English Civil War

[OSHIROmodels]

Not too keen on the plastic Warlord figures either really, I've seen a few and the freebie dragoon on the cover of WI really did nothing for me at all. It seem to be of the low-end of the plastics spectrum (like GW plastics of old)

cheers

James

p.s. the terrain company was TM Terrain, who's stuff I really like 

cheers

[Gluteus Maximus]

I personally like the "WECW" rules, also "Forlorn Hope" which I used regularly when they first appeared and have since bought the newer version. Great rules.

"File Leader" and "Once Upon A Time In The West Country" are also excellent for smaller actions. Again, I've played both extensively and had lots of fun, especially "Once Upon A Time....".

Go to Caliver Books for their "Partizan Press" booklets for first-class history and uniform/flag detail etc.

Dave Ryan is an expert on the subject and has published some fantastic stuff  

[Galloping Major]

I'd echo everything Gluteus Maximus said re rules. Dave Ryan of Caliver Books/Partizan Press is always helpful. I have all the rules mentioned by Glt Max and they're all good, also have the earlier mentioned 1644 and Warhammer ECW.

For a good read, I've just had a look at some of the stuff I've got (I'd forgotten how many books I have on the subject) some I'd recommend are:

"Going to the Wars" by Charles Carlton
"This War Without an Enemy" Charles Carlton
"Fairfax" John Wilson
"The Civil Wars" edited by John Kenyon & Jane Ohlmeyer
"Roundhead General - the campaigns of Sir William Waller" John Adair

There are loads of good books on our Civil Wars, but if you only bought one for background feel, I'd say get Going to the Wars.

[cianty]

Thanks for the replies. I guess I'll check out "Once Upon A Time In The West Country" then.

[Galloping Major]

A very useable set of rules (though I haven't played them for over 10 years - beginning to wonder why).

http://theminiaturespage.com/rules/ren/ouatintc.html

[Doug ex-em4]

I haven't been interested in ECW since about 1973 but having just moved to a house which is virtually on the edge of a (small) ECW battle, I'm getting interested again. What strikes me is the extent of the battlefield of only a small battle - it brings home forcibly what the problems of command and control must have been once things got started.

I think my local battle (Roundway Down) would make a good wargame, as it happens. The forces are not huge and the situation with forces arriving from various directions is full of interest.....

Hmmm.......

Doug

[Darkoath]

Hope this doesn't mean you're losing interest in FIW  

No not at all Galloping Major!  FIW is one of my favorite skirmish periods!
In fact, I am waiting for the next wonderful release from you!   *Hint Hint*

Darkoath

[Wirelizard]

Rattrap's Gloire works for ECW skirmish/adventure gaming; in fact one of the intro scenarios in the book revolves around chasing Rupert the poodle around the board.

It's not an era I game in (yet) although a friend is talking about those Warlord plastics, and I could see painting up a few dozen figures!

[Blackwolf]

 If your interested in skirmish scenarios ,the Montrose campaigns may be of interest.Read Nigel Tranter's novels The Young Montrose and Montrose:Capt General. In my book he is one of the greatest commanders ever ,up there with E G Loudon (SYW Austrian General),rambling. 

[Gluteus Maximus]

It's difficult to rate Montrose, as he generally faced enemy Generals and troops of limited worth. The Covenanters efforts were ruined by constant meddling from the Government and Church, whereas he had pretty much complete autonomy in Scotland.

Fair enough, his own troops were often of poor quality [and that's the case in all Civil War armies] and generally few in number, but he never got to face the best of the Covenanters who tended to get sent to the English campaign.

Still, I have to agree, he was a very good General indeed and it would have been fascinating to see him fighting against the "big boys" like Cromwell or Fairfax [my personal favourite ECW commander].

Also, his army was probably the coolest in the Civil Wars and the small size of the forces mean it is an ideal campaign to recreate.