Antoine de Chabannes

Right, another day goes by, and I may have another job opportunity. Still as a tutor, but I think mostly for teaching French in businesses. It could be interesting on my CV. Anyway, back to the minis, and today, you'll have one unit of heavy infantry, under the leader of Antoine de Chabannes, count of Dammartin (1408- 1488)

He was at his first battle at the age of 15 (battle of Cravant), then joined Joan of Arc. Afterwards, he became one of the Ecorcheurs, though he was amongst King Charles VIII's friends. One interesting fact is he despised his son Dauphin Louis, and the feeling was mutual. After Louis became King of France, Antoine was exiled for a time in Rhodes before coming back. He became Grand Maitre de France in 1467.

Les jours passent et j'ai la possibilite de commencer un nouveau job, toujours en tant que tuteur, mais en entreprise cette fois. Ca pourrait etre utile sur mon CV. Si j'en reviens aux figs, c'est pour vous montrer une unite d'infanterie sous les ordres d'Antoine de Chabannes, comte de Dammartin (1408-1488),

Participant a sa premiere bataille a 15 ans ( Cravant), il rejoignit les compagnons de Jeanne d'Arc, avant de devenir un des chefs des Ecorcheurs. Proche du roi Charles VIII, il destestait son fils le dauphin Louis, qui le lui rendait bien. Ce dernier une fois roi l'exila a Rhodes pour un temps. Il finit Grand maitre de France en 1467.

Pardaillec is back!

After the heat from the past few days, a somehow cooler weather is appreciated, and I can go back to my brushes. I finished a simple unit or armoured infantry, all of them coming from Corvus Belli. You will need to prep them, because of the heavy you need to remove, but otherwise, they paint really nicely. I'd say they're slightly easier to paint than their Roman range. Anyway, here they are, under the leadership of one of the most famous French knight: the Knight of Pardaillec.

And for those who don't know him, here is a video about his life ;)

Maintenant que la chaleur des derniers jours est passee, je me sens mieux pour peindre. Du coup, j'en profite pour vous montrer ma nouvelle production, une unite d'infanterie de chez Corvus Belli. Certes il m'a fallu du temps pour tout ebarber, mais j'ai trouve que ces figs etiaent plus agreables a peindre que celles de laeur gamme romaine. Bref, ces gentils soudards sont a la solde de l'un des plus celebres chevaliers francais, le chevalier de Pardaillec ;)

A second volley of bowmen

I was complaining about the dreadful weather last week, with so many showers and so few sun. Now I should probably do the same: complaining about the heat, the mind-numbing heat here in London. I really don't like to paint when I'm too hot. Bah anyway, you fellow readers are lucky because I now managed to finish another unit of bowmen, the usual mix from Donnington and Corvus Belli. The end is near! Hurray!

En bon Francais que je suis, je vais etre raleur. Je l'etais deja la semaine derniere alors qu'on avait un temps de merde, avec averses a repetition et pas l'ombre d'un rayon de soleil. Et voila maintenant qu'il fait trop chaud pour peindre. Puree, ou habiter pour avoir de bonnes conditions:soleil, pas torp chaud, et un peu de pluie?

Bref, j'ai quand meme pu finir une nouvelle unite d'archers, avec l'habituel melange de Donnington et de Corvus Belli. Enjoy.

As Custer would say: Charge!

Hi everyone. I seem to stick to the medieval warfare's cliches. Indeed today the knights are coming. The minis are from Mirliton and are really nice to paint, though a bit thin, and sometimes a bit fragile. But then, they really look good, and inking is quite easy with them. In my army they could be either superior or average, undrilled. So, they're more or less a me-see-me-charge type of unit. He he. I just hope their charge will be unstoppable. In fact I was impressed by the charge from the Serbian knights during our game with Gilles. So I wonder... Maybe... 

And if you want to know, in Art de la guerre, with those guys, you get 4 units of knights. And they're nasty too.

Je reste dans les bons gros cliches medievaux aujourd'hui, puisque voici venir les chevaliers. Ce sont des figs Mirliton que j'ai peintes avec amour, car elles sont vraiment faciles a peinturlurer. Attention toutefois, si elles sont tres belles, elles sont fragiles. Vous etes donc prevenus. A FOG, ils peuvent etre soit superior ou bien average, et ils sont undrilled. Bref, du bon gros chevalier type Francais a Crecy: moi voir, moi taper. Pour tout dire, j'ai ete impressione par les chevaliers serbes lors de ma partie contre Gilles. Donc bon, a voir. Et si je transpose a Art de la guerre, j'obtiens 4 unites de mechants chevaliers lourds. Niark!

Let the sky be darkened! We need the shade

I'm still busy painting this medieval army. And after some "exotic troops", it's time for me to present you an other one, though more common during the late medieval times: some longbows. Here you have either 1 small battlegroup for FOG, or 3 units for Art de la guerre. I just hope they can be deadly and accurate, otherwise, they'll be dead. Minis are mainly from Donnington, with some Corvus Belli. I really prefer CB over Donnington.

Don't be so rude guys

Apres des untes "exotiques" dirons-nous, voici une vision plus commune: des longbows. A base de Donnington et de Corvus Belli, la peinture fut rapide. Je prefere de loin les Corvus, plus faciles a lire et donc a peindre. Nous avons ici soit un petit battlegroup pour FOG ou bien 3 unites pour Art de la guerre. Esperons qu'ils ne me feront pas defaut en tirant a cote ;)

Ready to fire! pffttt...misfire

Right. Needless to say my friend's technique is time effective. I had started this new battlegroup at the same time as the last one, and they're already finished. If this goes on, I should have finished my medieval army in no time. This is a good news, simply because I'm about to enter a FOG-Renaissance competition in our club. Unfortunately, it will based on the English Civil War, and not the 30Years War, but then. 

These minis come from Corvus belli. And, with the last battlegroup, it took me about 3h to paint/varnish/base them. Quite interesting wouldn't you say?

La peinture de ces jolis petits joujous aura ete rapide. Environ 3 heures en rajoutant l'unite precedente. Plus rapide que ce que je faisais precedemment, c'est un fait. Donc je me repete, merci Gilles. J'ai pris du plaisir a peindre ces bombardes de chez Corvus belli. Esperons qu'elles seront efficaces. 

Petite note: a ce rythme j'aurai fini rapidement, ce qui me permettra de me remettre a la peinture de mon armee renaissance, car le club va s'organiser un tournoi interne, base sur la guerre civile anglaise. Yay!

Here, bidet bidet...

After the SAGA painting frenzy, I went directly onto my new project. Well, it's not that new since I've already started it: the Ecorcheurs in 1444. You have to remember I need this army to play in the medieval competition. So, better be ready ;)

And today, you're about to see 4 stands of light infantry, the bidets. I admit it's not much, but it's a try with Gilles' technique in 15mm. I find the results quite ok, so I should keep them that way. What do you think?

Voila. Apres la peinture de mes points SAGA, il me faut reprendre le fil du projet abandonne, les Ecorcheurs en 1444. Souvenez-vous, il s'agit de l'armee que je compte jouer pour le tournoi medieval. j'ai ici utilise la technique de Gilles, il est donc normal de voir un petit nombre de troupes, car il s'agissait d'un test, plutot concluant en 15mm. Allez zou, la suite arrive bientot ;)

So what? Chinese vs Syracusans, part 2

Alright, sorry for the slight delay, friends, but I was  a bit busy, partly because I found some new job offers, mainly as a translator or PA in French. fingers crossed. Back to the battle now. 

On the right, general Wagoon-Li steadily moved forward, trying to apply the famous quotes from his Sun-Tzu digest, and sent his crossbows in the field against the cavalry, while his cavalry went ahead skirmishing the hoplite line, waiting for the heavy infantry to arrive and strike the decisive blow.

Desole pour le petit delai, mais j'ai peut-etre de nouvelles opportunites de job, alors j'ai retarde le tout. Sur la doite, general  Wagoon-Liavanca tout droit, suivant les citations de son abrege de Sun-Tsu, protegeant ses arbaletriers dans le champ, envoyant sa cavalerie tirailler et courvir l'avance de l'infanterie face aux hoplites.

On the left, general Bulitishu Lailu-wei decided to to try a new tactic, devised by a foreign adviser, a certain Custer. So he rushed fast towards the fields, only to discover the ambushes were... a mere smoke screen, apart from some skirmishers. After the initial exchanges of fire, things were looking good there too. And moreover, his "heavy" cavalry was succesfully skirmishing the hoplite line and the Syracusan medium cavalry too.

Sur la gauche, le general  Bulitishu Lailu-wei suivit les conseils d'un etranger de passage, un certain Custer, et fonca droit devant, sus a l'embuscade, qui se revela vierge de tout ennemi, a part des tirailleurs, qu'il massacra allegrement. Tout se passait bien, ses troupes etaient en position pour frapper le gros de l'ennemi.

But then, the mighty and honorable general in chief Yolo-Suta felt a chill along his spine. "Dim-Sun and Chop-Suey!" The despicable barbarians were actually attempting to flank him! And Bulitishu Lailu-wei would be caught unaware. He took personal command of the chariots reserve and hurried to the threatened left, while sending messenger to warn his foolish general. Would everything be ready for the oncoming ennemy?

 Suddenly, like a thunderstorm, hairy barbarians ran forward our Chinese lines: Gauls and Thracians, the scum of this Earth, no more worthy of living than dung beetles. Yolo-Suta was as ready as he could be, and ordered his chariots to charge the javelinmen, while Bulitishu Lailu-wei's crossbows started shooting... But what was happening on the other side of the battlefield?

Mais le general en chef, le venerable et honorable Yolo-Suta, sentit un frisson parcourir son echine. "Dim-Sun et Chop-Suey!" Les meprisables barbares etaient en train de l'attaquer de flanc avec un corps entier! et son imbecile de general etait droit sur leur route. Il prit alors le commandement de la reserve de chariots pour proteger l'aile gauche, tout en envoyant des messagers prevenir son general.

Helas, dans un roulement de tonnerre, une masse hirsute et puante de meprisables mangeurs de sangliers apparut et sembla instoppable: des Thraces et des Gaulois. Son flanc allait-il tenir? Il chargea des javeliners, tandis que les arbaletriers tentaient d'entamer ces scarabes immondes au feu. Pris par l'action, il en oublit de controler les decisions de son second general.

what a sight! it's so shocking my sight is blurred...

Wagoon-Li, though initially inspired, stumbled upon a bottle of rice wine, and started to give strange orders, moving his crossbows out of the field, in front of the cavalry, to have a better line of fire... Well, though having some successes, they died in vain... And his infantry was still moving forward, and then charged, and everything was prepared to make a flank attack ton the hoplite line. But would this be enough? In the center, the cavalry was still shooting, but getting bored of only shooting, even though succesfully, since many hoplites had already, they charged...

Wagoon-Li, profitant de l'occasion, se jeta sur une bouteille de vin de riz qu'il avait dissimulee. Rapidement, ses ordres devinrent confus, et il envoya ses arbaletriers en avant, face a la cavalerie, tout en continuant a faire avancer son infanterie. les pauvres tireurs ne resisterent pas longtemps...

Everything was falling apart... Only Yolo-Suta's chariots were doing good, but the despicable, though clever he admitted, general, was sacrificing his units one at a time to slow them down, while he methodically destroyed the Chinese left... That was it. No more left, no more right... Only the chariots and the heavy infantry in the center were doing good... Yolo-Suta had the drummer call for the retreat. He would have to explain the defeat to the emperor.

LA ligne de bataille se desagregeait.  Seuls les chariots de Yolo-Suta s'en sortaient bien, mais, bien que meprisable, le general ennemi etait intellingent et n'hesitait pas sacrifier ses unites pour gagner du temps, avant de detruire l'aile gauche de l'armee... C'en etait trop... Yolo-Suta fit battre le tambour. il ordonnait la retraite. Il devrait maintenant expliquer les raisons de la defaite a l'Empereur.

- So, number 1683, you lost the battle and a lot of valuable ressources. What can you say to plead in your favour?

- Sorry number 1, but they were simply too numerous, and though of better quality, our magnificient troops never stood a chance. Besides, my generals acted very strangely. I suspect we might have double agents..

- It is possible. But as you know it, our organization doesn't tolerate failure.

#presses a red button#

#Zzzzzzzzaaaaapppppp#

-Arrrggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

Yolo-Suta burns to death thanks to an electrical discharge.

When you mix Chinese rice with Greek wine and Italian wheat, you get?

Ok, I had trouble finding a title not too bland, but then I'm not sure of this one either. Anyway, at last you'll get an Art de la guerre battle report, played 7 weeks ago... I know Jesse, I know, but now the wrong will be corrected.

Titre moyen aujourd'hui, je le concede, mais que voulez-vous, c'est pas toujours facile . Voici donc un rapport de bataille joue il y a environ 7 semaines contre Jesse.

So he decided to play to play his Syracusan army, while I would have a go with my almost undefeated Chinese, well at least in FOG... I got the initiative and followed the principles of Sun-Tzu, by deciding I'd be attacking, meaning I'd get a bonus to play first. Here's the battlefield.

Il jouait ses Syracusains contre mes Chinois invaincus... a FOG. J'obitnes l'initiative et decide d'attaquer, m'octroyant ainsi un beau bonus pour jouer en premier. Voici le champ de bataille.

I also get to deploy my army second. So Jesse placed his first corps, then mine...And what? Only two army corps? Hmm, I see two possible ambushes there in the fields, so I'll go and meet him there. I have two identical corps, full of crossbows and two handed weapons, with some cavalry support. In reserve, the heavy chariots. In front of me, a corps of hoplites, some of them poor, with some cavalry support, and then a wing of cavalry. Hmmm. What could the rest be? A lot of men can be hidden in ambushes...

Grace a l'initiative, je me deploie en second. Que vois-je? seulement deux corps? Le petit Jesse aurait-il mis des troupes en embuscade? marche de flanc? Hmmm... Je decide faire simple, possedant deux corps identiques, avec arbaletriers, hallebardiers et cavalerie, et en reserve mes puissants chariots. De son cote, Jesse a deploye au centre son corps d'hoplites, de qualite variee, et une aile de cavalerie. Que me reserve-t-il?

the Syracusan cavalry wing

the hoplite corps

And thanks to my attack bonus, I started the game! I first moved my cavalry to protect the flanks and scout the ambushes. What will happen next? As soon as I have more time, you'll get it ;)

Grace a mon bonus, je joue en premier, et decide d'avancer, en commencant par ma cavalerie qui va proteger mes flancs tout en faisant de la reconnaissance. Que va-t-il se passer ensuite? la suite des que je peux ;)

SAGA: 1+1=6

Hi there. Yesterday was the last day for our painting comp between Vincent, Benoit and I. Both Benoit and Vincent failed to achieve 6 points, but managed to paint 4 SAGA points. Well, I can announce I've painted 5 SAGA points, 6 if my warlord, also painted is Harald ;) which I intend to do. Erm, I confess the paintjob is barely tabletop, but I hate plastic. The minis are Wargames Factory plastics Tamsin sold me last Thursday, to represent 2 points of Hearthguards ;). I might go later for one point of warriors, just in case.

Vincent et Benoit ont annonce avoir rate leur POM SAGA, a savoir peindre 6 points pour SAGA. Ils en ont tout de meme peint 4 c'est deja pas mal. Bon, la peinture est moyenne, mais franchement je n'ai pas aime peindre ces figs plastique de chez Wargames Factory. Elles representent 2 points de Hearthguards, et avec mon heros Harald, j'arrive a 6 points. J'ai juste oublie de sortir mon heros, mais il est peint egalement ;)

SAGA, part 3. Already?

Hi everyone. I still have until tomorrow to paint a full 6 points Saga Warband. it's possible since I'm cheating a bit, but then, I don't think I'll be able to post, so I think you should be able to see them on Monday. Anyway. Here is my third point, 4 Hearthguards. Easy and fast to paint. About 3h for the lot, because I did something else at the same time, but shhhh

Et hop, 4 Hearthguards qui me font 1 point SAGA de plus. Il m'en reste donc 3 a peindre pour reussir le pari lance par Vincent. C'est jouable, vu que je vais tricher un peu... Ces 4 figs representent environ 3h de boulot, vu que j'ai fait d'autres trucs en meme temps ;)