Gangs of Florence?

[Ethelred the Almost Ready]

I have been a bit stuck with what I want to do with wargaming.  The time it takes to get things sent to New Zealand and my current lack of enthusiasm for painting has impacted on gaming.  This leaves me somewhat conflicted, as there are games I want to play but I don't think I want to commit to a lot of painting.

I had made a post some time ago thinking about either mid 14thd  or mid to late 15th century Italy.  This interest came about from reading both the Tom Swan and Chivalry series of Christian Cameron and from my love of Italy (or possibly just Italian wine). 
What I would like is a skirmish game where I can have a small retinue fighting skirmishes (small forces is about all I am up to painting).  Some of these would be in proper combat, mounted and in full harness etc, but some would be urban brawls.  Possibly a bit like Gangs of Rome but would instead be Gangs of Florence.

I am not too fussy whether I use 15 or 28mm figures, but I suspect 28mm will give me more options.  I am uncertain whether the earlier or later time period give me the better options for what I need.  I prefer metal but will do plastic, especially if kitbashing will give me the look I want.

Essentially, I need Italian and foreign mercenaries – knights, archers, cross bows, militia etc.  I also need armed men in civilian clothes.  These wouldn’t just be thugs or armed peasants but armed gentlemen/ knights in their city clothes.  Townsfolk are a must – men and women and both commoners and the wealthy.  Terrain is also needed – Florence and Rome might be easier than Venice.  Oshiro’s Italian town is very inspiring.

As far as rules go, I don’t know how adaptable Gangs of Rome would be and how solo-friendly it is.  Song of Shadows and Dust from Ganesha Games sounds like it might work.

With all that as background and with the difficulty of getting armed and unarmed civilians, what period do you think is easier to achieve? 
Where would I best be able to buy suitable figures? Foundry have some civilians that look OK and Tabletop Art have an interesting collection but probably more suitable for the earlier period. 
I was thinking some of the Perry European Army figures might work.  Some of Captain Harlock’s bodies are without armour.  I would need unarmoured arms without weapons, a lot with daggers and the occasional longsword smuggled onto the streets. 


Any thoughts welcome.  Thanks.

[Poiter50]

For rules perhaps try Never Mind the Ruckus - in development but based on a lesser figure count for Never Mind The Billhooks. Latest version of NMTB will give you an idea of Italian figures.

[Clearco]

Maybe Tribal (second edition) could work for your games: it includes the former supplement (Brutal) for urban gang brawls, including late medieval-Renaissance Italy. I think Eureka did some dueling figures that can be used for it too

[Furt]

Gangs of Rome could well work I'd say with some house rules for harness and weapons, but check out Force of Virtue.

I stumbled across it one day on Youtube. I haven't looked much more into it but it did grab my attention.

I think it may be what you are looking for https://masterstrokegames.com/

[pws]

If there are not too "renaissance", you can try to contact "res tactica": https://www.facebook.com/restatticaminiature they scuplted a set of figures in various duel poses according to ancient italian swordmanship manual.

[bigredbat]

For figures, a mix of the Perry metals and plastics would give you a lot of options. Have a look at Mirliton- they do a Florentine parade, if I recall correctly. Might find your civilians, there.

[carlos marighela]

You know that Eureka do a dedicated range of Italian civvies included armed versions, duelists and thugs, in 28mm?

https://www.eurekamin.com.au/index.php?cPath=87_126_138&sort=3a&page=3

You can also use some of their Italian wars and 15th C foot figures.

https://www.eurekamin.com.au/index.php?cPath=87_126_909_756_757&sort=3a

https://www.eurekamin.com.au/index.php?cPath=87_126_909&sort=3a

Postage is going to be cheaper across the ditch.

IIRC there's a tribal supplement for the period, failing that Donnybrook could be made to work.

[Patrice]

Argad rules is intended for unformal skirmishes and brawls; although not much tested for solo gaming.

The generic rules will soon be updated for small details. The 14th century reference sheet works as well for the 15th C.

[traveller]

I have a similar project on the shelf. I got excited after watching the series "The Borgias" but only completed a few figures, including two of the main characters, Cesare Borgia and his henchman Micheletto:













I found it fairly easy to find suitable figures from Foundry, TAG, Perry, GW etc that fit the bill, sometimes with a bit of conversion. I also plan to use these with a project for the "Sack of Rome" in 1527. It was a lot of fun building this pope from a Wizard and a grenadier cap:

[v_lazy_dragon]

I'd go ~~1500ish, using the Eureka duelists, various sets of Landsknechts/Renaissance citizens (Warlord, Casting Room, etc), the TAG Italian civilian gun crew and with sufficient squinting maybe some Foundry Swashbucklers (more 1570s-1600s) and less 'grimdark' warhammer old world types

[Inkpaduta]

The Eureka figures are spot on for what you would want to do.

[commissarmoody]

What you described is the wanting is the game, "Force of Virtue".
With it's first setting being 1490s Rome.  It's first 5 factions are Swiss, French, Spanish, Landsknecht and Condottieri. They are also currently working on a WOTRs British Isle setting, but will continue to expand to other renaissance settings. (Venice, Florence, German city states, German Ritter, German peasants rebels, Balkans Turks and all that)
Missions are like Steal this art, assassinate this banker, fight for control of a market squares, drop off a bribe..etc.

Over and intro video about the rules, setting and idea behind the game.
https://youtu.be/VoPNZt3ppC4?si=W0y-3siAxkM_LLo7

A 3rd party playing the free PDF campaign to get used to the rules.
https://youtu.be/l_hNlf0h2rc?si=Pf24kdVvtME9tKJ4


https://www.facebook.com/groups/802543670335178/?ref=share&mibextid=NSMWBT

https://masterstrokegames.com/#:~:text=Force%20of%20Virtue%20is%20a,landscape%20of%20the%20Eternal%20City.

[commissarmoody]

Here are some photos of a game.

[Captain Harlock]

Here are some photos of a game.

This is really cool stuff!

[carlos marighela]

That's a gorgeous looking table