When it comes to 'renaissance' what is the best sub period, and why?

[OSHIROmodels]

Ooh, that could be spectacular! 

St Mawes and Pendennis are in the area and were used in the ECW (by the royalists I believe).

cheers

James

[Elk101]

St Mawes and Pendennis are in the area and were used in the ECW (by the royalists I believe).

cheers

James

Yup, one of the last Royalist garrisons to fall. It was under the command of the octogenarian Sir John Arundel I think. Can't remember the Parliamentarian commander though

[whiskey priest]

I have to say I like what could roughly be called the "elizabethan" period i.e. the second half of the 16th century. Thing is it's so under represented as a 'period' but look at the riches. French Wars of Religion, Dutch Revolt, Rough Wooing, Civil war in Scotland, Desmond Revolt/ 9 years war in Ireland, the Cologne war, Anglo-spanish war, Russo-Swedish War. You can go for big old set piece battles with lots of cavalry of varying sorts, blocks of pike, experimentation with combined arms, nice flags, silly trousers, the beginning of piracy as a national pastime, raids on distant shores and street fighting in european towns. Whats not to like?

[Sparrow]

Let's face it, the whole Pike and Shot era is an amazing wargames period but if pushed my first love will always be ECW but followed closely by the Thirty Years War, the expansionist wars of the Ottoman
Turks and the French Wars of Religion etc. There  is SO much choice!  

[Baron von Nickedoften]

Have to go with ECW for the same list of reasons as "has.been" on page 1, to which I would add:-

- the genesis of the British Army, via the New Model (which, ironically, also introduced republicanism to Ireland).

[JohnDSD2]

How can you resist the Ottoman Turks, you get Janissaries (any unit that has a cooking pot as its standard is ok with me), horsemen from across the east of Europe, Azabs, Voyniks and other exotic infantry.
Plenty of colour, plenty of people to fight, Hungarians, Muscovites, Balkan States, Byzantine, Vlad the Impaler, Holy orders, Venetians the list goes on.
Lots of sweeping cavalry moves, sieges, you name it, its there.
And no pikes to bend/snap when you are moving your figures!

[Paul Richardson]

I really like the TYW. For me, it just has more appeal than the ECW, although I can't really explain why. If I had to go for something else, I'd be very tempted by the Elizabethan period. I really love the Foundry Seadog figures.

[flags_of_war]

English Civil War for me. The politics and history are what first interested myself along with the Flags

I can also field Scots fighting alongside Parliament or do either side on their own if i wanted. For now it's the combo I'm going for. Id love to get a Fortified Manor like Stokesay Castle
 

[Arlequín]

Another vote for the English Civil War here. Whatever level you game at, be it big battle or lowly skirmish, there's something there for you and it's well covered as regards reference material.

Has.been's mention of the amateurishness of the leaders, who were often learning as they went along - drill book in hand, is pretty much the archetypical wargamer trying to grasp the rules as he's playing the game. 

A handful of clubmen and musketeers and you have the beginnings of an army, which can grow as you plod on. 

[Leftblank]

ECW is sooooo British!
I'm Dutch. I prefer late 17th century (League of Augsburg) and 30YW. LoA & the post 1700 WSS is a period with colourful uniforms and a lot of varied battles. Interesting transitional period.

[charla51]

A nice range of responses, olicana?

[Arlequín]

ECW is sooooo British!

You're kicking in an open door there. 

I am English and there is a wealth of information, diaries and what have you, which all mentions places I have lived at or near, or can easily visit without too much travel (when I am in England at least).

I have to admit I found the latter part of the Eighty Years War really interesting, but finding the same granularity of information on it, even in Dutch or Spanish, was so difficult. Everybody writes about the big history sure, but what about the day to day soldiering?

There are some fantastic conflicts with rich histories in Europe... but nobody seems to write about them, or if they do you must hide the books away or something.

[duc de limbourg]

As I am Dutch we Always like a Dutch theme so we play 1500-1510 in the Netherlands (italian wars with a twist) and the late 17th century Nine Years War.
Look for pictures at www.aldegarde.blogspot.nl or www.aldegarde.nl (although a backlog of recent pictures etc to add on the site  ) 

[Landsknecht]

Without a doubt, Great Italian Wars.

[NurgleHH]

As a German from the north I like ECW. Thirty Years War is interesting, but I started with ECW and like the empress range.
Italian wars is also interesting, started some Perrys for a papal Army.