The time is near… tomorrow my mate Martin and I are going to the SAGA German Grand Melee. I am already pretty excited about it for various reasons. For one, there are going to be 26 other players I have never before played against (many of them playing factions I have never played against), which should mean a wealth of new experiences. The other thing is the location. The tournament is going to be played in a replica Viking Longhouse (according to some sources a Saxon Longhouse) in an open-air museum. I do think, it can hardly be cooler than that, can it?
I just hope, that I made the right choice when it comes to my forces. I would have preferred to use my Vikings for their bigger punch (and indeed it seems most players felt the same, since Vikings are the biggest block amongst the armies being fielded), but most of the scenarios do in my humble opinion favour cavalry. So I chose to bring my Byzantines. Let’s see how they do!
But, I was never to happy with my Byzantine Warlord. To be honest… he looks like a fat old man sitting idle in his saddle. So about 2 2/1 years ago, I asked Martin to get me the other version from Gripping Beast. But as luck would have it, the Warlord is only mildly more animated and comes with the same standing horse. So I never went and painted that mini. But since I would not want my forces at the Grand Melee to be lead by “sir fat f*ck in saddle”, decided to paint him up anyway, but swap the horse. I still had a Parthian horse with heavy armour lying around and mounted him on that on.
In the end it did not completely pay off. While he looks a more animated than his predecessor, it is only slightly. Even though he is swinging a maze, his body is too stiff to make him look really aggressive. And when placed besides the other Byzantine cavalry, his horse is a bit small (he looks fine besides martins Welsh on their ponies though 😉 ). Still I hope, he will lead his men to glory this weekend!
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von Peter himself
September 18, 2015 at 22:01
Hello Strategos Burkhard.
I recall reading that in the Seven Years War the Prussian Kuiassiere officers rode a smaller breed of horses than the trooper’s monsters so as to have greater mobility. Obviously your cunning – as benefits a Byzantine leader! – plan is to use such mobility so as to be everywhere that you are needed when you are needed on the field of battle. Though I must admit I’m little perplexed as to where all that barding fits with such a goal! 8O)
Fighting Saga in a Dark Age building be it Viking or Saxon is such a great and atmospheric idea. Sadly there is not too much in the way of artillery fortresses out here in New Zealand in which to play a Napoleonic game.
Good luck with the Grand Melee. Remember that you are fighting for civilisation, baklava and the Byzantine way of life!! 8O))
Salute
von Peter himself
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Burkhard
September 22, 2015 at 13:58
Well one of the players on the neighboring tables had a nice idea about the size of the pony… he said that maybe it was simply all that armour pushing it into the ground. 😉
Anyway, i was really glad for the location. It could not have been more atmospheric! During some of the games it was raining cats and dogs, but still it was perfect inside. Only when it got late on Saturday, it got a bit cold inside. And I would not have wanted to be inside the longhouse with around 30 people and spotlights in the hight of summer, but then again… the date was well chosen!
And thanks for the good wishes… I think they spurred me on, leaving most of the uncivilized hordes behind! 😛
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Dean
September 18, 2015 at 22:24
Saga in a longhouse, how can you top that. Your warband will look stunning, and best wishes at the tournament.
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Burkhard
September 22, 2015 at 13:59
Thank you Dean! And the location was great!
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Jason
September 18, 2015 at 22:46
All your warlord needs to do is count out all the gold to bribe the opposing warbands to go away, right? 😉
I just played Monty Luhmann’s Byzantines last weekend. The Grand Melee sounds like fun. I hope you enjoy yourself as much as we did at Saga Storm 2015
http://derfeldmarschall.blogspot.com/2015/09/saga-storm-2015.html
Good luck! 🙂
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Burkhard
September 22, 2015 at 14:03
Well looking at your report, you guys had lots of fun and made the most of the location, as well as the day. I think the longhouse wins hands down! 😛
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Nysse
September 21, 2015 at 06:38
Nice work Burkhard!
Have fun on your trip! At least the location sounds like a perfect match for the occasion 🙂
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Burkhard
September 22, 2015 at 14:03
Thanks Samuli.
It sure was great fun and the location a real stonker!
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