From BurkhardS: 28mm Byzantine Warband (290 points)

Burkhard sends in this beautiful force of Byzantines for use with SAGA. 

From Burkhard:

Here is my next entry for the painting challange. My Byzantine Warband for SAGA. All minis are Gripping Beast metals in 28mm. I had initially planned to post them by units, but due to the cold weather here in Germany I did not want to varnish them, which is the step before doing the basing for me and meant I could not enter them. After the whole unit was finished I lost patience and varnished them in-doors. So as a result they all get presented in one go.

The lowest units are two units of Toxotai or foot archers (Warriors) and one unit of Kontaratoi or foot spearmen. These are the rank and file soldiers raised and maintained by the Byzantine state. As such I wanted to give them a uniform look, so the all got tan trousers and dark red shirts. This is also meant to show their origins as a successor to the Roman Empire. As such they received the colours historians (tan) and Hollywood (red) associate with the Romans. I guess IO will eventually have to get myself another unit of spearmen to give me th flexibility I want for my Byzantines, but for now it shall do.

The next highest units are the Kavallaroi or mounted Heathguards. I chose two, four-man units each of archers and regulars cavalry. While historically these are equipped by the state as well, the were also the most prestigious units in the army. So I wanted them to look like lesser nobles and gave each of them a different tunic with intricate patterns. 

Now those of you who know SAGA will realise that these seven points are too much to field a regular warband. The plan is that I will use all cavalry and only one unit of foot archers if I want an offensive set-up. by contrast I will remove one unit of mounted archers if I want a defensive set-up. Once the second foot spear is finished, I could also remove a unit of mounted close combat as well, but first I want to see how this one plays out.

All of the above troops were done using the Army Painter Dip and touched up and detailed once it was dry. The shields are transfers from LBMS and applied after the army painted as well.

Last but not least to lead the Warband is the Warlord or Basileus in this case (although I will not use the special rules fo him, since I feel this option actually weakens a Byzantine warband in SAGA). I gave him fine clothing with a purple cape, again to show the Roman origins of the Byzantines. He was painted the classic way with highlights to set him apart from the rest of the Warband. 

Really lovely work Burkhard. The painting is very smooth, bright and has great colour.

This force will give Burkhard 290 points to add to his total which will shoot him forward to 14th place and bring him much closer to his Points Par Target. Well done!