Rhoxolani light cavalry

These are 2x10 figure light Sarmatian cavalry for my Pontic army (Rhoxolani). The figures are all Foundry Dacian/Sarmatian light cavalry with added shield, bow and quiver. They are all mounted on 1st Corps horses, some small conversions have been carried out on the figures such as the musican in the center of the top photo.

Sarmatian Nobles

This is the Sarmatian/Scythian King leading a 18 figure Sarmatian Noble cavalry unit (2 more to paint). The figures are a mix of Foundry Scythians, Sarmatians and Old Glory Sarmatians (many of the armoured horses are from Navigator Miniatures). These figures are presently used in the army of Mithradates of Pontus with varying results.

Parthians

Two units of 15 Parthian Cataphracts. I use these in my Parthian army for WAB as well as Armenians as allies for the Pontic army of Mithradates. So far I have been using the Parthian and Pontic lists designed by Jeff Jonas for the forthcoming 'Successors' supplement (coming some time in 2007). The figures are a mix of Old Glory, Newline Designs and the old Navigator range. The character with the sword and lion cloak on the rearing horse is one of my favourites from Navigator.

Finally got around to painting some lance pennants and a flag for the Lithuanian Hussar unit. I will start painting the second unit of 12 very shortly, the unit will have a Bishop and be equipped with single wings.

Two units of Polish dismounted Dragoons, these are Old Glory Miniatures and are very detailed and easy to paint. The mounted pack from Old Glory are very good as well and would be the only cavalry pack from the Polish range that I would buy as the others are very small but this does not matter that much with Dragoons.

Essex Miniatures on Elite Miniatures horses painted as Lithuanian Pancerni with light lance, large saddle clothes added with Green stuff. The 2 varient rank and file figures are from the Muscovite range, kettle drummer is from the Polish range and the officer comes from the Ottoman Turk range. I have 4x12 units of Essex Miniatures Muscovite cavalry on the painting desk at the moment (on 1st Corps horses) as well as 2x12 units of Old Glory Muscovite cavalry. The bottom picture shows another view of the Polish Winged Hussars (can never have enough).

Polish Hussars

A unit of Redoubt Miniatures Polish Hussars and horses. I painted these for my friend Robert Fletcher along with 2x12 man Pancerni units, 30 dismounted Dragoons and a command base. I hope to one day persuade him that his main interest lays with the Ottomans and the Poles would find a fine home with me. I love painting these figures but hope to try a unit of TAG hussars next.

Saturdays game: Cossacks versus Ottomans

Hey guys here a some pictures from Saturdays Game: Surprise Attack Ukraine 1661.
The top one shows the full Cossack Tabor of 8 wagons 40 foot and 2 medium guns with 8 crew. The bottom one shows the Cossack line stretching into the distance.

The quality of some of the pictures are not the best (too excited whilst taking them into the sun).

Ottoman forces 6450 points
Cossacks 6400 points (200 foot, 4 guns and 136 cavalry)

Turn 1: Pre-Turn moves
The Cossacks had deployed first and launched a surprise attack on the Ottoman army who were still trying to get their unruly forces into formation. On the right flank a regimented Cossack unit of pike and shot moved up to secure the right flank of the small village, on the left a Cossack unit moved out of line and advanced towards the enemy.

Cossack:
Skirmishers of both sides (4 inches) and Nomadic style cavalry (Tartars 16 inches) get a free move and then the Cossack line advanced. The Tartars on the right flank fire at their traitorous brethren and kill one whilst the other unit to their left kill one of the heavily armoured Spahi. The medium gun fires at the line of Delis approaching but the fire goes over and fails to hit the huge column of Spihis behind them.

Ottomans:
The whole line of Ottomans have finally gotten into some type of order and advance towards the Cossacks but their surprise attack has meant several pieces of vital terrain have already been taken whilst the Ottomans got slowly out of bed. The Ottoman rabble on their left loose of a volley at the Cossack tartar allies and kill one. The two units of Spahis on the left fail to hit any of the flighty cavalry to their front and in the centre the Ottoman Tartar kill one of their erstwhile brethren. The Tartars on the right target the regimented Cossack unit yet only kill one with their hail of arrows. Three Ottomans guns on their right target a large Cossack foot unit of 40 men and kill 5 brave heroes, they test for artillery fire and pass easily (so they should).

Turn 2
Cossacks:
The Tartars in the village attack the Ottoman tartars to their front. Cossack foot unit on the left gave the Delis to their front a volley at long range and failed to hit a single figure but the neighbouring managed to kill three figures. The Tartars on the right flank kill another Spahi and two Akinjis. The guns on the right fire and kill one Kapikulu but the medium gun manages to blow the head of one of the crew who got in the way (misfire roll of 5). The Tartars in the centre fight viciously and the Cossack allies manage to kill two whilst suffering one in return (he rolled 4x5,6 to save his men) and the Ottomans also passed their leadership test.

Ottomans:
The Delis fail their rash test and charge the foot unit to their front, 39 Cossacks and Orthodox Bishop (rules from the El Cid supplement). The Cossacks Tartars are charged by the entire Ottoman left flank and withdraw but this means the Tartar heavies are struck by a Spahi unit whilst stationary (big trouble). Ottoman guns once again target the same Cossack unit and kill four more heroes. The Delis are bounced by the Cossack foot and lose two figures and the Cossack unit pursues but fail to catch them (Cossack with the Bishop are subject to hatred). The Tartar nobles actually manage to beat the Ottoman Spahis and despite the nearby presence of their general they fail their test and are caught and destroyed but the rest of the Ottoman flank holds firm under the glare of their leader. The combat in the village between the two Tartar forces goes the way of the Ottomans but the Cossack allies just manage to hold (rolled a 6 for morale).

Some views of the battle, the top shows the right flank of the Ottoman line and the bottom shows the Cossack left facing it.

Turn 3

Cossacks
The Tartar nobles on their breakthrough charge the Ottoman general and his body guard whilst the Muscovite allies finally do something and charge the light cavalry to their front (two units of heavies on the Cossack right flank but obviously the Tsar had instructed them to observe and apart from killing two Tartars 24 Muscovite heavies did nothing except make up numbers). Three Cossack guns on the left fire, the first overshoots any target, the second shoots the head of another gunner (misfire roll of 5) and the third with its first shot blows up (I hate guns). Musket fire all along the line is ineffective but the combats all go the Cossacks way. The Ottoman Tartars in the village are beaten and finally destroyed but the Cossack allies get carried away and pursue into a rather large Janissary regiment (whops), the Ottoman general and his bodyguard are broken as are the Tartars protecting their flank (the whole Ottoman left flank has collapsed. The regimented Cossacks unit to the right of the village beats and destroys the Azab unit to its front but they pursue to far and have a Ottoman cavalry unit on its flank. The death of the general means the whole army has to test but most units pass the test but the Cossacks have the upper hand.

Ottomans
This turns sees everthing go from bad to worse for the Ottomans, the isolated Cossack unit is charged by an Ottoman foot and cavalry unit but manage to beat them off and they are caught in the pursuit which triggers several failed leadership tests. The only Ottoman victory for the game is the destruction of the Tartar unit which pursued into the Janissary unit.

Overview: The game only lasted three turns but because there was only the two of use and very large armies it took about 4 1/2 hours from start to finish (1/2 hour for a nice lunch of course). We took our time and apart from his accurate artillery fire Robert's dice were against him when it really counted. The turning point of the battle is when I killed his general (didn't even know it was there), many many times in the last 2 years I have killed Bob's general even when he had a higher WS then my general. He should have learnt by now keep his general away from any danger and this is especially so with WECW which doesn't superpowered characters (thank god), this is one of my main complaints against WAB. Look at the stats for a Saxon or Norman king and you could be mistaken in thinking that you are playing WFB. Anyway great game and we are hopefully going to start a 4,000 point aside campaign soon using the modified El Cid campaign rules, you can find them at the bottom of this Blog (5-6 players I hope). We had a great campaign using the El Cid campaign rules nearly 2 years and enjoyed them tremendously.