Wargame Warrior

Discussion already interesting on the SOA Forum:

copy of discussion stored here (click)

Perhaps we do not have to field the full Indian infantry as a large part didn't/ couldn't take part in the battle (just the running away!)

Very interesting discussion. We have about 2/3 of the infantry either in being or planned don't we (16-18 from 24) ?  That really only leaves the cavalry, an extra 4 units.  Now we have 10 months to do these, surely we can convince Nick and Jim to do a cavalry unit each, we do one each as well, could be either the standard Indian stuff (like I have already), similar to Numidians to paint, so quite quick, or we could have a couple of heavier, armoured types, more guard/bodyguard types.  If we could convince them to do a couple of infantry each as well...........

I think we will be able to come up with a scenario that allows us to re-use or otherwise multiply the apparent numbers of Indian infantry without having to make a big extra investment. I am very concious of the PK trait of leaving a big fraction of large armies doing nothing when the action is occurring away from their area of the battlefield. (Remember Kynoscephalae where the allied wings did almost nothing the whole game.)

Let's concentrate on the units that will do the fighting; unless we want to go much further down the "game" angle and give the Indians free-range to use their infantry in a far more capable way thaan they did? I am not for denying them any chance of being involved in combat let me say. I think there are good reasons to have all the Indian foot start the game out of command (their leaders have all nipped off the be involved in the chariot/cavalry battle.) The rest we can arrange with usual ratings and Deck manipulation. We don't want a massacre but with the Macedonians being committed to the battle in small chunks I shouldn't have thought this very likely (but you know Piquet!)

I have fished my Foundry Macedonian figures out of the loft and I am going to try to supply as many as possible for the game that are specifiically "Alexandrian". I don't think we have any painted Hypaspists yet do we? (I have enough figures for 2 units already...

I don't have any, bundles of Hoplites, 6 units of Pikes and 4-5 units of Ipacretians but no Hypaspists.  Maybe it's something we could do at the weekend, sort out what we have and what we are going to use as what for this battle, a plan of action !

Could do. I think we have most of it sorted already. I am going to work on the basis that Plan A does not require anyone else to paint up new figures but has the opportunity for others to volunteer if they want to be more involved. If we have an outline and targets before the end of the month, the apathetic "waiting for someone else to organise it" syndrome can be defeated this year.

That's definitely a plan.  How ambitious is that ?

Still no word from Jim.

Hope he's okay. 

I might start cleaning up and weaponing Hypaspists tonight. Bloody keen or what!?

Too good for me. Need to break out the chariots and assemble them and fill in the Ellies.  The Inf/Cav arer all but finished just need to flock them, about an hour or so, will do them at the weekend. Think theres a footie game I can watch. 

Whilst getting out the Chariots last night, I made an amazing discovery, some more figures (un-painted) - All Essex - 12 Indo-Bactrian Cavalry Lance/Bow, 8 Saka types Lance/Bow, 8 Horse Archers & 8 more Thessalian, I also remembered I have 8 part painted Saka in the lock up somewhere.

Excellent! (All those Saka are useless for your Indo-Greek army btw :)good for Hydaspes though.) The Indo-Bactrian cavalry will make a good bodyguard unit for your general/king. You have too many Thessalians already, finding more must make you very sad...?

Great for the Eastern Successors though !

Haven't got a clue why I've so many Thessalians and it does make me sad.

Was thinking that myself, not that I've got a General figure that fits.

There aren't that many that really inspire. Even Foundry's offerings are a bit hohum:

Did you hear that Foundry have moved? They're now in a huge building in East Stoke (near Newark?)

I didn't another excuse to go to Newark !

Talking of which, there are a couple of games that might be worth having a look at if we go to Partizan.

I'm going to have  a trawl through tonight to see if I can spot a suitable figure.  We've already got a couple for the Indians, an Ellie and a Chariot.

My quest for generals has led me a step further down the road to madness (see Blog entry.) I think I easily have enough Macedonians for Hydaspes anyway, although arguably one of Alexanders generals should be an allied Indian prince.

Very good. Not that many Generals to be had and I agree they aren't desperately inspiring. I was thinking of maybe raiding your spare parts box and constructing one from bits of Hoplite/Persians etc.

I have finished basing the Indian Infantry and Cavalry - HooRah !

Got out the Chariots to find hundreds of men as well as Chariots, each has at least 6 men with them, but found that I will need to construct the 'yolks' across the horses, was thinking thinnish wire after I have glued the the horses to bases.  Might have to get some fuse wire if the stuff I've got isn't thick enough.

Also found some (more) Celts, you think I've got to many Thessalians......

11 infantry Units, 3 Cavalry and a Chariot unit (bit beaten up, but recoverable) plus 3 Generals. (This is on top of those used at the alst battle and the Plastics we've used before. Infantry are Plastics, the rest Metal.  

Wire should work, or strips of plasticard, wrapped around something the right shape and then heated with boiling water and cooled to keep the curve. Assembling our own generals will be a laugh. I might have a go with a spare Essex cavalryman if/when the ellie goes tits up 

The Aventine Pyrhus isn't that bad, but building our own should really be a laugh.  Boiling water, me ! Sounds like a recipe for disaster and plasticard is too 'Blue Peter' for me.

I've stuck some photos of some of the Indians in the Photo section.  Not the best quality but give an idea.

Looking good!