Having reached 1,000 points for each of the two armies in this little project, it seems like a good time to take stock. Various thoughts have occurred to me at various times through the project, only some of which have found their way into the blog.
First I'd like to express my gratitude to my good friend Richard 'Tricks' Tyndall, of the Newark Irregulars. He has very kindly given me a bunch of spare heads (from West Wind's Arthurian range). I want to make another unit of 'Roman' cavalry, but didn't want another unit the same as the first (attractive though they are). A&A also make some 'Moorish Light Cavalry', which look nice but, well, they look rather too African for what I want - Negroid faces, curly hair, etc. I'm not sure, but I don't think there were any Moorish cavalry in Syria in the time my forces are supposed to represent. So the obvious thing to do is head swaps for some more 'Caucasian-looking' heads. So, many thanks to Tricks for helping out!
I realised, whilst painting the Savaran, that I had missed a trick with my Roman auxiliary archers. Their standard says they are from Cohors I Damascenorum sagittariorum. But, if I'd thought about it, I'd have painted their faces with Foundry F55B 'Butter Fudge' to match the opposition, rather than in Foundry F5B 'Flesh'. I might also have painted their tunics dark green, with yellow details - rather like my Warlord Games Eastern Auxiliary archers. And, also if I'd thought, way back when I painted those 1st/2nd Century auxiliary archers, I'd have given them 'Syrian-looking' faces too.
I don't think I actually fancy re-painting either unit of archers... But perhaps that's all the excuse I need to do another unit of each!
Gosh, my thoughts are all of an ethnicness today aren't they?
I'm quite pleased with my two little forces - I think they look the part, and will look good on the table together. And that brings me to the question of what to do next.
I don't, yet, have any desert terrain boards. One problem is a distinct lack of room in the cupboard where my terrain lives. I'm not a big fan of felt or cloth terrain - I'd rather have something looking a little more 'real'. So that's something for me to think about. Maybe I could make the 'bottom' of my current boards 'desertified', which would make them take up slightly more room, but not as much more as a whole new set of boards. But that would mean that there wouldn't be a 'smooth' side to place on the table - I'd need some sort of cloth or other padding to protect the table.
I've got some palm tree kits in various sizes from Pegasus Hobbies which I need to make, paint and base sometime, but that seems a little pointless until I've got some boards sorted out - same goes for an oasis, and various patches of rough ground, soft sand, etc.
So, back to figures again. Romans ought to be next - but what - another unit of Legionaries? Perhaps with different shield designs to represent a vexillation from another legion (as had become increasingly common by this era). Or some artillery for a change? I am tempted to do more Sassanids too though - perhaps some skirmishers, or the Aventine Miniatures jumbos. Decisions, decisions!