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Post by okumarts on Jul 14, 2011 15:00:06 GMT -9
I'm thinking of running a historical game using some homebrew rules and thought it might be fun to have minis appropriate to the era. This book has been a huge inspiration over the years and I thought it would be fun to have something to do with the Viking attacks on Ireland in the 9th century. Any suggestions or requests/ideas?
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Post by okumarts on Jul 14, 2011 15:33:50 GMT -9
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Post by stevelortz on Jul 14, 2011 17:02:10 GMT -9
A lot of potential there, Mr. Okumarts, SIR! A LOT of potential!
Let's look at 1066. First, Harold Godwinson with his Anglo-Saxon army beat a Viking army under Harold Hardrada at the battle of Stamford Bridge in the north. Then Godwinson rode south to be beaten by William the Bastard and his Norman army at Hastings. So there we have Anglo-Saxons, Vikings and Normans all in the same campaign together.
Earlier in the 11th century, Robert Guiscard was tooling around the south of Italy with his gang of Norman Hells Angels riding horses, establishing himself by hook or by crook as the Duke of Apulia. He fought for and against Byzantines, Saracens, Swabians, Lombards, Tuscans, the Holy Roman Emperor and the Pope, as well as an occasional civic militia, and in one instance at least, against a horde of tarantulas. His wife, Sichelgaita, was able to hold her own on the battlefield beside Robert and she also exercised effective command by her self. Robert's younger brother, Roger Basso, completed the conquest of Sicily, and Robert's son, Bohemond, was one of the leaders of the First Crusade. Some of Rogers engineers, who participated in the invasion of Sicily, probably taught William the Bastard how to transport horses across the English channel.
In his later years, Robert Guiscard kept attempting to capture Byzantium for himself, but every time he took his army outside of Italy, one or more of his vassals would rise up, and Robert would have to go back to stamp out the fire.
The Varangian Guard of the Byzantine Emperor were mostly Vikings, but Anglo-Saxons began to pre-dominate as they fled England after their defeat at Hastings. You have ALL these guys ALL OVER the place!
The 11th century was the tail end of the Dark Ages, but I have always been interested in putting together an earlier army, the Carolingians, for use both as historicals, and as a "fantasy" army in recreations of incidents from The Song of Roland.
Just about every kind of small scale skirmish a person could imagine can be found in the Dark Ages, including Beowulf's encounters with Grendel, his Mom, and the Dragon. There's also Fafnir, Sigurd and the Valkyries in the Volsunga Saga. And the Nibelungens, who were actually dark elves.
I think you might find a set or two to turn out based on Dark Age historicals!
Have fun! Steve
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Post by Parduz on Jul 14, 2011 21:50:48 GMT -9
Let's look at 1066. First, ... Wow.... i wish you were my history teacher 30y ago, or my sons teacher now.... There's a "most instructive post" prize for the forum? Thanks
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Post by pblade on Jul 15, 2011 0:22:46 GMT -9
I didn't get to study the Dark Ages in class, but I was fortunate enough to get a few passionate professors in college. When someone can share their passion with classes, it is almost always a better experience.
I can just imagine the lectures & visual aids a professor could come up with now, thanks to the last few years' explosion of papercrafting. Think a full recreation of Agincourt, or a typical siege would help hold students' attention?
- Pb
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Post by okumarts on Jul 15, 2011 5:10:36 GMT -9
To be selfish, I'm actually making these to provide minis for my Dark Ages campaign I want to run. There are some plastic Celt minis I can buy (I almost bought them yesterday), but there are very few female minis and they all seem to have a Roman era bent to them. I think the first two sets will be two Irish Clans and then a Monastery set and a Viking force. I'm probably looking at 840 AD as my "Era". I want to keep it historical. I thought about making a fictional island and adding elves and celtic monsters, but I think I want to make it 'realistic'. Just a thought.
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Post by okumarts on Jul 15, 2011 17:15:08 GMT -9
The first book will be to play Irish Warriors. The second book will probably be a Viking supplement. Attachments:
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Post by BilliamBabble Inked Adventures on Jul 17, 2011 6:41:53 GMT -9
Nice logo!
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Post by Adam Souza on Jul 18, 2011 6:20:33 GMT -9
Great looking Logo.
Historical games have always interested me, but not enough that I wanted buy and learn a new game, buy and paint a new army, and convince some of my friends to do the same. Paper miniatures may change that...
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Post by okumarts on Jul 21, 2011 20:27:35 GMT -9
I almost buckled the other night and placed this in a fictional setting, but I am determined to keep it historical. I think the sets would be useful for other fantasy rpgs as well. I have been tweaking the game system I want to use for this, but ultimately it will be miniatures most people will buy I think. The game is more for my own amusement, but I hope it will be a selling point. I will be doing another playtest this monday.
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Post by okumarts on Jul 22, 2011 19:50:10 GMT -9
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Post by okumarts on Jul 25, 2011 21:40:42 GMT -9
I drew up about 20 miniatures today and tomorrow I will work on the backs. I made them "weaponless" as they will have interchangeable weapons and shields that you can turn on and off in the layers. This will allow another level of customization that should be really cool if I can get it to work properly. I also worked on a playtest campaign, making up some characters and running the first (really second) adventure. I've been trying to document the design process and I will admit this is a confusing and complicated stage. okumartsgames.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=clarificationsandideas&thread=9&page=1
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Post by okumarts on Jul 26, 2011 19:40:09 GMT -9
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Post by kiladecus on Aug 5, 2011 16:57:28 GMT -9
Ok... WOW! WOW on the concept! WOW on Mr. Lortz Informative yet intertaining post! WOW on the logo... want to do one for me? Ok,.. I am ispired to do some work on my NATARRO CLANSMEN (not so much historically accurate... because my vikings are Orcs!) ;D Great job again!
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Post by okumarts on Aug 5, 2011 17:04:32 GMT -9
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