William de Vesci

William de Vesci, Baron of Alnwick, born in 1205, the son of Eustace de Vesci, a Magna Carta surety. I picked William as my leader for games of Baron's War simply because I actually work in Alnwick, so it feels close to home. I also quite liked his shield design of a dark red background and a white cross.

For a figure I went for one of the commanders in the Footsore range, which also came with a banner man. Much prefer the idea of a metal figure over plastic for my Baron.

William de Vesci, Baron of Alnwick

For the banner I just took an image of a suitable cross and added it to a dark red background. I simply just painted over it once I had printed it out. I also did a second, simpler banner to add to a command group if I decide to have my force led by a serjeant of arms in smaller point games. The figure is a Templar infantryman from Fireforge miniatures.

Mitch also provided me with five pieces of wattle fencing that he had 3d printed, he had already done a load for himself which we used in the last game. I decided to add mine to modelling sticks to help differentiate them from his.

These are very nice and have asked him for some additional pieces. I also umpired another game last week, only took a couple of photos as we had a first time player. All the action ended up at the other side of the table.

It's market day

With plans afoot for a mini campaign day at the club, we will need enough terrain for 3 tables. We currently have enough for 2 tables, so time to add a few more items. With the frames I had left I put together another 3 market stalls. I added some trade items I picked up from Oshiro models along with some pieces I already had painted up.

I'm quite happy with how these have turned out. I will need to pick up some more trade items to complete the other 2 stalls. Also with it being the Border Reiver show this weekend, I intend to pick up a few carts and other items of clutter to fill the table.

Browsing on the Facebook group page I came across an idea for creating some militant monks, using the bodies from the Gripping beast plastics. Luckily I still had a couple of frames and decided to put 6 figures together using spare heads and weapons from the Wargames atlantic peasant sprue.

I painted them in various browns and greys to represent a monks garb. All I had to do was remove the Arabic knives from their belts, though I did miss one. 

Banners and a few extras

As I slowly work my way through the remaining figures, until a few orders arrive. I needed some banners for my retinue. So I decided on a very simple design as these will be used for the 2 existing forces I had for Lion's Rampant. I also took the opportunity to add another Knight/Baron for the blue/yellow troops.

So simple stripes were the order of the day. Also gave me an opportunity to try out some acrylic pens I had picked up. The shield on the Baron is an old Bretonian one I had spare.

I also painted up a couple more spearman, using the arms from Wargames Atlantic on Fireforge bodies. I also did the last 3 remaining mounted serjeants I had from Conquest miniatures.

For an upcoming club campaign Sean has also committed, ordering himself some mounted knights. This brings us up to 7 participants. I'll need to nake a start on a few more terrain pieces as the idea is forming on running 2 or 3 games across the combined tables.

Market Stalls

I picked up a pack of 4 MDF market stalls from EBay, turns out I have enough parts to build 7, so a bit of a bonus. I started work on the first 2, as I will need more trade goods for the others. I picked these trade goods up from Oshiro models.

The stalls were just giving a basic wood look, the canopy was made from kitchen roll soaked in PVA glue. Think they turned out ok.

I've now put in an order to Oshiro models for some more trade goods and I can start building the rest.

More Baron's War

After Thursday's run out of the rules, I decided I was in need of some extra terrain pieces to build a medieval village to fight over. Luckily I already have a church and 3 resin homes from Gripping Beast as well as a couple of stone outbuildings with small fields attached. To these I can add a few walls, some crates and barrels etc. I then remembered that I had a wattle building from Renedra that I could also use along with 3 or 4 card built houses I did many years ago. So I should have plenty of buildings but did decide to add 2 more outbuildings, just for variety. I also picked up some ready painted wattle fences off EBay at a very reasonable price, will probably get another set of these. The 2 outbuildings were quick and easy to do. A simple base coat of chocolate brown, then dry brushed all over with dark grey. The roof was give a dry brush of middlestone before the whole model was dry brushed with a cream.

There will be further additions to come on the scenery front. I have a number of market stalls to build and paint. May need to pick up some extra trade goods if I build all seven. I'll also need a few more carts or wagons just to break the terrain up and provide more cover.

On the figure front I added 4 more serjeants with spears, these are kit bashed from Fireforge and Wargames atlantic. I deliberately went without shields, there are another 2 more to do. I also finished the last of my peasants, this gives me 2 different weapon options for them.

I hope to get the last few figures done this week, including a couple of knights and a serjeant with banners. After these I can work on the first of the market stalls.

2nd game of Baron's War

So the rules got another  run out as Mitch and I  tried out a 500 point game using the forces in the starter set. We also had access to one of the larger tables at the club which was an excuse to add more terrain. I still need more though. Once again it was just a chance to learn the rules and correct a few things from last week. The game definitely flowed better as the rules are beginning to stick. I do like the different set ups and scenarios that can be used in the game, you can fight over the same terrain and get different games.

A peaceful Northumberland village

Both sides could deploy right up to the centre of the table

It all begins to 'kick off'

Fighting intensifies

My Peasants got roughly handled and eventually broke

Serjeants awaiting reinforcements

Overall I'm really liking these rules, 2 more players have also caught the bug. Thom will get his first run out of the rules next week. As for terrain, after the game I remembered I had a wattle out building from Renedra that can be added to the table. I also ordered a couple more as you can never have too many  buildings. I have also picked up a couple of bundles of wattle fencing which will help with fields and enclosures. I jut need a few more carts. Now back to painting a few more figures.

Mustering more troops

Well it looks like Baron's War has taken off at the club after just 1 learning game. Mitch and Thom have ordered the boxed set and Neil B has picked up the rules. We also have Neil G and Andy collecting forces. So as this escalation begins it was time to churn out a few more troops. First up was 6 mounted serjeants from Conquest miniatures, they are actually designated as knights, but as they are on un-barded horses they fit the role of serjeants better . These are great figures and very reasonably priced.

I do have another 3 of these to paint up, I'm just waiting for some extra mdf bases to arrive and I can make a start on them. The other batch of figures I worked on were some peasant levy. These are from Wargames Atlantic and are great figures. You get 6 figures per sprue and a good selection of random weapons.

Pleased I picked up a second sprue and have already got them built and started painting. I'll hopefully have them completed in the next couple of days. 

One thing that the game does need is plenty of terrain. I did have some homemade stone walls that I did for the Border Reivers that I can use, but they seem to be hiding at the moment. The other walls I had were the pre-painted plastic ones from Pegasus hobbies. They were done as a light grey and I was never really that keen on them. So I decided to give them a re-paint, instead of grey I went for a more sandstone look which is common in Northumberland. I think they turned out okay. Just need to find the sixth piece.

Now I just need to wait on an order for some wattle fences and some bases so that I can re-purpose the card tents from the old Games Workshop Perilous Quest boxed set.