Wednesday 1 February 2012

ECW & Boyne Questions

I've been recently asked by a friend who wishes to start wargaming a  new period , in particular ECW, using my Les Higgins 20 mm ECW range as a basis for building both armies and filling gaps in the range with figures from other ranges eg Hinton Hunt and Kennington, he's not keen having plastic figures, so missing out on Revell and Call to Arms artillery sets, the main problem is RULES, which to use??  afraid I'm not much help here as I got put off gaming ECW big style some years back when the local boys decided they wanted to refight Marston Moor (15 mm figures) anyway I organised the armies from the lads' collections, everything geared up to battle over a week-end, I was Roundhead Army Commander, game started well New Model Army doing well causing Rupert no ends of panic when a Roundhead unit had to take a morale test, lost it, and things went downhill massively after that, snowball effect in spades with the result that the WHOLE Roundhead Army fled the table unit by unit, unbelievable!! Game scheduled to last a week-end lasted about 5 hours, my biggest wargaming defeat ever and I gained a new nickname "RAC" (Run Away Cunningham).  The rules we used are still around so not naming them just in case people out there are happy with them.

Anyhow have any of you out there got suggestions for a good set of rules for ECW, only need smallish armies
( whatever they are?) and give a good feel for the period, any help would be much appreciated

 Iain's next visit will involve an ECW game so he could be heading for his first major victory ,I need loaded dice.

Now for second part of the heading, Battle of the Boyne, has anyone knowledge of suitable 20 mm figures, metal or plastic from any range that could be used for the Boyne, conversion suggestions would be most  most welcome

I had thought of using WSS/Marlburian/GNW figures but clothing not quite the same, but a few of Mars set of GNW Saxons might prove ok

Progress been made on trial runs of Douglas Miniatures, with only small adjustments so should be available soon

Today's post brought 2 Wargames Foundry books (Armies of C19th China & Armies of C16th Aztecs/Incas) real bargain I think as got both for about six quid inc postage, also arrived two more ECW Ospreys and a book on the Texas Revolution

Reading at the moment "The Coward of Minden" most interesting, different look at Lord Sackville (later Lord North of AWI infamy) , I'm getting the feeling history hasn't been kind or truthful to him

8 comments:

  1. In the past I loved playing with the 1644 rules by foundry. In the 2nd ed. the cover also some mor lists like tyw, and so on.

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    1. thanks for suggestion about 1644 rules, one question about them, how many dice do you need?

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  2. Hold on "he could be heading for his first major victory, I need loaded dice". Firstly, has what's left of your Austrian/French/Spanish SYW army stopped running yet? Secondly, you don't need any more loaded dice!

    I have the 1644, Forlorn Hope and Victory without Quarter but never played any of them. Given your comments above I'd prefer to avoid rules that need buckets of dice.

    Iain

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    1. Just because I gave you the Prussians, British etc all with superior firepower, you have the nerve to have a go at me !!!! Be warned the esteemed Mem -Sahib is now threatening to serve you raw steak and no chips on your next visit over your comment on loaded dice, and your favourite hound Cai is dutifully sharpening his fangs!! God, I'm looking forward to the next bash.

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  3. You were indeed very generous because the plus one on my musketry was a boon in the centre – I’m such an ungrateful wretch. On the other hand, didn’t most of your seven cannon get a plus one? I don’t recall any plusses for my solitary cannon. Of course it was my cavalry, without any plusses, which smashed through your flanks and had you all but surrounded. Four cannon taken and thirteen or more of your brigades removed from the table - I lost one brigade and you still outnumbered me in all arms at the end of the day. Think ‘Marston Moor II’.

    Please tell your very lovely better half that your crushing defeat was only possible because of her wonderful home cooking. And leave poor Cai’s teeth alone.

    Iain

    Ps I’m going to get shredded next time aren’t I.

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    1. Getting shredded next time will be the least of your problems!! Am thinking about a refight of Sedgemoor where you'll be the Duke of Monmouth ( see article in recent Wargames Illustrated mag)or Langport (ECW)so your Lobsters will get chewed up by the Cornish pikes

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    2. Happy to take on those nasty Stuart Kings in either battle. Looking forward to it (and the catering).

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    3. Just remember what happened to the Duke of Monmouth and as you know I have less mercy than Judge Jefferies, and as for catering you'll be lucky as you are sharing Cai's bowl and I know who'll win there

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