Captain Pedals’ Basilean Legacy

[CaptainPedals]

Hello Kings of War Forum. My name is Captain Pedals and I’m getting back into war gaming and more specifically Kings of War. Wargaming has fallen by the wayside for me as of late. Coronavirus has meant I’ve been working a lot. I’m fighting a constant battle with my own propensity to eat a lot of food of which I have the three weapons of cycling, running and basketball. I got into cycling the summer of 2019 and it’s my number one hobby, if I’m honest it got in a fight with my wargaming hobby and battered it.

Sadly I did catch COVID in October and since then I’ve struggled to regain my former fitness. Wargaming calls to me again, not that I’m giving up on my physical exercise but rather I want to undertake some creative endeavors. Now I have an Ogre army in the attic but I want Mantic-ify it. It half Mantic and half GW. The army itself is kinda “done” though: It went to two editions of Altibash.

No what I want to do is create a fully fledged Mantic army, partially because of “cash-dollar” reasons but also for some diversity. I have a Tau army, half an Ogor army, a few Nighthaunt so getting another company’s miniatures is a change. That leaves you with some limited options, not all Mantic armies have the same level of quality. The later modern lines are just better. Of these I do love the Basileans. I mean battle-nuns on Panthers? Paladins on Lions? Actual Angels?

Now sure you could say “But Captain Pedals you’ve been binging the First Law trilogy and are currently steamrolling though ‘Best Served Cold.’ You just wanna make some kind of King’s Own army for the Union and pretend you’re Bayaz!” And you’d be god-dammed right!!!

So it turns out I have a regiment of Men at Arms. I don’t know where from. One of the many Mantic Kickstarters no doubt, Vanguard perhaps although I genuinely do not know which and honestly it does not matter. So these chaps are going to form the initial part of my legion. Perhaps inspired by the frequent mentions of the Gurkish Emperor’s legions and the legacy of Rome my force will be a legion. I’m going to paint them similar to the Mantic standard scheme but swap out blue for purple. Purple is my favorite colour and I’m motivated to paint it. Following this I think a Basilean army box will be the next stop…

[MYamatoSH]

First Law Trilogy FTW, nothing more to say really.
Great idea to build an army with that as a background!

[FredOslow]

Sorry to hear about your health issues, hope you will improve over time.
First Law series is amazing, I also have recently listened to them all on Audible!
Good luck on your project! Keep us posted.

[CaptainPedals]

Thanks, I’m getting there . Sadly it’s a long road and I’m not as far along as I’d like. It could have been a lot worse so for that I’m thankful. Happily I’ve managed to get some assembly done and now have seven Men -at-Arms assembled with five of that number primed. I’ve not done this much wargaming related activity for months and it feels good.

[CaptainPedals]

So instead of doing my uni-work I created a little list in a spreadsheet and costed out the points and Cash Dollar of a little army to get going with this project. It’s only 1000 points so its not big at all but the building blocks are there I think. The 3rd Edition rulebook is on it’s way so I can get fine-tuning the magic items etc when that comes.

When I’ve handed in these assignments I’m going to craft the spreadsheet into a more flexible army list creator for the Basilean list, as a little project to work on when the mood takes.

[CaptainPedals]

So I’ve received some Kings of War related packages. One is bases not exciting, but the other is a set of movement trays for the Spear-lads and the Flatbow-lads I’m going to do also.

When I get chance I’m going to finish assembling this regiment. Then it’s paint o’clock. I’ve assembled my sergeant but was awaiting the bases.

I’ve been planning ahead (prematurely I know) and I’m thinking I need to get some Nuns in this army.

[CaptainPedals]

My order from Mantic is here! I received an Elohi regiment and 3rd Edition rule book, and in a desperate attempt to get free postage I got the spell and item cards. So it’s a tidy package. The movement tray/base for the Elohi aren’t here yet though.

I’ve not made as much progress on my Spear-lads as I’d like but what can one do? I’ve got two left to build, and then three built but unprimed. Slowly coming along. I’m looking forward to getting some paint on these chaps.

I built the three Elohi and I must say that while the sculpts and quality levels are high the arm/sword alignment was fiddly, although that could be down to my sausage fingers. Nevertheless the angels are built and ready to prime.

[CaptainPedals]

So 2020 draws to a close. My hobby waned significantly and has recently waxed, so looking forward to 2021 seems to be a reflection worthwhile. I’ve been musing on my lack of activity and I think that perhaps the answers lies in my choices. I was trying to engage with my 40k T’au and Nighthaunt from age of Sigmar, rather unsuccessfully. It’s only been recently when I decided on Basilea in Kings of War that my interest reignited. Perhaps my lack of activity was choosing the wrong systems and community?

Certainly this forum is a wonderful corner of the wider wargaming internet (which veers into political extremism, toxicity and bullying) and is a enjoyable place to read a few threads. I’ve started this thread and been active as I can be in posting relevant updates. Moreover the creative options offered by the Kings of War ruleset and the general ethos of accessibility make participation very satisfying. Maybe ranks and flanks fantasy is just my bag and it’s what floats my boat.

So as to the future…

I am going to paint some Basileans. I would like to physically have a fully painted 1000 point army by summer. This is a conservative goal to be sure but I always prefer to under promise and over deliver rather than the opposite. I mean I’d like to paint a 2000 point Flying Circus Elohi list by February 1st but it’ll obviously not happen. I am both a slow painter and a poor one but given time and care I can get tabletop standard out. I’ve nearly finished one mini already!

I have a list, and it’s a basic list centered around an infantry core. I already have a regiment of Spear men at arms and Elohi built and primed and a Dwarven cannon that will count as an Arbalest, so the remainder is basically a £60 army set. Again a realistic cheap option. So that’s the main army for 2021. What else is there?

Tournaments!

I would like to go to tournaments again (https://www.kowmasters.com/index.php?p=player&i=38&s=3) I’ve been to two way back in the day, and I would like to bring it back. COVID has obviously put paid to that in the short term but as the vaccine rolls out hopefully things will restart. I’m keen to play in general perhaps at local clubs (or not so local) or keen local players. I do enjoy the physical spectacle - UB is really cool but I also know I prefer the real thing. So Tournaments are cool. They build community and develop the game overall. Who doesn’t want that?

Mantic-ifying my Ogre army to 100% Mantic miniatures is the second tier hobby project for me. I’d say I have around 1000 points of painted Mantic Ogres so finishing that army off would be a later in the year kind of goal. The miniatures are excellent and the new Armada characters (don’t know the right term for that game) are stellar. My only issue is the GW Ogre Cavalry, I have four and would like to use the mounts as “counts as” Chariots. The Mantic minis would require some significant work to make it work if it’s at all possible. I did take the combined army of GW and Mantic ogres to two tournaments so perhaps they might hit the scene again, this time fully Mantic? Mayhaps, but having two painted Mantic armies would be great. I could perhaps play with the kids, or keen locals.

Painting an army, finishing another and going to a tournament (or more) are somewhat realistic goals for a year.

[CaptainPedals]

I’ve not managed any hobby activity recently. As you may be aware things are dicey in the UK with COVID-19 and as a radiographer I’m busy at work and doing post grad study. Nevertheless I got a package today!