TtS - Feudal Spanish versus Almoravid

Caballeros Hidalgos and Vilanos set off for battle

What a fantastic game last night was!
We had a wonderful opportunity to play To the Strongest at the NWS and at the same time blood a new player into the game as well as prick the interest of two other old friends in attendance.


El Presidente (Viva El Presidente!!!) Simon dusted off his Gripping Beast Almoravids, set them on some sabot bases and prepared to battle the Feudal Spanish and El Cid for control of Spain.

The initial set-up on the 8' x 4' table

A few raw javelin men think to themselves that being out in the open is not what their Lord promised them before
joining his retinue on campaign.

As you can see the basing on my Feudal Spanish is far from complete.  These lads had not been out since the old
WAB days so a quick slicing off their old MDF bases and some white glue, sand and talus later here they are.
I will add the appropriate paints, flock and tufts in coming weeks.

You will also notice the Spanish have a few weapons missing and the old style white metal spears and javelins
which are quite bendy.  All will be upgraded once the pained bases are complete.

Simons lovely cavalry take the flank position supported by javelin units, not light infantry, as I found
out to my initial surprise.  Need a few more figures on those bases big fella!

At this stage  we had also had Jonesy, Paul, Big Chris and Guido join the gallery.  Jeff Champion and I took control of the Spanish and Steve was going to be the senior mentor to Simon in the intricacies of To The Strongest battles.

African Spearmen all supported by extra bowmen

Lovely job on these Simon.



Andalusian mercenary cavalry in Jeff's command

Jeff's heavy cavalry in the form of Veteran Hidalgos and a single Vilanos and javelin unit.  Jeff did an outstanding job
in delaying the Almoravid attacks as I finally managed to get my mojo together in the centre and on the right.

Citizen Spear units supported by extra bow

See what I mean by missing weapons?

Great to finally get these lads out again after so long in the box

A view down the Spanish lines

Simon had also printed off some statistics to make it a bit easier for him to remember his units stats in
the heat of battle which was a very good idea considering this was his initial play of TtS

A nice view of some Citizen Spear being supported by bowmen

The Cid gallops past an old Ian Weekley Models Crusader church I picked up at Sheffield Triples when I was in the
UK over 15 years ago.

The single figures represent heroes to be used at an opportune time

That fine gentlemen James Morris sent me a spare El Cid figure which leads this particular formation of
caballeros.  It was a special edition figure issued to help launch his MAGNIFICENT WAB supplement "El Cid" back
in the 1990's.  Here it is in all its painted glory!

The King looks on as losses mount.  A gap on the spearmen base on the left as I paint up its commander at home

The opportunity marker is actually representing a wound or disorder.  An old Impetus marker being recycled

The Almoravid advance is relentless

However the Great Cid himself has routed the African cavalry and prepares to raid the rear formations for the
glory and greatness of King Alphonso and Spain!

Taking heart the Citizen Peones advance as well



The King once again rallies the lads

The semi-circle base works well and will now be my base of choice for all Generals

A magnificently painted Almoravid heavy cavalry unit

The battle rages on in the centre

Whilst Jeff finds he has quite a deal of space and open ground to defend with very few troops remaining

A nice shot of a unit of Hidalgos with knights, sergeants and Andalusian princes in the ranks!

In the end it was a victory to El Cid and his freedom loving Spanish gents though we are sure that by the tie the dispatches reached Castille, King Alphonso would have claimed all of the credit!


So with another two converts to Simon Millers excellent "To the Strongest" won over we prepare for a 2-00 points a side game at the club on Saturday morning with my Sassanid Persians taking on Steve's Late Romans.  Should be great fun.