Just a bit of everything!

The discovery of 3mm figures has certainly had some effect on my enthusiasm for the hobby, something about the mass effect when drawn up just appeals to my minds eye of how an army should look. Alongside that was the rediscovery of DBA v1 which gives me just the kind of game I used to enjoy, while apparently simple they present lots of tactical challenges. not unlike a game of chess. With 4 ancient armies painted it was time to get out the simple 2 x 2 cloth covered foamboard, bang down some clump foliage and a hill and were off.

 It's 60AD and the Iceni are revolting! Roman governor of Britain, Gaius Suetonius Paulinus has rushed back from campaigning in Wales to quash the rebellion.

It's been many a year since I played these rules so had to take it slowly. My deployment was probably not the best but I wanted to see how the different elements handled and was especially keen to get some combat between the Legion (Blades) and the Warbands as well as getting the light chariots into action against different types of opponents. The combats between the Legion and the massed Warbands actually proved fairly evenly matched despite the basic +5 v +3 factor with push backs going both ways which in turn allowed for additional overlap factors. I was surprised how broken up the ranks of the Legion became in the prolonged contest as I had expected them to just roll through. Light chariots count as 'cavalry' with a basic +3 against foot but I used them mostly on the flanks against Auxilia and Roman light cavalry where they did pretty well. There was lots of drawn combats that carried over into a second bound and push backs and pursuits that went back and forth before one element was finally defeated. The game ended in a 4 to 2 Roman victory but I think a more experienced DBA general could have fought a tactically better battle. Still, I enjoyed myself and thats what counts for me and I'm very keen for more. I now have the Carthaginians and Late Romans set up for another game although they almost came a cropper when our cat decided to sit on the board between the facing armies!

I'm now making progress on the 3mm ECW armies which are intended for the C&C ECW variant by 'Foy' using both the command  and chance cards. A few initial unit types, pike and shot, pike heavy, Trotters and Gallopers. Also a couple of command bases.

Beside the above I'm still bashing out the Epics strips, this month has been ACW, French Napoleonic, Prussian Landwehr and finishing off with more ACW's so keeping me busy.