Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => Age of Myths, Gods and Empires => Topic started by: Mad Doc Morris on 01 July 2012, 07:08:21 PM
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Since my dear friend Lt. Hazel started his Barbarian Invasion project, there finally is an excuse to start painting 3rd century Romans full scale. So, here's the first unit (coincidentally at contubernium-strength) for our upcoming Roman SAGA project:
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y178/Poliorketes/Tabletop/MI%20Romans/IMG_0167.jpg~original)
The idea of a small expeditionary force, campaigning during the 200's, has haunted me for quite some time. It was originally inspired by the spectacular discovery of a Roman battlefield in Lower Saxony, Germany (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_at_the_Harzhorn), dating from this very period. Added to that, I always had a (not so) secret passion for the A&A Miniatures range, recently bolstered by Aventine's venture into this area. Here I've used models from both manufacturers, the footsloggers by A&A led by an Aventine optio. Shield decals are by LBM Studios.
Next unit to follow soon…
Feel free to comment here or visit my blog (http://lead-mountain.blogspot.de/2012/07/a-roman-saga.html). Thanks for watching anyway! :)
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They are gorgeous :o I am looking forward to meet them on tabletop!
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Excellent! If they fight as good as they look you're in trouble Lt ;)
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Cracking figures :-*
The leaders stripy 'stick' is quite interesting. What was its purpose?
cheers
James
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:-*
Very nice, indeed.
The Centurion especially grabs the eye. Well done!
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Thanks guys! :)
The 'centurion' - actually his second-in-command, an optio - is wielding a hastile, probably used to push stragglers back into line (like a NCO's spontoon). The stripes are conjectural.
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yeah! the dreams come true, Mad Doc has started a 3rd century project :)
beautiful work as usual, looking forward to next bunch!
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:-* :-*
Very nice! My thread for my Trojan War SAGA will be started shortly, albeit w/ minis that aren't painted nearly as well!
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Beautiful figures.
Look forward to seeing more.
Also how you use the SAGA rules.
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They look fantastic. Really love the gritty look of them.
Looking forward to seeing more and seeing how this works with Saga.
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Brilliant minis!!! Well done. I too am looking forward to hearing how you use Saga with these.
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I really like those! Great stuff!
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just managed to check your blog, Doc, wow! even more nice pics of these Middle Romans and some great reading as well!
My recommendation to everyone to check that Doc's pile of lovely pics and texts :)
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Cheers, guys, many thanks for your kind words! :)
Regarding our intended use of the SAGA rules: For a start, we won't change the rules. I know there are already some Ancients variants around, but we don't feel the need for dedicated battleboards yet. Since SAGA represents more or less a fantasy approach (it's inspired by sagas!), we are happy to take it for Roman fantasy as well. With eight play-tested factions to choose from (and more to come), there's enough variation to recreate some opposing Ancients warbands. It's just a question of which tactics you want to emphasise.
On the long run, however, we're eying the Arthurian rules from Too Fat Lardies. Historically they might not fit the bill as well, still there aren't many 'not army sized' rules around for the Roman period.
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Beautiful, beautiful figures. Really enjoyed your 15s. Richard
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Very nice painting job. I follow your blog (via RSS), and I have to admit that they're the best painted 3rd Century Romans I've ever seen. Oh, well, Saxon Dog's all really nice. And Phil Hendry's...
Just kidding. Anyway, I really love the A&A Romans, and I love your painting job. The weathering and the bright colors are very nice.
Thank you for sharing them with us.
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I can't fault these, they're magnificent.
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They are stunning 8) and hope they fight well for you
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Interesting looking project.
Do you have a Roman (or barbarian) Saga board?
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Sorry I have been so slow in commenting on these; Lovely work Doc :-* :-* :-* About to start an Late Roman campaign,inspiration such as this is much needed ;)
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Many thanks for your comments, guys! Much appreciated! :)
Lt. Hazel beat me to it, so finally I've managed to take pictures of the second unit for our ongoing "Roman SAGA" project (possibly soon to be upgraded to Dux Britanniarum as our rules of choice). Find one of the photos attached, a (very) few others on my blog (http://lead-mountain.blogspot.de/2012/08/a-roman-saga-ii.html).
Once again, the models are by A&A Miniatures and appear in a quite typical 3rd century AD mixture of styles: While wielding the almost classical rectangular shields (LBM decals), some are clad in fancy scale hoods and "makeshift" organic armour. That's what I like about this period!
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y178/Poliorketes/Tabletop/MI%20Romans/IMG_0191.jpg~original)
And regarding a specific question: For playing SAGA I've settled on the Anglo-Saxon battleboard. Worked good enough for my taste (not for Hazel's, of course :D).
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Brilliant stuff... :)
Love them... :-* :-* :-*
DV
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Very nice indeed. :-*
Don't forget to post an AAR. ;)
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Damn, that looks good, Doc...I'm really impressed :-*
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More great looking figures.
Look forward to reading an AAR.
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They look great! I am surprised I missed these postings earlier. They all look great and cant wait to see more.
How well do the A&A mins compare to Gripping beast and Musketeer mins? And also how prevalent was the Scale mail hoods?
This is the first time i have ever seen or ever heard of them.
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And also how prevalent was the Scale mail hoods?
This is the first time i have ever seen or ever heard of them.
They got a lot more prevalent once they had been on an Osprey colour plate. :)
There's one depicted on a bit of broken sculpture somewhere. That's about as much of an answer as you can expect from Roman stuff.
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Thanks, gents. :)
How well do the A&A mins compare to Gripping beast and Musketeer mins? And also how prevalent was the Scale mail hoods?
This is the first time i have ever seen or ever heard of them.
@Matching up: Unfortunately I have none of these others at hand. However, the 3rd century figures are quite specific and wouldn't sit that well alongside earlier/later Romans.
@Scale hoods: As Plynkes pointed out, actual evidence is pretty scarce. But then again, that goes for most things related to Roman military equipment – whatever conventional historians and archaeologists and reenactors in particular try to tell you. Hence I like this debatable piece a lot, for it is a reminder of how little we actually know for sure. Yes, scale hoods were used by Roman soldiers; but also: yes, there are as few examples found as of any other piece of armour from this period. So, what's the equation? ;)
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I am going with, you go with what you are issued and can buy. Or what the centurion doesn't steal, and will let you keep. lol
I just wonder how much protection the scale hood would provide...Ether way its better then no protection at all I guess.
As for Matching up, I was meaning how well do they Size up to each other. But the other info helps a lot also. ::)
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As for Matching up, I was meaning how well do they Size up to each other. But the other info helps a lot also. ::)
I got that, but…
Unfortunately I have none of these others at hand.
;)
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If I may, look at the article at the top of the page
Ancient Scale Comparison (18.02.12 - Imperial Romans Segmentata)
It shows the makes you mentioned.
Cheers
Keith
Aventine
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Got it, I was just double checking. ::)
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Impressive!! :-* :-*
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And another one. This time some fervent cultists, obviously. I couldn't trace an original piece which the flamboyant shield design is based on (any advice is welcome), but it was just too impressive to leave it out.
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y178/Poliorketes/Tabletop/MI%20Romans/IMG_0206.jpg~original)
Some background babble and a back view on my blog (http://lead-mountain.blogspot.de/2012/08/a-roman-saga-iii_10.html). Thanks for watching! :)
PS: A&A models and LBM decals, for the record.
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All hail Sol invictus!
they look great, what do you use for basis?
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:-* :-* :-*
Lovely figures...great detailing...they look battle-hardened. Thanks for sharing.
Regards,
Hitman
8)
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Excellent work! :-* :-*
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Hey since they are blue and lots of the navy supposedly sported blue kit, say there part of the Rhine river patrol.
(And now i just read your Blog, and see why you dont want to use them as Riverines) -_-
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Thanks a lot, guys! :)
what do you use for basis?
Renedra plastic bases with some wood filler, sand from the Baltic Sea and Mininatur tufts of various colours and sizes.
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And here we go with the next installment. The following formation completes the first four SAGA points, apart from the leader, of course…
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y178/Poliorketes/Tabletop/MI%20Romans/IMG_0211.jpg~original)
These four riders are the substitute for the initially planned 12-men unit of levy. Silly me, regarding my well-known "love" for painting horses. In the end, they were not that hard to do, and I assume that's down to the lovely sculpts. In game terms the horsemen represent an elite unit, the warlord's bodyguard. I tried to emphasise this by giving them some fancy shields and individually coloured equipment. Other thoughts on that and additional views can be found at my blog (http://lead-mountain.blogspot.de/2012/08/roman-saga-iv.html).
Thanks for watching! :)
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They look great! :-*
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Stunning. :D
A&A again?
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:-*
Wow! Your putting together a great looking collection!
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Lurve the Cavalry!!
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Shiny!!!
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Thanks, gents! 8)
A&A again?
Yes again. :)
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Very nice! :-* :-*
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Brilliant!! :o :-*
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Rounding off my 4 pt. starter warband for SAGA, their "warlord" has just entered the building: Felicianus Vindex, centurion of the Fourth Legion, has taken command to lead this rabble to honour and glory (and booty, if you please).
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y178/Poliorketes/Tabletop/MI%20Romans/IMG_0252.jpg~original)
Actually, it's two models, since I wanted a mounted version as well. Lucky me, the same sculptor, who produced this miniature for Aventine recently, had done a fairly similar one on horseback for A&A as well.
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y178/Poliorketes/Tabletop/MI%20Romans/IMG_0261.jpg~original)
Some notes on the model: The dress is purely conjectural, if based on interpretations by the likes of Graham Sumner and Raffaele D'Amato (handle with care!). My main point, though, was to have a leader model that really stands out on the tabletop. Therefore I also did a little freehand on the shield - silly me, for I had to replicate this, of course. ;D
Finally, I made some custom dice for SAGA. Since we use the battleboards as provided, I tried some "Romanised" designs which still resemble the original ones.
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y178/Poliorketes/Tabletop/MI%20Romans/IMG_0268.jpg~original)
More background and photos on the blog (http://lead-mountain.blogspot.de/2012/09/a-roman-saga-v.html). Many thanks for watching! :)
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Amazing! Great work, so those dice, did you paint them or did you have them made?
And what force are you using to represents the Romans for SAGA.
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Very clever with the dice idea.
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Impressive painting jobs on those centurions!! And very well done dice (And cheap!! ;))
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Nice whites - always hard to pull off over such a large area, but they work here.