The Empire of the Sword & Sun:
2500 points, first draft army list [roster]
I know this isn't the best or one and only place for army lists, but bear with me.
I want to put the list here, so the troop types make more sense.
This army project, as a whole, has a LOT of "THIS represents THAT"
Roster Item:
General of the Empire
Mounted on a Griffon
Sword of Striking
Charmed Shield
Opal Amulet
Potion of Strength
Full Plate Armor
(329 points)
** This is a relatively easy conversion.
Take a Mounted Samurai Knight (I am using Kingsford), this is a warlord, a "Daimyo".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DaimyoHe will ride a Tengu,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tengu For those with really good memories, I envision this to look like the "Monster in my Pocket" Tengu from the early 90s (go ahead, Google it). The best option I found for the miniature mount is from Reaper, a Brood Dragon.
http://www.reapermini.com/OnlineStore/Reptus/latest/03539Here is a link for Kingsford Mounted Samurai:
http://www.kingsfordminiatures.org/samurai2.htmlOne of these will end up being the Daimyo. Still undecided.
Next Roster Item:
Unit of Inner Circle Knights (11) led by a Captain of the Empire (1), BSB
Barding; Hand Weapon; Lance; Full Plate Armour; Shield; Battle Standard Bearer
1 Warhorse, 1 Luckstone (121 points)
11 Inner Circle Knights, 330 pts (Musician Mus; Standard Bearer Std; Barding; Hand Weapon; Lance & Shield; Full Plate Armour)
w. Steel Standard
(451 points total)
**Again, this is a relatively straightforward conversion.
Start with standard grey plastic GW barded horses, easy enough. I have plenty of these. Take 12 of the Samurai Calvary from Kingsford, listed above. I may just order about 20 of these in a variety of styles and pick and choose what looks best. Not Sure what to arm them with, and that applies to BOTH game rules (Lances versus Great Weapons) AND to stylistically and historical accuracy. What did mounted Japanese Knights fight with? Lances? Spears? Swords? Katanas? Advice is welcome.
Next Roster Item:
Unit of DemiGryph Knights (5), with Command.
I would give them standard of Discipline, making it 325 points.
I love how this unit plays, in game. So big, so tough, great save - so many wounds. Huge fan.
**These guys are a BIG "Represents" Unit. I want Knights on Dragons.
Dragon Rider Knights are the cooolest, right?
I am still looking around for the best riders, but I am pretty sold on the mounts.
There is an Oriental Dragon from Reaper, and I love the miniature.
https://www.reapermini.com/Miniatures/dragon/latest/02794My Knights will ride on these into battle.
I'll have to bend, twist and otherwise reposition the Dragons so that all five look slightly different.
I may have to fiddle around with the riders so they fit snugly on the Dragon's backs and so that they look appropriately ready for charging in. These need a good "ACTION" pose. Big bases here, so lots of opportunity for scenic detailing.
That brings to one more good idea for this army. I want the basing to look rocky and mountainous, in line with Japanese geography (I think, I've never been). Lots of big rocks on the bases, surrounded by gravel. The aforementioned good idea is to model just a little bit of moss on each rock.
Moss grows only on the north side of rocks. If I model the moss on the left side of the rocks on my model's bases - It subtly shows that the left side would be the North, and they would therefore be advancing from the East. This is right in line with an army from Japan, they come from the East to the Old World.