Pike & Shotte Italian Wars - Battle of Bicocca

Here are some pics from today's game. Since I was one of the defending Imperialist players, I wasn't able to take pictures of a lot of the action going on. Thankfully, the three other players were fairly well-versed in the rules, one knows them better than me. We played 7 turns with the Imperialists still hanging on inside of the their defensive position near the Villa Bicocca, but called the game as it would be an inevitable French victory due to their overwhelming numbers. I should add, two of the defending pike units were lost after back to back bad break test rolls. The French, however, did not achieve their minor victory in capturing the Imperialists' camp as they failed multiple activations to move forward. In fact, they lost their most mobile unit, Giovanni de Medici's mounted crossbows early in the game after being defeated by Spanish heavy cavalry. In the center, the two large battalia of Swiss pikes slowly podded forward, while their Venetian allies eventually made it onto the defensive earthworks on their right flank.

French MMA charging into the Black Band's mounted crossbows. The French cavalry were slow to move with multiple failed activations - which allowed the Spanish cavalry to close in on them early in the game.

The remaining French cavalry regrouped after the Spanish cavalry retreating from combat. Note the stream terrain on the Imperialists' right represents the deep ditch there. The terrain in front of the Imperialists' position is representational of the sunken road in front of them as well as the earthworks that that was behind it. I didn't want to include too rough a terrain for the attacking French as attackers would lose any charge bonuses when they hit the terrain. In fact, the Swiss pikes only could use their attack bonuses either once inside the defenses, or if they were able to enter via the causeway on their left flank.

The Swiss pike were in two formations, but chose not to form into Kiel formations. They did have small detachments of arquebusiers screening them.

The Imperialists' right, with Spanish jinetes and MAA. The French gendarmes exacted vengence by destroying the Spanish MAA unit.

Landsknecht pikes with supporting arquebusier detachments defending against Swiss pikes attempting to breach the defenses. Two Spanish colunela formations defending on the right.

View from the left of the Imperialists defenses.

Swiss pike blocks advancing towards the Imperialist defenses.

Left flank of the attacking French including three units of gendarmes and one unit of mounted crossbows. The French cavalry were very slow moving with consecutive failed command activation rolls. In setting up the scenario, I had envisioned them reaching the Imperialists' baggage camp early in the game, but they never reached it even after 7 turns.

Two Swiss pike blocks, from different batallia, making it inside the Imperialist defenses. The one on the right in combat with a Spanish colunela formation.

Spanish colunela having moved back after defeating a unit of Swiss pike. More Swiss advancing into the defensive position. A Landsknecht pike unit already having retreated to the high ground near their artillery. For the record, neither French nor Imperialist medium artillery made an impact in the game. The light gun with the Venetian battalia managed to move up on their right flank to take multiple shots, but again, with little effect.

Swiss pike attacking Landsknecht arquebusier detachment. The arquebusiers were, not surprisingly, wiped out.

Clash of Swiss and Landsknecht pikes in the center.

All in all, it was a very good play test of the rules, although we didn't use the Kiel formation rules as it likely wouldn't have been used to good effect in an assault on a defensive position. We did discuss the option to have the French artillery either being moved up closer at the start of the game, or possibly allow them to have the guns limbered in the first turn. Other than that, we all agreed it was a fun game and played out well. Until next time, thanks for checking out the update, and wishing you all the best.