Tag Archives: Medieval

Ancients, Historical, Medieval, Salute 2019

Salute 2019 – Ancients & Medieval

April 8, 2019 Subedai 4 Comments

Kicking off my Salute 2019 photo reports are the Ancients & Medieval eras. Despite a lot of space staying empty on the showroom floor this year and the crowds seeming decidedly smaller, there were a number of nice participation games for this period. Thanks to undeadhighelf for providing additional pictures of these.

The South London Warlords put on an epic battle in an alternative history setting to determine who would triumph in a clash between ‘The Pilum and the Pike’. I love a good testudo nearly as much as I love a good phalanx.

Imperial Roman army fighting against Macedonians — The Pilum and the Pike by South London Warlords at Salute 2019

Boudicca’s revolt was the background for the battle of Mancetter 61 CE. Two mighty armies of Iceni and Romans faced each other in this climactic encounter with victory promised To the Strongest!

Boudicca's Iceni facing the Roman army — Mancetter 61 CE for To the Strongest! at Salute 2019

The Society of Ancients recreated the ‘Battle at the Harzhorn’, pitting Romans against Germanic tribes in the 3rd century. The site of this ancient battle was discovered in 2008 and is still being excavated, revealing a treasure trove of new information about the era.

Romans versus Germanic tribes — Battle at the Harzhorn by Society of Ancients at Salute 2019

‘Alexander: Conquest Fulfilled’ was the title of another hypothetical battle which saw the great Macedonian general lead his army on an invasion into China.

Alexander the Great invades China — Alexander: Conquest Fulfilled for Warhammer Ancient Battles at Salute 2019

The University of Edinburgh and Supreme Littleness Designs staged ‘Raiders of the Crusader Keep’. Based on medieval sources and archeological discoveries, it allowed to take part in fighting through a 13th century crusader castle at Byblos.

Fighting in a crusader castle — Raiders of the Crusader Keep by Edinburgh University at Salute 2019

Well before the beginning of recorded history, the Wargames Association of Reading led on a ‘Mammoth Hunt’ while simultaneously having to fight off rival tribes and hungry sabre tooth tigers.

Hunting mammoths — Mammoth Hunt by Wargames Association of Reading at Salute 2019

Jumping ahead to 1421, the Lance and Longbow Society fought the ‘Battle of Bauge’, which was a confrontation between an English versus a French and Scottish army.

15th century warfare in Normandy — Battle of Bauge by Lance and Longbow Society at Salute 2019

Ancients, Medieval, Salute 2017

Salute 2017 – Ancients & Medieval

April 30, 2017 Subedai Leave a comment

Simon Miller and the Wargames Holiday Centre brought this staggering array of phalanxes, cavalry and elephants to Salute to refight the Battle of Raphia in 217 BC. Thanks to undeadhighelf for the close up shots. Photos of the battle lines clashing can be found here on Simon’s blog.

Battle of Raphia by Simon Miller at Salute 2017 — Battle of Raphia by Simon Miller

The Society of Ancients had the Battle of Kadesh as the theme for their game, reminding me to finish off my Hittite army at some point.

Archers and chariots clashing on a desert table — Battle of Kadesh by Society of Ancients

Egyptian chariots and archers in front of tomb complex — Battle of Kadesh by Society of Ancients

Hittite chariot squadrons in the distance — Battle of Kadesh by Society of Ancients

Taking their cue from a musical, the always original Tin Soldiers of Antwerp had the three houses of Rome clash across a hippodrome, bath house and amphitheatre.

A Not So Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum by Tin Soldiers of Antwerp at Salute 2017 — A Not So Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum by Tin Soldiers of Antwerp

The Battle of Hastings was played out in 15mm using the Mortem Et Gloriam rules.

Wargames table with ranks of small scale miniatures — Battle of Hastings by Donnington Miniatures

Close up of cavalry riding uphill against a line of spearman — Battle of Hastings by Donnington Miniatures

The School of History from the University of Edinburgh used Lion Rampant to fight the Battle of Lodi Vecchio in 1239.

Medieval troops skirmishing amongst ruined town houses — Battle of Lodi Vecchio by the School of History from the University of Edinburgh

Ancients, Medieval, Salute 2016

Salute 2016 – Ancients & Medieval

April 18, 2016 Subedai 4 Comments

For the Ancient and Medieval eras less caught my eye at Salute 2016 than in previous years, but amongst those was my favourite of the show – The Battle of Foteviken 1134 by Dalauppror. A lot more photos on their own site, so I suggest you head over.

Wargaming table showing a beach with Viking longships close to a village — The Battle of Foteviken 1134 by Dalauppror

Close-up view of two Viking longships manned by warriors with shields and spears — The Battle of Foteviken 1134 by Dalauppror

Several lines of infantry advancing past a camp of tents — The Battle of Foteviken 1134 by Dalauppror

Galloping cavalry emerging from between trees — The Battle of Foteviken 1134 by Dalauppror

Cavalry passing through a small settlement on the coastline with a longship under construction — The Battle of Foteviken 1134 by Dalauppror

View over huts across the bay onto longships in the distance — The Battle of Foteviken 1134 by Dalauppror

Standee explaining historical background and rules used for the game — The Battle of Foteviken 1134 by Dalauppror

The Battle of Magnesia 190 BC by the Society of Ancients was played out using the Lost Battle rules. Wonderful armies for my favourite period in history, unfortunately I didn’t manage to return to the table later to take more detail shots.

Wargaming table with battle lines of cavalry and infantry advancing towards each other over a wide open fields with scattered trees — Battle of Magnesia 190 BC by Society of Ancients

View of the Seleucid army with chariots, skirmishers, infantry and cavalry — Battle of Magnesia 190 BC by Society of Ancients

Overlooking the table from behind the Seleucid army including phalanxes and a war elephant — Battle of Magnesia 190 BC by Society of Ancients

Ancients, Medieval, Salute 2015

Salute 2015 – Ancients & Medieval

April 27, 2015 Subedai 3 Comments

I haven’t done any historical wargaming for years now since there are just too many projects to keep juggling at the same time. I have been eyeing up Saga however since I am more likely to finish a skirmishing force, or in some cases already have enough to field one. The original Dark Ages setting wasn’t an era I had much interest in, but with The Crescent and the Cross we are getting closer, at least geographically. I might be able to adjust some of the rules for my Sassanids for example. More likely, I’ll hang in long enough for a new expansion that covers a period I already have forces for.

In the meantime, I used the opportunity to ogle the many Saga tables at Salute 2015.

4Ground had a large sales stand and impressive new ranges on show. The table below tempted me to get some of their products, but the whole setup will set you back a couple hundred quid. Also, I have nowhere to store them.

Antiquity was represented by a large participation game created by Simon Miller, depicting a Roman civil war battle at Cremona in 69 AD and using the “To the Strongest!” set of rules.

The theme of this year’s Salute was Agincourt as it is the 600th anniversary of the battle. While there were several games with different takes on the recreation of the event, unfortunately there was no large display. The nicest presentation in my opinion was the below board by Ancient & Modern/Donnington Miniatures.

Another medieval setting in “De Montfort Must Die”, a participation game by Wargames Illustrated. Here the players had to hunt down a rebel leader near Evesham in 1265.

A micro-board using larger scale knights set in the siege works at Harfleur provided the battleground in the below game for Anno Domini.

Stockholm 1392 was the setting for Dalauppror’s “God’s Friends and the Whole World’s Enemies” in which the Swedish populace tried to fend off plundering German mercenaries and pirates.

Medieval, Salute 2014

Salute 2014 – The Crescent and the Cross

April 14, 2014 Subedai 5 Comments

I think I missed a couple of displays and gaming boards set in the medieval era, but the one I did find turned out to be my highlight of Salute 2014.

Studio Tomahawk are about to release the new SAGA: The Crescent and the Cross and were on hand to showcase the expansion with figures by Gripping Beast on a stunning board depicting an assault on a fortified city.