Mutiny in camp (campaign 26)

With the lack of spoils and the bad wheather it wasn't long before the mood of the men turned ugly. When the troop's pay was stopped to save for the campaign, rioting broke out in two of the three camps. And Secundus's treasury was drained to keep the men in order, Secundus was livid, but helpless to refuse. A general is not a general without an army to command.

Tullus digs in (campaign 25)

May, saw the construction of miles of earthworks and defences along Hispania's border with Gaul, as Tullus dug in to protect his provinces from invasion. Tullus's trust in Lucius Silius Famia had been well founded and the new Legate was showing his worth.

Tullus down in Baetica still was having run of good luck. After a failed assassination attempt on his life, he strode on to cross the Mediterranean and take Mauretania Tingitana, with not a drop of Roman blood being spilt. And in July, he started the construction of a port on the coast of Baetica. The Gods were indeed in his favour.......for now at least.

Secundus takes Belgica (campaign 24)

With the the bad wheather dampening everyones spirits, morale was lifted by the province of Belgica, who flocked to the Secundus cause gladly (with a small bribe to sweeten the deal). Belgica had been unhappy for some time and they jumped at a chance to change their fortunes. However, the currupt governor, Titus Vedius back in Britannia had diverted alot of the army's pay into his own estate and properties, this was a minor setback for Secundus and one that saw the Governor on the end of a sword by the months end. With the Britannia free of her armies, he wouldn't be the only one who saw their chance to make it rich quick. Secundus didn't know it at the time but Vedius actions were to have grave repercussions two months later.

Tullus strikes south (campaign 23)

With Secundus now marching through Gaul, Tullus Holdrianus Hispanus decided to make his own bid for the power. In the march of 200 AD Tullus split his army into two Vexillations, taking one of them south into Baetica, which offered no resistance and welcomed the new Emperor with opened gates. It was in this month however that his progress was slowed slightly by bad supply lines and Tullus stayed in Baetica for another two months improving roads and supply routes.

The other half of his army was now given over to an old comrade of Tullus's, Legate Lucius Silius Famia. Stationed in Tarraconensis, Famia was to watch the border and organize troops in the area. Hispania had turned from a back water province to one of frantic activity in the space of three months. Tullus was on the move.

Gaul (campaign 22)

Centurion Manius Valgus Celer of the 2nd wasn't shy of using his vine staff on the march. The men joked that it was to beat out his own frustration at being scared of this new land. Still the men were glad to have him at their front, for his nickname of 'Celer the bull' was well earned.

Stuba Bowmonica's Samation horse can be seen here scouting out in the wake of the army.

Gaul (campaign 21)

With the rain dropping away at last, travelling becomes easier for the men of the 2nd.
A shot of the heavy armoured legionaries with their re-enforced helmets and arm guards.
As the sun finally breaks through the clouds, it reveals a man with alot on his mind.

The II Augusta trudges through Gaul (campaign 20)

After the Auxillary Cohorts came the main force, the 2nd Augusta with it's black shields glimmering in the rain and the clank of it's armour echoing off the forested walls of the valleys.

Even though the rain was bad, Pollus was still glad to be back.

Secundus marches on Gaul (Campaign 19)

The heavy rain has made movement by roads almost impossible, here the lead elements of Secundus's guard forge their way through the Gaulish countryside.
So much for good wheather...ever since the march began the heavens have thrown every thing at us. The Gods are very unhappy about something and alot of the old veterans are grumbling about bad omens. Still, I'm glad somethings are constant.

On to Gaul! (campaign 18)

Finally the troops are moving, for months they have sat around doing nothing and growing fat...now, they are off to war. Morale is at an all time high for the promise of plunder and spoils has made the men eager to get started. Pollus, for one, is glad to be leaving this cold, wet little island behind, with the thought of seeing his homeland again.

Cohort after cohort prepares to board the transports that will take them to Gaul and victory. The ground seems to shake under the weight of thousands of hob-nailed sandels. And the air rings with the blast of the hundreds of cornicens. Victory must follow such an army as this, surely?

Secundus takes the plunge (campaign 17)

With the campaign season almost at an end, Secundus decides that he has waited long enough. On the 8th of September 200AD Secundus gives the order to invade Gaul. Some of his older generals warn him of the bad wheather to be expected in marching so late in the season, but Secundus has made up his mind. If war will not come to the coasts of Britannia, then he will take it to them and cross the channel. All he needs is a little wind and alot of luck.

Aulus Proctavius Alanicus of the East (campaign 16)

This dust stained, weatherworn general is Aulus Proctavius Alanicus. He won his toga fighting against the Parthians and the Jews, in and around Syrria. He also fought in a number of battles to put a Roman on the Armenian throne, It was during these campaigns that Aulus won the reputation as a stern and unrelenting soldier, who pushed his men to their limits. He became a master of organization and deployment and although he was a hard taskmaster, he got results and his men loved him for it. It was after yet another sweeping victory that to his supprise, his men hailed him as Emperor. A title that sat on him rather well, he thought.

ALA V Hispania

Here the dreaded cavalry of Tullus form for action in Gaul. I like these figures alot because they have a very distinct look all of their own...very spainish. They are from the Foundry 'Caeserian' range and so are alittle early for my Imperial era, so to bring them up to date I gave them an oval shield and a green tunic 'uniform' of sorts.
This piccie shows the cloak in detail of the commander, I have lots of this figure in all my cavalry units and wanted to make this guy alittle spacial, so I cloaked him.

Painting made easy

So here we are at last...all sorted out and organized. Already it has made such a difference and makes me want to paint more, which can't be a bad thing for a couple of hours work. Now I have all the shades of colour in their own compartments with a colour chart on the front of the drawer so I know where they all are. Oh well...It only took me twenty years of painting to get here...not bad really.

Getting sorted

With over a hundred paints to choose from, finding the right pot in a sea of masses took for ever, so I decided to sort it out! I had seen photos of another painters workbench on the internet and noted his clever drawer system and thought to myself I've got some drawers like that. Also I use the Foundry paint system, where each colour comes in a shade, a mid tone and a highlight colour for speeding up the shading process and finding these three tones in a box of white lids took hours. So I decided to sub-divide the drawers into compartments that could hold six pots, to make my life alot easier and alot tidier too. Excuse the blurred photos I had my 'making' head on.

Release the boar!

More pictures of those out of control Celts as the sweep their way down hill towards the Roman lines. I have great fun coming up with all the different shield designs and colours, but to add real detail I have used some transfers from the Little Bigman Studios. By just adding one or two of these in a warband, they can help take the eye away from those not so detailed.

Celts! hordes of 'em

I love painting Celts, they are so much fun to do. Every single one of them is different, this effect can be heightened by giving them various shields and different weapons. With the added joy of blue war paint and painting the different patterned clothes, Celts are one of my favourites to work on without a doubt. A mass of swirling, uncontrolled colour, is how I would describe them.

The Gaul of it!

"The trouble with these Celts is.....they never know when to give up!"

The unstoppable Pannonians

Again these shots show the cloak conversions and abit of Photoshop work I've been playing with. You can almost feel the ground shake as these heavy horse thunder by.

The mighty Stuba Bowmonica

Stuba rides at the head of his heavy Sarmation cavalry. For his character I used the Maximus figure from 1st corps. It seemed to have the look of a tough, well seasoned veteran I was looking for.

This shot shows the cloaks I made for the Sarmations which helps to add variety to the unit, which otherwise would of all looked the same.

Tullus Holdrianus Hispanus

Tullus takes the fight to Gaul, fighting with his personalized cavalry spatha he leads his Legion to war. Tom had fallen in love with this figure ever since he had first seen him and so it made sense to make it Tullus. Unlike my other Generals, Tullus always prefers to fight on foot. Another sign of his rising though the ranks, a fact he is very proud of as he still wares his Centurion's harness and dacorations to prove it.

The fighting bulls of Hispania

To help give the white shields a Spainish feel, I gave them bull standards. All Legions raised in Spain were given the bull as their emblem in Caesar's day and although the VII was raised much later, I thought it would be a nice touch.

The VII Gemina

The 7th Legion forms for battle.

Secundus takes to the field

I couldn't believe my luck when I found this figure from Gripping Beast, he looked just like me!. So he had to become Secundus and lead the armies of Britannia against the East....and victory.

The East turns (campaign 15)

Centurion Vitus returns with bad news...so much for Eastern promise. The legions stationed in Syrria and Thrace have put their support behind one of their own, a man called Aulus Proctavius Alanicus. Secundus's run for Emperor has turned into a marathon. No matter....the West is the best, Hail Secundus!

Why are slaves always revolting?

A friend of mine (thanks Tom) suggested introducing some poor quality troop types to the game to contrast with the elite forces of Rome. So i managed to find some good slave figures from 1st Corps Miniatures and put together a warband of freed slaves. These slaves have been promised their freedom in return for service on the field, they will add real character to a game but I don't fancy their chances much against the mincing machine of Rome. I'm Sparticus!...oh no wait...there he is.

From wall to coast (campaign 14)

Lucullus and Polus, along with most of the II Augusta have been moved down to the staging ground at Richborough Rutupiae. Here they will board the transports that will ferry them to Gaul. They have spent the last three days since their arrival expanding the exsisting fortifications, in preperation for the huge invasion force that will be needed for such a venture. The two brothers are looking forward to seeing their home country again and their spirits are high. It was while on sentry duty again that they got their first glimpse of their new Emperor......they weren't very impressed!

Stuba Bowmonica of Pannonia (campaign 13)

Here is the mighty Stuba Bowmonica of the III Panonnian horse, seen here taking a short water stop with his men as he rides to join his old friend Secundus in Britannia. Bowmonica's unit was the only one who accepted Secundus's offer from the armies stationed in the Balkans, and he has been promised the command of the elite Sarmation heavy horse on his arrival, a premotion too good to refuse.

Campaign map #1

This is the first draft of the Campaign map with all its provinces, most of them are real but a few have been added to give more scope in the game. Also the seas have been devided into provinces, this is to help work out piont costs for travelling by sea.Small towns=25pts, Towns=50pts, Cities=100pts and ports help reduce sea travel costs. I shall delete this post once the real Campaign starts, but I have put it up here so you can all have a good butchers at it and let me know if you're all happy with it of not. Sea travel is 400pts per province -100pts for owning a port.

Tales from the East! (campaign 12)

Finally, the messengers sent to the Eastern provinces have returned with news.....and it isn't good. Secundus had sent out dozens of runners throughout the Empire to seek support from other unhappy provinces, now, with the return of a handful of them, he descovers that the East has got its own ideas of Empire. The powerful armies of Pannonia and moesia have declined the offers made by Secundus and are sitting on the fence, watching events unfold closely, also there is rumur of another clamant to the throne from a man in Syrria, but these reports are sketchy to say the least.