Skraelings for Blood Eagle

A Skraeling warband for Blood Eagle...

	Fate	FV	SV	Speed	AR	Cost	Traits	Equipment
Chieftain	3(+)	(+)3	(+)3	2	10	54	Leadership +2 Fanatic Hawkeye (Spear) Skirmisher Uncanny Accuracy	Skins (as Leather) (8) Spear (+2 SV/FV, -2 Fate)
Shaman	3(+)	(+)2	(+)2	2	10	65	Leadership +1 Chosen Fanatic Terrifying Magical Powers (Wyrd) -Shapeshift (Bison (as Bull)) -Evil Eye	Skins (as Leather) (8) Quarterstaff (+3 FV) Dagger (+1 FV, -1 Fate)
Shaman's Apprentice	4(+)	(+)2	(+)2	2	10	52	Chosen Fanatic Terrifying Magical Powers (Wyrd) -Shapeshift (Polar Bear)	Skins (as Leather) (8) Quarterstaff (+3 FV) Dagger (+1 FV, -1 Fate)
Warriors	5(+)	(+)2	(+)2	2	10	22	Skirmisher	Skins (as Leather) (8) Spear (+2 SV/FV, -2 Fate)

Hopefully the Skraeling's additional Speed and their Skirmisher trait and throwing spears will make them a worthy foe when up against the better armoured Vikings....that and the terrifying Shaman!

I've uploaded a PDF version to Google Drive here and Dropbox here for those who are interested. I'll also upload a copy to the Files section of the Blood Eagle Facebook page here. 

The chieftain and warriors are Lucid Eye Cro-Magnons and the Shaman and Apprentice are North Star Frostgrave. All figs painted for me by the inimitable Matt Slade of Glenbrook Games. 

Hyborian Picts and Skraelings

Things have been a bit quiet on both the wargaming front and blogging front recently. Real life getting in the way...and it's likely to be the same for the next couple of months. Any gaming has been mainly of the short and sweet variety...lots of Odin's Ravens and Magic the Gathering with the kids.

Today, though, I got my latest batch of figs from the inimitable Matt Slade of Glenbrook Games! This time a mix of Lucid Eye Cro-Magnons and the Frostgrave Witch and Apprentice that I intend to use as Skraelings for Blood Eagle and Hyborian Picts for Open Combat with the Witch and Apprentice as Shaman types. They will also fit quite nicely into my The Northern Tribes (here and here) warband for Dragon Rampant as well as Frostgrave.

As always, Matt has done a superb job. Here are some more pics...

Frostgrave Witch and Apprentice with Lucid Eye Cro-Magnon Leader

Lucid Eye Cro-Magnon Leader

Frostgrave Witch

Lucid Eye Cro-Magnons

Skraelings or Hyborian Picts

Against the Trolls - Blood Eagle AAR

The boy and I have at last finished the comic book battle report for the Blood Eagle game we had a couple of weeks ago! Hoorah!

Although it was our first game of Blood Eagle we are old hands at playing In Her Majesty's Name so we decided to straight away try out all the 'new' stuff by going for a 'legendary' game with Hero Points, Pagan Magic and Legendary Creatures. We quickly put together a 'legendary' Viking warband...the Brothers Magnusson...using the rules for making up warbands and then, using the bestiary as inspiration, we made up our own take on trolls...a Troldfolk warband. This is one of the things I love about both In Her Majesty's Name and Blood Eagle...it is so easy to adapt and make up whatever you want, indeed, you are actively encouraged to do so! I probably have as much fun making up warbands, companies and beasties as I do playing the game!

Anyway, after making up the warbands my son and I finally managed to find a free afternoon to get a game in a couple of weeks ago. We made up our own scenario...a legendary sword in the middle of the table which the Vikings need to get off the table. The Trolls need to stop them. My boy wanted to play the Trolls so I took the Vikings. I must admit I was a bit worried that the Trolls would tear the poor Vikings apart in record time...

...well, without further ado, here is the battle report!

You can find a bigger and easier-to-read PDF version on Google Drive here and Dropbox here.

As you can see my fears were groundless! The Vikings won the day! Closely fought to begin with...the dice gods were smiling on me that day as in one turn I managed some outstanding rolls whilst my son 's luck deserted him and he lost three of his Trolls including the big chap. Despite the sudden surprise defeat, my son loved it...we both had a lot of fun.

Next time we hope to have the Brothers Magnusson ambushed by some Skraelings under the leadership of a Shaman!

All the miniatures were painted for me by the inimitable Matt Slade of Glenbrook Games.

Flint & Feather Miniatures and North Star

I've just read the latest North Star newsletter and it has confirmed that they will be stocking Bob Murch's Flint & Feather figures 'later on'. This is great news! I certainly plan on picking up the lot for my Conan games as well as Blood Eagle as soon as they do!

In other news...it's been a bit quiet on the gaming and blog front. Real life getting in the way.

The good news is Matt has just finished up my latest lot of figs...the Counterblast crews from Bombshell Miniatures...and they look brilliant. I shall be posting pics of them up as soon as I get a chance. We shall also hopefully be getting them on the gaming table soon.

We are also halfway through doing the comic battle report for our Blood Eagle game of a couple of weeks ago...it shouldn't be too much longer before we get it finished and posted up.

Coming soon...

The Brothers Magnusson - Blood Eagle Warband

The Brothers Magnusson

So I've just finished up a warband to oppose the Troldfolk for our first game of Blood Eagle this weekend...the Magnusson brothers, renowned explorers and fearsome raiders!

	Fate	FV	SV	Speed	AR	Cost	Traits	Equipment
Ulf Magnusson	3(+)	(+)4	(+)2	0	12	79	Leadership +2 Beserk Fanatic Hero (3 Hero Points) Tough	Mail Hauberk and Shield (12) Sword, Long (+3 FV, -1 Fate) Dagger (+1 FV, -1 Fate)
Bjorn Magnusson	3(+)	(+)4	(+)2	0	12	66	Fanatic Hero (2 Hero Points) Tough	Mail Hauberk and Shield (12) Axe, One-Handed (+3 FV, -1 Fate, Sundering) Dagger (+1 FV, -1 Fate)
Rolf Magnusson	3(+)	(+)3	(+)1	(+)1	8	49	Chosen Fanatic Hero (2 Hero Points) Magical Powers (Wyrd) -Shapeshift (Wolf)	Leather (8) Axe, Throwing (+2 FV, -1 Fate)
Warriors	4(+)	(+)3	(+)2	0	9	27/28	Tough Fortitude	Shield (9) Sword, Long (+3 FV, -1 Fate) or Axe, One-Handed (+3 FV, -1 Fate, Sundering)

Ulf Magnusson

Bjorn Magnusson

Rolf Magnusson

The Warband

For those who are interested, I've uploaded a PDF of the warband onto Google Drive here and Dropbox here. Feel free to download a copy.

All figs were painted for me by Matt Slade of Glenbrook Games.

The Warrior and the Priest...for Blood Eagle!

Brodir of Man 

Matt Slade recently finished a couple more figs to go with my Northmen (you can see the rest here and here). First of all, Brodir of Man from Gripping Beast...

This has to be one of my favourite minis ever! Bags of character! And then there is the Pagan Priest...

Another great sculpt with loads of character. I'm looking forward to making up a Blood Eagle warband around these chaps and hopefully getting our first game in next weekend!

New Christian Priests from Footsore Miniatures

And some more new releases. This time some superb Christian Priests from Footsore Miniatures. We seem to be spoilt for choice at the moment for Dark Age priests...but then one can never have enough priests for Dark Ages wargaming! These are going on the wishlist, too!

Troldfolk Warband for Blood Eagle

Across the northern lands, tales are told of large, blue-skinned creatures of great strength that live hidden away in the remote mountains, hills and hidden valleys of the frozen north. Known as Troldfolk ("troll-folk") or Huldrefolk ("hidden-folk"), there seem to be two distinct types of creature with a common ancestry: the lowland trolls, bigger and stronger than their smaller cousins but more slow-witted, and the highland trolls, smaller (though still much larger and stronger than man), more beast-like and more agile. Both types of troll often wield large clubs made from trees, branches or animal bones and are known for hurling large boulders and rocks. 

	Fate	FV	SV	Speed	AR	Cost	Traits	Equipment
Lowland Troll	3(+)	(+)4	(+)2	0	121	78	Gift of Ice Strong Terrifying Tough	Stone Axe (as Two-Handed Axe) (-2 Fate Mod, +4 Atk Bonus) Large Boulder (as Spear) (9”, -2 Fate Mod, +2 Atk Bonus)
Highland Troll	4(+)	(+)3	(+)2	(+)1	102	43	Gift of Ice Skirmisher Stealthy Strong	Large Club (+2 Atk Bonus) Small Boulder (as Javelin) (9”, -1 Fate Mod, +1 Atk Bonus)

1Natural Troll Hide

2Tough Hide

For those who are interested, I've uploaded a PDF of the above to Google Drive here and Dropbox here. Feel free to download a copy. 

Trolls, Giants and Yeti

I recently got my most recent lot of minis back from Matt Slade of Glenbrook Games. As always he's done a superb job painting these up for me. This month it was a bit of a mixed bag so first of all I thought I'd show off the Copplestone Yetis and North Star Frost Giant.

I intend to use these as Troldfolk for Blood Eagle as well as trolls, giants and yetis for Frostgrave and Dragon Rampant.

Copplestone Yeti, North Star Frost Giant and North Star Snow Troll

SAGA Celtic Priest and Ulf the Quarrelsome

Celtic Priest

Ulf the Quarrelsome

Gripping Beast have just posted up some pics on their Facebook page of some new releases due out at Salute. Superb figs...especially the Celtic Priest!

Pagan Priest

I have already picked up the Pagan Priest for my Vikings and the Celtic Priest will do perfectly as his Christian counterpart.

The Blood Eagle has landed!

The postie has been! Superb production values as expected. Now if only the kids will leave me alone for an hour so I can have a proper read!

Blood Eagle Out Now!

Blood Eagle is now available from North Star here!

Here is the blurb from the North Star Facebook Page:

What is Blood Eagle, Skirmish Games in the Dark Ages like?
It allows players to field forces of three to fifteen miniatures in a game you can easily complete in an evening on a space only a yard square. The rules are short and simple to learn – few players needing to refer to them after their second or third game.
This book provides:
▪ The core rules of play,
▪ The complete points system so you can create your own forces,
▪ Full listings for thirteen unique forces from the period,
▪ Ten legendary heroes that warbands can call upon to aid their cause,
▪ Armour, weapons and equipment, both ordinary and legendary,
▪ Detailed listings of abilities, pagan Wyrd powers and Christi an miracles,
▪ Sixteen scenarios, supported by twelve scenario complications,
▪ Fifteen detailed landscapes for you to play across,
▪ A complete campaign system to let you write your own sagas,
▪ Rules for shipboard combat, and
▪ Simple, yet rewarding campaign rules.

Great news! Mine are already ordered. Can't wait!

Another Blood Eagle Preview

Craig Cartmell has posted another teaser from the upcoming Blood Eagle on the game's blog page here.