ADLG Warclouds 2023 Pars Duo

Continuing on my day one encounters from my prior post, ADLG Warclouds 2023 Pars Unos, the afternoon brought two more battles for my Early Imperial Romans and Emperor Trajan. These were against Republican Romans (again) and 100 Years War English. So on to the battles…

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ADLG Warclouds 2023 Pars Unos

Waitangi Weekend (4-5 February) 2023 saw the regular Christchurch Wargaming Club “Warclouds Tournament” which featured both 15mm and 28mm L’Art de la Guerre (ADLG) Ancients events – both run in the friendliest of atmospheres, with the 15mm being an informal tournament, and the 28mm event was a nominally more formal (albeit relaxed and loose) ‘swiss-chess’ style draw – with 8 participants. I was one of those participants…

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Kickstarter Hellenistic Judeans

Local New Zealand 3D printing business Potbelly Miniatures along with Triguard Miniatures have launched a Kickstarter campaign to try and fill some specific holes in the 28mm miniatures market; starting with Hellenistic Judeans. They believe this military/nationality is poorly-served by current manufacturers so they are looking at doing a range that covers the period from the conquest of Palestine by Alexander right through to the destruction of the Temple by the Roman Empire.

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An Interview with Charles Wesencraft

A wargamer and author from that classic era of wargaming who perhaps has not always been recognised as much as the more well known ones (i.e. Donald Featherstone, Charles Grant, Tony Bath, Brigadier Peter Young, Terry Wise and then later George Gush, Stuart Asquith, etc) is Charlie Wesencraft. While many will know him and he probably is better known than Joseph Morschauser and David Nash (see my Wargaming Tomes Collection: Part One post) I for one did not see his books early on in my wargaming career (possibly due to being in New Zealand – although other local gamers here have said they saw them in libraries and such in the 1980’s or very late ’70s). I was interested to recently read an interview with Charlie Wesencraft that reinforces my view that he seems to have contributed more than just his 2 books in the early 1970’s to the classic wargaming era.

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ADLG Mycenaeans vs. Persians

This week I finally got in my second game of L’Art De La Guerre (following on from my introductory game June last year), this time 300 points and hosted by Andre at the Christchurch Wargaming Club. I decided to trot out my Mycenaeans who have not seen action in a long time, and opposing me Andre fielded Achaemenid Persians – so an anachronistic match-up but a not too far off semi-historical mix of opposing troop types – well at least if you ignore the wheels on the chariots (and think of them as cavalry)!

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Discovering L’Art De La Guerre

Over the long weekend just gone (Queen’s Birthday here in NZ) I was back in my home town of Christchurch and my old local wargaming club there had some members hosting an introduction and training day for Art De La Guerre (ADLG) to coincide with the recent release of Version 4 of the rules. This looked an interesting opportunity to finally try these out and also catch up with several old wargaming comrades from the 1980’s and early 1990’s (most of whom I have not crossed paths with for many years).

Games would be 200 points in size (essentially the smallest size game normally played, and vaguely similar to big battle DBA in army size – more commonly games are 300 points or occasionally 400 points), and the focus would be on basic mechanics, and for those already familiar with ADLG, the rule changes in version 4. The game was played in 15mm and the Early Imperial Romans’ were loaned by Andre (one of the event organisers & host) and my opponent was Gordon with quasi-historical Gallic opposition.

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Nice DBMM Intro Video

Nice introductory video to DBMM (De Bellis Magistrorum Militum) and the key aspects of the rules; note this does not go into mechanics, just the overall concepts. Great for those not previously familiar with the DBx series of rules from WRG. Expect there to be more in this series from WRG…

Punic Wars Impetvs

Yes, that’s right, had my first crack at the full version of the Impetus Ancient Rules at the weekend with Roundie (Wayne Steward) down at the AWC. I have been meaning to get into these for a while as they have looked promising as I have dabbled with the idea of them off and on over the years… Roundie offered to tutor me in a game and so on Sunday we got stuck in to have a crack at it. Roundie’s been hard at work converting his existing and building new armies for Impetus (or Impetvs as it would actually be written long ago), and his latest are for the Punic Wars, the series of struggles between the Graeco-African empire of Carthage, and the emerging new power that was Republican Rome. Continue reading “Punic Wars Impetvs”

Carolingians, Vikings, Picts, Romans, And More Vikings

Continuing our Dux Bellorum saga from previously back in July the Carolingians had some intense activity for the next week or so – and several outings – this included a 3rd rematch against Roundie’s dreaded Vikings, two battles against Nick’s Picts at the next AWC Meetingpar proeliorumque (a pair of battles) against Mark’s Late Romans, and then the following Thursday a 4th rematch against the Vikings – 6 engagements in 8 days! Anglo-Saxon King Harold Godwinson would have been be impressed! Here’s a brief summary & photos of some of those engagements… Continue reading “Carolingians, Vikings, Picts, Romans, And More Vikings”

Valdemar Miniatures

I was recently contacted by Valdemar Miniatures – and looking at their website they look to have a pretty stunning series of products. Including 3D Printed ships suitable for Viking Longships and small Medieval Cogs. They describe their figures as 25mm (1/72nd) so they may or may not be a tad smaller than other 28mm manufacturers like the Perrys, Foundry, Artizan, etc. However they produce two ranges of medieval figures, one which is their premium range, what they call “Museum Quality”. Continue reading “Valdemar Miniatures”

Carolingian vs. Viking Rematch No.2

Thursday night Roundie and I had our third Dux Bellorum encounter with Carolingians vs. Vikings – and like last week it turned into another tense struggle that almost went to the wire! Those scurious Vikings once again invaded the Frankish Empire in their quest for plunder and needing seeing too – so Charlemagne, as always, accepted the challenge and met them head on. Continue reading “Carolingian vs. Viking Rematch No.2”

Carolingians vs. Vikings

I’m slowly getting through my Carolingian Army, after a delay to add some additional figures – which has delayed completing the basing and such like. However we are almost there and in the meantime over the last two weeks I have pitted them against Roundie’s Vikings (Land Raiders)! Last weeks combat was a bit of a learning experience, but for this week the Carolingians were a slightly different composition to that which fought Kieran’s Normans back in January. Continue reading “Carolingians vs. Vikings”