Pavia Refight

Today I went up north to my mate Robbie's for a game of Pike and Shotte. We'd arranged the game at the York show and today was the day. Tom came over as he's moved up that way, along with John and Colin. Robbie had arranged to fight Pavia, a straight refight using the set up from the book. Rob would provide the French, I'd bring along the Imperialists.

On arrival we diced for sides, John and Colin would be on my side, Tom would partner Rob.

 

This is the site the slumbering French awoke to on the morning of Pavia, Imperialists emerging from the dawn.

 

A view up the table, the French and Swiss are trying to pass their command rolls, and failing miserably, much to the Imperialist amusement!

Johns' Italian and Spanish can be seen advancing on the right, my Landsknechtes advance (slowly) in the centre.

 

Colins' cavalry and light infantry command set off around the woods on the left flank-

 

 

Only to be met by the cream of the French Nobility screened by Stradiots.

This was going to be a see saw engagement all day.



 

 

 

Rob being embarrassed after ANOTHER lucky dice roll.

The Landsknechtes get stuck in to Toms Swiss in the centre.

 



 Push of pike.

 

 The Swiss arquebusiers first hold up Frundsbergs pike block then push them back, eventually breaking the command, they didn't even need the Swiss pikes!!!

 Frundsbergs command falling back after losing two pike blocks and having three Shaken units are finished as an effective fighting force.

 

 

During the game Robs C-in-C had been killed along with his Gendarmes, Colin had taken the wood and secured the left flank, John had broken the Black Bande and taken the French Command post, this gave us enough victory points to win even though Tom had held up and pushed back my Landsknechtes in the centre.
I'm still not sure about Pike and Shotte but it gives the opportunity to have a big game with minimum fuss. I'll give them another couple of goes to see if I can get my head round them, otherwise they'll be Ebay bound.
Rob, John and Colin have very good blogs, which can be found here-
http://slimreidy1.blogspot.co.uk/
 http://independentwargamesgroup.blogspot.co.uk/
http://carryingsonupthedale.blogspot.co.uk/

I know Rob and Colin do a lot better write ups than me so treat yourselves and have a gander.



End of an era!

Well the back end of 2014 has seen a bit of a shake up for our happy little band, Tom has moved to Durham chasing work and left us 25% down on membership. It's not the other end of the world but too far to travel for weekly games. Tom always got a handle on new rules before the rest of us and was always keen to try something new, we'll miss him. However with Christmas coming round he came down for a big game at the weekend, four players Italian wars at 3000poits per army with free general and ASB each, over 12000 points on the table saw a nice spectacle and plenty of laughs. We rolled for sides and it came up Tom and me versus Craig and Pete.



                             Tom's Milanese line up, pikes covered by clouds of skirmishers.

Down the line with Toms Milanese in the front and my Borgia Papal army at the far end.

 Craigs' Florentine pike blocks backed by two units of heavy cavalry with Petes' Venetians in the back ground, pike blocks, heavy cavalry and clouds of light cavalry.

                         The might of Florence, forcing the obligatory shouts of "Where's Zebedee?"
                              Note the sneaky unit of dismounted knights with the Lion banner!

                                          Pete's DayGlo landsknechtes.

                                                  Borgia Papal pikes and crossbows.

                The battle started with a general advance by the Florentine/Venetian alliance.

 The Milanese/Papal army creep forward, apart from Toms' skirmishers who rush to engage, Tom never holds back with skirmishers, all or nothing!

                                   The Floentines push forward into the Milanese pike blocks.

 Papal knights having charged and wiped out a unit of hangunners end up facing a wood, they were charged in the flank by the swordsmen in the distance, evaded but were caught and wiped out- a big loss of points for Mr Borgia.

                                           Petes' Landsknechtes take the centre of the field.

 Pike on Pike action, epitomises this period and is often the deciding factor for one side or the other.

 The sneaky Florentine knights hit Milanese mercenary landsknechtes in the flank and roll them up-

                 they carry on straight into the next block- not a pretty sight for Toms Milanese.

 The Papal army moves forward to engage Petes Venetian mercenary Landsknechtes in the centre.

 Eventually Toms command was broken and Craigs Venetians came across to help Petes Venetians, however they were just too late as the Landsknechtes had been routed by concentrated attacks back and front by the Papal forces, the Venetians held on for three or four turns burning their Stubborn markers and pulling out a roll of 'snake eyes' to stand despite being 8 down on combat resolution- Petes' blue dice are 'dodgy' to say the least!!

                                                Push of pike up close and personal!

A great game to finish the year off, the result hung in the balance right 'til the end. I still think this is the best period to game in, there's plenty of troop types and colour and the WAB system gives a good game so as the old adage goes, 'If it ain't bust don't fix it!' I think there'll be more Renaissance games in the coming year.

I hope you all have a great New Year.

Imperialists Vs Venetians battle report

This is my first battle report so any comments you have, good or bad please let me know.

 

Good Friday and a day off work, with our lass at work what better way to spend the day than pushing a few toys around?

Today would see the Holy Roman Empire (me) face off against the Venetians (Windy Pete). A straight forward pitched battle scenario. 3000points with free general and ASB. We have a house rule that you may take a free General and ASB if they are 'non combatant', ie they don't join a unit and are only used for Leadership and re-roll abilities. If you want a fighty General then you have to pay for him as normal, we also don't target Generals as this is regarded as very unsporting sir!!!

 

Windy set up with a strong centre comprising of Romagnol pikemen and Swiss mercenaries, covered with skirmishers and flanked by clouds of light cavalry- stradiots and mounted crossbows. Now Windy likes his skirmishing cavalry and my flanks have been turned on more than a few occasions, would today be the same? He kept his heavy cavalry and general in the centre.



 

Windys initial deployment-

 

I set up with two units of landsknechtes in the left centre, covered with skirmishers, these were supported on the left flank by allied Spanish in the shape of a pike block, swordsmen and crossbows .On the right flank I put a unit of Genitors- excellent light cavalry- and in the centre, my general and heavy cavalry.

 

Imperial deployment-

 

Down the table shot-

Initial moves were as expected, Windys light cavalry tried to envelop on both flanks and the centre surged forward, confident with the Romagnol and Swiss pikes pushing on eager to get to grips with the Landsknechtes.

 

Windys centre pushes forward, lucky yellow dice at the ready-

 

The Imperials edged forward covered by shot, knowing the Swiss were more than a match for the pikes, the arquebusiers started peppering the enemy at long range, not many casualties yet, but a start. The skirmishers sport both standards and musicians, these play no roll in the game but I like flags, lots of flags!

 

 

On the Imperialist left the Spanish sure forward as they are only faced with skirmishers, light cavalry and some Italian swordsmen. However the pikeblock took a bag load of casualties from said skirmishers! Revenge will be forthcoming sir!!-

 

As expected the Stradiots got around my flank and charged my crossbowmen, I thought I could shoot enough of them to halt the charge, but no, they saved all but one casualty and charged home. No problem I thought- they're only light cavalry- four casualties later I wasn't so confident, not the usual throwing spears this time but thrusters- sneaky Windy! plus one strength cancelled my light armour save. It was lucky the crossbows were still numerically superior and could fall back in good order otherwise the Stradiots would have had free reign to hit my unprotected rear ooh-err!! 

 

The Italian swordsmen got a rush of blood to the head and charged the Spanish pikeblock, this turned out to be a bad move and they lost by two, being out of the Generals' command range didn't help and they decided to head for the hills.

Off you go swordsmen- that'll teach you to turn up with unpainted bases!

 

The swordsmen breaking turned out to be the pivot point of the game, with failed panic tests for the Gendarmes, Swiss, crossbows and light cavalry it looked as though the whole army had decided it was time to be elsewhere! Now Windy likes his yellow dice but on occasion turns the air blue when they don't perform to his liking- this was one of those occasions.

 

 The Venetians retreat-

 

However, they all rallied up but the Gendarmes were hit frontally by the Spanish pike- not a good thing. The Genitors had worked their way around the back and were ready to charge the newly rallied Swiss. The Romagnols depleted ranks show just how much punishment they'd endured from the Imperial arquebusiers.

 

The Gendarmes broke in the melee and Windy threw in the towel, saving the Swiss to fight another day.

 

Final positions-

 

Having out shot the Venetian skirmisher screen the Imperials could concentrate all the fire power on one pike block, the Romagnols, with devastating results. With the panic that followed the swordsmen breaking the Venetian attack broke up and a confused centre was surrounded and picked off piece meal. The Stradiots on the left flank were beaten off by the crossbowmen and fled the field.

Result- Imperial victory.

We then went on to put the world to rights, agreed how good Salute had been and arranged to play Saga later this week, all washed down with copious cups of tea and biscuits- an enjoyable way to spend a few hours!