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Post by briancarrick on Nov 26, 2016 10:39:18 GMT
To oppose my Roman Legion I'm slowly building up a Celtic/Gallic/Britanic/Alemani type Barbarian Horde, using HaT, Italieri and Cafe Storme figures. To add a bit of variety I've been picking up "red Indians" - bare chested, sporting feathers in their hair and fringed leggings, which with a bit of judicious trimming and the addition of suitable weaponry and beards, I figure they will pass muster in a crowd. My question to the group is that many of them are firing bows, now I'm sure the tribes would have had hunting bows but all the illustrations I look at seem to show them with swords, spears and shields in combat, would they have also used bows?
If not what should I do with all these wild west archers?
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Post by spiritofethandune on Nov 26, 2016 12:08:39 GMT
Brian,
To the best of my knowledge bows were not a significant weapon in the arsenal of barbarian armies. Germanic skirmishes tended to use javelins while their British and Gallic counterparts used slings as well as javelins.
Anthony
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Post by briancarrick on Nov 26, 2016 15:04:48 GMT
Thanks for that Anthony, I'm not a stickler for accuracy but I don't like to wander too far off the historical path, looks like my bowmen might end up in the Chinese horde or even join the flintlock and tomahawk retinue!
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Post by rossmac on Nov 27, 2016 20:00:23 GMT
If memory serves, Caesar specifically mentions Vercingetorix recruiting gallic archers to support the cavalry he gathered to try and break the siege of Alesia. The ancient Picts also used bows and they seem to be basically the same northern British tribes as earlier. The Dacians also made considerable use of bows as did the various Gothic tribes that fought the late Roman Empire. That should give some options for converted indians but if all else fails, just point to the Airfix Ancient Britons set as precedence.
My barbarians used to have a well loved light cavalry unit made from dollar store Indians. I couldn't resist including one horse archer.
Ross
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Post by rupertm on Jun 3, 2018 16:41:27 GMT
Here's some test shots of a few converted Weston Mexican Peasants I've recently turned into Ancient Germans. I based them even though not yet painted as I wanted to see how three figures worked per 70mm square base. They can just as easily be made into Gauls and Dacians etc... with different weapons, shields and paint schemes. |
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Post by davel on Jun 3, 2018 17:06:45 GMT
Impressive barbarians Brian. You've done a good job with the shields.
What rules are you using? With the unit being based in 8's, I wondered if you were using Dirk Donvil's rules, About Caesar.
Love to see the figures when they're painted.
Best Wishes Dave
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Post by rupertm on Jun 3, 2018 17:29:43 GMT
Hi Dave - German shields aren't to tricky as easy to cut out the hex shapes or tiddly winks for the round ones. Bosses are cut off upholstery tacks. It will be more of a test to do ovals for the Gauls & Dacians. I use my own house rules mainly adapted from Fire & Fury. I generally use F&F adaptations for all my gaming whatever the era or scale as it's easier for me to keep on top of things - I usually solo game and infrequently at that so remembering lots of different rule sets is out. I base my Barbarian units in 12's. So 36 figures per unit plus 4 markers. I only showed three in the pics as I was testing them to see how they looked before doing the main bulk of the figures. You can see more pics and info on my blog if interested: www.drumandflag.co.uk/blogs/news/tagged/1-32-scale-blog |
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Post by rupertm on Jun 3, 2018 19:52:10 GMT
nb - I will post pics of painted full units when completed. Not too far off done now for the first unit. In the meantime here's a workbench pic of some incomplete paints jobs - need basing and tidying up. These are colour tests and also to see what I could do in the way of belts and beards etc... Tried flock for beards but too wild and will just paint on future efforts. Will also now use waxed thread for belts as the string I used on some of these is too thick.  |
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Post by tradgardmastre on Jun 6, 2018 18:42:39 GMT
These are great,l look forward to seeing them on the tabletop.
Alan
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Post by davel on Jun 9, 2018 18:57:26 GMT
Brilliant effort and look great.
I'm waiting for Ex-Force to bring their Ancient Celts, etc., out later this year.
If the sculpts are as good as the rest of the Ancient ranges, they should be lovely.
Best Wishes Dave
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Post by rupertm on Jun 16, 2018 7:35:44 GMT
To revisit the archer discussion - from what I have seen and read it looks like we are on reasonably safe ground historically to at least have some skirmish bowmen (as opposed to mass ranks) in our Gallic, German and Dacian forces. Whilst I have been focused on Germans lately I did finish off these test conversions of some Gallic archers - pics attached. More pics and info on my blog. They are mainly originally Weston Mexican Peasants plus a couple of Toyway Roman torsos and a set of HaT legs. Plus some bits from a few Play Along LOTR figures. Germans just being based now and then will post pics of those as well. |
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Post by tradgardmastre on Jun 16, 2018 8:18:00 GMT
Very effective ancients,great creativity shown.
Alan
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