The Pikeman's Lament

[H.G. Walls]

We have been looking forward to the release of The Pikeman's Lament here, which does not happen until late Jan. in the States. We have also enjoyed the AAR on your blog.

Thanks,
Herb

[Dalauppror]

Thanks Herd! I really hope you Will like the rules when they arrive

[Codsticker]

Hi Codsticker

I noticed that ther was some diskussionsinlägg TMP on that matter, but I don't really want to get involved as this is a game and not a perfect simulation of real combat. But you can't have a pike and shot game without pikes and after all it is all about imagination and scale. For example, in the Pikeman's Lament a pike unit at full strengh are 12 minis, if you count the minis at a 1:1 scale 12 pikeman might not have been optionall, but the "army" in the rules are called Companies so If you should be true historical all your units in your company should be pikemen... But that might not be to fun to game... So as the Pikeman's Lament are a game it work fine to field 12 pikeman and if you really have a problem with that use a 1:5 or 1:10 scale then your 12 pikemen represent 60 or 120 pikemen

It is all about what gives a good game and your imagination, if you want a true simulation to reallity then The Pikeman's Lament are not a game for you, But if you like a good, Swift and entertaining game that gives you enjoyable pike and shot games the the Pikeman's Lament sure is for you.

Hope My novell helped you out and gave some ideeas about how i think regarding the Pikeman's Lament rules.

best regards Michael

Thank you for responding Micheal. I totally appreciate the nature of the Lion Rampant/Pikeman's Lament rules. I have actually played a couple of games using Lion Rampant adapted to the ECW as I like the mechanics.  As I game the ECW, actions involving small companies is quite common and I am excited to get some games in with these rules.

[pocoloco]

Congrats on the publication Michael! Well done!

Need to get these rules once they reach my FLGS

[mellis1644]

@melllis1644

Would be nice and impressive to see the units made up of 12 and 6 DBx bases

I have enough for that with a 2 player game. I would look good and will have to try it.

However, I may do 4 bases for an infantry unit and 2 bases per cav unit and try some multi-player games. I'll read the rules first but it may be the later that will allow a 6 player con game in March...

Maybe ECW Scots vs. Royalists in an interesting scenario. 

[Dalauppror]

Maybe ECW Scots vs. Royalists in an interesting scenario. 

I have article in Wargames soldier and stararegy issu 87 for the Pikeman's Lament:

"The Swedish influence on the Battle of Newburn"

‘Is he for real?’ you must think. ‘Does he really mean that the Swedes were involved in the prelude to the English Civil War?’ Finding a Swedish connection was hard but eventually I managed to find some interesting information regarding how Sweden influenced the start of the English Civil War .

[Sir_Theo]

I've always fancied dipping my tow into gaming this era.  I had Warlords Pike and Shotte, which seem fine rules but I was a bit daunted by the scale th we seemed to advocate. I tentatively started getting some 10mm figs but they have stayed in their baggies. 

I'm a big fan of the Rampant games so this is very appealing.  And I can get some lovely 28s to game ECW skirmishes from around my local area.

A another project begins..

[Wirelizard]

Just read through some of the posts on your blog and this set of rules is going to have to go on The List to be bought when possible, as I've got some ECW/TYW (mostly Warlord) around but not enough figures to do FoG:R or other big-battle rules.

Skirmish and "big skirmish" rules are more my thing anyway and these look to satisfy that!

[Dalauppror]

Greate to here that the rules might get more wargamers in to the pike and shot era 😃

[Mick_in_Switzerland]

I have used Lion Rampant successfuly for Swiss / Burgundy Wars (1474-77).

Would The Pikeman's Lament be a significant improvement or would there be little difference in play?

[Codsticker]

I would say they will play quite differently as they are for very different styles of games, large battle or skirmish. Having played both Lion Rampant and Black Powder/Pike and Shotte, Pikeman's Lament will play faster, with more back-and-forth between the commanders (easier to end a player's turn in the LR rules family); I imagine PL will have figure removal whereas P&S does not; you will be rolling more dice in combat. In all ways, more suitable for a skirmish set of rules (if you look through Michael's blog you will see that you can have a 24pt Company quickly and cheaply by using a box of Warlord's plastic Firelocks).

[Romark]

Excited about these,can't wait for my copy to arrive .

[noigrim]

More like "Luther Rampant"
It'll be as popular as the previous ones 

[Codsticker]

Or Lutheran Rampant... sound slike a convention game.

[Captain Blood]

My copy arrived. Very nice job Michael. Only a few of my pics made it in, but they have come out well 

I suppose I'd better try a game!