New bits on the block

Foreword: First I've put a translation thingy on the right for those who don't read English nor French very well.
En francais: j'ai mis un traducteur sur la droite, et j'ai mis a jour mon rapport de bataille d'hier, avec la VF (veinards). Vous n'avez qu'a cliquer.

Now. The painting challenge is still underway, and I admit I won't be able to be in the top 10. I'll try to stay in the top 15 though. But to acheive this, I have to continue painting. So first of, I finished the Chinese general for my friend Chris, minis are from Museum.

Revenons au challenge de peinture. Je n'ai plus aucun espoir de terminer dans le top 10, tout au mieux esperer rester dans le top 15. Mais pour cela il me faut vraiment continuer a peindre. Donc, voici aujourd'hui le general chinois qui rejoindra ses petits copains dans la nouvelle armee de Chris. Les figs sont des Museum.

And then, I finished the wagon that will be part of the TYW camp. Once again, it's from Museum, but I added a Donnington one to make this scene a bit more lively. Next, the generals.

Puis, j'ai termine ce qui sera partie integrante de mon camp pour mon armee TYW: un chariot rempli de tonneaux, toujours de chez Museum. J'y ai ajoute une Donnington pour rendre la scene un chouia plus vivante. A suivre, les generaux.

 

The phoenix, reborn

I suppose it was time for a break in my TYW army. Though I'm painting the last minis to finish this army, I felt I had to paint something else. Back in November, Chris, to whom I had sold my lucky Chinese army, had asked me if I could paint a couple of things more to complete his new army: a general and a battlegroup of heavy chariots. Fortunately, I had everything at hand, and I started priming them... Until I stared helplessly at them, not knowing how to paint them. So I put them back in the painting plan, still primed but otherwise untouched. I knew I had time, especially because I couldn't go to the club, my wife coming home very late, and I consequently had to take care of our little daughter. But then, she managed to complete her missions earlier than expected, and now I'm able to go back to my favourite place ;), meaning I have to paint faster to give them to Chris. So, even though I haven't finished the general (though now started), I've just finished the heavy chariots.

 Il me fallait faire une petite pause dans la peinture de mon armee francaise. Meme si je suis en train de peindre les derniers restes, je sentais qu'il fallait que je fasse autre chose. En Novembre dernier, Chris, a qui j'ai vendu mon armee chinoise, voulait ajouter 2-3 trucs a son armee, a savoir un general et une unite de chariots lourds. Heuresuement, j'avais tout sous la main. Cependant, apres les avoir sous-couches, je tombai en panne d'inspiration. Apres tout, j'avais du temps, car je me croyais "bloque" a la maison pour quelque temps encore. Il n'en fut rien, et je peux desormais retourner au club. Il me faut donc accelerer la peinture, pour pouvoir les donner a Chris. Ni une, ni deux, hop voici les chariots.

 

I've named them the bright phoenixes. I already had painted a unit of chariots called the phoenixes. But the latter ones were the "male" poenixes, whereas this new unit are the "female". Just have a look at the characters and you'll see the difference. The Chinese had then three ways of writing "phoenix": male, female, or a combination of the two. I chose to paint them as "female" for a simple reason: Chinese harmony. And, if I recall, when things are harmonious, they are lucky.

So, what you have here are four 4-horses chariots from Museum, with three crewmen in each. I added the the flagpoles and handpainted the flags. 

 J'ai appele ces derniers les phenix flamboyants. Ma precedente unite de chariots s'appelait deja les phenix, mais ces derniers etaient les "males". ceux-ci sont les "femelles", les caracteres sont differents. En effet, les Chinois avaient trois manieres d'ecrire le mot: "male", "femelle", ou une combinaison des deux. J'ai chois la version "femelle" pour une question d'harmonie. Et qui dit harmonie, dit chance, Esperons qu'ils seront chanceux sur un champ de bataille.
 

boobies trap, a FOG batrep part2

As soon as the drums were heard, the whole army sprang forward, both wings pointing towards the enemy, while the center remained calm. Wagoon-Li was leading the left, Psy the center and Tarusan the right wing, with some infantry and the cavalry... He was worried of what was about to happen... The devious madaxeman had deployed the right troups to simply contain and then destroy his whole wing... In fact, he was facing a huge part of the army all by himself... Now the plan didn't seem so good... F******* stripper: crossbows with stakes, cavalry, armoured spearmen... Yes that was a grim sight. Tarusan prayed quickly and hoped that Wagoon-Li would fast enough.

ok, very blurry pic, damn, I think my camera is dying

I don't feel that confident...

In the center, Psy was freaking out. Dim-Sun, Nuoc-nam and swallows nests! The worthless madaxeman was manoeuvering like a genius! His light infantry was simply moving to block the advance of Wagoon-Li, while the rest of the heavy troups were pouring forward, towards his only infantry unit: impact foot barbarian allies, armoured sworsdmen, heavy weapons... Right, he should have drank a few more cups of ricewine before...

By the ancestors we're screwed...

Oi!

Mummy! Where's my mummy?

But, why?

Yes, it looked as if the battle would be over soon. And Wagoon-Li was nowhere to be seen... In despair, the noble heavy chariots charged towards the spearmen and died horribly, buying some time between the center and the right wing.

Note: I don't have any pic of this, but my chariots failed twice their test not to charge those pesky armoured spearmen... Of course they died, but they lasted three roounds of combat... more than enough.

On the right, Tarusan braced and relieved himself when he saw the huge mass of troops coming at him: barbarians, cavalry.... Facing impossible odds, he threw up and then threw himself in the melee, roaring like a lion!

And then... a miracle... He won, and won again, and then routed two units of Chinese rebels.

He sent a messenger to Wagoon-Li and Psy not to despair, everything was fine on his side:

Psy felt better: his right flank was saved and, though the enemy was coming right at him and dared charge, Wagoon-Li was finally seen coming his way: Yes, the Chinese were trapped! Right against their flank!

Those who're about to die... run away!

The enemy was running away everywhere. Cheers could be heard along the Qin lines. Many heads to cut! Many promotions to be expected! And then, drums were heard. Such a number of drums... No one could have imagined that many drums... Suddenly, a single horseman moved towards our lines... Calm, dignified, he asked for Wagoon-Li.

" My master madaxeman is dead. He prefered committing suicide rather than facing your judgement. I'm his second in command, More-Fu-Less-Rice. And I ask for your mercy. I conceit defeat."

A wave of cheers simply exploded like a volcano amongst the Qin ranks! Hurray! General Psy couldn't believe it ! Overcome with joy, he started dancing in front of his soldiers who mimicked him...

I've won. Gosh, that's it! I've won. I've won the Ancients club comp... Was I lucky during this game? Yes! But I knew I would win on my left and the center. My right would have been more problematic, so that's why I'd put my cavalry and a big infantry unit, to soak up the hits. The impact is really effective: +1 against every kind of unit Tim had, and lots of crossbows in support. Those were not that effective, but scored enough hits to force some tests.

Trial by boobies, part 1 a FOG batrep

Wagoon-Li felt miserable. He shouldn't have drunk that much last. Though a defeat against the Assyrian rebels, his last battle had been undecisive enough to to climb up higher in the hierarchy...

Wagoon-Li se sentait miserable. Il n'aurait pas du boire autant. Meme si sa derniere bataille avait ete une defaite, celle-ci avait ete sufffisamment indecise pour lui permettre de grimper dans la hierarchie... n. 521, aie, ca devient chaud la.

Well played. You're now n.521. Be proud! I'm watching you closely

But now he faced a terrible trial: he to face again his nemesis, the despicable master Porter "madaxeman", in a brutal civil war...again... What to do? What to do? Maybe the party wasn't such a good idea. He needed to think... And not about the striper... Too late...

Mais il avait devant lui une tres lourde tache: affronter une nouvelle fois sa nemesis, le repugnant maitre Porter "madaxeman", dans ce qui serait une terrible guerre civile. Que faire? Que faire? L'orgie d'hier n'etait peut-etre pas une bonne idee finalement... Il fallait reflechir... et ne pas penser a la stripteaseuse... trop tard...

Suddenly, a flash, an idea... He had a plan...
"I'll trap him in the plain... He won't be able to escape... And I'll also recruit some Qin troops...In fact, Let be aggressive, and recruit as many Qin as possible ( in FOG, the Qin are undrilled and only protected, but theyr're impact foot, nasty, and they can have mixed troops with crossbows as well, even nastier )

Soudain, un flash, une idee... Il avait un plan.
"Je vais le pieger dans la plaine, il sera incapable de m'echapper. Oh et je vais recruter des Qin... Soyons fou et recrutons le maximum de Qin possible ( a FOG, les QIN sont undrilled et seulement protected. mais ils sont impact foot et peuvent etre mixes avec des arbaletes, pour donner un coktail detonnant).

Wagoon-Li called his two other generals, Psy and Tarusan:

- "Right guys, you know we face our most dreaded enemy, the "madaxeman".

-Yup. We're so screwed, I already the torturer coming...

- No, fear not. Because I have a plan. The most cunning plan since master Baldrick decided to retire.

- Oh, that cunning? Have you read Sun-Tzu?

-Right. Erm, not quite... Do you remember yesterday's striper? Saburina?

- Oh yeahhh... Sorry, bit of drooling there.

- I know what you mean. Well, while thinking about the best way to defeat him, I thought about her... and here is what I call the "boobies trap": We're going to create a hollow center, with two strong wings. Madaxeman will be sucked in, though he might attack one of the wings, but then it'll be too late.

- Genius!

-Thank you."

And the troops got their marching order, to try to create this "boobies trap"...

Sur ce, Wagoon-Li appela ses generaux, PSY et Tarusa:

-" Ok les gars, vous savez que nous allons affronter notre plus redoutable ennemi, le "madaxeman".

-Ouaip. Et franchement ce me fout le bourdon rien que d'y penser, car la perspective du bourreau et de ses supplices ne m'enchantent guere...

- Ne craignez rien, j'ai un plan machiavelique... Plus machiavelique que celui de maitre Chirac quand il decida de dissoudre son assemblee de conseillers.

- Ah oui quand meme. Tu as enfin lu Sun Tzu?

-Euh... un abrege. Vous vous souvenez de la stripteaseuse d'hier? Saburina?

- Gneeeeeeee. Pardon pour le filet de bave.

-Je comprends. Eh bien, en reflechissant a la meilleure maniere de le battre, j'ai pense a elle. Et voici ce que j'appelle le "piege a notaire": nous allons creer un centre vide aui va attirer Madaxeman, qui va se retrouver pieger par les deux ailes fortes. Il attaquera surement une des ailes, mais il sera alors trop tard.

-Genial!

-Je sais... Au boulot!

Et les troupes recurent leur ordre de marche...

See you very soon for part 2 ;)

The Chinese Head hunters

Right. Finally some painted minis to show you. I managed to base and flock my last unit for the final game against Tim in our club competition. This time, I chose a darker pattern: Black overcoat, and then highlights... I do feel they've been rushed a bit. I wasn't that satisfied of the result. But then, they're done, and ready to fight.  For the bit of History: The reverred emperor had a certain number of captured Qin troops. Instead of killing them, knowing their valor in combat, he decided to give them a second chance. Because of their origin, they took the name of Head Hunters, the Qin being famous for taking the heads of fallen enemies as an act of courage and skill. Will they be up to the task I'm asking for them? You'll see soon enough ;)

Enfin, ma derniere unite chinoise est peinte. Certes elle etait pratiquement terminee depuis un certain temps, mais elles n'ont ete basees qu'hier, en vue de participer a la finale du tournoi interne contre Tim. Je suis parti sur un schema fonce, histoire de tricher un peu: sous-couche noire, puis eclaircissements. Ca fait un peu expeditif, et je trouve qu'elles sont au final un cran au-dessous de ce que j'ai eu l'habitude faire, mais bon, elles sont plus que correctes. Pour la petite histoire: l'empereur, dans sa magnanimite, ne tua pas ses prisionniers Qin, mais, connaissant leur bravoure au combat, leur offrit une seconde chance et autorisa la creation d'une nouvelle unite. LEs hommes prirent le nom de Chasseurs de tetes, en souvenir de leur origine. En effet, les Qin etaient reputes prendre les tetes des ennemis vaincus en temoignage de leur bravoure et de leurs aptitudes. Seront-ils a la hauteur? Vous le saurez tres bientot ;)

 

The brave Roosters

Here they are, at last. It tok slighlty more time than expected to paint the banners, but I'm rather proud of them. In the Chinese cosmology, the roosters are brave, though sometimes a bit aggressive. So that's a perfect name for my new attack infantry unit. And with this unit from Museum, I think I'm finished with this army, for a while at least. So, that's one project done, more to go, especially because Monday night, I watched a game of Cold war Commander, and rather liked it. So I may be tempted to paint a French cold war army in Germany...

Et voila. Voici donc les coqs courageux. Le coq aurait une reputation, pour les Chinois, de courage et d'agressivite, ce qui me parait parfait. J'ai mis plus de temps que prevu pour peindre les bannieres, mais je pense  que cela valait le coup. Je pense egalement qu'il s'agit de ma derniere unite, du moins pour un moment, donc je considere ce projet termine! Je vais pouvoir en commencer un autre, surtout qu'apres avoir regarde une partie de cold war commander, je suis tente de peindre une armee francaise guerre froide...

Almost done

Painting in an "industrial" way can be interesting, especially if the minis are easy to paint. Which is the case from those. I just finished the last highlights and they've been varnished. So, I think they should be ready tomorrow.

J'avais oublie a quel point peindre a la chaine pouvait valoir le coup parfois, surtout si les figs sont faciles a peindre. C'est le cas pour celles-ci car il ne me reste plus qu'a socler le tout. L'unite devrait etre prete demain normalement.

Reinforcements on the way

I've now officially painted more than 650 points for my FOG army. Shame on me I didn't want at first to spend more than required. Ah well. So I've almost finished a unit of mixed troups, from Museum minis, the one I started especially for my game against TAmsin. The only difference: it has 8 bases instead of 6. Next steps: the last highlights, then varnish then basing.

Voila, je me suis officiellement laisse emporter, car j'ei maintenant plus de 650 points FOG, alors que je ne voulais pas trop depenser... Voici donc une nouvelle unite mixte de chez Museum. Et c'est du lourd, car il y a 8 bases et non 6. Il ne me reste plus que quelques eclaircissements, le vernis et le soclage.

Leading the army

No real proper army can go to war without good generals. So today I'll show them, though they're not finished: I still need to glue the banners. All of them except the cariot are from Essex. The chariot is from Museum.

Pas de veritable armee sans bons generaux. Les voici donc rien que pour vos yeux, meme s'ils ne sont pas tout a fait termines, il reste les bannieres a coller. Enjoy.

Ha-Lin-Koru, a FOG batrep (again)

Yesterday was my last game from round 1 of the club competition, and I played against Tamsin. Because I follow her blog, I knew she would field a Sarmatian army, full of nasty superior impact cavalry, yurk. So, I reread my Chinese military, especially against the nomadic tribes from the North, and devised a plan accordingly:

Hier, j'ai joue ma derniere partie du round 1, contre Tamsin et ses Sarmates, bourree de cavaliers superieurs. beurk. Je me suis donc inspire de l'histoire chinoise et j'ai mis des pieux et des arbaletes a tout le monde. Bref de quoi faire une version 1415 avant l'heure, avec moi dans le role des Anglais... Pour info, voici ma compo:

- 1 Inspired leader, to get many moral bonus and to get the initiative

- 2 Troop commanders, to bolster my units in the fight

- my Tigers ( I just love them)

- the bulls and the dragons

- 1 big ( 8 bases) unit, yet unfinished

- my ravens, phoenixes, swallows and allied tribal cavalry.

Yep, that's it, only 8 units. But they had a special bonus: portable defenses, which work the same way as stakes... Very useful against cavalry, because they negate their bonuses and give me one...

We rolled for initiative and after many dice rolls, I got it again! We would fight in a developped area, not so good against cavalry armies. So here is the terrain: one small enclosed field on my left, a village and two more enclosed field on my right... but on Tamsin's side. Guess where I deployed... Right, in front of this features because she put her camp there.

Je n'ai certes que 8 unites, mais elles sont de qualite. J'obtiens l'initiative et choisis de combattre sur mon terrain... qui va etre plutot degage, avec quelques champs clos et un village en fond de table. Bof. Si je me deploie en bulle, je prevoie d'etre le plus aggressif possible pour empecher Tamsin de manoeuvrer, en attquant sur la droite

Though it may look like a bubble, I intend to be aggressive on my right, with my cavalry in reserve. What was Tam's plan? Well I don't know, but her shock troops were almost right in front of me.

And here we go. Tamsin moves first and get her Sarmatians in a good position to strike, or so she thinks... On my turn, I move my infantry forward. Can you see the trap unravelling?

Soon she's almost ready to strike. She can't wait because my shooting is bloody efficient and she started to lose bases...

J'avance donc tranquillement, et je commence a arroser les cavaliers de carreaux d'arbalete. Au dernier moment, mes hommes, surs d'eux, posent leurs pieux juste avant la charge... qui comme vous allez le voir, s'empale lamentablement...

And then... poof, my men well-lead, just plant their defense right in front of her cavalry... Yep, she's doomed. As doomed as a French Knight in 1415.

She charges... and here is the result:

Yep, they breaf off, with lots of losses...

I'm feeling so confident that I'm soon sending my infantry forward... to be charged by the last fools Sarmatians brave horsemen.

Tres rapidement, Tamsin recule les restes de sa cavalerie et j'en profite pour avancer et continuer a lui tirer dessus. Elle tente une derniere charge desesperee, mais rien ne fait et Tamsin finit par perdre l'armee, au sens moral et effectif...

This is the end of the Sarmatians army. But what happened on my wings? Well, on my left, my chariots just shot at some light horse and routed them, and on my right, a dimished light horse unit managed to fragment my light horse, Tamsin's only success...

Here is the final picture: where are the Sarmatians?

Aftermatch: with my portable defenses, I knew I couldn't lose badly against Tamsin's cavalry army, sorry Tamsin. The dice were with me, though I managed to get quite a lot of them during my shooting phase and the impact. Did I make any mistakes? I don't know, but I managed the game quite well. Sorry again Tamsin.

So, with this crushing victory, I'm sure to be on the next round. And good luck for Tamsin against Tim. I hope our game was instructive and your experience might serve you against his Han army.

Resultat des courses: victoire on ne peut plus decisive. Les des etaient avec moi, et les bonus aussi, bref, Tamsin n'a rien pu faire, a part me fragmenter un BG de cavalerie legere en fin de partie. Je remerci donc mon general en chef inspire, mes pieux et mes arbaletes. J'ai donc passe le premier round, et j'affronterai donc bientot de nouveaux adversaires. Quelque chose me dit qu'il y aura beaucoup de cataphractes et de chariots dans les prochains adversaires. Je vais donc affuter mes pieux, niark niark.