[15mm] After the deluge. Wargaming in the 3rd Millennium (Update 10 Jun)

[WuZhuiQiu]

Very nice work, Divismal!

It is a personal preference, but I think that base edges that are wooden or painted in a similar colour to the top surface look best once on a gaming table.

[DivisMal]

The 6mm Sumerian figures I have are a mainly Rapier Miniatures with some of the recent Baccus figures to add a bit of variation. The ones in the picture are all Rapier.
The various enemies are a mix of Rapier and Baccus.

The Microworld Bronze Age stuff was too expensive to import by the time they were produced. The Great Dingonek had been bought back before shipping across The Pond became so expensive.

As to using 6mm figures, I find smaller figures easier to paint because there's less detail to paint. As my hand/eye coordination and eyesight deteriorate I find myself drawn to smaller and smaller scales! 

 I am neither a professional nor an expert just an enthusiastic and well read amateur.

If I can work out which book had the image of the grafitto I'll scan and post it.

Where are you located then, if I may ask? Maybe we’re neighbors?
I‘d very much appreciate the book or just the reference therin.

What you said about hand/eye coordination (or losing degree therof) is the main reason why I lose interest in larger scales; sure 28mm are nice and these days at the same price (at least in plastic) as my 15s, but I can’t paint them as well as they deserve (or take too much time for that).

I hadn’t Rapier on my mind, but hese look pretty cool to me! If in 10 years I say about 15mm what I now say about 28mm, I will head to their shop.

[DivisMal]

Very nice work, Divismal!

It is a personal preference, but I think that base edges that are wooden or painted in a similar colour to the top surface look best once on a gaming table.

Thanks. Normally I paint them black, but this time I haven’t decided yet on the base color. Just sand looks okay, but I do want to add a contrast paint and a highlight. Maybe then I’ll paint the edges in the same color as the highlight. I need to think amd experiment a little.

[ithoriel]

Where are you located then, if I may ask? Maybe we’re neighbors?
I‘d very much appreciate the book or just the reference therin.

What you said about hand/eye coordination (or losing degree therof) is the main reason why I lose interest in larger scales; sure 28mm are nice and these days at the same price (at least in plastic) as my 15s, but I can’t paint them as well as they deserve (or take too much time for that).

I hadn’t Rapier on my mind, but hese look pretty cool to me! If in 10 years I say about 15mm what I now say about 28mm, I will head to their shop.

I'm in the UK, specifically Edinburgh.
As for the reference, I've thinned my book collection recently so no promises but I'll check those I still have. I had high hopes of "Daily Life In Ancient Mesopotamia" by  Karen RheaNemet-Nejat but have checked and it's not in that. Couple of dozen more to go .... if I can find them in this shambles!

[DivisMal]

I'm in the UK, specifically Edinburgh.
As for the reference, I've thinned my book collection recently so no promises but I'll check those I still have. I had high hopes of "Daily Life In Ancient Mesopotamia" by  Karen RheaNemet-Nejat but have checked and it's not in that. Couple of dozen more to go .... if I can find them in this shambles!

Don’t worry. If you find it, I’ll be very happy to know, otherwise I’ll send in the Army of Chasekhemui anyway (just because it’s too much fun to think about it).

And sadly we’re not neighbors…I live between Bremen and Hannover.

[SJWi]

If you like Sumerian warfare has anyone checked out the ruleset "To Ur is Human; Tabletop Wargame Rules for Conflict in Sumerian Mesopotamia" published by "Wargaming for Grown Ups Publications".  I bought a hard copy but think they may also be available from Wargames Vault. Can't recall why I bought them as I don't have any relevant armies. Maybe alcohol was involved.

Having found them in my stash of unused rules and with the Midgard rules almost on the Horizon I could be tempted by some 6mm armies.

[Basementboy]

I’ve been considering using To The Strongest to play the period, it’s a really adaptable rules system, and I adore the ancient history of the region. Besides, I’ve been looking for an excuse to paint up some of the Bacchus range anyway

[DivisMal]

If you like Sumerian warfare has anyone checked out the ruleset "To Ur is Human; Tabletop Wargame Rules for Conflict in Sumerian Mesopotamia" published by "Wargaming for Grown Ups Publications".  I bought a hard copy but think they may also be available from Wargames Vault. Can't recall why I bought them as I don't have any relevant armies. Maybe alcohol was involved.

Having found them in my stash of unused rules and with the Midgard rules almost on the Horizon I could be tempted by some 6mm armies.

You will laugh. After deciding to order models, I went through my (pretty extensive [and expensive]) stock of rulesets and found that I had bought To Ur is Humans some time ago. I also suspect alcohol was involved. Or it was Tyler Durden.
The rules read pretty decent. The only thing that seems to be unnecessary complicated is the Fear test.

[DivisMal]

I’ve been considering using To The Strongest to play the period, it’s a really adaptable rules system, and I adore the ancient history of the region. Besides, I’ve been looking for an excuse to paint up some of the Bacchus range anyway

I haven’t that one yet, but Chariots Rampant and Warhammer will be my starting point, maybe also a little D2H3 once I get my Chumbaba.

[Gibby]

You can still get Chariot Wars for WAB for a good price on eBay. I know - I've bought it twice (after selling it) 

[DivisMal]

I managed to do less than I had hoped for, but the path to the dominance of both Sumer and Akkad is apparently one of many little steps.

My major work was on two more bases of spearmen making it now four that I have. With these I didn’t add any heroic warriors or standards. The idea behind that is to stay flexible enough to combine 2-3 bases for any systems requiring square bases or 3 stands for a unit (looking at you Warmaster Ancients).

Playing around with the bases, I also liked to use the spearmen without shields as a second row ready to support the shielded first d second rank.

[DivisMal]

Some leftover figures on round bases. Not yet sure, why I would need those or for what. Maybe as commanders and/or heroes.

[DivisMal]

And finally my first ass-chariot. I went for a pretty green for the frontal „barding“/ protective cloth and harness. I will change that to have some individuality here with my future ass wagons.

[DivisMal]

I forgot to paint the javelin quivers and realized it only after I took the picture, but even though the model is fine, I do miss the rein ring (lying 8-shaped metal part zo keep the reins from entangling).

This is not some nitpicking but something that was apparently very important and is depicted (assumedly out of scale) on the Standard of Ur (and was found in the respective graves in Ur, too).

I found a good reconstruction picture that gives you an idea how it would have worked. Now how do I make such a thing in 15mm?

[DivisMal]

Another detail I am not sure about is the draught pole. I bend it freehand Nto some kind of S-shape. Contemporary depictions usually skip it, I used common sense and some of the better reconstruction, for instance the absolutely brilliant models the Perry twins did for Wargames Foundry.
The asses have necktings on which the yoke is fixed to pull the wagon.

Some other reconstructions apparently assume that some kind of yoke is in front of the onagers so that they actually push it. No idea if this might have actually worked.