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.

Battle of Bicocca Set-Up - Death and The Landsknecht

Just finished setting up the table for the game on Friday - got back from a late dental appointment - I now have another implant/crown! Anyway, here're the photos of the tentative starting positions of the units. I may allow the players to reposition some of their units, particularly the artillery pieces.

Imperialist forces on the left behind defensive positions; French forces on the right; Toy Poodle in the center (the wife wanted her in the picture).

The Imperialists' baggage camp - a victory condition for the French if captured.

French forces consisting of Swiss mercenary pike blocks in the center, Venetian allies on their right flank, and cavalry on the left flank - including gendarmes and mounted crossbows.

Imperialist forces with Spanish heavy and light cavalry on their right flank, Spanish colunela to the left, and landsknecht pikes on their left flank. Artillery to their rear on higher ground.

French left, with Giovanni de Medici's mounted crossbows, and mounted gendarmes (using proxy models including Warhammer Fantasy Empire Knights).

French center led by Odet de Foix, Vicomte de Lautrec, with Swiss mercenary pikes and supporting arquebusiers.

Venetian allies and light gun on the French right. The infantry are Warhammer Fantasy Empire 6th Ed. figures.

Imperialist right flank with Spanish jinetes and heavy cavalry behind them.

Spanish infantry colunela formations next to the cavalry.

Karl Franz standing in as the Imperialists commander until a suitable figure arrives on game day with one of the players. He's also bring a few more mounted commanders. I really wanted to get a few from Steel Fist Miniatures, but procratinated.

Landsknechts on loan from Emperor Charles V on the left flank, anchored next to the Bicocca manor. 

A post game update will follow; however, I like to get photos of the table and troops prior to, as getting photos can be forgotten during the heat of battle! Until then, thanks again for checking out the blog, and wishing you all the very best.

Giovanni de Medici's Black Band Mounted Crossbows

These figures are kit-bashed from a box of Perry Light Cavarly 1450-1500 and parts from Wargames Atlantic Conquistadors and Warlord Games Landsknechts. The crossbow firing arms from Wargames Atlantic, and the heads a mixture from the three sets. The leader with the sword is a Wargames Atlantic figure that was given a bit of surgery at his groin area to have his legs sit closer together to fit the Perry horse better.

The flag is from Pete's Flags. The color of clothing was kept to a minimum, with a higher percentage of black to give the unit a more somber look. The horses are all in a uniform dark brown with red, blue, or green saddles and straps.

I also used some swords/scabbards from the Warlord Atlantic set - the ones with the curved guards for more of an Italian look.

This unit should be the last one for a playtest in a couple of weeks. Although I do want to add a few more command figures - particularly mounted guys in wearing big, flamboyant hats.

I should mention that I picked up a bunch of Foundry Trojan War figures yesterday at the Fort Steilacoom Fix Bayonets game day. These were figures from David Sullivan's (I Live With Cats blog) collection which Kevin Smyth (A Gamer's Tale blog) brought over for anyone who was interested in them. Of course, this period was my first venture into wargaming with Redoubt figures, so I jumped at the chance as no one else in the room seemed interested when it was announced by Kevin - or maybe I was just too quick. In any case, I intend to paint them up and use them with Tribal rules - as David had with his other Bronze and Stone Age figures, in his honor. Until next time, wishing you all the very best!

3D Print Resin Italian Wars Artillery

Finally got the cannon and crew for an upcoming Italian Wars Pike & Shotte playtest. Just four pieces, but enough to try out the rules.

The guns and crewmen are 3D print resin, except for the two guys with the lighting sticks (again, not sure the proper nomenclature) that are Warlord Games figures. The sticks are actually drum sticks for musicians.

As mentioned in the previous post, several of the figures have Warlord Games Landsknecht heads.

Hoping to schedule the playtest in a week or so, however, there's a game day at Fort Steilacoom this coming Saturday which I had intitially intended to run a One-Hour Skirmish Wargames Napoleonic game, but haven't had time to get it ready. I may try to put someting together for this, as the rules are quite simple. Until next time, thanks for stopping by and wishing you all the best.

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.