Streets of Rome - A 28mm Roman world

[EarlsyD]

Hi all,
I have been working on a full 6x4 foot wargaming table to represent the city of Rome since i came back from a city break a few years ago. Its been a slow process, but has picke up pace recently.

I have seen some excellent posts on here that have given me some real inspiration. I want to keep this thread and update it to keep putting pressure on myself to complete the project as i have a nasty habit of starting things giving them my full attention for a few months then just letting them drop off.

So without further ado here are the first few photos of how it started a few months ago.

[EarlsyD]

First few posts well be back to back to get more images up.

Progressed with roof tiles and a bit more detail in the forum

[EarlsyD]

A few detail / upclose shots. Of the bath house mosaic and the via "mainus" (the main road on my board)

The idea is to have 4 "districts" one in each quadrant. Key items in each are;
1) the forum
2) the bathhouse
3) the slums / warehouse district
4) the temples

[EarlsyD]

Bit more progress

[EarlsyD]

More progress. I may not have painted the buildings yet. Or finished the roof tiles on some of the buildings. But i have made some planters and statues to add character to the board

[EarlsyD]

Planters in position.

I missed out the 2 pillars on the bath house kit from Sarrissa on purpose. I can't for the life of me remeber why and now think it looks stupid so have bought their pack of spare columns and will slide a couple in.

Also my work in progress aqueduct needed a lot of scaffold and some cranage to make it look realistic.

[EarlsyD]

When i started this project i had no game to play. I had dabled in Hail Ceasar but thats far to big. SPQR was an option but i could never quite get that to feel anything other than a legion vs legion slug fest with this board in mind. Which brought me to footsores Gangs of Rome. Just in time for V2.

I used to play mordheim back when i was school so the idea of small bands running around a big city full of unique individuals with little backgrounds and quirks, really appealed to me.

I made a gang. Then i made another. Then i planned 3 more 

[Pattus Magnus]

You might have already seen it, but another “street level” ancients game is Song of Blades and Dust written by another LAF member, Irregular Wars Nic. It uses the game engine from Song of Blades and Heroes, and adapts it to skullduggery in Rome, Greece, or (with a little tweaking for period flavour) other pre-gunpowder settings. It’s an easy system to use, but with a lot of subtlety. Playing that game on your table would be a fun afternoon, your terrain looks awesome!

[Irregular Wars Nic]

That is one impressive setup! 

Very jealous indeed.

As Pattus Magnus has said, it would be absolutely perfect for Song of Shadows and Dust! 

[EarlsyD]

I havn't looked at song of shadows and dust. Will give it a look over.

Just a quick update tonight as have been away this weekend. My under construction aqueduct is finished for now. Till i get bored and add more. I found the normal height wasn't enough it didnt give enough grandure to the setting. So i set about putting 1 on top of another so it would be twice as high. You can see in the background my temple complex. My feelings so far are that there isnt enough green. Most of the depictions i have been able to find has shown streets with next to no greener. But most of the literature i have read about the temple areas is that they often sat within areas that we would now class as parks so a bit of grass and some trees. Even if thats not entirely accurate it will serve to break up the grey cobblestone monotany of the gaming mat.

[EarlsyD]

Bit of detail on the aqeueduct with the scaffolds. Bricks and timbers ready to go

[Furt]

Really great work EarlsyD. Your city looks great and I really like the layout a lot.

Having completed a similar project, my only suggestion is - keep plucking away bit by bit.

I had a looming convention game to drive me on, which helped immensely with my motivation.

Although, if I never have to lay another pan-tile roof it will be too soon.

[EarlsyD]

Cheers Furt, your actually one of my main inspirations as to how to translate the gritty images portrayed in shows such as HBO's rome into a 28mm setting. You made me realise how importsnt the little details are but my wife and my bank accoubt wont thank you for it  i have decided to focus this week on actually finishing a building too see how i can do.

So lets see...

[tomrommel1]

What a nice collection you have there!

[Freddy]

Great looking even at this stage!