400 points - completed

Well my first target has been reached. Here we have a 400 point, Late Roman (eastern empire) impetus army. Oddly, they happen to fit perfectly into two of the type of storage boxes I use ("really useful boxes" A4 size). I couldn't even squeeze in one more skirmish base!

Mundane coincidences aside, my appetite for Romans is still healthy and I am looking forward to stage 2! I have painted a further four bases since my last post but will get the pictures after I finish my left overs.

I have Enough leftovers to make two additional light foot units. I'm rather chuft about this because it gives me the option of have two supporting lines of infantry. Four will be heavy comitantes (FP), backed up by four comitantes (FL) with javelins. The new amendments to impetus give a lot more flexibility here than before. FL can now now through, or be moved through, by FP. FL, falling back as they are interpenetrated. Also, they no longer cause damage to rear units after being destroyed. FP units still do though. A further option will be to form the supporting archers into two seperate units.

TIP

Don't use brown to colour your bases. Use a dark umber or "british khaki" and lighten/highlight with cream/sand - looks much better, especially with dry brushing.

O


Late eastern Romans
Fair CNC (2) 20
Avg cmd structure 12
1x re-rolls 5
2x CP Cataphractii 60 (using musketeer bucellarii on their new armoured horses) DONE
2x CL Maurii 46 (GB arthurian + BTD late romans) DONE
4x FP Comitantes 84 (BTD late roman armoured swordsmen and spear) DONE
2x FL Comitantes 38 (foundry infantry with javins) DONE
4x T supporting Sagitarii 40 (foundry archers) DONE

301 points

Goths
1x fair commander (2) 20 DONE
Poor command structure 0
6x CP visigoth nobles 126 (musketeer goths pictured) IN PROGRESS
4x FP large warbands 42 (musketeer and GB saxons want to expand with goths) IN PROGRESS
4x SK skirmishers with javlins 48
3x rerolls

301 points


next time! left over Romans, including a special unit ...

bucellarii

Rather liking these chaps. They are listed on the musketeer website as being“Bucellarii/Commitatus Cavalry” The term Bucelarrii refers to private armies that had existed ever since they republic. Though technically illegal they seem to have become more common during the 5^th century.

For my purposes they will be either Cataphractii or gothic nobles. Not sure which yet! The term “Cataphcractii” Is a bit uncertain and and would probably be more likely to involve the two handed “kontos” – two handed lance that sometimes serverd as a Pike when dismounted.

Either way, the below figures are in my opinion a perfectly suitable representation of either late roman, or gothic, heavy cavalry.

Revised lists:

Late eastern Romans
Fair CNC (2) 20
Avg cmd structure 12
1x re-rolls 5
2x CP Cataphractii 60 (using musketeer bucellarii on their new armoured horses)
2x CL Maurii 46 (GB arthurian + BTD late romans)
4x FP Comitantes 84 (BTD late roman armoured swordsmen and spear)
2x FL Comitantes 38 (foundry infantry with javins)
4x T supporting Sagitarii 40 (foundry archers)

301 points

Goths
1x fair commander (2) 20
Poor command structure 0
6x CP visigoth nobles 126 (musketeer goths pictured)
4x FP large warbands 42 (musketeer and GB saxons want to expand with goths)
4x SK skirmishers with javlins 48
3x rerolls

301 points

Todays TIP:

Some horses have "stronger legs" than others. By this I mean how solidly they are joined to their bases. All four feet on the ground usually makes them stronger of course. Put these horses on the edges so that they dont start to wobble when handling/lifting the base.

nearly there

Without realising it I am now pretty close to a 400 point impetus army. Only 20 cavalry to go after this. Still, I fully plan to build out the Goths so that I can have two 300 point armies for quick games.

Following on - I will at least expand the Romans some more as Bills forthcoming range is sure to suck me back in.

… so here is the roman infantry battle line. These will each have a supporting archer unit to the rear, thus forming an impetus “large unit”

TIP

Make a wet palette if you like to mix your paints. It keeps them nice and wet/thinned for a couple of days. Here is mine below.