Death and The Landsknecht - Pike Block Upgrades

If I understand the rules in the new supplement correctly, I was able to add another 30-man pike block for a total of 8 blocks. Using the Arquebusiers and Swordsmen Forward! tactical upgrades special rules, I added two-each zweihander swordsmen and arquebusiers to 6 of the blocks (only had 12 zweihanders on hand - pardon the pun). I may add some to the other two units - one a Swiss block and the other the Black Band. Hopefully, this is how the author intended these upgrades to be used. I also arranged the pikemen wearing armor to the ranks immediately behind the first rank for the Armored Front Ranks special rule. Here are the 6 blocks with the arquebusiers and swordsmen, along with the leader and musician, in the front ranks.

Here are excerpts from the supplement of the special rules mentioned above.

The Swiss army list allows for the same upgrades. I have enough arquebusiers for the separate units to be deployed in Battle Line. I didn't see a provision for separate swordsmen units in the German lists.

Here's a picture of the 8 pike blocks - before I swapped out the arquebusiers for swordsmen.

I have to say that I was happy I based the figures individually. 

Victrix Greek & Persian Wars Hoplites - WIP (and a TYW Pike & Shotte game)

Started on some Victrix Hoplites from the Greek & Persian Wars set. These are in more "active" poses than the earlier Hoplite sets. It also comes with a plethora of older style helmets, mostly Corinthian types. Since I plan to use them in "Heroic" skirmish games, I went overboard with the helmet crests. I used a lot of the transverse crest and the twin-horse headed crests - the latter likely very rare. I also used LBMS transfers for the shields.

I also played in a Thirty Years War Pike & Shotte game at my buddy's place a couple days ago. Most of the figures were the ECW ones I sold to him last year. He did add a few cuirassier figures - in fact, I ran these in two units led by Marshal Pappenheim. It was a seesaw battle which ended with a bit of a stalemate. My HRE cuirassiers initially pushed back the Swedish cav on the HRE left flank, but the Swedes later recovered and ended up pushing my guys back. The center had a lot of action going on with infantry pike and shot units. It was very nice playing the rules again, and has inspired me to push on with my Italian Wars project. Here are a few pictures from the game.

My HRE cuirassiers on our left flank. They did very well early in the game.

The center with several pike and shot units going at each other.

A view of the battlefield from the HRE's left flank.

My initial movements - the two units facing towards both sides of the small village.

The HRE center.

My two cuirassier units having accumulated some casualties from earlier rounds of combat.

Warlord Games Landsknecht Command, Handbuchse Light Gun, and Roll Call

Finished the last figures from the Army Starter set. The four officers and light gun and crew are metal. The drummer is a plastic figure. I may rebase them on rounds in the future.

I used references on the internet to set up the light gun and pose the crew. The guy in blue and red is holding up the stock (aiming?). The other guy has one foot on the support of the gun mount and lighting the fuse.

Landsknecht army arrayed below. Except for the three resin command figures in the Black Band, all of the figures are from the starter set, and two additional boxes of pikemen and a box of missile troops. 

I used some of the 40mm square bases that came with the kits with steel paper tops added for smaller skirmish units. There are small magnets glued under the GW-style square bases.

Artillery and cavalry (gendarmes) will need to be added for a proper game - but that will be sometime in the future. Until next time, thanks for stopping in and hope you all are doing well.

Warlord Games Landsknecht Pikemen and Arquebusiers

Finished up the pikemen and missile troops. There are now two 30-man pike units. The army starter box will add four more units if I add command and a few Zweihänders to the front ranks. I may also try to use left over Perry WotR halberd arms to a few for the front ranks too.

When I made the movement trays, I had WHFB in mind, but since the figures are based as singles, units can be formed for other scenarios/rules as needed.

I only added a few highlights after the Minwax stain - mostly white areas, plumes, and metal areas.

Pictured below are the two pike units, so far. Plan to paint up a unit as the Black Band - which should make colors choices a lot easier.

Thanks again for your kind visits and wishing you all the best.

Battle of Lutzen - Pike & Shotte

Played with the old ECW figures I sold to my buddy today - first time gaming them since hosting a Marston Moor game with them two years ago. Glad that they're getting a new lease on life - gaming-wise.

The unit flags are yet to be replaced with the TYW ones from Flags of War. My buddy was trying to see if he could preserve the ECW ones already on, but I told him to just replace them as he is only interested in TYW anyway.

I was the overall commander for the Imperial army. We played 7 turns with the game ending in a close draw. The objective was for either side to hold 3 of 5 objective markers at the end of the game. Those are the red squares on the table - which were placed nearer to the side of the Imperialists. 

Early in the game, the two Swedish cavalry units were destroyed by Imperial cavalry in hand to hand combat. Per the rules, supports for the fighting unit was a major factor for the outcome.

I ran several pike and shotte units in the center of the battlefield, and made good use of musketry. The Swedes failing several activation rolls slowed their advance as well.

As the Swedish army advanced they were able to return fire with good results. It was a shooting match for good part of the game.

The Swedish cavalry on their left flank finally were successful in charging into two Imperialist musket units - both just out of distance from their pike unit to form into hedgehog. They were both ultimately destroyed.

The Imperialists' right was held by dismounted troops - they didn't really play a big part in the game other than keeping the opposing cavalry mindful of their presence.

It was great to see the old figures on the tabletop again - and with a good friend who only lives 10 minutes away.

Enfilade 2022

Just got home after attending our annual "big" convention, Enfilade. This was the first year we've gone back to the usual Memorial Day weekend time-frame since 2019 (pre-Covid). Our friends and allies from Canada showed up in force since border crossing requirements have eased up. Attendance was up from last September's ad hoc convention - there were about 300 attendees and around 120 games. A bit less than our record high in 2019 - around 400 attendees and 140 or so games. I was able to host four games: two Black Powder La Haye Sainte games and two Pike & Shotte Marston Moor games. There were 6 players for each Black Powder game and 8 players for each Marston Moor game. I managed to retain most of my voice through Sunday morning's game. Pints of Guinness Stout during and after games (except this morning) helped to fortify my resolve. Here are some pictures from the games I ran and also some of the great games others hosted. 

From the first La Haye Sainte Game. The KGL quickly moved into the farmhouse and stables and took pot shots at the approaching French. This allowed to French to return fire - the mechanics allowed them to shoot back once the KGL fired out of buildings.

French infantry and engineers approach the main gate of the complex. Hanoverians and 95th Rifles providing support to the beleaguered KGL inside. In both La Haye Sainte games, the players running the 95th and Hanoverians were both aggressive and had good die rolls. Unlike history, the 95th quickly moved out of the safety of the sandpit and advanced to engage the French. Providing devastating fire with their longer ranged rifles and Sharpshooter rerolls.

French infantry broken into smaller detachments shooting and fight around the barn. The scenario had units represented by two stands once they reach the outside of the farm complex.

The farmhouse and stables on fire. The GM (me) rolled a D6 at the start of each to see if the farmhouse, barn and stable would catch fire from off board artillery. On a 6 it would catch fire and then another D6 roll would determine it's "ferocity". The KGL inside could attempt to put out the fire with a higher roll than the "ferocity". It not put out in 3 turns, the structure would burn and not be able to be occupied by KGL. The KGL successfully put out the fire in some of the structures in both games. In both games, the French were not able to destroy the required number of KGL occupants in both games. They needed to destroy half of them.

One of the two Marston Moor Pike & Shotte games - view from the Royalist side with Rupert's Bluecoat regiment of foote to the left of Newcastle's regiment of foote. The Marston Moor games were held on Saturday night and Sunday morning. I was able to leave the table set up in the gaming hall overnight. It would've been painful to reset the game with the amount of figures used.

Royalist cavalry led by Prince Rupert on their right wing. A unit of Rupert's red coated commanded shot screening their advance.

A view of the Royalist left flank. Their cavalry facing the Parliamentarian cavalry led by Thomas Fairfax.

Center of the Allied army with regiments of Scottish foot holding the line.

Royalist cuirassiers supported by cavaliers charging into Parliamentarian commanded shot.

 Cromwell in the background with his Ironsides.

Royalist foot arrayed along the hedges and ditch running the center of the battlefield.

Dismounted dragoons from both sides engaged in the rough.

Parliamentarian right attempting to advance.

Cromwell with his remaining Ironsides. It was a close Royalist victory in both games.

Next up are pictures of the others games which I will endeavor to caption (hopefully correctly) once I go through the events listing.

Aspern-Essling - General du Corps

Ancients game hosted by White Rock Gamers from B.C. Canada.

Skirmish at the Walnut Grove Mill - AWI - Muskets & Tomahawks

Lena Lamont and the Jungle Fortress - Congo rules

Battle for Richmond, 1862, ACW, 28mm, White Rock Gamers

Chain of Command "Serafimovich 1942:Battle of the Sunflowers"

Alpine Fury -Tyrol 1809 - The Third Battle of Berg Isel - Black Powder

The Sand Pebbles

Gnome Wars

The Fall of the Philippine Republic: Battle of San Pascual - The Men Who Would Kings

Pulp Alley: La Playa de Parador

Circus Maximus - Chariot Racing

Black Seas

Duel of Aces - Wings of War WW1

Con Sonar

Kursk - The Second Day

Wagram using Shako 2. This was the last game being played on Sunday - most of the players were from Canada and were staying until Monday.

Well another great convention - almost, but not quite, like old times. Thanks for stopping by and hope you enjoy the pictures.