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[DanJ]

The 40mm base size for the cav works well

I tried them on 20x20 square bases, then on 25mm round.then 35mm round and ended up with 40 as the best size.

They offer enough room to get two or three figures on in a variet of positions which looks best for cavalry.  The unit sizes also look better in relation to the infantry huddled on their 25mm bases.  I'll get some close up posted tonight.

[fred.]

Looking forward to some close up pics. I'm really liking the look of these forces, especially now that I have had a proper look (or three) now that I am home and use a bigger screen.

Can you list which codes you used for the different units.

[Bloodaxe]

Looking forward to some close up pics. I'm really liking the look of these forces, especially now that I have had a proper look (or three) now that I am home and use a bigger screen.

Can you list which codes you used for the different units.

+1 to that. Awesome stuff.  How are the SAGA rules?

[Bodvoc]

Very nice Saga forces, makes me want to do some like that.

[fred.]

Saga is a great game. While it is based on historical eras, its not strictly a historical game.

Its key feature is the battle board. Each faction has one, and they are all different. They are split in to two main parts, about 1/3 are simple activations for the different categories of units. The rest are special abilities - some of which are quite fantastical. You roll a number of dice - the number depends on the number of units you have, so reduces as the game plays out.

The dice are special, with 3 symbols on them, rather than 1-6. There is a common symbol on 3 faces, one  on 2 faces and a rare on just 1 face. You can buy the proper dice, and they are very nice but expensive, but they also provide downloads, so you can print these and stick them on the dice - this is cheap, but fiddly - it works OK if you want extra sets of dice, but for your core faction its worth buying a set.

Each ability on the board has a dice symbol on it (sometimes 2 dice) and you can only use this ability if you assign a dice to it during the the initial phase of each turn. Your good warriors are easier to activate than your levy, and powerful abilities cost more dice, or harder to get dice (or both).

Combat and shooting require a roll to hit, and a save. There is a fatigue mechanic that is a good way of stopping units from activating lots of times in a turn, and can be used in combats by your opponent to make your fatigued troops weaker.

The typical game is 28mm Dark Ages - with warbands of 4-6 points. Where a point is a manoeuvre element consisting of 4 to 12 figures each with 1 wound. The elites come in 4s, and have 2 attacks each and better armour. The Levies come in 12s but only generate a melee attack between 3 of them, but usually have a shooting attack too. This version has been out for a good few years now - and has had several army list supplements.

The crusader version is much newer (late last year I think), and is really v1.1 for the core rules. But creates a whole new set of armies with some quite new mechanics for some of the battle boards.

The core game is 1 v 1. But there is a clever scenario for unbalanced sides, and we have played several multiplayer games (3 a side typically) and these play surprising well.

Writing this has made me want to play more Saga!

I resisted getting Crescent and Cross at the start of the year, but may well feel the urge to get it now  

[DanJ]

Fred 12df has just about encapulated the basic mechanics and troop types.

The strength of the rules is the battle boards, these are efectively a whole set of special rules and abilities which are only available to that army.  This makes for a very period and faction specific set of rules which has a great feel and realy diferentiates the various forces.

The 28mm Dark Age games I played were good but not great, 4-6 point armies were IMHO rather brittle and were subject to lucky dice rolls having a disproportionate effect on a game but did mean games tend to be fast, furious and very bloody.  This seems to be a concious design descision, however I prefer games with more tactical options and ones where an unlucky dice roll doesn't spoil the game.  I'd rather play 1 game that makes me think for 2-2.5 hours than 2 or 3 games with limited options.  Others may think differently.

The battle boards for Crescent and Cross are master pieces of game design, I've only played two to any great depth, the basic Crusaders and Saracens but the differences are profound and effect the way the players use their forces.  The Saracens' battle board is inclined to subtle effects giving advantages and opportunities, the Crusaders' board is about building up strengths and launching overwhelming attacks before the subtle Saracens overwhelm the them.

My eventual aim is to have enough figures to play multi player games with each player fielding 8-12 points and using their own battle board and dice.

Here are a few close ups of a game:

Pendraken Knights...




OG Saracen Ghulams attack the flank of some OG knights...



OG Infantry...

[Techno]

COR !! 
Cheers - Phil

[WeeWars]

Those Old Glory figures look great! Well done, Dan!

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Top work Dan!

[jambo1]

Lovely looking figures, cracking painting. Not my game or my era but that is lovely work.

[getagrip]

Superb!  Simply superb. 

[paulr]

Those Old Glory figures look great! Well done, Dan!

Blasphemer 

They all look good

[Hertsblue]

Nice work, Dan. (Even if they are OG)