This spring, I painted Mid Republican Roman, Pontic and Gallic armies for Impetus. I finished my Gauls in May and wrapped up the project with a ton of pics. Unfortunately, the pics turned out to be garbage (arg!) so this post went on the back burner until I could reshoot them. Photography is my least favorite part of this hobby but I finally got them lined up and photographed. Here's the first and last muster of my Impetus Gauls before they left for a new home. Boys, we hardly knew ya!
Naked Warriors: These were easy to paint thanks to the great sculpts by Xyston-clearly a fit and trim bunch. While sculpting the hills and cliffs with clay was a messy and slow business, the end results were decent!
Light Cavalry: To my mind, the Impetus method of using one base per unit is genius. Light horse looks like lights, do they not? And you have the space to tell a story.
Medium Cavalry: Looking suitably tough as they descend a hill to loot a camp near you.
Light Chariots: Xyston doesn't do Gallic chariots so I grabbed these from
Splintered Light Miniatures. I was very pleased with them, especially the shaggy ponies. Splintered Light is another top miniature modeler.
Javelinmen Skirmishers: In Impetus, a skirmisher base is 20 mm x 80 mm. I doubled these up for the visual effect.
Warriors: 10 bases of warriors. Xyston command packs have some heroic poses and the basing allows these figures to shine.
While Impetus did not catch fire in our group, I don't regret this project for a moment. This was the most fun I've had painting minis to date. I love the spacing and opportunity to tell a story on a single base. I love painting each figure with great care, knowing the basing allows the extra efforts to be seen. I also love the game itself! The only part I didn't care for was my armies sitting in boxes and not seeing the light of day. To that end, I put my unused armies up for sale for an end-of-year reset. Off went my gladiators and all 3 Impetus armies. The upside is:
- 2 gentlemen in Kansas City will use my Romans and Pontics for a tabletop adaptation of Command and colors.
- A gentlemen in Wisconsin will use my Gauls in his Roman v. Barbarian slugfests.
- A gentlemen in Kentucky will surprise his club with my gladiators on game night.
- I'm getting a commission as well, which means I'm not done painting and basing Impetus.
- Lastly, I have funds for my next project. On to the next thing!
Monty, they are awesome! Great stuff.
ReplyDeleteThanks Phil. I'd offer you a cup of the local coffee but don't want to get your blood boiling. ;-)
DeleteGreat collection of well-painted figures. Impetus has not caught on in my group either despite my pleas to give it a try. To me, the large stand size offers the opportunity to both create dioramas and push less stands around the table. Two pluses in my book.
ReplyDeleteIts a shame we don't live within driving distance Add to that a decisive and fun game in 2 1/2 hours and you've got a good thing going!
DeleteIt is a shame. There are, however, direct flights from MSP to GEG. My wife grew up in Edina so we do make it to the Twin Cities occasionally.
DeleteTop notch quality as always Monty! Glad thing worked out so well. Time to move on to some proper 28mm stuff right? :-P
ReplyDeleteReally the details on those wee little shields are mind numbingly awesome!
Jason
Funny you mention that. I'm pretty close to pulling the trigger on Saga. That will be a baby step in the 28mm direction.
DeleteWait till you see my Hungarians v2 with their heraldry. A sword, arm and a pierced heart, all on a 15mm shield.
They went to a good home and funded more shiny items my friend but they were beautifully done!
ReplyDeleteThanks Fran! I always feel guilty about spending family funds on my hobby so now I have the $ to go big on my next adventure or two.
DeleteHi Monty,
ReplyDeleteThey are wonderful, colors are great, and the bases are very nice to enhance the minis! My favourites are the chariots...
Best,
Phil.
Hello Phil! I do love the chariots as well. In Impetus, light chariots get a few dice for missile fire, which I quite liked.
DeleteHi Monty,
ReplyDeletethey are great !!!!!!
the Xyston minis are fitting very well with your painting style and on the impetus bases they are full of movement;
I definitely prefer the Gallic breed to the Garlic bread ;-)
a new project ????? some foes to your Sertorius Lusitanian ?????
Cheers
Gilles "reporting from the former Gallic land ;-) "
Gilles!
DeleteI've spent most of 2012 painting Xyston. But now onto something new. I've got a good start on my Hungarians and it looks like I'll be the very last gamer to paint and play Saga. We're going to have a demo this weekend and I'm quite sure I'll like it!
Chariots are ace, the the colours rock. Did you work off of white or black for the base coat?
ReplyDeleteGood question. Figs with chainmail and horses got black primer. All the rest, white. Yellow shields white primer and the rest black. I find that I can't commit to only one primer.
DeleteFor the Hungarian WIP, I'm using multiple colored primers for the 100+ horse figures. More on that later!
Those guys look really great!
ReplyDeleteChristopher
Thanks Chris!
DeleteReally great army, and a pity the game never took off in your area. Im in the process of re-organising all my Xyston DBA armies, lots of messing about rebasing but it will be worth it i think.
ReplyDeleteSteve
Yorkie, I think it's a big payoff and I hope you post some BEFORE/AFTER photos. Fewer figures per base means you might end up with a bigger army when your done. The key is to have an install base. I'll keep trying to create one in 15mm locally!
DeleteHere is a very beautiful Gallic army
ReplyDeleteCongratulations and special mention for chariots
Thanks Spock, I appreciate it!
DeleteTop notch, shame they have to go.
ReplyDeleteThanks Max. I had some pangs when I boxed them but now I'm eyeing what I'll do next.
DeleteBrenton is sad :(
ReplyDeleteOK, I'm over it! What's next, what's next?
Saga! For sure, Saga!
DeleteVery nice Gauls !!!
ReplyDeleteLook realy grate with the impetus basing.
Best regards Michael
Thanks Dal! Impetus basing is tops, by far!
DeleteSuperb Monty. The new owner must be very happy indeed. I would have been very pleased to have them in my collection..... and already based for Impetus, even better.
ReplyDeleteThanks Tarty! My miniature photography must not be too good because the owner started by telling me "these look better in person that the photos." I guess I should work on improving my skills in that area.
DeleteIf I lived only a few thousand miles to the east, I'd love to do an Impetus WoTR army to go head to head with yours!
Monty i really like your style of painting and the concept you put into distinquishing the unit types. well done.
ReplyDeletejack
ladd
Jack, you son of a gun! I REALLY appreciate your feedback!
DeleteI've got a HUGE lot of Saga figures coming. I found it cheap on BTown. I may be bugging you for advice on painting 28mm. Seeing as how you've painted the best looking Byzantine army THIS side of the Mississippi, I figure you are the man to see!
Well i finally got the Byz. Kav. done and finished the flocking too. Brent has mentioned a little bit of the SAGA stuff., i dug out a few items to kinda put together for it. Although i do not have the rules, i am intrigued by the system. jack
ReplyDeleteHey Jack, I know its tricky but I'd love to get in a game with you some day. Impetus, Saga, Maurice. In 2013, we'll have to get together at Brent's and make it happen. And maybe talk painting.
DeleteTo future games!