Wednesday, March 8, 2023

Sumerian Parade

Having cleared the gaming table of the long-running Montebello battlefield, preparations begin for the next game.  Up next is a return to Sumerian conflicts using Basic Impetvs on a Grid in 28mm.
Before the figures are mustered and divided into two equally matched armies for an upcoming game or two, the collection is pulled from storage boxes and set out on the table for a parade. 
While enough units are completed to field two armies, recent orders from Newline Designs allows for further augmentation when the mood strikes.  
Reaching this total has taken about 18 months’ effort at the painting desk.  Not a bad result considering many other periods and many other figures have crossed the painting desk.  The collection fields figures from Wargames Foundry and Newline Designs.
Current count is six battle cars and about 300 foot.
The Sumerians will take to the field in a game scheduled for Monday.  Until then, I have a few rules' modifications to test and a few clarifications to add to the QRS before sending the revisions and OB off to the players.

59 comments:

  1. Impressive numbers. You painted a really large army.

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    1. Yes, I painted a very large army. Enough units for two!

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  2. Impressive and beautiful looking army Jonathan.

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    1. Much appreciated! While your work is impressive in small numbers, I need large numbers to make an impact.

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  4. Very, very impressive when you see them en parade like this Jon:). I hadn't quite realised how many units you had indeed completed and they certainly make for an impressive sight. Looking forward to seeing them in action:).

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    1. Displaying the figures en masse helps a lot. I reckon many of us never really appreciate what we accomplish until we bring them out for a group photo.

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  5. I must find a synonym for "impressive" LOL😂😝. Joking aside, this is a fantastic collection put together in a relatively short space of time, Jon, so the adjective is probably warranted, even if somewhat repetitively applied!

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    1. Yeah, you need to find another synonym! Impressive by any other name is still impressive, no?

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  6. Wow! Impressive parade and painting achievement.
    Neil

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  7. A very impressive army parade. How many units 40-45?

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  8. Certainly fills the table! You will create some epic battles, perhaps even spawn a Gilgamesh reputation! Chariot armies are cool looking, 28mm chariots even more so. Show us a battle soon, please.

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    1. The Sumerians certainly fill the table! Chariot armies are cool and I have several. Game planned on Monday. Hopefully, a battle report will follow.

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  9. And very impressive they all look too!!!

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    1. Thanks, Ray! Packed together in large numbers, anything can look impressive.

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  10. That is an impressive collection and it's been great seeing it expand

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  11. Looking very good, I don’t know why, but I just can’t recall see the long spear / pike rolling of the painting table - en masse they look superb.

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    1. Thanks! The spearmen have all made an appearance over time.

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    2. Looking at them now, I think that is because I have only ever seen them face on and it is their nice shields that will have caught my eye.

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    3. That could contribute to overlooking the spearmen. Photos tend to make the spears look longer than they actually are.

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  12. I had a feeling it was going to be an impressive collection but this has definitely passed my expectations, both in size and aesthetics. Terrific work Jonathan and it all looks great amassed together.

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    1. Surpassing expectations is a good result! It is easy to lose track of what is accomplished when seen in dribs and drabs.

      Thank you!

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  13. Am as impressed as the other commentors above. Flippin lovely sight to see such a large collection so well painted and based. You should be proud mate.

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  14. That's very impressive Jonathan!

    Christopher

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  15. Thats quite a collection of the Boys of Sumer!

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    1. Yes, it is! Peter, I do not why but your comments frequently are caught up by my SPAM filter.

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    2. For some reason, my 25 year old AOPL email adress often fails some kind of verification; I haven't been able to find anyway to fix that!

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  16. Fabulous collection JF. They look great all massed up like that. If I were the enemy I’d scamper away. 😀

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    1. Thanks, Stew! I will split this collection in half and they will battle each other.

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  17. A spectacular sight Jonathan and no mean feat in the time scale especially when combined with your other production.

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  18. Awesome! For once the right use of the word!
    Best Iain

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  19. Very nice Jonathan, great to see an army arrayed for battle.

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    1. Setting them all out on the table is a task we ought to tackle more often just to see what has been accomplished. Also useful in assessing where we need reinforcements.

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  20. Very, very impressive Ancient army arrayed, Jonathan! My first wargaming figures were Bronze Age Ancients, so always great to see.

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    1. Thanks, Dean! I seem to be working my way back into time on my collections. Some day, I will tackle a Trojan army that I know is one of your Bronze Age armies.

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  21. What can one say that hasnt already been said Johnathan. Its the speed of creating the units that I find impressive, the figures dont looked rushed and stand close examination. You do realise how annoying that is?

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    1. Thanks, Robbie. My efforts having nothing over your fine brushworks. I try not to be annoying.

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  22. Such a gorgeous and impressive parade...Thumbs up Jonathan!

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  23. That's a massive army and very powerful, a cloud of missile and melee skirmishers and some heavy hitters behind them. I didn't realize that the Sumerians used pikes - or at least, they look like pike blocks. How do they work on the battlefield? Cheers, Michael

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    1. Michael! Great to see a comment from you!

      The heavy infantry carry long spears. At about 9-12 feet in length, I would not quite consider them pikes but close. In Basic Impetvs, these heavy spearmen are used in large units which does resemble a pike block. For Renaissance armies three pikes stands make-up a pike block whereas in here only two stands comprise the block. On the battlefield, I say these fellas operate very similarly to a pike block. They offer up a real grinding force that is tough to destroy.

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  24. That is a fine looking collection Jonathan…

    All the best. Aly

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  25. I'm very late to the party! Absolutely splendid looking army. I needed little inspiration to get me back at the brushes, been struggling of late. Just the tonic.

    Cheers

    Meic

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    1. Never too late, Meic! Happy to provide a little inspiration and good to see you back!

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