"Large 28mm Achaemenid Persian Army" Topic

Parts of this army have been posted here and elsewhere over a couple of years, but I've been meaning to photograph the whole army since the start of the year. 700 Infantry and 200 cavalry.

I finally got around to it and so here are the some of the photos.

More are here link and here link

Maybe this will inspire a few people to begin or complete their own. There are many manufacturers represented and includes a few 2nd hand units that I've repainted.

Not really an army to choose if you always expect to win. They are a challenge to control and to keep morale strong enough to outlast your enemies.

I hope you enjoy the photos and I'm happy to answer questions.

Cheers,
Mick

Very nice, I must say!

My oh my, that's one impressive collection! What rule or rules do you use with this army?

Nice looking Persians!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Mike Adams

Well that is a wonderful looking army! There is so much work in an Achaemenid Persian, I take my hat off to you, sir.

Very colorful and nice basing. Just lovely work .

Wow! I need to start working on my Persians. That is a true labor of love.

This amazing collection should go to a wargaming museum. It just so happens that I have such an institution in my basement ready to receive this collection.

But really, joking aside, if I had painted that I don't think I could ever bear to part with it – even if I didn't game with it anymore. Your Persians are truly impressive!!

Best Persian army I have seen anywhere, and I've seen some….

I am GREEN with envy awesome work

Sweet!

Truly amazing!

Great looking army – loved the spara as a 'carpet' for the camp. Must give some thought on the best use of my old Hinchliffe Immortals.

Beautiful.

I hate you.

but really really beautiful

That is an achievement. Congratulations on building such a large, colourful, and superbly painted collection. But who is willing to take them on, after such a vast host are all arrayed on the table?

Thanks for the kind words and offers for new homes!

@Big Red – I'm a rules floozy and use them for To The Strongest!, Civitates Bellantes (Legio games) and Field of Glory (yes, I still like them). They all offer something different. TtS lets me use most of the units…

@Mithridates – The Spara flooring came to me when I was thinking about how to make the camp base. I imagined it would be unthinkable to allow the Great King to get dust on his shoes. I made the little Spara container for dice or army morale markers.

@MacrossMartin – Main opponents are Macedonians and Greek City States with the occasional surprise victory or draw. A couple of Cunuxa style, civil war battles have also been fun games.

A few times I almost sold them before I decided to go big and see it through.

Superb

That is a wonderful looking army.

Colorful and impressive!

Damn fine looking.

Very very impressive… I like your mix… you kind of have to do that in 28mm… no single company has much of a comprehensive and consistent active line of Persians.

Of course as a mixer and matcher I love these!

I also feel that Newline Designs have some very nice Persians and your units do them proud!

As you note Foundry-- new and old can be big and small… but I mix my old and new together too-- and even some of my old Minifigs fill in as levies now.

I was especially pleased to see the Newline Kappadokian cavalry… one of the few models available for these above 15mm and your unit looks impressive.

I was wondering how "uniformed" Persian infantry units would have actually been. Is there any evidence on this?

Outstanding! :)

Thanks again for the comments.

Jeff – your website has been an amazing source of inspiration and information. Many people from TMP would have seen it link
I'm happy to admit I've taken many ideas directly from your site.

@Marcus Brutus – Good question. It's been a while since I researched this. My conclusion was that we don't really know. It can be reasoned that many units would have been from poor regions and dressed in whatever they had. It could also be reasoned that Satraps and local lords would have provided robing or regional attire to favoured units. Looking a bit fancy on the battlefield is a trait of human warfare through the ages.

At the end of the day these are wargaming units and the practical benefits of creating a uniform (of sorts) for each unit wins the day.

Some great brush work!

Impressive collection ….nicely done.

A truly impressive looking army. What wargaming is all about, right there. Well done and thanks for taking the time to show us.

Love it. Seeing as you have enough figs, you should try using them with Arty Conliffe's classic 'Tactica' rules :)