A Tale of Dark Age in Southern Italy #3

Third and last DBA game played by me and Frontlineminiaturist on a Saturday afternoon. Since now, 1-1 Byz to Lon, but there shall be only one winner at the end.

For a catch up: first game here, second game here.

NB: we took better pics for this game, clearly a sign of improvement, so we can actually track everything happened.

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Army lists 📜

III/21b Italian Lombard, Lombard Army 775-1076 AD

1 x 3Kn (Gen), 4 x 3Kn, 4 x Sp, 1 x 3Bw, 2 x Ps

III/65 Nikephorian Byzantine 963-1042 AD

1 x Cv (Gen), 1 x 4Bd, 4 x Cv, 1 x LH, 3 x 8Bw, 1 x Ps, 1 x 3Ax

Terrain & Deployment 🌳

Lon defends. Frontlineminiaturist chooses a BUA this time, a simple hamlet which goes right next his camp. Terrain is concentrated on the attacker side, with a plough, a gentle hill on Byz left flank and a difficult hill on the right.

Defender deploys as usual: Kn in the centre, Sp on his left, Ps on the right. Objectively, we tried three similar formations in this games, but every time they resulted in something different: how awesome.

Attacker sets his light troops on the difficult hill, and tempts fate with the plough by placing Cv right behind it. In the centre, the 8Bw line with 4Bd reinforcing on left flank.

Battle! 🎲

The plough is ok, so Byz can advance with the entire army. LH moves forward to strengthen the infantry line. Lon is worried about the bulk of Byz Cv in front of his Ps, so turns the Kn group towards the enemy flank.

Second turn we still maneuver on the battlefield: Lon go forward with everything but the Sp (damned low PIP's), and Byz send the Cv on the left flank, reinforced by the Gen, while on the right the light foot and an incoming Cv direct on the enemy camp. 

First contact! The hard Kn line impacts on the enemy with rage and lances in rest. Near the hamlet, the Sp finally turns towards the approaching enemy.

First blood for the Lon: Byz Varangian Guard (4Bd) surrenders under the violent blows of the Lombard Knights.

Byz reaction: 8Bw and Gen in the centre close the door on the killer Kn; Cv charges the poor Ps in good going; the other Cv unites with the light troops.

Revenge! Both Lon Kn and Ps are killed. Byz 2 - Lon 1. The Kn, however, pursue against Byz horses: this moves, typical of Knights formation, can be really tough.

For the first time in these three games, Lon Sp actually do something: they attack the Byz formation near the hamlet with a wall of spikes and fury.

And in fact Byz Cv flees from combat. Lon Kn press the enemy almost on the gentle hill.

Game changing turn for the Byz: Cv and Gen closes the door on the rear rank of enemy Kn, and the last Cv charges the Ps in good going. Are we near to victory?

Hooray! Byz 4 - Lon 1 with this nice die rolls. Here ends the last game.

So, the day ends Byz 2 - Lon 1. We had lots of fun, and we hope to play again soon with these armies and their new Frankish friends. More on this later, but my mate and me have new minis on our workbench, perfect to match Byz and Lon. The only possible outcome is a narrative campaign in IXth century Southern Italy...

A Tale of Dark Ages in Southern Italy #2

Second DBA game played by me and Frontlineminiaturist on a Saturday afternoon. After my Byz victory in the first game, his Lon take another shot.

You can find the first game here.

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Army lists 📜

III/21b Italian Lombard, Lombard Army 775-1076 AD

1 x 3Kn (Gen), 4 x 3Kn, 4 x Sp, 1 x 3Bw, 2 x Ps

III/65 Nikephorian Byzantine 963-1042 AD

1 x Cv (Gen), 1 x 4Bd, 4 x Cv, 1 x LH, 3 x 8Bw, 1 x Ps, 1 x 3Ax

Terrain & Deployment 🌳

Lon defends. They chose two Ploughs, however the dice roll states that all the terrain concentrates on one side of the battlefield.

I change my deployment and prefer a big group in the centre, with 8Bw creating a line with 4Bd; 3Ax, Cv and LH on the left and only Cv on the right. Ps cover the right flank of the group formation.

The damn ploughs are for the second time a bet for the Lon, but Frontlineminiaturist chooses a deployment similar to the first battle: Sp on his left flank, Ps on his right, strong Kn group in the centre.

Battle! 🎲

First turn sees the two armies advance one towards another. This time the ploughs are good going, so Lon can go forward without any problem.

8Bw shoot and kill one Kn element. Sometimes bows are effective!

Knights' charge! Lon try to break through the Byz line.

Byz react by closing the doors on the left with Cv and in the centre with Ps on the Lon General! Cv on the right charges the 3Bw element in the field, but they underestimate them...

In fact, both Cv on the Byz flanks are killed! The closed door on the General, however, results in the losing of the Lon warlord. Score: Byz 3 - Lon 2

Lon assault the isolated 3Ax near the plough on their right flank

And they kill it! Tie, 3-3. The Lon Kn is still pressing the Byz LH

Last photo: Byz charge on every front. Will they succeed?

Unfortunately, not: some bad dies result in recoil in both fronts, Byz of the right (damn!) and Lon in the centre. In the last turn, Frontlineminiaturist's ardent Kn will finally kill the Byz LH, closing the game Byz 3 - Lon 4. One game each. See you next time, filthy Lombard...

A Tale of Dark Ages in Southern Italy #1

Yesterday afternoon me and my pard Frontlineminiaturist played three DBA games in a row with his stunning armies of Italian Lombard and Nikephorian Byzantine.

Early in 2021 we beta-tested a little campaign with the same armies, in which I tried to defend my Lombard territories in Southern Italy from the Byzantine invasion of Frontlineminiaturist's imperial forces. It was not bad, but we want to refine the rules before playing again, and maybe add the new 15mm armies we bought along the way.

This time, we played some casual battles just for fun and to see what happened if we swapped the armies: so, I took the Byz and he took the Lon. Cool minis, cool games. Who will win in the end?

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Army lists 📜

III/21b Italian Lombard, Lombard Army 775-1076 AD

1 x 3Kn (Gen), 4 x 3Kn, 4 x Sp, 1 x 3Bw, 2 x Ps

III/65 Nikephorian Byzantine 963-1042 AD

1 x Cv (Gen), 1 x 4Bd, 4 x Cv, 1 x LH, 3 x 8Bw, 1 x Ps, 1 x 3Ax

Terrain & Deployment 🌳

Byz defends. I'm in Arable terrain, so we chose 2 compulsory Ploughs, a Forest and a Road. We wanted to place a Gentle Hill but we miscast the dice and there was no room for it.

I deploy near to the road, with 4Bd on the centre surrounded by 8Bw. My Cv follows on the left flank, and light troops controls the forest on the right.

Lon take a risk by deploying inside the ploughs, with Sp on my right, Ps on my left and Kn in the centre. Both our Generals are in the backline of the army.

Lombard Knights are a frightening view!

Lombard Spears and 3Bw

The Byz line

The Byzantine General oversees his troops from behind

Battle! 🎲

First dice is 1! Poor Lon: the ploughs are considered bad going

8Bw advancing

The Byz army advances everywhere, and the Lon send the Knights forward while the Spears trudge in the fields.

First contact is made by Lon Kn. Byz 8Bw on the right throw arrows at the enemies and consolidate their position

First blood of the game is for the Lon! Byz LH is wiped out

Lon charge the 8Bw, but Byz close the door on both Lon Kn on the left and Lon 3Bw on the right

No good for the Byz: both combats result in a recoil, and the 3Ax are killed. 8Bw however manage to disband some 3Kn.

Lon Knights close the door on the poor Byz Cv

Unfortunately this is the last photo we took for this game! We didn't register which elements went lost (yeah, we were not the most clever), but we remember a Byz victory in the end. So, 1-0 Byz to Lon for our first game!

Orctober 2021 #2: Wake me up when Orctober ends

So, we reached the end of Orctober, and my Troll is still primed but not painted. Sigh. I'm really the worse Greenskin around, Gork & Mork please forgive me.

I decided though to go on with my personal Orctober, so I'll keep on with updates about Gurzo the Troll and his journey throughout been painted. I hope to finish him within November.

See you soon and as always... Waaagh!

Just some nice Orcs from a recent battle of WFB. Do you recognize our favourite Shaman in the front rank?