English Civil War in 15mm

Over the past month or so some of the group have played a couple of games using our 15mm ECW figures. The rules used are Armati and the figures are from various manufacturers.

Nothing too flash in the games, line them up and go forward hoping that the dice gods are on your side. I believe a few sacrificial chickens helps with that!

Here is a mix of photos from both games.

Time to catch up.

It has been a long time since my last post so I thought it was about time I added some photos of our games from the last month or so.

First up is a 15mm Napoleonic game. Rules were Volley and Bayonet.

 This involved a Bavarian Corp trying to link up with the Prussians at the other end of the table.

 The French, not happy about the Bavarians changing sides, were trying to prevent this.

 The Bavarians made it in the end.

Next up is a Hail Caesar game in 28mm.

 Normans on the attack against Saxons, Vikings and some Irish on a ridge.

 Archers on the flanks trying to upset the Normans.

 On the whole it was one way traffic for the Normans who rode up and over the ridge and anyone that stood in their way!.

The Irish did charge down the ridge and managed to destroy a Norman unit  but that was the only highlight for the allies on the ridge.

The moment of victory.

Then last week we had a game of Pike and Shotte, ECW in 28mm.

 An encounter game, where two relatively even forces meet with a point to prove.

 These Parliament dragoons raced away to set themselves up in a field in the Parliament centre. Unfortunately for them the rest of the Parliament centre didn't move forward for most of the game.

 Cavalry on the Parliament left did advance and they charged the Royalists foot.

 Royalist artillery positioned on a hill in the centre.

 The Royalist horse came around the town to charge into the Parliament horse.

Wayne's church and headstones looked really cool. Had to add a photo of them.

Parliamentary Bluecoats, or should that be turncoats? These figures used to fight for the Royalists before a flag change took them to the other side.

 Action over on the Royalist left was pretty even but with the help of the Royalist guns the Parliamentary troops were forced to withdraw.

 At the other end of the battlefield things were fairly even and the two sides were gradually reducing each others numbers.

 Finally the Parliamentary centre moved forward but it was too little too late.

 The Royalists were in control of the flanks, it was only a matter of time.

Pike and Shotte ECW

The Royalist Army was under the command of Lord Hopton and Sir William Waller commanded the forces of Parliament at this game based on the battle of Cheriton.
  This was our first crack at the Pike and Shotte rules. David was running the game and had a fair grip of the rules but as for the rest of us, next to zip!! This made for an interesting night, all I can say is that it is a good thing we are all mates and have been for many years! It wasn't that bad really!

 In the foreground the Royalists and skulking in the trees are some of Parliaments infantry.

Parliamentary Army

Some of Waller's Infantry

Waller's Cavalry

 The battle began with the Parliamentary army advancing towards the Royalists. The Royalist cavalry, although outnumbered three to two, charged head long into the Parliamentary cavalry on the extreme flank . It didn't really work and the Royalists were pushed back with many loses.

 The front lines were now close enough to exchange musket fire. Again Parliament outnumbered the Royalists but with half of their army either refusing  to move or being very slow to move up this gave the Royalists a slight advantage.

Blue coated Parliamentary troops slowly moving to the flank.

Royalists waiting for the enemy to come within range.

Looking down the Parliamentary line

Royalist command waving the troops forward.

 After regrouping the Royalist cavalry had another go but this time the Parliamentary cavalry attacked them in the flank. This move caused even more casualties to the Royalists but also left them exposed to flanking fire from the near by infantry.

Between the muskets of the infantry and a bunch of dragoons that had dismounted behind a hedge on Parliaments flank, casualties on the Parliamentary cavalry began to rise dramatically. So much so that they were forced to retire.

The Royalist cavalry, although reduced in number, were now free to attack the rear of the Parliamentary lines.

Parliaments cavalry retreat toward the rear.

 Waller now had to force the issue and so a unit of Parliamentary pike charged the Royalist gun.

Although the gun inflicted a few casualties on the pike they still made it into contact.

 Getting late in the night we were running out of time and a decision had to be made. I, of course, could see that the Royalists were gaining the upper hand but the overall decision was that the game should be called a draw .

And so it was called at that and we had completed our first game of Pike and Shotte.

Great to get our ECW troops out of their boxes after so many years being packed away.

Thanks to David for putting up with the rest of us and running the game.