15mm modelling for Field of Glory

2008-08-24T17:36:00.000-07:00

Field of Glory

I am happy to share some of my ideas (and, I hope, successes), as I re-jig 15mm stuff for Field of Glory. I have, however, set up a new and separate blog for this, and will use it to post occasional progress reports. Due to my role with the Society of Ancients, I have already received a bit of flak for being prepared to articulate, candidly, my likes and dislikes as a fellow enthusiast for the historical wargame. So this is just my space, with my unofficial views in it. And if you like DBM, or 28mm figures with transfers instead of paintwork, then don't expect to find your chosen approach reflected here. I enjoy painting miniature armies for historical wargames. Using the latest techniques, yes, but for a traditional, and highly 'finished' result.

(some Chariot Miniatures 15mm Legionaries currently in mid production: painted shield designs, not transfers, of course.)

Obviously, I'm entirely unbiased, and objective in my own commentaries: I use the rules I do because they are best suited to the game I want to achieve, and I pick the scale to suit the task ... 15mm for bigger battlegames, 54mm for skirmishes, 'bigger figures' for single combats...

(some heraldic stuff collaged together: no need for printed paper flags in 15mm - the scale is almost perfect for hand-painting banners and standards!)

For battle-games, my preferred game systems are Strategos (if trying to recreate an actual battle in the Classical/Republican period), Armati and Field of Glory. DBA works well enough for a quick, abstract game. Armati is an excellent, more historical, game, but remains the preserve of a niche audience. Field of Glory is the newcomer, is a highly polished product and already appeals to mass participation.

FoG uses the accepted WRG inspired basing conventions (for 15mm - in the WAB scale, the convention is less accepted ... ). There are some adjustments to make, of course.

Generals are changed in function, and can be re-based accordingly.

(A couple of famous Commanders from my ancient/medieval 15mm collections: the Ramesses model is already on a full size FoG base)

Infantry are split into light, medium and heavy foot (LF, MF and HF) and HF use the awkward 15mm deep bases. The compliance isn't universal (e.g. Italian Pavisiers were Bow(X) in DBM - 20mm deep bases, but are now HF spearmen in FoG - 15mm deep bases).

DBM's clumsy Double-based elements are gone (phew).

Baggage groups are reduced from 6 or 8 single 40x40s to a one-piece 120x160..

And everyone needs organising into battle groups.

Given a little inspiration from the games, this is a great opportunity to do some repairs and re-basing in amongst the reorg., and add in one or two new bits and pieces. Yep - it's 'makeover' time. I hope you will enjoy watching this space.

Phil's FoG Blog

15mm modelling for Field of Glory