Spooky SPQR- Iain Does Broken Legions

[Iain R]

Trve spooky adventures, for trve Romans!

Back during OG Lockdown I finally got round to putting together a Soldiers of The Eagle warband for Osprey's Broken Legions. I love the idea of a historical setting with some sympathetic mythological or folkloric elements woven through it (see also Silver Bayonet and Devilry Afoot), and this seemed like a nice way of scratching the itch of painting some 28mm Early Imperial Romans without committing to painting dozens of matching shields!

Five legionaries (two with pila), three auxiliary archers, and a frumentarius*, led by a Centurion accompanied by his two faithful wardogs.



All the soldiers are from the classic Perry-sculpted Foundry range, with the dogs being from Otherworld.

Four years later, I finally started painting it! I decided to go with the idea that the soldiers are selected from suitable candidates identified across the Empire, seconded for special duties, rather than a single unit of generic troops detailed to take part in these missions. This allowed me to paint a number of different shield designs, saving me from having to pick one, or paint them to a matching standard!

Started with the Frumentarius, a legionary and an auxiliary...



Cold weather and competing domestic and social demands thus far impeding progress...

*Probably more likely an Informatorius, since he's not in uniform; Frumentarii always wore uniform.

[Easy E]

Oh!  I am excited to see your progress!  I am a bit surprised it never really caught on more than it did.  Sure, the double dice method for Crits was a bit clunky and the campaign system a bit wanting, but nothing some enterprising folks could not have handled. 

I managed to play a few games with Greeks vs. Gladiators. If you are interested I am sure I could scrounge up a review and a bat rep or two.

[jetengine]

Oh!  I am excited to see your progress!  I am a bit surprised it never really caught on more than it did.  Sure, the double dice method for Crits was a bit clunky and the campaign system a bit wanting, but nothing some enterprising folks could not have handled. 

I managed to play a few games with Greeks vs. Gladiators. If you are interested I am sure I could scrounge up a review and a bat rep or two.

I think it suffered from said clunkiness, being a historical game, and Frostgrave sucking up all the air for Campaign games at the time.

[Iain R]

Yeah, it was certainly a sound idea! I've been reading through Dan Mersey (of Lion Rampant/Dux Bellorum fame)'s Wargamers' Guide To The Early Roman Empire, which suggests the option of ignoring the fantastical elements to make a good small scale historic skirmish game, which is an interesting idea...

[Iain R]

First pieces finished...

Frumentarius




Western auxiliary sagitarius




I've also got a legionary done too, but is shield isn't finished yet, so he'll follow shortly...

[Muzfish4]

Lovely brushwork.

Will be watching this thread with interest to see how it all develops.

[Elk101]

Nice job on those. The red and blue hues really pop.

[Iain R]

Thank you, chaps! I'm hoping it'll remain a manageable Christmas project...

First Legionary done, Legio II Augusta!




And one without the shield, since I spent all that time painting the face... 



Wot, no panalopy of Jupiter on the shield? No, not yet, haven't worked up the courage for that yet! There will be two done in that style though, what's the point in painting Romans otherwise? 

[Freddy]

Great paintjob on these!

[Easy E]

Looking forward to more.  Looking great so far!

[Legiox217]

Gorgeous painting. Is that a magnet you've glued to the kneeling legionary's hand?

[Orctrader]

Lovely painting.   

[Easy E]

This thread is putting Broken Legions back on my radar as a game to play this season.

[Iain R]

Thanks chaps! Finally managed to get back to this, following Christmas and an unexpectedly fierce dose of the lurgi!

Is that a magnet you've glued to the kneeling legionary's hand?

No, it's just a moulded on plug for the shield to locate to-


Got the next three heroes done and ready to go, another auxilia archer and two more legionaries. Who's stupid idea was this to hand paint the shields!? 








Three more infantry to go, then just the Centurion and his dugs to go to finish the project.

[Easy E]

Wow!  Nice work on those shields!  They are each very distinctive.