Reviews - March 2010

Reviews - March 2010 We take a look at the latest set of reviews from the Wargames Illustrated team. This month includes the historical rules supplement Imperium, the Thrilling Tales figure range from Artizan Designs and Feudal Age figure range from Legio Heroica.

IMPERIUM - ROME AND ITS ENEMIES (107 BC to 476 AD) Crusader Publishing RRP £12.00  Reviewed by Paul Leach Historical rules supplements ought to achieve two primary objectives: capture some measure of period ‘feel’ for the army lists they offer and do this without relying overmuch on exceptions and special rules. In short, they need to stick close to the core rules’ mechanics and style. Good production values and clarity are givens. Crusader Publishing scores well in all of these categories with their newest release, Imperium – Rome And Its Enemies, their second supplement (following The Macedonian And Punic Wars) for Crusader Historical Miniature Rules. The game system is unpretentious without being simplistic; Imperium follows in the core rules’ tradition. Imperium is an A4 full colour, perfect bound book, which Crusader Publishing also offers as a £5 PDF download. Its 48 pages use a parchment background, big print, and boxed text (for designer/special notes). Lavish photographs of ancient miniature armies appear throughout.  Other graphics include some of Warlord Games’ Celtic warrior illustrations and photographs of Roman coins. Crusader uses every bit of space and even the inside covers have been drafted to good effect.

Army lists dominate the supplement, comprising 37 of its pages. Imperium also includes pages for table of contents, introduction, timeline (2 pages), historical opponents/allied contingents, official rules amendments (3 pages), adverts (2 pages), and credits/references/thanks. A map of the Roman Empire (circa 120 AD) fills the inside back cover. Imperium offers five Roman armies (Late Republican, Early Imperial, Middle Imperial, Late Imperial, and Foederate) and eight of Rome’s foes – The Barbarians, Spartacus’ Revolt, Jewish Revolt, Sarmatian Tribes, Parthia, Sassanid Persia, Palmyra, and the Huns. Eight is a little misleading since The Barbarian list encompasses no fewer than seven armies itself: British, Dacian, Early German, Batavian Revolt, Middle German, Late German, and Picts. Generally the Roman lists receive about 3 pages each and Rome’s enemies receive 2 pages each (The Barbarians clock in at 7 pages). Each list has about a page’s worth of historical background and a section on building and playing it. Most of the army tables fill a page (minimum half page); ‘Restrictions and Leaders’ notes refine the table information, and they take up about a quarter/half page. The layout, colored rows, and large print of the army list tables are easy on the eyes. What about the lists themselves? Imperium does a good job of bringing out the hallmark unit types one expects to find in the 13 (or 19, depending on how you look at it) armies within its covers. I’m sure some wargamers can find something to quibble over, especially in regards to army restrictions (ie. minimum/maximum unit types), but they should probably consider the source of their trepidation – is it based on historical research or army lists from the last 20+ years of ancient warfare gaming?  Overall, I recommend this product if you enjoy the Crusader Historical Miniature Rules game and would like to try it out for the Late Republican/Imperial Roman period. www.crusaderpublishing.com

Thrilling Tales By Artizan Designs Reviewed by Andy Sykes Artizan Designs have a large Pulp 1930’s and 40’s range entitled Thrilling Tales; the figures are 28mm and sculpted by Mike Owen. The range consists of historical and fictional characters from the period and the casts are suitable for a variety of uses, whether to add a bit of flavour to an existing army or to build a unique outfit for an alternative history game. The figures average 29mm sole of foot to eye, the examples I have are all finely cast with little or no mould residue  The anatomy is good and Mike’s style is very painter friendly.  Build varies from figure to figure as these are all individual characters. There are presently 165 castings available and all are sold individually at £2.00 each, however some of the figures are grouped into 3 figure packs which cost £5.00, so a saving can be made with some careful purchasing.

The subject matter is very varied, however the figures are categorised into sub ranges: Curse of Fairhaven: a collection of robed cultists, clever sleuths and strange locals. Europe Ablaze: WWII type chaps of many nationalities. Immortal Battalion: British between the wars/WWII pulp unit. Koschei’s Cossacks: Soviet between the wars/WWII pulp unit. Long Arm of the Law: Stiff upper lipped British Bobbies. Nacht Jager: German pulp style Fallschimjager. Resistence and Partizans: Belgian and French anti-nazis. Riddle of the Sands: Intrepid archaeologists, French Foreign Legion, dodgy Egyptians and wily guides. Sky Pirates: 1930’s aerial buccaneers in leather flying helmets. Sturm Battalion Zorn: German pulp stormtroopers.

Thrilling Tales: various famous and infamous individuals. Of course many of the figures are suitable for other periods/armies such as Spanish Civil War, WWII and the in vogue fictional British Civil War 1938 setting. The only limit here is imagination, I have gone for The Long Arm of the Law and they will be used to face a variety of foes; anarchists, IRA, invading Nazis, vile cultists and maybe even a Dalek or Cyberman.

Great stuff and great fun, game with them, collect them or just paint some. Well worth a perusal to see which characters you can identify and recommended. http://www.artizandesigns.com/index.php

15mm Feudal Age Legio Heroica Reviewed by Andy Skyes Giuseppe Barbazeni of Legio Heroica has introduced a new Feudal range designed to be used for the period 1195-1250+. They are suitable for European or Holy Land armies. There are presently 14 packs available with another three imminent, types covered range from Kings to peasants. The figures are very clean with excellent fine detail, I think Giuseppe is producing some of the, if not the best, 15mm presently on the market.

Anatomy is good and everything appears in scale, shields and weapons are often separate with strong wire spears for the foot. Riders are also separate from their mounts and variants abound allowing for much variety. Armour and dress is also varied not just the pose. The foot average 17mm foot to eye, mounted 19mm hoof to horses eye and 27mm hoof to riders eye. The sit of the mounted figures is also very good. There is obviously a lot of effort and research contained with in this range and every time I see figures from this range I am tempted to start a new period. Pack sizes vary and special deals are available for regiment packs or FOG “Battle Packs”. Highly recommended. http://www.legio-heroica.com/index-en.html