Robin Hood & Tournaments of Jousting and More (5)

July 15, 2024

I have now added names for all of the individually based figures in the photo below for July 5th.

There are 15 women: Bia, Carlotta, Catalina, Eira, Fia with Sif (a girl baby on her back), Fiora, Gilma, Gunnora, Hawise, Iolanda, Odelgarde, Revna, Yrsa, and Irene (at the stake).

And another 43 men: Crispin, Drago, Elric, Hawk, Njal, Orvyn, Piers, Svend, Torsten, Wilkin, Bertolf, Bernt, Gelfrid, Jorgl, Heinz, Jodokus, Lodwig, Nenker, Ramwold, Vasold, and Wolferam.  Also: Alardus, Bertolf, Dirske, Eckel, and Gotfridus.  Peter and Colin, dog handlers.  Then: Bazzu, Cabi, Durr, Galib, Hamdun, Ishraq, Jalid, Maymun, and Sumayl.  (Those last joined by 39 unnamed men on 13 groups of 3 figures to a base).  Finally: Jack Kanketchum - the executioner, Eli - the evil priest, Wyglo - the torturer, and Harry - the somewhat dimwitted assistant who is strong as two oxen.

The dogs with Peter and Colin are: Jangelor, Mouse, Knave, and Trusty.  The eight WarDogs are: Sturdy, Whitefoot, Clenche, Grisly, Thunder, Ballsbiter, Jenny, and Simone.

I have also added an edit in italics to an earlier post below with names of individual figures, see June 24th.  I will need to revisit and add some additional names for the mounted men and women, bases marked with the names but not on the list I will be working with for the edit.

July 8, 2024

Started working on the jousting figures in earnest today by prepping what should be all of the people bases, still need to prep some of the bases for vignettes and other scatter terrain.  May want to reprise some of the bases that ended with a bit too 'powdery' but otherwise all of the bases are now primed on the underside.  Also moved figures in the most recent photo below, those on the left towards the top not really suitable for Robin Hood so moved to my pulp Banana Wars collection where they fit better.

July 5, 2024

Celebrated our nation's birthday in quiet style with the wife - neighbors provided plenty of noise!😎

Turns out there were a lot more than 25 figures to prep:

Not all of the above was purchased with any thought towards Robin Hood but they will fit in to my creative variation.  There are 'humanals' in the upper left, with war dogs to their right and below them just a couple more dog handlers and a quartet of more dogs.  Below them is the executioner (lowest left) and a witch burning vignette (actually supposed to be Joan of Arc).  To the right, from top to bottom are 48 figures that will add some more vibrant colors to the collection when they take the field - not saying who they are since I want them to be a surprise when they arrive in a game, 48 figures there.  And to the far right, at the top, are a dozen more women, only one I know to be a duplicate (actually a triplicate) but she will fit in just fine.  Below her are a dozen more men that were part of the '25' mentioned below, and at the bottom right are eleven more men that I am squeezing into Robin Hood, a purchase of figures just because I wanted them, they fit better here than anywhere else so 'why not'?

Yeah, that's a lot more than 25 and flies in the face of reducing numbers.  It's a hobby, they will be ready to paint when I decide I want/need them.

July 2, 2024

"Oh, bother, a bit, not too much.  

Seems that I didn't quite have all the figures primed and ready for painting.  Stumbled upon an 'out of sight, out of mind' box of Battle Valor figures.  There are now about 25 more figures to prep, some men, some women, a couple of bullocks to go with the 'executioner's wagon'.  The cooler bits are a couple of women a bit on the 'untoward' side of things, probably use as harlots - and they will also have a place with my musketeers, most likely entertaining Porthos and his close friends.  I suspect many of the figures will get assigned to the convent and monastery, agriculturally inclined or serving girls sorts, but some might be a little up the feudal ladder a bit.  Oh, and one figure with a lute on his back which will be a fun addition.  Not sure the executioner is 'fun' but he sure will add some scenario options!

More to paint.  Happy to paint.  Will add some extra 'character' to it all."

Just posted the above to my thread at Lead Adventure Forum.  No photos yet, still in box needing washing and prepping.  Almost 9 PM and still 95 Fahrenheit outside and about next ten days with highs north of 100, some in 110+ range (107 earlier today).  Will have to work in mornings only since I prep and prime in the garage and outside.

And, as promised, the updated list - less the recently found stuff above and with the last listed paragraphs  below not included in the Contingent totals or other numbers:

ROBIN HOOD CONTINGENT

Named figures individually based, unnamed warriors/others are 3 to a base:

6.0 Robin Hood, Will ‘Billy’ Stutley, Ulric + 3 more longbowmen (6)

0.3 Lady Marian (Robin’s lady), Maerwynn, Wren (her two ladies-in-waiting)

4.2 Slean, Offa (Robin), Duncan (Robin) + 3 more spearmen (4)

0.6 Joan Rye (pledged to give her life for Robin), Alice (Little John’s woman), Elga + 3 women

6.0 Akeem, Hamza, Jabir + 3 more swordsmen (6)

0.6 Yasmina (Azeem’s love interest), Zenith, Najma (her companions) + 3 women //33

16.17

16 warriors (3 mtd), 15 women (1 mtd), 1 counselor, 0 clerics, 1 servant=16 figures +17=33

—————

6.0 Little John, Ox, Bull + 3 more staff-men (6) 

4.5 Friar Tuck, Francis, Dominic + 3 clerics + 3 staff-men (4)

6.0 Will Scarlet, Wulf, Alden + 3 more swordsmen (6)

6.0 Much the Miller’s son, Cedric, Egbert + 3 more swordsmen (6)

6.0 Alan-a-Dale, Grindan, Hollis + 3 more longbowmen (1* + 5)

0.6 Caedmon, Benwock, Orvynn + 3 clerics //39

28.11

28 warriors (5 mtd), 0 women, 0 counselors, 11 clerics (1 mtd) 0 servants=28 figures +11=39

—————

6.3 King Richard, Philip (his son), Baldwin + 3 servants + 3 more swordsman (6)

4.2  Scrydan, Merlin (the King), Skar (the King) + 3 mace-men (1 sword-3 mace)

0.9 Berengaria (King John’s wife), Odelia (her lady-in-waiting) Guinevere (the king’s mistress)

+ 3 women and + 3 women

6.0 Larcwide, Kenric, Bearn + 3 crossbowmen (6)

6.3 Montgomery Longstride (Robin’s half-brother), Grimbold, Andwearde + 3 servants

+ 3 more warriors (1 sword-5 bow)

4.2 Dreogan, Pendragon (Montgomery), Tobrecan (Montgomery) + 3 spearmen (6)//39

26.19

16+28+26=70 17+11+19=47.  117

26 warriors (5 mtd), 9 women, 10 counselors, 0 clerics, 0 servants=26+19=45

70 warriors total (31), 24 women (12), 23 unarmed men (12) (Friar Tuck counts as armed -staff)

(55 named) — 12 servants, counselors / 11 clerics (6 named / 6 named-Tuck as warrior)

117 people, 14 horses, 14 dismounts = 145 pieces  (70 warriors, 47 unarmed)

All 14 mounted figures (underscored) have a ‘matching’ dismounted figure

SHERIFF OF NOTTINGHAM CONTINGENT:

Named figures individually based, unnamed warriors/others are 3 to a base:

6.0 Robert de Rainault the Sheriff of Nottingham, Wybert, Wido (enforcer) +3 swords (6)

0.3 Louvel, Perceval, Oswald the tax collector (3 servants, counselors)

0.6 Mortiana (witch), Macey (evil mistress), Adeline +3 women

6.0 Sir Guy of Gisborne, Talbot, Slade + 3 spears (6) 

6.0 Sir Godfrey, Giles, Haveron. + 1 sword, 2 crossbow (6.5 crossbow) //

18.9

18 warrirors (3 mtd), 6 women, 3 counselors, 0 clerics, 0 servants=18+9=27

—————

0.6 William de Vere the Bishop of Hereford, Leotold, Tanchelm +3 clerics

0.6 Prior Vincent of Emmet, Pietro, Jacopo + 3 clerics

6.0 Captain Ralph of Huntington, Pridbor, Rene +1 club, 2 staff (6. 3 mace)

0.6 Stefan the Niedre de Mort, Tadg, Fedelma +3 druids

6.0 Einar, Bjorn, Harald +3 bow (6) //

12.18

12 warriors, 1 woman, 0 counselors, 12 clerics, 0 servants, 2 druids*=12+15=27

————

6.3 Prince John, Arlotto (henchman), Baynard +3 swords (6)

+3 servants, counselors

0.6 Morgana (prince’s mistress), Isabella (prince’s wife), Simone  +3 women

6.0 Baldice, Wandrille, Polydor   +3 spear (6)

6.0 Tancred, Laud, Henri   +1 sword, 2 bow (6. 5 bow)

0.6 Nora de l’Aigle (infamous courtesan), Everill, Veronica  +3 women

18.15

18+12+18=48 9+18+15=42.    90

18 warriors, 12 women,  3 counselors, 0 clerics, 0 servants=18=33

48 warriors (24), 19 women (10), 23 unarmed men (11) =48+42=90 (45 named) 

— 6 servants, counselors / 12 clerics / 5 druids (+1 woman druid)

90 people + 12 horses + 12 dismounts = 114 pieces (48 warriors, 42 unarmed)

All 12 mounted figures (underscored) have a ‘matching’ dismounted figure

COMBINED CONTINGENTS:

70+48= 118 warriors 31 named, 24 named..55

24+19= 43 women 12 named, 10 named..22

20+23 = 43 unarmed men 12, named, 11 named..23 — 55 named, 45 named  = 100

204 people + 26 horses + 26 dismounts = 256 pieces

ROBIN HOOD CONTINGENT:

31 named warriors, 39 unnamed warriors (3 to a base)

12 named women, 12 unnamed women (3 to a base)

6 named servants/counselors, 6 unnamed servants/counselors (3 to a base)

6 named clerics, 6 unnamed clerics (3 to a base)

14 horses, 14 dismounts

Named figures (54) on individual bases

Unnamed figures (63) are three figures to a base (21 bases)

All fourteen mounted figures have a dismounted figure as well (all on individual bases)

SHERIFF OF NOTTINGHAM CONTINGENT:

24 named warriors, 24 unnamed warriors (3 to a base)

10 named women, 9 unnamed women (3 to a base)

3 named servants/counselors, 3 unnamed servants/counselors (3 to a base)

6 named clerics, 6 unnamed clerics (3 to a base)

3 named druids, 3 unnamed druids (1 named druid is a woman) (3 to a base)

12 horses, 12 dismounts

Named figures (45) on individual bases

Unnamed figures (45) are three figures to a base (15 bases)

All twelve mounted figures have a dismounted figure as well (all on individual bases)

CIVILIANS:

Monastery:

Cormac, Dara, Fergal, Killian, Niall, Senan + 6 unnamed (6 + 2 bases)

Convent:

Beatrice, Celestine, Clotilda, Genevieve, Gisela, Mathilda + 6 unnamed (6 + 2 bases)

Villagers:

Pack horse handlers and pack horses:

Bardi: Aksel / Dagbjart: Bo / Fanal: Erva / Svartur: Helve (4 + 4 bases)

Dog keeper names and dog names (2 per handler):

Alaric: Ake, Astrid / Bahram: Baldur, Bein / Drogo: Freya, Frode 

Gerold:  Holdfast, Loki / Lothar: Hagan, Nosewise / Osric: Olaf, Revna

Lorcan: Ulf (dog attacking master) (7 + 12 bases)

24 women - Robin

19 women - Sheriff

12 nuns

34 women - 23 children

46 (89) + 23 = 69 (112) women and children + 4 mounted women/4 horses (116 total)

  6 Druids (includes sacrificial victim - 12 standing stones)

12 clerics 

18 middle level men

18 workmen

18 workmen

72 + 8 mounted men/8 horses / 6 extra horses without riders (80 total)

46 women + 23 children + 72 unarmed men + 4 mounted women + 8 mounted men (+4 +8 horses)

153 + 11 pack (4 horses) men and dog handlers = 164 people Civilians, 16 horses, 13 dogs

Mounted unarmed civilians: Adriana, Isold, Odilia, Trie; Dagmar, Henryk, Knut, Ludolf, Norbert, Sabbert, Tiago, Wago (no dismounted figures)

57 women and children

12 nuns

12 clerics

 6 druids

11 men - 4 horse handlers/4 pack horses // 9 men/13 dogs

54 men

152 + 12 mounted/12 horses unarmed mounted civilians unnamed , 4 pack horses, 13 dogs 

= 176 pieces

Horse names: Baucent-white socks, Carbonel-coal black, Fauvel-tawny 

Girsart-gray, Marchegai-proud walker, Sombra-shadow (for the six ‘empty’ horses)

—————

Additional Warriors (based 3 to a base except heros at 1 to a base):

12 longbowmen 6 Robin 6 Sheriff

6 swordsmen 6 Sheriff

6 spears 6 Sheriff

6 leaders (2 staff, 2 standards, 2 horns) 3 Robin 3 Sheriff

3 heros (2 ax, 1 sword) (2 heros & 1 anti-hero) 1 (ax - Roland) 2 (ax, sword)

10 23 (Hengist, Medraut)

33 total (10 + 3 individual stands)

“CAVALRY” individually based, half to Robin (King), half to Sheriff (Prince)

12 mounted men, 12 horses: fully barded

12 mounted men, 12 horses: half-barded or no barding

33 foot, 24 mounted, 24 horses = 81 pieces

70+10=80. 48+23=71.  80+12=92.  71+12=83. …175 Warriors, foot and mounted.

—————

80 (32 named) versus 71 (26 named) / Robin versus Sheriff warriors plus additional warriors on foot or 92 versus 83 counting the mounted additional warriors (includes 1+2 heroes/villain)

Approximations: 

Robin     145 pieces (117) [14+14=28] [horse and dismount]

Sheriff     114 pieces (90) [12+12=24] “ “

Civilians     199 pieces (164) [4+13+12+6=35] [pack+dog+horse+horse]

Added Warriors    81 pieces (57) [24] [horses, added warriors mounted]

    539 (428 people) 111

539 total pieces to paint men (316), women (89), children (23), horses (72), dogs (13), dismounts (26)

(includes babes and children in arm as single casting with mother)

138 named men and women, 10 named horses, 13 named dogs = 161 named total

Added more as a result of carts and then wagons-

Does not include wagons and carts and draft animals or farm animals or additional herders, etc.

All of the civilians have triple use: Robin Hood, Jousting, or Three Musketeers

Some additions: This all started when I pulled out a bunch of solid wheel carts I’ve had for years and prepped them for painting, turned out they had a total of 14 carters to go with the eight carts, some pulled by bullocks, others by horses.  Sadly, all 14 carters are the same pose.  Then I decided I wanted to add some wagons, four wheel variety, for certain scenarios I have in mind and I settled on Museum Miniatures as my choice.  Then, when ordering, I noticed a few other items of interest.  Certainly, the ‘clutter’ items were a great find, make a nice addition.  Then there were the additional women, both mounted on foot, 2 packs, ordered..  Then there were some workmen in varied poses, ordered those, too.  The extra carters in yet another pack were a minor disappointment since they only have two poses and they are the same poses as what came with the six wagons I ordered, only one pulled by oxen.  I named most of the new figures since I am basing them individually except for a half dozen women who are going to join King Richard or Prince John forces.  Then there are two sets of two workmen plus a wheelbarrow with one going to the convent and the other to the monastery.  And here are the newly named folk, all individually based:

Four mounted women- Yvonne, Leontine, Celine, and Sulene.  And two foot women- ‘Alizee’ and Daphne.  So, an additional 12 women with the half dozen based three to a base.

The half dozen named workmen are- Fabien, Gilles, Matheo, Zachariah, Lyam, and Elias, carrying burdens or doing agricultural work.  With the four multi-based mentioned above that is 12 more men.

Then come all those carters, perhaps excessive in number (and with the same number more assigned to my Three Musketeers but not named), in three poses- pose one: Bruno, Klaus, Fritz, Aksel, Orson, Dirch, and Quinn; pose two: Leon, Finn, Wout, Gust, and Tour; pose three: Ivo, Rye, Ash, Ira, and Mac.  And the carters add 17 men to the totals.  The latter two poses are from Musket Miniatures, the group of seven might have been from Hallmark, too many years ago to recall but their size suggests Hallmark.

I should have more than enough, literally more, to do pretty much any scenario I can come up with.  Oh, and I bought a copy of Ivanhoe, the 1952 version and it adds some ideas for scenarios.

June 25, 2024

And now all the casualties and more are ready:

In the back left are 5 stands of "human pin cushions" casualties from arrow fire.  In front of them are 5 stands of horse with captive and man on crutch. Moving down from the horses are 8 stands of male captives.  Then across the front are 52 'very dead' figures.  And behind those on the right are 20 either starting to revive or collapsing casualty figures.  Then in the very back right are 6 stands of captive women.  That's 96 stands in total with 144 figures including five horses and eighteen women - well one more woman, one of the 'very dead' is a female figure whose lowest legs broke off so I converted her into being dead.

These figures will work for Robin Hood, Three Musketeers, and the Jousting collection.  And, no, they are not all appropriate but close enough and now ready to paint when I get to work.  Oh, and I did the underside of the bases in my Robin Hood green and then a splattering overspray of my Three Musketeers brown coloring.  So far as I know, there are no more figures to prep for Robin Hood - though certainly some of the jousting figures will be able to cross over depending on how I base them.

June 24, 2024

There have been some significant changes to the listing below of which more later, for now here are photos of all the figures prepared for Robin Hood gaming - though I expect I will add in some already owned casualty figures and and maybe some captives, need to clean, prep, base, and prime still.

The first photo shows a lot of multi-based and generally unnamed civilians and all of the carts and wagons, the carters to the lower right (named), and King Richard's (or sometimes Robin's) mounted forces, six each. 

This photo shows the mounted civilians, pack horses and handlers, dogs and handlers, the convent, monastery, and druid groups (latter with a dozen standing stones), a half dozen 'prize' horses, and then Prince John's (or the Sheriff's mounted forces).

EDIT on July 15: Here are most of the names for the idividually based figures below - they are all named on their bases (or assigned if 3 figure no-name bases) but some are not on my notes I am using to update-

Mounted women-Yvonne, Leontine, Celine, and Sulene (4 missing), two on foot are Alizee and Daphne.  The half dozen named workmen are Fabien, Giles, Matheo, Zachariah, Lyam, and Elias.  Need to also add the names for the eight mounted civilian men.  I believe the rest are named if not 3 figure bases.  The exception, at least for now, is the cavalry, two units of six, they are simply assigned.  Not planning on adding names to any of the casualties seen above.

Here we see all the forces 'assigned' to the Sheriff including Prince John.  Individually based figures, including mounted, are all named, multi-base not named.  Towards the top are the 'extra' figures for the sheriff including a couple of "heroes" since otherwise he would be too greatly outnumbered.  And to the top left are dog handlers and dogs.

And the forces of good with Robin, both foot and mounted version, tucked into the bottom right corner.  And at the top left are the 'extra' figures and just one 'hero'.  Lady Marian, mounted and foot version is just to the left of Robin Hood, then Little John and (forgot, Joan Rye and then) Friar Tuck - and on it goes.

Of the two main forces, there are 26 mounted characters that each also have a dismounted version.

While, yes, that is a lot of figures, it is not an overwhelming number - and can be painted in smaller batches to get games going before all of them are completed.

March 3, 2024

A sad tale of woe?  Or just a long delay until the next posting?  Back working on my Robin Hood figures and here is what should be the final organization - except for the unarmed civilians and, perhaps, a foot unit or two to assign to the king and the prince.  Or not.  Still to be decided.

ROBIN HOOD PRIMARY COLLECTION

Robin Hood, mounted and dismounted         1 man, 1 woman on foot escort

Azeem, mounted and dismounted         2 young men as foot escort

Little John, mounted and dismounted         2 men as foot escort

Friar Tuck, mounted and dismounted         2 men as foot escort

Will Scarlet, mounted and dismounted         2 men as foot escort

Much the miller’s son, mounted and dismounted         2 men as foot escort

Alan-a-Dale, mounted and dismounted         2 men as foot escort

Lady Marian, mounted and dismounted         2 women foot escort

—

Longbowmen 12 foot - Robin Hood

Longbowmen 12 foot - Will Scarlet

Longbowmen 12 foot - Much the miller’s son

Swordsmen 12 foot - Alan-a-Dale

Spearmen 12 foot - Azeem

Staffmen         12 foot - Little John

Staff and Macemen 12 foot - Friar Tuck

—

Malcolm of Locksley, mounted and dismounted 2 men as foot escort

Entourage: 4 mtd and 4 dismtd (Larcwide, Slean, Baldice, Norian)

—    

Merlin     - foot only, no escort

Guinevere     - foot only, no escort

—

King Richard, mounted and dismounted 6 (or 7) men and women foot

                                2 and 2 mounted men and women

Half barded mounted escort, 12 mounted (can also use as Prince John’s mounted escort)

Fully barded mounted escort, 12 mounted

—  — -- -- 

Sheriff of Nottingham, Robert de Rainault, mtd and dismtd 2 men, 1 woman on foot escort

Guy of Gisborne, mounted and dismounted         2 men as foot escort

Bishop of Hereford, mounted and dismounted         2 men as foot escort

Niedre de Mort, mounted and dismounted         2 men as foot escort

Prior Vincent of Emmet, mounted and dismounted 2 men as foot escort

Captain Ralph of Huntingdon, mounted and dismounted 2 men as foot escort

Sir Godfrey, mounted and dismounted                 2 men as foot escort

—

Crossbowmen 12 foot - Sheriff of Nottingham

Longbowmen 12 foot - Captain Ralph of Huntingdon

Swordsmen 12 foot - Guy of Gisborne

Sword and Spearmen 12 foot - Captain Ralph of Huntingdon

Axeman         12 foot - Sir Godfrey 

Spearmen 12 foot - Bishop of Hereford

Spearmen 12 foot - Prior Vincent of Emmet

—

Prince John, mounted and foot                 2 men as foot escort

—

Bishop of Black Canons - foot only, no escort

Morgana                 - foot only, no escort

List above does not include unarmed civilians to populate villages, castles, etc., which are multi-purpose for Robin Hood, Jousting, Picts, Viking raiding games, and some for Three Musketeers if workable.  (Extra figure with Sheriff is the Tax Collector)

Additional figures also organized for Normans, Saxon, Picts - and Vikings for raiding games.

Possible additional characters if desired: Will Stutley - Robin’s Friend, Sir Richard of Lea

 

########

A bigger change is I will now also be using this page to keep track of my newest sub-adventure if you will, taking a bunch of extra figures from the above and building up a Middle Ages Jousting and More tournament game.  Also have a few orders winging their way to me for this same purpose, filling in some holes, etc.  I plan to build eight full teams with each team having 3 mounted/dismounted knights, 3 squires, and various pages and other figures - and all painted to some pseudo-heraldic color scheme for each team.  

Plan is to build a noble's gallery flanked by higher borne folk and further flanked by ground level galleries for the 'groundlings' or common people; already have most of the figures to populate the galleries.  Already have plenty of tents and castles, need to build some merchants stalls.  Will need to build the tilting yard and an arena for hand-to-hand combats and an archery range.  

This is being added here because some of the items will be used in Robin Hood games.

January 15, 2015

The redux begins here.

As in the slow and methodical reduction of my collection of figures to a more manageable level.  So, in this year of benign neglect, I've already started the winnowing.  Tonight I pulled out the boxes holding these figures and made a modest reduction.  Now there are all of 660 figures in this collection and evenly matched between Robin's side and the Sheriff's side.  One thing I've settled on, at least for the peripheral periods, is to have each collection designed to accommodate only six players.  While a more detailed new listing will await another day, basically there are now just six foot units per side of 3 heroic and 12 basic figures per unit, two mounted units per side of 12 men on horseback with 12 dismounts, and two Heroic mounted stands per side.  There are also five villages per side with each village having a mounted leader stand plus 12 women and children, 12 men per village.  Then there are 12 casualties per side and a group of ten dogs and five handlers for each side.  I'm pretty sure that will allow for a fine game.  Next up - though it sort of started this process - is the Viking set up.  Hoping for a much, much larger reduction there and already winnowed down ships and crews a bit.

March 14, 2013

I alluded to this on the main page but I should comment here as well.  Last weekend I took some time to rummage around in the spare figures containers and was able to find figures for the headmen of the two villages missing them.  I also found three more mounted figures for the King's forces so that I can break that group into two nine figure groups.  Also found appropriate figures to bring up the sheriff's foot groupings to 24 each, including the character stand, so that now those groups can be at 12 figures each.  That leaves the only "odd out" group Robin's cavalry which is 12 figures instead of 9 like the other mounted units.  But since they will be of lesser quality that should work out fine.  And if it doesn't I can just put aside one stand.

June 3, 2012

The order has arrived (a few days ago) and been sorted and now I can give a 'final' listing of how it is all organized:

Robin Hood and his archers - 12 men plus Robin mounted with a sidekick - a Saracen on foot.

Alan-a-Dale and his archers - 12 men

Will Scarlet and his swordsmen - 12 men

Much the Miller's son and his swordsmen - 12 men

Friar Tuck and his quarterstaffmen - 12 men

Little John and his quarterstaffmen - 12 men

Maid Marian on foot with two companions and mounted with a foot companion.

Marian's arhcers - 12 men

The spearmen - 12 men

The cavalry - 12 men on horseback with 12 dismounts, all spear armed.

The Villagers

Mounted headman with foot, 12 men and boys, 12 women and children

Mounted headman with foot, 12 men and boys, 12 women and children

(actually, the above have few children because they are mostly up in arms rather than peacable)

12 men and boys, 12 women and children

12 men and boys, 12 women and children

(if I can find a couple of mounted civilian men - or women, these two villages will get headmen)

Sheriff and his crossbowmen - 3 + 18 men plus sheriff mounted with a foot sidekick

     9 cavalry with dismounts, sword armed.

Guy of Gisborne and his swordsmen - 3 + 18 men

     9 cavalry with dismounts, spear armed

Bishop and his spearmen - 3 + 18 men

     9 cavalry with dismounts, sword and spear armed

Wizard - 3 men

The Villagers

Bishop's village 2/1 men/women, 12 priests, 12 nuns

Mounted headman with foot, 12 men and boys, 12 women and children

Mounted headman with foot, 12 men and boys, 12 women and children

Mounted headman with foot, 12 men and boys, 12 women and children

Mounted headman with foot, 12 men and boys, 12 women and children

Mounted headwoman with foot, 12 men and boys, 12 women and children

King's Forces (but which king?):

Commmand - 1 mounted man with 1 foot (not the king, decidedly not)

15 cavalry with dismounts, spear armed

12 spearmen

12 spearmen (mostly)

12 axemen (mostly)

12 axemen

12 spearmen

6 crews for 2 catapults

Most of the king's forces are already painted, the rest requires preparation and painting.  Oh, there are a few odd bits still to be 'designed' in - I have 24 casualty figures, probably use as unit morale indicators.  Also, have a pack of Saxon war dogs and Irish wolf hounds, two handlers and ten dogs per pack.

And of buildings I have the following: a large castle with an inner and outer bailey, a church with a side yard (need another building and two more side yards to create the monastery/cloister I have in mind), a celtic farmstead, a celtic village of nine huts, six saxon A frame huts, six viking huts, a town of twelve buildings, fourteen tents (need either one or four more, probably four to allow two nine tent camps), plus a border tower and a tower keep.  Perhaps seeing that listing of buildings will allow you to understand why there are so many villagers.  Robin needs to have rich to rob from and poor to give to, not so?

If you are thinking that is too many figures for a Robin Hood game, stay tuned.

May 22, 2012

The order is off, the payment authorized, and possibly already in the mail and on its way to me.

Now, I guess, if I can find some spare time in this hectic "moment" in my life, I ought to get to work on the castle and the various villages and such for those figures to prance around in, pardon - engage in fierce combat.  I have a celtic farmstead, a Saxon village, a Viking village, and a town plus a monastery with an attached nunnery.  Going to have to give some thought to the terrain - some large trees, of course, and a hazardous water crossing.  But also a road through the forest.  And, me being me, there will be a variety of nature's beasties roaming about the landscape.

Can run a game with up to twelve players easy enough, probably run three to four player games most of the time.  I'm thinking in terms of games where the players aren't quite sure which settlement is the intended target and will have to determine it during the course of the game based on which one happens to be "richest" for the day.  Robin will see opportunity and the Sheriff's men will be worried.  Marian, as always, will be amourous - unless someone comes along to play her and has other ideas.

Enough for now.

May 16, 2012

I've settled on what to order from Splintered Light Miniatures to create my Robin Hood setup.  While I won't list the codes I will describe the forces I will build with the figures.

There will be a mounted Robin Hood and a mounted Maid Marian and each will have their own attendant contingent.  For Robin - the dismounted version - it will be himself and eight more men, excellent archers all - and a group of six villagers.  Marian will have a group of twelve archers, not in the same league as Robin's men, and twelve villagers.  Those are all on foot - each mounted figure will also have a foot figure with it since I base everything in "threes."

Of course, we can't let Robin face the evil forces of the false king alone.  So, Little John will have himself and eight staff men and six villagers.  Will Scarlet will have himself and eight doughty swordsmen and six villagers and the same for Much the Miller's Son.  Alan-a-Dale will get eight archers and six villagers.  And, last but not least, the good Friar Tuck will get eight staff men and six villagers.

Well, okay, there is one more group for the "good guys" and that is a dozen mounted spear men with appropriate figures for dismounts (or as close as can be).  These will be used for certain scenarios that are gestating in the darker corners of my imagination.

And on the other side of the issue of excessive taxation is the rapacious Sheriff of Nottingham who will also have both a mounted and dismounted figure.  He will have under his command a force of nine mounted men with swords with suitable dismounts as well as a force of foot with three leaders and fifteen crossbowmen.  He is, of course, seconded by Guy of Gisborne who has his own foot only stand and similar contingents - the mounted a mix of sword and spear and the foot all swordsmen.  And then there is the Bishop who, like Guy, is on foot and has those similar contingents - the mounted all spears (except the leaders they all have) and the foot all spear.  And bringing up "the rear" is a noxious stand of a giant, a snake loving sort and a dancing man with a staff.  As to a Morgana type, well, that is undecided at this moment - but not out of the question.

If the Sheriff ever gets his entire force together all at once and goes after Robin, he's likely to swing from an Olde English Oak.  Best not let that happen!

All of that may seem rather a lot for a simple Robin Hood game.  Perhaps the observant reader will have realized by now that my incarnation isn't so simple.

Now it's time I were off to bed.

Original Post from 2012

There be a heavy coach traveling a lonely road through a thick forest, and it sinks deep into the dust and likely carries a heavy load.  Perhaps it is gold, the damnable gold of taxes the vile Sheriff collects for his King.  But a log falls across the road and - "swish" & "thwack" - an arrow penetrates but an inch from the eye of the driver and many a man, one quite Merry, dance out of the woods to ensure that it will travel on lighter.
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Off in the Splintered Lights an order awaits fulfillment and some rollicking adventures will begin.  Well, after the yet to be ordered figures get painted.  When will he get his Normans done!?

Well, it would seem yesterday is the day he get's his Normans done, as in May 13th - at least that is the first time I saw them up on Splintered Light's web site.  Time to put together an order and get it off.  And exercise discipline in keeping the order small enough to be reasonable.  Of course, there are other things to order besides Robin Hood related items, though not generally pertinent here - unless there were elk in England.  The reason for awaiting the Normans was to round out both The Merry Men and those scoundrels who work for the Sheriff.  Off to sort it out.