Don't lose your head!

The Scots warriors continue the dark, earthen palette I plotted for the warband. I did sneak in some flourishes for the dandies in the bunch. These figures are on par with Gripping Beast's superb Welsh and Jomsvikings.

So, about the head on a pike. I found two bannermen in this set and one banner, so it was time to improv.  One of the two bannermen was channeling the Dead Rabbit gang to me.  I dug up a head, drilled it and presto, the "Don't lose your head" gang is born.   The Scots are a blast to paint and they're - wait for it - my favorite warband to date.  I do seem to get my head turned by each new faction that comes down the pike.

For SAGA players, the Scots battleboard emphasizes defensive abilities while allowing for a counterpunch.  Some of their standout abilities are:

Give Ground gives you the chance to reduce your opponent's attack dice. Ouch!  

Hold the Ground adds 2 or 4 defensive dice.
Keeping the Distance: Allows a unit the benefit of being treated as in heavy cover for the turn.  

Reach actives a movement and turns a unit (or 2) into javelin armed for the turn.  Shooting up your opponent is a great way to goad them into a charge.  

Tireless allows you to reduce fatigue by 1 at the end of the melee. Great for stacking 2 attacks in a turn.

They look to be another tough faction and it'll be interesting to see them out on the tabletop.  

Sayonara, 2013

Last year was a great year for gaming and painting.  With my son at college, I've gone from monthly to weekly gaming.  I've gotten in a mix of SAGA, Field of Glory, Maurice, Dux Brittanarium, and Longstreet. 2013 was the year I shed my Guy with the Worst Dice label.  While gaming is about having a good time, cutting up and tipping a beer or two, it's nice to win occasionally. I believe the law of large numbers has kicked in because my dice have been red hot!

I  painted 931 15mm figures including new Gallic, Dailami and ACW armies. In 28mm, I painted 585 figures including Vikings, Anglo-Danes, Jomsvikings, Normans, Welsh, Irish, Scots, Byzantines and Dark Age Swords for Hire.  SAGA has been my gateway drug into Dark Age reading and gaming.  SAGA also pulled some of my buddies into 28mm and having crossed the Rubicon, we're looking to port our 28mm warbands into other rules.

Thanks to painting contracts, I was able to substantially upgrade my paints and hobby tools.  I paint more than I can play so I appreciate the opportunity to paint for profit.  To put my efforts in perspective, my furnace went out Monday night.  With temperatures below zero, I frantically called to get Emergency $ervice. I told the bleary eyed furnace repairman my ignition was out and after 10 minutes, he'd replaced it at a cost of $430.  I compared his rate to mine and I felt a bit ill.  At least I had heat to go with my queasiness!

The painting table is loaded for 2014.  I've got Norse Gael, Jomsvikings and Bretons to paint for myself thanks to Mrs. Claus.  And I have 2 Ronin starter sets plus WW II British Paras to paint on contract.

If you were up too late last night and you're looking for something to put you back to sleep, I've got my tallies below the break.  Otherwise, cheers to you and to 2014!

Of Javelins and heather - a Scots warband

After the departure of the Romans, the Dal-Riada Scots fought and then formed a kingdom with the Picts in 846. Kingship at that time was multilayered, with kings using their war bands for raiding and the occasional campaign. With a patchwork of clans and lordships, the Scots stood fast against the Normans during the conquest of England. Their armies were mostly unarmored spearmen fighting in closed ranks.  The body of spearmen would generally be flanked or preceded by bow or javelin skirmishers. Warriors were barelegged and poorly clad.  By the 10th century, they were fighting in shield wall like the Vikings. Imitation is indeed the sincerest form of flattery!

I find that levy figures are a great warm up for painting a warband.  These Scots levies were likely slaves and thus, a simple palette with no flourishes.  In SAGA, these Dark Age Expendables are used to shield the rest of the warband from missile fire and to hurl javelins at the enemy. All Gripping Beast and once again, really nice scuplts.

Speaking of really nice, it's great to be back painting 28mm after a long run of 15mm.  I hope you fared well over the Holiday, with plenty of laughter and love from the people who mean the most to you.  My son is back from college and it's great to all be together again!