Irregular Wars Wargaming

One of this year's projects is to build one of two retinues for Barons' War . When I ordered the rules from Footsore, I was sent a freebie miniature of an outlawed noble. Even though my first retinue is being built from Fireforge plastics (because I already had them and they are more-or-less chronologically appropriate), I decided to paint this chap up. You can't see so much in the picture, but this noble's nose was miscast and makes him look a bit Asterix in profile. Once more , I have gone a little nostalgic when it came to the heraldry, taking inspiration from the Lego Forestmen of 1987-1990. I haven't yet decided how he will be used, but I may build an outlaw/forestmen retinue for him a little later in the year. Size-wise, the Footsore range is slighter than some of, but taller than others! Helpful! You could fit two outlawed nobles in that Trent Miniatures friar, but the height is about right. The outlaw is noticibly taller (3-4mm?) than the Robin Hood miniatur...

Finishing off the posts for 2021, I have returned to revise and expand on my c.1200 (+/- 75 years) retinue of the apocryphal knight, Sir Guillaume le Fauconnier. These hardened 28mm warriors (kitbashed mostly from Fireforge sprues) have not seen a lot of service since first painting them up in 2019. However, in the new year they will form the basis of a small 500 point retinue I plan to build to try out Adny Hobday's Barons' War rules.  Sir Guillaume and his veteran sergeants.  The start of a group of sergeants with crossbows. The first two archers. Two wolfhounds from the Wargames Atlantic Irish warriors box.

A final(?) two men have enlisted to serve in the early 13th century retinue of Sir Guillaume le Fauconnier. Built because I still had bits on my Fireforge sprues (the bow arm is borrowed from elsewhere?), and and idle mind. What I really need now is to get them on the table! Below is the full retinue in all their yellow and blue glory 

Over the Christmas break, I manage to get a bunch of 28mm miniatures done up to compliment my Shadow of Sherwood collection - I'm almost ready to start using them in earnest. These villagers are all from Midlam Miniatures - technically they are from a fantasy range, but they are as historical as the rest of my Robin Hood stuff! Pack-donkey Rat-catcher Washing maid Crippled crone Thug Forester (I cut the sword down into a dagger) Also from Midlam Miniatures, I got this Hiberno-Norse looking chap in a quilted bernie with a Dane axe. He could join the late 12th century Sherwood bandits if he chose, or (as in the photo above) he can team up with some Anglo-Danes and the like to take on slightly earlier Norman types. ... and my axe! For my we lad's (slowly growing) retinue, I created a sergeant with a Dane axe out of left over Fireforge bits.  ... and also my axe! ... and in a scene to warm any wargaming daddy's heart, h...

I was ambushed by the young lad (age 8) this week asking for a game of 'Knights'. He wanted to get his new posse led by Sir John on the table and have a game. I opted to use standard Song of Blades and Heroes with simple warbands. Sir John and his retinue came in at just under 150 points, so I built an outlaw band the same strength. Sir John's Posse Sir John - Q3 C3; Hero, Heavy Armour, Steadfast Swordsman - Q4 C2; Steadfast Spearman - Q4 C2; Steadfast Crosbowman - Q4 C2; Shooter - Long, Sharpshooter, Steadfast Merry Foresters Robin - Q3 C3; Hero, Good Shot, Shooter - Long, Forester John - Q4 C2; Forester Will - Q4 C2; Forester Much - Q4 C2; Shooter - Medium, Forester To get the game moving quickly, we used a 2' square board and deployed 1x Short in from our chosen table edge. Robin and Much are top right, Will and John bottom right. Sir John is out of shot in the lower left, and his men are spread out to the left - the crossbowman in the middle. ...

My wee lad loves to customise stuff - no idea where he gets that from... When he saw  Sir Guillaume , he asked if he could customise a knight too. So now, hot off the heels of family visits to Trim Castle, the National Heritage Park, and the Rock of Dunamase, I can present his small warband led by Sir John 'of Ireland'.  Sir John himself, armoured with a shield, and armed with a mace and sword. The rear of Sir John showing his coat-of-arms. As you can see, the wee man also customised up a prototype for me so I knew exactly what I was supposed to be painting. Two sergeants: one with spear and shield and the other with sword and shield.  A crossbowman to provide a bit of long range support. I suspect these will mostly be sitting on a shelf, but they will also see service in the new Robin Hood/outlaw game, and perhaps in the odd game of Song of Blades and Heroes as well.  Every boy needs to be taught how to handle himself in a scrap...

To defend all civilised Christians from the outlawry and heresy of the wolfsheads of Sherwood, the Sheriff of Nottingham has invited his distant cousin Sir Guillaume le Fauconnier to come and exploit the local peasantry.  All figures are Fireforge plastics - a mixture of foot knights and foot sergeants from two sprues I picked up. For the games I am intending, the eight men shown here should more than suffice to represent the villains... Sir Guillaume le Fauconnier - a knight Two sergeants with spears and shields.  Two sergeants, one with mace and shield, one armoured with a Dane axe (converted from an axe and a spear). Two crossbowmen, one armoured with a sword. One archer with a hand axe (the bow is borrowed from elsewhere and the quiver made of greenstuff).