Irregular Wars Wargaming

New website, new ways to explore my rules, new resources! The web shop is now open and ready for business. https://irregularwars.com The Irregular Wars/Fantastic Battles/Devilry Afoot social media groups and pages, and this blog, will continue as normal of course, but the website offers a great resource going forwards. To celebrate the turning of the seasons and the approach of Halloween, you can use the code HALLOWEEN at the checkout to get 10% off anything in the store until 31st October . For those of you already embracing Devilry Afoot , the new Edge of Reason expansion is available free from the Free Downloads page on the site.

Finding a few unexpectedly unoccupied moments recently, I've returned to Flores Minor and painted up three more cannon fodder rangers, Beast, Chief, and Rebel.  Like most of the Ranger Corps, Beast and Rebel are 'proper' GW ratlings with converted weapons. I have to say that there is something about Rebel which make me think he should be protecting a princess on a diplomatic mission -  hence the call sign. Chief is a Max Mini model with a head and weapon swap. I can now field two four-ranger fire teams, each with an NCO with automatic pistol and grenades, two shotguns and a heavy machine gun (of diverse appearances). I love that they are all unique models, but I have pretty much run out of first generation ratlings, so options for expanding too much further will be limited.

This week saw a much-needed rematch between my halfling militia from the shires and Roger's ogres from the northern tundra. Just a straight up battle between two 1,000 point armies, both hankering for a second serve of pie... The halflings were the defender, but the ogres used night march, so the armies deployed closer together than normal. Roger placed yetis and other fast beasties on either flank, tough ogre melee units inside that, and a unit of cannon-toting ogres in the centre, supported by a warlord riding a monstrous fantastic beast and an array of characters including two magic-users, each with level three blink. My halfling centre was composed of an elite hearthguard of spearmen (still militia), and units of kitchen militia and militia archers. The woods and rough ground were held by treefolk auxiliaries, while the mounted wing of poultry riders and cavalry (almost a pun) sat on the far left flank. A cockatrice and small indirect artillery battery provided support from beh...

The heroes went to Cattraeth in marshalled array, and with shout of war, With powerful steeds,   and dark brown harness, and with shields, With uplifted  javelins, and piercing lances, With glittering mail, and with swords. He excelled, and penetrated through the host, Five battalions fell before his blade; Rhuvawn Hir,  —he gave gold  to the altar, And gifts and precious stones  to the minstrel. Y Gododdin 33. It has taken a little bit longer than expected, but the next unit for my Romano-British army for Fantastic Battles is now complete. These are more 10mm Pendraken lovelies, mixing the armoured command with unarmoured cavalry packs. This small two-company unit (one of two such I've planned for the army) will be profiled as formed companies with the mounted, barrage and skirmishers traits to represent the swirling, dashing javelin-armed style warriors mentioned in Y Gododdin .  So far I only have 351 points worth of this army painted - three unit...

This week Andy T and I faced off in the dungeon depths for another playtest of the dungeon crawling element of Fantastic Scuffles . Andrew ran a team of adventurers with four characters (two warriors, a sage and a rogue) and four minions (two archers and two spearmen). I returned to the roll of dungeon keeper, filling my dungeon with hidden movement tokens filled with potential. Knowing me, of course that potential was always going to include kobolds - this time with goblins! With such a large adventuring party, Andy split his team into two groups. All four minions and one of his warriors - the polearm toting knight - went left, discovering the wing of the dungeon populated by kobolds. Having slaughtered a group of kobold spearmen, they continued into the next room, finding the first of their treasure chests, but also running into a group pf kobold slingers led by a mighty (in his head anyway) kobold warrior. Although all the kobolds were to fall, it was not without cost, leaving all t...

I've just finished up this little swarm of 28mm goblings from Old School Miniatures. They will be treated as minions with the swarm trait in Fantastic Scuffles . These smaller goblin cousins have great character and a 1980s-90s vibe that made the kickstarter difficult to dismiss. Some of the casting was a little rough, but mounted five to a base, they are kind of irresistible.  Lets hope the enemy finds it that way too!

At the end of August, Gio organised an amazing looking Blood, Sweat & Cheers tournament in Mexico. It looks like an amazing time, with eight competitors sending their gladiators into the ring to claim the adoration of the crowd and the much coveted title of ludus champion. Putting a crowd-pleasing twist on the game, Gio arranged for Lego mini-figs to represent all the gladiators! I would encourage you to pop over to Gio's blog and have a look (in Spanish and English). He's graciously allowed me to borrow a couple of his images, but I only wanted to show a taste here. So go on, go check it out! Congratulations to Gio for what looked like a brilliant event, and to all the players - not least the ludus champion, Isaac!