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.

Milanese V Borgia Papal battle report

Well another Bank Holiday and as usual our lass is working, so another big game is on the cards, a rematch against Tom, Milanese V Borgia Papal at 6000pts a side- what's not to like!
So here we go again, something a bit different this time tho, I drew a map of my troops positions on a map beforehand and Tom set his army out without knowing where the enemy was, trying to second guess where your opponent will set up is fun and makes for a different type of game.
Tom set up a reinforced left flank with most of his cavalry looking to roll up my line from the end!

 

 this was my right flank, not a lot to stop the might of the Milanese nobility, some timid skirmishers and a couple of mercenary crossbow bands.

 

Detail of Toms' left flank, masses of heavy cavalry covered by light horse and backed up by mercenary pike block- talk about overkill!!

 

 

Toms' centre, mercenary pike supported by militia pike and heavy cavalry.

 

Toms' right flank, militia handguns behind earthworks. This will cause problems if I charge with knights- no bonuses for chargers, trust Tom to come up with a sneaky tactic- good on 'im.

 

Papal centre, Landsknechte pike blocks and Spanish foot troops,

 

Papal left, just the same as Tom, massed cavalry covered by light horse. Pity they weren't on the other flank.

 

Turn 1 and the Milanese flank attack begins-

 

On the opposite flank the Spanish rush forward to engage the skirmishers in the wood, taking casualties all the way.

 

The Milanese heavies plough into the crossbows- only one result here!

 

The centre comes to grips,  

 

Papal right flank and the breakthrough happens, militia handgunners are no match for seasoned Spanish pikemen, the militia route and cause havoc on their way off the table.

 

 

Spanish pikemen decimated by crossbow bolts eventually get to grips with their tormentors, Landsknechte pikemen at 'Push of Pike' behind.

 

Milanese cavalry reforming after crushing crossbows under hoof! note the lack of Papal troops after seeing the devastation and fleeing rather sharpish.

 

View from behind the Milanese centre,

 

Push of Pike

 

 

The Milanese centre breaks and Spanish pike hit the heavy cavalry at the halt.

 

Then they wished they hadn't as they are wiped out, the Milanese heavy cavalry pushing forward to threaten the Papal Knights. Milanese mercenary pike defeat, route, persue and wipeout one Landsknechte pike block.

 

Milanese heavy cavalry come under arquebus shot, six saves required on a 4 up- four threes and two twos- Tom shakes his head in disbelief and swears profusely at the dice, Windy would be proud of that roll.

 

The Milanese left hook in full swing, I've opened the door trying to tempt them off the table!

 

 

The left hook is too late, the Milanese centre is all but destroyed, three more bad leadership rolls and it's all over, the Duke of Milan throws in the towel and the dice out the window!

 

The final charge of Papal knights against a valiant but decimated mercenary pikeblock.

 

Spanish swordsmen hold the village.

 

Another great game over with tales of heroism and cowardice to tell on both sides.

It's Partizan next week at Newark, I hope I remember my camera as there's always a bunch of decent games on show.