So way back when all this BS started. I was going to buy a painted army. I would use that army to play at AdeptiCon and a few pick up games here and there. Thereby increasing the number of games I would get for my troubles. That was it! I had other stuff going on and no time to cycle another system across the painting table.

         Last AdeptiCon I was issued a loaner. I played with the New England group with a loaner. Then shorty after found a big completely painted Tomb King army for nothing. Which I expanded. Then glued magnetic bases to the bottom. Next I started to rebase and paint the army.

         There went an easy solution.  Which quickly preceded to exploded into a total cluster of unrestraint. I could try to explain my ruination as the resin/plastic/lead crack problem that I am known to have.
          It is more so the down and dirty speed and quality of the Warmaster system. As a gaming rule set/system, it is quick to learn. Yet there remains a depth to it. Strategically challenging. One can replicate historical battle maneuvers with an accuracy to actual results. Including but not limited to the trick battlefield deployments. Most importantly! It has an existing stable player base.

         All along and continuing with the desert theme, I start a Araby army sourcing historical minis. The WM Araby are more Ottoman Turks than actual desert peoples. Using Old Glory I chose all Persian troop types.

         After returning from Japan, of course I just had to buy a Samurai army. Yep I bought Jap terrain too!

        Note: 3 armies that are now unfinished. A Tomb King that requires the basing at the very least completed. An Araby that is 600 points painted. A Samurai army in route, to be smuggled into the house.

It doesn’t end with that.

         In between last Xmas and AdeptiCon 2018, I started looking at ancients in 10mm. 10mm because who in the seven frozen hells can paint that many 28mm. I tried and failed. Boxes of 28mm lead are some where.
         Why not use Warmaster and/or HC? I could host Con ancient games, right? I am an Old Glory Army member.
         I responsibly picked a time period. Responsible in the idea that the period chosen would allow for multiple basic troops to cross from regional power to regional power.
         Irresponsibly I purchased in bulk Rep Rome, Cartho, AtG/Successor, Spanish, Hannibal, Pyrrhus. All of which remain 95% bare lead in baggies.  

         And then there is the terrain. I have a cubic ass ton of 15mm stuff for ACW RF&F. And a bunch of items kicking around. The Old Glory 10mm Viking Village stuff for example. I got in a trade 8 years ago got painted up. I need to complete the river sections. Dusted off all the fields.
           Then I bought a secret weapon table, Military discount. Some Dust Babylonian items, arabic tents, 10mm desert buildings, greek type ruins, a Greek/Roman-ish temple. All of which sits raw and boxed.

         Exactly! Next year will be a 10mm year. I will have to finish multiple armies. What, like 6? And a butt load of terrain. I am so fucked. I need a plan!

Saddness

Castle Arts is closed! In a fit of broken heart-ness, I reached out to the owner. He agreed to sell the left over stock to me. I bought everything he had, 900 + Euro. I will soon be up to my tits in samurai.

 

         I need to finish projects. There are half started, almost finished armies kicking about. Once cleaned up and cleared off, World Eaters, Samurai, & 20mm Colonial is next.

          Starting with the Warmaster Tomb Kings. Which was a painted and complete army. Then I had to go and screw with it.

1 old and 1 new set of birdies.

1 new command stand.

1 repaired and repainted Dragon with priest

          This time around the dragon priest and birdies are out. I believe, I have developed a solid understanding of their tactics and how to abuse them best. Today I am working of the usage of the Sphinx and Cavalry.

          The Sphinx proved difficult and not worth the points when I first started playing. Now that I have actually read the rules and know them fairly well, I expect the Sphinx’s performance to be worth it’s points. Also I took two in the list for today’s game.
          The plan is to use them as shock troops. Those unit which steam roller the enemy. As Elephants would have been used. In the back of my head they will be most like my Epic Tau Stealth suits. As in they will hold my opponents attention, while the important operations are ignored.

         Cavalry? But its ancients dummy and Cavalry is Cavalry. Don’t go over thinking its historical track record and proven usage. In this case, we will not be exploring ancients application of cavalry, but the rule system’s/stat line for cavalry.
         Normally, like most players, I use them in a brigade of 4. The frontage ( CAV being based short edge. 20mm x 3stands=60mm x 2 units for a frontage of 120mm. An INF unit has a frontage of 120mm 40mm x 3 stands=120mm) allows for maximum contact during an assault/charge. 18 attacks with 6 support.
         What? Yes! This all started with some internet chatter about uselessness of 5 up save cavalry. You can find the discussion if you want to. Normally such chatter is only pure entertainment. The point was well made. Enough to make me rethink my established opinion on usage.
         Even more so, if one is a Tomb King player. Our Cavalry is 2 attacks not 3. We suck total donkey balls. No Cold Ones here, as those nasties are the opposite end. What we have and other armies is a unit (2-3-5 or 3-3-5). A block of 3 stands that is 10cm faster and with a 1 better save Vs. INF unit.
          Therefore today I plan to use them attached to an INF brigade Vs a cavalry wing brigade as the usual. What I believe the 5+CAV will do is increase the threat range. If your enemy is willing to get in bow range, well then the CAV is in ponce range.

On to the game!

My list:

Kal’s list;

The game was called due to time. It was a total clown show. Together we failed well over half of our command rolls.  Kal’s general failed so many time he was down to leadership 7. I failed the first roll 9 times. Nothing was moving. Even less happening. His right flank completely failed to activate. My right flank won’t move. Then my left took the day off. The flanks saw little to no action with the show in the center.

Lead Porn kind of sort of in order

         In most Warmaster games one plays to break. We hardly ever use scenarios. Being so, I tend not to pay attention to my losses or the enemy dead. Which is the goal right. You must kill enough unit to break. Maybe turn 1 -3 is not so important, but after? Not paying attention could cost you a victory!

           We all have those total speed bump units. Others we restrict LOS with. Ones we use as bait. All 2 too many! Those cheeky bastards will cost you in the end.

          I created a battle tracker, break point tracker. Something to help out an old man. The base is scrap plastic card. I used cork to build up the ground, in which I would bury the dial counter. A $1.99 fish tank Egyptian head, Tomb King extras, and some chinaman palms to finish it off. About 2 hrs on and off total?

        I think in the future some poor bastards will be added on their way to pronate themselves to their new master.