Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => VSF Adventures => Topic started by: gloriousbattle on May 30, 2010, 12:00:13 AM
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What are they doing in the lands of the Prophet during your VSF campaigns?
In mine, the Turks are rather villainous, trying to use a combination of steam and sorcery to conquer the world, while the Arabs are more noble Moslems with a mission -somewhat like the Bedouin order in The Mummy- they are trying to keep the world from being destroyed by supernatural horror locked in desert tombs.
While lacking in steam tech, my Arabs have a certain amount of magic available, which can make them deadly opponents.
Curious how others have dealt with the Sons of the Desert in a VSF context.
PS Please note that, for me, VSF includes a lot of fantasy as well as SF, as this seems to have been popular among Victorians, and the distinctions were far less clear in those days.
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Someone did a conversion of the GW Empire Steam Tank for their VSF Turkish Army, very nice it was too. Unfortunately my powers of Google are failing me tonight.
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The VSF army I'm building is based around the Arab nation, most noticeably Afghanistan, but encompassing the Bedouin culture as well.
The Army is led by El Laurence, a former British soldier turned traitor, trying to force the colonial services out of the Holy Land. He is aided by the wheelchair-bound American Muslim scientist and engineer, Professor Malcolm X who provides new Western technology for the Jihad.
El Laurence has also awoken the Immortal Prince Dastan from his slumber to defend his ancestral lands, Dastan wields the mythical Dagger of Time and is accompanied by a mysterious Vizier that can summon forth a host of ghostly ancient Persian warriors.
The army acts as an antagonist in our games, often supported by other downtrodden natives such a Zulus and Martians as El Laurence tries to galvanise these forces against the accursed British.
The terrosists will never win so long as I can make fun of them. lol
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Steampowered flying carpetmen? Camelmounted missile contraptions?
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Steampowered flying carpetmen?
Now that is one VSF model I'd love to see lol
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Steam Elephants maybe. Some ancient technology in a secret location in the dessert to reach other worlds.
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not that far fetched if one considers that the araby invented kerosine in the middle ages as well as tarred roads and street lamps....
I pal made an ottoman steamtank based on some heroclix model, complet with prayer carpet tyed to the turret :)
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Oh dear, I'll have to get the photos of my Turkish VSF force up. I'm just in the last stages of getting it painted. So far it consists of:
Outpost Russo-Turkish Infantry and Command group
Ironclad Martians
Janissary bots (converted Mage Knight figs)
An armored steam car (Dark Eldar sled/steam engine hack)
Flying monkeys (as soon as I get them mounted)
I'm still working on the GW Empire steam tank (which should fit in nicely with little work).
Zeb
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please do
we want to see
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The VSF army I'm building is based around the Arab nation, most noticeably Afghanistan, but encompassing the Bedouin culture as well ... a mysterious Vizier that can summon forth a host of ghostly ancient Persian warriors.
:o
That army is going to be fighting against itself and no mistake! An Afghan being called an Arab is bad enough, but to call a Persian an Arab is truly a heinous insult. You might as well have the Brits and the Russians in the same unit! ;D
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I think Germans and Austrians would be a more appropriate comparison :D ;) ;)
well, I guess many Muslims don't make a very fine distinction either.
remember the many european flags with a cross that were burned after the thing with the cartoons :)
Oh, and btw - generally speaking, many near eastern armies used to field foreign fellow muslim mercenaries in the past and also today, so I don't think this would be a problem, especially in wargaming VSF terms
with Austrians and Germans on the other hand... ;) ;) ;) ;)
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First off, neat ideas all! Bravo gentlemen!
Janissary bots (converted Mage Knight figs)
Which mageknight figs did you use? Even if you don't get the photos up right away, I'd love to know.
Thanks!
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I have been working on an Ottoman army for VSF for a while now. I'll be trying to add a Lovecraftian aspect to the backstory. I've posted pictures of my elephant before. Here are some pictures of a couple of finished units and a work in progress vehicle.
(http://rotanddrivel.com/ottomans.jpg)
A unit of Ottoman Regulars
(http://rotanddrivel.com/smokeknights.jpg)
A small band of Smoke Knights. Followers of the Vizier of Night, a mystical said to be the power behind the Imperial Sultan.
(http://rotanddrivel.com/flyiningcarpet.jpg)
A carpet stretched over a frame of liftwood and propelled by a small Stirling engine.
(http://rotanddrivel.com/VSF/elephantwcrew.jpg)
The clockwork elephant with some of its crew aboard.
I'm caught up in a Pulp/Second American Civil War project currently and the Ottomans have been sidelined for a bit. I'm also planning on a contingent of Bashi Bazouk and some Romanin client state troops.
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First off, neat ideas all! Bravo gentlemen!
Which mageknight figs did you use? Even if you don't get the photos up right away, I'd love to know.
Thanks!
Whirling Golems. Trimmed off half of the double blade and rigged a janissary-style hat with a bit of plastic straw, some paper and plasticard.
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Amazing elephant!
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Before I started the army I wrote myself a kind of "Mission Statement", basically saying that the Army would work as an antagonist force for GASLIGHT games and seeing as Richard Sharpe is traditionally unable to tell the difference between the the enemies of the Empire he has to fight, doing a "Greatest Hits" of the Middle East would be perfectly fine.
The army consists of:
El Laurence (Ironclad John Carter)
Prince Dastan (Helldorado Lancer)
Professor Malcolm X (Heroclix)
The Vizier (Helldorado Alchemist)
Peasant Militia (Eureka)
Mutawa (Ironclad Martians)
Jinn (Lord of the Rings Hadradi)
Bedouin Soundclash Cannon (Eureka)
Electric Camel Drum (Old GW, I think)
Plans include Gryro-carpets, more infantry, a cavalry unit, Automaton Suicide Bombers, a couple of steam-walkers and maybe a flying Dhow. Although that elephant is giving me some ideas... lol
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I have been working on an Ottoman army for VSF for a while now. I'll be trying to add a Lovecraftian aspect to the backstory. I've posted pictures of my elephant before. Here are some pictures of a couple of finished units and a work in progress vehicle.
Those are really great! I especially love the elephant!
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Whirling Golems. Trimmed off half of the double blade and rigged a janissary-style hat with a bit of plastic straw, some paper and plasticard.
Sounds neat. Hope to see the finished product soon!
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Before I started the army I wrote myself a kind of "Mission Statement", basically saying that the Army would work as an antagonist force for GASLIGHT games and seeing as Richard Sharpe is traditionally unable to tell the difference between the the enemies of the Empire he has to fight, doing a "Greatest Hits" of the Middle East would be perfectly fine.
The army consists of:
<SNIP>
Also sounds very cool, hope to see photos of these as well. I never guessed so much Ottoman VSF stuff was out there.
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Well, I don't think I can compete with that fine elephant (although I've plans for one if I could find a cheap & hollow plastic one, but I did get the camera fixed. Here are some shots of my Turkish force as it currently stands.
The Regulars -- the flag-bearer in the command unit is still minus his flag:
(http://lh6.ggpht.com/_pDrsgaJCn0M/TAhWa25acdI/AAAAAAAAAEA/6zD1Dx8VsG0/DSCF1919.JPG)
(http://lh3.ggpht.com/_pDrsgaJCn0M/TAhWvr7cSxI/AAAAAAAAAEI/JzvZQtsJbzU/DSCF1922.JPG)
Martian Bashi-Bazouks
(http://lh5.ggpht.com/_pDrsgaJCn0M/TAhWOnxOs8I/AAAAAAAAAD8/yIctcwYgl5E/DSCF1916.JPG)
Martian Electro-Rifles
(http://lh3.ggpht.com/_pDrsgaJCn0M/TAhV2aLFLiI/AAAAAAAAAD4/pAlMWJydcHc/DSCF1915.JPG)
A small contingent of Janissary Bots
(http://lh4.ggpht.com/_pDrsgaJCn0M/TAhURKknjLI/AAAAAAAAADQ/QqTAfDTXDyM/DSCF1908.JPG)
And a Light Steam War Chariot
(http://lh6.ggpht.com/_pDrsgaJCn0M/TAhVZZOExgI/AAAAAAAAADw/rhceO2O5Bxw/DSCF1911.JPG)
The Martian commander is still waiting to be painted, the flying monkeys (recon and couriers) haven't been mounted yet and the Heavy Steam-Propelled Cannon is still in progress.
Next project -- their opponents, the Graustark army and gendarmes with supporting appearances by the Royal Academy of Scientific Improvement.
Zeb
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Well, I don't think I can compete with that fine elephant ...
I'd say you've taken a pretty good stab at it. Bravo!
I especially like the Janissary Bots with their head-dresses. Well done indeed! I'd like to copy that, if you don't mind, though my game is 15mm, so they will be giant Janissary Bots (don't ya love VSF?). How did you do their hats?
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@ Zebcook, from which manufacturer are your Turkish Regulars?
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I have played with an Aeronef background - The Knights of St John against the Ottoman Empire, The Cross and The Crescent. The whole project is on hold at this moment, but I have lots of ideas and models ready to bring it back. Some of the models are featured on my Blog, see;
http://dampfpanzerwagon.blogspot.com/2009/05/aeronef-new-project-part-three.html
Tony
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Zebcook: Very nice. I really like the steam gun.
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The steam chariot is a lovely little model. I assume the front bit comes from a GW 40K Eldar thingy and the back looks like the boiler and smoke stack from "Stephenson's Rocket" loco or similar. Whatever, it fits in beautifully with the Martian/Ottoman theme :)
Looking forward to the flying monkeys! Who in their right mind doesn't love flying monkeys? lol
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I have played with an Aeronef background - The Knights of St John against the Ottoman Empire, The Cross and The Crescent.
Very nice, and the Knights of Malta do make a good addition to any VSF game featuring their traditional enemies. Love those flyers. How big are they, roughly? The only airships I have right now are the dirigible and the balloon from The Golden Compass.
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gloriousbattle -- It turns out a cocktail straw is a perfect fit for the head of Whirling Golem fig. Stick length on top of each, make the headdress from tissue and glue and a bit of plasticard for ornamentation. A really simple conversion. Giant robot Janissaries will be impressive!
Gluteus Maximus -- Yeah, the steam chariot is an Eldar thingie glued to an old Airfix Stephenson's Rocket model. I highly recommend the model for all sorts of interesting kit bashing. They show up on Ebay fairly often.
Calimero -- The regulars are from Outpost. They make a nice line of Russo-Turkish war figs. Each pack comes as mixed head and kit so you get some nice variation out of the same basic pose. Very nice figs -- crisp and with a lot of easy to paint detail. (Thank goodness, because I'm not the best at fine lines!)
And everyone's generous reaction is inspiring me to get back in the basement!
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For Glorious Battle
How big are the Aeronef's?
A; Between 80mm and 120mm long, approx. 1/600th or 1/700th scale.
Tony
http://dampfpanzerwagon.blogspot.com/
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A small contingent of Janissary Bots
(http://lh4.ggpht.com/_pDrsgaJCn0M/TAhURKknjLI/AAAAAAAAADQ/QqTAfDTXDyM/DSCF1908.JPG)
One other thing. I have a helluva time getting Mageknight figs off their bases without either cutting of the feet or breaking the legs. How do you do it?
Again, thanks!
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One other thing. I have a helluva time getting Mageknight figs off their bases without either cutting of the feet or breaking the legs. How do you do it?
Again, thanks!
RE: Separating Clic-ies from bases
Just to poke my nose in, and that's never stopped me, I must say I've seldom had problems with the smaller figures. I tend to start a slice at an angle I imagine lets me 'shave' the feet from the base with a sharp craft knife, and then, :o, I give a little twist and they generally pop off.
Now, I know using the brittle blade of craft knife to pry anything is right out, but I be bad. If suggesting to anyone else, I suppose a two step process of: begin the cut across both 'heels' of a two-legged figure, then switching something less likely to explosively shatter is what would be appropriate.
Doug
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when cutting other figures, even lead (no Mageknight experience yet), I first cut around the intended cutting plane, deepening the cut while I go around. I use little force and after 2-3 turns the joint is weakened and I can pop them off
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The Jannisary robots are brilliant :-*
I think some TAG Jannissaries would work really well in an Ottoman VSF army. Even better with a bit of re-modelling of the weapons.
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I started my Armee of the Grande Turk, but it got sidelined as I got dragged into the Atlentis campaign with my Americans. in the meantime Dr De'Ath produced his Khoshindan army with Arab/Turk type troops of various quality levels and Mageknight 'whirling dervish' automatons.
When I get back to my Turks the core units will be Warrior/England Invaded Turkish Infantry (I love the mix of WW1 French type uniforms with turbaned helmets and armoured facemasks.
My Turks will make use of automata plus armoured vehicles using oil-fired steam engines (I have an Assyrian siege engine to convert into a heavy tank and would love a steam elephant if I can get the right model). An aeronef dhow will also be on the cards. Vehicle mointed weapons will include artillery and flamethrowers (since the Tutks have have plenty of oil to burn).
Other than that, there will be various historical inferior local troop units that I can slot in according to which corner of the Turkish empoire the army is fighting (e.g. fuzzy-wuzzies for Egypt/Sudan and Pathan type tribesmen for further East).
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The Jannisary robots are brilliant :-*
I think some TAG Jannissaries would work really well in an Ottoman VSF army. Even better with a bit of re-modelling of the weapons.
Yes, excellent idea - maybe some sort of new-fangled electric rifles modelled on the traditional look of the old muskets?
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Other than that, there will be various historical inferior local troop units that I can slot in according to which corner of the Turkish empoire the army is fighting (e.g. fuzzy-wuzzies for Egypt/Sudan and Pathan type tribesmen for further East).
Don't forget all the Greek and Balkan troops. There are some lovely colourful costumes you could introduce. Imagine Evzones with VSF weaponry :o 8) lol
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Don't forget all the Greek and Balkan troops. There are some lovely colourful costumes you could introduce. Imagine Evzones with VSF weaponry :o 8) lol
Greeks and Turks in the same army?!? Good god man, VSF has it's limits! ;)
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One other thing. I have a helluva time getting Mageknight figs off their bases without either cutting of the feet or breaking the legs. How do you do it?
Again, thanks!
I got lucky on that and picked up blanks (unpainted, unmounted) at the Cold Wars flea market.
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I have a deal of experience with separating Clix from their original bases, the easiest method is to first refrigerate them for an hour of so (I'm not kidding, it really helps), lean the chilled figure against a cutting board and slide a broad bladed knife under one foot (a Stanley works for me). Once the blade is partially under the foot, twist it and the model should pop right off.
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would love a steam elephant if I can get the right model
Have you seen this one? http://www.stonehouseminiatures.com/figuresvehicles/ (http://www.stonehouseminiatures.com/figuresvehicles/)
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Greeks and Turks in the same army?!? Good god man, VSF has it's limits! ;)
lol
Fair point, but the Greeks did fight a war of independence in the early 19thC. If they hadn't freed themselves, they could very easily have been forced to fight as subjects of the Ottoman army. That's my excuse, anyway ;)
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lol
Fair point, but the Greeks did fight a war of independence in the early 19thC. If they hadn't freed themselves, they could very easily have been forced to fight as subjects of the Ottoman army. That's my excuse, anyway ;)
During the victorian era there was not compulsory military service in the Ottoman army for the christian population. Bulgarians, Greek Armenias etc did not serve in the army. And there was no distinguished army units with their territorial uniform/traditional dress. Few islanders pressed to serve by the navy but this practice was abandoned by the napoleonic era. They had still to pay the taxation for their heads.
With the Neoturk revolution (but that is the edwardian period) proclaimed that all subjects of the Ottoman Empire were equal etc etc and started to draft and non muslims in the army, but still the practice to pay to get off the military service was often. I think the practice to draft christians and mainly greeks and armenians in the army (i.e. they were posted in penal/work units) started around or during the WW1) under the influence of the german advisors.
Historically there is no possibility to have evzone infantry alongwith turkish bashi-bouzouks or similar. Remember that the evzonic army uniform is based on the southern traditional dress which was included in the Independent greek state.
No major war was fought by the Ottoman Empire during VSF and so we cannot see a historic mobilisation of the whole population on favour of the Ottomans.
Based on the historic facts we can have a VSF Greek army (quite colourful I admit with blue clad infantry, green clad cavalry and white/colourful evzones, including Cretan gendarmerie with Italian carabinieri advisors, mounted gendarmerie -in olive green uniform and ancient greek style helmet- Samian gendarmerie in plain evzone blue uniform- and sailors with straw hats. Add white, skyblue, red, crimson, yellow plumes and voila)
Turkey by 1820 started abandoning the feudal system, dissolved the janissaries and started building the "new Army" i.e. a regular army alongwith western lines.
By the peak of the VSF era (around 1860 onwards) the army was regular, has reservists but retained a uniformed irregular branch the "bashi-bouzouks" (similar to ACW zouaves with green piping and turban), a VSF Ottoman Army would include arabs, kyrgyz cavalry, and every exotic asian unit you may imagine.
However VSF is fiction and why not mix and match whatever you like !
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...there was no distinguished army units with their territorial uniform/traditional dress.
IIUC, there were still traditional cavalry units in traditional dress, such as a few Tartars.
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Argilsiverson, thanks very much for that reply. Very interesting and informative. I knew a little bit about the 19thC Ottomans but much more about them in the time of Napoleon's invasion of Egypt, when there was far more irregularity of uniforms etc. They were much more fun in the very early 19thC before they went all "European". My only real contact with them in the later 19thC had been the Russo-Turkish War in 1877-78 and even then I only had a basic knowledge. It's always good to learn stuff :)
You are right though, as it's VSF, historical accuracy need not be too important. An alternative timeline, where the "Napoleonic" era Ottoman state continued, with added conscription of subject peoples could easily be devised - especially if the plan is to use them as the bad guys.
You then get to use VSF Janissaries, Mameluks and all the units you mentioned, which makes for a great army.
Hmmmm, I've got plenty of Zanzibaris for Irregulars, some Egyptian regular infantry and artillery. Even I can manage to paint the Ottoman flag. This might be a very nice project for the future ;)
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Gluteus, then you can use the Perry's bashi-bouzouks , cuirassiers alongwith fezzed lancers (just a change from the compulsory czapkas).
My only reserve some of these units might have weaponry of an earlier era. imagine bow armed janissaries against british infantry!
Speaking of British: Since 1815 till 1862 the Seven Ionian Islands were a british protectorate. During the campaign against the french in Napoleonic era (1810) the british used 2 Greek Light Infantry "regiments" against the French. Their uniform was based in the greek traditional dress. These were disbanded by 1814 and never reformed. The british (as Ottomans) regarded greeks as rebels and never again they had any regular greek unit in their armies. So, in VSF, there is plenty of room to have a British army fielding greek regular units plus Noble cavalry and any other exotic unit you may imagine.
(Noble cavalry: In the seven islands the was a nobility class, since the Venetian time. Members of it usually carried the title of "conte" and were recorded in the "libro d' oro". This was the ruling class in the islands even in the times of the Septinsular Republic -1800-1807. Every island has its own nobility -except Cerigo- which was very small. This system abolished by the republican French, but reintroduced during the British times. So a local militia noble cavalry could be recruited. As it is a fictitious units you may introduce whatever exotic and colourful uniform you like. Plus infantry in local dress. The reserve there is not any suitable figure available, but some Perry carlists, may fill the gap for the european dressed units)
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Hmmmm, I've got plenty of Zanzibaris for Irregulars, some Egyptian regular infantry and artillery. Even I can manage to paint the Ottoman flag. This might be a very nice project for the future ;)
Allah Ackbar! ;)
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no criticism intended, but I am not sure if a Muslim might feel offended by the use of " God is Great" in this wargame context and spelled wrong....
anyway
I always liked Zouaves and would like to know in which context the new Perry plastic Zouaves could be used other than ACW - since You are already in this sector
oh, and - the weapons don't bother me
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I always liked Zouaves and would like to know in which context the new Perry plastic Zouaves could be used other than ACW - since You are already in this sector
oh, and - the weapons don't bother me
I was trying to find forum-uniforminsignia.net but it seems that it doesnot work for me anymore, so, here another link with some interesting images:
http://www.europa-universalis.com/forum/showthread.php?p=11200895
you see the zouave style uniform!
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no criticism intended, but I am not sure if a Muslim might feel offended by the use of " God is Great" in this wargame context and spelled wrong....
Spelled wrong? It's an English transliteration of an Arabic phrase?
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Like the Jewish/Christian "YHWH", Allah has many accepted spellings, depending on what language you're using.
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Like the Jewish/Christian "YHWH", Allah has many accepted spellings, depending on what language you're using.
Like most Arabic/Moslem/Punjabi etc words- there are always variations of spelling something from a language that uses a different written script. Look at the many ways Mohammed can be spelled, for example.
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Like most Arabic/Moslem/Punjabi etc words- there are always variations of spelling something from a language that uses a different written script. Look at the many ways Mohammed can be spelled, for example.
In any case, no offense was intended. It was jovial, but also accepting the well-known ferocious courage of Turk, Arab and Ansar.
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sorry, did not want to be nitpicking
by my understanding there is something like an "official" transliteration
anyway
the intention was to avoid offense, I think the purpose is served, so :-X
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It's all good. ;)