the set up and initial deployment

Time for the first HOTT battle of the new campaigning season. This is designed as the first in a linked sequence. The winner would have a greater proportion of its casualties returned; would be the attacker in the next battle and would have one extra command in that battle - foreseen as three versus four commands.

This first encounter assumes the standard generic campaign of good versus evil alliances battling over a strategically vital sector which is a confluence of rivers and regions. Here is the sheepfold stronghold, defended by a dwarf command of hero, 2 flyers, 4 knights, 4 riders. The attacking goblinoids were 1 hero, 2 behemoths, 2 flyers, 4 warband.

the dwarf hero moved out to engage, flanked by knights. The flyers got stuck into the orc behemoth.

which swatted them away

the orc hero made a dash to engage the dwarf knights on the other flank.

but dwarf riders, with flyers also engaged hacked at the behemoth again, trying to make it stop. They failed again - the great beast acting as an effective shield for the goblinoid centre.

the orc general / hero saw his chance to get close to the sheepfold. If the dwarves got a good initiative throw, they would be able to waste him in his isolation and win the game - a big gamble then.

the orc warbands continued a stand up fight with the dwarf knights and riders on the dwarf left.

the orcs suffered their only casualty of the game when one warband was destroyed by the knights opposite it, as just to the left, the dwarf knights that attacked the hero in flank could not stop him. He would get a shot at the stronghold / sheepfold.

His assault went in.

It was the only action the goblinoids could do that turn.

6+1 against 5+5 = victory to the goblinoids.

the scene at end of game. very quick and decisive.

So, in the next game, the goblinoids will attack with four commands against three.

6mm fantasy my collection

Here are the pictures from a parade of my 6mm collection. Battles to follow in the coming weeks, when I have more time. First up the viking aerial hero and airboats

Cross this bridge and hit the fire giant crew!

the whole parade in view

several different viking units and the dwarf heavy mobile units in the distance

the (shadowblade) sneakers

dread elf generals and behemoth, with hordes behind.

outriders out of the forest

massed dread elf cavalry, with the goblinoid mounted corps behind them

the opposite view - goblinoid mounted corps with dread elf support

orc flyers - actually citadel epic orc deathkopters.

the bone giant leads a huge shambling undead horde

beastmen - beastly

giantaurs - the beastmen knights

the dark alliance in full

dread elf shooters and various units

a better view of the dancing, wicked, witch elf warbands

damn that aerial hero!

the dwarf panzers and their knights in support - a formidable heavy mobile force

dwarf artillery

dwarf blades

dwarf shooters

centaurs - heavy and light (I've ordered more of these - my woodlanders lack cavalry)

the woodland dragon and his pixie hordes

flyers lining up

the woodland warbands gather - owlbears, werebears, wardancers, plus a hero and cleric

As I said, I need to recover from the painting of these. I have divided up the commands for a battle of the seven armies next weekend. Back to work monday.

so here are the undead necromancers - these will be mages in my HOTT army.

At last, after almost a year, it's time to show what I've been busy doing. Here's a whole load more photos with all the new stuff, mostly microworld games. Watch this space, as I intend to show a parade of my entire collection tomorrow on my big table and a series of battles following that.

the undead mages with the standard bearers and drummers, with vampire paladins

orc heavy cavalry - these are the new boar riders - I had a couple of bases already

four stands of microworld's new orc archers - important not to see my orcs and goblins as just horde cannon fodder

forward view of the goblin wolf rider mobs I now have. I love wolf riders and these new microworld ones are what I have been waiting for.

the wolf riders en masse - that's why we love 6mm.

and again just for luck

the entire new dwarf army - this one was really rewarding to paint and base - I went to town on them.

close-up dwarf artillery - nice new addition to my hott armies

dwarf ram dragoons - based as riders for hott

dwarf musketeers - or should I say shooters?

the dwarf air force - these are one of two irregular miniatures parts of my dwarf army - I love the irregular flying things.

two of my favourite dwarf elements - the dwarf bear riders - based and used as knights - and the dwarf panzer regiment - using irregular miniatures 6mm WW1 British tanks, with microworld dwarf beserkers riding shotgun

more of the dwarf army, with the dwarf clerics in the foreground

on to the dread elves - sensational - really love how these turned out - these are the hero command bases, with the nasty big lizard behemoth to the left - these are superb.

my unusual concept for dread elf sneakers - inspired by a rainbow I saw while I was painting them. Look closely (sorry about the poor photos - still learning that aspect of all this) - there are two of each colour on each base, plus one grey guy in the middle, who is the real sneaker - the idea is that although visible (obviously), the sneakers work because they confuse the enemy.

commanders, behemoth and dirty sneakers

aha! microworld dread elf thralls, each base with a raptor slave driver. These will be hordes in my hott army.  

I love the way they turned out.

the whole dread elf army in view

close up of the repeating crossbow men - shooters

witch elf warbands

these are the dread elf outriders and to my own surprise, they ended up being among my favourites to paint. I love the poses of the figures, the ease with which, even by my amateurish hand, they turned out so darned well and the look of a mob of them bursting from the trees

see?

but the real jewel in the dread elf crown has to be the heavy cavalry lizard riders - I bought four packs and made a mob.

and I must say they really do impress en masse.

view from further off, with dread elf witch mages in the foreground

I love the outriders.

I also painted up four bases of valkyries - because I love cavalry and think they look really splendid too. This makes six valkyrie bases for my viking army.

Watch out tomorrow - I will have no time for a battle - but will put out the big table and display my 6mm fantasy collection en masse.