25mm Roman Marines

 This was a second unit from the army of Jef Lauzon. My guess that the source of these figures was originally Minifigs. They have been rebased for any number of skirmish style gaming, such as SAGA, Clash of Spears or Dragon Rampant. In their previous life they were ready for action in any number of WRG/DBX formats. The figures soaked for a week in water to facilitate the debasing process. After a week, they just lifted off their previous base. I did a touch up on the shield as the white trim was flacking off.

Flacking white trim on the shields.

Above two photos showing the effects of the restoration program.

WIP - Roman Carroballista - Part II

Last year I posted about the Roman Carroballista that I had cobbled together using Warlord Games - Hail Caesar ox carts and some rather old Ral Partha or RAFM scorpion bolt throwers that were buried in my pile of lead. I lamented that I lacked crewmen for these war machines. Last month I had reason to place an order with Essex Miniatures and discovered on their website that they listed EXR23 Artillerymen in Segmenta Armour & Helmets. Exactly what I was looking for. Service was fantastic, with delivery from the UK to Montreal in only 8 days. I ordered three packs along with my other needed supplies.

Trajanic Roman Command

 Under the WRG 5th Edition Ancient Rules I ran a Trajanic Roman Army.  Current rule sets I have generally referred to them as an Early Imperial Roman Army. Sometime in the early 2000s, when I retired my 2nd Roman Army and began work on its third incarnation I purchased three sets of  command figures from Wargames Foundry for it. Two sets were painted relatively quickly and the the third sat with the pile of lead for many, many years. 

Today another Command Stand is finally complete.

The figure itself is listed in the Roman Emperors And Personalities as IR024 - Legates Tribunes Praetorian.  The website shows one mounted figure and numerous foot personalities. I have three mounted figures. A General and his two body guards. I am pretty sure that was how I purchased them as I have no loose foot figures running around. The two bodyguards look like two of the three figures available with the IR036 - Cavalry Command 2 set.

Since I am showcasing my command I will also show both of the previous generals, who recently underwent a base upgrade in order to keep up the standards. The first is IR084 - Emperor Trajan himself. Again he is accompanied by two figures available from  the IR036 - Cavalry Command 2 set. I know I have two trumpeters from the IR084 figures that I attached to my Roman Artillery.

 Finally I also have IR082 - Governor Suetonius Paulinus who disappeared from the history books sometime after the Year of the 4 Emperors. He is a bit early to be shown as a commander in  Trajan's army, but it is the figure I have. His bodyguards also appear to be  two of the three figures available from the IR036 - Cavalry Command 2 set.

The Emperor Trajan draped in Purple on the right.
Governor Suetonius Paulinus cloaked in green on the left.

Roman Army - More Busy Work

While working on the Greeks, I pulled a few of my Romans that I felt could do with a refresh of their bases. IMO they looked pretty hideous before hand.

As well a gift arrived in the mail to join my Greeks. Beware of gifts bearing Greeks.

Lightning Strikes - Roman Carroballista

Christmas 2000, Joseph my good friend and gaming buddy, and I met for our annual Roman Civil War. We were playing WRG 7th edition rules. Suddenly I found myself on the receiving end of massed fire of a unit of carroballista. Joseph and his wife, had spent the evening before my arrival, converting some Airfix Ancient Britain chariots, mated with Airfix Roman scorpio bolt throwers. It was a nasty surprise and the speed of the unit on the battlefield was inspiring.  

Three of Joseph's carroballista run circles around his Legion

Warlord Games used to offer a scorpion mounted on a mule cart. From the time I first saw the image until recently it was always out of stock. This afternoon I couldn't even find it listed on their site. Meanwhile I squandered my hard earned sestertius on other frivolous figures and projects. 

While combing my mountain of lead, I uncovered some ancient (30+ year old) Ral Parta/RAFM scorpions. The Early Imperial Roman Cart is nearly always available  for purchase. So I ordered three. This project has been sitting on my painting table for the last 6 months and I finally found time to complete it,

Image of a carroballista on Trajan's Column

I am now seeking some 25mm artillery crewmen. I have some Foundry figures, but the 28mm heroic scale of the crewmen seem rather out of scale to the bolt throwers themselves. However when compared to the carvings on Trajan's Column, maybe I shouldn't worry. If I am unable to find what I am searching for, I will paint the figures up.

28mm TRAJANIC Roman Army - Part 2

 As promised yesterday, the rest of my EIR Tragic Roman Army. These photos are of my siege equipment and Generals with their Cavalry Bodyguards.

SIEGE EQUIPMENT

1) Roman Bolt Throwers (Scorpio/Scorpions) behind some field fortifications - Figures are by Wargame Foundry Miniatures. I believe the fencing is by Old Glory Miniatures.

2) A Roman Onager by Black Tree Design in the background with a Foundry Scorpio. Not the best of photos. 

3) The next two images feature a Warlord Games  Early Imperial Roman Ballista, along with another Foundry Scorpio,

4) Finally we have a Legionnaire working party. These are 25mm Figures picked up in the mists of time from either RAFM or Ral Partha. I was unable to find an online reference for these figures. The wall is from some model kit.

ROMAN GENERALS with Body Guards

The command figures were packages I believe that were purchased Wargame Foundry. Each is a unit of a General Element (WRG reference) and another three elements of Heavy Cavalry. So I have three separate units each of 12 mounted figures. Note- The Green unit is missing a Command Stand that I need to locate. The Blue Shield Unit are figures by Ral Partha. The other BG Cavalry, I believe are  Warlord Games' sculpts. 

 An Oddity. - The Following unit has been part of my Roman army for over 40 years. They were picked up at the local gaming shop in Halifax (which is no longer in existence). The figures were labelled as Roman/Greek Companion Cavalry. At the time I did not know better and parted with my hard earned cash. I would imagine these figures sold for the princely sum of $3.95 a pack. I purchased three packs then and latter acquired a fourth.

28mm TRAJANIC Roman Army - Part I

This is the third Roman Army I painted since I discovered the WRG Ancient Rules in the mid to late 1970s. The first was an Airfix Roman army. The 2nd was a 25mm metal army I purchased and fought with from the early 1980s until I moved to Montreal. By the years 2000 to 2010 my 2nd Roman army were entitled to retire after 25 years of honourable service.  The figures that were now available looked fantastic when compared to the primitive sculpts from the 1970s and early 1980s, which comprised my Legion. Most were painted and entered service before I started my blog. They were never done justice. Most of the new Legion were recruited from the Warlord Games, Wargames Foundry Miniatures and Black Tree Design areas of the Empire. 

1) The Legionnaires, the first wave of units - 4 Cohorts each of 24 Figures

2) The 2nd wave of Legionnaires - Three cohorts, each of 24 figures.

3) The AUXILLIA - 5 Units of Auxiliary Javelin/Spearmen - each of 16 Figures.

4) Auxiliary Archers - 3 Units - 2 Eastern Empire - 1 Western Empire -Total 56 Figures

5) PSILOI Units - 12 x Balearic Slingers and 12 x Light Archers. These are 25mm Ral Partha and RAFM Figures I obtained after I started rearming my Legion.

 

That is enough for today. Part two will be siege equipment and Cavalry.

Grand Re-basing Project

In October 2004, Jef Lauzon, my long-time friend and ancient opponent passed away. He was 56 years old, an age that I have reached.  Jef moved to Halifax from Montreal at some point in the early 1980s. Years later, he'd say he moved to Nova Scotia,  after voting "Oui" in the May 1980 Quebec Referendum.  Jef liked to try to get a rise out of people and he told me this story a number of times after I moved to Quebec. 

Chariots on original 40mm wide bases were added to 

60mm Wide Elements. The Edges were built up

Elephants Re-based

He was a fierce competitor. He wasn't above using Scotch to dull my wits in our WRG 5th and 6th edition ancient matches. From him, I learnt much about the game. He was the opponent that I never beat. I kept going back, despite the punishment. As in chess, one improves by playing against the best. I regret that I was never able to convert him to the 7th Edition rules. If I had, I might not be writing this particular post.

I received a call from his widow, Annette. The time had come to downsize the collection. She kept an army for herself, and both Dru and Chris, sons of his first marriage took the armies they wanted. Annette called to ask me I wanted Jef's Roman Army.  I was surprised but pleased, that she thought of me and immediately said yes. It was an army that I fought countless times over the years and one which caused me constant heartache. It even contained a unit that I painted in the late 1970s.

Example Romans After Debasing.

Legionnaries in Centre are an example of my early paint job.  My First Roman Army consisted of  Airfix Plastics.  We exchanged  24-man units.  I know for certain that my painting skills have improved.

Two boxes of figures arrived about a week later. Last month was time to take stock. The army was in storage since its arrival. One reason is that the majority of the figures were individually based. Jef liked the flexibility that it provided.  I knew that it was going to take a while to redo. In addition to the Romans, there were Celtic Chariots; Indian and African Elephants: and Greek Cavalry and Infantry. 

Cavalry on the Right needs to be Soaked

I didn't redo any of the Light Infantry or Horse

Each day  I would soak a couple of units in water in order to soften the glue. Each evening I'd spend an hour or so, detaching the miniatures from their individual bases. The figures were then mounted  for the WRG/DBX family of rules. Sometimes it seemed to be a hopeless struggle. I replaced numerous blades of my utility knife.  I'd swear that it would have been easier to have used a hammer and chisel on some of the bases. But finally after three weeks, the job was done.

Greek Phalanx on Double Ranked Elements 

Step one is complete.  I still have to use texture paint and flocking to complete the makeover, but I think the worst part of the job has been done.

List of Troops that were rebased:

Nation	Type	DBX	Elements	Figures
Celts	MCh	Kn	6	6
Late Roman	SHC	Kn	3	12
Persan (Sassanid )	El	El	3	3
Roman	HC	Cav	8	24
Roman	HC/MC	Cav	13	39
Roman	HI	Blades	24	96
Roman	LC	Lh	20	40
Roman	LHI	Aux	8	32
Roman	LI	Psiloi	26	52
Roman	LMI	Aux	22	66
Roman	LMI	Bw	6	24
Roman	MC	Cav	5	15
Roman	MCm	Cav	2	6
Successors	El	El	5	5
Successors	HC	Cav	4	12
Successors	HI	Pike	11	44
Successors	HI	Pike	16	64
Successors	HI/MI	Spear	8	24
Successors	HI/MI	Spear	9	36
Successors	HI/MI	Spear/Pike	2	8
Successors	LC	Lh	17.5	35
Successors	LI	Psiloi	27	54
Successors	LMI	Aux/War	3	12
Successors	MI	Bow	6	24
Totals: Elements/ Figures			254.5	733

Ave, Caesar, morituri te salutant

At one point I decided that my Roman Army needed an ancient equivalent of the Army Show. According to Wiedenmann (Emperors and Gladiators 1992) "the military were great aficionados of the games, and supervised the schools. Many schools and amphitheatres were sited at or near military barracks, and some provincial army units owned gladiator troupes".

 I won these twelve figures in an eBay auction, about  five years ago. I do not know the manufacturer but they were made for slot bases.  After getting them half way painted they were put aside and forgotten. (Note: March 14 Today I was looking on-line at the Gladiators sold by Black Tree Designs and I am pretty sure the figures I have are from their line)

Recently I was going through one of my storage bins and found two items to reignite my interest. The first was the SPI Ares game Arena of Death. Arena of Death was a tactical combat system for Dragonquest, the SPI fantasy RPG System. 

The second was an old beat up rule booklet from the early 1980s called RVDIS, The Wooden Sword. rules for Gladiatorial Combat written by Ian Beck. Both sets depend upon a  hexagonal tactical display. RVDIS describes the various gladiators by there weapons and armour.

Cimachaerus: Gladius in each hand.

Dimachaerus: Long dagger in each hand.
Gaetulian: Heavy throwing darts.
Hoplomachus: Thrusting Spear and Gladius
Laquearius:: Lasso in right hand, may have a trident tied to left wrist.
Provocator:Spear and gladius
Pugiles: Armoured boxing gloves.
Secutor: Gladius in right hand.
Tatierius: Net inright hand, trident in left. It may not be thrown.
Thrcian: Sica in right hand (Curved sword 40 to 45cms in length)
Velite: Javelin in right hand tied to the wrist. Can not be thrown.

Gladiators were typically picked from prisoners of war, slaves, and sentenced criminals. Criminals were expected to die within a year but could earn release if they survived three years. Despite the low social status held by gladiators, there were also volunteers who fought for money, and the possible celebrity status, a successful gladiator could achieve. 

Who knows how much of the combats were choreographed or scripted in advance. Most professional gladiators were only expected to fight three combats per year. Alas that can not be said for the condemned criminals who fought to the death nor the helpless Christian martyrs, among others.

"The overall death rate among gladiators is unknown, but few survived more than 10 matches or lived past the age of 30. One (Felix) is known to have lived to 45 and one retired gladiator lived on to 90. George Ville calculated an average age at death at 27 for gladiators (based on headstone evidence), with mortality "among all who entered the arena" around the 1st century CE at 19/100. A rise in the risk of death for losers, from 1/5 to 1/4 between the early and later Imperial periods, seems to suggest missio was granted less often" (Futrell: A Sourcebook on the Roman Games 2004)

The following link has something to say on popular gladiatorial myths and the possible rates and causes of death. One argument presented here is that the death rate was caused more by injury and infections,  with euthanasia being a hammer blow to the head.

http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2007/09/20/2038358.htm

Suetonius, in the Twelve Caesars, recorded that after receiving the salutation, used as the title, at the start of a mock naval battle on Lake Fucinus that Claudius retorted back "Aut non!" (Or not!). I read somewhere that the combatants took this as a sign that they would not have to fight. Oars were stowed on the galleys and it took a threat of force to get the games to begin.

Note The Army Show was originally a CBC radio show developed in Dec 1942, featuring Wayne and Shuster. The show later toured overseas to perform for the troops.

For those who may not be familiar with Wayne and Shuster  I offer this skit with a Roman Flavour: Rinse the Blood off my Toga