Remember when you were a kid and there was a big box under the Christmas tree with your name on it? The one that sounded like there were lots of parts when you shook it? I wanted that box bad, and I know you did too. Well, the other night I was in Editor Terry's basement watching my Turks feather his Byzantines when, during a break in the action, he produced this colorful green box and asked me to review it's contents. On the cover was one of those beautiful old battle paintings and when I shook the box it made that "I'm full of toys" noise. I was ready to call it a night so I could check out the new thing, but Terry was sure his remaining three men and a dog could salvage victory from the jaws of defeat so I had to postpone the exploration. It was worth the wait.

What we have here is a new line of figures, rules, and accessories from Russia called Age of Battles. The range covers the Ancient and Medieval period in 1/72 scale plastic. The figures are comparable to ESCI in size and style. This new manufacturer offers boxed sets configured to refight various historical battles, supplementary packs of additional figures to bulk up the armies in the boxed sets, a medieval palisade fort, and siege equipment. I don't know what the prices are like, but Editor Terry will try to find out and insert the info into this article. With any luck Terry may also be able to tell us if anyone is distributing the Age of Battles series in the U.S.

The example in hand is a boxed set called Kulikovo's Battle. It is a fight between Russians and Mongols in 1380 A.D.. The set includes 64 figures, which is enough for a small battle but personally, I'd want to thicken the ranks with some of those supplementary sets. There is a well organized, nicely illustrated and diagrammed rule book included, but it is all in Russian. My Russian is a little rusty as I haven't had occasion to use it since I retired from my career of international mystery and intrigue. But of course, I can't go into that.

Fortunately, the manufacturer also included an English translation of the rules. Sadly, it's a work in progress and lacks the useful diagrams and illustrations The English was serviceable, though. Other items in the box were a ruler and the terrain needed for this battle, a hill, some trees, and a river, all made of heavy gage cardboard. A scenario sheet with the battlefield layout and a 20 sided die completed the set.

I love toy soldiers, and I enjoyed looking these ones over. They were historically correct and nicely posed. The 1/72 scale might be awkward for those who don't game in that scale. I normally don't, but I could see myself doing a period that I'm not currently into entirely in 1/72. For example, this company provides Russians, Mongols and Teutonic Knights from the same period, along with fortifications and siege equipment. I could see myself doing a whole Alexander Nevsky thing.

The rules were interesting. Some of the provisions will be familiar to Western gamers, and some are a little different from what I'm used to. The figures are organized into units, which can include a mixture of types. There are rectangular movement trays provided with the set, and a unit consists of the figures placed on one, or more than one adjacent trays. A tray can hold as many as 12 foot or 8 horse. Each army has various troop types, which will be familiar to you. Each type has attack, defense, and movement factors.

The turn sequence is move/counter move. When two units collide combat is adjudicated figure to figure. I found that this took a bit more time than I'm used to but that might have just been because I am new to the rules. Officers, musicians, and standard bearers do have an effect on things, which is a feature that I like. Another interesting feature that one rarely sees in our rules is a provision for individual figures to leave the formed unit and operate on their own. They are more maneuverable, faster, and can get into places that the formed units can't go. They can rejoin their units during a phase of the turn if they are inclined to do so. On the down side, any individuals caught by formed units are destroyed.

The rules also include some more familiar provisions like extra impact for charging cavalry in the first turn, a bonus for massed spearmen with enemies to the front, and the option of speeding up units at the risk of causing fatigue. Lots of interesting ideas here.

A few words about some of the other offerings from this company.There was a small illustrated catalogue in the box listing the whole range. In addition to the Russians vrs. Mongols set, there were six others that I can guess at by looking at the illustrations.

They are:

Teutonic Knights vrs. Russians
Greeks vrs. Persians
Romans vrs. Celts
Macedonians vrs. Indians
Romans vrs. Carthaginians
Some sort of medieval castle storming thing

They also offer 13 sets of supplementary figures to provide additional foot, horse, elephants, and chariots for the above. An item that I found intriguing was the palisade fort with big wooden towers. You can buy gate sections, wall sections, and wooden towers separately, and make the fort any size and shape you want. They also offer a very nice stone thrower, bolt shooter, and covered ram.

I'm confident that Terry can find out info on where to get this stuff, and the prices. Here is what I know:

The company that makes the Age of Battles line is called Zvezda. Their website is www.ageofbattles.ru, and you may email the company at zvezda@df.ru Check 'em out.

The exclusive distributor in Europe and America is ITALERI SpA(Italy). Please, turn with your order and further questions to the sales organization of ITALERI SpA - HOBBY PRO GmbH (Austria). E-mail of HOBBY PRO: hobbypro@via.at Tel. +43- 316- 323- 400 Fax. +43- 316- 323-119