Rules for the barons war?

[Ray Earle]

Gents,

I'm looking at possibly (ahem) starting a project this year to cover the first barons war, or at least parts of it, and therefore I'm looking for some rule suggestions. The type of thing I'm looking at is large skirmish, with a definite medieval flavour, I've played a few ancients sets before with medieval mods but nice square ranks and file just look all wrong. The mob rules!! 

I'd had a quick glance at Deus Vult, it's the right period, although wrong part of the world, has anyone played it and is it the right sort of rules for what I want?

I'm looking to cover some guerrilla warfare, ambushing supply wagons, small sieges, and the odd smaller scrap.

Thanks,

[OSHIROmodels]

How about Dux Britanathingy, there's a couple of chaps on here who I think have altered it for medieval combat etc.

cheers

James

[Ray Earle]

The 'Too fat lardies' rules? Not the Osprey set which have a similar and confusing name?

They might just be the ticket. I can see the campaign rules lending well to the Barons war too. Good idea. Thanks James. 

[OSHIROmodels]

Two Fat Lardies rules, yes. Can never remember the name 

Although I've just remembered its on the shelf next to me 

cheers

James

[Ray Earle]

Isn't that always the way though? 

I assume being written for the earlier Dark age period that there's no siege rules? Should be easy enough to cobble some together I would have thought.

I'm at the in-laws at the moment in Framlingham, Suffolk and when visiting the local castle a couple of years ago remember how the English heritage tour said that the castle had been laid siege to for several months. The garrison of 14 blokes with crossbows were a little surprised once everyone had got bored and gone home one morning. 

So I think siege warfare should be fairly feasible on a skirmish scale. I seem to recall Rochester was only held by a handful of men too.

To be honest I've always been into knights and things ever since I was a kid and  just looking for excuse to paint some figures up and get them up on the table. Maybe not in the amazingly bright 'Technicolor' of the films of my childhood though... 

[OSHIROmodels]

Looking forward to seeing what you do 

I do vaguely remember hearing somewhere that the Monty Python film The Holy Grail took some inspiration from history when they attacked a castle with just their swords... Might of been bollocks though 

cheers

James

[Ray Earle]

I'm pretty sure it was their swords..   

It's been a while since I've seen the film though. 

I think there's going to be a fair bit of converting involved. Some of the fireforge plastics might make an appearance.

[OSHIROmodels]

I'm pretty sure it was their swords..   

 

Do you know if they fit with the old Foundry range? I've got a feeling that they will be too big 

cheers

James

[fastolfrus]

So I think siege warfare should be fairly feasible on a skirmish scale. I seem to recall Rochester was only held by a handful of men too.

Harlech was held by 12 men - cannot remember the year though

[max]

I play Dux Britanniarum in the 15th century for Wars of the Roses and they work a treat. I've (and others) have worked on new ideas and campaigns, still in play testing times.
I'm sure they'd work fine, there's no real formations except for shieldwalls, that are in lines. I just guess they'll be a lot more cavalry in both force's, which would change the speed of the game perhaps.
As for sieges, i've not thought about them yet, but maybe one day.
Forces start off at 30/40 figs, but i've upped the forces once to 50 odd.
Good luck!

[Ray Earle]

Sounds positive, thanks Max.

I've got it in my head that the knights will be the only decently trained and armed mounted blokes, possibly with some mounted retainers, but the rest will just be feudal rabble.

In the time honoured tradition, of course. 

I've just ordered a book on the first Barons war so hopefully that'll give me a good overview of the main players.

Obviously, living in the West Midlands gives me access to a fair bit of local history concerning the uprising. 

[senex]

may be framlingham-castle did not hold the siege.
http://livingthehistoryelizabethchadwick.blogspot.de/2010/02/siege-of-framlingham-castle.html

[Ray Earle]

Possibly. It was a while ago. 

[max]

It'll be good to see what you come up with.

[Lord Ekard]

I'd had a quick glance at Deus Vult, it's the right period, although wrong part of the world, has anyone played it and is it the right sort of rules for what I want?

Deus Vult is based for the period that you want to play and it is thought to recreate battle of every part of the world (not only holy land) but it is not skirmish
note: in the Deus Vult rulebook there are not siege rules (because we need to work more to recreate a good siege system, than we will release new material about in the future)