Sumerian Javelinmen

Biblical work remains at the fore at present.  Given the desire to make progress on the fledgling Sumerian Wars project and in playtesting Ian's Biblical Rein-Bow Warriors rules (three games in the last week), not much else is on the painting desk. Well, not quite true.  I finished WotR Battle #4 of 52 figures that is awaiting its turn at the photo booth and I begin work on Battle #5.

One troop type needed for the Sumerian project is javelin skirmishers.  Given my mix of Hittite and Egyptian troops, Ian's chariot wars game requires me to field more skirmishers as well.  Killing two birds with one stone, off the painting table today are two dozen Sumerian javelinmen based as skirmishers on six bases of four skirmishers each.  While technically from Wargames Foundry's Sumerian catalog, I will be pressing these fellows into service as Hittites in the Rein-Bow Warriors playtests.  Close enough?  I think so.

Back to Rein-Bow Warriors playtesting.  Over the last week, three remote battle have been fought including the first action recorded here. While I call these activities 'playtesting', a more fitting term would be development.  Some design elements are examined closely too.  With many of the concepts in place, the rules are being tested under game conditions.  Under such stress, some processes work and others do not.  Holes are spotted and plugged. Variance in interpretations must be unified.  Like no plan survives contact with the enemy, playtesting has its own similar corollary.  More on this front in the weeks and months to come.  I may even find time to write up the battle reports on Games #2 and #3.  Is playtesting more difficult in a remote setting vs. F2F?  Perhaps, this is a topic for another time.