Warlord Phalangites

Warlord released their plastic Macedonian Phalangites kit this week.  The box contains figures to make 40 Phalangites, all from a single sprue with 4 bodies, 6 heads, 4 shields and 6 pikes.   The sculpting is first class with sharp detail all around & no noticeable flat areas from the steel molds.  There is no flash on the figures & mold lines are very minor.  Figure size is small – matching well with Gripping Beast metal Phalangites and Immortal plastic Hoplites.   For comparison, a model from the large end of 28mm, the Gorgon Etruscan Hoplite is included in the photos.

 

 

Hail Caesar: Ghulam Division

Third and final division is the professional Cavalry Division belonging to the army general.

Unit	Clash	Sust’	Short	Long	Save+	Stamina	Special
Royal Ghulams	9	6	3	0	4	6	Lance
Ghulams	9	6	3	2	4	6
Turkoman	7	5	3	3	6	6
Turkoman- small	5	3	2	2	6	4

Roughly following the WAB book: Beyond the Golden Gate, the units form the mobile hammer of the army.  The Royal Ghulams are Malmuks – full time soldiers belonging to/employed by the army commander.  Taking a hint from Ian Heath’s Armies and Enemies of the Crusades, I’ve written the unit for melee combat rather than archery. The Ghulams are heavy cavalry, but are equally willing to dismiss units at range.  The  two Turkoman units perform the traditional roll of harassing the enemy from a distance.

Hail Caesar: Berber Division

The 2nd of three divisions, the Berber Division represernts Egyptian/North African troops recruited to fill out the ranks of the footmen.

Unit	Clash	Sust’	Short	Long	Save+	Stamina	Special
Black Guard	7	7	3	0	4	6	Tough Fighters
Berbers with bow	6	5	3	2	5	6
Berbers with bow	6	5	3	2	5	6
Archers small	3	3	2	2	–	4

Roughly based on the WAB book El Cid, the Berber division is packed with long range goodness.  The Black Guard is an Emir’s bodyguard, tough as nails – they are the one reliable unit in the division.  Berber units 1 and 2 are mixed spear and bow.  Excelling at neither ranged nor melee – the two do manage to hold the line (most of the time).  The Berber Archers are a small unit dedicated to archery.

Hail Caesar: Damascus Division

Hail Caesar builds armies in sections called divisions with a full army being made up of 3 or more divisions.  The Damascus Division represents local Syrian city troops called to battle against the invading Crusaders.

Unit	Clash	Sust’	Short	Long	Save+	Stamina	Special
Dismounted Ghulams	7	7	3	2	4	6
City Guard	6	6	3	0	5	6
Volunteers	8	6	2	0	5	6	Wild Fighters 2 attacks, Militia
Archers – Medium	5	5	3	3	5	6

Roughly following the WAB book: Beyond the Golden Gate, the units form the hard anvil of the army.  Dismounted Ghulams are professional soldiers equally willing to fight with bow or sword.  City Guard and Archers are civilian soldiers called to arms.  Volunteers are religious fanatics called to repulse the heathen Franks – ferocious on the attack but difficult to control.

Senior Ghulam by Musketeer

Senior Ghulam unit for Hail Caesar. Figures by Musketeer. Flag by LBM.

When I first saw the Ghulam miniatures, I just knew I had to work them into my army. Musketeer is sculpting some of the best figure on the market – providing a larger 28mm with real heft and a simplicity of detail.