Odds and Ends, Vikings and Pilgrims

This past week I have been attacking the pile of unpainted figures.  The pilgrims were an impulse buy, and I cannot explain why I keep purchasing Vikings...maybe some secret desire to do the Great Pagan Army in 1:1.

First, here are some Perry Brothers pilgrims from their First Crusade line.  While not planning on any Crusade era battles, I always need more civilians. These pilgrims could easily fit in an eleventh century Spanish or Byzantine scenario.

The Perry Sculpts are excellent, as their reputation suggests. While slightly thinner and more truly proportionate, they are not out of place with my Gripping Beast and Crusader Miniatures.

Speaking of Gripping Beast, here are some random Vikings from GB and Wargames Foundry, I think.

Finally, in trying to come up with some more uses for my sprues of Wargames Factory Numidians is this Dark Age Irish Warrior.  It is a Numidian Body and a Gripping Beast plastic head.  It was thrown together fairly quickly as a test to see if it was feasible to put together an Irish warband for SAGA.

My Kingdom for a Horse: By Arrow, Bill and Sword

Today, I ventured outside my narrow comfort zone of the early Medieval Era and into the late Medieval Era.

The models belong to a friend who is building a War of the Roses army from Perry Brothers metals and plastics.  I have never owned any Perry figures, but they live up to their reputation - well sculpted, nicely proportioned and excellent poses.

The rule set was By Arrow, Bill and Sword; a free skirmish level set put together by Silent Invader from the lead adventure forums.

Initiative and activation is determined by randomly dealt cards (visible in the background above).    We added a gameplay element not specifically present in the rules, in which we laid the activation cards face down behind each unit.  Players couldn't change the order of activation once a turn began, but the opponent did not know the order attack as well.  

Melee was a bit slow at first.  I thought it odd that a model's "to hit" number was the same no matter the quality of the attacker.  The advantage for superior troops, the captain and men at arms, was mainly defensive - better save dice numbers.  

Above: A mixed unit of York pike and longbow prepares to flank an advancing Lancaster line. 

Above: The battle ended when my billmen unhorsed and killed the York captain.  His whole band fails a morale check, handing victory to the Lancaster forces.  

The learning curve for the rules was very quick and adequately captured the flavor of the period.  They could probably easily work for late HYW or Hussite Wars as well.   As we were playing without cavalry units, I think another play through is in order in order to fully test the balance of troops.    

Arrow, Bill and Sword download link