Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => Pikes, Muskets and Flouncy Shirts => Topic started by: Ockius on May 20, 2020, 11:17:03 PM
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Hi all,
I have been sorely tempted by a number of 'Renaissance' era armies for a while now, and am thinking about taking the plunge, but the old problem of working out how to base them and, connected to that, what rules to use, is holding me back from buying anything as yet.
I have ordered Field of Glory Renaissance, which is on its way to me, but not sure if that has faded out of popularity in recent years.
I'm looking at collecting 15mm, either Henry VIII's English, 16th Century Polish, 16th Century Russian, or Gustavus Adolphus's Swedes. Interested in the figures by Essex, Museum and Timecast so far.
Any rules suggestions (along with the basing for them)?
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Hi,
What kind of rules do you like? Beer & pretzels? Simulationistic? Big battles or small?
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FOG: Renaissance is a very good set - better than the ancients rules, IMO.
If you base for those rules, you will probably be able to use the figures for many other sets.
I very much like 'for King and Parliament' for ECW stuff, and there is a Renaissance variant in the works.
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Hi,
What kind of rules do you like? Beer & pretzels? Simulationistic? Big battles or small?
I think big battles, I generally like them not too abstract I think, and I like there to be quite a few specific troop types with varied stats so that armies have character.
I don’t have a lot of experience of rules though so open to suggestion
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FOG: Renaissance is a very good set - better than the ancients rules, IMO.
If you base for those rules, you will probably be able to use the figures for many other sets.
I very much like 'for King and Parliament' for ECW stuff, and there is a Renaissance variant in the works.
That’s good, I was hoping that I would be able to base them in a way that fits various rules options. I’ll have a look the the For King and Parliament rules, thanks
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I based all my troops on 60mm square. I find that using square bases facilitates formation and facing changes and make certain situations easier to adjudicate.
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If you're looking at FoG:R, then you need to base as follows for 15mm figures:-
Foot - 40mm wide by 20mm deep
Horse - 40mm x 30mm
Generals, Light Horse, Dragoons and Artillery - 40mm x 40mm
I believe quite a few other Renaissance rule sets use the same measurements (eg By Fire & Sword).
FoG:R is still going strong and there is a solid core of competition gamers who are splendid chaps and not at all typical of that genre of wargamer.
PM me your location and I'll try and give you someone local to contact.
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Okay thanks for the tips guys.
Baron I will send you a PM
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Ockius, I saw that you plan to look at "For King and Parliament". You need to know that to use these you will need a gridded mat plus some other game aids. I'm a huge fan of Simon Miller's rules and game using both "To the Strongest" for ancients/medieval and "For King and Parliament" for ECW. I've invested in several mats and all the game aids and my ancient gaming hasn't looked back!
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Ockius, I saw that you plan to look at "For King and Parliament". You need to know that to use these you will need a gridded mat plus some other game aids. I'm a huge fan of Simon Miller's rules and game using both "To the Strongest" for ancients/medieval and "For King and Parliament" for ECW. I've invested in several mats and all the game aids and my ancient gaming hasn't looked back!
Oh right, thanks for the info. Yes I have seen that grid with To The Strongest, and heard lots of people like it. I am mostly an ancients player actually but only have the Hail Caesar rules. I'll look into the grid setup and see if I want to invest in it
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Warlord games Pike & Shotte
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Ockius, if you are mainly an ancients player I would suggest you try "To the Strongest" (TTS) before diving into "For King and Parliament" (FKaP). Both share the same basic mechanics, but FKaP is more detailed as it is more period specific . My little group of gamers all like TTS, but some think FKaP too detailed for their liking.
I don't know where Mr Miller has got to with his "Renaissance" set.
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Okay, thanks for the heads up.
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I can't provide specific examples of Renaissance era games, but perhaps a ruleset with loose basing requirements might be the way to go.
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Pike and shot. Highly recommended, basing is agnostic (as long as both sides are simiar), no figure removal and very adaptable rules allowing you to get the right stats for each unit.
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Ockius, if you are mainly an ancients player I would suggest you try "To the Strongest" (TTS) before diving into "For King and Parliament" (FKaP). Both share the same basic mechanics, but FKaP is more detailed as it is more period specific . My little group of gamers all like TTS, but some think FKaP too detailed for their liking.
I don't know where Mr Miller has got to with his "Renaissance" set.
Interesting, our group couldn't get our heads around TTS at first. We then played FKaP - and really enjoy the games - and from that were then able to understand TTS. FKaP is definitely a v2 of the rules, and this shows in the presentation of the ideas.
If you enjoy Hail Caesar, then certainly have a look at Pike and Shotte. Although not all like the way it deals with pike and shot as separate units.
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Yeah perhaps I should go for Pike and Shot, as the mates I play with have the hang of Hail Caesar so it wouldn't be a headache trying to teach them it (you know those games where you are the teacher, and as a result either you win and feel zero satisfaction and a bit of a dick because you had an advantage, or lose because you were thinking too much about the other side's moves for them and never got time to think about your own? ;) )
The thing is, I am interested initially in the early period of what they call 'Renaissance', so perhaps Henry VIII's army which had a lot of bows and bills for a long time. Would perhaps want to enact Henry vs Scotland or France. Do you know if Pike and Shot covers that early period well in terms of rules and lists?
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Pretty sure it starts that early.
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Righto, thanks. That's another option on the list then.
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I use Pike and Shotte for the early Italian Wars period 1509/1515 and have had some very enjoyable games. This guy has some interesting thoughts on the P&S rules, well worth a read https://olicanalad.blogspot.com/2016/10/a-second-italian-wars-battle-using-pike.html
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I use Pike and Shotte for the early Italian Wars period 1509/1515 and have had some very enjoyable games. This guy has some interesting thoughts on the P&S rules, well worth a read https://olicanalad.blogspot.com/2016/10/a-second-italian-wars-battle-using-pike.html
Thanks for the link.
The Italian Wars is another period I quite like!
So much colour and variety in this time window I think; it's got a bit of the medieval and the gunpowder ages blended together, and lots of colour and variety.
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Pike and Shotte cover Italian Wars all the way to late 17th century and allow for lots of character. For King and Parliament are great fun for ECW too.
I’ve a list of rules, with high level outline on most, on my blog here:
https://theviaregia.blogspot.com/p/17th-century-wargames-rules.html
In depth review of Pike and Shotte here:
https://theviaregia.blogspot.com/p/warlord-games-pike-and-shotte-rules.html
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Pike and Shotte cover Italian Wars all the way to late 17th century and allow for lots of character. For King and Parliament are great fun for ECW too.
I’ve a list of rules, with high level outline on most, on my blog here:
https://theviaregia.blogspot.com/p/17th-century-wargames-rules.html
A very useful list - one more to add would by Pikeman's Lament by Dan Mersey and Michael Leck - building on the Lion Rampant rules, and on the skirmish size of game
One to consider for the list is Irregular Wars, which might be a little early for you, but does get into the 17thC
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A very useful list - one more to add would by Pikeman's Lament by Dan Mersey and Michael Leck - building on the Lion Rampant rules, and on the skirmish size of game
One to consider for the list is Irregular Wars, which might be a little early for you, but does get into the 17thC
Thanks, Fred! Always very grateful for suggestions to add to the list. I don't know how I missed Pikeman's Lament as I actually own that set, and I've played them. Will correct that omission. Not heard of Irregular Wars so will investigate and add.
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Thanks for the links.
I enjoyed your blog post on the contrast paints, as they are something I had been thinking about as I’ve seen someone else on here who painted Landsknechts using them and got good results.
It really is the painting labour that is making me hold off on buying a load of landsknechts! I love the look of them, and there are some great models out there, but I have a feeling I’ll want to give up after painting five! But contrast paints might just make them a viable option