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Miniatures Adventure => Pikes, Muskets and Flouncy Shirts => Topic started by: Ignatieff on April 30, 2015, 09:02:32 AM

Title: Thirty Years War rules
Post by: Ignatieff on April 30, 2015, 09:02:32 AM
Who is using what, and more importantly, why?

Having just returned from a good stomp around Nordlingen field (and discivered the redoubts after ten years and three visits!), I am now suitably inspired to get the armies out again.

thanks all

Steve
Title: Re: Thirty Years War rules
Post by: Hu Rhu on April 30, 2015, 11:23:58 AM
Warlord's Pike and Shotte.  Simple and effective rules, element based units (so no casualty removal), allows units to be customised by giving (or removing) characteristics to reflect either campaigns or actual unit behaviour.  Finally well laid out and peppered with some fantastic images and a number of scenario's at the end.  Also a new supplement 'The Devil's Playground' has some excellent scenarios catering especially for the 30 years war.
Title: Re: Thirty Years War rules
Post by: emosbur on April 30, 2015, 11:28:29 AM
This one:

https://es.scribd.com/doc/247721857/Tercios-Brevis-Editio

But it is in spanish...
Title: Re: Thirty Years War rules
Post by: SteveBurt on April 30, 2015, 11:33:11 AM
Field of Glory: Renaissance.
A very good set of rules (works better than the ancient set, IMO)
Title: Re: Thirty Years War rules
Post by: Pijlie on April 30, 2015, 11:51:42 AM
We have enormous fun and interesting games with Warlord's Pike & Shotte.

The flexibility of the rules and especially the possibility to use reserves effective is a huge plus in my eyes.
Title: Re: Thirty Years War rules
Post by: mikeland on April 30, 2015, 04:42:57 PM
Warlord's Pike and Shotte is a good system. It's worth putting a bit of time in to make your own army lists as the ones in the book are a little cliche and basic (e.g. royalist are good cavalry etc.)

For skirmish size game check out Dashing Dice's Witchfinder General. Once you remove the spooky stuff they are a really solid set of 17th century skirmish rules, and very good fun to play. http://www.dashingdicegames.co.uk
Title: Re: Thirty Years War rules
Post by: Ignatieff on April 30, 2015, 06:41:01 PM
Thanks guys, very useful

S
Title: Re: Thirty Years War rules
Post by: Pijlie on April 30, 2015, 07:58:03 PM
O yes. I definitely second Witchfinder General, with or without the spooky stuff  lol

You will find a review on my blog to which I can add handful of game reports and the remark that the rules really emulate pike and shot warfare on a small scale very well!
Title: Re: Thirty Years War rules
Post by: Lt. Hazel on April 30, 2015, 10:14:26 PM
If you like medium sized skirmishes try Donnybrook. Fast and easy.
Title: Re: Thirty Years War rules
Post by: fastolfrus on April 30, 2015, 11:19:19 PM
There's By Fire & Sword for the Eastern stuff - the rules are set just after the TYW but the technology (and some of the combatants) are the same.
The revised/Deluge (second book) added HRE, Brandenburg etc, Sweden was already in the original. Rules cover (large, regimental strength) skirmishes to full battles.

Donnybrook works well for skirmishes.

And if you want to go old school, there's George Gush WRG
Title: Re: Thirty Years War rules
Post by: Ignatieff on May 01, 2015, 09:41:12 AM
Excellent.  Stuff I've never heard of.  Deluge - will look that one up Gary.

cheers chaps
Title: Re: Thirty Years War rules
Post by: Captaingeneral on May 01, 2015, 11:59:28 AM
If you are looking for fast play easy to learn rules written specifically for Battles (not skirmishes) from a General's eye view you might try my rules The Warre Game 1632

take a peek here

http://captaingeneral.blogspot.co.uk/ (http://captaingeneral.blogspot.co.uk/)

Caliver Books are stocking copies

Regards

CG
Title: Re: Thirty Years War rules
Post by: Big Martin Back on May 01, 2015, 12:33:47 PM
I've bought a set of the Captaingeneral's rules and am in the throes of digging out my 1980's TYW figures for a tidy up and rebasing to produce a couple of playable little armies for the period.
Title: Re: Thirty Years War rules
Post by: Captaingeneral on May 01, 2015, 01:53:41 PM
Hi Martin

How are you old bean?
Let me know when you are ready and we can have a game, you aren't far away. I'll bring an army (you bring the beer!)

Regards

Steve
Title: Re: Thirty Years War rules
Post by: Atheling on May 01, 2015, 04:30:10 PM
Warlord's Pike and Shotte.  Simple and effective rules, element based units (so no casualty removal), allows units to be customised by giving (or removing) characteristics to reflect either campaigns or actual unit behaviour.  Finally well laid out and peppered with some fantastic images and a number of scenario's at the end.  Also a new supplement 'The Devil's Playground' has some excellent scenarios catering especially for the 30 years war.

I've got the rules (now buried in the fast becoming famous Garage of Doom!)....

I haven't however had a chance to read through them- how well do they have that period feel that one would be looking for in a set of rules?

Darrell.
Title: Re: Thirty Years War rules
Post by: Ignatieff on May 01, 2015, 06:56:31 PM
Darrell. Key point for me as well. For example, which set of rules best captures and the look and feel of the wonderful early period Swedish Brigade (the inverted 'T' job). Haven't found a set yet that does and yet it was defining and game changing formation between 1632-34
Title: Re: Thirty Years War rules
Post by: Atheling on May 02, 2015, 08:20:07 AM
Darrell. Key point for me as well. For example, which set of rules best captures and the look and feel of the wonderful early period Swedish Brigade (the inverted 'T' job). Haven't found a set yet that does and yet it was defining and game changing formation between 1632-34

I wonder if 1644 might not be a bad idea? with a bit of tweaking? I had the rule set but at the Edinburgh Club, SESWC, we were playing a lot of Very Civil Actions by the Perfect Captain which are available as a free download (we made a good donation to a charity as they ask). They had a great feel for the ECW so I wonder if they could be changed to suit the TYW? Caliver are now selling 1644 for a hefty sum but i'm sure that if you ask around that someone you know will have a copy sitting on a dusty shelf. Possibly worth a look at both rules- i'd be very interested in anything you come up with so if my suggestions bear fruit then please post here and let me in on the secrets  :).

Hope that is of some help?

Darrell.
Title: Re: Thirty Years War rules
Post by: Hu Rhu on May 03, 2015, 03:46:24 PM
I think they have captured the feel quite well, despite being fairly generic for the whole pike and shot period.  The ability to adjust the unit characteristics allows them to be tailored to either the originals or to capture the difference between different types of cavalry (i.e. those trained to charge at a gallop and the rather more stately charge at a trot).  Give them a try.
Title: Re: Thirty Years War rules
Post by: Golgotha on May 03, 2015, 04:21:53 PM
PerfectCaptain Very Civile Actions see http://perfectcaptain.50megs.com/request.html its free colourful and seems to promise a good game (donation to a charity idea is sweet).
Title: Re: Thirty Years War rules
Post by: Atheling on May 03, 2015, 05:47:06 PM
PerfectCaptain Very Civile Actions see http://perfectcaptain.50megs.com/request.html its free colourful and seems to promise a good game (donation to a charity idea is sweet).

Ahem!  lol lol

we were playing a lot of Very Civil Actions by the Perfect Captain which are available as a free download (we made a good donation to a charity as they ask). They had a great feel for the ECW so I wonder if they could be changed to suit the TYW?.

Great minds and all that  lol

Darrell.
Title: Re: Thirty Years War rules
Post by: Sparrow on May 04, 2015, 09:15:33 PM
Hi Steve

Sadly, like you, I have yet to find asset of rules that correctly portrays the Swedish Battalia correctly with a respectable number of figures. I think the only real option is to write them. Happy to help/play test if required. Just finished running (well, ambling) up and down the Queen's Sconce all weekend so quite enfused to get back to some decent C17th wargaming!  :D

Regards

Ian
Title: Re: Thirty Years War rules
Post by: Ignatieff on May 04, 2015, 09:27:58 PM
Hi Steve

Sadly, like you, I have yet to find asset of rules that correctly portrays the Swedish Battalia correctly with a respectable number of figures. I think the only real option is to write them. Happy to help/play test if required. Just finished running (well, ambling) up and down the Queen's Sconce all weekend so quite enfused to get back to some decent C17th wargaming!  :D

Regards

Ian

 lol lol lol

Good man.  Will bear that in mind.  They need to be offensively advantaged, and have strong firepower and (possibly) shock effect.  Will ponder.
Title: Re: Thirty Years War rules
Post by: Sparrow on May 04, 2015, 10:03:15 PM
Ok - here if/when needed.