Here is the 2nd and final round of my Conquest Games plastic Normans. To distinguish my milites/hearthguards from the sergeants/warriors, the milites are all chainmail clad and kitted with teardrop shields.
The Norman battleboard in Saga is built for mounted and shooty troops. Mounted move 12" while foot troops creep along at 6". Throw in a double move and these boys can fly across the battlefield! Just as Superman has his kryptonite, mounted troops suffer a -1 to armor when shot at so you must hide them from javelins and archers. This tends to make the Normans a finesse warband.
My friend Hugh suggests the Normans shine brightest when employed with the
Muhammad Ali strategy. Hunker down against the ropes, er, the back line of the tabletop and let your opponent come to you. Play rope-a-dope by covering your mounted troops with your archers & crossbowmen. Jab with missile fire until your opponent charges into your screening shooty troops. THATS when you unleash a punishing barrage of uppercuts with your mounted troops and drop him to the canvas.
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| It's pronounced Mil-Eets, sucker! |
They look great. I plan to use the same set for my Sacon Cavalry (with modifications) and eventually my Normans, too. So this is great inspiration.
ReplyDeleteRegarding Norman tactics... In general Hugh would be right, but a lot of scenarios actually favour one side getting to thenobjective first. In those cases they should definately use the speed of their cavalry to the best effect. Also a lot of their abilities give their caalry quiet a punch on the attack. Against mainly foot troops it can be a good idea to draw the infantry in a certain direction, then shift your focus and attack a weakspot, making best use of said abilities. At the same time the infantry lured away will get peppered withnarrows and bolts while trying to catch up.
Thanks Burkhard! It's true, the New Guy should probably not spout off like an expert! I may ring in via email for more Saga tips. I'm wondering if the Flemish Mercenary option is a good one...create an anvil for the mounted hammers. I've got Norman Foot so I might as well paint some of them up!.
DeleteNo problem... I think I played most of my games vs. Normans, bu in the end I might just be a smart ass! ;-)
DeleteThe Flemish Mercinaries still give me some headaches. I think they are a nice option for those forces that rely on many lighter troops (Saxons for example) or like you say forces that rely on a lot of mounted troops. And obvious option are those secanrios where you need to defend something. I will try them with my Saxons, but since I will only paint those later this year it will still be some time.
Monty, these look great and should be feared on the battlefield! I often like playing those finesse type armies that require some subtlety and strategy rather than brute force. I really should give SAGA a try.
ReplyDeleteJonathan! The good news is that Saga is a low cost game to jump into, with it's low figure count. I was interested in Saga last summer but I waited until I could find a partner to jump into it with. I hope you can too!
DeleteFantastic looking Normans. Nice shades for the horses and great work on the shields. Best, Dean
ReplyDeleteThanks Dean, I appreciate it!
Deletelovely work Monty. They're the "dogs danglies" as someone put it in comments on some of my figures.
ReplyDeleteTamsin! Shouldn't you be out celebrating and being hoisted around on the shoulders of others for breaking the top 5 in the Painting Challenge? Congrats ... that is an amazing finish with the amazing company you kept.
DeleteI've never heard the term before and I assume its not a term of endearment!
Top 5? I finished in the #7 spot.
DeleteIt's a somewhat less coarse version of "the dog's bollocks" which means something very good indeed
Dang it, must have been Ray stuffing the ballot box that moved you ever so slightly down. It is nevertheless an amazing finish. Painting that many pike would have cause me to go blind!
DeleteThanks for the translation! I do love the color you all bring to the English language.
Stunning normans Monty ! Very good work on the shields !
ReplyDeleteVill be nice to read the AAR from your first game using the "Ali" tactic:)
Best regards Michael
Coming from the King of Freehanded Shields, I greatly appreciate that, Michael! More often than not, I'm the guy sprawled out on the canvass. But I do keep getting back up!
DeleteAmazing shields Monty! How can you make such beautiful things? Great work, no doubt!
ReplyDeletePhil.
:-) Thanks Phil! One day I must travel to France and see your fantastic collection of armies in person!
DeleteThey really are beautiful works of art Monty!
ReplyDeleteThanks Fran! I appreciate it!
DeleteExcellent troops Monty. We need to see this new tactic on the bored!
ReplyDeleteRay congrats on your high finish/sandbagging (lol) in the painting challenge as well. And Fran too! I forgot to say congrats to Fran. Ah, well...it's the thought that counts.
DeleteHi Monty,
ReplyDeletethey are beautiful, you done a nice work on the shields,I think fly like a butterfly and sting like a bee is little unfair to do it with a chainmail glove in your boxing glove, I should do like Charlie chaplin and put a horseshoe in mine just in case of! liver of rocky balboa ;-)
Cheers
gilles "thefrenchjester in the cage"
Gilles Balboa!
DeleteI'm afraid if I were actually in the ring, I'd make like Curly of the 3 Stooges and run in circles. It would be a dreadful sight.
Hi Monty,
Deletethe only stooges I really know was Iggy pop ;-)
I would prefer the Marx brothers for the "in period " delirium ;
and don't forget if you run, you will only die tired;-)
better chance to stay hidden in your ghillie suit in a corner even if it's uneasy to be hidden on a ring ;-)
Cheers
gilles " hidden below a towel ;-) "
Nice work here Monty. Like everyone else I'm impressed with those horses and those shields. I've got one to do some freehand work on and I'm hoping I don't ruin it.
ReplyDeleteI did a thank you for you on my Wednesday post, but I don't know if you saw it.
Thanks Anne! And thanks for the heads up as I'm on my way back to check it out!
DeleteThat's some super looking Normans!
ReplyDeleteChristopher
Thanks Chris! One of my friends is interested in Musket and Tomahawks, which you are painting. The adventure never ends.
DeleteNorman rope-a-dope, I love it ;) I thought it was MI-leet-ez?
ReplyDeleteLOl! I went on line to check the pronunciation and there is a Latin version, a French version and what I took to be an English version. I was going to throw this at TMP but just look what happened when someone asked how to pronounce Velites. I may do it anyway when I'm feeling daring. :-)
DeleteWow - these look great! I've just started painting up (slowly) the Conquest Norman infantry, which I really like; great minis.
ReplyDeleteMonty! You have the best name, BTW. Thanks! I've got a box of Conquest Games Norman foot but in Saga, the 8 Gripping Beast foot I've painted up are more than enough. Based on their mounted, I bet their great figs. Great price and lots of options. Good luck with your Norman project!
DeleteMonty, your painting of 28s is inspirational. Looking at your stuff makes me want to sit down and paint!
ReplyDeleteDid you wet-blend the shields? Please share your technique.
Ali had his Rumble in the Jungle with Smokin' Joe -- I'm lookign forward to the Slog in the Bog.
Thanks Brent! You do have a lot of lead to choose from when you're ready and I'd always love to hear your painting tips and tricks when we have a few spare moments.
DeleteAfter our game this AM, it looks like I'm no Ali, dang it. Time for plan B.
I'm looking forward to finishing my rebasing project and moving on to painting some fresh figures! There is a rumor on the forum that the Crusades will be the next supplement (started by fans, not the authors). That would suit me just fine!
DeleteGreat Stuff Monty!
ReplyDelete*off to paint*
David S.
Hey David! You'll be snowed in soon enough so you might as well paint! ;-)
Delete