The Next Big Project is...Jason & the Argonauts

Hi Folks

Now that I have completed my Zulu Wars project its time to talk about my next project that I'll be working on over the the winter months.

This was a relatively easy task given I have never done anything in this genre before - it opens up new opportunities for terrain builds, different figures, monsters and fits with the current passion for skirmish games....oh and did I say it contains monsters?

Ever since I was a little boy I have always loved the movie Jason and the Argonauts...for me it epitomises this fantasy period and I think its probably a favourite of most gamers. I say most becaiuse my friend John came round earlier today and cl;aimed he'd never seen the movie.

The Movie itself came out in 1963 (two years before I was born) and as a cinematic story I don't think they get any better. A group of heroes sail across the Aegean sea facing various trials whilst trying to obtain a fabled artefact. It has all the right ingredients for a wonderful table top game.

In fact the whole Greek Fantasy period seems to be having a bit of a renaissance at the moment - check out the Mythic Battles Pantheon Kickstarter an no doubt there will be a Frostgrave does Greece and Olympus Rampant.

So without further ado let me tell you whats going to happen...

Of course the stars of the film are the various mythological creatures that are bought to life by Ray Harryhausen, the pioneer of stop go motion filming.At its time it was cutting edge and even today we can only marvel at the patience and imagination that was used to bring these models to life on the silver screen. 

So over the last few weeks I have started accumulating the various pieces I need to bring this adventure to life on the games table...

Of course I need a Talos -the large bronze Titan statue (can't help thinking that my bark cliffs look uncannily like those in the picture below)

So a quick hunt on ebay found this brass figure for £5 inc postage - ok so he's holding a shield and is a little small compared to the movie version but I reckon with a new paint job he'll do just fine

I'll need the Hydra guarding the Golden Fleece...

Again ebay was my friend here and I managed to pick up a Reaper bones Hydra for £16

I'll need the skeletons that fight Jason and his Argonauts at the end of the film

Hang on - I have these already...

I am going to need the Argo - The Bireme that carried them all across the sea...

A quick google search revealed that Grand Manner produce onme for a very reasonable £40 - so an order has been placed and should arrive on Monday



Of course I am going to need the Harpies and the temple where they are defeated....

Actually  I already have the temple...this is a very large fish tank piece I bought in the states last year

The Harpies have been ordered from the same vendor as the Hydra. I also decided to buy some other beasties that do not feature in this fil but are of the same mythos eg minotaur, medusa etc 

Of course I'll need the crew and other personalities. Having bought some Black Tree Greeks I discovered that Foundry produce a range of Argonauts so these duly went into the basket. These arrived today so a post will be forthcoming

My checklist also has a note saying terrain - the base of which will be my desert boards but I'll need to add some custom pieces (eg a beach and cove). I have actually started the first piece which will feature in another post.

Finally there are the rules...I already have some ideas fore these and as they get fleshed out I'll post up some thoughts...

Wish me luck

For part 2 head here

http://shedwars.blogspot.co.uk/2016/11/jason-and-argonauts-part-2.html

edit...

I was able to pick up this 12 inch tall model of Athena on ebay for a fiver - Ill break this up as a fallen statue for scatter terrain