First playtest for Elizabethan Ireland

[Rogerc]

Had a first game with my latest obsession recently at Steves, Elizabethan Ireland, using Irregular Wars rules, quite impressed with them in the end, write up and pictures here:

https://gapagnw.blogspot.com/2023/05/irregular-wars-first-playtest.html

[Romark]

 Good write up and the minis look great 👍

[fred]

For some reason the links not clickable by me - so pasting it again in case others have the same problem https://gapagnw.blogspot.com/2023/05/irregular-wars-first-playtest.html

Mod: fixed that, the OP missed a space before the link by accident.

Great looking game, not sure I’ve seen many Irregular Wars games played in 28mm, but due to the whole system being based of Base Widths for measurement it certainly works and looks good.

I’m a big fan of Irregular Wars and we have played loads of games over the years. The rules do take a little reading to get the hang of, but once you get them, they are very straightforward. And as your game showed cascading Resolve loss can be catastrophic for an army.

I do like the random elements of army selection and the pre-game Disease and Mishap phase - these change things up nicely!

Did you spot that flank (and rear) charges against an engaged enemy cause automatic Resolve loss - this is one of the most effective ways of killing enemy units. As melee combats can often be quite prolonged.

As to army list well worth doing - we write in the Charge bonus in to the melee stats - for example 8/4 for a unit that has Charge +4 on a base 4 melee stat. Makes it much easier to read during a game.

Looking forward to seeing the next game!

[Rogerc]

Thanks Keith.

Fred I dont think I had spotted the flank charge thanks for that.

Hoping to get a second game in very soon, meanwhile I am busy painting more figures to give us more options. Once the English and Irish are done I plan to add Highland/Islemen forces too.

[has.been]

Thanks for posting. Always nice to see the Irish in action,
and yours are so nice.
Not heard of those rules before, who stocks them?

[Metternich]

Wonderful collection of figures.

[fred]

Not heard of those rules before, who stocks them?

http://irregularwars.blogspot.com/p/irregular-wars-conflict-at-worlds-end.html

Hard copy through Amazon, PDF through wargames vault - not expensive - and come with huge numbers of army lists which will make you scrabble though your lead mountain to see what you could field, perhaps with 1 or 2 new additions!!

[has.been]

Thanks for that. Rules & cards ordered, though wot wiv US postal costs
the rules AND cards are cheaper than postage, VAT etc.
Ah well I decided to treat myself.
I will start trawling through the lead mountain, for suitable figures, as soon as the rules arrive.

[fred]

Good stuff. The printed cards are very nice.

Any idea which theatre you are going for?

[has.been]

Any idea which theatre you are going for?

First up would be Elizabethan Ireland. I have been dithering for some time now
with some suitable figures, 28mm, whether to do Border Reivers or 'Colonial' Ireland.
This will make me commit, & my heart says Ireland.

[Marine0846]

Wonderful collection of figures.
The rules look interesting.
Look forward to your view about them after you have played a few games.

[Rogerc]

Has been looking forward to how you get on. Plenty of border horse in Ireland so you get to use them for both.

Fred I will also do a Highland and Islemen army once the Irish and English are done.

Marine0846 hope to get another game in this month and share the report with you guys.

[has.been]

Rules have arrived, though it will be some weeks before the cards cross the pond.
No chance to read the rules yet, as builders due to start tomorrow & the wife & I
have been rushing around moving stuff & finding temporary homes for everything.

[PBR Streetgang]

Irregular Wars is a really fun set for a niche period. The author is an incredibly decent fellow as well. I have armies in 15mm for refighting the small conflicts in various corners of the world.

The rules address issues that many others do not: mishaps, sickness, units going rogue when out of command range and even the effects of rain on gunpowder weapons.

[Rogerc]

Agreed, I am thoroughly enjoying them, another game next week.