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Wednesday, October 8, 2014

Breton warband for SAGA

In the 4th century, Bretons serving in the Roman army were posted out of Britannia and into Amorica (Brittany). To escape Anglo-Saxon and Scoti invaders, a second wave of Breton settlers followed. Charlemagne subjugated the Bretons for a time. A combination of Breton revolts, military victories and devastating Viking raids forced the Franks to eventually concede the independence of Brittany. Somewhere in there, Breton King Morvan fought a personal combat with a Frankish chieftain that left both dead.  I'm not entirely sure how the opposing armies squared that unexpected result.

The 10th century saw a Breton campaign to drive out the Norse who settled on the Loire River. The Bretons and Normans were at war for a time but that didn't stop them from serving in William the Conqueror's left flank at the Battle of Hastings.  Breton history is enough to make your head spin!


In SAGA, Breton levies and mounted troops are javelin armed. Their battle board has 8 shooting abilities and I've been studying to see which stack well before my first game with them. Bretons suffer a -1 to their armor in melee, which means I'll stick to shoot and scoot tactics.

These figures can pull triple duty for me. First, I'll run them in SAGA as a Breton warband. I can also port them into Crescent and the Cross to buff out a Spanish army. Lastly, I can field them in a Hail Caesar Norman army. Portability for the win! 




All figures in the warband are by Gripping Beast, topped with LBMS shield transfers painted in.  I'm tempted to paint the hero King Morvan in a chariot. For now, I do like the look of this warlord hunting the battlefield with javelin in hand and no helmet! Those are the kind of risks that men respect.  They're also the kind of risks that get you killed in personal combat.   
These figures looked a bit dull at the finish line so I added a 2nd highlight to make them pop. You must look good to feel good and I do hope these javelinmen are feeling good right now.



I painted this warband while listening to Marc Morris' The Norman Conquest audiobook. It's fantastic overview of the conquest of England, and most of SAGA's "Heroes of the Viking Age" make an appearance in the book.  Its a perfect companion piece to SAGA gaming.

51 comments:

  1. Well, yours miniatures certainly doesn't look dull. They are really good I think. Excellent choice of colors, very nice overall look. Great warband:)

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    1. Thanks Ink, I love your recent Ork of Mordor!

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  2. Are you using a white undercoat? Those colours are so intense!

    FMB

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    1. Marcus! I did black undercoat, silver drybrush and then paint out from there. The shields are painted up to white before I drop a LBMS shield transfer down.

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  3. I must say that your colors are splendid, really splendid! Great basement too with wonderful details, but these colors are amazing Monty, great work!

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  4. Very colorful figures and they would work splendidly as Spanish for the Reconquista. Your vibrant colors and shields will really make these fellas pop on the table.

    Nice brushwork, as always!

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    1. Thanks Jonathan! If only I lived nearby, I'd say an Impetus El Cid match was in order.

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    2. That would be great! You are always welcome at my house, my friend!

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    3. I know we'd have a great time. And your collection would be stunning to look through!

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  5. Wow, spectacular minis Monty! I like these a lot – great mix of colours that really "pop" and excellent basing to set them off.

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    1. Thanks Jonas, I did try to work off the shield color so a lot of credit goes to the lovely LBMS transfers.

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  6. Really wonderful colourful work Monty or should I say Mr. SAGA!:-)

    Christopher

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  7. Now Mr. Monty that's truly an awesome lot. Very nice work on the horses.

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    1. Thanks Moiterei! One day, I must paint some Musketeer Minis for Dux B. And of course, look over your shoulder.

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  8. Oh Monty they are simply wonderful - what a cracking post!

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    1. Thanks Michael and good luck with Zombtober!

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    1. Thanks Michal and I found your blog. Added and following!

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  10. Fantastic looking war band and warlord. Perhaps they settled the battle by taking panic test after the two warlords killed each other

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    1. Dean, good one! It'd be very embarrassing if both fail and run but I bet it's happened.

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  11. Excellent looking troops Monty, really top class work. I recently played against a Breton force. Shooting and scooting will serve you well, they are particularly painful for a foot-slogging force to face.

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    1. Haha, even when you play bush pig in the woods ! Andy did very well to get you down to only your Hearthguard unit left. Shows how good this force is in shooting !

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    2. I remember that AAR! Good one, Paul.

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  12. I like those shields and your palette is excellent. My favourtie is the guy blowing the horn. You did a wonderful job of painting that up.

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    1. Thanks Anne! I've been on this SAGA kick for a long time and loving it. I adore your turn into pulp!

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  13. Very nice looking warband of Bretons. Have to agree with Paul, these guys are painful to face when you are all foot. "Backwards" and "All direction" skills are the go to battleboard skills my brother uses for his Breton force. And that Lady Mary skill is horrible.

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    1. Mark, thanks. As a finesse warband, I'll probably have to fail a lot before I can succeed!

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  14. Great looking figures Monty. Thanks for the audio book link. I'll be putting that on my que.

    I'm excited for my game against you tomorrow night. Sweet pictures on the way.. :)

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    1. Eric, thanks for the match! I can't wait for our game, tip a beer and hear about the Grand Melee at Adeptcon. See you tomorrow!

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  15. That's some seriously good work there, Monty - are you planning on keeping one of each warband to cover all eventualities? You're well on your way, by the looks of things!

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    1. Thanks Evan, I've managed to paint 10 factions. I just have to let Gripping Beast know so they can punch my "paint 10, get the 11th free" card.

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  16. Simply beautiful mate. I love the range of colours in the horses as much as anything.

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    1. Thanks for that, Michael. Horses can be a bit tiresome after getting the hearthguard done. I sunk in the time and I'm happy at the finish line.

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  17. Really good looking force. Fantastic painting. They really do pop off the screen so on the table they must look a treat.
    cheers

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    1. Thanks Brendon! Even in Dark Age painting, I just can't resist color.

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  18. Awesome work Monty, well done sir!
    I'm not familiar with the Saga rules set but wonder can one put an ancient force together? i.e. Greeks,Persians,Romans etc

    cheers,

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    1. Phil! Oh, that would be perfect. I've heard rumors that one day, they'll take the skirmish ruleset back to ancients. Right now, some fellows have posted up their own battleboards for ancients and fantasy too.

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  19. Thanks Fran, I appreciate that!

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