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Galleys & Galleons: Anti-submarine operations at the KhiNok islands

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We return once again to our man in the Indies, Mark, for another dispatch. ***** Encouraged by the success of the Maluku Strait operation (Sep 2025) An-te Hai (Admiral of the Tribute-Bearing Fleets, Ming commander in the Indies) started a blockade of the KhiNok Islands. With the mothership Peony Pavilion parked at a convenient but hidden location he can keep one submersible on station at a time. Malakka had anticipated the Chinese move and augmented the small naval presence at the KhiNoks with some experimental aerial units which can - up to a point - spot and bomb submersibles in these clear shallow waters. The arrival of the Santa Isabella da Goa, inbound from the Moluccas laden with spices, brought matters to a head. The Ming blockading force (62 points) comprised - Zuhong Liyu (Vermilion Carp) (62) (Captain Wang Yi) Q3 C3: Ramming, Sluggish, Submersible, Unarmed, Unorthodox 3 x blinds, marking the possible positions of the submersible while submerged. The Portuguese defensive f...
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Another clash before Troy

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This week Roger B and I took Ilium: A Game of Heroes out for another spin at Clare Gaming. I gave Roger the choice of sides and he decided 'filthy sea wolves' sounded like the force for him, so I was playing the noble Trojans once more. He started with Idomeneus, king of Crete (top centre), and Menestheus, king of Athens (top right), while I had two Trojan allies, Sarpedon, king of Lykia (bottom centre), and Asteropaios, Lord of Paionia (bottom left). I wanted to leave a pathway oven for Aeneas to arrive in his chariot leading the Trojan reinforcements, so weighted my starting contingents on the left of the field. Roger swarmed his Achaeans towards the Trojans, leaving many potential targets to be over-run. In due course, Aeneas arrived, mounted in his chariot at the head of the Trojan reinforcements. With surprisingly good dice rolls (given all the other rolling of the evening, it was quite remarkable), every Achaean in the path of the chariot leapt out of the way to safety! ...
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Two more whacky wargears

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Two more whacky wargears completed for the super secret "beer and pretzels" project underway. The goblin bike is made from parts of an utterly charming 3D printed set of multipart bikes from Mezgike Miniatures. For now I only need one, but there are pieces there to make four more unique little gobbos and it is quite tempting! The walker is another multipart 3D printed kit, this time from Filamentio, with a couple of transfers from ForgottenChapters.
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Battle on the Plain - Ilium: A Game of Heroes

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It is the tenth year of the Achaean war with Troy. The loss of Hektor has brought the Trojans low but, from the East, Penthesileia has arrived with a contingent of fierce Amazonian warriors and archers, rallying to the Trojan cause . On the plain between the city walls and the Achaean camp, the rival armies muster. Between the lines of the massed fighters, a number of heroes and their selected promachoi range about, seeking honour and the chance to inspire their forces with deeds of great glory. On one dusty part of the plain, the contingents of Helenos, prince of Troy, and Penthesileia, the Amazonian queen, advance as a compact body. Opposed to them, Menestheus, King of Athens, and Idomeneus, King of Crete advance more slowly. Early shooting by the Trojan promachoi archers proves accurate, as the warriors of Menestheus start to fall. Seeing his favourites in difficulty, Poseidon assumes human form and stalks across the plain to take up position next to Idomeneus, replacing one of the ...
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Dinky rat wheel

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Having recently painted my first 28mm tank/APC , this week I finished off this rather dinky rat-wheel from DakkaDakka. But what mysterious force is driving me to do this? The wheel is supposed to have a large laser cannon (or similar) on the left hand side, but the piece didn't fit too well, and sure, I didn't really need it anyway. Instead I popped a wee nuclear symbol in the spot. Perhaps the wheel is driven by something more punchy than diesel.  Now there are two of them...
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SSD: the Bake-Off - a squabble within the Fraternity of Bakers gets out of hand

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Mark returns to ancient Pattayavium for some Song of Shadows and Dust ... *** The Fraternity of Bakers in Pattayavium is not a large body. In fact it is restricted to only two families, headed by the brothers Autolycus and Lysias, who are responsible for baking bread for those Helleno-Roman expats who have not gone native culinary-wise. They and their families and workers live in a close knit community near the potteries, clustered around the grain stores and large ovens which obviously are central to the business (Photo #1, looking NE). Unfortunately things are not well between the brothers. Lysias, the younger, who has always been aggressive and impulsive, has taken to heavy drinking and gambling. He is deep in debt to shady characters who have encouraged him to believe Autolycus is planning to cut him out of the trade. Things come to a head one morning around dawn, when not many civilians are yet on the streets but obviously the bakers are hard at work. Lysias shows up with a gang o...
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Menestheus, king of Athens, his promachoi and a chariot

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The next contingent of Achaeans for Ilium: A Game of Heroes is ostensibly Menestheus, king of Athens, supported by promachoi in the form of four shield-bearers and two archers. In practice he could represent any number of Achaean heroes. As with my other Achaeans, these are all Wargames Foundry 28mm Mycenaeans. Menestheus, son of Peteus, king of Athens. Achaean shield-bearers. Achaean archers. Also completed recently is an Achaean charioteer. The driver is a converted Wargames Foundry Mycenaean warrior, riding in a Wargames Atlantic chariot.
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Devilry Afoot: Bealtaine (May Day) 1626 - the Redshanks Mummers

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Mark returns to Frommage for some more Devilry Afoot : ************* “ Reportes are abroade as far as Leicester and Northampton, that the Mummers are returned into Rutland shire. Folke are wondering greatly, as such have not been seene in that countrie since Elizabeth was yet living. Time out of mind their visitation has always heralded a mighty battle against some devilry afoote. May God protect us [etc etc] ” (Diary of John Paston, entry for 29 April 1626. Northamptonshire Record Office). ************* Here’s a coloured woodcut of the Redshanks, as these Mummers are popularly known. No-one knows who they really are or whence they come and go (Photo #1). The Mummers (Hunters) are as follows. Obviously the models are not WYSIWYG. You should assume they are equipped with arcane musical and guising powers that can baffle the minions of the Devil, best represented by the conventional weapons etc they are said to carry. Thomas Hobbes (green ribbon shirt) Goodman: Devout, Penitent. Slovenl...
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