Hyborian Mini Campaign - the Battle at Pevia

 In a previous post, King Conan defeated an Army of Nemedia, slaying its Commander, Baron Panatone. In today's installment we find the Aquilonian Army marching deeper into enemy territory, until their advance is blocked by another Nemedian force at the village of Pevia.

Conan and the advance guard of the Army of Aquilonia

The Nemedians were led by a Brythunian mercenary, General Dubalclix.

The Nemedian defenders

The battlefield contained the village of Pevia, and its open fields, and the surrounding pasture (the Waste). The locals, having sent their women and children into hiding in the nearby hill country, took up position defending the village itself, in the main with improvised weapons and rudimentary defences. 

Assuming the villagers resolve would be weak, Conan used Archers, after a mass volley, to storm the barricades at Pevia, concentrating his Knights and foot on the Nemedian regulars.

The ensuing melee was brutal, and there soon were casualties on both sides.

The peasant defenders proved to be tougher than had been imagined and held on while the main armies clashed, fell and were scattered.

The Aquilonian ranks began to thin and Conan found himself leading a company of Archers against some stout Nemedian pikemen Captained by Dubalclix himself.

Units on both sides broke but the defenders appeared to be getting the upper hand.

The King suddenly found himself in combat with the Mercenary General. With a single mighty sweep of his sword, Conan slew the Brythurian and his mount.

The Nemedians, seeing Conan and his remaining Knights advancing in wrath, fled the field leaving the well-stocked village to the Aquilonians. 

Hyboria Ladder Campaign

 

The following is a quick post to confirm how the latest foray into Robert Howard's Continent of Hyboria has been structured.

The winner of the first game, a Pitch Battle, enters the portion of the "Ladder" belonging to the losing side. Assuming the winner defeats their enemy again they move further along the ladder continuing as attacker; if they lose, they are pushed back into their own part of the ladder, or to the previous position, now as defender. The ultimate winner is the side that takes their opponents Major Town, or the side that is deepest into enemy "territory" after, in this case, six battles. I've decided to set a time limit as I fear it may all get stuck at some point, moving backwards and forwards! We'll see...

Having won the Pitch Battle, Conan moves on to the battle for the first step in the Campaign

The rules used to fight the battles will probably vary based on the situation, though Dominion of the Spear and the Portable Wargame are most likely to be used. I hope that explains things a little. The next post hopefully will report the battle for a village, as the Aquilonian Army pushes into Nemedia. 

A further tarriance in Hyboria

 The following game represents the opening move of a new campaign set in Robert Howard's Hyboria. The Campaign mechanism and rules will be set out in the next post. As far as the setting is concerned, the situation is as follows; A coup in the Court of Nemedia has replaced the King. The new ruler, Count Ortagines has a deep aversion to Conan, now King of Aquilonia, and sends agents to capture the King's favourite concubine (whose name, typically, is not recorded). Conan, in a blood thirsty rage, leads an army to the Nemedian border...

Map found somewhere on the WWW

The first game is a simple pitch battle, the result of which will lead on to the next. Apologies for the rather dark pictures; it's rather dark this morning!

For the Aquilonian Army I am using a 10mm force that was painted for a different Campaign completely but will suit. The figures are mostly Irregular Minis. Conan is a Mark Copplestone figure.

For Nemedia, I went prospecting in the foothills of the Lead/Plastic Mountain Range and unearthed a few figures and quickly slapped some paint on them; the Nemedians are supported by some Mercenaries. 

The game:

The opposing armies glower at each other and trade insults

The Aquilonian Knights punch a hole in the Nemedian line
Conan faces the Nemedian General, Baron Panatone

The Nemedians suffer further casualties. Conan and the
Baron are in single combat - this can only go one way...

The Baron falls and the day is won

So, Aquilonia wins the first battle and Conan is now on the way to vengeance.

A piece of good news, for me anyway, is that Irregular Miniatures 10mm ranges are being produced again; currently the Fantasy and Medieval ones are available, but I am assured that all the 10mms will be out next year. I hope to make a few Very Small Armies for further Hyborian Escapades in the near future. See HERE for the resurected Irregular Minis.

Faces from the Forest - Gratuitous nostalgia

 The latest post at The Duchy of Tradgardland, regarding the recently rereleased Airfix Ancient Britons,  reminded me that I had a picture of some of my own ABs on my phone. Like many others I'm sure, I have great memories of playing with these toys attacking the Roman Wall Fort on the dining room carpet, and later being used with Featherstone's Ancients Rules.

A Chief accompanied by his Druid/Shaman(?), Standard and Warband

 

Sunday Frippery - making stuff

 Very short post to showcase a little Fantasy Fortified Town scenery object. It's somewhere between 3D and 2D (2.5D??) as there's room for figures inside the walls, but the flat town means it doesn't take up too much room. The flat town idea was based on a far better executed version by Peter that features in this post. Mine's a 3 inch square mdf base from Warbases with the "structures" made from 3mm foam board. As a proof of concept, I think it works ok. Hopefully it will be used in planned Hyboria games. That's it; enjoy the sunshine (or whatever the weather's doing where you are.

The Battle of Rolica 1808

 In which Sir Arthur Wellesley lands in Portugal and on the way to Lisbon tilts at Windmills.

Having landed North of Lisbon, the British marched along the Coast, collecting some Portuguese troops along the way. At the village of Rolica they encountered the vastly outnumbered French rearguard. (In the game the points attributed to the superior British make it appear that there are more French who were in fact at a 4:1 disadvantage.) This really ought to be a walk in the park...

 

Trying out the flashy new Budget Wargames backdrop - nice.

In the scenario description provided by Steve Parker in Dominion of Napoleon Bonaparte, the British attack is initially slow; this proved to be the case in the game too. In fact, both sides from the off (pre-battle bombardment) threw some appalling dice. I have to confess that I lost count of the Turn number early on...

Eventually the British Centre (Infantry in column) broke. The Infantry on the British flanks, elite and in defensive posture, were going to prove to be stubborn at the very least, and the Imperial Army started to take casualties.

At this stage it looked like the British were going to push through the French rearguard and be historically correct. Unfortunately, my troublesome dice, a pair of scamps, thought otherwise.

The French win again!!!

We're really down the rabbit hole now.

The Battle of Bailen 1808 with DoNB

 My play through of the Scenarios in Dominion of Napoleon Bonaparte has now reached the Iberian Peninsular, and Napoleon stands undefeated (apart from the hiccup at The Pyramids). How will the French fare in this first battle of the Peninsular War?

 The French are in retreat after storming Cordoba and are hampered by an enormous baggage train of plunder. They find their way blocked by a numerically stronger Spanish Army.

Note: Purple dice are elite, White are unreliable, Black are in defencive position.

The French open the action from the centre and the Spanish are forced to throw in more and more reinforcements.

A column of unreliable French Infantry on their Right are attacked and immediately withdraw, however the Spanish are unable to capitalize on this as their own numbers are dwindling.

The Spanish are forced to commit their final reserves, but to no avail.

An overwhelming victory for the French, reversing the historical result! Next time: The boot maybe on the other foot as Wellington arrives...

Bonus picture to celebrate (or possibly not) the new film of The Odessey that is due for release this month I believe.

A Minifigs Cyclops from their 1970s Sword & Sorcery range and a 10mm Odysseus