All (Ancient) Greek to me! Mortal Gods - My Reboot

I purchased Mortal Gods a while back in pre-Covid days with noble intentions of painting up a warband or two of Ancient Greeks but alas it languished on the plastic pile of shame for years. No more. Their time has come (see link below for more details):

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/270626/mortal-gods-skirmish-games-in-ancient-greece

I have the basic boxed game set and have assembled the basic miniature (Victrix) that came with it, which is a start. Sadly (as of time of writing) the Athenian and Spartan "special" boxes are now hard (nay impossible) to come by, bar purchasing individual separate components by Footsore Miniatures, so it look as if I am "bog standard" Greeks - which is fine by me (see below, the starting point of Mortal Gods): 

Dusting off the Mortal Gods box from the loft, I chose into two opposing sides to paint up (see below, two Lochos and their respective warbands, I am calling one Athens and one Spartan [as per the figures look and feel] despite not having the "special" faction attribute cards): 

Given I was in the 28mm Greek "make it mode", I decided to also assemble the Warlord Games 28mm hoplite miniatures I acquired from a "CoW Bring and Buy" sale [although I mostly do the buying]. They fit in well alongside Victrix (see below, I hope to give Mortal Gods a run out at CoW 2026); 

The figures are PVA-sand based and "washed" brown (see below, they are now also in their Mortal Gods movement trays which are a nice touch to the game system): 

Starting with the light psilio slingers it is time to paint them in the Greek fashion (see below, I deliberately chose the "light forces" to get my eye in, I am also resisting the opportunity to use contrast paints but rather I am using Vallejo Game Colour with MiG Ultra Matt varnish to dull everything down): 

The slingers are coming along nicely (see below, in Mortal Gods a group of three figures together on a base are referred to as "companions" - not to be confused with "The Companions" of Alexander The Great): 

Light troops are based on circular bases (see below, they move together as one block in the rules, which cuts down nicely on the level of "fiddle" moving figures about, all told there are approximately 12 [small game] to 25 [medium-largish] figures per side in a typical Mortal Gods game): 

An unusual figure in "Greek" sides in Mortal Gods (yes there are rules for Persians), is the archer, although Athens has its special "Archer Marines" that can come ashore from triremes (see below, this chap is from Victrix): 

The lights for "one side" are done (see below, all possible types - one companion base of each comprising of (3) slingers, (3) javelinmen and the more useful (3) peltasts, but the the archer is a generally just a singleton [as there were just not that many archers in a typical warband], it does not attract the eros passion from the ladies):  

Time to move onto the hoplites, the sexy side of the warband (see below, the first companion base of hoplites is in the centre of the pack on a triangular base, but more on that later): 

A close up of some javelinmen (see below, a rather bedraggled and opportunistic set of characters who are best at throwing pointy things at and then running away [fast] from dangerous things or sneaking up on flanks or from behind): 

A closer "close-up" (see below, I took my time and really enjoyed doing these javelin man, but because there were no really hard or difficult areas to paint they were done fairly fast): 

Meanwhile, the hoplites were up next and the magic number of hoplites is nine (see below, three bases of hoplite companions can "join together" to form a "phalanx"- which is classed as a combat gift/skill, allowing the troops to absorb more punishment and perform more actions because of the trained cohesion of the troops - but the phalanx can only go straight forward or pivot [powerful but awkward to handle]): 

The basic painting is done, but I returned and experimented with the Little Big Man Studio shield decals (see below, I was really impressed with the results - once I got the hang of putting them on [I did use Micro Sol and Micro Set] and repainted over bits to blend it in to the figure):  

Finally these Greeks are getting dressed and ready for battle, let's do those hoplite shields next!

28mm Greeks for Mortal Gods - Reminder to self (Kick Start This)

These are the Victrix plastic 28mm Greeks that came with the Mortal Gods game (purchased a while back) ... and they are good figures that need some TLC (see below, a pack's worth or hoplite mercenaries - for hire to the best bidder, good value "in plastic"):

The poses are good and warlike with plenty of character(see below, we are in the age of the plastic pack of forty, taking over from metal dozen for the same price - but does that mean mass resin is to follow?):

I am going to resist the temptation to DB'X' them on a base of four [as those games seem to be on the way "out"], but retain them as colourful individuals that can be hoarded together into an appropriate fighting mass): 

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More [Greek assembly] to follow, my ultimate aim is to get three figures worth of figures on the table .. but maybe not this year! 

Ancient Naval Siege - Syracuse 414BC

I seem to be on a Worthington's Games blast at the moment. If it is not the addictive solitaire books then it is their delightful titles such as Syracuse 414BC - the tragedy of all Greek tragedies. When Athens went mad, after going bad n an "imperial" way (see below, the epic sight of a trireme beached on shore with hoplites):

This one again came from Second Chance Games (www.secondchancegames.com) and I thank them for their services to wargaming .. although this was a slightly heavier hit on the wallet being a bookcase game. I am looking forward to it, particularly as it promises to "play quick". Note: there is a two player variant but it is being sold on the solitaire slant!

Board Game Geek reference: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/336403/414-bc-siege-syracuse

What sold me was this review - I was struck down and sunk after hearing it :) 

https://boardgamegeek.com/video/389211/414-bc-siege-syracuse/discriminating-gamer-414-bc-siege-syracuse

All Greek To Me: 28mm Hoplites (Mortal Gods) For Athens or various non Thebes or Sparta City States

This is a long standing stop-start project for me (see below, adding to my 28mm hoplites for Mortal Gods, SPQRII or whatever else s out there for warband 28mm games): 

Besides they are very nice and strait forwards to make (see below, they look really nice): 

The need mounting on either circular bases or stands as my fat fingers keep knocking them over (see below, the dilemma is individual, individual on sabot or dense [as hoplites are wont to] on DBA stands? Answers on a postcard): 

These are the original Victrix ones that game with Mortal Gods (see below, large hoplon shield, armoured helm and long pointy spear - what is not to like): 

The 28mm hoplite figures come together nicely (or should I say history comes alive) when you can see a shield wall forming (see below, begging for the paint job to start): 

Thankfully they come with decals for the shields!

Politics with Pointy Sticks: The Art of Diplomacy in the Peloponnesian War - pre-VCoW 2020 Tester Game

And it came to pass that the Athenians did land a force of hoplites on a beach near Amphipolis lead by the great Strategos Cleon. He incited the people of the City State of Gaton to rebel against their overarching neighbouring City State of Stoliphion, the latter being in the armed camp of Sparta. To this peril the Spartan Strategos Brasidas raised a contingent force and marched towards the sea to meet his foe in armed battle. The rights of passage to the ancient ruined shrine of Artimis being a superficial excuse for this blood shed (see below, the dots to the right are the 1/1200 scale ships of the Athenians beached on the shores):

The rocky hinterland rising up from behind the ruined shrine of Artimis is clearly visible in this picture (see below, a "Zoom special" and how the players saw most of this battle - adding beautifully to the 'Fog of War' experience):  

The two armies arrange themselves for battle (see below seen from the Spartan lines, the Athenians concentrate with a skirmish line to their front, whereas the Spartans adopt a wider horseshoe formation): 

Looking from the Athenian lines at the Spartans (see below, the Athenians hope to make a big impact against the Stoliphon hoplites, outnumbering them four phalanxes to three): 

The Athenian battlelines (see below, Xyston ancient Greeks, lovely figures - 25mm level of detail in 15mm figures, I always enjoy painting them): 

The Spartans are a mixed bunch of Irregular Miniatures and Chariot Miniatures (see below, there may be the odd Xyston Psiloi refugee hiding amongst them): 

The Athenians boldly advance forwards (see below, they clearly have a hanging flank): 

And on that flank are some Greek mercenary horses waiting their chance (see below, these are Chariot Miniatures): 

The Spartans close the Athenians, almost to combat with the Athenian Skirmishers. The Spartans swing their cavalry around to the flank of the Athenian battle-line (see below, the Athenians pepper the Spartan hoplites with stones, slingshots and various other missiles which bounce harmlessly off their Spartan armoured foes):   

A battle-royal starts with hoplite trading blows with hoplite in a grinding battle of attrition, but it is the flanking Spartan cavalry that is having a dramatic effect on the Athenian left (see below, [right hand side of the photograph] pinned to the front the Athenians were taken in the flank and crumbled - a poet would say "reaped like ripe stalks of wheat"):   

In their counterattack the Athenians dispatched the unit of Persian mercenary archers fighting with teh Spartans on their right [let hand side of the photograph below] and engaged in hand to hand combat with the Spartan Skirmishers on their right (see below, both sides hoplites in the center are approaching "breaking points"): 

And so it ends for the Athenian, a second phalanx dissipates and the Spatan phalanx under Brasidas himself destroys the Athenian skirmishers in a devastating rear attack. The last remaining (battered) Athenian phalanx faces off against the fresh unit of Greek mercenary horse in a futile battle (see below, the last remaining Athenian troops are the foolishly advised Gatonian hoplites and skirmishers who quietly "slip the field" while they can): 

Thus a forgotten episode in an ancient epic civil war ends. The ruined shrine of Artimis now resides in the Stoliphonian sphere of influence. What survivors there are of the Athenians are frantically manning their triremes, but are leaving many to the victorious Spartans who will put them to good use against their former owners. 

All-in-all a very good Zoom battle and a good run out for Neil Thomas "One Hour Wargame" rules, unashamedly simple but perfect for a remote game like this.  

15mm Essex Hoplite Refurbishment (WIP)

Once upon a time, when my wargaming interests finally expanded outside the Twentieth Century World Wars, it came to pass I had to [just had to] try and paint an ancient Greek DBA(ish) army - knowing not quite what even a hoplite was. As it was in those days I picked up a few random packets of Essex miniatures at a wargames show and "experimented" (see below, please note how unashamedly naively I mixed up my Ancient Greek and Macedonian painting schemes - I owned not one Osprey at this point [don't tell the wife that as she would say "happy days"]):  

 

Note !the horrid stylised throwing posture of the spear", in fact the spear is an infeasibly large trunk of a spear (yuk), the inadvertent 'bendiness" of the spear after the first handling of it on a wargames table (it was never ever straight again) was hated and then there was small matter of the shield - you either had basic hand painted symbol or simple decal shield designs [no Little Big Man works of art here]]. I cursed these figures as I superglued the spears onto their tiny little hands (and off they came and on they were put again ... etc ... )! I also made the classic rookie mistake of basing them first, undercoated them and then tried to paint them - awkward .. but eventually they were finished and even flocked. But I hated them and only used them as matters of last resort as I moved onto other figure ranges .. I think it was the chunky spears I hated. About a dozen times I think I came close to throwing them out (see below, some twenty years later I decided a quick change of spear to the wire, like I had used for the Xyston boys may, just may, rejuvenate them - with little sense of expectation I started the renovation): 

Instantly they "felt" (or rather 'looked') better. The eye was not drawn to the horrific spear, The un-Greek blue and green colour schemes and ugly shield decals were over-painted with Airfix Acrylic primer and with old hands but better skills new Vallejo paint licked their surfaces (see above and below, they suddenly looked half decent - so "washes" were applied and highlights made):   

Although a little touching up is still required - I think the shields will get a free-hand basic symbol - they are "wargames table passable" to my eyes (see below, they will certainly do as "filler" hoplites for me .. in service of Greek .. Macedonian .. Persian "overlords" [delete as applicable]):  

In total I have nine stands of Essex hoplites and the throwing out of the old Essex spear for new brass wire IMHO has given them all a new least of life!

Command and Colours Board Game: "Better Than Figures?"

The set-up for the first battle, Akragas (see below, me playing against myself):

Not quite a substitute for figures but more satisfying than small counters! I found this in the loft when I was rummaging about and remembered it was my fast start into the Roman period. 

An alternative "quick start" would be: https://wofun-games.com/index.php?route=common/home

As per fellow blogger David Crook's, who recently turned 60 has discovered and started on a new "adventure": http://awargamingodyssey.blogspot.com/2020/10/that-dreadnought-moment.html

One Hour Wargame - Ancients "Take II": Revenge of the Padawan

And so it came to pass that the little Padawan said "Master, that army had no archers, that is why it lost." The old Master looked up from his iPhone, "How so, my little joystick twiddling fiend, was not your advantage in cavalry sufficient enough?" "Pah! Horses are for girls .. give me an army with archers and I will show you how it is done, you old fool!" A raised eyebrow followed by silence .. "Here is your army master Robin Hood." (see below looking down from the Acropolis, Padawan on the left and Master on the right, that's [2 Horse, 3 Infantry and 1 Archer] versus [1 Horse, 4 Infantry, 1 Skirmisher]):

The Padawan moved his central infantry forward and flung both flanks of cavalry deep while leaving his precious archers on the hill (see below, the one cavalry of the master is with his skirmishers on "his" right): 

The Master in reply and refuses his left flank (see below, "let the unarmoured horse impale themselves on my spears" he thinks to himself): 

The Padawan continues his onward rush, contacting the Master's line of skirmishers [ow, that hurt] in front on his horse and he finally moves his archers off the his to support his slowly advancing infantry (see below, so far the Master thinks he is in control of the situation): 

The Master retires his skirmishers as they pass through his horse and charges in turn .. that why they can be the first to do damage in the cavalry battle, meanwhile he pushes forward with his infantry and angles them at a 45 degree incline (see below, the Master has sprung his trap .. or so he thinks): 

The young Padawan commits his cavalry to fight spears (not a good idea) and engages will some but not all of his infantry .. meanwhile the skirmishers have pulled back and the Master's cavalry are fighting well, he sits back contentedly (see below, take care for "hubris" is a Greek word): 

Thinking the old adage of "hitting first" is best the Masters takes the spear to the Padawan's last remaining un-engaged hoplite unit (see below, he senses no danger, but that does not mean there is not one): 

It is now the turn of the Padawan to smile (see below, to his horror the Master now sees a threat approaching, an group of archers and a hanging hoplite flank): 

Crunch-time (see below, archers are much more of a threat than skirmishers in these rules and they begin chewing the Master's hoplites):  

Casualties mount as most units are now "locked in melee" (see below, the red dice may look unsightly but they keep track of casualties, fifteen being the magic break point): 

The Master has the first successes (see below, the Padawan is now bereft of his cavalry): 

But the Master is soon to lose his first heavy hoplite infantry unit (see below, "pop" and teher is a big whole in the line ready to be exploited): 

The Master's skirmishers are out of position to intervene and the hoplite and archer combination works again to good affect (see below, once committed to fight the enemy hoplites the Master's hoplites have what you call "a hanging flank" the archers are all too keen to exploit) 

The Padawan succeeds in removing another hoplite unit (see below, top of the photo, but the victorious Padawan's hoplite unit has its own "hanging flank" exposed to enemy cavalry):  

Pop goes two "Padawan" heavy infantry units and he has a moment of crisis, but fleet of foot archers swing round to attack the victorious but battered hoplites of the Master (see below, desperate times call for desperate measures):  

Before the Master's cavalry can intervene both hoplite phalanx of the Master crumbles, in desperation the Master chargers home with his battered cavalry (see below, the Master's skirmishers have been laggards and have not made their presence felt for over half the game - an oversight): 

Although taking damage the Padawan's archers are winning (see below, the skirmishers again are "out of it" when they should at least be "doing something"):

Alas the Master's brave cavalry fall and with it last hope of winning (see below, two units to one is a foregone conclusion and despite their javelins taking a few last hoplites down the skirmishers are about to "run for the hills"):  

It all end horribly for the skirmishers or rather the game mechanics perhaps reflecting the "goodnight and thanks for all the fish" fleeing skirmisher monologue (see below, game - set - match to the Padawan): 

And so it ends and a stillness descends on the battlefield. "Well done Padawan", said the former Master, "You have shown an old dog a new trick, or rather that no one is immune to a temptation of a short-term advantage that turns into a long-term disadvantage! You have learned well!" He bows, "Now tell me more about your Geography homework!" (see below, not much remains of both armies but the Padawan has the field, if not a completed Geography assignment): 

As per the Abba song, "The Winner Takes It All"! The Padawan has undone his Master ;)