Of Gods And Mortals Sumer Variant - or later?

"Ow! Mind the bumps!  Go straight!"

I had the good fortune to (Kindle) read Harry Turtledove's Between the Rivers. ISBN 978 0 575 42150 8 1998.

I would also draw your attention to Dan Davis's Gods of Bronze series.  If you don't follow him on Youtube, then you're missing a real treat.  Shame he seems to have done 2, got bored and moved on.

His idea of gods, legends and mortals are quite similar.

If you haven't already, here's your homework.  Go Away.  Then come back.

This a variation of the rules, aimed at friendly games that "spreads the base".

Setting.  The first civilisation(s) of the fertile crescent.  Bronze is the new status toy but the spread of literacy to the merchant class is the game changer.

In this version each city state has its own patron God that gives the character to the city (think recent American presidents--) and its forces.

Gods.  Not the superpowered Loki.  I'd suggest no more than points, one major, one minor power.*

 "Mana".  Power hidden and stored in a normal looking object.  Version of Prophecy p38. This could be hidden in a unit of prophet wielding priests, legends or mortals.  Or you could have the defending god have a camp.  Suggest Q5 C1, 5. Gargantuan, 4. Prophecy, 5.  No retreat, 5.  This is a Mortal unit, not a Legend and would have 8 lives.  19p.  You could add poison, healing  

In the case of the Summoning Invocation the unit (or camp) can swap a failed roll for a successful dice.

If a god attacks the Mana holding unit and rolls a double number then the remaining dice are lost.  If a double 6 happens then its an Awe result p19.  Destroying does the dirty.

One source of the weird and wonderful is Pendrakens fantasy range:   https://www.pendraken.co.uk/fantasy-monsters-plague-elementals-fan-mon16

I'll also site Alternative armies and these have both larger scale figures and many, many interesting possibilities!  https://www.checkpointminiatures.co.uk/product-category/28mm-ranges/

One idea - the family.  Dad (or mum) the God, rest as Legends.  Once the god gets gone, the next in line (that gets prayed for) "pops up".  You could do a whole family squabble campaign based on the Sacred City scenario.

Let's have Grundi God of Upper Bland Ford:  Q2 C2, 25. Amphibious 3.  Water God 5.  Total 33 x4 as god = 132.  He doesn't pay for Mana as that is in a mortal unit.  Could be represented by a large croc.

(Mrs) Grundi Mah, Goddess of healing.  Q2 C2, 25. Culling the weak, 10.  Healing 5.  40= 160.  Or as Legend Q3 C2, 20. Culling the weak, 10.  Healing 5.  35= 70

Dikko, (son of, as Legend)  Q3 C2, 20. Big, 2.  Dashing 4. Traitorous strike 5. 31 = 62. 

Legends.  Can I point out p5.  Probably the least understood rule.  Lettuce say you go for 900 points.  That gives you 300 for Legends. Chariot and straddle car (ouch!) born warriors.  Tight groups of scribes, merchants and most especially priests with big axes.  Hairy barbarian heroes probably named Kohen.  Fortunately you can nick some of the later monsters.  Many gods had their own associated animal, so using a larger version would fit.

Your points divided by 3 gives you Legends.  Add the God.  That leaves a total for mortals.

A group of Merchants:  Q3, C3= 30. Armoured 5.  Group fighter 8.  Total 43x2 = 86. 

Fanatic priests, swap Group fighter for Fanatic and Dashing.

Chariot Mounted Hero or king: Q3 C3, 30. Big 2. Mounted 7. Shooter Short. 3 42 = 84.

Straddle Car Q3 C2, 25 Big 2. Mounted 7. Shooter Short. 3 . 37 = 74.

Straddle Car Q3 C2, 25 Big 2. Mounted 7. Hammering blow 10. 44 = 88.

Mortals.  Masses and masses of light armed troops.  Chaps on asses.  Double archers on camels.

https://unitrecon.blogspot.com/2022/03/song-of-blades-and-heroes-ur-we-go-ur.html

We did this campaign (Oh for a group to do campaigns!)  And I site this as an example.  There's all sorts of hairies just past the frontier! 

  https://unitrecon.blogspot.com/2022/04/song-of-blades-and-heroes-1st-campaign.html

"Blue kilt!  That's sooo of trend!"

Museum Miniatures.  Irregular do a good range of 6mm.

Basing Skimmer vehicles an experiment.

 The Story so Far:  I bought the rather fantastic and in the sale:

 https://www.alternative-armies.com/products/raf027p-vasseth-strike-tank-platoon-3?variant=37288615882

https://www.alternative-armies.com/products/rap008p-sirrus-apc-platoon-3?variant=37289979338

  I wanted to mount these as close NOE skimmers.  These are light resin.  I could have added magnets and all that but here's a solution.

Recognise these?  Self adhesive cork mounts with a paper top, come in 2's, which is nice.  

The base was from a range now available from Blotz: https://blotz.co.uk/product/triangular-base-for-three-25mm-round-bases/

Here's 2 I made earlier.  I've finished the bases but not the whole paint job.  Look at the lift.

Death Before Decaf.  Damn straight.

There's a lot of excellent detail on the bottom of these that seems to be a pity to cover.  With flatter GEV's I add a 40 x 15/20mm base.

I started by painting the underside and completing the base.

My  Error!  Add something to the paper top - vaseline, wax.  Just something to help you remove it once the pva, paint and varnish has done its job.

Some come off OK, rest have a nice rough surface.

Not finished OK?  You'll see them in use!

Larger, heavier vehicles like these GZG.  Matt Hay suggested ball bearings but they are just too heavy, so a solid washer does the trick, and would work on the above if you want the full flying effect.

Xenos Rampant Starlords, Spongs, Jaffas & Kakes for Time Wars Game 1.

 

Taking the frankly ridiculous and making it sort of work.  Here goes! You've all seen the films and TV series.

Nasty alien overlord parasites have "inherited" a high level of technology and a species of host/slave soldiers.

As well as the usual spaceflight technology they have access to a network of star gates.  

The one on Earth, located in ancient Egypt is where we start our Time War.

The Nasty overlords want it back.  They've sent a starship to claim it.

The gate is located in a fortress.  They have to push through the local town to attack it.

The players and shops and the manufacturers:

Slave Infantry.

 Force leader Spong:   https://www.alternative-armies.com/products/as03215-planetary-archivist-garren-madwon?variant=55232089293186

Elite troops and berserkers: https://shop.groundzerogames.co.uk/15mm-stargrunt/infantry/human-characters-and-misc-aliens/sg15-sfe1.html

"Lesser" Jaffas and Kakes:  Battle Valor Pyramian guards.  I got the last from Dragonfrog Games who used (?) to be the UK supplier back in the more, um, settled economic times!

https://www.dragonfroggames.co.uk/pyramian-temple-guard-no-helmets-32-figures

Didn't get where I am today without getting added value!  I've used these (early batch) figures for both Dragon Rampant and Of Gods And Mortals:  

https://unitrecon.blogspot.com/2024/12/dragon-rampant-goes-hollywood.html

https://unitrecon.blogspot.com/2023/06/of-gods-and-mortals-bast-vs-anubis.html

Design.  These are a warrior culture, not disciplined soldiers.  They have some basic head and body armour and a weapon that serves as both quarterstaff and projectile.  In this respect they resemble the Janissaries.

Spong is the command groups, picked warriors and an overlord commander.

Jaffas are the main warriors, berserk fits their culture, more used to violent crowd control than effective combatants. Fanatic for increased morale and increased armour. Close Quarter discipline reflects the short effective range of the weapon.

Kakes are the standard heavy infantry, similarly equipped and poorly trained.  These could also be used as light infantry. I've resisted the option to make them a 10 unit - although I note that it would fill the APC.

Recon is standard.  I did add fanatic for continuity.  I've given everyone else used in this scenario special insertion via a teleport style system but given the option to infiltrate to help "spread the load".

Swap option for beasts is for a fun option,  A pack of demonic hounds tearing into the locals.  Probably get shot up a bit quick--. 

6p J. Spong Elite 2 as 5	1	Move 5   8”		Attack Free (5+) Attack V 4. Defence V 4+
Courage 3 Armour 4		Free (5+) 4  12”		CQ. Special insert Back Fray.   Firefight. Ranger.
5p Jaffas Bers.  5	2	Move Free (6)   8”		Attack 5+ Attack V 6. Defence V 5
Courage 3 Armour 3		Shoot 7+  6  12”		Wild Charge. Countercharge Firefight.  Open order. Ranger.  Fanatic. Enthuse. H armour. Special insert
3p J. Kakes  HI 5	2	Move 5   6”		Attack 6+ Attack V 6. Defence V 5+
Courage 4 Armour 3		Shoot Free (6+) 6  12”		Fanatic.  CQ.  Undisciplined. Special insert.   Firefight.  Go to Ground.
5p Recon.  2 as 5	1	Move Free (5)   8”		Attack 7+ Attack V 6. Defence V 6
Courage 4 Armour 1		Shoot 7+  5+  12”		Firefight Hard to target  (12” armour 2 vs shooting) Open order. Fanatics.  Skirmish 7+ half move shoot 6+ 12”
				Special Insertion p 90 OR Infiltrator. p83

Variant   Swap. 1 Jaffa-	1
4p  Less Xeno Beast 5		Move Free (6)   12”		Attack 5+ Attack V 4. Defence V 6 Tgt Armour -1.
Courage 3 Armour 3		No shoot.		Wild Charge.  Open order. Ranger.   Blades. Fanatic Special insert.

Vehicles.  This was a bit (Gor bless AA sale! Again)  easier:

Flying Tank.  https://shop.groundzerogames.co.uk/15mm-stargrunt/vehicles/kra-vak-alien-vehicles/v15-34a.html

Grav Tank.  https://www.alternative-armies.com/products/raf027p-vasseth-strike-tank-platoon-3?variant=37288615882

APC  https://www.alternative-armies.com/products/rap008p-sirrus-apc-platoon-3?pr_prod_strat=jac&pr_rec_id=6d55da0ce&pr_rec_pid=10042951754&pr_ref_pid=10042816074&pr_seq=uniform

I covered the support weapons here:  https://unitrecon.blogspot.com/2025/02/pendraken-10mm-for-15mm-brigade-models.html

In my selection I considered that the vehicle had to fit through the gate in much the same way that some modern combat vehicles are designed to fit into cargo containers and railway cars.

Kakes are their for support, so not as fanatical as their chosen brethren.

7p Fly Tank FV 1 as 5	1	Move Free (6+)  12” Retreat full move.		Attack 6+ Attack V 6. Defence V 6  Attacked/Attack other flying units ONLY.
Courage 3 Armour 5		Shoot 6+ 4+ 18” AT  Tgt Vec armour half.		LAV. ATV AT. Flying Mobile.
7p Grav Tank 1 as 5	1	Move Free (6+)  8”		Attack 6+ Attack V 6. Defence V 6  Attacked/Attack -1 armour.
Courage 3 Armour 6		Shoot 6+ 4+ 18”  AT Tgt Vec armour half.		HP Blades. ATV AT. Line breaker. Skimmer
6p APC 1 as 5	1	Move Free (6+)  10”		Attack 6+ Attack V 6. Defence V 6  Attacked/Attack -1 armour.
Courage 4 Armour 5		Shoot 6+ 5+ 12”		ATV. HP Blades. Skimmer Carry 5p
2p J. Kakes  HI 5	1	Move 5   6”		Attack 6+ Attack V 6. Defence V 5+
Courage 4 Armour 3		Shoot Free (6+) 6  12”		Fanatic.  CQ.  Undisciplined.  Firefight.   Go to Ground.
7p  Support Mortar  2 as 5	1	Move 6+ 6”		Defence 5+
Courage 4  Armour 2		Shoot Free (7+)  4+ 24”		Firefight.  Spotters then Indirect p30.  Skimmer.

This game is going to be a raid in force being big and multi-player, with some players joining in the later stage.  

Largeish table divided into 3 areas, top, middle and bottom.  It is further divided left to right.

Top area is the local citadel that housed the objective.  The area is defended with limited forces available to sortie.

Middle area is divided into left and right and each is the target for the special insertions.

The locals have to congregate into units.  

The vehicles are the follow-on units, the rear 2 sections getting one force each.

I Messed UP the Lemurians in my last post.  

For the first time ever I'm doing a rewrite!

Thus the first "layer" of Time Wars is heading your way early in 2026.  The main bit missing is to find and organise my UNIT force.  I got this and started just before moving and it got jumbled---.