Wednesday, 30 November 2011

Future Byzantium

Plastic Soldier's T-34 conversions with various turrets in a Hammers Slammer game 
( photo by John Treadaway)
I dabble in Sci Fi gaming in 15mm and 28mm, with small forces like my 15mm lot above (spot the T-34 conversions)  and (I am ashamed to say) I am imagining what Byzantium might be like in the future, as a way of building a structured, comprehensive force with a backstory model. Of course, it fits beautifully:

- Varangians - mercenary very heavy infantry (with Space Axes as per EE Doc Smith's "Lensman" series)
- Latnikon/Normans - mercenary armoured cavalry, whatever cavalry comes out as
- Skythicon/Turcopoloi - mercenary light cavalry, whatever cavalry comes out as
- Gianitzaroi - mercenary light infantry

Mercenaries in the future may of course be Aliens  (not Alans) :)

Added to that the home grown elite forces (Tagmata) with an extremely heavy cavalry force (klibanophoi) and regional (aka planetary) forces (Themata), with border region warlords and their Boukellarii ("biscuit eaters - effectively huscarls). Mixing up my Byzantine eras I know, but hey....

And then there is the Navy, with Dromons and Greek Fire.....

But despite all this, my overwhelming urge is to put kepis on Space Troopers and call them the Legion Etraterrestriale :)

Monday, 28 November 2011

There may be trouble ahead.....

Rumours of stirrings across the borders in Hungary, and the Honved Horde is massing:




1848 promises to be an interesting year. The Duke (Zhupan) of Trans Syldavia is mustering our forces. For you delectation here are some of Trans Syldavia's forces massing on the border.:

Some of the Zhupan's Guard Zhouaves, moved up Just In Case:



The 4th company, 1st (and only) battalion, 2nd Trans-Syldavian Infantry Regiment




And ever watchful, the Tran Syldavian Grenz Infantry



As you can see, there needs to be some flogging flocking done back at base and everyone's faces need a good wash (and drybrush). Standards and drummers are still being done because I havent thought of a decent flag yet there is much painting to do, and pictures of the Town Militia and local bandits auxiliaries as soon as the lazy buggers get up they arrive in camp. Artillery is in train, and the cavalry will hopefully arrive in the nick of time.




Wednesday, 16 November 2011

A more colourful real nation than any Imagi-Nation



Trans-Syldavia 1848's Worthy Opponent, building 1848 Hungarians, showed me a book yersterday (in Hungarian sadly) showing the uniforms of the 1848 Hungarian army - they are extraordinarly colourful, and with a wide variety of uniform styles - so anyone who was thinking of holding back on their more outrageous Imagi-Nation colours/uniforms etc should worry no more!

Trans-Syldavia will definitely need a kick up its carefully tailored pants to match the revolting Honved!

(Incidentally, the last month has been taken up by getting the Welsh and Anglo-Saxons ready for SAGA, and the Phenix Moirots ready for Hammers Slammers games. That has now been done, so normal Imagi-Nation service will be resumed - on the table is Saxe-Märchen's Leib-Dragoner Regiment Malthus, and the 2nd Trans-Syldavian Infantry, while ACW Zoave command plastics are being converted to Trans Syldavian artillery crews)