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Showing posts from November, 2021

Chandragupta!

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Time to start on a new army.  After a lot of debate (with myself!), I settled on an Ancient Indian one.  My thinking is that if I paint up 3 or 4 core infantry units, then I can look to add units so that I can field a Mauryan Indian (see the list in the WAB Alexander the Great supplement), Indo-Skythian/Parthian, or Kushan (assuming I can find decent army lists).  I have to confess, my personal preference is chariots (the heavier the better!) over elephants.  However, both will be on my Christmas list. I spent several weeks looking at different manufacturers' Indians.  Some figures were tucked away in other ranges.  I sent for  a few samples and was disappointed with the size of some 28/25mms (i.e. too small).  I've now settled on the Newline figures.  Although not so dynamic in their poses and a little 'thinner' than my Essex and Foundry Greeks (in case I ever want to go full Bactrian!), they are not bad height-wise and I really like the sculpting. So, work-in-progress

Straw Dogs & Flaming Bulls

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The inaugural meeting of the 'Old Berks' (Phil lives near Berkswell, so the name just suggested itself!) took place at Partizan three weeks before.  We all met last weekend to have our first game.   So, the historical context for the battle (and don't tell me this never happened): after India, the Macedonians with Greek mercenaries pushed on into China, and there they met - amongst other things - Straw Dogs and Flaming Bulls! John brought hordes (?) of excellent Chinese Warring States troops, which he and Steve commanded.   John, incidentally, is the author of the excellent WAB supplement, The Art of War (above).  Knowing very little about ancient Chinese armies, I have found this an instructive and entertaining read.  My opponent had no excuse for not knowing his troops.   But, John, you still haven't signed my copy! No detailed battle map this time folks.  It was 3000 points aside (1500 per commander), so you'll see from the accompanying photos that there were un