and narrative!
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on July 10, 2023, 05:07:21 PM
Thank you to the both of you for commenting. Glad you like the videos.

Tilea's Troubles Special Video 5 is a behind the scenes look at the creation of an entire army of flagellatin' cultists and their wacky war machine! Lots of different manufacturers in and amongst, as well as one or two older models.

​https://youtu.be/hfNsruJgSe8
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on July 18, 2023, 03:39:32 PM
Part 72 of Tilea's Troubles is the prequel to a battle report, and has some real old models in it. (If the 1980s counts as old?)

https://youtu.be/c6X0-cMRFz0
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on August 05, 2023, 08:27:10 AM
Tilea's Troubles, Part 73, being a battle report, is up. Dwarfs and Bretonnians assault an Ogre held city. There are models from the 1980s onwards in the assaulting army, and scenery from the 70s in the city!

See https://youtu.be/diPsJImBpRE
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on August 24, 2023, 11:20:33 AM
Part 74 of Tilea's Troubles is another account to help connect everything up! Antonio Mugello's need to report everything to his beloved master, Lord Lucca, is a useful thing indeed! (I am trying to include a few more map illustrations to aid understanding even more!)

https://youtu.be/aL8aT51GBF8
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on September 05, 2023, 06:43:21 PM
For those of you following the 'present day' end of the campaign, rather than the historical videos, there's a new story at ...

https://bigsmallworlds.com/2023/09/05/i-smell-a-rat/
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on September 08, 2023, 03:11:44 PM
Back to the history.  Part 75 of Tilea's Troubles is a prequel to a battle report ... https://youtu.be/nbKeRrwa6rs
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: stroblight on September 08, 2023, 08:29:37 PM
Thank you for continuing to make these videos. They are amazing!
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on September 08, 2023, 08:32:42 PM
And thank you for saying. I have a LOT more to do. I need to stay alive for years yet, otherwise I'll not get through them.
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on September 16, 2023, 08:51:59 PM
And like a yoyo, back to the 'present day'. See the new story at

https://bigsmallworlds.com/2023/09/16/broad-pieces-of-gold/
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Spinal Tap on September 18, 2023, 06:39:24 AM
Just caught up with your videos, brilliant fun as usual.
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on September 22, 2023, 10:47:55 AM
Thanks Mr Tap. :D

Part 76 of Tilea's Troubles is a battle report. Brute ogres are defending Campogrotta against an army of dwarves and mercenary (!) Bretonnians. There are loads of 1980s' Oldhammer models in amongst the attackers, as well as models all the way up to today!

https://youtu.be/-00YWIQCIKE
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on October 02, 2023, 03:35:31 PM
Back to the 'current day' of the campaign, and a story that will be a video in a couple of years time!!!!! I tell you, building a cloister, even a 'film set' stye one, takes ages. I thought the end result would look great, but not that much. At least there's some depth to the structure. I made it so big I couldn't really get it all in a picture at once!

The skaven issue threats, of the sort that people have every reason to fear!

See https://bigsmallworlds.com/2023/10/02/to-know-and-to-heed/
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on October 14, 2023, 10:39:40 PM
Part 77 of Tilea's Troubles is here. One of two prequels to a bat rep. Politics and personalities - the commanders of five armies in a big tent!

​https://youtu.be/LSaDUygvPI0
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Spinal Tap on October 15, 2023, 05:51:20 AM
Thank you for another installment, I'll go make another pot of coffee and settle down for a watch.
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on October 23, 2023, 08:00:47 PM
Hope you enjoyed it, Mr Tap.

Part 78 of Tilea's Troubles is a shortish one. Vampires, skelebobs and the poor, enslaved populace of Trantio.

https://youtu.be/1K21dVxvEOQ
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on November 15, 2023, 08:06:07 PM
Part 79 of Tilea's Troubles is an unusual battle, between large armies (including very old and new figures, from many different manufacturers) in a necropolis valley!


https://youtu.be/aIPUf-lAPnA
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Spinal Tap on November 15, 2023, 09:34:03 PM
As per usual I will enjoy this with my huge mug of coffee on Saturday morning before my wife gets up.

Cracking.
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Spinal Tap on November 18, 2023, 06:41:30 AM
Well that was unexpected.

I loved it.

Can't wait for the next installment.
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: cardophillipo on November 19, 2023, 09:44:36 AM
Wonderful stuff 👍 Thoroughly enjoying this from the very beginning both here and on YouTube. Can I ask what red you use on your church leaders etc it looks great 👍

Cheers

Richard
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on November 19, 2023, 09:46:57 AM
Most are a Humbrol enamel red (I forget the code) highlighted in the same red and a bit of white mixed in!

99% were painted before I shifted to acrylics a few years ago.
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: cardophillipo on November 19, 2023, 10:57:31 AM
Many thanks 👍
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on November 19, 2023, 11:07:03 AM
I used to muck about a lot with mixing enamels, and now do so with mixing 'base paint' acrylics, which is so much easier than all the extra brush cleaning and pot lid securing (etc) I did with enamels for 30+ years!
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on December 09, 2023, 02:57:04 PM
Tilea's Troubles part 80 is up! A fiendish, nocturnal assassin is finally faced up to! See ...

​https://youtu.be/yvKxqGqkzfk
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on December 17, 2023, 08:27:44 PM
Special Video 6 shows a whole bunch of projects, from the earliest days of Warhammer until today!

https://youtu.be/fPXjiUdwT-A
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on December 23, 2023, 01:50:47 PM
Wizards, mercenary companies, dwarfs, and figures from the 80's onwards. What's not to like? (Well, obviously, there could be loads you don't like, but I will offer it here anyway!) Tilea's Troubles, Part 81 is now 'out' ...


https://youtu.be/DjJtrFOVar4
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Philotep on December 24, 2023, 09:07:35 AM
Wonderful pictures and stories! I wonder how long it takes to make such a film.
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on December 24, 2023, 09:18:52 AM
Imagine how long it takes to make 80 of them! And with thousands of figures appearing! (Whole armies, including alliance forces, in the bat reps ... the majority my figures, which the players without armies and the remote players use.)

If I added up all the modelling, painting (we're talking umpteen armies), scenery making, GMing, tabletop gaming, photograph editing, story writing, audio recording and editing, then video construction, for all of them, then I reckon years. Several thereof.

I have at least as many stories yet to turn into videos too!
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Philotep on December 24, 2023, 09:46:04 AM
Oh yes, I can easily imagine, the result is all the more impressive! Thank you for your answer. Now I have to read and watch everything from the start of this subject (52 pages, incredible...)
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on December 24, 2023, 09:54:29 AM
The videos have the story in its proper order. This thread is a jumbled mish mash of historical and current, and doesn't start at the beginning. My website has everything - including all the future video stories, which means spoiler-mania, so don't read if you want the video stories to be a surprise. The stories all get 'improved' for the videos - not changed story-wise, just edited to flow better. My website is at https://bigsmallworlds.com/
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Spinal Tap on December 24, 2023, 09:58:59 AM
Fabulous as always.

I like Glammerscale and will be more than a little disappointed if he ever follows Biagino to the dark side.
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on December 24, 2023, 10:42:14 AM
I'll be more than disappointed! I'll be facing the challenge of modelling a vampire dwarf wizard! Which could be a first in fantasy figures!
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Basementboy on December 24, 2023, 01:06:40 PM
Just discovered this thread! Thanks for sharing so many gorgeous models! Always awesome to see a big narrative in miniature, and this sure doesn’t disappoint ;)
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on December 24, 2023, 09:21:16 PM
Thanks muchly, Spinal and Basementboy.

Merry Christmas to all! And for those of you who enjoy my videos, the present of the a little installment somewhat earlier than I usually manage between videos - Tilea's Troubles, Part 82. Ho ho ho!


https://youtu.be/mAOmnyNOUDM
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Basementboy on December 26, 2023, 11:23:46 AM
A merry Christmas to you as well! Greatly enjoyed the new instalment :D
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on January 25, 2024, 07:41:31 PM
Thank you, young man in the cellar!

In Tilea's Troubles part 83 the vampire Duchess Maria leads her small, personal army against the remains of the Disciplinati di Morr.

https://youtu.be/qOkcBZfGkDc
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Spinal Tap on January 26, 2024, 07:04:48 AM
Wonderful as usual.
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on February 01, 2024, 09:52:13 PM
Thanks Mr Tap!

For those of you following the 'live' end of my campaign (years ahead of the videos) there is the start of a big battle report up now. (If you are watching the videos, don't read this as it is spoiler city!)

See https://bigsmallworlds.com/2024/02/01/the-battle-of-palomtrina-part-one-make-ready/
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on February 02, 2024, 02:26:25 PM
And now back to the past with a new video - the Sartosans make a proper appearance in our campaign, and they're already plundering!

https://youtu.be/k0aisR6dHKA
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on February 08, 2024, 03:43:48 PM
The uomini ratto finally make an appearance in the campaign story (although they have been behind the scenes for somne time). Two nervous servants carry a message through the underpasses. A short video.


https://youtu.be/DTQtTeJDVGY
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Spinal Tap on February 09, 2024, 07:09:15 AM
Again, I've really enjoyed these two.

I especially like the skaven voice acting and 'double words' and look forward to a special video on the race.
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on March 06, 2024, 11:32:54 PM
Thankyou Mr Tap.

Part 86
https://youtu.be/c4eXJaT9e24
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: MGH on March 07, 2024, 11:13:17 PM
Only recently discovered this cool campaign world on youtube and am now going thru the episodes. Love it!
I'm not a fantasy player at all, I game historical periods. Love the medieval and Renaissance periods. But this is a blast to follow.

A wonderful job there!
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Padrissimus on March 17, 2024, 12:06:52 PM
Thanks MGH!

Important research into the Uomini Ratto (skaven). Morr bless Brother Migliore for his tireless efforts! Here is Part 87 of Tilea's Troubles.
https://youtu.be/XP_LY01X8Mg
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Basementboy on March 17, 2024, 07:27:50 PM
Awesome stuff!
Title: Re: A Tilean Campaign
Post by: Spinal Tap on March 18, 2024, 06:51:00 AM
That was excellent.

So glad you're planning a behind the scenes video for the rat engines too.