It’s finally happened! I’m getting organised and I’ve finally hit upon a system. The rules system is the newly released Basic Impetvs 2.0 . Is a gem of a publication, fourteen pages of medium complexity rules and hundreds of armylists. The armylists are my salvation. Could I ever resist the next lot of must have minis? No, the result after nearly forty years of collecting is a back room crammed with minis and very few complete armies. This is going to change!
The armies are on the big-base format. The rules writer does insist that the depth is largely irrelevant, as is the number of figures. The older DBX bases are fine and I won’t need to rebase everything. The ultimate aim is to get one collection “complete” in one box; ready for a game, no need to proxy or hunt through other storage trays. My downfall has been what might be called “mission creep” i.e. I start with one army and just keep adding. You must help me with my addiction. The only time I will use the same figures will be when the armies could not due to chronology or geography have ever fought. So I will use Huns against the Empire and the same figures , plus some elephants, as Hephthalites- those cranium mounded cousins charging through India.
A Basic Impetvs army has between eight and twelve units. With each army there are various core units and then the chance to take extra or upgraded troops. Option three is generally to alter the initiative dice in the game. General’s are incorporated into one of the units but mine will be separate- too good a modelling opportunity to miss. Above is my Bactian Greek general wearing his cap that is still favoured by the locals in Afghan/ Norther Pakistan/ HesbackisStan.
There is a double army game so above is the leader of the remnant phalanx. Also to be found in Afghan are the blue eyed children of these ancient conquerors: unfortunately now shunned by the locals as being bad juijui!
The phalanx itself is sadly depleted so I’ve ordered some more fromWargames Foundry. The above were Aventine but I could not face glueing anymore heads on this side of Christmas. Similarly, the Bactrian light horse archers below are without many of the manufacturer’s add-ons. A few trips in the car and some heavy handed gamers would soon denude these steppe horsemen so why bother?
Keen list watchers will no doubt know that a Bactrian army can only have two units but the third may come out to play in a To the Strongest or Kings of War clash. Anyway, the Arachosians will be from First Corps- so much less glueing and pinning required. The Iranian lancers presented a bit of a quandary because they were pre- cataphract but some wore heavy armour against horse archery. They also dressed like earlier Companions but were bare headed. I opted for Foundry Companions in Boitian helmets. The Bactrians wore these helmets but generally without the cheek guards so no inspecting the photos when they are done!
How the hell did Cretans end up in Bactria I fear you ask? Well they did! Their rock throwing comrades are now in the Late Roman collection so they’ll have to say their goodbyes!
So that just leaves peltasts for the Bactrians to be complete and here an old present from Bodley Scott came in nicely. Maybe a little too uniform but they are lovely Foundry miniatures so they are in.
True to my word then, that’s one army planned and organised; with not too much left to paint. Next list is Indo-Greek, one of the satraps left behind on the borders. I’d bought Aventine Hellenistic archers so my Indian archers are distinctly Indo-Greek!
My Classic Indians are a little too numerous and were due to be sold. Two bases make one unit so there are some spare. Mountain Indians make an appearance in the second list so mine are a little lacking in warm clothing and beards.
Only twenty or so miniatures from First Corps and the second list will be done. I made a right mess of the Aventine elephants I had so it will be First Corps for them too. Before even the eBay photos were taken, the book fell open to the Hephthalites: three units of Indian levy needed. A different box but no man gets left behind! It’s been a really positive experience reorganising my collection. I’ve done a similar job on my 15mm Indians but then my eyes fell upon some painted Aventine Huns………Please make it stop!
Have a great weekend!
Michael
Despertaferres 
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