Raising the Aquila: Archer auxilia

[Knight-Captain Tyr]

I swear everything you touch becomes epic. I’m not usually drawn to historical gaming but you and another forum goer have definitely made a positive impression. (I like fantasy games too much and your fantasy blog is equally epic)

Amazing work as always.

Thanks, dude! That really helps, it's a bit of a slog at the minute and it's good to hear it inspires someone. I intend these guys to be fairly fantastical as well, as future developments will hopefully show.

This is perhaps the best way to approach Ancients gaming. Legion-specific iconography or Roman uniforms in general are based on educated guesses at best.

Your miniatures so far look great. The poor footsloggers are perhaps a bit ill-dressed for cold weather, but it's a nice basing effect. Actually, I wasn't keen on the unit trays with troops neatly arrayed in squares and large gaps between individual soldiers (I prefer close order troops packed in dense, even slightly irregular shaped formation). Yet, once the minis are in place it doesn't look too bad.

One minor note: You might want to glue the scabbards on vertically, so that the pommel is right under the man's armpit. That's the reason for the four-point suspension. Swords had to be drawn straight up once the soldiers locked shields and pushed forward. The opening scene of Rome season includes a nice (if not totally accurate) representation of that formation.

All in all, very promising start, looking forward to the next updates.

Great feedback and great comments. Cheers Doc. Never realised that about the scabbards, very interesting - I watched the intro to Rome fairly recently but will have to re-watch now I'm glad you approve of my approach to Ancients - I think it has to be about 'fun' as well as verisimilitude.

Meanwhile, I am slowly losing my sanity - only one more rank on legionary unit #1...of 3...

[Mad Doc Morris]

Chillingly cool again.

Re-reading my comment it comes across far too negative. Thus I'm happy you took it as intended: praise with a bit of hopefully constructive criticism. For the record, this is a great project!

[Oh, and in case anyone wonders, it should've read "Rome season 1".]

[armchairgeneral]

Very nice painting 

[Knight-Captain Tyr]

Chillingly cool again.

Re-reading my comment it comes across far too negative. Thus I'm happy you took it as intended: praise with a bit of hopefully constructive criticism. For the record, this is a great project!

[Oh, and in case anyone wonders, it should've read "Rome season 1".]

Not at all - I greatly value constructive criticism and yours was great. Hope to hear more in future.

First legionary unit completed!

Now I can get on to the next one...

[Knight-Captain Tyr]

All quiet on the western front...?

Some WIPs of what's next for the Legion:

Germanic auxilia:

A priest, captured aquila and vexilla standards atop a pile of Roman arms (objective marker), and the Legion's Aquilifer:

...and finally a test model for auxilia archers. Kitbashed with Fireforge bits. Not 100% historicity but going for rule of cool over pure verisimilitude.

Any thoughts welcome

[voltan]

Nice idea with the archer, looks good.

[Knight-Captain Tyr]

'Ianus Mendax', Rex Sacrorum

The Legion is joined by the shadowy figure of a priest-king from Rome-that-Was, a disciple of the Two-Faced God and rex sacrorum.

[Captain Harlock]

This is the origin of the British fashion for wearing socks with sandals...

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/science/science-news/7964516/Romans-wore-socks-with-sandals-new-British-dig-suggests.html

I thought it was a German fashion 

[Captain Harlock]

Not at all - I greatly value constructive criticism and yours was great. Hope to hear more in future.

First legionary unit completed!

Now I can get on to the next one...

Absolutely brilliant work. Your work is very inspiring and this is very bad for my wallet

[tyrionhalfman]

These all look fantastic. Thanks for sharing

[Knight-Captain Tyr]

Germanic auxiliaries - halfway through a small skirmisher unit.

[tyrionhalfman]

They all look great, thanks for sharing:)

[Knight-Captain Tyr]

Auxilia complete:

[Utgaard]

Really nice painted figures, cool pictures!

[Argonor]

Another great thread - and not making it easy for me to stay focused on my current Sellswords & Spellslingers and Ancient Greeks projects...