"Medieval Imagi-Nations?" Topic
11 Posts
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Coelacanth | 24 Oct 2014 9:06 a.m. PST |
The Battle of Roncevaux, from a 15th century manuscript I have long had an urge to game the Wars of the Roses, but to do it properly is something of an undertaking. Since I am starting from scratch anyway, I thought of 15th century Imagi-nations. I visualize all those stories we associate with the Middle Ages (Arthur, Charlemagne, et al.) taking place at more or less the same time, with everybody dressed in full Gothic plate armour. Late Medieval forces have a lot of applicability for this sort of game; in the popular imagination, King Arthur wears plate armour. Also, Medieval artists tended to depict earlier ages in a manner contemporaneous with themselves. Since this isn't "serious" gaming, anachronism isn't a problem. I have in mind a skirmish style game, 28mm figures on individual bases to allow for casualty removal. Troop types (at first) will be pretty generic; spearmen, knights (mounted and dismounted), and various kinds of archers. I already own a copy of Warhammer Ancient Battles, but the early word on Lion Rampant has been favorable (I am also open to other suggestions). The late middle ages is almost embarassingly well-supported in terms of miniatures, so I should be able to find something suitable. I might also want to do more "realistic" imagi-nations, or to use the figures for straightforward historical games. Please offer any advice, comments, etc. below. Thanks for reading! Ron |
Doug MSC | 24 Oct 2014 9:21 a.m. PST |
Check out our Vanguard Men-at-Arms series of Medievals from this period at the Miniature Service Center site. Although they are 40mm it sounds like they would fit the type of game you are looking at. We are adding many more mounted Men-at-arms in a few days followed by many more mounted Knights. More foot Knights and Men-at arms will also be added shortly. |
ColCampbell | 24 Oct 2014 10:43 a.m. PST |
We've done something similar with the Kingdom of Parallelogram (figures on square or rectangular bases) versus the Kingdom of Circumference (figures on round or ovate bases). We use the simple but venerable "Rules by Ral" adapted and "improved" by us. link If I can get the correct size hexagonal bases, my Duchy of Bentwood will be remounted onto them so we can have three contentious kingdoms. We use all sorts of medieval figures from leather jerkins to full plate armor. Heck, I even have a couple of dwarf units. link link Jim |
Coyotepunc and Hatshepsuut | 24 Oct 2014 11:23 a.m. PST |
I think Imagi-Nations is the best way to go with both Medieval and Dark Ages. |
Griefbringer | 24 Oct 2014 11:41 a.m. PST |
Troop types (at first) will be pretty generic; spearmen, knights (mounted and dismounted), and various kinds of archers. It is worth keeping in mind that while spearmen were very common infantry types for much of middle ages, by 15th century other staff weapons (like guisarmes, glaives, bills, halberds etc.) had become dominating ones, and this is also reflected by figure ranges. That said, lots of miniature ranges contain polearm-men with open hands and separate weapons, so it is easy to replace those with spears (though fitting in shields can get a bit tricky). Also, 15th century artists were happy to even display biblical scenes with handguns and field artillery. |
thabear | 24 Oct 2014 2:55 p.m. PST |
Ive embarked on something very similar to get some local gamers interested in playing other games. I am slowly collecting and painting two opposing armies from my huge GW collection , Empire and Bretonnia. Both being distinctly medieval but different to each other and the figures are plentiful and cheap , easy to convert and many options to provide various iconic medieval troop types. BTD also going to provide some more troop options as the figures are slightly heroic 28mm. First outing for the Armies will be in a few weeks to play an enlarged version of Battlelore ( 1st ed ) cheers Tom |
Coelacanth | 24 Oct 2014 8:01 p.m. PST |
Re: Griefbringer Thanks for mentioning the polearms; I hadn't taken that into account. Halberds and such would be OK, so long as the finished army looks right. Guns, on the other hand, are something about which I haven't quite made up my mind. Ron |
The Beast Rampant | 24 Oct 2014 8:47 p.m. PST |
Halberds and sallets rock. 'Nuff said! |
RABeery | 25 Oct 2014 6:19 p.m. PST |
Have always liked that idea, it would be fun. Like your rule choices also. |
Ancestral Hamster | 25 Oct 2014 9:21 p.m. PST |
Don't forget stuff like "Theseus, the Duke of Athens" in Chauncer's Canterbury Tales. It was a retelling of an Classical Greek myth, but you'd never know that from the descriptions as "Duke" Theseus wore Burgundian plate and led a large body of Athenian knights in similar kit. If you like you could run a Duchy of Athens as recounted by Master Chauncer. It is certainly a Imagi-Nation! Speaking of which, what about the Grand Duchy of Fenwick from The Mouse Who Roared? The book and movie had it as a medieval holdover in the (then modern) world of the 1960s. However, the author wrote a prequel set in the Middle Ages which showed that the Fenwickians have always had an unorthodox approach to problem-solving which let such a small country survive in the face of long odds. Halberds and sallets rock. 'Nuff said! Hear hear! I read Charles Oman's The Art of War in the Middle Ages as a boy and fell in love with halberds. And the halberdiers just don't look right without sallets. |
Griefbringer | 26 Oct 2014 3:49 a.m. PST |
If you like you could run a Duchy of Athens as recounted by Master Chauncer. It is certainly a Imagi-Nation! Actually, historical Duchy of Athens was weird enough place as it is. After the 4th crusade, western crusaders ended up capturing much of Greece. Thus, Duchy of Athens ended being run by a French duke and his knights until the early 14th century, when it ended up getting captured by the mercenary Catalan Great Company that was hanging around Greece and getting double-crossed by their employers. |
Dave Crowell | 02 Nov 2014 10:54 a.m. PST |
Don't forget the rival kingdoms of Guilder and Florin. |
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