Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => Pikes, Muskets and Flouncy Shirts => Topic started by: Captain Blood on March 27, 2020, 12:33:25 PM
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So in this weird time of isolation, we thought we’d attempt a fly-by-wire wargame amongst a few LAF chums.
The idea: To not let the current crisis stop everything we enjoy. Also to run some distraction from the grim news in the real world...
I’d been looking to bring my 300 figure ECW collection out of retirement and have a crack at The Pikeman’s Lament.
These rules, being pleasingly simple on the whole, also seemed to lend themselves to a game being played remotely.
We considered using Zoom or a similar app to run proceedings by live video, but concluded this would be too difficult – especially as my games room is above my garage, 50 metres from my house and WiFi connection!
Also, in these weird and discombobulating times, there’s something quite appealing about having the time to think about, plan and consider your moves, and respond as and when you can – some people are still working, of course, even if they’re at home.
So we’re playing the game using a WhatsApp group.
Basically, I’m making all the moves and rolling the dice for the players, and reporting back to them / showing the outcomes in real time (or shortly afterwards) using video clips, voice messages, photographs, and chat via WhatsApp.
Each side then has its own WhatsApp chat for discussing their tactics, orders etc.
Orders are given to me via these groups.
This is quite interesting, because in a normal wargame we’re all standing round the table and can see exactly what’s happening everywhere and what everyone is doing. But in this case the fog of war is genuine. You can’t see or hear what the other side is planning or thinking – you can only see the outcomes of their actions on the virtual tabletop in front of you. You have a slightly limited view of things. Which makes for a bit more interest as it turns out.
Mind you, there’s not much new under the sun, and this is just a slightly updated version of ‘Kriegspiel by mail’. But having the instant messaging and multimedia capabilities certainly makes it more interesting.
Of course, this may get frustrating after a while – different people have different commitments to manage right now, so there will be inevitable delays in between moves – a few minutes, or a few hours in some cases. We shall see…
So first I set up the battlefield.
It will be a straight encounter battle between Royalist and Parliamentary forces. The objective is simply to seize the farm with its barn full of stores, and to drive off / destroy the enemy force.
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/44/577-270320091449-446972318.jpeg)
I’ve then marked up numbered deployment zones along the start lines of the respective sides, so that each player can easily let me know their starting dispositions.
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/44/577-270320090850-44695527.jpeg)
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/44/577-270320091450-44698184.jpeg)
The commanders are:
Silent Invader and Dr De’ath for Parliament;
Elk101 and OshiroModelTerrain for the King.
Thus are we able to play a game more or less simultaneously from Essex, Dorset, Teesside, Surbiton and darkest East Surrey! lol
Next, having reorganised my entire ECW collection into The Pikeman’s Lament sized units (basically 12 figure units of pike or shot, and 6 figure units of horse, dragoons, specialist shot types and gun crews), I sent a schedule of all 36 available units (each with a different points cost) to the players, and asked them to select their forces: 18 points per player / 36 points per side.
(Depending on the cost and type of the units you select, this would typically equate to somewhere between 3 – 6 units per player).
As it happens, each side ended up with 8 units (see attached pdf for the orders of battle chosen), although of quite different complexions.
The Royalists have gone for a balanced force of horse, dragoons and shot.
The Parliamentarians, evidently having eyed all those dry-stone walls and hedgerows, have gone overwhelmingly for shot units. No horse at all, just one troop of dragoons, and a frame gun.
No-one opted for pike.
So, I’ll report progress on the game as it unfolds over the next few days here, so you can vicariously share in the experience lol
We'll see if it works!
If the figures look familiar, it’s because I contributed some shots of my collection to The Pikeman’s Lament rulebook.
The foot are mainly painted by Baner, the horse, dragoons, gunners etc by me.
Opening dispositions. A general view of the battlefield.
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/44/577-270320115218-447001487.jpeg)
The Royalist line
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/44/577-270320115218-447011070.jpeg)
The Parliamentarian line
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/44/577-270320115218-4470220.jpeg)
The view from behind the massed ranks of Parliamentarian shot…
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/44/577-270320115219-447032153.jpeg)
Crowe’s commanded shot (skirmishers in TPL) and Lilburne’s Folorn Hope (sort of tough specialists) peer over the hedgerows and gorse in front of their positions…
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/44/577-270320115219-44704378.jpeg)
Okey’s dragoons on the Parliamentarian right…
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/44/577-270320115510-447052256.jpeg)
On the left of the Royalist line, Sir Lucius Spoons’ commanded shot and Crawley’s troop of dragoons…
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/44/577-270320115510-4470654.jpeg)
Then, in the centre, Sir Marmaduke Fondling’s regt. of shot (pink coats), and Hopton’s blew regt. of dragoons.
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/44/577-270320115511-44707135.jpeg)
Beside them, centre right, Sir Lancelot Crawley’s troop of horse (‘trotters’ in TPL terms) and Spoons’ Greencoat veteran shot.
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/44/577-270320115511-447082083.jpeg)
And finally, Fondling’s veteran Folorn Hope, and Sir Ralph Hopton’s blew regt. of horse – aggressive gallopers, so prone to wild charges.
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/44/577-270320115511-44709355.jpeg)
Which could be a bit of a liability when they are faced by a veritable wall of Parliamentarian shot, snugly positioned behind an actual wall :o
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/44/577-270320115926-44710457.jpeg)
Turn 1
In this game, we’re dicing for initiative each turn rather than playing a straight, continuous IGOUGO (which the rules suggest).
We’re not playing the personal challenge / single combat rule (because it's silly in this period, IMHO), nor are we giving officers, traits.
Trying to keep it as simple as possible for the fly-by-wire experience!
The Royalists win the dice roll-off. Orders are sent in, and the Royalist line rolls forward, except for the horse regiments, who hold their positions… (tactics, already!)
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/44/577-270320115927-447112413.jpeg)
In these rules, there is ‘friction’ – each unit has to successfully roll to activate in order to move, shoot, attack etc. Different troop types have different stats for different actions, all as marked on the unit cards…
If one of a player’s unit fails to activate, that’s his whole turn stymied. Play passes to his fellow commander, and then to the other side. But moving is fairly easy, only requiring a 5+ on 2D6 (4+ if your officer is within 12”, since he adds a +1 to all activation and morale rolls) - so no friction so far!
The dicing trays for Parliament and the King…
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/44/577-270320115927-447122134.jpeg)
Parliament’s turn…
Orders received, and another general advance – to be expected in these opening phases.
Once again, everyone successfully rolls to activate…
Okey’s dragoons and Gibson’s commanded shot spill forward into the lane…
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/44/577-270320115928-44713315.jpeg)
Crowe’s commanded shot and Lilburne’s Folorn Hope skirt the pond and make it up to the hedge…
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/44/577-270320115928-44714432.jpeg)
The three units of Parliamentarian shot (Sir Melville Gibson’s raw shot, Nathaniel Crowe’s veteran shot, and Robert Lilburne’s shot, complete with agitator - +1 to morale rolls) advance to the hedgerow too.
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/44/577-270320120412-44715941.jpeg)
And the frame gun redeploys to the lane…
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/44/577-270320120413-447161253.jpeg)
Turn 2
Parliament roll higher. They go first this turn. Orders are sent in. The general advance continues - with care…
Okey’s dragoons pick their way through the gorse patch at half speed…
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/44/577-270320120413-447191746.jpeg)
Gibson’s commanded shot and Lilburne’s Folorn Hope cross the lane to the hedge by the gorse patch…
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/44/577-270320120413-447171974.jpeg)
Crowe’s commanded shot enter the farmhouse garden…
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/44/577-270320120648-44721718.jpeg)
The massed Parliamentarian shot make it to the western wall of the farmyard…
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/44/577-270320120413-447181983.jpeg)
And the frame gun is trundled up to the crossroads…
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/44/577-270320120648-447201395.jpeg)
Still no friction.
That’s the Parliamentarian turn over. Royalist orders awaited…
Watch this space! ;)
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Outstanding!
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Good for you, Richard. An excellent idea.
A splendid spread, too. But then we've come to expect that from you.
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I will look forward to seeing peoples plans falling apart.
Very interesting so far. Nice set up by the way.
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Great potential with something like this. Only getting limited information and having to respond accordingly, fascinating.
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A great idea and a beautiful looking game. What an absolutely lovely collection of ECW figures. :-*
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A great idea and a beautiful looking game. What an absolutely lovely collection of ECW figures. :-*
Thanks. That’s just over a third of them - 16 units out of 36 ::) lol
One day I’ll get them all out.
;)
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It’s actually proceeding faster than I thought it might 8)
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GOD SAVE THE KING!
lol
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Wonderful idea and of course a fantastic set up. I'll be following this with interest.
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Thanks. That’s just over a third of them - 16 units out of 36 ::) lol
One day I’ll get them all out.
;)
I'd like to see photos of the whole lot when you do get them out. In the meantime, are all of your figures from the same manufacturer or are they a mix?
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I'd like to see photos of the whole lot when you do get them out. In the meantime, are all of your figures from the same manufacturer or are they a mix?
They are all Bicorne / Renegade ECW, plus a few mounted TYW figures (and gunners) from TAG. All these ranges were sculpted by Nick Collier, so are stylistically all of a kind, although the TAG figures are a bit smaller (more noticeable with the foot figures than the mounted figures).
For my money, these are still the best ECW figures out there, and the most comprehensive range.
Both Bicorne and Renegade changed sculptors to round out their ECW ranges, so you do have to be a bit careful, because some other hands, with much less of a feel for the period, produced a few of the later codes from both manufacturers.
I've actually just discovered though, several Collier-sculpted packs in the Bicorne ECW range (musketeers in various poses at rest, and several command packs), which are superb, and which I've never seen before. I think these must be later additions - I assembled this entire collection about 10 years ago.
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New times need new solutions. So, your solution is very good, moi capitan. Nice to see, that you are all well and still find a way to wargame. I think the rules are not so usable for the period. They work well for Knights and colonial/ACW. But pike and shot? I think about Pike&shot from warlord games and it has some nice ideas for your kind of gaming in this time. I think two years ago Frank & Frank made a big Waterloo-Games with Black Powder (Same set for black powder period) and they played several tables with signal riders between the tables.
In the roleplaying scene they all use a program called roll20 to make the games, also with figures. Andy uses it for D&D. So maybe it is helpful for you.
Your table and figures are excellent, but I expected nothing else. You are still the grandmaster. Greetings to all the boys. Stay healthy and take care.
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Nice idea to keep yourself sane
lovely figures :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-*
keep up the story
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great stuff and much appreciated.
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Excellent Richard. Thank you for doing this.
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What a brilliant idea 8) 8) 8)
......and it has to be said, played with such beautiful terrain and fantastically painted mini's :-* :-* :-*
Superb stuff and a great tonic! 8)
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This is brilliant Richard,well done :)
I have to ask,though it’s probably rhetorical; do you have any armies for North of the border? I have had for a long time a particular interest in Montrose’s campaigns,even owning a copy of Max Hasting’s book which is reasonably difficult to get hold of,so a bit of a Montrose fanboy ::) lol
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Looking good as a planned game. Glad to see folk are thinking about how to get round isolation. Nice looking game too.
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I'm hoping to try something like that tomorrow afternoon, Bangkok time (GMT + 7). Anyone interested, let me know.
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Having seen the figures, I'd be very frustrated not being in the room with the toys! Hope it works out well for all concerned, even the losing side.
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They are all Bicorne / Renegade ECW, plus a few mounted TYW figures (and gunners) from TAG. All these ranges were sculpted by Nick Collier, so are stylistically all of a kind, although the TAG figures are a bit smaller (more noticeable with the foot figures than the mounted figures).
For my money, these are still the best ECW figures out there, and the most comprehensive range.
Both Bicorne and Renegade changed sculptors to round out their ECW ranges, so you do have to be a bit careful, because some other hands, with much less of a feel for the period, produced a few of the later codes from both manufacturers.
I've actually just discovered though, several Collier-sculpted packs in the Bicorne ECW range (musketeers in various poses at rest, and several command packs), which are superb, and which I've never seen before. I think these must be later additions - I assembled this entire collection about 10 years ago.
Thanks for the detailed answer, very helpful. I am off to look at the Bicorne website now. I have an affection for this period although I haven't played an ECW game since the '70s! My first proper wargame army was composed of ECW 25mm Minifigs.
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This looks great..
Can’t wait for the next instalment.
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This is brilliant Richard,well done :)
I have to ask,though it’s probably rhetorical; do you have any armies for North of the border?
Afraid not, Guy. I do have a few lancers which I count as border horse, but that's it :)
My first proper wargame army was composed of ECW 25mm Minifigs.
The first five metal wargames figures I ever bought with my pocket money (c.1974) were Hinchliffe ECW - an officer, a drummer, and three musketeers firing (in morions). I painted them orange for the Earl of Essex. I then gradually expanded this army to include a lot of Minifigs too - the telegraph pole pikes lol
Back then, Hinchliffe were 9p and Minifigs 8p, so on the whole, I preferred Minifigs ;)
I think the rules are not so usable for the period... Greetings to all the boys. Stay healthy and take care.
Thanks Dirk - you too :)
(I quite like these rules by the way. Each to their own... )
Anyway... On with the game :)
Turn 2 continued – Royalists:
Fondling’s veteran Folorn Hope reach the inn…
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/44/577-280320104148-448781600.jpeg)
Hopton’s gallopers activate successfully and begin to move forward…
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/44/577-280320104148-4488066.jpeg)
Meanwhile on the other flank, Spoons’ commanded shot get a volley off, requiring sixes to hit Okey’s dragoons in the gorse.
From 12 dice they get 4 sixes - which is enough to cause one casualty.
First blood to the King.
The dragoons fail a morale check and fall back half a move, wavering. Back to where they just came from!
(If you're interested in the cannonball 'wavering' markers, here's how I made them: https://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=122963.0)
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/44/577-280320104148-448812170.jpeg)
In the Royalist centre, Spoons’ Greencoat Regt. of shot advance into the farmyard, while Crawley’s Horse make a sharp right turn and start heading towards the Royalist right flank…
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/44/577-280320104149-448821926.jpeg)
End of turn 2…
Turn 3.
Royalists win the initiative, so they move again straightaway.
Fondling’s Folorn Hope activate successfully and continue sneaking around the front of the inn, sheltered by the wall and tree... Hopton’s Horse gallop up to the wall in front of them...
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/44/577-280320104149-448831325.jpeg)
Yikes! Into the jaws of death!
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/44/577-280320105235-448841225.jpeg)
Now however, FRICTION occurs! Hopton’s blew troop of dragoons roll a 3, and thus fail to activate to move.
So they (and Spoons’ commanded shot in turn) are stymied. That’s Oshiro’s turn done.
The baton passes over to Elk101...
Crawley’s Horse successfully activate to move, and continue to head up towards the inn... The Royalist horse are making a definite bid to attack and roll up the Parliamentarian right flank.
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/44/577-280320105235-4488555.jpeg)
Spoons’ Greencoat Regt. of shot now rank up by the hedge beside the mown hayfield...
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/44/577-280320105235-448861943.jpeg)
Fondling’s Regt. of shot activate to move forward - and roll a DOUBLE SIX! If you roll a double 6 on your activation roll, good things follow. Roll another D6 and consult the chart…
Followed by ANOTHER SIX!!!
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/44/577-280320105235-44887636.jpeg)
That means Elk101 gets 4 points worth of reinforcements arriving on his baseline.
Fondling’s foot duly advance into the mown field... Moving at a princely 3” over the rough ground... lol
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/44/577-280320105235-448881883.jpeg)
Crawley’s dragoons then try to activate and believe it or not, it’s a double 1! MORE FRICTION!
The ensuing die roll (to see what negative occurs from this double 1 failed activation) is rolled live on video… And it’s a 5. Could have been worse… Fate gives, fate takes away... Crawley’s dragoons begin to waver…
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/44/577-280320105551-44889372.jpeg)
Elk101 chooses Sir Richard Astley’s Bluecoat Regt. of shot as his 4 points of reinforcements. They deploy immediately behind the Royalist left flank…
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/44/577-280320105551-44890106.jpeg)
Over to Parliament for their turn 3...
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GOD SAVE THE KING!
lol
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Lovely looking game - will be interested to see how this plays out.
We have played two games live by video conference over the last two weeks, which works. But it is interesting to see this approach - which probably gives much more a fog or war feel to the game, but I suspect requires a lot of work from the person running the game, to deliver all the updates and take the appropriate pictures.
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It's such a great idea! I wonder if there is an App that allows the players to roll the dice in a common WhatsApp group, I mean, that you send the message and then the App generates randomly the results, thus allowing the players to get even more involved.
And the Fog of War is simply genius!
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It’s actually quite demanding to interpret the images and decide on orders: as a player, I feel very involved (tense even!! :D). Having Richard do all the dice rolls himself also speeds things considerably.
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This looks brilliant! I hope the updates continue.
- Captain Blood, do you have any of the Bicorne Italian Wars minis in your collection? I'm struggling to find any pictures of them which seems an ominous sign that they might be rather old fashioned compared to more recent sculpts.
For 17th Century Skirmishing its probably better to not include any pike armed units, as they don't work as a formation of 12.
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Thanks Admiral :)
Yes, the reports will see the battle through to the end over the next few days. Well, it whiles away some time...
No, I’m afraid I don’t have any of the Bicorne Italian Wars figures, and haven’t seen them.
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GOD SAVE THE KING!
lol
... and a pox on Parliament!
God for King Charles! Pym and such carles
To the Devil that prompts ’em their treasonous parles!
Cavaliers, up! Lips from the cup,
Hands from the pasty, nor bite take nor sup
Till you’re marching along, fifty-score strong,
Great-hearted gentlemen, singing this song.
This game just keeps getting better and better! :-*
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Excellent, thanks Richard. Great terrain, figures, photos - the whole 9 yards.
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This looks brilliant! I hope the updates continue.
- Captain Blood, do you have any of the Bicorne Italian Wars minis in your collection? I'm struggling to find any pictures of them which seems an ominous sign that they might be rather old fashioned compared to more recent sculpts.
For 17th Century Skirmishing its probably better to not include any pike armed units, as they don't work as a formation of 12.
Hi Admiral - I've got some Bicorne/Connoisseur Italian Wars figs - currently in the attic so the only pics I have are of the Gendarmes here:
(http://corrigenda.pbworks.com/f/1240148542/1240148542/Gendarmes4.JPG)
They are probably the best sculpts.
I like the other figures but the infantry come in the one variant, so for example the skirmishing arquebus look very regimented.
Thy were sculpted by Gilder so look very similar to Hinchliffe if that gives you a clue.
A few more angles on the gendarmes on my wiki page:
http://corrigenda.pbworks.com/w/page/16520302/Great%20Italian%20Wars (http://corrigenda.pbworks.com/w/page/16520302/Great%20Italian%20Wars)
About a third of the page down - 'Gendarmes' below the artillery pics.
Apologies for intruding Captain - lovely game.
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...interesting to see this approach - which probably gives much more a fog or war feel to the game, but I suspect requires a lot of work from the person running the game, to deliver all the updates and take the appropriate pictures.
You're not wrong Fred ::) ;)
Excellent, thanks Richard. Great terrain, figures, photos - the whole 9 yards.
Thanks Pete. Hope all is well with you :)
Apologies for intruding Captain - lovely game.
No problem :)
Turn 3 continued… Parliamentarians to go.
Okey’s dragoons immediately pass a rally test. Liburne’s Folorn Hope crosses the hedge and advances into the gorse…
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-290320090335-450352335.jpeg)
Gibson’s commanded shot skirmish forward, passing their activation and making a half move and firing on Fondling’s pinkcoats in the mown field.
The commanded shot are ‘fleet footed’, so ignore rough terrain and make a full half move (4”). They’re also veteran, so don’t get hit with a minus one for skirmish moving and shooting.
Unfortunately, rolling their 12xD6, and requiring only 5’s or 6’s to hit, they succeed in rolling just 1 hit (poor on my part, sorry Steve!) which isn’t enough to remove even one of the target unit (stamina 2, meaning you need two hits to remove a figure).
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-290320090335-450321285.jpeg)
Crowe’s commanded shot now move forward through the farmhouse garden…
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-290320090335-450342410.jpeg)
A general advance now appears underway on the Parliamentarian right…
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-290320090336-450361656.jpeg)
On the Parliamentarian left, the wall of shot now get ready to fire…
First up, Lilburne’s regt. of shot gives fyre, but only gets three hits. And the gallopers, with the cover of the wall, have a stamina of 4. So not enough to do any damage.
Next, Nathaniel Crowe’s veteran shot unleash hell, and manage to knock off one of Hopton’s Horse. Who promptly pass a morale check - having excessively high morale.
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-290320090336-450372053.jpeg)
Gibson’s raw shot then fail to pass their activation (friction!) so they and the frame gun are stymied.
That’s turn 3 completed.
Turn 4.
The Royalists win the roll-off, and off they go.
To start with, Hopton’s Horse are obliged to test for a wild charge, being (just) within 10” of Sir Melville Gibson’s Trayned Band of raw shot directly to their front.
Needless to say, they pass the activation test (only a 3+ required on 2D6 for these boys to attack), and - like it or not - they charge Gibson’s shot!
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-290320090649-45038713.jpeg)
The melee takes two casualty figures off the shot unit (who have the advantage of a defended obstacle to boost their stamina from 2 up to 3).
In return, the cavalry lose another figure. But they push the shot unit backwards from their wall. Both units pass their morale checks with flying colours.
Being aggressive wild chargers, Hopton’s Horse now have to follow up and immediately fight a second round. Which they do, knocking three more figures off Gibson’s raw shot, for the loss of one more cavalier.
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-290320090649-450391754.jpeg)
This time, Gibson’s shot do fail their morale check (they're now on a minus 5 for figures lost) and they start wavering, as well as pushed back for a second time.
Hopton’s Horse now pause for breath. Interestingly, now they’re reduced from 6 to 3 figures, so from now on they now roll only 6 dice instead of 12 in attack and defence. And have thus instantly become much more vulnerable.
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-290320090649-450401324.jpeg)
Interesting rules question here...
The rules say you can never come within 3" of an enemy unit unless you're attacking it.
But if you're attacking a unit in the middle of a line like this, with a unit on either side of it, then unless you always attack in an arrowhead formation (somewhat contrived and gamey), it's difficult to see how this works in practice.
I get it in the context of general moves - you shouldn't end up closer than 3" to an enemy unit unless you're attacking it. But not in the context of an outright attack.
I think the idea is that this way, units of shot can be protected by units of pike positioned slightly ahead of them. But then you get a situation like the one shown above, which is just a bit silly...
In the end, I've dropped the attacking horse back a couple of inches after the second round of fighting (which they won) so they've ended up three inches away from the enemy units to either side of them. But it feels a bit odd.
Any thoughts on this conundrum from experienced Mersey Rules players would be welcome :)
Onto the rest of the Royalist moves…
Fondling’s veteran Folorn Hope keeps advancing, trying (by the look of things) to outflank the frame gun…
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-290320090649-450412237.jpeg)
Hopton’s blew troop of dragoons are ordered to fire on the Parliamentarian commanded shot advancing across the gorse patch – but turn out to be out of range, so do nothing instead!
Spoon’s commanded shot, on the extreme left of the Royalist line, advance again…
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-290320090649-450421151.jpeg)
Crawley’s dragoons rally and remove their wavering marker.
Astley’s newly arrived bluecoat shot advance…
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-290320090929-450442158.jpeg)
Fondling’s pinkcoat shot now fire on Sir Melville Gibson’s commanded shot in the gorse patch, and manage to knock two figures off.
Despite this grievous loss, the veterans of Gibson’s commanded shot pass a morale check and stand firm.
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-290320090929-4504367.jpeg)
Up on the other flank, Crawley’s troop of horse fail to activate, rolling a double 1 :o
But then they roll a 4 on the 'double one results' table - the strange ‘negative’ result of which is: 'Immediately attack the nearest enemy'.
Meaning they move towards the nearest enemy, as no-one is in attack range - which is pretty much what they were going to do anyway! ::)
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-290320090929-45045371.jpeg)
(I can see how in some circumstances that outcome could prove a negative, but here, it actually did them a favour – ah, the vagaries of the rules… lol)
That’s Royalist turn 4 completed. Now awaiting Parliamentarian orders… :)
It’s starting to get a bit more bloody now (and complicated! ::))
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GOD SAVE THE KING!
lol
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Hi,
This is a great idea and I’m definitely going to follow the game. I’ve played quite a few games of PL and never had the problems with the 3” distance from enemy rule but that’s because I usually play 24 points per side on a 6 x 4 table so there is plenty of space whereas your units seemed cheek to jowl from the beginning. Are you keeping a distance of at least 1” between friendly units? The enclosed nature of your lovely terrain and the way that the hedges and walls are perpendicular means that the units are sort of hemmed in. I wouldn’t like to be that unit of horse as its going to be obliterated by the shot unit. This is definitely going to be musketeer’s battle.
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GOD SAVE THE KING!
lol
Pfft!
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Interesting game :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-*
Any other pictures of your troops?
Some of the unit names are a bit strange for someone who knows nothing about this period, are they made up or real?
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Thank you for posting Komsomol. - apologies for going off topic Captain.
- gamer Mac some of the unit names such as Oakey's Dragoons and Lilburne's are definitely real, but not sure if they all are.
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wonderful setup and figures.
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Very creative and of course looks superb! 8)
Christopher
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Splendid stuff Richard...
A great looking game with lots of lovely toys...
I am trying to organise something similar for my daughter and myself...
All the best Aly
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For rulesquestion Daniel Mersey uses his dux rampant forum, maybe this helps you
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For rulesquestion Daniel Mersey uses his dux rampant forum, maybe this helps you
Thanks Dirk. I had a look there before - was of limited use as far as TPL goes... But I'll take another look now I'm more familiar with the rules and mechanisms :)
Interesting game :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-*
Any other pictures of your troops?
Some of the unit names are a bit strange for someone who knows nothing about this period, are they made up or real?
Thanks Colin :)
I'll pop up some pictures of the other units not engaged in this battle... Plus I have three more units in my paint queue, and Redzed is doing another three for me lol
There are, thinking about it, a lot of existing pics from when I first assembled this collection, in my LAF ECW gallery... https://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?action=gallery;su=user;cat=74;u=577
Some of the names are indeed historical colonels of the ECW: Okey, Lilburne, Crowe, Hopton. There was an Astley too, but not a Sir Richard ('never gonna give you up...')
For other units, not on the table here, I've also co-opted Fairfax, Ireton, Whalley, Brewer, Debden, Spink, Pye, Sheffield - all historical.
Then some of the others - the Spoons, Fondlings, Pretties, Crawleys, Gallivants, and assorted Mel Gibsons - are wargames miniature dynasties with silly names and backstories, whose scions have appeared and reappeared in my various wargames genres from Elizabethan to WW2, via pirates, border reivers, NWF, the C18th, and many more. I can't even remember the origin of most of them, but they've somehow stuck and keep reappearing lol
(Interestingly, I gave all my Wars of the Roses houses either historical names, or names based on the local manors around my area. My FFOL feudals all have more or less historically accurate Norman names (Norman and Saxon in the case of the footsloggers). Although everyone else has given theirs silly names - like knights named after 1970's comedians... I ask you... ::) lol)
Splendid stuff Richard...
A great looking game with lots of lovely toys...
I am trying to organise something similar for my daughter and myself...
Cheers Aly. Best of luck with it. It's a good diversion for these unhappy times :)
Are you keeping a distance of at least 1” between friendly units? The enclosed nature of your lovely terrain and the way that the hedges and walls are perpendicular means that the units are sort of hemmed in.
Thanks David. Yes, one or two of them were a bit close to start with, but I recalled the 1" social distancing rule after the first couple moves ;)
More moves have taken place. And not a little drama has unfolded... Update tomorrow!
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And not a little drama has unfolded..
Only because of the biased reffing...
;D
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This is fantastic! RE: the Hopton's Horse situation, we have also had the same circumstance arise and dealt with it the same way you did- pulling back the unit the required distance.
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Cometh the hour , cometh the man :). Well done Captain. Superb terrain and figures, a pleasure to behold. The cards are a good idea , I make mine using postcards . It may seem obvious, but it’s usually a good idea for the players to activate their easier units first , although this can sometimes get lost in the heat of battle. An 8+ is needed for the Artillery to Fire , for instance, so its usually a good idea to attempt this on your last activation. The Dragoons can be surprisingly effective when ordered to fire using the Caracole rule . The table set up definitely favours the Infantry, this time , so I’d expect any rash cavalry moves to receive a severe caning . We enjoy the TPL rules , as the game progresses you’ll see some interesting tactical questions appear for the players to address. Happy Gaming Guys .
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Thanks chaps :)
It may seem obvious, but it’s usually a good idea for the players to activate their easier units first , although this can sometimes get lost in the heat of battle. An 8+ is needed for the Artillery to Fire , for instance, so its usually a good idea to attempt this on your last activation.
It's obvious once you've played it a couple of times ;)
I played a few solo games against myself first, and it took me a few turns to work out that trying to activate the gun to fire first every time was a recipe for friction and disappoinment! lol
Parliamentarian turn 4
Sir Melville Gibson’s raw shot rally, and the frame gun pivots…
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-300320104459-450831227.jpeg)
Nathaniel Crowe’s veteran shot fire a salvo which takes off another of Hopton’s Horse…
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-300320104459-45086861.jpeg)
Lilburne’s shot stand and do nothing, but Crowe’s commanded shot in the farmhouse garden give fire upon Fondling’s pinkcoat shot advancing across the mown field, knocking off two figures. Their morale holds however.
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-300320104459-450871859.jpeg)
Lilburne’s veteran Folorn Hope advances further into the gorse patch, Okey’s dragoons are ordered to hold their position, and Gibson’s commanded shot then give fire upon the same target, rolling high, and taking off three more pinkcoat shot.
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-300320104500-45089519.jpeg)
This time their morale cracks and with a dismal roll of just 4, minus 5 for casualties, they immediately break and run for it. (There’s no rallying routed troops in these rules, so they’re effectively gone).
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-300320104711-450902352.jpeg)
That’s turn 4 completed.
Turn 5.
Royalists roll higher and gain the initiative.
Immediate test for wild charges, and despite being down to two figures, Hopton’s Horse charge the nearest enemy unit, Crowe’s veteran shot.
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-300320104711-450911118.jpeg)
In the ensuing melee, each side loses a further casualty, and thus with honours even (a draw), it is the attacker that has to fall back.
Sir Ralph Hopton fails his morale check and starts to waver. Not surprising under the circumstances.
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-300320104711-450921621.jpeg)
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-300320104951-450971608.jpeg)
Fondling’s veteran Folorn Hope continue their long march, and close in on the frame gun…
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-300320104711-450931076.jpeg)
Hopton’s blew dragoons fire on the enemy Folorn Hope in the gorse, but fail to score enough hits to cause a casualty. And Spoons’ commanded shot move up again!
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-300320104711-450941428.jpeg)
Crawley’s dragoons also move up alongside them, and Astley’s bluecoat shot advance as well.
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-300320104950-45096701.jpeg)
From the farmyard, Spoons’ Greencoat veteran shot fire their first salvo at Lilburne’s Folorn Hope in the gorse, but with cover from the hedge, the Folorn Hope's stamina goes up to 4 - meaning that fully seven hits still only takes off one figure (with three hits effectively wasted). Cue much loud questioning of the rules mechanics from the Royalist side ::) ;)
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-300320104950-45095335.jpeg)
And finally, Crawley’s regiment of horse continue their long and uneventful canter up the lane towards the enemy gun…
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-300320104951-45098161.jpeg)
That concludes the Royalist turn 5 – over to Parliament.
Lilburne’s Folorn Hope promptly return fire on Spoons’ Greencoat shot, knocking off two casualties. Their morale is good though. They hold.
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-300320104951-450992369.jpeg)
Gibson’s commanded shot fire on Crawley’s dragoons but fail to score any hits, whilst Okey’s dragoons turn and move off up the lane towards the centre of the line…
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-300320105303-4510238.jpeg)
On the Parliamentarian left, Gibson's raw shot move up to the hedge to support the frame gun, which pivots again (notice it hasn’t even attempted to fire in five moves lol).
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-300320105303-45100395.jpeg)
And the two units of Parliamentarian shot march up the lane to the crossroads.
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-300320105303-451012265.jpeg)
In activating to make this move, Crowe’s veteran shot roll another double six on their activation roll - followed by yet another six. Meaning the Parliamentarians now receive 4 points worth of reinforcements on their baseline. That’s twice in one game that’s happened! :o
Once again, NO FRICTION AT ALL OCCURRED IN THAT TURN. I don't know what all the whingeing about this rules system is about ;)
I speak as someone who detested Sharp Practice and the wretched Tiffin card, which could prevent you moving for turn after turn after turn (once for six turns in a row, did I ever mention that? ;))
I suppose a run of very bad luck with the dice could mean the friction here works in the same way, but it doesn't seem to. Almost all activations need a 5, 6 or 7 - and the chances of successfully rolling these numbers (in various combinations) on 2D6 are pretty high, so...
Anyway, here's the general situation from either end of the field at the end of turn 5.
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-300320105304-4510323.jpeg)
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-300320105304-451041925.jpeg)
Initiative for turn 6 goes to the Royalists (again!) Orders are awaited.
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A POX ON PARLIAMENT!
lol
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A POX ON PARLIAMENT!
lol
Wishful thinking
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Just caught up with it! Read the whole thread in one go!
Ravishing! Breathtaking AAR, garnished with excellent pictures of superbly painted minis on a so realistically looking table!
What's not to like? We have played several TPL games and can follow the course of the battle, turns to be more and more bloody!
Eagerly waiting for the next installment!
Thank you for sharing this original idea and for keeping us entertained! Cheers!
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Great stuff, I don't know which side to root for!
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Great stuff, I don't know which side to root for!
Parliament of course. :D
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Parliament of course. :D
Good man Gary!
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Turn 6
The Royalists to activate first – and I spoke too soon: the Royalist plan for this turn was severely truncated by friction!
First though, Sir Ralph Hopton miraculously passed his rally test to remove wavering – he is now a fully functional unit of one!
Next, having trudged the whole way across the tabletop, Fondling’s veteran Folorn Hope fire on Nathaniel Crowe’s regt.of foot, managing to knock off two figures.
Having already taken a casualty from the scrap with Hopton’s horse, that minus 3 on their morale dice roll of just 4, is enough to make them waver.
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-310320082319-45126144.jpeg)
Crawley’s troop of horse now swing right again, to fall in behind the Folorn Hope.
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-310320082319-451271427.jpeg)
Probably just as well, since the Parliamentarian reinforcements, Thomas Sheffield’s regt. of horse, have now appeared…
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-310320082319-45124812.jpeg)
Down on the Royalist left flank, Spoons’ commanded shot and Astley’s bluecoats advance again (quite an interesting dynamic here, as the two forces appear to pass each other in the gorse!).
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-310320084013.jpeg)
Once again, for the second turn in a row, Hopton’s blew dragoons succeed in activating to fire, but don’t score enough hits to do any damage to Lilburne’s Folorn Hope.
Crawley’s dragoons then fail their activation to fire - doh! So both they (and Spoons’ greencoats) are unable to follow their orders to shoot – friction! Royalist turn over.
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-310320082319-451282244.jpeg)
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GOD SAVE THE KING!
lol
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Great to see it going on. Any limitation on turns??? Who is in front in the moment - historical accurate the parliament or fictional the royalists???
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You said Hopton is a fully functional unit, but of course being less than half strength he has a permanent disorder and can only use half dice, yes? (Or am I mixing up different Osprey rulesets here, I have played a lot of Rebels and Patriots since my last TPL game)
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You said Hopton is a fully functional unit, but of course being less than half strength he has a permanent disorder and can only use half dice, yes? (Or am I mixing up different Osprey rulesets here, I have played a lot of Rebels and Patriots since my last TPL game)
Who cares that is a fun and memorable wargame unit Lovely stuff Richard
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The Thomas Sheffield horse are a most handsome unit 8)
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GOD SAVE THE KING!
lol
A pox on you! >:D
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You said Hopton is a fully functional unit, but of course being less than half strength he has a permanent disorder and can only use half dice, yes? (Or am I mixing up different Osprey rulesets here, I have played a lot of Rebels and Patriots since my last TPL game)
Thanks VF. Yes, he’s down to 6 dice instead of 12, but I don’t think permanent disorder is a feature in this particular Mersey rule set. Haven’t played Rebels and Patriots, but I guess that’s a thing in that particular set?
I wonder if at some point there will be a second edition of the entire Rampant oeuvre, in which all the incremental developments are consolidated...
The Thomas Sheffield horse are a most handsome unit 8)
Indeed, painted for me some time ago by the brilliant Redzed. He’s doing a few more units for me at present :)
Who cares that is a fun and memorable wargame unit Lovely stuff Richard
Cheers Colin.
If I can summon up the strength to run another one over the period of lockdown, I shall extend an invitation to your goodself ;)
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Thanks for including us in this game with your action reports and comments.
The table and minis looks magnificients
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Merci beaucoup :) Bon chances.
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This is truly inspirational. A marvellous idea and top-notch terrain and figures. It's so inspired me that I've ordered some more Bicorne cavalry to see what I can do with them.
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Really enjoying the game report, turn by turn. Whilst the figures are out, is there any chance of a separate thread with some close-up photos of your beautifully painted ECW units? Would love to see them in detail.
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Excellent stuff Richard. :-* 8) Always good to see any of your beautiful collection.
"God save the King!" (Living close to Oxford there can be no other option ;) )
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Thanks Paul :)
Whilst the figures are out, is there any chance of a separate thread with some close-up photos of your beautifully painted ECW units? Would love to see them in detail.
I'll see what I can do over the next few days M'Lud... :)
It's so inspired me that I've ordered some more Bicorne cavalry to see what I can do with them.
lol I'm glad to hear that Paul (By the way, I'm now halfway through painting that unit of musketeers I showed you... )
Anyway, back to the game - Parliamentarian turn 6…
Sir Melville Gibson’s veteran commanded shot successfully activate to fire on Hopton’s blew dragoons, and manage to get enough hits to take off one casualty. The dragoons’ morale holds however.
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-310320204226-45139635.jpeg)
Okey’s dragoons jump the hedge from the lane and canter through the gorse, whilst Lilburne’s veteran Folorn Hope jump the hedge into the mown hayfield…
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-310320204226-451401321.jpeg)
Dragoons in the gorse…
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-310320204226-45141531.jpeg)
It’s now almost starting to look like a proper battle! ;)
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-310320204226-45142326.jpeg)
Remembering their objective, Dr De’ath orders Nathaniel Crowe’s company of commanded shot to pull back and secure the barn and grain store – not sure they realise there’s another door though! lol
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-310320204226-451431668.jpeg)
Sheffield’s Horse move up to the hedge, and Gibson’s raw shot unit crosses into the lane behind the gun.
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-310320204512-451451216.jpeg)
Crowe’s regt. of shot have already rolled to successfully rally at the start of the Parliamentarian turn.
Lilburne’s regt. of shot now tries to activate to fire on Sir Ralph Hopton – and fails. FRICTION! Neither they nor the frame gun get to fire.
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-310320204512-451442402.jpeg)
That’s turn six over. Dice for initiative for turn seven: Parliamentarian initiative, so the Roundheads go again…
Turn 7
Silent Invader now orders something resembling a tactical withdrawal, suddenly pulling his dragoons and Folorn Hope back to create a defensive line in front of the barn, in the farmhouse garden.
Gibson’s commanded shot now fire on Spoons’ Greencoats behind the farmhouse, taking off another casualty. (That commanded shot unit, has cumulatively done a LOT of damage, despite having lost two casualties themselves early on in the game… )
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-310320204513-451462017.jpeg)
Nathaniel Crowe’s commanded shot now come over the farmyard wall (or through the barn) into the farmyard, where they are joined by Lilburne’s regt. of shot, advancing at last. They roll a double 6 for their move activation, and then a 4 on the effects table – giving them the right to take another activation this turn.
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-310320204513-45147811.jpeg)
Sheffield’s Horse and the frame gun move up again, with Gibson’s raw shot bringing up the rear.
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-310320204513-45148911.jpeg)
Looks like a heroic showdown is on the cards for Fondling’s Folorn Hope!
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-310320204839-451591468.jpeg)
Finally, Crowe’s regt. of shot unleash another salvo on Sir Ralph Hopton, and finally he is finished off.
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-310320204839-451601541.jpeg)
Lilburne’s shot now take their second bonus activation and advance again. Things are not looking too promising for the Royalists on this flank.
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-310320204839-451611312.jpeg)
In fact things are not looking too promising for the Royalists, period.
They've lost two entire units either routed or destroyed, and the Parliamentarians have control of both sets of doors to the barn and grain store, and all their units more or less intact.
The King’s army needs to pull a rabbit out of the hat pretty fast if they're going to save the day…
Royalist orders for turn 7, yet to be received…
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Brilliant stuff :-*
Why do I keep thinking someone is pregnant? ;)
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Still looking good :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-*
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A POX ON PARLIAMENT!
lol
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Beautiful figures and terrain Captain!
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Getting very exciting.
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One wish, moi capitan: One picture at the start of the game of the whole table to keep the overview. Sometimes it is hard to follow the game and it is very exciting to see this. (BTW you made so many walls and hedges, was it a hard year only doing this walls and hedges for the table???? ;) ) The figues from bicorn seems to be very good. Do they fit with the empress stuff???
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One wish, moi capitan: One picture at the start of the game of the whole table to keep the overview. Sometimes it is hard to follow the game and it is very exciting to see this. (BTW you made so many walls and hedges, was it a hard year only doing this walls and hedges for the table???? ;) ) The figues from bicorn seems to be very good. Do they fit with the empress stuff???
I will try to keep posting pictures of the overall battlefield from time to time, Dirk :)
The walls and hedges are all bought, so no hard work required. I did spend some time improving the walls though, with some washes of colour and the addition of tufts, flock, flowers etc.
I love the Bicorne and Renegade ECW figures by Nick Collier. No, they don’t really fit with the Empress ECW figures, which have a very distinctive look and feel, quite unlike anything else. I bought a few of the Empress packs, but just couldn’t get on with them. Surface detail too shallow. Very unenjoyable and difficult to paint. Wonderful detail in the costuming, but rather stiff in the posing. All in all, just not my cup of tea :?
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Richard: I'm really looking forward to seeing those musketeers after you've finished them. They're great poses. From a personal point of view, I just wish they were wearing 12 Apostles and carrying musket rests.
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Yes, these mysterious ‘musketeers at rest’ packs seem a mixed bag, equipment wise. Some do have apostles, but most don’t. They are described as having firelocks. Maybe that accounts for the variation in equipment.
Very few of the Bicorne/Renegade musketeer packs have musket rests, as I’m sure you know. I guess they are depicting later years of the ECW, when the musket rest apparently fell out of use.
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NurgleHH: my experience with the Empress ECW range is much the same as Captain Blood's. My collection is mainly based around figures sculpted by the Perrys (Foundry and Perry Miniatures), Nick Collier (TAG and a few Bicorne) and Paul Hicks (Bohemian Troops), although I'm hoping to add some 1898 Miniatures and some Avanpost. I've bought some Empress figures in the past and I've concluded that they don't match in very well. It's a real shame because their range includes some figures which I really like, which I could use and which no-one else makes. Their mounted dragoons are just what I'm looking for - casual poses, enough but subtle variety of pose and genuine dragoon horses, but I just don't think they look right when mixed in with my existing figures. I'm not sure why that is. One old sculptor (who had better remain nameless) said that he thought that the Empress figures were too long in the arm, but I don't think I've heard that from anyone else, so maybe it isn't right. Anyway, I'd love to see photos from anyone who thinks Empress can be mixed successfully, perhaps on a separate thread.
Richard: that's my understanding on musket rests too. I think that while some muskets were used without rests before the ECW -by dragoons, for example- it was during the ECW that musket rests ceased to be used generally, mainly because muskets were becoming lighter.
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I bought a few of the Empress packs, but just couldn’t get on with them. Surface detail too shallow. Very unenjoyable and difficult to paint. Wonderful detail in the costuming, but rather stiff in the posing. All in all, just not my cup of tea :?
This is my problem with them. Seems the details are lost from the sculpt figure to the customer. I think they are nice, the posing is very limited to thre or four poses. Better than the warlord figures, some of the warlords seem to be a comic version. But the bicorn are really interesting
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Royalist Turn 7...
Hopton’s blew dragoons finally - third time lucky - succeed in firing well enough to inflict casualties on Sir Melville Gibson’s veteran commanded shot, still lurking behind the hedge in the gorse patch. Two more skirmishers downed, and only two remaining. Yet still they pass a morale check with flying colours.
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-010420230549-451812088.jpeg)
At the other end of the table, Fondling’s pinkcoat veteran Folorn Hope succeed in activating to fire on Sheffield’s Parliamentarian horse, and remove one casualty (the Roundheads hold firm with high morale).
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-010420230550-4518258.jpeg)
Back to the other end, and Spoons’ commanded shot successfully activate to skirmish – they make a half move up through the gorse, and fire, succeeding in finishing off the last of Gibson’s commanded shot. That’s the first Parliamentarian unit eliminated :o
Are things finally turning in the King’s favour?
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-010420230550-45183531.jpeg)
Astley’s bluecoat shot clamber over the wall into the gorse, and Crawley’s dragoons advance up to the edge of the mown hayfield…
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-010420230550-451841251.jpeg)
Spoons’ regt. of shot manage to just about get a shot in on Lilburne’s Folorn Hope. Even boosting the Folorn Hope's stamina from 3 to 5 (one for the cover, and one for half Spoons' unit shooting round the corner!) the greencoats manage to carry off one casualty. But the veteran Folorn Hope stands firm.
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-010420230550-451851113.jpeg)
And finally, Crawley’s regt. of horse appear to carry on trying to outflank the Parliamentarian left flank…
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-010420230830-451861166.jpeg)
That’s the end of turn 7. Dice for initiative for turn 8 and the Royalists win – they go first.
A general view of the situation at the end of turn 7, seen from the south…
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-010420230830-451871898.jpeg)
And from the north...
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-010420230830-45188949.jpeg)
Turn 8
The Royalists go first…
Fondling’s veteran Folorn Hope carry on where they left off, blasting away at Sheffield’s Horse, and taking two more casualties off.
Still the tough Roundhead cavalrymen stand firm, despite being reduced to half strength (not long after arriving on the battlefield! :()
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-010420230831-451901593.jpeg)
Much moving takes place on the Royalist left flank at the other end of the table. Astley’s bluecoats and both units of dragoons move forward to new positions.
Spoons’ regt. of shot hold their position behind the farmhouse, and Spoons’ commanded shot try to fire on Okey’s dragoons - but fail their activation. FRICTION!
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-010420230831-451891793.jpeg)
Back on the other flank, finally, on turn 8, after 7 turns of trotting patiently across the table, Crawley’s Horse actually get into action.
They successfully test to activate using their caracole ability – basically this means they can make a half move - 4” for ‘trotters’ - fire their pistols – range 6” – and then, if the target of their attack begins wavering, they can make a follow up attack into hand-to-hand combat.
This follow-up attack, by the way, doesn’t have to be restricted to their remaining available 4” – it’s another full 8” move.
I read that in the FAQs on the Mersey Rules forum. Worth knowing...
... although, given that pistol range is only 6”, they can’t ever be more than 6” away from their target unit. Therefore they can’t ever make a follow up charge of further than 6”, can they?
But I digress… :D
Their shooting takes off another figure. Sheffield’s Horse are down to just two men - and they’ve only properly been on the table for two turns!
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-010420231205-45191625.jpeg)
Nonetheless, their morale remains rock solid (4 or more on 2D6, which even with minus 4 for casualties sustained, isn't too much of a stretch).
So since Sheffield's Horse are NOT reduced to wavering by the shooting, Crawley’s Horse are not able to execute the second part of the caracole.
it of an anti-climax, but there you go…
That’s the Royalist turn 8 concluded. Over to the Parliamentarians, to attempt to exact a bloody price in revenge!
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GOD SAVE THE KING!
lol
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Turn 8 continued… Parliamentarians…
(Are you getting bored with this yet? I sense the players are… lol)
Okey’s dragoons fire on Hopton’s blew dragoons and knock off another figure.
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-030420140032-452311407.jpeg)
Lilburne’s Folorn Hope make to fire on Spoons commanded shot, but as they are ‘hard to target’ they can only be shot at in 12” or less - so the shooters find they are out of range. Doh!
On the other flank, the Parliamentarian forces steadily close in, comprehensively boxing in the isolated Royalist left wing…
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-030420140032-45232417.jpeg)
In activating one of his shot units to move up to the wall, Dr De’ath rolls (well, I roll for him) another double 6. And on a follow up roll of 3, he regains the first salvo for one of his shot units. Bonus!
And the frame gun fails to fire – again ::)
Turn 9
The Parliamentarians win the initiative.
Lilburne’s Folorn Hope fire on Hopton’s blew dragoons, kill two, and the rest of the unit breaks and runs :o :(
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-030420140032-452331445.jpeg)
Okey’s dragoons skirmish forward down the lane bordering the gorse, firing on Spoons’ commanded shot. They knock off one figure, and make them waver.
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-030420140032-452341665.jpeg)
Much Parliamentarian shooting now ensues at the Royalists in the killing box. They're queueing up to blast 'em, and Nathaniel Crowe's regt. of shot, with it's regained 'first salvo' bonus of +1, is hitting on 3s or more :o
In the ensuing firestorm, Fondling’s Folorn Hope lose half their strength and fall back wavering. Crawley’s Horse lose a figure but hold firm.
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-030420140032-45235507.jpeg)
And the frame gun fails to fire – again lol Completely useless...
Royalist turn 9
Fondling’s Folorn Hope rallies, and Crawley’s Horse attack the remainder of Sheffield’s Horse. Each lose one figure in the ensuing melee, but neither loses its morale check, and as the attacker – in the event of a draw – Crawley’s Horse fall back half a move.
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-030420140228-452361189.jpeg)
At the other end of the table, Spoons’ commanded shot manage to rally, Crawley’s dragoons advance up the hayfield in a skirmish move, fire, but don’t succeed in rolling any hits. 12 misses ::)
Astley’s bluecoats however, do successfully fire on Okey’s dragoons and knock off another figure (their morale doesn’t crack though).
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-030420140228-45237190.jpeg)
And Spoons’ regt. of shot, largely intact, STILL lurk inactive behind the farmhouse… Hmmm. I'm sure there's a strategy at work here... Possibly... lol
;)
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Speaking as a player, I am not at all bored, far from it in fact. Working from limited info makes it really quite tense. :o
Thank you for putting up with us Richard! 8)
Are you enjoying it still? :D
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Well I will be extremely au fait with the rules after this lol
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Well I will be extremely au fait with the rules after this lol
Would've been nice beforehand ;D
I'm certainly not bored but I don't think I'm keen on these rules. They seem too abstract for my tastes although I'd be happy to give it a go in person.
God save the King and all that jazz ;D
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I’m certainly not bored , I’m avidly following every twist and turn . May I suggest placing some cotton wool smoke to indicate who’s firing . :) The frame gun can be devastating , btw , if it can be jockeyed into firing . I can appreciate how frustrating it may be for the players, giving orders without being present at the table. These rules reflect the amateur nature of the Civil War , essentially civilians called to the Colours who gradually learned their trade by hard campaigning over the years . Brilliant thread , although you may feel the need of a reviving glass at the end , Captain. ;)
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I’m enjoying it :) The terrain I thinks helps vastly, if it was a grass mat,a few 4ground trees,and a building,it may be a bit blah ;) But. It’s. Not. :)
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Not boring at all. Studying the photos of all those lovely figures has been very enjoyable. I've even ordered a pack of Bicorne musketeers, which is all your fault! Not another project of course, just a few for fun! ;)
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Not boring at all. Studying the photos of all those lovely figures has been very enjoyable. I've even ordered a pack of Bicorne musketeers, which is all your fault! Not another project of course, just a few for fun! ;)
Haha! So it begins... >:D lol
Turn 10
Royalists win the initiative.
Spoons' commanded shot in the gorse, fire on Okey’s dragoons in the lane, and take off another figure. They fail their morale check and fall back wavering.
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-040420103457-452551082.jpeg)
At the other end of the table, Fondling’s veteran Folorn Hope fire on Gibson’s raw shot, and take off another figure there too.
Gibson’s however, pass their morale check and stand their ground behind the wall.
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-040420103457-45253481.jpeg)
Crawley’s Horse attack the sole survivor of Sheffield’s horse but fail to kill him, and – the result being a draw – they have to fall back again ::)
Spoons’ veteran greencoat regiment of shot clamber over the farmyard wall into the field, and Astley’s shot fire on Okey’s dragoons - but fail to score enough hits to take off another figure.
Finally, Crawley’s dragoons fire point blank at Lilburne’s veteran Folorn Hope and manage to remove two figures. Nonethless, Lilburne’s Folorn Hope pass their morale check.
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-040420103457-452561968.jpeg)
Now it’s the Parliamentarian turn…
Okey’s dragoons immediately succeed in rallying, and Lilburne’s veteran Folorn Hope, now reduced to six dice, return fire on Crawley’s dragoons, and succeed in taking off a figure. Their morale holds firm though.
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-040420103457-4525714.jpeg)
Up on the other flank, the expected slaughter fails to take place, as the very first activation of the Parliamentarian units here (Sheffield’s lonely horseman to fire his pistol) results in a double 1 activation - MASSIVE FRICTION :o
So that is not only a failure which ends the Parliamentarian turn, stops four other units activating, and prevents (probable) wholesale slaughter of the Royalist right wing, but also results (with a follow up roll of 4 on the back of the double 1) in another ‘negative’ outcome of the testing unit suddenly kicking off into an involuntary attack on the nearest enemy!
Thus Sheffield’s horse(man) launches a kamikaze attack against Crawley’s Horse.
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-040420103457-452582301.jpeg)
In the ensuing melee, he is of course killed – but manages to take one of Crawley’s Horse with him.
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-040420103654-452592364.jpeg)
And in the ensuing morale check (because they lost a figure), Crawley’s Horse become wavering and fall back half a move! (So the suicide charge actually worked out quite well for the Parliamentarians).
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-040420103654-452602310.jpeg)
End of turn 10!
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"What dost thou plan to do today, Sheffield?
"I planneth to kill you, Crawley!"
"That's big talk coming from a Parliamentarian fat ma- Oh shit he's charging us!"
lol
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lol
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more lovely action :-* :-* :-*
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My money (& my heart) is still with Parliament.
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Breathtaking! Eager to see the next turn!
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.... So the suicide charge actually worked out quite well...
Yep, sounds like my games of ECW. ::) :D
I look forward to catching up with this game everyday after work. :)
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This really has been great fun to read and gob-smacking to look at. And yes, those Bicorne figures are the bees knees (must resist the urge to dig mine out from the lower basement).
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'Resistance is futile' (The Borg collective)
'I can resist anything but temptation' (Oscar Wilde)
Go on dig out those Bicorne Figures.
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I don’t need any encouragement to start faffing around with any more half-completed projects :) I can do that all by myself.
On a completely unrelated matter, Caliver’s 4 volumes of ECW Wargaming Scenarios make excellent lockdown reading (I’m finding).
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This really has been great fun to read and gob-smacking to look at. And yes, those Bicorne figures are the bees knees (must resist the urge to dig mine out from the lower basement).
Thanks LT.
Methinks the end approacheth quite near... ;)
Here goes with...
Turn 11
Parliament wins the initiative.
On the Parliamentarian right flank, Silent Invader, manfully holding off the Royalist main advance on Futter’s Farm (backed up by a unit of Dr De'ath's commanded shot), is reduced to just two units, now comprising only five figures between them :o
Now unfortunately, once a unit drops to half strength or less, it rolls a mere six dice for shooting and fighting, rather than 12 dice. So a unit’s capability to inflict fatal damage on an enemy unit is severely curtailed. If you need (most commonly the case) 5s and 6s to score a hit, and you need three or four hits to take off a figure (dependent on the target unit's stamina, cover, and so on), then when rolling only six dice, that suddenly becomes a pretty tall order unless you strike it very lucky…
So in this case, Lilburne’s veteran Folorn Hope fire at Spoons’ regt. of shot, and Okey’s dragoons fire at Crawley’s dragoons – both successfully activate to fire - but neither manage to inflict anywhere near enough hits to carry off a casualty.
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-050420221204-45294914.jpeg)
On the Parliamentarian left flank however, the two formed units of New Model shot unload first on Fondling’s Folorn Hope (destroyed – nine hits!) and then on Crawley’s Horse – one killed, the rest break and rout.
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-050420221205-452951359.jpeg)
Once again, the frame gun doesn’t get to fire – this time, because there’s nobody left for it to shoot at! lol
So the Parliamentarians have cleared the field at the north end of the table. But the Royalists still have four (more or less) intact units south of Futter’s Farm. And it’s their turn next. What will they do to swing the momentum back to them?
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A POX ON THE KING!
lol
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You are keeping us on our toes! Great reading - and pictures of course!!! Cheers!
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A POX ON THE KING!
lol
You've changed your tune (or is that your allegiance). :D :D
Great as always Richard. Are you intending to give your thoughts on the rules at the end of the game?
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You've changed your tune (or is that your allegiance). :D :D
Great as always Richard. Are you intending to give your thoughts on the rules at the end of the game?
Well I could.
I suspect many people are already familiar with them, or with one or more of their Mersey-created ‘Rampant’ siblings. I think they all follow much the same system / mechanics, with some tweaks here and there for period specific flavour, and various minor changes as each set adapts improvements from the preceding editions.
Overall I find them pleasingly straightforward, very well designed, very clearly set out and explained, and they seem to give a good game which ebbs and flows.
Once you’ve stripped out the intro, scenarios, army lists, and description of the different unit types, leadership traits, and their respective capabilities, the actual rules mechanics (for how to play the game) take up all of a dozen pages. Which to me is a jolly good thing because I cannot abide over-complex, 100-page books of wargames rules.
Taken at face value, some of the mechanics feel a bit weird at first glance (a unit reduced to one figure, still gets to roll six dice in shooting or attack, for instance), but the mechanics work well within the context of a game. You just have to get past one or two of these seeming oddities, and accept that the rules are designed to provide an enjoyable romp of a wargame, with a good dash of distinctive period flavour. They’re not meant to provide a serious historical simulation, unlike many other uber-heavyweight and po-faced ‘serious’ wargames rules.
So I like them :)
Strangely, I didn’t much like Lion Rampant the few times I played it, but this set seems to me to work much better. Perhaps that’s Michael Leck’s influence as co-author :)
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Well I could.
I suspect many people are already familiar with them, or with one or more of their Mersey-created ‘Rampant’ siblings. I think they all follow much the same system / mechanics, with some tweaks here and there for period specific flavour, and various minor changes as each set adapts improvements from the preceding editions.
Overall I find them pleasingly straightforward, very well designed, very clearly set out and explained, and they seem to give a good game which ebbs and flows.
Once you’ve stripped out the intro, scenarios, army lists, and description of the different unit types, leadership traits, and their respective capabilities, the actual rules mechanics (for how to play the game) take up all of a dozen pages. Which to me is a jolly good thing because I cannot abide over-complex, 100-page books of wargames rules.
Taken at face value, some of the mechanics feel a bit weird at first glance (a unit reduced to one figure, still gets to roll six dice in shooting or attack, for instance), but the mechanics work well within the context of a game. You just have to get past one or two of these seeming oddities, and accept that the rules are designed to provide an enjoyable romp of a wargame, with a good dash of distinctive period flavour. They’re not meant to provide a serious historical simulation, unlike many other uber-heavyweight and po-faced ‘serious’ wargames rules.
So I like them :)
Strangely, I didn’t much like Lion Rampant the few times I played it, but this set seems to me to work much better. Perhaps that’s Michael Leck’s influence as co-author :)
What can you say about the rules for pikes? For me they became very untypical in this set of rules. In the FB- Pikements Lament there were a good cross-ruling between LR an PL. The mixed units from LR were suggested for Pike&shots. Do you think this make sense for a better period feeling???
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You've changed your tune (or is that your allegiance). :D :D
We're losing lol
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What can you say about the rules for pikes? For me they became very untypical in this set of rules. In the FB- Pikements Lament there were a good cross-ruling between LR an PL. The mixed units from LR were suggested for Pike&shots. Do you think this make sense for a better period feeling???
In most small actions, which the Pikeman’s Lament was designed for, Pikes weren’t used as they were a battlefield weapon. A lot of people use the rules for field battles and thats fair enough, but they weren’t designed for that. I’ve had great games rescuing prisoners, storming redoubts, beating up quarters, raiding supply columns, etc and often don’t take pikemen. Dragoons however are invaluable for capturing objectives or grabbing supplies and whisking them away.
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I agree. Pikes are really only usefull if you have a hundred mates with you who also have pikes.
Regarding the rules I rather like them. But I am not sure they really do anything new that the other rampant games does not already do. Ather than of course some period specific rules.
Regarding one man still rolling 6 dice. I find that very seldom comes up. I find that when a unit get below half strength it usually routs from the table if they take any more casualties. And besides If one guy was to survive. I don't mind one heroic guy going down in a blace of glory. But then again most of my miniatures are multibased so I tend to think more in the line of "strength points" and not actual guys.
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We're losing lol
lol lol
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I agree. Pikes are really only usefull if you have a hundred mates with you who also have pikes.
Regarding the rules I rather like them. But I am not sure they really do anything new that the other rampant games does not already do. Ather than of course some period specific rules.
My only problem is the real invidious rule for pikes. It would be nice if they could get more in the game. So I try the mixed rules and will see.
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Thanks chaps. Insightful comments :)
I actually think pikes work well in these rules. I've used a pike unit in a couple of solo games, and they seem fine as a sort of melee specialist unit. They have stamina of 3, whereas musketeers have stamina 2 - meaning pikemen are tougher to kill. (You need 3 hits to take off a figure rather than 2).
They can adopt close order which makes them slightly slower to move, but toughens them up still further in attack or defence hand to hand.
You can't disperse them in mixed 'chequerboard' units of pike and musket, per the beloved pike-and-shot wargames rules orthodoxy (and historical tactics, to be fair), but you can certainly deploy them as a unit alongside a shot unit, to provide some much needed deterrent to cavalry attacks.
They are of course vulnerable to being shot to pieces before they can close with the enemy, but again, I guess that's probably historically accurate, and that's why you have super cheap skirmish units of commanded shot, to provide a screen for your powerful but vulnerable-to-shooting close combat specialists.
So all in all, from my limited experience, they work fine under these rules, and have their uses. It all depends on the scenario I guess, including the terrain and the make-up of the opposing force. It's horses for courses. I am certainly adding more pike units to my ECW army because I like the look of them (and I have nowhere near enough lol)
And so...
Royalist turn 11…
Spoons’ commanded shot advance up through the gorse patch (terrible sense of déjà vu lol).
Spoons’ regt. of shot fire on Lilburne’s veteran Folorn Hope and succeed in killing another, leaving only their noble captain, George Hannibal Smith, who survives a ‘lucky blow’ roll, and whose morale, miraculously, holds firm, tout seul. (So much for your theory, Frede ;))
Crawley’s dragoons fire and manage to knock off another of Okey’s dragoons – although they too pass their morale test. Silent Invader's company is down to just three figures :o
Astley’s shot fire at long range on Okey’s dragoons, but requiring 6s to hit, fail to get enough hits to remove another casualty. That’s it! Turn 12 coming up…
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-060420154757.jpeg)
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Silent Invader's company is down to just three figures :o
We’re manfully defending the prize from all comers (quite literally, it’s all of them and they’re coming!)
FOR PARLIAMENT !!!
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nearly there lovely stuff still :-* :-* :-*
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Cheers Colin :)
Yes, nearly there I think... I was going to call time at the end of this turn (12), but it is still quite interesting, so we shall see...
Turn 12
The Royalists win the initiative, and continue to try to destroy the Parliamentarian defenders of the farm.
As Spoons’ regt. of shot climb back over the hedge into the farmyard (what are they up to? ::)) Crawley’s dragoons fire on George Hannibal Smith, captain and sole survivor of Lilburne’s veteran Folorn Hope, and bring a musket-ball-riddled end to his glorious career.
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-070420100151-453282362.jpeg)
Okey’s remaining dragoons, seeing the captain of their company shot down in front of them, and having lost two thirds of their own strength, take a morale check, and immediately break and rout.
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-070420100151-45342176.jpeg)
Spoons’ commanded shot advance further up the gorse, whilst Astley’s bluecoats, at maximum range, fire off a volley at Crowe’s commanded shot (the last Parliamentarians standing in their line of fire) and manage to take off a figure. Crowe's' morale holds firm though.
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-070420100152-453431003.jpeg)
That’s the Royalist turn 12 over with. Now for the Parliamentarians.
(Well, for Dr De’ath’s actions anyway, since - after a heroic defensive effort - Silent Invader’s command is utterly destroyed :()
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Against near insurmountable odds, they held the prize then died like men (apart from the two who ran away). FOR PARLIAMENT!!
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They died with their boots on...
Parliamentarian turn 12...
The two formed shot units (Lilburne's and Crowe's) about face and start marching south towards the farm.
The frame gun (12 turns and it has done nothing apart from trundle hither and thither and fail to fire lol) moves after them down the lane.
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-080420170253-454101528.jpeg)
Then alas, friction hits as the remainder of Gibson's shot attempt (and fail to activate). So they are left where they are...
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-080420170253-454162398.jpeg)
As are Crowe's commanded shot (orders: 'get into the barn and bar the doors behind you' ::)). They now have to remain where they are.
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-080420170253-45417332.jpeg)
Herewith the field of battle at the end of turn 12.
Entirely predictably, the original east:west axis of the battle has now changed to north:south!
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-080420170254-454181601.jpeg)
I was going to call it there, since the Parliamentarians are in possession of the barn and have (marginally) a preponderance of numbers remaining. But the Royalists are strangely eager to play another turn. What trick do they have up their puffy, slashed sleeves? ;)
However, Parliament (well, Dr De'Ath, since Silent Invader's force is extinct) has won the initiative roll for a putative turn 13. Orders awaited...
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And finally, Turn 13, unlucky for some...
Once again, the Parliamentarians get the initiative on a dice roll... But basically, with the Royalists out of range for the time being, all they can do is move up towards the farm.
Crowe's commanded shot unit obey their orders this time, duck into the barn, and bar the doors behind them.
Crowe's and Lilburne's regiments of shot move up to line the farmyard walls. The frame gun (13 turns, still not fired) trundles further down the lane. And the remnants of Gibson's raw shot scamper along bringing up the rear.
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-100420163329-454321561.jpeg)
Fair to say the Parliamentarians have full possession of the barn and thus the supplies, and own the farmyard too. And look like they'll take some shifting from their defensive position behind the farmyard walls.
Over to the Royalists.
Crawley's dragoons in the mown field, give fire on Crowe's regt. of shot, who have just taken cover behind the farmyard wall. This shooting manages to take off one figure, but Crowe's morale holds firm.
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-100420163329-45435806.jpeg)
Spoon's commanded shot, being out of range, have little option but to keep skirmishing up the lane towards the enemy...
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-100420163330-454362117.jpeg)
While Astley's bluecoats stand idly by (their orders were to set fire to the hay field, but a/ they'd have to move into the hay field first, and b/ it's been mown, so it's only stubble lol)
Spoons' Greencoat regt. of veteran shot however, now attempt to set fire to farmhouse.
This isn't, of course the objective - the barn is the objective - but hey, they're going all out for a cinematic ending.
Unfortunately, the farmhouse is somewhat fortified (observe the complete absence of windows at ground floor level, plus the abundance of thick stone walls) so they fail to smash their way through with their musket butts. Nor to fling handfuls of burning stubble upwards through the first floor window... ::)
They do succeed in inflicting some damage, but not enough to breach the building. Full marks though for attempting to round things off in true Cavalier style ;)
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/45/577-100420163330-454371851.jpeg)
And that concludes the game.
Victory to Parliament - well done Dr De'Ath and Silent Invader. Commiserations to Oshiromodelterrain and Elk101.
Well, it kept us partially entertained for a fair bit of the lockdown so far, so it was worth trying. The Pikeman's Lament rules certainly lent themselves reasonably well to playing the game at a distance this way via WhatsApp, and sending innumerable little videos to the participants in real time to show them the action unfolding (or not) and the dice rolling (or not) in accordance with their orders.
In terms of lessons from the rules, a couple of things were apparent from this game, and they played a significant part in the outcome.
1. When you're consistently attempting (on 2D6) to roll 5s - 7s to activate or pass morale checks (for the most part, depending on troop type and the action intended), then having your officer within 12" makes a big difference. That +1 from the proximity of the company's officer (or the absence of it) made the difference between success and failure on very many occasions.
By keeping each of their two companies together and with each unit in that company (for the most part) staying within 12" of their respective captains' units, the Parliamentarians benefited greatly from this advantage. Whereas the Royalists split and mixed their commands at opposite ends of the battlefield, meaning that (for the most part) their units were out of the influence of their respective captains. And they therefore failed many activations and morale tests which they might otherwise have passed.
2. Cover is important both in reducing shooting casualties, and from hand to hand if you're defending an obstacle. Cover pushes up the defenders' stamina by +1. So a typical unit with stamina of 2, becomes stamina 3. Meaning it takes three hits to remove a figure, rather than two hits.
Now if you're rolling 12 x d6 needing (usually) 5s or 6s on each die to hit, the chances of getting 4 hits is not unreasonable - allowing you to 'kill' two enemy figures. But the chances of getting 6 hits is much less likely. And you need 3 whole hits to carry off a stamina 3 figure, there's no carrying forward spent hits. There were several occasions where 5 hits resulted in just one stamina 3 figure being killed, because any 'overs' are just wasted. The Parliamentarians played a much more defensive game overall, and therefore made much more use of this significant advantage of cover. But one can't really fault the Royalists for behaving like true Royalists, and playing a more gung-ho game :)
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One thing that has improved our Rampant style games. Is random activation of players. Every player has two chits in the chit bag and we draw one every time an activation fails. That way you are not as wulnerable to failed activations as you may get another go.
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It was a glorious game with a righteous result ;D 8)
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It was a glorious game with a righteous result ;D 8)
Bollocks it was. We was robbed ;D
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I really so enjoyed that. That frame gun was hilarious! It might as well have been a wheelbarrow lol
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That frame gun was hilarious! It might as well have been a wheelbarrow lol
lol
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I really enjoyed that too. It's really brightened up the Great Confinement for me. Many thanks for going to the trouble, Richard.
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Well done to the winners and the captain for all the hard work
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It was great joy to follow this and I hope for a re-battle. The result was historical accurate. Great board and figures
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The game was a triumph, I thought, and full credit to Richard for hosting it.
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was the frame gun commander any relation to the Grande Old Duke of York?
The whole thing was a wonderful diversion. Thank you.
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Fantastic game!
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Magnificently staged and the right side won. Result! lol
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Thank you for keeping us entertained for so many days with a great story and magnificent pictures! Cheers!
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What an excellent diversion from the current unpleasantness. A thoroughly enjoyable read and the usual extravaganza of beautifully painted miniatures and scenery. :-* Top job Richard. 8)
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Top draw! :-*
Super AAR which was only trumped by that fantastic gaming table and beautiful minis that I was always gawking at!
:)
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Thanks all.
It was an interesting way to play rather a drawn-out wargame ;)
But hey, we played a wargame!
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Thanks all.
It was an interesting way to play rather a drawn-out wargame ;)
But hey, we played a wargame!
Full credit to you Captain, you kept the whole forum entertained.
(And you most likely doubled the sale of 28mm ECW miniatures)