Quick & Dirty Rules - Demo Battle 1 Completed

I managed to fight the first demo battle from Donald Featherstone's book, 'Battles with Model Soldiers.' I had to amend the rules slightly to work with Pike and Shot era weapons and tactics. All in all, a very enjoyable battle. I did take photographs, but unfortunately, they have been deleted in error.

However, a full blow by blow account of the whole battle from start to finish, is available for viewing on my You Tube channel, you will see the link on the right hand side of this page.

I do make a couple of errors during game play, but nothing too major that would affect the outcome. The same battlefield will be used for demo game two, when the two foot regiments of each side will be reinforced by a regiment of horse for each side. This will bring new tactics into the game, as the foot will have to form 'Hedgehog' to defend itself against cavalry attacks.

Hedgehog was basically a ring of pikes that the cavalry could not penetrate, the musketeers would use the protection of the ring of pikes to load and fire. The cavalry troopers would use a brace of pistols at close range to try and kill the pike men and force a way into the hedgehog, if successful, the hedgehog would then collapse and both pike and musket men would be at the mercy of the mounted troopers.

Actually videoing a battle on the table top, is quite a challenge, thinking, speaking, rolling dice, moving the troops, speaking aloud my thoughts on tactics etc. However it is very enjoyable. I must in demo battle two, keep a blow by blow diary, this isn't as daunting as it seems, because I can simply play back the video and make notes, with the advantage, that if I miss something I can simply go back and watch it again. This time, I shall try not to delete the photographs!

I hope to fight this second battle, either later this week or at the weekend. I prefer to do it in daylight as the natural light is better for both the camera and for the look of the painted minis. After all the work I have done building and painting all those troops, I want them to be seen at their best. Even though I say it myself, laid out on the battlefield and closing for combat with flags flying, they look an impressive sight. With all the troops I already have painted and the others in the painting queue, they really would look something, all together in a massed battle. Now that is something to look forward to.

Books for wargaming.

Have been acquiring a number of books, both rules and factual. Starting off with some classics by Donald Featherstone. I read a couple of his books many years ago and had forgotten just how good they were. Very retro, for these days, but I really like his quick and dirty way of wargaming. Minimal record keeping, figure removal for casualties etc. A set of rules I intend to try out on the table. The first book was given to me by fellow YT and Blogger, David Brits. His generosity has rekindled my love for Featherstone's books.

 

 

 I  also purchased a number of books on the Civil War to allow me to live the time and study the battles. The book above, describes three battles in detail and is very good.

This book describes all the battles, both big and small, although in a very abbreviated form it also gives maps of the area and in some cases the actual formation of the troops involved.

These two books were recommended by another fellow YT, Gary of Marksman Gaming. They go into great depth about the personalities and the goings on of the period, excellent reads both of them.

Colonel Hew Fraser's Lancers

Finally completed and ready for action on the table top. Colonel Hew Fraser's Lancers, ready to take their place in the Covenanter Army.

 

I am particularly pleased with how the horses turned out. I tried a new method of painting them suggested by a fellow You Tuber, and it has worked really well, probably the best horses I have ever turned out. We learn all the time.

I have also decided to paint up a herd of Aberdeen Angus cattle, pigs and chickens for the remainder of the January Painting Challenge. I need the animals to populate the table top as of course, the English/Scottish/Welsh countryside would be incomplete without them. I also think it brings just a little more realism to the scene. I also intend to finish my leader figures before the end of the month too.

A subscriber on my YT channel, David Brits, kindly gifted me with a copy of 'Donald Featherstone's Solo Wargaming.' A classic book, originally published in 1973 and this copy republished in 2009. He also enclosed a wonderful letter praising this blog as well as what I do on YT. It just shows what a wonderful community I have become part of, and praise and encouragement like that given by David inspires me even more.

I was so impressed with the book, read cover to cover in one evening. I have ordered 'Wargame Campaigns' also by the great man, as I want to know his thoughts and ideas, to help with my own campaign. I have already found lots of ideas, rules etc. in the first book that I shall certainly try on my own wargames table.

I have also ordered another pair of books on the Civil War and will take some photographs of all four books, once received, thank you Amazon, to post on the blog as well as devoting a YT video to them.