Border Reiving and Bannockburn

Apologies for the lack of recent posts. My new job as battle coordinator at the National Trust for Scotland's new Battle of Bannockburn Heritage Visitor centre has meant that hobby time has indeed been severely reduced. Ironic that I spend a large amount of my day running wargames for members of the public/talking about the history of the conflict, but hey they are paying my wages. However if you're in the area anytime soon, would like to participate in a light approximation of the battle and see some cool technology at work, please come along, participate and say hello.

The Claymore Rampant day, run by the above manufacturer of all things Scots War of Independence, went very well indeed. Although low on numbers (only about six of us turned up) it proved to be a very fun, laid back and enjoyable event, largely focused on a series of cross border raids in the 1340's. I just fell short of pipping the top spot by half a point, but nonetheless the victor well deserved his position. I really hope some more similar events are run in coming months, I'd certainly be up for them.

Recently my painting efforts have been focused upon painting up Border Reiver's for Glasgow Phoenix Wargamings "Not Too Hot,or Too Heavy" (to quote GM Fraser, who I am reading at the moment as background research) campaign, using Osprey's new set of rules En Garde, the miniatures have been made by Hoka Hey, using the old Graven Images castings and they are very nice indeed. Crisply detailed, with lots of research into period details they almost tick all my boxes. Hard wearing and not prone to broken spears or bent weapons, I also found this was one of the miniatures down points as they must have cast the pewter with antimony as it made them extremely difficult to trim sparing mould lines off. Equally (and this is me just nit picking) there are a couple of instances of belt buckles and baldricks that can be clearly seen below the belt, but do not extend over the shoulder. Now maybe it is just me, or they are meant to be portraying a hanger rather than the above, but it is slightly annoying, but a good bit of modelling putty/plasticard will easily rectify this. A solid 4/5 from me.

Equally, a lot has to be said for the En Garde ruleset, it has the feel of a mix of RPG, a bit of Mordheim with a dash of Dumas. Play alternates via an IGOUGO system, whereby the model/individual in question can do one of a series of action, move, attack or shoot. Very simple in nature, combat is based upon a combat pool, with the individual of the higher rank taking priority. Points in the combat pool can be spent on individual fencing actions that might get an individual out of a sticking situation which is quite innovative. With often only singular attacks available, a clear strategic undercurrent lies in the game. Morale falls after half a side is killed, and indeed in this respect it can prove fast, furious and indeed bloody. Needing only 6-12 miniatures a side at the most, it works perfectly for a quick game or for those strapped for time. I’m certainly going to be using it for the ECW.

I’m certainly now looking at raising a force to act as government march wardens to oppose my reivers, as well as raising my stock of livestock. However focus is very much on getting my ECW collection finished now without interruption. I am hugely looking forward to Bicorne Miniatures/HelionPublishing’s The Kingdom is Ours, so major time is now going to be set on finishing my favourite period. Incidently anyone rearranging their storage facilities for miniatures may well be interested that Poundland is currently selling magnetic tape. I have based about half my collection with it and it works perfectly. Check it out.

More soon.

Chevauchee bound for Edinburgh

The effect a course of good weather, practice and tinkering makes on your miniature photography is immense. For once haven't had to spend a couple of hours editing photo's for the best result. Hopefully this shows.

Sir Robert Davidson Bearing the Campbell banner. 28mm Irregular Miniatures.

Anyway the last week has seen a frenzy of medieval shenanigans, with a well fated battlefield walk on the field of Bannockburn, (followers of my other blog Traileth Thou the Puissant Pike, keep your eye's peeled in coming days), coupled with finishing off my retinue based on the forces of the Earl of Mar for the Claymore Rampant event, run by Claymore Castings of Fife next Sunday, has meant that the Anglo-Scot's Wars of the 14th century have very much been on my mind recently. Obviously having supported SBT's wargames event so well earlier in the year, I only felt it was kind enough to reciprocate in kind, while also persuading me to get some miniatures off the painting desk.


I've been playing a number of games of Lion Rampant in recent weeks, being slightly worried about getting back into the rules after a year, but it seems I have taken to it like a duck to water and am looking forward to a series of chevauchee's being waged next weekend. The following miniatures are a mix of Perry HYW plastics (originally intended for an Agincourt  project but financially recycled for a smaller campaign) and Irregular Miniatures, I think I have provided them with a fairly decent paint job. Inspiration and colour schemes were taken from a mix of Ian Heath's WRG Armies of the Middle Ages (1982) and Peter Armstrong's Osprey book on Otterburn (2007). Flags are a mix of the ever brilliant Flags of War and Ray Roussel's from his blog. Armour has been finished off in gloss varnish, while the flock for anyone asking is actually made out of dyed saw dust, from a past issue of Battlegames.

Anyway here for your delectation and delight is my retinue, representing the Earl of Mar's Forces at the battle of Harlaw 1411. It is my hope to soon extend this collection with a retinue to represent the forces of The Lord of the Isles, using new Perry HYW French MAA.

The Earl of Mar's Personal Schiltrom, 28mm Perry

A note of advise. Too often it gets commented on the fact that Scots were distinctly different from their southern neighbours. Certainly I have never seen any evidence to suggest this and just like the Welsh, the difference between the rest of the British Isles in clothing is often negligible. Only by going into the Highlands, with definite Irish and Norwegian influences, did clothing differ drastically.Certainly in terms of arms, documents from the 12th century Assize of Arms portray Scots armaments as being a generation behind the English. However, the fact that relative economic stability, with conflict becoming more infrequent except for clan disputes and with Scot's still being recruited as mercenaries to serve in the French Army, it is likely any lowland Scots force would look just the same as anyone else.

Irvine of the Drum's Schiltrom

 Scot's Archers-note a lack of difference between Scot's, Welsh and English Warbow's.

Armoured Sergeants of Sir Alexander Leslie

Note a preponderance of Gerry Embleton lookalike's within Perry Miniature's Sprue, far left.

Knight's Retinue under the flag of Hay, Earl of Erroll.

Armoured Retinue of Knights, under the guidons of The Earl Marischal.

I think the number of photo's taken speak for itself the pride I've taken in building this retinue. Hopefully it plays as well as it looks on the battlefield.

So onto the next project, where The Stanehouse's will go Border Reiving, using Hoka Hey. Reviews forthcoming

The Bunker

Spoilt for choice this week, with two posts in two days. Obviously everyone wants their battlefields to have big armies and big terrain features and defences to complement them. Looking at continual battles over heavily enclosed French fields is all good, but minds do wonder to Stalingrad, Berlin,               D-Day, Merville Battery, factories, ruins and more besides. Therefore I felt a bunker was the natural starting point for this month's terrain project. Built using the following tutorial Link, it was scratch built using copious amounts of foamboard, air drying clay, hot glue and filler and does the job just marvellously. I think price just came in at £2 as much of the stuff was lying around the house and the foamboard was given away by Dad's work from architectural drawing plans. Many a game of Bolt Action will be played over it and I now hope in the coming weeks to complement it with a steady supply of minefields, tank traps, craters, obstacles and marshes.

Neville takes up the Lion Rampant

News of my demise has been over exaggerated, just not enough been happening to warranting commenting on and writing for various publications, hopefully some of which the wargaming community might become familiar soon.

Anyway, painting has been going apace with a company of mounted knights and half a schiltron of Scots Spear left to paint up for Claymore Rampant Earl of Mar's army for Battle of Harlaw left to go. All said and done, hopefully this should be all finished by weekend after next, to get a good start on club border reiver campaign before putting the finishing touches to the ECW project. It never ends :)

In the meantime, started getting the rust off for playing Lion Rampant and had the first of a couple of recap games the other night, what following acting as a small battle report.

The Lord Percy's Lancastrian Forces Line the enclosures

The Yorkist Right Flank advances hard with a massed herce of bowmen

Coming up hard behind the Percy cavalry holds a clear vigil over the developing situation

Making a break through the ruins of the abbey and into the surrounding woods, the Windrush Archers hold a lonely vigil, keeping the enemy bill at bay with well aimed deadly arrowstorms

Warwick the Kingmaker and his billblock lie in wait, making a decision as to whether to assault the exposed bow or engage the bill on their flank.

Despite taking heavy casualties, Warwick and the Windrush billmen push Percy off the hill, but not for long

 The Duke of Arundel sends forward a armoured fist of bowmen and handgunners, keeping up steady volleys, while the bill smash and send the Swiss phalanx back the way they came.

Regaining the hill, Percy decides to angle his central block in a move to try and dislodge opposition from the woods.

Sending forward massed ranks of men at arms.

The scene at the end of turn 5. With a clear hook advancing under Arundel on the right flank, it is up to the Kingmaker's remaining forces (Neville being lost in the assault on the hill) to anchor the flank. However Warwick's exposed bill block is in the wake of the oncoming men at arms. Can the Yorkist cavalry reach them in time.

The Yorkist cavalry sweep their Lancastrian foes before them, forcing Percy into the frey. The game ended with a minor victory, with Michael, my opponent losing three units, to my two. A well played game, hopefully more next week with follow up practice games in the wake of April 10.