Sunday, 2 October 2011

day 2 - first battle of Nan Curunir

DateSeptember 1 
LocationNan Curunir Gap, Lower slopes of The Methedras
Belligerents
Army of Feldunorst and Elfhelm's EoredLegions of Isengard and Harad
Commanders and leaders
Theoden, Elfhelm, Dwalin, Bofur, EomerThe Ringwraiths
Strength
under four Dozen men, about two Dozen of whom are mountedmore than a hundred including 3 trolls
Dwalin Readied his axe, the force was growing nearer now but still he could not make out who they were, only that they were heading towards Heldunorst and for no other reason would an army head throught the Nan Curunir gap then to attack the hold. His men were lining up and two things were going through his mind; Where was Elfhelm and his Eored and the worry that the battle would wake the ents of Fangorn and thus spell death for them all, orc, dwarf and man alike.
Just then a horn sounded and he looked up to see Elfhelm's banner Flying in the wind and two dozen riders, their cloaks covered in snow, riding down from the Nan Curunir spring and then... Great joy! It was the king himself! Theoden was riding at the head of the horsemen, bringing his riders to the help of his vassal hold. Now they stood a chance.
But what was that creature high up in the sky

GOOD
Theoden's Host (rohan)                                                                                 
  • Theoden, King of Rohan with heavy armour, shield and horse.
Elfhelm's Eored
  • Elfhelm, marshal of Riddermark with heavy armour, shield, bow and horse
  • Widfara, Outrider on horse
  • 4 riders of rohan with throwing weapons
Eomer's Eored
  • Eomer, marshal of Riddermark with throwing weapons, shield and horse
  • rider with Banner
  • 4 riders of rohan with throwing weapons
Royal Eored
  • Guthlaf, royal guard on horse with throwing spear
  • 5 riders of rohan with throwing weapons
Dwalin's Hold  (dwarves)                                                                                        
  • Dwalin, king with two handed axe
Thorin's Warband
  • Thorin Oakenshield, king with two handed axe
  • 2 warriors with shields
  • Gloin, warrior with bow
  • 5 warriors with two handed axes
Bofur's Warband
  • Bofur, king with with two handed axe
  • 5 warriors with bows
  • warrior with with two handed axe
Dwalin's guard
  • Durok, captain with shield
  • 3 warriors with bows
  • 4 wariors with two handed axes
Hunter's of Gollum  (fellowship)                                                                        
  • Strider with Elven cloak and bow
  • Gandalf the grey with elven cloak
  • Legolas with Elven cloak


EVIL
3rd and 5th Legions of Isengard (Isengard)                                                                      
  • 18 Urukhai with Shields
  • 18 Urukhai with Pikes
  • 6 warg riders
  • 1 Isengard troll with Shield
The Haradrim of the west (Mordor/harad)                                                                        
  • 2 Ringwraiths on horses
  • 3 Ringwraiths
  • 12 haradrim with bows
  • 12 haradrim with spears
  • 4 haradrim raiders
  • 4 easterling archers with camouflage
  • 1 mordor troll
Goblin expeditionary force (Moria)                                                                        
  • 10 goblins with shields
  • 10 goblins with spears
  • 10 goblins with bows
  • 1 cave troll with spear and chain

    The battle was a legendary clash of high and lows from bothe sides and in the end it was one by Eomer, staying defiant and un wounded on the objective from turn two no matter how many urukhai (24 of which loads of them he killed), ringwraiths (he killed all 5), warg riders (killed all 6) and haradrim (quite a few) were thrown at him!
    Some highlights were the dwarf archers taking on the haradrim, uruks and mordor troll with the last archer sheltering for two turns in a log and finally being driven out by a haradrim spear poked through a hole. Also Aragorn, Dwalin, Bofur and Elfhelm fighting their way through the waves of Urukhai and haradrim, taking down a cave troll and loosing both dwrf kings to reach Eomer which they did! Then there was Theoden diving into the midst of easterling and goblin archers and killing them all by the end of the game! Gandalf leaping up a hill and blasting down the mordor troll, killing it! Gloin firing arrows from a bush in the midst of the urukhai! and the Urukhai having an amazing combat in which most dwarves were killed, only to be charged and killed by the rohirrim.
    in the end  Rohirrim victory was inevitable

Tuesday, 30 August 2011

My ancient Scythian force

My Scythian force
Organised for Warhammer Ancient battles


I began collecting scythians in late 2009, having had a passion for Scythian history since reading about them in the encyclopedia of world history that I bought myself an incredibly long time ago. Despite having to translate russian and cope with paint proof plastic (only answer for a basecoat is stinky enamel paint... oh dear) I buy them all from Zvezda as their rates (£5.50 for 18 horsemen!) are amazing. 
As recently mentioned, I love cavalry (especially with bows) and scythians place me in my element on the tabletop. I have plans to add an Assyrian cavalry detachment, but its still a far off prospect what with starting a Wallachian army

Anyway, here's my 25mm 1100pt scythian Army, based up for warhammer ancient battles:
  • Subordinate King Madyes of Dnieper
  • Barbarian warlord with warhorse, composite bow and heavy armour 149pts
  • Lord Zaphyrion arbarian Chieftain with warhorse, composite bow and heavy armour 79pts

      • Warriors of the Dnieper
      • 14 Hun horse archers with leader, standard, musician and no throwing spears 309pts
      •  
      • Madyes’ bodyguard
      • 8 Parthian Cataphracts with shields, leader, standard and musician (bard) 223pts
        • Young warriors of Scythia
        • 13 Hun horse archers with shields, thrusting spears, light armour, leader, standard and musician 340pts

Wednesday, 24 August 2011

prussian photos

 My Prussian Army in all its glory

 My commanders from left to right: Baron von Steuben, Frederick the great and Prince Henry
 Black legion Jagers, only four at the moment but i plan to expand to eight
 my grenadiers in Pink
King of Bavaria's own dragoons, added too over the years

Sunday, 31 July 2011

my 18th century Prussian Army

My Prussian force
Organised for Black Powder, Great coat and Tricorne or Die Kreigskunst 



I began building it up around 2008, having played nothing but lord of the rings till thos point it was a reletivly novel enterprise and until this year didn't stand the test of time (un pianted models in a draw, their bases scavenged for my warhammer Empire army). I stayed pretty true to Dixon miniatures ever since, despite their lowsy shipping time (However frontrank's 48hr first class delivery out weighs the £4 postage these days, considering Foundry's awful £8 postage!). This has given the army a certain degree of unity, and this coupled with hours of intense painting means it always looks pretty impressive on the tabletop (by impressive i mean the kind of army that it's insulting to fight against it with anything un-painted).
I also have a bit of a thing for cavalry (warhammer chaos army revolves entirely around cavalry), and my army consists of about 40% horse to 60% foot - higher than the normal ratio on a battlefield. As you can see (above), they can also be a bit of a pest, demolishing much bigger units, and picking off commanders with their carbines.
Anyway, here's my 28mm Seven Years War Prussian Army, based up for Die Kriegskunst, Black powder and Great coat and tricorne:
  • Frederick the II  “the Great”


  • Prince Friedrich Heinrich Ludwig


  • Baron Von Steuben  

  • King of Bavaria’s own, 1st regiment of Dragoons (1 squadron – 5 figs.)

  • von Szekely’s own, 1st regiment of hussars (1 squadron – 5 figs.)


  • von Wickeradt’s own, 9th regiment of Musketeers (1 battalion of 24 figs.)


  • Markgraf von Brandenburg’s own, 42nd regiment of fusiliers (1 battalion of 10 figs.)


  • Prinz von Braunschweig-Bevern’s own, 7th Kanitz grenadiers (1 battalion of 10 figs.)


  • Von Favrat’s own, Black legion Jägers (4 figs.)
Photos Coming soon!


Saturday, 30 July 2011

Battle of Rossbach

On November 5, Frederick's 22,000-man army was in camp near Rossbach, with the Soubise's army nearby to the west. Though he possessed nearly a 4-to-1 advantage in manpower, Soubise was reluctant to give battle and required urging from the Duke of Hildburghausen to take action.

 Frederick the great's army snatched the initiative and moved first, killing two Curiassiers with cannon shot from Janus hill.

 In the Franco-austrian turn the french curiassiers engage with the prussian cavalry, embroiled in a brutal battle with the 1st regiment of hussars. The french artillery battery fire on the prussian force taking down most of the kanitz grenadiers.
In the prussian turn the 1st dragoons open fire with carbines on Saxe-Hildburghausen but completly miss him.
The Jagers take up position in Lundstadt to the left flank while the battle between the hussars and curiassiers goes on, both sides taking heavy casualties. The Brandenburg curiassiers charge their austrian counterparts and another brutal cavalry fight takes place. the 42nd fusiliers and 9th musketeers form ranks in front of Prince henry  and Frederick the great, opening fire on the french curiassiers killing most of them.
 In the allies turn the hussars and curiassiers destroy each other and the austrian curiassiers wipe out the brandenburg curiassiers (with hardly any men left in their own unit).
 
 Too late Saxe-Hildburghausen realises to late the vulnerable position he has left himself in, next turn he is blasted apart by the prussian musketeers. The 42nd then open fire killing another regiment of austrian curiassiers. The prussian artillery then Battery fire on their french counter parts destroying two cannons.
More black legion Jagers rush to fortify Lundstadt against the advancing french men.
 The french Jacobites open fire on Lundstadt destroying the carbine armed garrison, and Charles Rohan force marches the closest french regiment straight towards Janus hill. 
The 1st dragoons charge forward, intending to sell their lives dearly! They engage with the French Curiassiers and sacrfice themselves taking them down! Von Favrat's Jagers run back to Janus hill accepting Lundstadt for lost...


 The 9th musketeers and 42nd fusiliers prepare for the final assualt whilst frederick rides up Janus hill to the artillery. They open fire, causing heavy casualties on the approaching french and austrian curiassiers and the french musketeers (who suffer a battery bombardment)
The French Musketeers shoot at the 9th destroying most of the unit.
The Prussian artillery open fire again destroying all but one of the french cannon.
 A Prussian regiment of Irregulars comes on from the left flank, taking garrison in Lundstadt and the last Austrian troops finally flee the field. By now the french horse had come to a halt and was providing cover for the advancing musketeers.
The one cannon takes down with one lucky shot Baron von Steuben, standing bravely infront of his men.
 The french Jacobites charge the Prussian irregulars and suffer a shocking ammount of damage from the untrained troops. Mean while the advancing musketeers continue to be subject to artillery bombardment and shots from the 9th regiment. The battle seems to be going Prussia's way with the 42nd destroying yet another regiment of curiassiers.
 The Jacobite french suffer heavy casualties from the rregulars, but a new wave of Brunswick foot could be the turning point.


 The Jacobites over come the irregulars with very few men left. The 9th muskets are finally wiped out by Rohan's ever weakened regiment of foot.
 the 42nd with draw for the final assualt, firing a volley of shots into the last curiassier regimant wiping it out.
 The Jacobites are Brunswickers head for Janus hill along with the rest of the reminging frenchmen.
 The 42nd prepare to sell their lives defending the king and make a stand on Janus hill, firing shots into the musketeers closest to them.
Prince Henry rides round the rear of the French lines, out of Musket range.
Prince Henry rides round the rear of the French lines, out of Musket range.
Finally the fusiliers are brought low killing many french men and the artillery are also killed by a salvo of musket shot. After the battle only Frederick the great and Prince Henry escape.

Franco-Austrian casualties in the battle were around 31,500 dead/wounded. For the Prussians, the cost was 21,000 dead/wounded and 1captured. Even though the Prussian army was all but annihilated the cost in men to the Franco-Austrian force was invaluble to the Prussian campaign.

Franco-Austrian Tactical Victory
Prussian Strategic Victory


Get ready for this September the biggest Historic wargaming month of the year.
There will be many battle reports including the next installment of Frederick's campaign... The Battle of Leuthen! 


DateNovember 5, 1757
LocationRoßbach, Electorate of Saxony
ResultFranco Austrian tactical Victory
Prussian Strategic victory
Belligerents
 Prussia  France
 
Austria
Commanders and leaders
Kingdom of Prussia Frederick IIKingdom of FranceCharles, prince de Soubise
Habsburg MonarchyPrince Joseph of Saxe-Hildburghausen
Strength
22,000
79 guns
88,000
112 guns
Casualties and losses
22,000
(22,000 killed
  1 captured/missing)
66,000
(44,000 killed
 22,000 missing

















Saturday, 18 June 2011

Emil Jaeger and his Headhunters

Emil Jaeger spent his early life on the imperial planet of Athonia,
his young years consumed by gang warfare and gambling. When he was
23, he won a bet with one of his fellow gamblers for a Neon star
blaster, a light 8 man spacecraft. He spent his times travelling the
galaxy becoming a skilled mechanic as well as vicious combatant,
training on the planets of Krieg, Tallarn, Catachan and many more
from his tough upbringing he was more than an apt student in all
their different fighting arts, but never settled but carried on
travelling. Later he became a mercenary and assassin, preferring to
kill his enemy from afar, but never failing to draw his legendary
Kukri knife in the direst circumstances. He began to take acolytes
who he trained in the art of sniping, as well as field craft, who
accompanied him on his covert assignments; his acolytes later became
known as the Headhunters, due to their vast number of confirmed
kills.
Around the same time Emil purchased several prototype Proton long
rifles, very powerful snipers. On the battlefield Emil has been known
extremely hard to kill, underestimated in his knowledge of trickery,
many have claimed to have killed Emil, but only for another to have
sighted him in battle shortly after, some have even claimed to have
taken his head, only to find that it is actually the head of one
of their fallen comrades. An excellent mechanic, survivalist and
combatant, many enemy hero has been killed by his snipers bullet,
he also carries a lowly Las pistol, many of his victims have laughed
when he has drawn it, only to have been incinerated by its overloaded
blast. Emil Jaeger still travels the galaxy now, fighting in many
skirmishers, battles, and even full scale campaigns.


Pts/model
WS
BS
S
T
W
I
A
LD
SV
Emil Jaeger
120
4
5
3
4
2
5
2
9
4+
Head hunter
20
3
4
3
3
1
4
1
8
5+


Emil Jaeger and his Headhunters

Emil Jaeger
Headhunter

Unit composition: Emil Jaeger and 2-5 Headhunters

Wargear

Emil Jaeger only:

Carapace armour,

Headsnatcher: Headsnatcher was the first prototype of the proton long
rifles, the set of snipers specially designed and commissioned by
Emil Jaeger himself. This one was custom made by Emil, made from a
light but immensely strong material and with added scopes, aiming
sights and red dots. Headsnatcher is a proton long rifle with an AP
value of 1. In addition any roll to hit of 6 will wound on a 2+ and
any roll to hit of 4 or 5 will wound on a 3+.

Overloaded Las pistol
Emil Jaeger also carries a greatly feared overloaded Las pistol, it
is possible for this Las pistol to release a potentially devastating



blast. An overloaded Las pistol counts as a normal Las pistol, but
once per game he may fire an overloaded shot, it has the same range
and type, but fires at strength 10 AP 1 and is subject to the gets
hot! Rule.

Kukri knife
Emil’s legendary Kukri knife doubles as both a multi purpose tool and
vicious weapon, in close combat it counts as a master crafted power
weapon an may be used along with his Las pistol to grant him an extra
attack, even if he has fired his proton long rifle this turn.

Headhunters only:

Las pistol, close combat weapon, Flak armour

Proton long rifle
A Proton long rifle is a ranged weapon with the following profile:
R     S    AP TYPE
48” X     2     Heavy 1,Sniper

Both Emil Jaeger and his Headhunters

Lightlash Charges
It is a well known fact that both Emil and His Headhunters are
campers. Often when they set up behind cover they will fit Lightlash
charges directly in front of them to fend of any close quarters
attack. Lightlash charges are small metal canisters filled with
the extremely flammable liquid promethium, on contact with air
the promethium instantly flares up temporally blinding the enemy.
Lightlash charges are defensive grenades, but roll 3D6+3 for armour
penetration.

Clearing equipment
Emil and his Headhunters will never go to battle without some form of
clearing equipment, ranging from a simple spade to high tech laser
cutters. Clearing equipment grants Emil Jaeger and his squad the Move
through cover special rule.

Camo gear
Emil and his Headhunters always wear some sought of camouflage. Camo
gear grants Emil and his squad the Stealth special rule.

Domino fields
Emil possesses arcane Domino fields, based on technology given to
him by the enigmatic Eldar. In a close assault these fields can be
activated, confusing the enemy and causing them to strike thin air.
In close combat enemies suffer a -1 penalty when rolling to hit
against Emil Jaeger and his squad.

Special Rules

Emil Jaeger only:

Acute senses,

Master of escape
When Emil Jaeger is killed, do not remove the model but lie it down
roll of 1-5 nothing happens, but on a roll of a 6, Emil Jaeger

immediately returns back to life but with
his characteristics (excluding his armour
game turn, if he already hasn’t come back
a 5+, with the same modifiers, and so on,
automatically.

Emil Jaeger and his Headhunters

Counter-attack, Stubborn, (this ability is lost if Emil is killed),

Campers
When deploying Emil and his squad only do so after ALL other units
have deployed (including scouts and infiltrators) to deploy them you
simply place them behind any available cover in your deployment zone.
If there is no available cover, or no cover you wish to deploy them
behind then you may immediately set up a 6” barricade within your
deployment zone and deploy them behind that.

Hunters
When the Headhunters fire at a unit behind cover the enemy suffers
a -1 penalty to his cover save, when Emil shoots at an enemy behind
cover he allows no cover save at all. Also, in the movement phase
Emil Jaeger and his Headhunters may choose to move using the Slow and
Purposeful rules, therefore being able to move and fire their heavy
weapons.

Options

Headhunters only

Any Headhunter may replace its close combat weapon with a specialised
combat dagger at +4 points per model. Up to one model may replace its
close combat weapon and Las pistol with tearing claws at +12 points.
Up to one model may replace its proton long rifle for an Atom beam
rifle at plus 12 points. Any model (but not one upgraded with tearing
claws) mat replace its Las pistol for a Bolt pistol at +5 points.

Specialised combat dagger
A specialised combat dagger is a close combat weapon with the rending
special rule.

Tearing claws
Tearing claws are twin power weapons with the rending special rule

Atom beam rifle
An Atom beam rifle is a chunky rifle which fires a beam of
radioactive energy. It is a ranged weapon with the following profile:
 R   S AP TYPE
48” 7  2   Heavy 1, twin-linked

a -1 modifier to all of
save). Then on the next
to life, he will return on
but he may NEVER return