Palaeo Diet: Eat or be Eaten

Had a great time at The Abyss last night playing Palaeo Diet: Eat or be Eaten.

The tabletop

My Hunting Party

In a scene right out of One Million Years B.C., two tribes of four cavemen went out looking for a Mammoth and ended up tangling with a Brachiosaurus, a Pachycephalosaurus, and a Deinonychus. The 90-minute hunt ended in success: Mammoth steaks, Brachiosaurus ribs, and enough battle scars to earn our warrior status.

William's/Grug's clan approaches the target

A raptor appears 

And engages one of my figures.

Huge thanks to Graham for running the game game, and to William for being my fellow willing victim. Graham provided everything needed for the game. Below the mighty hunters succeed both in the hunt and fighting off the raptor.

It was a packed room at the Abyss, although the club only had another three SAGA tables in action as members prepare for November's Grand Melee.

Palaeo Diet: Eat or be Eaten is a stand-alone set of gaming rules for recreating prehistoric animal hunts on your table top. The game models a time when humans were not yet in control of the world around them, when the landscape could just as easily give succour to a struggling tribe, as it could cripple a thriving people. Designed with solo and multiplayer games in mind, players take on the role of the hunting party while an integral response mechanism means that beasts react in different ways in different situations. In an unforgiving world, the choice is simple - either eat, or be eaten.

Late Roman Archers

 It’s been a little over a month since my Late Roman warband last hit the table. Following their last outing, I picked up two units of bow-armed Warriors. I hoped to field them last Thursday night, but the paint was still drying! I finished them up Friday evening, and they’re officially ready for the front lines.

Thursday night’s match saw me face off against the Picts. The games were held at the Abyss, the room was buzzing with six active SAGA tables, three of which were running the Ambush scenario. With our annual Grand Melee coming up in November, players are getting in as much practice as possible with their final warband rosters.

The Picts enter the table through their fields

The Romans are bunched up due to the terrain and
the scenario entry requirements

The Pict War Lord in all his glory

The wagons advance between  the battle lines

Two wagons are taken, one by each side

My casualties can be seen to the left of the green dice,
which sit on top of a swamp feature. My initial entry
point was to the left of the hill. I avoided the swamp.

End of the game. One wagon escaped.
Both sides fade back with their loot.

I was lucky. By the end of the second turn, I had eliminated both the opposing Warlord and his Hearthguard. Though I lost a six-man Hearthguard Cavalry unit in the process, it was a trade I was more than willing to make. The Picts managed to capture the first wagon, but I seized one during my following phase. The third and final wagon escaped us both. Under the scenario rules, the game ended in a draw, but taking down the enemy Warlord secured me one extra victory point for the edge.

Sharpe's Practice - Don't Go In the Woods Today

Last Thursday evening, John hosted a French and Indian War Sharpe’s Practice game at The Abyss. William, Graham, and I were the eager participants. I took command of the British line, while Graham led the American colonists and our Native allies. 

The view of the table and the opposition from the British side.

On the other side, William commanded the French forces, supported by John’s Native allies. William won the opening toss, giving him an early edge on the French deployment markers.

Table as viwed from the French side.  The Hills are impassable terrain.

French early placement with a barricade

Initial volleys are exchanged.

Taking early positions, the French allies secured the woods on their right flank. Meanwhile, the warriors of the Six Nations Confederacy deployed to our left, advancing steadily toward their traditional rivals. From the outset, the devastating accuracy of the Huron musketry was unmistakable.

Even the regulars were forced to retire due to the firepower displayed by the native warriors. 

Emerging from nowhere, the Coureurs des Bois fell upon the British redcoat flank. Closing into a brutal hand-to-hand melee, they inflicted devastating losses on a unit of regulars. A spirited countercharge by the other regular British faltered, failing to even reach the fight.

The open ground quickly turned into a killing field with heavy casualties on both sides. Though the French initially held the upper hand, a decisive final push by the British regulars—supported by the remnants of the shattered redcoat infantry—turned the tide. The British eked out a narrow victory, forcing a full French withdrawal.

Completed Terrain

First up on the bench was the Warlord Games Stone Animal Enclosure. To break up the monotony of the stonework, I picked out about half of the individual stones across the wall using four different AK Acrylic shades. 

Warlord Games - Stone Animal Enclosure

Once the base coverage was set, I washed the entire model with Liquitex Transparent Burnt Umber to bring out the depth and tie the colors together. 

3D Hay Stack Prints purchased from
The Beaver and the Broadsword

Next, I wrapped up the haystacks I started two weekends ago (purchased from The Beaver and Broadsword after spotting them on Facebook). I gave them a base coat of cheap DecoArt Yellow Acrylic Paint, followed by a dark brown ink wash to settle into the recesses and create instant contrast. The wooden supporting legs were painted an AK Light Wood. They don't contrast well again the colours of the Hay Stacks

The final photo shows the full set—a half-dozen resin haystacks I bought years ago that were tabletop-ready!

Long Time Resin Hay Stack purchase made on eBay

WIP - Late Roman Archers

Late last month, I engaged in a bloody battle in the east—my Age of Invasions Late Roman warband took on Helge’s formidable Sassanids. The Eastern Hordes ultimately claimed victory, but it was a fantastic game nonetheless. Sadly, my grand plans to open a "Fast Elephant BBQ" franchise were soundly thwarted.

That match made one thing abundantly clear: my warband was desperately lacking long-range firepower. To fix the issue, I placed an order with Wargames Foundry on August 21st. Just one week later, on the 28th, two packs of LR019 - Late Roman Archers arrived at my doorstep—giving me enough figures to field two full units of Warriors. Excellent service, as always!

Haystacks and Late Roman Archers are prepped

Yesterday on my Discord Paint & Chat channel, I worked on the archers and a Stone Animal Enclosure. The enclosure was a cheap resin piece I snagged from Warlord Games just to pad my order for cheaper shipping. 

Warlord Games - Stone Animal Enclosure

Wargames Foundry LR019 - Late Roman Archers

28mm Gallic Warband - Saga Part II

Back in early January this unit was my first entry for the 2026 Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge. It was a unit purchase from Black Tree Design that has been sitting in my pile of lead for ages. As I wrote I did not find any shields and I placed an order with Warlord Games. Both the shields and decals came in and this is the result. This was first attempt using waterslide decals in decades. I hope to improve with the next group of figures. 

WIP Ragnarok 9 Brunanbuhr - Kickstarter

 Another Kickstarter backed. This time a four point Scot's warband which consisted of 25 x 28mm white metal miniature wargames figures sculpted by Colin Patten. Since this was Ragnarok 9, I assumed that Mr. Patten has had a series of successful Kickstarter campaigns. Monday I finally got around to opening the package which has been sitting on my desk since early May.

Kickstarter figures cleaned, mounted and base-coated,
Same for the Silver Bayonet Spanish Unit

My kickstarter reward 25 miniatures supplied with separate weapons and shields

1 x warrior, 8 x hearthguard and 16 x warriors

with a bonus add on of 2 Celtic Heroes. Two or three were top heavy and kept tipping over as they were superglued to their recesssed bases. I was impressed that the four axe or sword weapons and hands easily fit into place. That has not always been my experience.

The next step will be to hand drill for the insertion of  the spears. Most of the hands seem to be a solid fist as opposed to opnen.This is my only real complaint about the figures.

Soldiers of the Queen - Lancers

 Last weekend at Cangames 49 in Ottawa I picked up a group of Indian Army lancers that are destined for the NW frontier. It seems somewhat fitting they were obtained during the long Victoria Day weekend. 

Previous Basing

The figures were painted to a high standard and looked fantstic. Their basing upon cut cardboard was less desired, The following photos show the figures after my rebasing exercise. 

MTB02 - French Army - French and Indian Wars Part 5

 This is the final installment of MTB02 - French Army, with all the miniatures painted. Figures weere collected from Graham last Thursday evening at the Abyss, as we met for another intro game of Sharpe's Practice.

MTB02 - French Army - French and Indian Wars Part 4

 These are the second to last installment of MTB02 - French Army - French and Indian Wars army pack being painted by Graham. We met up for breakfast Sunday morning to exchange hostages. As always the figures have been beautifully executed and they put my own painting efforts to shame.