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Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Mustering Sertorius' Lusitanians

Rebel Roman general Quintus Sertorius is one of my ancient world favorites.  He waged a brilliant six year guerrilla war against Rome, at times driving them out of Hispania.  Badly outnumbered, he inflicted stinging defeats on the Romans and nearly captured Pompey. After reading Philip Matyszak's superb Sertorius and the Struggle for Spain, I was primed to paint the Spanish again. Without further ado, here's Sertorius' Lusitanians, version 2.

Lusitanian Scutarii: In L'art de la Guerra, the Sertorius option allows scutarii to be upgraded from impetuous swordsmen (not too good) to impact swordsmen (better!). That reflects Sertorius turning the Lusitanians into a well-drilled army.  In game, the scutarii are better in terrain and fight even at impact with legionaries.  They don't have equal staying power in melee as medium foot have less cohesion to lose than heavy foot. And of course, legionaries armor helps in melee as well.


Large Shield Cavalry: Spanish medium cavalry that can be taken as elite.

Small Shield Cavalry:  Light horse are a nuisance in ADLG, just as in Field of Glory.  Having had my camp sacked by light horse twice in my first two games, I'll field my own as a counter.

Caetrati: Light foot javelinmen have a role in this army.  They'll challenge in terrain, skirmish and then make way for the main battle line.

Burning Carts:  In ADLG, the Spanish can take burning carts, which are treated as Scythed Chariots in combat.  I couldn't fit a cart & team on a 40mm x 40mm base so I used a light chariot instead.  The fire is a bit supersized, making it hard to miss on the tabletop.  I'll field burning carts because they're cheap, look cool and might annoy my opponent.

Commanders:  No ancient army is complete without command stands.  I HAD to sneak a priestess on one of the stands.

Camp: The challenge with a camp is telling a story in a 120mm x 80mm footprint. Over the years, I've gone from dreading camps to having fun with them. Sertorius was famous for hitting the Romans when they least expected it. The fabulous variety of Corvus Belli figures and tree bark made the whole thing go.



The last piece of this army is Sertorius' legionaries.  I'm painting a Late Republican Roman army as a foil and I'll port some of the legionaries over to Sertorius when I'm finished.

If you'd like a quick read on Sertorius, take a look at an old post I wrote here.  If you want a deep dive, I highly recommend Philip Matyszak's Sertorius and the Struggle for Spain.


56 comments:

  1. Hi Monty,

    I was in ambush to see your masterpiece coming!
    Fabulous! Amazing!
    you done a fantastic work and your idea of basing them on 20mm for FOGAM.
    the expendable is cracking , the effect on flames are top! nearly like those of Rocky Stallone in Expendables I, II and III;-))
    and a special award for your camp.
    you definitely convinced me, I would like to have one ancient Spanish too.

    All the best.

    Gilles " Monty's fan club"

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    1. Gilles, thanks so much! Sometimes it all comes together and this time, I'm very pleased with the camp.

      My son may be coming to Paris this summer for an electronic music program. How I wish I could make the trip over too, and get in some games and painting lessons with the French Jester! One day...

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  2. What colors! The yellows and blues really make this force jump off the screen. Monty, that is one outstanding Spanish army. I hope they battle well for you and, please, keep these guys around for awhile!

    Thanks for the book tip, I may track a copy down an throw it on the pile.

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    1. Thanks Jonathan, I appreciate it. I plan on holding onto these and more. I've got a large commission that'll set me up for some time, and keep me from culling the painted herd. ;-)

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  3. Great job, Monty, what a fine band of warriors you have here :D This theme is very dear to me, being a Lusitanian and all ;) From time to time I go back to your Banderas post and laugh my head off - those puns just don´t get old!!! Greetings!

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    1. NoVember, thanks so much for that trip down memory lane! That was my best post ever on this blog. I remember finding a wargaming forum in Spain where some fellows were debating whether Antonio Banderas really wrote the article on my blog. Still makes me smile to remember it. ;-)

      http://twincitiesfieldofglory.blogspot.com/2012/10/ancient-spanish-iberian-project.html

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  4. Fantastic work Monty! I love the camp, and the flaming chariots are sure to get your opponents attention. The priestess has a bit of a Princess Leia look about her. Must be the hair :-)

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    1. Thanks Paul and good eye. I wonder if Lucas was browsing the Osprey Men at Arms series "Romes Enemies 4 Spanish Armies." She's right there on the cover.

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  5. Again?! Monty, your quality and production is always impressive! Love those fiery chariots/chariots of fire. The camp a thing of beauty too.

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    1. Thanks! Coming from the Dean Painting Machine, that is high praise.

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  6. Some wonderful eye candy you have there Monty. I love the bold colours you use, especially on the bridles and such. And that camp? Absolutely stunning!

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    1. Thanks Millsy, I appreciate it! I'm very happy with the camp.

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  7. Outstanding Monty! Another excellent looking 15mm army! I really enjoy the strong colours that camp looks wonderful. I hope they do well in your new rule set.

    Christopher

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  8. Friggin' Awesome! I'm at a loss for better vocabulary.

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    1. You made this whole thing go with your very generous trade, Jeff! The camp wouldn't be the camp without such a nice mix of figures. So thank you.

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    1. Thanks Pru! I hope all is well in your corner of the world.

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  10. The Lusitanians look the business, alright - but where did the priestess get the hipster headphones...?
    ; )

    A real feast for the eyes, Monty - I see you haven't lost your touch with 15mm Ancients. Fire carts are a stratagem I hadn't encountered before; they must have been hell for any army caught in their path. Unlike a scythed chariot, you don't have to get them back again to fight another day, and in a narrow defile they could be a real terror weapon!

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    1. Thanks Evan! At first, I skipped right over the fire cart option. Then I thought "3 points, why not?" It may become my favorite unit. ;-)

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  11. Excellent brushwork, especially at the scale you've chosen.

    Darrell.

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    1. Thanks so much Darrell! Wow, it was a treat to see your magnificent River Charge. Now that is a treat for the eyes.

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  12. What to say? Each unit is really wonderful, some of them unusual (be careful of your cart, may be a danger for your ennemies...and friends, who knows?), and this camp, this camp...I love it, Monty, very inspiring, creative and beautiful job here! Congrats...

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    1. Thanks Phil. From a 15mm master such as yourself, that means a great deal!

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  13. Monty what a fabulous post! The detail work is amazing and I just love your camp at the end - an inspired piece of modelling.

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    1. Thanks so much Michael! I'm quite happy when it comes off like this. Now lets see how they do on the tabletop.

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  14. Great stuff, Monty - that ambush 'camp' is really nice.

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    1. Thanks Caliban! I'd love to do this in 28mm some day like you and your gang.

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  15. Wow, these are stunning Monty! And that camp is amazing. Great job!

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    1. Thanks Jonas, I do hope you're staying warm this winter!

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  16. Monty, you've hit the nail again! Your Spanish are a feast for the eye again. For quite some time now I was struggling for what to do if I come back to ancients one day. Having seen your Spanish the choice has been made, Sertorius and his rebels it is. Rebelious as well as loyal legions, fierce Spanish warriors and an ingenious general... what more could you posibly want? Have I already mentioned the legions?

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    1. Thanks Nick and I think they're a wonderful choice for all the reasons you cited. Plus, I'm always a sucker for the enemies of Rome and their "lost causes."

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  17. Burning cart and the Camp are both bonkers, great work!

    FMB

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  18. Great work Monty. I too want to do a Sertorian army
    I played it once a few months ago. If well played, it-s just devastating.
    Enjoy;)

    Seb

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    1. Thanks Seb. I see the key is "well played." I'll have to work on it. ;-)

      And thanks for the AARs that planted the seed of ADLG.

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  19. Fantastic great job!!! Each unit is wonderfull!

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  20. Yeah nice Monty great period and interesting .... just pulled out some more lead for my 28s Spanish . Want to do a full Celtiberian option ..... mmmm should be fun

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    1. Tarty! I so wish I could see your Impetus armies in person. I must do ancients in 28mm one day. Looking forward to seeing your work!

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  21. Your camps are great, I really like seeing things like that!

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  22. Hi Monty, absolutely loving those, especially the ambush! The burning cart is a great idea, too. Great work. Best, Simon

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  23. Simon, thanks! It is nice when it comes together. I'm afraid the LRR camp I'm doing is going to be quite pedestrian by comparison. ;-)

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  24. Pedestrian; a suitably Roman term!

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  25. Love the camp! Thanks for showing the before and after picture.

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    1. Brent, thanks! I'm really bad about doing work in progress shots. Luckily, I took one of the camp. Mississippi bark cannot be beat!

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  26. Great work on the Lusitanians Monty!

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  27. Wow... these look absolutely lovely, but I love the burning cart and the vignette at the end!

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