TtS! game mat

I have a 'well developed' game mat collection including two of the old Games Workshop mats. I've never used either of them and decided that one would make an ideal To the Strongest! game mat...with the careful use of some dressmaking scissors and a marker pen! I was all ready for this to become a highly technical disaster but in the end it took just 15 minutes, a little patience and a bit of swearing under my breath. 

I have done nothing with the material other than mark the grid pattern out with dots which was a lot simpler than I had anticipated. I will make another mat at a later date with some patterning on it but for now this simple game mat will let me play test the rules with my growing collection of Punic War figures. 

All my models are based on 30x60 bases so I have opted for a 2 ft x 3 ft playing surface divided into 3" squares. Each square can accommodate two stands of small or light troops easily.

Roman Velites

I have been busy painting more Baccus 6mm miniatures for my Punic War project and contrary to what I have said before this next batch are not cavalry! Instead I have painted six stands of light infantry skirmishers, otherwise known as Velites. They were armed with short thrusting swords - a weapon that would later develop into the Gladius - but their primary weapon was the light javelin. Typically these were the poorest soldiers in the army and went into battle with little or no armour other than a small wooden shield. They did however wear a headdress or cloak made from wolf-skin which gives these troops a very distinctive look. 

Being light infantry their primary role was to act as a skirmish screen in front of the Hastati, Principes and Triarii. They would break up advancing infantry formations with well timed javelin throws and would also be the first troops to see off war elephants and chariots. 

Bowing to the Inevitable

Time moves ever onward and I'm not getting any younger, so its not entirely surprising that my eyesight is starting to let me down. Over the last year or so I have increasingly needed the assistance of cheap shop bought reading glasses for close up work like painting and reading. I did try using a magnifying headset a few years ago but it was too heavy and was soon discarded.

This weekend I finally accepted the inevitable and went to the opticians for an eye test. Not surprisingly I have been told I need reading glasses. My prescription is fairly mild and otherwise my eye health is very good so I should be happy, but there is something quite depressing about ones body letting the side down. I've ordered my glasses and should have them in a week or two. When the kids stop laughing at me I'll put a deposit down on a mobility scooter and a zimmer frame!

Carthaginian Spearmen

My latest 6mm Punic Wars troops are Carthaginian (African) Spearmen. These Hoplite units are certainly a colourful bunch and were really enjoyable to paint with lots of detail and lots of varied shields. I used my new waterproof ink pen on the designs and I'm really happy with how they turned out. 

My only (self criticism) of these is that after I had finished I realised that my 'African' spearmen had a distinctly Caucasian look about them! While I would expect a Carthaginian unit like this to have a high proportion of fair skinned troops amongst them (they are from modern Tunisia after all) I really ought to have included a reasonable proportion of darker faces in the ranks. Terribly un-pc of me and something I will address when I paint my next batch of these. 

I'm taking advantage of the flexible basing options available in the TtS! rules and while infantry come in various sizes in these rules I have decided that where possible I will base all on 20x60mm bases as my standard. So I have opted to base Regular sized units like these spearmen twelve men abreast, in three ranks. Small units, such as the Republic Roman Principes I painted a few weeks ago, will be based in two ranks and Deep formations will be based in four or five ranks. 

So what next? Well my main order of Republic Romans has arrived so I may have a go at some Auxiliary Cavalry next...watch this space!