TAG Dutch

[Paul Richardson]

This is old news, but I see that TAG has posted pics on its website of some Dutch figures for the early part of the 80 Years War - sea beggars and militia.

[Bindonblood]

It's the Demilancers that i am waiting on. They will finish off the Tudor English nicely.

Pinkie anyone? 

[Metternich]

Sea Beggars figures should prove very useful for many "armed civilians" of  Northwestern Europe in the 1560's - 70"s period. 

[Paul Richardson]

Personally, I think the Dutch Revolt is a fascinating conflict, and I am a bit surprised that there haven't been more bespoke figures over the years.

[Metternich]

I certainly agree with you about the attraction of the Dutch Revolt.  It allows for tremendous scope of action in a "bathtub" environment .  Provides for games based on sieges, ambushes and forays, major field actions, amphibious actions, etc.  The range of combatants - Dutch militia, increasingly professional Dutch troops, Flemish loyalists (it was also a Civil War), Spanish and Italian tercios, German Landsknecht and Schwarz Reiters (both Imperial and Protestant), allied English (you can use your Elizabethans), French Huguenots - is vast.   It was a period of great military experimentation, as the commanders worked out the best ratios between pike and shot, how to use varying types of firearms-equipped cavalry (even while lancers were still being used, albeit in lessening numbers). 

[Paul Richardson]

If TAG bring out a decently sized range, including Spanish, then when combined with the Warlord Wars of Religion Spanish and the Foundry Seadogs and Swashbucklers there should be potential for some really interesting scenarios. 

[Arthur]

Pete Brown says the Spanish should be out by July/August 2019 (the dollies were previewed on the TAG site some months ago already). In the meantime, Nick Collier will do more early war Dutch and then proceed to the 1590-1608 Dutch army. 

[Griefbringer]

Sea Beggars figures should prove very useful for many "armed civilians" of  Northwestern Europe in the 1560's - 70"s period.

The clothing on many of the sea beggar figures looks like styles usually associated with sailors of various European nations in the period - especially the trousers (and maybe some of the headgear). So for use as landlubbers they might be best mixed with other figures.

But for a harbourside skirmish the three packs would give a nice little crew. But who would form the opposition for them?

[Paul Richardson]

Perhaps some Foundry Seadogs or some Eureka Portuguese?

[Metternich]

Opposition could just as easily be "townies" objecting to a dockside brawl (which would increase the number of potential adversaries).  Furthermore, the sailors could be freebooters looking to raid a seaside village; or Europeans ready to engage North African raiders ship to ship.

[Paul Richardson]

Actually, if you want Spanish opposition, it sounds like TAG will oblige in due course.

[bluewillow]

Pete Brown says the Spanish should be out by July/August 2019 (the dollies were previewed on the TAG site some months ago already). In the meantime, Nick Collier will do more early war Dutch and then proceed to the 1590-1608 Dutch army.

personally I would like to see some Spanish and French too

cheers
Matt

[Griefbringer]

Perhaps some Foundry Seadogs or some Eureka Portuguese?

Foundry Sea Dogs are quite characterful figures, but I am not sure I would like to place them on table too close to the TAG figures - there is quite a big stylistical difference in my eye.

Then again, they are very characterful figures, so maybe I could try to ignore the style differences.

[Griefbringer]

Furthermore, the sailors could be freebooters looking to raid a seaside village; or Europeans ready to engage North African raiders ship to ship.

Speaking of freebooters, the sea beggars could also work for English or Dutch privateers that found their way to the West Indies from the 1570's onwards.

A band of 12 figures with a boat could for example represent a small landing party from a large ship, sent to investigate an island. Once on the land they might meet renegade Cimaroons, a band of Caribs, a Spanish patrol or maybe even the odd dinosaur (Lost World -scenario).

[Metternich]

And they could be exploring South America - where Eureka's Tupi (a few of whom have matchlocks) and/or Copplestone's Tupi can provide the "welcoming committee."