Nikephorian Byzantine was my first ever 15mm DBM army, using Essex Minatures figures, and one I have retained a fondness for ever since, mainly because of the history. I have to admit that it rarely had a run out recently, partly because the figures were very old and poorly painted, but also because I’m not really a good enough DBMM player to be able to use it properly.
When War and Empire had their Dark Ages kickstarter though, I got sucked into getting some new figures for it that would at least remove the first objection that I had.
In general they are pretty good figures that paint up well with my fairly brisk technique – certainly fine for general wargaming purposes. If I had a criticism, it would be that I could do with another couple of poses for the cavalry – they get a bit samey after a while.
So, the bulk of the regular part of the army:
The Emperor Ioannes Tzimikes, with his Athanatoi guards:
The Megas Domestikos Michael, commanding the right wing:
Under the protection of the Theotokos, the Logothete Basileos urges the left flank forwards:
Meanwhile, brave Kaloioannes commands the rearguard, ready for any eventuality:
The elite of the army are the heavily armoured klibanophoroi:
Tagmatic Klibanophoroi (DBMM Reg Kn(X)/Reg Kn(I) double base). Figures by West Wind, banners and shields by Little Big Men.
But the backbone of the army are the sturdy thematic peasantry, forming a wall of spears and arrows:
To come are pictures of the Procursatores, Alakatia and baggage.
One thing I did discover during the painting of this army was that the Little Big Men shield transfers for Khurasan miniatures skoutatoi fitted the West Wind cavalry kite shields perfectly. The West Wind cavalry shields are shorter and fatter than the infantry shields, so the LBM transfers fit the infantry shields well, but need to be trimmed to fit the cavalry shields.