This post is covering the Targaryen Characters in the Starter Box Set.

Khal Drogo

“Drogo is a khal or warlord of the Dothraki, the famed nomadic horse-lords of the eastern continent beyond the Narrow Sea. The Dothraki are fierce warriors, skilled in battle, unrelenting in combat and known for savagery towards non-Dothraki.

Amongst their own people they have a code of honor, albeit still a harsh and unforgiving one. Drogo was very young to have his own khalasar, particularly such a large one.

He is a legendary warrior and has never been defeated in battle. Drogo desired the most beautiful and exotic woman in the world as his khaleesi or wife, and enlisted Magister Illyrio Mopatis of Pentos to help him find such a woman.” Game of Thrones Wiki

Illyrio Mopatis

“Illyrio has been hosting Viserys and Daenerys Targaryen at his manse in Pentos for almost half a year. He hopes to be rewarded if Viserys is able to reclaim the Iron Throne for House Targaryen, and he encourages Viserys’s ambitions by telling him of Westerosi people awaiting the return of their rightful king.

Illyrio brokers an arranged marriage between Daenerys and Khal Drogo, so that Viserys can use Drogo’s powerful khalasar as an invasion force. Before introducing the girl to the khal, Illyrio attires Daenerys with a plum silken gown, a tiara, gilded sandals, golden bracelets encrust with amethysts, and a golden collar decorated with Valyrian glyphs.

The magister provides fine wines for the wedding feast, and he gives Daenerys three petrified dragon eggs as wedding gifts. Viserys gives his sister three servants—Doreah, Irri, and Jhiqui—although Daenerys realizes the women were actually provided by Illyrio.” A wiki of Ice and Fire

Jorah Mormont

“Jorah Mormont is an exiled knight, the former head of House Mormont and Lord of Bear Island.

He fled Westeros to escape execution for trading in slaves and took up work as a mercenary in the Free Cities, eventually entering the service of the last Targaryens.

He becomes one of the most trusted companions of Daenerys Targaryen.” A wiki of Ice and fire

Daenerys Targaryen.

“Daenerys is the youngest child of King Aerys II Targaryen and his sister-wife, Queen Rhaella. Daenerys was conceived during the last month of Robert’s Rebellion, the war which ended House Targaryen’s reign over the Seven Kingdoms.

Shortly thereafter, her mother was sent with the young prince Viserys to the family ancestral seat of Dragonstone to escape the rebel army which was marching towards King’s Landing. Daenerys was born nine months after their flight, while a great storm raged above Dragonstone, sinking what remained of the Targaryen fleet; for this reason she is known as “Daenerys Stormborn”. Her mother died in labor, but not before naming her.” Wiki of Ice and Fire

When I started painting my Free Folk army “She Who Must Be Obeyed” asked if there was an army with the dragons. Quite fitting really! Her words not mine – I wouldn’t dare commit it to print otherwise! So with the parting of some hard earned we ended up with a starter kit and a few other boxes including, of course, the Mother of Dragons box set.

Emilia Clarke is my favourite as she has such wonderful……………diction!

These have gradually been surreptitiously painted over the last few months. Most are almost ready to play with. I am still waiting on the desert scatter I have organised but decided not to wait but just use a basic desert colour for now.

“In the story, Daenerys is in her early teens living in exile in Essos. She remains dependent on her abusive older brother, Viserys, and is forced to marry Dothraki horselord Khal Drogo in exchange for an army for Viserys, who wishes to return to Westeros and recapture the Iron Throne. Daenerys adapts to life with the Dothraki, and her character emerges as strong, confident and courageous. She becomes the heir of the Targaryen dynasty after her brother’s murder and plans to reclaim the Iron Throne herself, seeing it as her birthright. A pregnant Daenerys loses her husband and child, but soon helps to hatch three dragons from their eggs. The dragons provide her with a tactical advantage and prestige. She also acquires an army with which she conquers the cities of Yunkai, Astapor and Meereen, determined to end slavery and injustice. Despite her strong moral compass, she can deal ruthlessly with her enemies, particularly slave masters. She establishes herself as a powerful and relentless ruler.” Wikipedia.

DROGON

Drogon is one of the three dragons born in the wastelands beyond Lhazar, along with his brothers Rhaegal and Viserion. He is named after Daenerys’ late husband Khal Drogo.

RHAEGAL

Rhaegal was one of the three dragons born in the wastelands beyond Lhazar, along with Drogon and Viserion. He was named after Daenerys Targaryen’s eldest brother Rhaegar. He could be distinguished by his green and bronze colored scales, and his yellow-orange colored wings.

Daenerys Targaryen’s dragon Rhaegal survived the Battle of Winterfell, only to fall prey to Euron Greyjoy’s surprisingly accurate first shots fired from the South’s giant, anti-flying-reptile crossbow. Like Viserion’s death, Rhaegal’s demise came abruptly, just when you think the two dragons are going to give the North a huge advantage in the ultimate battle for King’s Landing. Honestly, if an undead dragon plus millions of wights and their Night King commander couldn’t take down Rhaegal, there’s no reason to think the worst Greyjoy (and that’s saying something!) would just… end him on his first attempt. Apparently these dragons are super easy to kill, as long as you aim your massive projectile very carefully. 

VISERION

Viserion was the third of the dragons born in the wastelands beyond Lhazar, along with Drogon and Rhaegal. He was named after Daenerys Targaryen’s elder brother, Viserys. He could be distinguished by his cream and gold colored scales, and red-orange wings. Eventually, he became an ice dragon, and was enslaved by the Night King. He was also able to breathe fire that was capable of melting the Wall, though it was blue in color.

Over the next week I will gradually show each of the units in SWMBO’s army!

With the horses having been well feed and watered we swapped sides and did battle again.

The french gained the first momentum and advanced across the board.

The British also advanced but the 33rd Cambridgeshire ran smack into a French battery who destroyed them in one shot of grape (16 dice needing to take 6 casualties on a 4+ to hit and then 4+).

A British battery then returned the favour routing a French square!

Repeating the first game, the central British artillery battery was destroyed by two French batteries.

The 8th King’s German Legion were also destroyed by artillery fire.

The skirmishers of both sides did a wonderful job. Not a 6 amongst 30 dice (the one in the pick was knocked)! Even the roll off to break the nil all deadlock took three attempts to finally get a result. We couldn’t even blame the alcohol, as with the Easter traffic blitz, the strongest beverage that was partaken of was black coffee!

A third charge on the damaged French right most square caused a catastrophic “upset victory” (a 6 to one dice roll), destroying it. Our second square destroyed by cavalry ever, and both in the one game. However, Steve, I DID IT FIRST!

Having destroyed the French square the British Light Dragoons were left in front of the fire from two British squares and an artillery battery and were promptly forced to retire from the field.

A chain of events then occurred that the French would not recover from. First a cavalry unit was lost to combined musket and artillery fire.

Then one French unit was routed and a second repulsed by the charge of a British line.

A quick but belated French victory occurred. Finally, after 7 turns of artillery fire the Black Watch were forced back to Balhousie castle!

A final charge by the British centre swept away both French units despite their uphill advantage!

Although the french army was not broken the game was clearly a British victory! Again no chocolates for Mark and I.

Which was great because I am trying to lose weight! Six more kilos to go!

Another great fun game.

I had three gaming mates over for a couple of games of Lasalle on Easter Sunday. The objective was to see if we could get the British to win! A feat we had not achieved yet despite swapping players and giving the British advantages.

The table set up before a shot was fired.

French Cavalry brigade with horse artillery.

French centre infantry brigade of veteran infantry.

British right flank veteran infantry brigade.

British right flank veteran infantry brigade.

British centre infantry brigade.

British left flank cavalry brigade with horse artillery.

A “helicopter” (me standing on a chair) view of the battlefield.

The French infantry advance to within charge range of the “Black Watch, who promptly charged, and with a 6 to 1 dice swing cleared a path through the French line.

The second British charge by the 8th King’s German Legion was repulsed back up the hill.

Having exposed their flank with their glorious charge the black watch were hit in the flank by French Hussars. It did not help that the supporting British artillery did not inflict any damage on the Hussars.

Meanwhile on the right flank the British square of the 33rd Cambridgeshire regiment was destroyed by French grape shot.

The victorious French Hussars charge the 5th King’s German Legion who did not form square in time and despite both the hill advantage and being a full strength unit also promptly routed. Things were going very badly for the British centre!

On the British left the British Hussars charge an undamaged French square and with a six to two dice swing promptly broke them. This was the first time in dozens of attempts that we have broken any square, damaged or not. The Hussars needed a four dice swing which is exactly what they achieved!

The British central infantry brigades artillery was sent packing by the combined fire of two french batteries and the battle was almost lost.

The French columns then charged home on the 8th King’s German legion who promptly routed destroying the central British brigade and ending the game. I had badly let my compatriot Mark down!

A quick but fun game was had by all. Even though I lost badly I could at least claim the title of:

“GURU SQUARE BREAKER”

It was then off to a sumptuous lunch fit for a “Square Breaker” that SWMBO had lovingly prepared!

I seem to jump from one project to the next which keeps the hobby interest up but takes for ages to finish something. Here is what I have on the painting/modelling desk at the moment:

Free Folk and Space wolf Dreadnought on the painting table. The Free Folk have taken a back step because of another project that you will see tomorrow.

Roman roadside shrine for the Roman City project just started.

Small cargo ship part painted for my Gotham City project.

French Char B1 for my WW2 French army put together an undercoated but not finished.

Slave market for the Roman project.

Railway line for the Railway station project.

The ruined city project.

Halo Spartans.

Then there is the odd game going on as well. This one on Good Friday!

Roman dockside factory waiting to be painted and the dock built.

Roman shops waiting to be painted.

Two Roman Factories waiting to be finished.

I think it was Azazel who said that without the drive of a deadline it is hard to get things finished off. I find that preparing figures for a game or a competition gives me lots of focus.

Over the next six days you will see the finalisation of a project where I had a deadline. I didn’t quite make it as I was about a week late in finishing the Targaryen army for the Songs of Ice and Fire game system for Maree.

Bring on more deadlines. I may just have to manufacture a few!!!

This is the last of my books on this subject, well at least until something new is published, so you should get a break from this topic for a while!!

The Frontier Wars in Queensland were by the the largest and most vicious in the early Australian Frontier. Some would say that the attitudes of then are still represented in the conservative nature of Queensland’s politics today. In the last thirty years Queensland has been the birthplace of two right wing conservative parties who attitudes to land rights do not sit with their pro-mining policies.

This book is another excellent addition to fill the gap in a dark period of Austrlia’s history. I cannot do better than the description b y the publisher on the back cover:

“Jack Drake’s Queensland’s Frontier Wars is an attempt to document the known confrontations between either white settlers or white and native police and First Nations people where deaths were reported. It is now an accepted premise that these confrontations were wars to gain access to the land, because, if not wars, then it was mass murder. No one in Queensland was charged with the murder of First Nations during these confrontations.

The book shows the invasion from New South Wales into southern Queensland and the advances from the sea in central and north Queensland. The ‘dispersement’ of the First Nations people from their land was violent and efficient using far superior weaponry.

This book adds significantly to the true and uncomfortable history of Queensland.” From the back jacket of the book.

An awkward read but still one that I enjoyed and again it is a must for those interested in this dark period of Australia’s history.

Today I have put together a Sarissa Precision Roman Temple. The kit is detailed but not overly complicated to put together, just time consuming.

I have also put together one of their statue plinths to use as a sarcophagus to go inside the temple. The temple has to have a purpose and I have decided this one is to a “fallen general”, AKA “big Julie”!

I am also going to use a “Historical Figure Museum 21” plastic model that I have of “Big Julie” sitting on a throne to use as a statue to go with the temple. It can equally go at the top of the steps, inside, or in the forecourt.

I decided to remove the statue and the plaque and to repaint the plinth. This would give me more flexibility.

Looking through the temple door.

Looking through the temple door on small plinth with sarcophagus behind (my preferred option).

Temple forecourt on sarcophagus.

Temple forecourt on small plinth.

On temple steps no plinth.

On temple steps small plinth.

The temple is meant to be in a run down part of Rome and has been painted to reflect this.

I have more than enough mdf building to almost represent the entire city, however at this stage I just want to complete enough building to fill a 3feet by 3 feet table.

First I started as one always does at the aquarium and came up with this ancient gateway.

I also visited the cake decorating shop for some Roman type pillars for a modelling project down the track. More of this in another post.

Previously I had completed the Sarissa Precision (also sold by Footsore) Fountain set that contained a large fountain.

Also a small one.

Next I finished off two Sarissa Precision “Small semi detached houses/shops“.

Next will be a temple and then some single story factories.

This board game was finally delivered today.

First the gripe!

I have been waiting on this board game for six months from “The Nile” games. I do not appreciate companies that con you into buying on line saying that things are in stock and you then have to wait months and months for their delivery. This was despite the fact that throughout all that time I could have bought it direct from Osprey games. I will not deal with them again as there are plenty of other options out there!

Here endeth the gripe!

“Brian Boru (Middle Irish: Brian Bóruma mac Cennétig; modern Irish: Brian Bóramha; c. 941 – 23 April 1014) was an Irish king who ended the domination of the High Kingship of Ireland by the Uí Néill (The Uí Néill , meaning “descendants of Niall”, are Irish dynasties who claim descent from Niall Noígíallach (Niall of the Nine Hostages), a historical King of Tara who died c. 405. They are generally divided into the Northern and Southern Uí Néill), and probably ended Viking invasion/domination of Ireland. Brian built on the achievements of his father, Cennétig mac Lorcain, and especially his elder brother, Mathgamain. Brian first made himself king of Munster, then subjugated Leinster, eventually becoming High King of Ireland. He was the founder of the O’Brien dynasty, and is widely regarded as one of the most successful and unifying monarchs in medieval Ireland.” Wikipedia

Brian Boru is a favourite historical character of mine and was chosen to lead my Saga 28mm Irish army (Collected, organised and based but never painted). The figure below, from Footsore Miniatures is their rendition not mine.

For 2016 posts on this see:

https://wordpress.com/post/phillipislandgamingsociety392176732.wordpress.com/1109

https://wordpress.com/post/phillipislandgamingsociety392176732.wordpress.com/861

https://wordpress.com/post/phillipislandgamingsociety392176732.wordpress.com/758

In the game Brian Boru: High King of Ireland, you strive to unite Ireland under your domain, securing control through might, cunning, and matrimony. Join forces to fend off Viking invaders, build monasteries to extend your influence, and gather support in towns and villages throughout the land. To become High King of all Ireland, you need to navigate a web of shifting alliances, outmaneuver your enemies, and grab history by the reins.

The success of the historical Brian Boru rested on three pillars: his victories against the Vikings, the favor he managed to garner with the Church, and the alliances he forged through political marriages. This became the foundation of the game, with each pillar becoming a suit in the trick-taking that forms the core of the mechanisms. Win a trick and you gain influence in a town, which, in turn, gains you majorities in the regions; if you lose the trick, however (deliberately or otherwise), you instead take an action corresponding to the suit of the card.

Trick-taking is a central part of so many playing card games that I use to play quite regularly like 500 hundred, Euchre, and Bridge that we are all familiar with it. The lead player starts by playing a card and the highest card of that suit wins the hand. Yet it’s not used that widely in hobby games, perhaps because it’s so commonplace, despite the fact it would make games easier to learn. Brian Boru uses this simple system.

The game uses that comfortable trick-taking concept but builds on it in two distinct ways. First, it removes much of the randomness by having players draft cards instead of a random deal. Second, it has the outcome of tricks determine your control of towns on a map of Ireland. Between them, these innovations transform the humble trick into something very new and interesting.

The game is of high production quality and well worth a look at if you like this period of history and this style of game. excellent to use for an Irish based tabletop campaign.

As I have not played the game yet I refer you to an excellent website which discusses this in more depth.

I leave you with their verdict:

“It’s an unfortunate broad truth in gaming that as the depth of strategy goes up, the level of player interaction tends to go down. Brian Boru’s crowning achievement is reversing that trend, offering lots of meaty decisions while still pitching players at each other’s throats. However, that very intensity can undermine it as your efforts get torpedoed through no fault of your own. But if you’re in the market for a deep yet dynamic game, Brian Boru’s sheer innovation and elegance make it worth your while.”

High king: Brian Boru depicted on the exterior of the Chapel Royal, Dublin Castle

Just a reminder to any of your engaged in professional wargaming that the Connections (Global) Online conference starts soon 19-21 April.

Note that this is not a game convention. It is a professional conference about wargaming that includes a few game sessions, but with a focus on seminars, panels, and presentations for information exchange within the professional / practitioner wargaming world.

Details here  https://www.armchairdragoons.com/acdcons/connections/

I will be attending most of the sessions so I may “see” some of you there!