Project Log: Late 1500s 10mm Pike & Shot Armies | Updated April 2024

[WillPhillips]

I started tinkering around with rules for the era a few years back after being dissatisfied with Warmaster, not that interested in Black Powder/Pike and Shotte, and being so-so with Impetus/Baroque. The plan was to move into a 6mm project for the idea, but that puttered out as I quickly found that 6mm wasn't quite to my liking.

The project lay dormant for a few years, but I've returned to it in recent months with a move up to 10mm scale. I'm finding I like it much more and am more apt to spend time painting than I was with 6mm.

Here's two recent units: a big blob of schwarze reiters (100x100mm) and a small skirmishing base of Irish gallowglass, kern, & shot (50x50mm).







More photos can be found on my blog:

https://tabletop.willphillips.org/2023/07/10mm-reiters-and-irish-gallowglass-kerns/

As well as my history Instagram and Facebook pages:

https://www.instagram.com/rebelsorbeggars/

https://www.facebook.com/rebelsorbeggars

Will be posting updates here as the project churns along. While I look to revise the rules I was working on eventually, my goal right now is just getting units painted.

There's a lot of fiddly pikes to worry about for this (which I have yet to really feel confident in a solution for)!

[SJWi]

Very nice. Which manufacturer(s) do you use and did you settle on a set of rules for the period?
Thanks.

[fred]

Great stuff - always good to see another 10mm project

[WillPhillips]

Very nice. Which manufacturer(s) do you use and did you settle on a set of rules for the period?
Thanks.

Have been using a mix of old GW Warmaster and Pendraken, with a smattering of Forest Dragon 3D printed stuff.

As for rules, I think I'm still likely to spin up my own rules, as the way I'll be playing will be with other gamers who are not familiar with the time period or, for the most part, gaming in small scales like this.

It will very much be a lightweight, simple rule set, as to get the game going quickly in those conditions.

[AlexanderTheOk]

This is one of my favorite periods of warfare. I'm actually painting up a batch for small engagements in "New Spain". I've got most of my 16th century Spanish colonials done and am now working through the protestant pirates. The buccaneer shot units are repurposed Irish shot.

[WillPhillips]

This is one of my favorite periods of warfare. I'm actually painting up a batch for small engagements in "New Spain". I've got most of my 16th century Spanish colonials done and am now working through the protestant pirates. The buccaneer shot units are repurposed Irish shot.

Very cool!

I had a chance to do the reenactment of Drake's Raid in St. Augustine, Florida earlier this spring. Was a lot of fun.

What rules will you be using?

[AlexanderTheOk]

I'll be trying Irregular Wars. If you have any recommendations I'm all ears. I'm just a couple hours west of St. Augustine - do they put on the reenactment every year?

[FierceKitty]

Great minds (esp. if they're called Alexander...); I'm also in the middle of painting Drake's Panama raid forces; Cimaroons done, Jarajira Americans under the brush, Hugenots and English waiting patiently.

[WillPhillips]

I'll be trying Irregular Wars. If you have any recommendations I'm all ears.

Heard Irregular Wars is a lot of fun. Pikeman's Lament can work, too.

Was working on my own grid-based skirmish project for the era that fizzled out, but it may be of interest:

https://tabletop.willphillips.org/wargaming/15xx/

I'm just a couple hours west of St. Augustine - do they put on the reenactment every year?

I believe so, yes!

[WillPhillips]

Great minds (esp. if they're called Alexander...); I'm also in the middle of painting Drake's Panama raid forces; Cimaroons done, Jarajira Americans under the brush, Hugenots and English waiting patiently.

Very cool! What scale and rules do you have in mind for it?

[WillPhillips]

Have recent written a short tutorial on the fast-and-loose approach I'm taking to basing my small scale project.

In case anyone else is intimidated by it, here's what I've figured out as a fellow newcomer to the small stuff.

https://tabletop.willphillips.org/2023/08/easy-small-scale-basing-flocking-tutorial/

Using this newly finished 50x50mm base of Forlorn Hope as an example:

[FierceKitty]

Very cool! What scale and rules do you have in mind for it?

10 mm, with the Envy in support in 1:1200.

[AlexanderTheOk]

Looking awesome! I like the variety of sculpts. It’s a shame pendraken doesn’t make more options for sword and buckler men - especially given their usage in the Italian wars.

[bluewillow]

Lovely brushwork, a one day project for me

Cheers
Matt

[FierceKitty]

Privateer raid on San Miguel. Donna Lee, commanding the Spaniards, had no trouble beating my pirates senseless.
I am aware that the Jolly Roger on the Envy may be a few decades ahead of its time, and that it's only speculation that the Cimaroons might have built up a small stock of horses before the 70s (most of them are on foot with machetes, anyway, but Lee didn't photograph those).