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.

Foot Serjeants

So after our first game I noticed I was missing an option in the collection,namely some foot serjeants armed with the two handed bill. A very handy option for getting through some heavy armour. First I picked up one of the weapon sprues from Wargames Atlantic and began to work on some spare figures I had left over from Fireforge miniatures. Luckily the weapons/arms are a good fit. Very handy for future options. So 6 serjeants done, wouldn't mind doubling the numbers but will need another weapon sprue and a few more bodies.

I also took the opportunity to sort out another four foot knights, these are all from Fireforge. These were previously painted with cloaks, which have now been removed, it was then a simple job of re-painting the tabards and shields with the odd touch up on the armour.

Next on the painting table are some mounted knights/serjeants. These are from Conquest miniatures, nice and easy to paint up.

First game of Baron's War

So on Thursday night at the club I ran a small 300 point game for Barons War. To keep things simple, both sides were the same. A baron with a command group of foot knights, a unit of serjeants and some bowmen. It was a simple meeting engagement with both sides trying to take down the other. Though the main aim was just learning the rules.

Sean's force advancing from the East

Miych's force advancing from the West

Both sets of bowmen begin to exchange fire

Serjeants engage in combat

Now the Baron's clash

It's all over

In a quirk of fate the game ended when Mitch killed Sean's Baron in melee, but then broke and fled. I really enjoyed the rules, quick to get the hang of. I know we made a few mistakes around activating units, but melee and archery are easy to pick up. Looking forward to the second run out next week, may even add a few cavalry to both sides.

Re-basing for Baron's war

My bases finally arrived so I was able to quickly re-base the mounted knights and sergeants. Some of the sergeants were armed with the lance which was quickly changed to a variety of hand weapons to fit the game rules. Those lances were added to the knights. I also made a few amendments to the tabards and shields to stop them from looking uniformly.

Sergeants

Knights

 With these done I then discovered a box of Conquest miniatures medieval knights. They will be perfect as mounted sergeants, though one rider is missing, still gives me another 9 mounted figures to complete. I've also put in a couple of orders to fill the gaps in the collection, namely some foot knights and crossbowmen from Footsore, peasants from Wargames atlantic and Sergeants from Footsore which will be equipped with the 2-handed glaive.

The collection so far. More than enough to start gaming. The rules will get a run out on Thursday night, keeping it small as we learn them. Already 3  other club members have committed to getting forces. Already have ideas for a map based campaign using the local Barons of Northumberland.

So far we have 

Me - William de Vesci, Baron of Alnwick

Neil G - Richard Bertram, Baron of Bothal

Neil B - John de Lilburn, Constable of Dunstanborough

Mitch - Henry Delaval, Baron of Callerton

I'm hoping we may get another couple of players converted once they see the rules in action

Barons War additions

Forgot to post these figures I completed just before my trip. Five more knights added, they are a mix of Fireforge plastics and Blacktree. The figure at the back with the attempted cross on his shield is to represent William de Vesci, Baron of Alnwick and leader of my force. When I get back, I'll do a bit more work on it.

Next up is a seige tower and battering ram. They are old Citadel models that I've had for years. The tower was picked up off Ebay with a couple of broken wheels. Adding a base made it more sturdy. I'll need to sort some rope to lower and raise the ramp.

I'll only be using these as scenic items for a possible raid scenario, defenders trying to either break a seige or destroy the tower.