Lost Egg's Age of Bronze - Wargaming in Early Bronze Age Britain

[Lost Egg]

Hi all,

For many years I've been playing around with a game idea based on the Invasion Cycle of Ireland. After reading Barry Cunliffe's theory on the new origin of the Celts I relocated my idea to the Bronze Age.

Now, there are very few minis for the Bronze Age with none for the early days of this period, all the ones I've seen are more mid to late BA. My plan is to have a bash at sculpting my own but in the mean time I'm going to use some of Gripping Beasts Dark Age Warriors which cover most of the weapon options I need, even if the swords are too long.

Anyway, as for the game itself I've written a 56 page rulebook that introduces the Tin Isles (as Britain was once known), full rules for playing the game, 4 Clan Cultures to choose from and a Warband List (each clan uses the same basic list). There are also a number of scenarios and the first Tale (a mini campaign). It's pretty raw with no pics except a map of the isles.

So, the basic plan now is to build a couple of warbands to playtest with, play a few games and make sure everything works. I also need to do a few sketches to firm up my ideas for the look of the minis before I attempt to sculpt anything.

Here's the intro just to wet your appetites...

Welcome traveller, through the mists you have come, to this time of warriors… a time of champions. Forget armies whose numbers stretch across the horizon and the glittering of steel, for this is a far simpler time.

In this world mighty champions perform skilled feats and lead their followers in an endless cycle of raids, ever eager to further their prestige.

Welcome to the dawn of war, where a warrior lives and dies by their skill alone. In this world there is no safety in numbers and a warrior may only turn to leathered skins for their protection.

Humanity has yet to ride the horse to war and in the corners of the world there are foul creatures baying for blood. This is an age of tribes and clans, an ancient age of heroes and legends…an Age of Bronze.

[Sir Barnaby Hammond-Rye]

Looks good!

What about Foundry's North European Bronze Age figures?

[NickNascati]

Sounds like an interesting project.  The early Bronze Age has long been an interest of mine, more study than gaming though.  I'll second the suggestion for the Foundry range.  It is a bit limited, but a few head swaps can increase variety.

[zippyfusenet]

I'm interested, Egg. Which of Cunliffe's books have you been reading? The Ancient Celts, or something more recent?

I've been on a European Neolithic reading kick recently, plowing my way a second time through Gimbutas' Civilization of the Goddess, comprehending her better on this pass, and cross-referencing her with whatever else I can find that contradicts her doctrinaire pacifism (metal weapons and fortified settlements found in the Aegean, Oetzi the Iceman was killed in a skirmish, etc.). Like Nick, I probably won't model or wargame neolithic Old Europe. I model and wargame neolithic warfare for North America, so Old Europe is more than I can handle.

I agree that the Foundry European Bronze Age range should work well for Halstatt Celts, even as far west as the British Isles. The only thing I think that range lacks is poor levy troops, the guys at the Tollense battle who were swinging wooden warclubs and shooting flint-tipped arrows. There's a pack of skirmishers in the Foundry range, but they're pretty well equipped, like trained warriors, not some clod-hoppers drafted to back up their noble lord by shouting and throwing rocks. If you were to produce some figures like that with various hair and beard styles, they'd have application from the neolithic on up through the Dark Ages.

There's something funny about the shape of those islands.

[LeadAsbestos]

Lucid Eye Cro Magnons would probably work. They are in skins, very primitive weapons, and no cavemanish features. Give them a look!

[rumacara]

Interesting idea.
Do take a look at the Black Tree Designs ancient germans.
I´m using them to Bronze Age northern Europe.

[NickNascati]

I'll second Rui's suggestion, I just took a look at them. Just lose the shields and they are perfect.  Also, the old Vendel Germans had a similar "prehistoric" look to them.

[Sir Barnaby Hammond-Rye]

Foundry's Ancient Germans are by Mark Copplestone and are pretty darn nice as well.

[rumacara]

Indeed Sir Barnaby and they mix well with Black Tree so plenty of options.

[Lost Egg]

Thanks all for your interest and suggestions.  

I've got a few of Foundry's European BA minis but they are really more late BA. The swords in particular are the leaf shape type rather than the rapiers of the early BA. The other suggestions so far don't quite match what I have in mind. I went with the Dark Age plastics as the kit has a lot of versatility even though its not historically accurate. My intention for now is to use them for playtesting then sculpt my own minis down the line.

@zippyfusenet - I've read a few of his books but Britain Begins stands out for me. I've also got a copy of On the Ocean but I haven't read that one yet. Anthony Harding has done some very good books on the BA, particularly Weapons & Warriors in Bronze Age Europe.

I'm not going for Halstatt Celts but much earlier, around 2000-1500BCE. Barry Cunliffe's theory suggests that the Celtic language emerged along the atlantic facade as a lingua-franca, a trade language during the BA. There are some very interesting lectures by him on Youtube if your interested.

I think the transition from the Neolithic to the Bronze Age  is fascinating; we went from communal living to complex societies with countless specialised roles, from tribal skirmishes up to full-scale battles. The early BA especially saw dramatic changes and a way of life evolved that would last almost to the modern age. Interestingly many of our fairy tales are believed to date back to this time, for example Jack and the Beanstalk originates from an archetypal myth of the Boy Who Stole the Ogres Treasure.

The maps do look a bit odd but they are based on the first known map of Britain.

[MachinaMandala]

Posting to watch, as it's been a bit of an interest of mine. (Really want to find an RPG group who'd like to play a Bronze / Iron age game but that's unlikely to happen. )

I've been on a European Neolithic reading kick recently, plowing my way a second time through Gimbutas' Civilization of the Goddess, comprehending her better on this pass, and cross-referencing her with whatever else I can find that contradicts her doctrinaire pacifism (metal weapons and fortified settlements found in the Aegean, Oetzi the Iceman was killed in a skirmish, etc.).

It's probably one of the most horseshit theories in the historical domain but because it's socially (and culturally) expedient, it's upheld due to "some evidence" (ignoring the piles of evidence that contradict it). Most of the people I know who believe it also believe that animal / human sacrifice on the part of "pagan" religions was a Roman invention to discredit those religions (despite the Romans practising animal sacrifice just as much!).

[NickNascati]

Lost Egg,
               You've really spkred my interest,  I'll be following your project closely.

[NickNascati]

Also, have you looked at Cutting Edge minis?  http://cuttingedgeminiatures.com/
Aimed more at the Middle East, but they do have Early Bronze Age figures, and modifying them may be easie than sculpting from scratch.

[zippyfusenet]

It's probably one of the most horseshit theories in the historical domain ...

Can we disagree without being disagreeable? I already waxed skeptical of Dr. Gimbutas' peaceable Old Europe, there's no need to disabuse me. I will say that Civilization of the Goddess is the most comprehensive, thorough and current survey of the European neolithic, prior to the Indo-European migrations, that I've read. Although I'm an amateur non-academic, I was able to recognize and work around Dr. Gimbutas' several hobby horses. The first time I read COTG I wasn't able to retain much from the torrent of unfamiliar names and places that washed over me, but now that I come back to it after several years, I get the picture, and it gives me a context for reading about the Iceman, the Neolithic/Bronze Age transition in the Aegean, the appearance of Bell Beaker traits in western Europe and other specialized topics.

...based on the first known map of Britain.

Ooooh. Looks kinda Hyborian. Nice.

Egg, I recently read Dr. Cunliffe's Europe Between The Oceans. It's a great read, full of creative thinking. Of course Dr. Cunliffe has his own hobby horses, as do we all. Well, I do. I'll look for his lectures on Youtube, thanks for that tip.

[Ragnar]

Ok, watching this thread with interest.  I am liking the premise so far.