From Curt - The Last Post of Challenge XIV - 'Beware of Greeks Bearing Gifts'

Well the last day of Winter (and more importantly the first day of Spring) is upon us, and so too we find ourselves at the conclusion of Challenge XIV. And what a great Challenge it's been! We had many of our veterans return to participate, which was wonderful, but we also had a good many new folk join-in which was terrific to see as it means that the Challenge remains relevant and reenergized. 

This is the second year in which I've largely stepped back from taking part in the day-to-day posting and scoring and I have to say it has allowed me to enjoy the event all the more. Of course, this meant that I had to rely on a full roster of friends to help keep the whole circus rattling  along. So I give my heartfelt thanks to Sylvain, Martijn, Greg, Teemu, Millsy, Dallas and Kyle for their excellent work as our intrepid minions. You guys were magnificent in leading your individual crews, while also promoting the Challenge's open and welcoming nature. Also, a big thank you to Paul for keeping track of the Duels, Barks for his ever-entertaining 'Skull Challenge', and to Miles for making sure the Spreadsheet of Doom worked as it should (and was suitably appeased). 

As per custom, I close out the Challenge with the final submission.

This past autumn I read a review of Emily Wilson's recent translation of 'The Illiad' and decided to pick it up. While it was a bit of a slog in spots, I still really enjoyed it. Wilson chose to translate Homer's prose using unrhymed iambic pentameter, rather than the traditional dactylic hexameter which is an academics way of saying that she translated Homer's epic not only for ease of reading, but for listening to as well. And it's true, I found her translation very easy to digest, and was struck by her descriptions of the battles and motivations of the characters. I think any reader will find that much of what the story describes still resonates today, which is pretty impressive for a tale that is almost 3,000 years old!

Reading the Iliad also prompted me to bring out my copy of Rosemary Sutcliff's 'Black Ships Before Troy' (wonderfully illustrated by Alan Lee), and re-watch both the 2004 film and the 2018 mini series. Of course all this Hellenic enthusiasm spilled over into my hobby as well, with me collecting miniatures and mulling over possible  gaming scenarios.

Ever since I was a kid I've been fascinated by the story of the Trojan Horse and Odysseus' ruse which saw the fall of Troy and the end of the 10-year siege. With this in mind, I started to sketch out a semi-cooperative game where the Horse has been brought into the city and the players, who control the Greeks hiding inside, emerge from the Horse to try to secure victory and gain fame under the gods' eyes. I envision that there will be various missions for them to complete and compete for. Things like 'Light the Signal Fire'; 'Open the Main Gate'; 'Secure Helen', 'Raid the Treasury'; etc. I see lots of characterful 'Screw Cards' with Gods intervening amongst the general mayhem. :)

Several of the sources say that 40 Greeks were hiding in the Horse, so I decided that each of the four players would control a hero along with nine companions.  The leading heroes would be Odysseus, Diomedes, Menelaus and Neoptolemus. In the rules I imagine that their companions will serve to assist in side task as well as serve as their bodyguards in critical fights. 

Now, first to find a suitable Horse. I did a good bit of investigating trying to source a suitable model for the Horse but it wasn't easy. In a bout of pique I even entertained making one out of foam core, but I knew that way lay madness and too much strife. Finally I came across a 3d design based on the 2004 movie set model. Perfect!

I quite like the Horse's rustic design as it actually looks like something that may have been built on a beach from repurposed ships planking, rope and smelted bronze. 

The original 3d design was made for 54mm figures which was way too HUGE, especially as I wanted something that could store away in a single banker's box. After a bit of head scratching and calculating, I settled on 20mm as an overarching scale and resized the Horse accordingly for the final print.

The printed model was fairly easy to assemble and paint. I kept the Horse's side panels unglued just in case things go pear-shaped for the Greeks right from the get-go. :)

I quite like that the horse is at a scale that works with the figures. It actually looks like fourty crazy Greeks could be crammed within it. To finish the piece, I made a 'drop hatch' from plasticard and a rope from wire.

The Greek heroes are 3d designs from Wargames Atlantic. I quite like the models, but I have to say that the multipart assembly strained my patience after a while. What you see here is only half of the full Greek contingent of forty. I have most of the other models assembled, but I just couldn't get them across the finish line in time.  Nonetheless, this provides a taste of what the whole group will look like. 

Odysseus' 'Red Group'

Diomedes 'Green Group'

Sometimes I like a scale variation for my 'Big Men' in skirmish games, so I scaled the named Heroes in 28mm so they are noticeably larger than their 20mm companions. I also based them on octagon bases to help them stand out a little more.

I also did a test stand of Trojan opponents, all geared-up in their formidable Dendra plate armour. 

I imagine there will be a whole contingent of these 'Trojan Terminators' at the Palace, protecting Helen and the rest of the Royal family.  They should be a tough nut to crack for the assaulting Greeks.

There is still a lot to do, but this group hopefully breaks the duck and helps me keep up the momentum to complete the project.

As to points for this lot.

21 x 20mm figures = 84 Points

2 x 28mm figures = 10 Points

1 x 20mm 'vehicle' = 15 Points

Literature Bonus = 20 Points

Total: 129 Points

This manages to squeak me into the top 10 point finishers, which is probably my best result to date. Gosh, I think I'll open a bottle in celebration! :)

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In closing I want to thank all our participants for their amazing work, support and kindness throughout the Challenge. As I often like to say, the Challenge is not characterized by me or the minions, but rather by all who participate in it. So again, thank you for the great experience. I really can't think of a better way to spend the winter months.

In a week or so I'll post a poll for 'Challenger's Choice', so please email me your top three nominations for that award. Also, we'll have an update from Skully McSkullface (Barks) and our Duels Wallah (Paul) on their respective tallies. We'll also have an awards wrap up which will include the Challenger's Choice, the Minions' Choice, my SnowLord's Choice and Sarah's Choice. Stay tuned for those announcements.

In the meantime, if you will indulge me, I ask that everyone submit a post featuring a picture of themselves along with their Challenge efforts this season.

Thanks again, and I hope to see you all next winter for Challenge XV!

- Curt