Pikes running rampant

Games night at John's on Friday, and we pulled out some figures from his English Civil War collection for a game of Pikeman's Lament. We used the same unit flank rules that we've been using with Dragon Rampant, and they worked a treat.
The sides were broadly similar, except that the Parliamentarians had trotters, the Royalists had gallopers and the Roundheads also had a Dragoon unit while the Cavaliers had a third unit of horse.

The game begins as the Royalists begin to move up.

The Royalist horse are not mucking around at all!

The Parliamentarians are up for the challenge.

By this stage the Royalist horse have been worn down on either flank, while the Roundhead commander and his entourage ride down the flank of the Royalist musketeers.

But in turn the reserve Royalist cavalry charge into the flank of the Roundhead pikemen, causing massive casualties and forcing them to break.

The end of the battle with the last Parliamentarian musketeer unit in retreat, the Roundhead commander killed and the Cavaliers in possession of the town.

I continue to be in love with the 'rampant' family of rules. At the moment I've just started collecting some Napoleonic figures for Rebels and Patriots. More on that later.

Nate

Steak on the hoof - 6 x 6 Pikeman's Lament AAR

My first game of The Pikeman's Lament had been a solo effort, and went rather well. The rules were incredibly easy to use and the game was fun. As I am on holiday at the moment and John was able to get away from work a little earlier than usual, I offered to set up a game to play out. This time, I thought it would be good to start using the officer traits and begin a small role-playing campaign. The previous outing I had created two officers, but hadn't bothered with traits or honour - it was realy just to get my head around the basic rules.

Originally I had thought to use my two characters from the first game - Charles Utterlea-Barking and Luis Alejandro de Jambon-Empanada - but when I rolled on the table for their background, both ended up being quite unsuitable. My Bourbon officer was sly, a son of a merchant without honour, and could never be a an aristocrat like Luis, while the Confederate officer was a foreigner, not entirely trusted by his men. Once again, Utterlea-Barking was just too English to fit that personality. So I created two new characters. Leading the Bourbons was Rodrigo Tapas, while the Confederates were led by a Protestant French exile, Hugh Geneaux. I randomly generated their personal missions for the game. Rodrigo had to kill the enemy leader in hand to hand combat for 3 points of honour, while Hugh had to motivate his force to remove more enemy causalties through hand to hand rather than through shooting.

The scenario I rolled up from the rulebook was 'steak on the hoof', and the table was duly set up. When John arrived I quickly outlined the basics of the rules and found that they were very simple to explain. We got stuck in.

As the battle starts the Condfederate forces are deployed in the centre of the table facing the columns of Bourbon troops moving forward with their pilfered cattle.

The grendier detachment (forlorn hope) and a line company (shot) of the Toledo regiment moved froward with some of the Rios Spanish cavalry regiment (trotters) in support. Rodrigo Tapas was the grenadier officer.

Hugh Geneaux was with Pearce's Dragoons (Gallopers) and a company of Colbatch's 5th Spanish foot. 

True to his mission, Geneaux led his troopers forward towards the enemy.

The Bourbon forces opened up, the Rios troopers performing the caracole.

Colbatch's company also took casualties. no-one failed their morale or fell below half strength though.

Geneaux led his men into the fray and forced the the Rios squadron back.

The Confedrate reinforcements entered the table - some Miquelets and Rivers' grenadiers.

On the otherwise so far anonymous side of the battle (due mainly to heir being no Confederate troops there initially, and to the fact that the Zinzendorf dragoons and Osuna regiment aren't quite finished yet), the Zinzendorf Dragoons and a line company of Rivers' regiment appeared.

I managed to miss taking a picture of the duel, but Tapas called out Geneaux, which was rather extraordinary considering he was sly. It can only be assumed that he was thinking of the 3 points of honour he would take away from this clash. Of course, he lost the duel. Geneaux's triumph was shortlived though, as murderous fire from the Toledo regiment and a renewed charge by the Rios horse destroyed him and his unit.

The Zinzendorf dragoons didn't hang back, charging pell mell into the Toledo company on the far side of the battlefield.

The miquelets moved into a flanking position, but the grenadiers failed their activation and couldn't enter the woods.

The Toledo grenadiers abandoned their cows (later I realised they couldn't do this, but at the time John wanted to get moving and I saw nothing wrong with this) and charged Colbatch's, forcing them into a retreat that would eventually become a rout. The Miquelets took a hammering, but would rally to get off a salvo, which took out two of the Rios cavalry, before being hit and wavering again.

The Valencian militia kept trying to get off the hill and help out the Toledo grenadiers, but consistently failed its activation roll.

Rivers' grenadiers burst out of the woods and smashed into the Toledo regiment, forcing them back, only to be decimated by shooting in the following turn.

The Zinzendorf dragoons repulsed by fire from the Toledo infantry and the Osuna Dragoons, only Rivers' foot stood between a Bourbon victory and a potential draw. But they failed their activation roll to fire twice in a row. They were destroyed without firing a shot...

With the Confederates beaten off, the Bourbon troops safely escort their precious beef back to their camp.

The rules were perfect for a pick-up game like this. John had them down-pat by the second turn, and minimal use of the qrs or book was required. On reflection, I realised that I needed to try and wipe out units in an attempt to break the company but also narrow down the number of manouevre elements open to an opponent - especially as mine were whittled away. I mucked up the deployment of the miquelets and the grenadiers. The former should have been in cover because they are fleet-footed and need the cover to boost their low stamina rating. Weakening your opponent with musketry is also advised before assaulting, but I was trying to play to conditions determined by my honour mission. Hint to self: worry about winning the game before the scenario requirements!

So what about our two heroes? The Bourbon side received 6 honour for securing all of the cattle, and the Confederates received 1 from a double 6 activation roll and 2 from killing more enemy through hand to hand than shooting. However it was all academic. Both leaders became casualties and had to roll on the casualty table. John rolled a double 1 and I thought it fitting that sly old Rodrigo Tapas died begging for his life in the duel with Geneaux. Then I rolled a double 1 as well! My distrusted Frenchman must have fallen from his horse and got on his knee when the Rios troopers charged him. So, next game we will have two new officers.

I'm hopeful that I will get my 6 x 6 completed. Kaptain Kobold has been kind enough to let me have my previous Pikeman's Lament battle report count if necessary (it wasn't originally my game choice), which means four more games of this, one of DBA (I'm saving this one for two new armies which I hope to have out next week), 3 of Song of Broken Legions and six of Commands and Colours. C& C is the only one I'm iffy about, as although it is a quick playing game, I'm not really sure about playing it solo, so it is up to how many times I can manage to get Mike to be available for gaming it.

I apologise for the photos, a number didn't come out very well due to the light in the shed, and even the ones I've been able to use here aren't all that great. My old fluoros have given up the ghost and I'm going to have to get some new ones installed.

Nate

Once upon a time in Spain

I haven't managed to paint all of the figures for this yet, but I thought I'd do a little set up to see how the Marlburians in Spain would perform. This scenario sees the Allies vigorously pursuing some Bourbon troops of the Toledo Regiment, and a few of the latter, under the able leadership of the grenadier officer Luis Alejandro de Jamon-Empanada, have garrisoned a farmhouse, hoping to hold out.

The Allied commander, cavalry officer Charles Utterlea-Barking, is determined to flush them out with his polyglot force of Dutch, British and Miquelets.

Utterlea-Barking leads forward his cavalry troop, as the British Grenadiers deploy in the background.

Bird's-eye view of the layout. Toledo regiment in the buildings, most of the allies advancing along the road, Miquelets preparing to enter the orchard on the left.

Jamon-Empanada's garrison uses the walls to boost morale.

The Allied column.

The Miquelets

Close up of the defenders.

And so to the game, my first of Pikeman's Lament, and I was interested to see how it would play, having been a  fan of Lion Rampant.

The British grenadiers advanced towards the farm, only to be hit with the first salvo at short range from the Toledo regiment.

The Miquelets advance through the orchard to strike at the flank.

The initial plan was for the cavalry to circle around behind the buildings, jump the wall and attack from the rear, but it took some casualties and I also found it crippling to have my commanding officer too far away from the rest of the troops de to the +1 he affords their activation when within 12".

The grenadiers were hit with a hail of lead and failed their morale roll - admittedly they did roll a 3 on 2d6. The English line infantry moved up in their place.

Between the crossfire generated by the miquelets and the English line, the Toledo regiment began to falter.

And was forced back, wavering. The next unit moved sideways to take its place in the frontline. The Toledo grenadiers also move into position.

Activating on a double 6 the Toledo troops unleash a new 'first salvo'. This is enough to cause the English infantry to rout. Now the Dutch come forward.

They too are forced back by the Bourbon fire.

But they manage to rally and get off a volley. The British horse now stake everything on a death or glory charge into the grenadiers, who have seen off the Miquelets in the orchard.

The grenadiers survive, but only just. Meanwhile the rest of the line infantry are falling back, unable to rally.

Reduced to just himself and a number of broken troops, Jamon-Empanada surrenders. But the Allies don't look like they are in the best shape either!

So an Allied victory, but a close game. In terms of points, the Allies had 24 points to the 14 of the Bourbons, but the activation system meant that the Allied attacks went in piecemeal. The walls gave the Bourbon troops a lot of advantage - especially the Grenadiers who needed to suffer 4 hits at once in order to lose a single figure compared to the Allies in the open only needing to take 2 hits.
I refrained from charging the walls with the cavalry until the Bourbon troops were weakened, but that move still failed. In total, I think the system works well for the period, and I certainly had an enjoyable game, but the unequal points for this scenario are a must.

It will be interesting to see how the rules work for the English Civil War. Those armies won't be ready until next year, so I won't get to find out for a while, but I've been thinking about how to turn them into a large battle ruleset by grouping 2 shot and a pike unit into a regiment that activates on a single roll. Plenty of time to think about it, but it appeals to me as I've yet to find any English Civil War rules that I'm actually happy with.

Nate

Further figures for Spain 1705

The plan this year is to devote more blog time to battle reports and less to 'look what I've painted' posts. The rationale is that this will encourage me to play games, and so far it has worked, I guess. I've certainly got more gaming in than this time last year.

Sometimes, though, it is nice to have an occasional post that updates where a project is, and the Peterborough in Spain project is now past the half way mark, with the Allied army only two units and the Bourbon army 3 units away from completion.

First up are my Miquelets (commanded shot).

These are Warlord Games Firelock figures with coats greenstuffed on their backs.

A view from the rear gives a better idea of their coats, hanging from their left shoulder.

And a close up, although the auto-focus seems far more concerned with the trees in the background...

One of the two units from the Spanish Toledo Regiment

A different angle without so much glare. I need to replace the lighting in the shed, as both battens have now died.

I like the 'not quite uniform' look of the Toledo regiment, simply from giving them different hats. I need to paint up a militia unit, one more infantry unit and the dragoons for the Bourbons, and a British foot unit and some Spanish dragoons (yes there were Spanish on both sides) for the Allies.

Nate

A quick fix up

It seems that what coast were introduced to the Spanish army from 1703 on - for the cavalry! But it has become clear that the infantry didn't start to change until late 1706/1707. Which is great news for those that want to paint a very pretty multi-coloured Spanish army, but bad news for the figures I've already painted white. I'm not an absolute stickler for historical accuracy, after all, my Spanish don't have belly pouches for their ammunition, but where possible I at least like them to be dressed in the correct colours. What to do?

It turns out that the allies had the Dutch St Amant Regiment on the boat with Peterborough, that had exactly the same colour scheme as the Spanish. So my white clad chaps went over to the other side without a whimper and now I have to paint Spanish troops in the dark blue with red of the Toledo regiment. Such a simple solution could not be found for my Spanish grenadiers with their lovingly sculpted sheepskin hats, so a repaint was in order.

Check out the new threads...

And here they are. This is the colour scheme that the rest of the Spanish infantry will have as well, and in fact I passed over the miquelets and began painting them last night.

Nate

With Peterborough in the Peninsula

The latest project is a skirmish campaign set in Spain, using Wargames Factory figures (now Warlord Games) and the Pikeman's Lament rules.

British infantry from River's regiment of foot (Shot with close order and first salvo)

And grenadiers from the same regiment (Forlorn Hope)

Pearce's Dragoons (Gallopers)

Spanish grenadiers of the Toledo regiment (Forlorn Hope). All of the Spanish should have belly pouches for their ammunition, but this was a conversion step too far.

Spanish foot from the Toledo Regiment (Shot with close order and first salvo)

Spanish cavalry of the Milan regiment (Trotters)

I don't know for sure that the Toledo regiment was there, and the presence of the Milan cavalry is pure conjecture, but sources for the Spanish in this war are pretty difficult to come by.

A plate with some uniform info, including the Milan regiment. The miquelets are on the painting tray now, and I have more Spanish cavalry to do for both sides.

I know I said I was only going to post battle reports, but I am enjoying this project, and want to document its progress.

Nate