Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => Medieval Adventures => Topic started by: Chris Abbey on June 05, 2014, 03:04:10 PM
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I've agreed to put on a game of Saga at Wartorn in Scarborough at the end of June so have started collecting a Saracen Army based on the excellent Gripping Beast and Hat plastic boxed sets. So far I have brought and assembled 3 boxes of each for 120 infantry and 36 cavalry. I'm planning to use the same figures for playing Deus Vult and Hail Caesar as I've based the figures individually and will be using different sized and shaped movement trays for the different games.
(http://wargamesbuildings.co.uk/WebRoot/Namesco/Shops/950003459/MediaGallery/Categories/hobby/collecting_arabs/saga_cross_and_crescent_saracen_arab_army_1.jpg)
I've started a hobby article documenting this endeavor, which I will update as I get units completed.
(http://wargamesbuildings.co.uk/WebRoot/Namesco/Shops/950003459/MediaGallery/Categories/hobby/collecting_arabs/saga_cross_and_crescent_saracen_arab_army_2.jpg)
This is the link to the hobby page : http://wargamesbuildings.co.uk/Hobby-Pages/Saga-Crescent-and-Cross-Hobby-Page/Collecting-Crescent-and-the-Cross-Saracen-Army (http://wargamesbuildings.co.uk/Hobby-Pages/Saga-Crescent-and-Cross-Hobby-Page/Collecting-Crescent-and-the-Cross-Saracen-Army)
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Wow that is a lot of figures. Looking forward to following this thread.
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It is a lot of figures, so many thanks to Army Painter and their colored primers and Quicktone! I have also added an article on the rapid painting technique I am using to my hobby pages. This can be found at http://wargamesbuildings.co.uk/Hobby-Pages/Saga-Crescent-and-Cross-Hobby-Page (http://wargamesbuildings.co.uk/Hobby-Pages/Saga-Crescent-and-Cross-Hobby-Page)
Here's an example of a batch of 12 figures painted in an hour and a half using this method.
(http://wargamesbuildings.co.uk/WebRoot/Namesco/Shops/950003459/MediaGallery/Categories/hobby/painting_arabs/painting_gripping_beast_plastic_arabs_10.jpg)
They are not going to win any painting competitions, but when I've painted all 120 this way, I think they will look OK.
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Great start. Keep those pictures coming :D
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I think they look absolutely fine for tabletop standard. Keep up the good work. I am looking forward to seeing how this progresses.
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Cracking start, by just putting them together!
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(http://wargamesbuildings.co.uk/WebRoot/Namesco/Shops/950003459/MediaGallery/Categories/hobby/collecting_arabs/saga_cross_and_crescent_saracen_arab_army_arab_levy_slings.jpg)
This is the latest unit in my Arab army. These are sling armed levy. (slings are simple conversion using slings from Gripping Beast Dark Age Warriors box).
Full details at : http://wargamesbuildings.co.uk/Hobby-Pages/Saga-Crescent-and-Cross-Hobby-Page/Collecting-Crescent-and-the-Cross-Saracen-Army (http://wargamesbuildings.co.uk/Hobby-Pages/Saga-Crescent-and-Cross-Hobby-Page/Collecting-Crescent-and-the-Cross-Saracen-Army)
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Nice looking unit - and a lots more on the blog. The army looks like it will be very impressive when finished.
Do you find the Hat figure work OK next to the more typically wargames figures?
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Hi Fred,
Those Hat figures are an absolute Godsend! You can pick a box of 12 cavalry up on Ebay for £6 including postage for 12 figures. When I brought my first box and painted the 8 Horse Archers you see in first photo, I thought they are OK as a stop gap but don't quite fit because their heads are so small. However their bodies and the horses are the same as Fireforge / Gripping Beast / Perry Miniatures etc. For subsequent units I clipped the existing head in half, filed it into a neck and glued a Gripping Beast plastic Arab head on and now they match in perfectly at a cost of 50p per cavalry figure instead of £3 for a metal one.
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(http://wargamesbuildings.co.uk/WebRoot/Namesco/Shops/950003459/MediaGallery/Categories/hobby/Basing_miniatures/saga_wargames_movement_trays.jpg)
Today's new unit is a unit of Saracen levy armed with Javelins, shown on a set of the Irregular shaped steel vinyl lined movement trays that I use for Saga. As the figures are based on magnetic bases they can easily be swapped back into the rectangular bases that I use for Deus Vult and Hail Caesar.
Their are a lot more photographs on my Collecting Saracens Blog : http://wargamesbuildings.co.uk/Hobby-Pages/Saga-Crescent-and-Cross-Hobby-Page/Collecting-Crescent-and-the-Cross-Saracen-Army (http://wargamesbuildings.co.uk/Hobby-Pages/Saga-Crescent-and-Cross-Hobby-Page/Collecting-Crescent-and-the-Cross-Saracen-Army)
I have also added a detailed step by step basing guide to my hobby site : http://wargamesbuildings.co.uk/Hobby-Pages/Saga-Crescent-and-Cross-Hobby-Page/Basing-Saga-Warbands (http://wargamesbuildings.co.uk/Hobby-Pages/Saga-Crescent-and-Cross-Hobby-Page/Basing-Saga-Warbands)
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(http://wargamesbuildings.co.uk/WebRoot/Namesco/Shops/950003459/MediaGallery/Categories/hobby/collecting_arabs/saga_cross_and_crescent_saracen_arab_army_warriors_spear.jpg)
Today's new unit consists of 24 Spear Armed Warriors which I will use as either a 4 stand unit for Deus Vult or Hail Caesar or to provide 3 points worth of Saracen Warriors for Saga Crescent and the Cross.
Further details at : http://wargamesbuildings.co.uk/Hobby-Pages/Saga-Crescent-and-Cross-Hobby-Page/Collecting-Crescent-and-the-Cross-Saracen-Army (http://wargamesbuildings.co.uk/Hobby-Pages/Saga-Crescent-and-Cross-Hobby-Page/Collecting-Crescent-and-the-Cross-Saracen-Army)
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(http://wargamesbuildings.co.uk/WebRoot/Namesco/Shops/950003459/MediaGallery/Categories/hobby/collecting_arabs/saga_cross_and_crescent_saracen_arab_army_horse_archers_2.jpg)
This week I have painted and based my first unit of mounted warriors for my Saga Crescent and the Cross Saracen Warband. These are plastic Hat miniatures.
I had to do a few conversions to get a unit of 8 archers from the boxed set... Full details on my blog http://wargamesbuildings.co.uk/Hobby-Pages/Saga-Crescent-and-Cross-Hobby-Page/Collecting-Crescent-and-the-Cross-Saracen-Army (http://wargamesbuildings.co.uk/Hobby-Pages/Saga-Crescent-and-Cross-Hobby-Page/Collecting-Crescent-and-the-Cross-Saracen-Army)
(http://wargamesbuildings.co.uk/WebRoot/Namesco/Shops/950003459/MediaGallery/Categories/hobby/collecting_arabs/saga_cross_and_crescent_saracen_arab_army_warchest.jpg)
Up until now, as this is my current main project, my army has been living on a large tray on the dining room table. I have now got to the point that their are more miniatures in the army than their is room on the tray so I have had to make a more permanent home for my Saracens. I have constructed a couple of Sally 4th Warchests with clear Perspex fronts and lids and movement tray inserts to store, transport and display the army safely. Ann was very pleased that they are no longer on the tray on the dining room table.
Full details on Warchest here : http://wargamesbuildings.co.uk/Figure-Storage-Chests (http://wargamesbuildings.co.uk/Figure-Storage-Chests)
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Great series with a lot of helpful information. Good luck with your Big Event!
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Looking good, keep em coming. :D
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(http://wargamesbuildings.co.uk/WebRoot/Namesco/Shops/950003459/MediaGallery/Categories/hobby/collecting_arabs/saga_cross_and_crescent_saracen_arab_army_warriors_black_spear.jpg)
This weeks addition to my Saracen Army is a black robed unit of Saracen Warriors.
This gives me an additional 3 points worth of troops for Saga, or a solid four stand infantry unit for Deus Vult or Hail Caesar. This weekend we will be taking our Outremer Terrain and Saracens and Crusaders to Wartorn in Scarborough for a weekends gaming. If any one is at the show, do drop by for a chat and a game and hopefully next week I will have a stack of photos of the army in action to upload.
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(http://wargamesbuildings.co.uk/WebRoot/Namesco/Shops/950003459/MediaGallery/Categories/hobby/collecting_arabs/saga_cross_and_crescent_saracen_arab_army_warlord.jpg)
The guys are off for their first outing tomorrow, Sunny Scarborough by the sea. They can't make a trip of this duration without a noble Warlord to lead them. I'm mainly planning to field my Saracen army in Saga led by a mounted warlord, but there are some cases such as fighting a siege when I will field by Hearth guard on foot to fight on the walls and in amongst the rubble. On these occasions I will be using a Warlord on foot as well. The mounted Warlord is from the Perry Miniatures Crusades range. The warlord on foot is a Gripping Beast plastic Arab with the addition of a Knights Templar cloak from a Fire Forge plastic box set.
If any of you are at Wartorn at the weekend, do pop by!
Further details at :
http://wargamesbuildings.co.uk/Hobby-Pages/Saga-Crescent-and-Cross-Hobby-Page/Collecting-Crescent-and-the-Cross-Saracen-Army (http://wargamesbuildings.co.uk/Hobby-Pages/Saga-Crescent-and-Cross-Hobby-Page/Collecting-Crescent-and-the-Cross-Saracen-Army)
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Ohh.... Nice!
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(http://wargamesbuildings.co.uk/WebRoot/Namesco/Shops/950003459/MediaGallery/Categories/hobby/Wartorn/saga_crescent_and_cross_game_wartorn_8.jpg)
My Saracen Army had it's first outing last weekend to Wartorn Convention in Scarborough. We put on a Saga Crescent and the Cross game using the new Saracen and Crusader battle boards. Mission played was Escort with the Saracens as the attackers. Most games were won by the Saracens.. having to use 3 of your precious Saga dice to move the baggage is a big drain on resources, although the Crusaders new ability 'Taking the Cross' which increases distance moved is useful in this scenario.
Additional photos at : http://wargamesbuildings.co.uk/Hobby-Pages/Saga-Crescent-and-Cross-Hobby-Page/Collecting-Crescent-and-the-Cross-Saracen-Army
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(http://wargamesbuildings.co.uk/WebRoot/Namesco/Shops/950003459/53B6/8FB9/8FDE/71CD/B5A4/C0A8/190C/A77E/28mm_middle_east_arab_building_G1_m.jpg)
(http://wargamesbuildings.co.uk/WebRoot/Namesco/Shops/950003459/53B6/8FB9/8FDE/71CD/B5A4/C0A8/190C/A77E/28mm_middle_east_arab_building_G2_m.jpg)
Some of my Saga Saracens deployed among my new 28mm Middle East buildings that I have just completed today.
Further details at : http://wargamesbuildings.co.uk/28mm-Outremer-Crusades-Range (http://wargamesbuildings.co.uk/28mm-Outremer-Crusades-Range)
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(http://wargamesbuildings.co.uk/WebRoot/Namesco/Shops/950003459/MediaGallery/Categories/hobby/collecting_arabs/arab_archers_28mm_middle_eastern_building.jpg)
This weeks new unit to be finished off is a 36 figure unit of Arab bowmen that I will be able to use to field 3 points worth of bow armed levy in Saga or two, three stand units of archers, or one, six stand unit in Deus Vult.
Their are a couple of additional photos on my hobby article at http://wargamesbuildings.co.uk/Hobby-Pages/Saga-Crescent-and-Cross-Hobby-Page/Collecting-Crescent-and-the-Cross-Saracen-Army (http://wargamesbuildings.co.uk/Hobby-Pages/Saga-Crescent-and-Cross-Hobby-Page/Collecting-Crescent-and-the-Cross-Saracen-Army)
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Splendid project! 8)
Just out of curiosity: I cannot find the Crescent and the Cross in GB's webstore - will it be available soon (or is it already, and my web fu failing me)?
I love the SAGA rules, and would like to get my hands on this version, too! :)
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I don't think Crescent and Cross is quite out yet, I think I saw mentions of August, but could be confused with something else. I know that some adds were run a bit earlier.
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I don't think Crescent and Cross is quite out yet, I think I saw mentions of August, but could be confused with something else. I know that some adds were run a bit earlier.
On their site they mentioned that there were some production issues after the ads were submitted so it isn't out yet and will be later than the date mentioned which was, IIRC, August
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The original release date was April for Salute, but they had problems with the printer. Release must be quite soon as they have sent out review copies to various people. I have the Saracen, Crusader and Military Order battle boards that we used for participation games at Wartorn and they do have some very interesting new choices, for example Piety, the longer you spend praying (and sacrificing saga dice) the more powerful activations you have available later on.
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Cool, thanks for info! :)
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I am very excited to hear that Crescent and the Cross was available for sale at Claymore yesterday. It has spurred me on to get another unit finished and photographed.
(http://wargamesbuildings.co.uk/WebRoot/Namesco/Shops/950003459/MediaGallery/Categories/hobby/collecting_arabs/saga_crescent_and_the_cross_arab_hearthguard_5.jpg)
This is a unit of Dismounted Hearthguard. The figures are all conversions using parts from Gripping Beast Arabs and Fireforge Knights Templar, to give armored Saracen infantry. I don't know if they will be officially allowable in the new rules, but my thoughts are that attacking or defending a breached wall would be done on foot!
(http://wargamesbuildings.co.uk/WebRoot/Namesco/Shops/950003459/MediaGallery/Categories/hobby/collecting_arabs/saga_crescent_and_the_cross_arab_hearthguard_7.jpg)
Their are additional photographs on my hobby site.
http://wargamesbuildings.co.uk/Hobby-Pages/Saga-Crescent-and-Cross-Hobby-Page/Collecting-Crescent-and-the-Cross-Saracen-Army
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Stunning output and well painted figures Chris. :o
Must crack on with my Saracens! :'(
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Ohh great idea for a conversion.
I might just nick that idea in the future some day, thanks for the inspiration.
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Glad you liked them.
I placed my order for Crescent and the Cross last Friday lunchtime, as soon as Gripping Beast made it available for ordering so I am hoping it will arrive during the week so I can play one of the new scenarios with my son and write an AAR at the weekend.
We have seen a big increase in demand for our Middle East buildings and walls this week, so I reckon a lot of people are getting ready for some Crusader action!
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Hi Chris,
I didn't know you had an interest in the Crusades. Nice work.
James Roach
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Hi James,
Good to hear from you. Thank you very much. Crusades are my new period for 2014, I like to have a new project each year and spend about half the gaming time playing in the new period, and half the time playing in the periods that I have collected over the decades. It does not always work as their are always minor projects that deviate me off that path. My new approach to periods is to start at skirmish level and build up to unit based games over the year, so for Crusades we have started with Saga and when I have enough figures will be able to use them for Piquet, Deus Vult and Hail Caesar depending who I'm playing (Lewis likes Piquet, Nick thinks it unfair if the Impetus Clock goes against him!). I'm basing all figures individually on magnetic bases and then making steel vinyl lined movement trays to suit different rule systems.
Saw your post about your Crusades game. That looks awesome, look forward to seeing it at Fiasco, which will be first show Sally 4th has a trade stand at.
Cheers,
Chris
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Sounds like a sound approach. Starting out by planning a full battle-scale army often spells doom for a project (at least for me), whereas painting smaller warbands one at a time - making it possible to switch between projects and still getting something on the table - makes painting much more manageable.
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Excellent. I'll see you at Fiasco then. We can talk about Piquet using dominoes. We've found it works very well indeed.
James
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Hi James,
I'm intrigued. Look forward to seeing you and hearing about it at Fiasco. I had been thinking of making either a set of cards or chits numbered 1 - 20 to draw from which I thought might reduce swings in impetus.
Chris