Fighting in the Shade - a Spartan Army for WAB

[Corai]

In my quest to assemble a decent army for each game system worth playing, I’ve started another Plog(!) This time for a 2000 point army to field in Warhammer Ancient Battles. For those who don’t know, WAB is basically 5th ed WFB without magic and additional rules for light infantry and weapons. I’ve heard good things about it for a long time and have finally taken the plunge and decided to begin working on an army to use with it. It should be mentioned here that I know next to nothing about military history and have accumulated as much knowledge as I could from Wikipedia. With that in mind I will be aiming for a striking tabletop force which is as historically accurate as I can make it, whilst still looking like a cohesive whole, full of dynamic and interesting models.

I can remember with shocking clarity the moment at which my love affair with the Ancient Greek World began:

I was 9 years old and sat in Primary School. Our Teacher (Mrs Kane – see, shocking clarity ) put in a cassette tape of Tony Robinson’s excellent book (which I still own) Odysseus, Journey Through Hell. (A humorous retelling of the Odyssey) Which was the sequel to Odysseus: The Greatest Hero of them All (the story of the Iliad, which bizarrely, Mrs Kane never bothered to read/play to us). I was instantly hooked, both due to Tony Robinson’s excellent sarcastic reading of his own text, and because here was a book which allowed me to legitimately say ‘Hell’ in school (which was pretty damn exciting to 9 year old Corai). Since then I have increasingly grown to love the aesthetic of Ancient Greece.

I take the time to explain this to you so that when I say the army I’ll be collecting for WAB is Spartan Heavy Ancient Greek, you know this is a long standing fascination, not something spurred on by last summer’s film full of baby oiled blokes trying to make chin beards cool

With that in mind, this is the list I'm aiming to build towards (still very subject to change)

_General
__Heavy Armour
__Thrusting Spear and Large Shield
__Spartan________________________185

_20 Hoplites
__Spartan
__Heavy Armour
__Musician
__Leader_________510

_18 Hoplites
__Spartan
__HeavyArmour
__Musician________455

_18 Hoplites
__Spartan
__HeavyArmour
__Musician________455

_10 Skirmishers
__Javelins____________40

_10 Skirmishers
__Slings_____________40

_12 Peltasts
__Thracian
__Musician____________113

_12 Peltasts
__Thracian
__Musician____________113

_12 Peltasts
__Musician____________89

Any thoughts/criticisms?

For the models themselves, I've opted for the Wargods of Olympus Spartan models to use as the hoplites, with characters and unit filler coming from a variety of sources, and Foundry most likely providing the sirmishers and peltasts.

I've not got too much modelling done on the army as yet as I've been finishing off a steam punk chaos army for the WFB Yorkshire open tournament finals at the end of the month. I have managed to get the first unit of Spartan Hoplites assembled though:





The two dull looking guys in the centre of te first rank will be replaced with a leader and usician, and the central 2 models from the last 2 ranks will be replaced with a unit filer of the ouagoi rear rank officer up on a bit of rubble/scree looking suitably heroic and commanding. These will have to wait until the models for them arrive though!

Thanks
Corai

[El-Diablo]

Hmmm, never though of using the Wargods Spartans for WAB. Damn, now i've found an excuse to play that too.

I'll be keeping an eye on this one.

[Grimtuff]

Looks like a good start. I've always fancied getting into WAB myself.

Though I must insist you use this fig for your general.
http://www.darkslaveminiatures.com/t...d&productId=24



EDIT:
There's more
Check out this one

[silverstu]

This looks great-i have a soft spot for Hoplites myself, although I never really considered getting an army of them. really interested to see how this develops looks promising!

[Corai]

Looks like a good start. I've always fancied getting into WAB myself.

Though I must insist you use this fig for your general.
http://www.darkslaveminiatures.com/t...d&productId=24



EDIT:
There's more
Check out this one

wow, now those are nice models. Does anyone know what scale they're in and how much they cost/can they be shipped to UK. I'm not sure what language that page is in but I'm 99% certain it's not english which stops me from reading it!

Thanks
Corai

[Grimtuff]

wow, now those are nice models. Does anyone know what scale they're in and how much they cost/can they be shipped to UK. I'm not sure what language that page is in but I'm 99% certain it's not english which stops me from reading it!

Thanks
Corai

Yes, they're 28mm. That's why I suggested them. I've already got the Leonidas figure (so, yes they ship to the UK) If you go to the front page you can change the language from Spanish to English

[Corai]

Thanks Grimtuff. I've made an order for one of each of the spartan minis. They'll make great unit leaders and ouagoi. It's just a shame I'll have todefile such beautiful models by sculpting heavy armour onto the chests! (but then I ordred 2 of each model in case this doesn't look right

I've already got the Leonidas figure

How long did it take to ship from Spain?

thanks
Corai

[Grimtuff]

How long did it take to ship from Spain?

thanks
Corai

I honestly cannot remember, probably about just over a week. I know it was not anything unreasonable as I would've made a note not to order from them in future otherwise

[liamrob]

Ever since i saw the old classic of Age of Empires when it first came out. I must of been 5 or 6 then I have always loved the look of hoplites! I must get some Just wondering but where did you get them? Once you paint them i'll see all the details and then buy some if i like em.

Otherwise get painting
Catchya!

[Corai]

Just wondering but where did you get them?

http://www.wargamesworkshop.co.uk/Pr...D=65&GrpID=623
I buy them from wargamesworkshop, although if you shop around there's probably a cheaper alternative

Thanks
Corai

[Corai]

I had a parcel of goodies arrive in the mailthis morning before work. I've now got another 12 hoplites to assemble and base (which with my revised list leaves me only 8 short after unit fillers) as well as a few of the wargods characters. I had planned to use these as unit leaders and the army general but now they've been demoted to rear rank officier unit filler in favour of these guys

http://www.darkslaveminiatures.com/t...d&productId=24
http://www.darkslaveminiatures.com/t...d&productId=26
http://www.darkslaveminiatures.com/t...d&productId=45

Incidentally, that's essentially the palette of colours I'm after if anyone has any advice on how to replicate similar colour recipes

Thanks
Corai

[Kraal_Lord_Of_Blood]

-subscribes-
Madness etc..

[Corai]

Madness etc..

I must admit, there's something really appealing about an army where I'll never be short of appropriate quotes for models and in game

Thanks
Corai

[Binabik15]

Wow, Corai, if you keep things up you´ll have more armies then other people have models IN their army

I have the feeling this is going to be a great army. And you´ll do it in no time.

THIS

IS

kinda mad

[Resurrected]

Have to say that this is one of (if not) the only threads that Im interested that doesnt contain GW models. Really looking forward to seeing some of these painted!

... but I only count 56 Spartans...

[Killshot]

Even though the Wargods Spartans are totally not historical, it will be an interesting army to watch as it grows.

Artizan Designs have some very nice Spartan model that are worth checking out. Plus, Crusader Miniatures has just released Rank and File packs of both Hoplites and skirmishers.

[liamrob]

Thanks a heap Corai!

Going to purchase some soon hopefully

Catchya! (BTW supscribed)

[Easy E]

I love me some WAB logs.

Those Wargods of Olympus models look pretty cool for Rank and File troopers.

[bloodangel]

Just a note for you... There were supposedly 300 Spartans and 700 Thespians besides some Thracians and other Greeks. Just a note, read up on ancient Greece for quite an entertaining and surprising historical lesson.

[Illuminator]

Hmm, never really knew of WAB, but this should turn out pretty nicely Corai.

I'm looking forward to more progress, and you just love those damn Spartans, don't you? (Or Spartan-themed SM Chapters)