My Normans for SAGA were painted a long time ago (for Version 1, even), and I've been dissatisfied with them for a while. Both in what I have painted, and in how they look (I can do better now). And then Victrix started releasing their plastic Normans... well, the results speak for themselves.
At the same time, I had a golden opportunity to do something different. Most Norman warbands for SAGA are painted as Bill the not-legitimately-born's merry band of England-conquerors, but those weren't the only Normans setting out for new ground. There was in fact another. Down in Italy, Normans first served as mercenaries (for the Lombards against the Byzantines, and for the Byzantines against the Lombards, and for both against the Saracens of Sicily), only to manage to conquer a realm for themselves. So I decided to (losely, as always) base my band on those. At the same time, this means they can flawlessly be used as Crusaders for Age of Crusades, and the Spanish (also AoC) would fit them in fighting style quite well, too.
The Warlord is (as is about 50-50) a Warlady, because I found Brother Vinni's Mathilda of Tuscanny great-looking (and from almost the right area... close enough). The infantryman on the base can be changed between a bodyguard with a command pennants, and a standard bearer with an actual flag, in case a change is wanted. Also, a priest can make for a good advisor model, be it as a Priest, or a scenario hero (and I had one over, from the Victrix Anglo-Saxons).
The mailed fist of the Normans are their knights on horseback. I doubt I'll need 10 very often, or the extra 11th one with a flag, but the idea here is to paint up everything I'll possibly need. And they're gorgeous models. For some splashes of color (other than steel or horseflesh), they've got plenty of pennants from their spears.
Of course, if the mailed fist is the knights, the arm, the body, and the legs that allow for that blow are the Mounted Warriors, harassing the enemy to death and out of position. 20 of them, with Javelins (and enough waving not-javelins, so they can serve as non-javelin cavalry without making me twitch). And, of course, more pennants and a flag. Should be good enough...
And if it's not enough, there's the Breton contingent, 8 more Mounted Warriors with Javelins (either to be mixed in among the warriors, or serving as Breton Mercenaries with their own special rules).
Norman Infantry in SAGA is... let's just call it unsupported and rarely seen. But I might occasionally need some, so painted they are. The Victrix models are great, so I might even be tempted to make some more. The armoured ones could serve as either Hearthguard (Normans can field their knights on foot. I keep being surprised by this fact), Flemish Mercenaries, or just be mixed with the unarmoured ones.
(Fun fact, the armored fellow with his axe in full swing is the very first model I assembled for this project, knowing full well that he wouldn't be seing much use. He was also the last one painted. Seems fitting, somehow.)
If you do need infantry, some mercenaries are much better. Such as these fine fellows from Kyiv and thereabouts. As Vagrant Warrior mercenaries, they are 8 strong, and can have either Heavy Weapons, or shields. The idea is to field 5 with the correct option, 2 leaders (the flag bearer and the one with the extra head), and a single one with the wrong option. Thus I only needed to paint 12, instead of the full 16. Efficiency!
If Norman infantry is sub-optimal, crossbows are almost memetically so. But they are an option, and if I want to field these as Spanish or Crusaders, then they'd be much better. Only one unit is necessary, but that can be up to 12 Levy for the later factions. Assume the fellows in armour are old, tired, and/or less motivated. Always a good excuse, that (and since Victrix sends fully half their crossbowmen with armour, I need to find a use for some of them at least)
Now, the much better part to the crossbows: remove the cross and go full bow. If the Norman Crossbows are bad, it is at least half due to these fellows, bow-armed levy. With actual support from the battle board, and more shots for the same price to compensate for the (slightly) lesser individual power.
Now, to be fair, in hindsight, I should have made some of these fellows, and possibly some of the warriors, more arabised, to represent that part of the Sicilian forces. However, I did not realise that until these were assembled and half painted. Well, if I ever decide I need another 12 Levy...
And finally, something to fight over. Stationary supplies, for objectives, and mobile supplies, as Baggage in special scenarios. The sharp-eyed will notice the kitty sleeping on the bigger objective. I might have to do that on more of my objectives, because everything's better with a cat...
But with that, one of my biggest projects (so far) is finished. All in less than a year, and with other projects in parallell... but I'll admit to being a bit tired of painting horses, now. For full transparency, the SAGA Thorsday Warband Challenge (paint 6 points and a Warlord over 7 months) provided a lot of motivation for getting going, and getting through all that horseflesh. But this is obviously (if you know SAGA) more than 6 points, so there were a few extras intersperced (and a fair bit finished after the formal challenge ended).
Now, to paint something not mounted...
/Fool, Out.
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