Early War Polish Reinforcements from Crusader Miniatures

The Polish Army in 1939 needs all the help it can get to repel the German Blitzkrieg. Here we've added another Polish Infantry Section from Crusader Miniatures for our Bolt Action battles.

The twelve man rifle squad has extra punch with the addition of a BAR Automatic (LMG) squad in it. Backup also provided by an Ursus armored car

Packs are loaded out with everything an infantryman would need.

Crusader Miniatures came up with nice poses for the riflemen.Including the BAR squad

And the advancing sculpts are also very interesting. The detail for metal miniatures is pretty substantial.

If you need to get squads on the table fast, metal figures don't need assembly so are usually faster to complete.

Have A Great Battle!
The Old Crow

SAGA Skirmish: Gripping Beast Vikings vs Saxons!

Had a chance to finally squeeze in some action with an introduction game of SAGA to some new converts. Using Gripping Beast Plastic Viking Hirdmen and Saxon Thegn boxed sets to build the forces, we once again, put them to the test. Here at the opening gambit, the viking line surges forward from the left to attack the Anglo-Saxon defenders.

The Saxons in a bold move rushed the Viking Ulfhednar and wiped the berserkers out. In turn their warriors were cut down by the Viking Warlord and his warriors.

After some crushing skirmishes, the Anglo-Saxons retreat. The Viking Warlord sends his warriors in to attack the opposing Warlord and his last two remaining Hearthguard who are defending from behind a stonewall.

Refusing to be defeated the Anglo-Saxon Warlord stands defiant! The Viking warlord joins his warriors in the attack!

The viking warriors jump the wall and attack and slay the last remaining Saxon Hearthguard....

leaving the Saxon Warlord to be surrounded and slain.

A great night of introducing SAGA to new players who in turn brought additional recruits to the miniature wargaming hobby!

Have a Great Battle!
The Old Crow

New Release: Rune Lord Adventurers From Crusader Miniatures

Mark Sims of Crusader Miniatures has added 4 new Adventurers to his Fantasy range. The four figures, Rune Lords, come in a single pack with the Adventurers III title.

You can get them directly from Crusader or from a supplier. These figures would fit the bill for any fantasy adventuring party.

Mark has created a great range of historical figures as well as a few fantasy and other genres.

Crusader Miniatures are 28mm-sized, made of metal and supplied unpainted. The miniatures shown here were all painted by Paul Cubbin.

Have A Great Battle,
The Old Crow

Battleground Hobbies Terrain Factory

Fired up the Battleground Hobbies Terrain Factory.

Hope to have the first batch on Ebay this weekend! As always if you are interested in something custom made don't hesitate to contact us.

These were designed specifically for the Warhammer and Warhammer 40k worlds where there is constant war.

The land itself being broken under constant battle.

But these terrain pieces will work with any Fantasy or Sci-Fi genre game.

Have a Great Battle!
The Old Crow

New Release: 1650 A Cloak and Sword by Tercio Creativo

Tercio Creativo is the project of old fans in Spain who are now a bit more "skilled" and trying to make it in miniatures and strategic games worldwide. They have been developing their own historic miniature line in which they're hoping to bring to life the atmosphere of their own skirmish game. The miniatures or "Pawns" are 35mm scale to allow for good detail and paintability. And as you'll see below, the are packed with details and can be exquisitely painted.

1650 Cloak and Sword is a miniature and card based skirmish system. The two factions currently released are the Old Regime or the New Order. They have just come out with some additional mercenaries you can hire too. Besides a faction band, you'll need 4 ten sided dice, a tape measure (in centimeters), 2 packs of skill cards (which can be downloaded for free) and a playing area of 120 centimeters (approx 4 feet).

You can download background material to enhance the gaming and create new scenarios, called "Commissions". Commissions can be in day or night. If at night, sight is limited and lanterns can be placed to illuminate areas on the plying surface. Two Commissions available are "Brawl" and "Rescue".

To start you get "Maravedies" in which to hire a band. Every piece has a cost you must pay to hire the character. A Basic 1650 band normally costs 250 Maravedies, although you can hire bands up to 500.

Each character's contract card shows it's Pay (cost in Maravedies), Incentive, Audacity, Defense, Vigor, Weapons Attributes and Peculiarities.

If you'd like to try 1650, the rules, skill cards and faction cards can all be downloaded for free.

Now lets introduce you to some of the personalities and pawn types you'll be able to use in building your team.

The "Alguacil" is one of the Leaders of the "Antiguo Regimen"´s faction and the high command of the "Guardia de Ysbilia". When this gentleman takes the control over the "rounds" of the town, discipline and fear, much needed in these dire times, spread throughout the city. The "Alguacil" directs the different corps of the "Guardia de Ysbilia" from the "Torre Áurea" and he descends from it to command his men personally when the battle rages in the streets.

Verdugo, the old convict is now one of the members of the Guardia de Ysbilia squad, though one who hides his face in order to avoid reprisals from the families of those who were executed by him in all these years of loyal service.

The elite of the Guardia de Ysbilia is composed by veteran Guardias. Former soldiers and swordsmen who joined the Guardia de Ysbilia long time ago and keep their loyalty to the old regime. Veteran member of the Guardia de Ysbilia, the Guardia is a very tough duelist thanks to this, he has can afford armor and a shield, which let him ignore the most bladed weapons attacks.

The Guarnicioneros are those members of the Guardia de Ysbilia dedicated almost entirely to the custody of palaces and public buildings. Still, do not averse to a good brawl where exercise their muscles. 

As a Convicto of a violent crime, there are only two ways to get out of your cell: Carried out boots first, or as cannon fodder for the Guard of Ysbilia. You choose. 

The "Oficial" is one of the Leaders of the "Nuevo Orden"´s faction and the high command of the "Morados Viejos". Tercio's veteran and skilled swordsman, he's one of the most dangerous laborers between those who are in San Georgio's castle.

As nobody is born knowing everything, it's logic to think that even between the Tercio's veterans there are noobs. 

As experienced as the Recio, and perhaps even more proud, the Curtido cupplies his lower push with more versatility thanks to the management of his two weapons. With them, this pawn lags the Oficial in terms of threat. 

Here is the Zurriago, musketeer of the Old Purples, and one of the most dangerous pawns in Ysbilia... from the distance. 

Nicolas Lopez, mercenary and amateur inventor. Not one of the better fighters out there. Not even one of the better shooters, but who cares? "With his wasps' nest, surely I will get one or two good shots, no matter who is aiming to have.

Mercenary Le Garou It is said he was raised by wolves. Or maybe even devil himself. Anyone who would have found him in the mountains, would have swore that. But now, when I he's hunting the Gauls... "It isn't so clear."

Mercenary Guillermo-Flamberga

Irene Vioque

Padre Calixto

The Curtido

and you don't want to meet El Embajador in a dark alley!

Have a Great Battle,

The Old Crow

SAGA Berserkers? Historical Viking Ulfhednar by Crusader Miniatures

In the market for some Berserkers in your SAGA Viking warband? There were gamers discussing figure alternatives on the Studio Tomahawk Forum and one option was the Historical Viking Ulfhednar by Crusader Miniatures.

These Viking Ulfhednar come four to a pack, are metal and have two shields provided.

We decided against shields to convey the "berserk" nature of these guys. We modified the leader by adding a second hand weapon in the form of a dagger.

There are four poses, one standing with a sword. We chose him as the leader of the bunch.

One crazy viking running toward the enemy with a two handed ax wearing only a wolf skin.

Another is running with a sword. We wanted to add a spear in his shield hand but couldn't get the angle to look right so we left it empty.

Lastly a berserk viking thrusting a spear at the Welsh! This miniature is a bit fully dressed for a berserker but suffices to round out the group.

All in all the poses are great.

There was very little flashing to clean off and the detail is well done for metal miniatures. 

Painting went quickly with base coats, dry-brushing and some washes.

The figures were finished on 25mm round bases from bases Renedra. We're happy with the result and look forward to them getting into action very soon!

Have a Great Battle,
The Old Crow