Landsknecht - Project Complete

 Finally pulled it out and got around to completing my Landsknecht. 

They've been on the "97% and not hugely bothered, but one last push will do it" pile for an age now (although strictly speaking, I suppose I've another 12-15 to do here and there), but done enough to play some games.

Now, one of the problems I was confronted with was - how to vary paint the multi colours of Landsknecht (non) uniform, whilst working to a production line and not going insane by trying to do them one by one? 

The answer: paint 10 at a time, production style, but with the colours mixed across the models in different places, then instead of completing a unit, wait until *everything* is done and mix all the models up into a reasonably random order of colours and style. Simple really, but made for a depressing lack of  actively feeling like anything had been finished, as no units were being made battle ready, just a big pile of painted models. Got there in the end though!

Some of these have been making appearances in the WOTR games as mercs. Mainly Warlord, but theres a couple of Perry boxes in there too and a GW helblaster. Well, you have to, don't you? FUCKING HELBLASTER!!

Full army

Pikes.

More pikes.

Even more pikes. I like pike.

Handgunners, Crossbows and FUCKING HELBLASTER

Crossbows, Handguns.

Zweihanders.

Theres cannon lurking somewhere in these pictures too. God knows where.

Finally, Georg von Frundsberg to lead them. 

Really like this model - loads of character. His banner was a nice simple one to paint too, so probably the most enjoyable model in the force.

So................whats in that last couple of % to finish? Well, its a few more command models and some more handguns. Oh, and casualties, lots of casualties.

I'd love to buy some of the packs of camp followers, vignettes and such that Warlord have up for sale, but at those prices?? Enough to give ol' Georg a stroke!

Lothar Rothmanns - Mordheim Diary Entry #2

 Rothmann cursed under his breath........damn this weather. He and his followers should have been safely at the inn by now.

Now, the light was failing, they were still on the road, they were sodden and they were miserable, silently trudging through these woods, filthy to the knee.

A cry went up from the lead man. What was it this time? Not another delay, he hoped. 

Rothmann moved up to check.

What was that? Something shuffling amongst the treeline.............Rothmann gave the cry to pull back and regroup. Make all weapons ready!

Vile beastmen! How many? Where? Which direction?? They seemed to be flooding out of the trees in all directions.

It was all descending into a series of individual fights, each man for himself. Rothmann saw Brother Belgar fall near him, the Priest taking what looks to be a dreadful wound. 

No time to assist, as the beasts were attacking from all directions, Rothmann bellowing orders to keep the band together. People were splintering and being isolated - we must stay together!

An unholy animal appeared in front of him, roaring in what seemed to be a guttural language. Was this leading these creatures? Rothmann had to charge and attempt to swing things by defeating this enemy.

 The baggage animals frothed and screamed in fear as fighting continued all round them.

Men were falling all round him. Rothmann saw there was no other option.............he gave the general call to retreat, feeling the shame of his last retreat. This time it would be an ordered withdrawal, not a rout again.

Lifting their injured fellows, the Witchfinders fled the scene, leaving the beasts looting their baggage, gorging on the dead and pack animals they had left behind.

Thankfully, as he was being carried away by the Zealots, Brother Belgar stirred and gave a cry of pain. He had survived, but was clearly seriously injured.

WOTR 1455-1461 - Blore Heath

 

Date: Tuesday 11th October 2022

Table Size: 8x6

Context: Lancaster have assembled an army and are preparing to move on the Yorkists. Becoming aware of this, York sends urgent messages to Salisbury and Warwick to raise troops and march to meet. Lord Audley, Lancaster, has been ordered to move in between the York forces and prevent them from joining up, with contact being made at Blore Heath to the south of Market Drayton.

The Lancastrians assemble their army for battle behind a ‘Great Hedge’, positioned on the southern side of the road and a stream, the Wemberton Brook,

Lord Audley kept his cavalry mounted, rather than preparing the defensive position on foot, intent on taking advantage of his considerable advantage of  mounted men over the York army.

The Yorkists have arrived in sight of the Lancastrian position, with the road and stream between them and the Lancastrians.

Due to the numbers advantage held by Lancaster, the Yorkists have halted on the edge of a defile and began to prepare a defensive position in anticipation of the attack.

Battlefield Map

The river will pose an obstacle to crossing, by slowing troops and disordering them as they wade through.

Order of Battle:

Yorkists - 10 units, split across 2 Battles. There are no gunpowder weapons in use on this day.

Lancastrians - 10 units of foot and 4 of horse, split across 3 battles. There are no gunpowder weapons in use on this day.

Objectives - Yorkist: Defend and hold the line against an outnumbering force.

Objectives - Lancastrian: The Queen has ordered you to bring Lord Salisbury to her - dead or alive. Engage and destroy the opposing army.

WOTR 1455-1641 - First St Albans Battle Report

 As detailed in the scenario HERE, the first battle of St Albans was hard fought, heavily drank and hotly contested.

Inital table layout and deployments

Yorkist forces line up ready for the attack

Lancastrians dig into the town and prep for defence

Warwicks men start to push towards the centre of the town, coming under waves of crossbow fire, which manages to hold them back. Stern fellows, these!

Lancastrians holding firm in the town, whilst the Yorkists just can't seem to get a solid advance together!

FINALLY, some inspiring bellowing from York gets a unit of men at arms into the fray in the centre, some knights and a household into action on the York left flank, threatening to break into the town.

Mass fighting on that left flank allows the York lines to begin sweeping in and trying to shut the door, but its inches won and lost

Warwicks men punch through the centre, grab King Henry and make their way over to the church for cover. Its a difficult position to hold though!

See those men at arms on the left, by the wooden wall, with the injured chaps by them? Thats Warwicks boys. The three units at the centre top are all Lancastrian! Edward is doing his best to get stuck in, but Oxford holds up well.

Somerset puts his head out to try holding down the Lancastrian left, but finds a mass charge of knights straight into him. Potential killer, game winning, moment!

Somerset quickly seeks cover in his nearby mercenaries. Can the knights do this, the odds are on their side?

Predictably..............no, they whiffed it and only scored one hit and took an awful lot of damage in return. 

With that, the Yorkists cannot hold any longer, the King is too deep into the enemy line to withdraw and the army retreats from the field.

Narrow Lancastrian win.

Great game. Everything came together well, the scenario lined up nicely and there was an awful lot of violence on both sides.

Painting Tally - September 2022

 1 Hill (well, a big one!)

Monthly Total - 1

Yearly Total - 407

Not the most productive of months..........