Friday, March 31, 2017

Pikeman’s Lament – Pork on the Trotters



We finally got in a game of The Pikeman’s Lament earlier today. I’ve been planning this game for a while, but never found the time to get it on the table. The kids had a frined over for the day and so in the afternoon I set it up for them to play.

I began with reviewing some English Civil War history with the kids. I was pleased that The Girl at least remembered the kings and queens from Henry VIII to Charles I – including the relationship between Elizabeth and James I/VI (even if she couldn’t recall the events that precipitated the civil Wars… I cut her some slack, she is only 10...).

1643, Glen Dunny

SITUATION

It is spring of 1643 and a Royalist uprising has begun in Scotland under Marquis of Huntly who had seized Aberdeen. Earlier this year The Scottish government sent an army south – 20,000 strong - under the Earl of Leven. The uprising is largely in an effort to draw some pressure off the Royalists down south in England.

The Scottish Government is in a panic to raise some new troops to deal with the rebels until regular troops can be called back from England. A regiment is hastily being raised in an area near Glen Dunny – home of our hero Robert MacRame. Now the MacRames couldn’t give a fig who’s arse polishes the throne of England – especially young Robert – as long as their left alone and there’s money to be made…

That is until a yonng Ensign names Evan “Holy” MacErrol (a dour Covenanter and son of an even dourer Calvinist Presbyterian preacher who was murdered by Englishmen during the Bishops War backing 1638 – with a hatred for the English and anyone who would support their king) was tasked with procuring some victuals for the regiment. MacErrol Drew up a troop of horse and some foot soldiers and wandered off to a nearby village to procure some sheep and pigs… Surely the locals would understand that their cause was just and sanctioned by god himself and would gladly hand over the foodstuffs needed… and if they didn’t… well… That’s why they brought along all the pikes and muskets.

When Robert MacRame got wind that some preachy lowlander had made off with HIS prized piggy and a handful of sheep, he quickly gathered up a few of this fathers men and set off to head off the band of brigands and get back their livestock – or be well paid for them!

SCENARIO

This is essentially Mission F: Steak on the Hoof – straight out of the The Pikeman’s Lament - except with smaller forces and with pigs and sheep instead of cows, and fewer of them – because our forces were smaller than the suggested 24 points. 


FORCES

Scots Government – Ensign Evan “Holy” MacErrol (Honour: 10, Traits: Strong)

1 Unit of Trotters (with MacErrol) – 4 points

1 Unit of Pike – 4 points

1 Unit of Shot – 4 points


Rebels – Robert MacRame of Glen Dunny (Honour: 10, Traits: Sly)

Robert MacRame of Glen Dunny along with his brothers and a couple of hired thugs-
Forlorn Hope – 6 points

2 Units of Clansmen (The McRowaves and the MacRopods) - 3 points each – 6 points


THE GAME

(Remember: click on the pictures for a bigger version)


Finnegan and The Girl sit down as I finish sorting things out.


Finnegan and The Other Boy decided to play the Scots Government Forces. The Other Boy laid claim to “Holy” MacErrol and his Horsemen and Finnegan was to play the Foot troops escorting the livestock.


The Government forces led by Evan “Holy” MacErrol.


Robert MacRame and his younger brothers and a couple of hired hard men stand in their way. MacRame hailed MacErrol and suggested that he forgot to leave payment for he livestock he made off with, but it was alright now because he could pay MacRame himself as he just happened to be right here… in their path… with loaded muskets…

TURN ONE

The Scottish Government Forces went first.


Well… um.. no, I guess they decided not to. The boys decided the Pike should advance first… and rolled a 3 to activate them… I think they were perhaps a bit intimidated by MacRame and his thugs. I imagine MacErrol called for the Pike to advance and they looked back and said “Who, Us? Ahgeenst theem Haird men? Ah dunnae thenk soo!”


And then Aaron showed up… Whoops! I guess we’d kind of lost track of time and The Other Boy had to go… Ah well, hopefully we’ll get to see him (and maybe dad and brother) over the long weekend coming up and MacRame and MacErrol with clash again! (oh… that’s if they survive this game… NO SPOILERS!?)

So The Girl took her turn with the Highlanders – as they were just out of shot range of the enemy, they took a few steps forward so they could start shooting next turn – even if they failed to advance… again…


TURN TWO

This time MacErrol would have none of it – he unleashed some fire and brimstone at the newly recruited footmen – promising to burn all their mothers and sisters and wives as witches if they didn’t get a move on!


So the Pike and the Shot shuffled forward… but MacErrol himself failed to move… busy yelling at the foot shouting commands and such.


On the Rebels end of the Turn both the McRowaves and the MacRopods showed up on the table and Robert’s crew unleashed a volley of musket shot and arrows at MacErrol’s Horse and took one down!


TURN THREE


Reeling at the loss of their first comrade in this “War Without Enemie” the Horse stood again – as did the Pike. At least the Shot got a move on, but perhaps they were inspired to advance by the menacing sound of Highlanders advancing through the wood ot their rear and they were very worried about being surrounded!


Unfortunately they didn’t advance far enough – those Highanders came screaming out of the woods and charged at them!


The Scots Government Shot unleashed a volley at them at point blank range and damned near took half them down!


Both units were Stamina 2 – the Highlanders scored five hits, causing two casualties, but the Shot scored ELEVEN hits – taking out FIVE in ONE TURN!?


Strangely BOTH parties failed morale. It was understandable for the MacRopods – it was a devastating turn for them! The government shot can only claim they were green and seeing the Clansmen retreating thought it best to hurry on their way…


The Clansmen flee back into the woods.

Elsewhere the McRowaves moved up to the front edge of the woods to get a better view of the situation, and MacRame and his thugs took shots at the Government Shot and killed two more of them – causing another morale test… which they passed, somehow… but I think it was mostly because they were too confused at this point to be scared anymore…?


TURN FOUR


The Shot managed to rally, but then I remembered that when they failed morale and retreated last turn they should have left the piggies behind…

The Horse and the Pike both advanced.

On The Girl’s turn she tried to rally the MacRopods, but they’d had it – no pigs were worth losing half their family!? They called it a day and went back home to bury their dead and console their wives and mothers…


The Pike managed to advance far enough that it triggered the other Clansmen’s Wild Charge, who came tearing out of the woods!


This time the Clansmen didn’t fair QUITE so poorly; the Pike lost two and the Clansmen three…


… but both parties again fled!?


TURN FIVE

The Pikemen rallied.


The Government Shot, having seen the tail end of their assailants flee over the hills, decided to head back and gather up the piggies once more and head the far way around the hills – and out of the line of fire of those murderous bastards in kilts!


“Holy” MacErrol decided it was time his troop entered the fight – he successfully issued a Caracole order – 7+ The unit made a half move followed by a shot at MacRame and his thugs. If any casualties were caused they the failed the subsequent morale test, MacErrols Trotters would them be allowed a Free Attack – if they could cover the distance with a single move! Well MacErrols horse trotted up and unleashed a mighty volley in the faces of MacRame and his men… and when the smoke cleared… Every last one of them was still standing – burnt and blacked by a bit of burnt powder, but otherwise untouched!? Had they forgotten to load bullets?! Well… so much for THAT fancy-schmansy “special  maneuver”!?

The Clansmen rallied on The Girl’s turn.


The MacRame and his men fired back! Down went another of MacErrol’s horse – and that was just too much for his men – they turned and fled from the Highland scum.


TURN SIX

Their flight was not long or far, MacErrol quickly got them under control and wheeled about.


The Shot continued to make their way around the hill – hoping no one would notice their absence.

The pike were indecisive – unsure whether to march forward and gather up the sheep or form up into close order to repel the coming second charge of the clansmen… they took too long deciding and in the end did nothing. (failed to activate)


The Clansmen did not fail… a second Wild Charge brought them, once again, into contact with the Pike. This time they faired slightly better, knocking out three of the Pikemen while losing only two of their own. The Pikemen, once again, lost their nerve and ran – but the Clansmen held their ground this time.

(Much to The Girl’s Chagrin they would NOT be simply collecting up the errant sheepies and making off with them… those Wild Charging maniac Clansmen…)

MacRame and his men were too busy laughing and hurling insults at MacErrol and his men to bother doing anything this turn.


TURN SEVEN

The Pike failed to rally, lost another man, and continued their retreat.

The Shot continued to sneak around the hill.

I made no note of what MacErrols horse did… they had rallied the previous turn… I think perhaps they took ineffective shots at the Highlanders adjacent to them…?


Then the Highlanders charged the Horse!

In the clash, the Highlander brought down two more horsemen – including MacErrol himself! This precipitated a bit of a rout! The remaining horse and Pike fled the field. But so did McRowave’s men, they’d taken three more casualties – leaving only four of their original number and with the horse and Pike in flight, they too decided to call it a day – MacRame could bloody well collect up his own precious sheep!

But MacRame had other problems – the Government Shot that were making off with his piggies!!


TURN EIGHT


The Shot continued their flight with the Piggies!


MacRame turned to fire as they poked out from behind the hill to make their way around a small wood – rather than get slowed up trying to make their way through. MacRames men scored two hits, but as the majority of the Shot were still under the cover of the hill they claimed cover increasing their Stamina to three – which meant no casualties!


TURN NINE


The Shot ran and MacRame gave chase – lest they disappear out of sight and/or range! Luckily the Forlorn Hope move a little faster than the Shot – giving them a SLIGHT Hope of catching them.


TURN TEN

The Shot fled, the MacRames got in a parting shot, causing one casualty – but the Shot passed their morale test.


TURN ELEVEN


The shot ran and the MacRames game chase hoping the shot might fail their orders the next turn, giving them a chance for one more shot at them.


TURN TWELVE

The shot made it off the table with their piggies…

So Robert MacRame had to console himself with having at least recovered his sheep.


END GAME

The game was a draw – both sides made off with one group of livestock scoring 2 Victory Points each. The scenario called for three groups of Livestock – which would have guaranteed a winner as the victory points would not have been able to be split evenly, but the scenario also assumed 24 points (which would have meant twice as many units) so I only had two. I also didn’t bother with Bonus Honour gaining Special Orders for this game.

Afterwards we rolled on the Recovery table for Evan MacErrol and Finnegan rolled a 12: “Escapes the enemy with mere scratches and manages to get back to [his] armies camp through a daring and honourable adventure. He will gain fame and appreciation in many folk songs still sung today (by the Dropkick Murphy’s!) +3 Honour. The Officer will recover for the next game.”

We decided he was captured after the battle with MacRame intending to ransom him back to the Government forces for a hefty sum, but he escaped in the middle of the night leaving five of MacRame’s men lying in a pool of their own blood. Also young Sally MacRame had a young daughter nine mouths later – out of wedlock! Many years later one of the survivors of the ensuing ordeal marked that youngster had a look about her that reminded them of that wretched lowlander they’d captured at the outset of hostilities…

So MacErrol gained FIVE Honour and MacRame only two – but he is also now a marked man and sought by government forces. Unlike most Highlanders who tend to head to the hills to hid when sought by Government forces, MacRame decided to spend some time in Edinburgh under an assumed identity…

Fantastic game! Can’t wait to get it back on the table again.

Tomorrow we’re going to try out High Frontier - I’d best get READING THE RULES!!


Coming soon on Tim’s Miniature Wargaming Blog:

A Brief round up of March’s gaming shenanigans (there weren’t that many…)

Then…? More ECW stuff!

Thursday, March 30, 2017

Irish Shot – for DBA-x


More English Civil Warriors – but this time and element of Irish for my Scots Royalist DBA-x army!

(Remember: click on the pictures for a bigger version):


These guys are all from Warlord Games.


I’ve got enough for four more elements like these. I have some Irish Pike for the force as well, although I messed up with the math – originally I’d intended to have two elements of 8 figures each (like I’ve done for all the other pike for the ECW) but I had a bit of a brain-fart and the packs I thought would cleverly add up to 28 (12 for a unit for The Pikeman’s Lament and 16 for two 8-figure elements for DBA) turned out to only have 24…. Dagnabbit! So I’m short four… Ah well, it’ll probably be a while before I get to all of these anyway.


I’ve been having a hankering to play some DBA or HotT lately – maybe even a CAMPAIGN of sorts?! I have enough figures for FOUR English Civil War armies – Scots Royalists, Scots Covenanters, English Parliamentarians, and English Royalists. Only the Scots Covenanters are done - and I could cobble together enough English for one army. They saw action against each other a couple years back at the Battle of Black Adder Moor.

I have an entire English army to paint up, and there’s almost as much to do with the Scots Royalists. In addition to this element, I have the aforementioned three other elements of Shot, two elements of Pike (whether I do them with eight, as originally intended, or just go with the six per stand that I have remains to be seen), and three or four elements of Highland clansmen (I think they are listed a Warband), a Knight element, and Artillery element and an element of Psiloi. I do have ONE element of Highlanders done, and and element of Light Horse…


Coming soon on Tim’s Miniature Wargaming Blog:

Probably not another DBA element for a while… I’m trying to focus on the forces for The Pikeman’s Lament!

Very likely the next post will be a battle report. My friend Aaron is dropping his boys off for the day tomorrow (as they seem to have the day off from school…?) and I thought I might try to set up a game for them… Maybe Lion Rampant or Dragon Rampant…? I think those would be the easiest to run… though I could possibly have a go at The Men Who Would Be Kings with my Zulu War stuff… Or I could cobble together a couple of smaller forces for The Pikeman’s Lament. They have 40K armies - which I’ve played with them - a few times… and I have to admit, I just don’t love it… so I think it’s time to introduce them to some BETTER games… (Of course I'm not sure Aaron’s going to like me anymore if they come home and tell him “DAD! WE NEED ZULUS – THOUSANDS OF THEM!”)

Wednesday, March 29, 2017

Goodies in the Mail

Yesterday a few packages arrived for me in the mail...



First a truck brought by this parcel!

Almost two years ago I Kickstarted High Frontier Third Edition. A friend had highly recommended the game - having played a previous edition (2nd, I think ) - but when I sought out said edition they seemed to be selling for $200-300... or that's what people were ASKING for them, I have no idea if anyone would ever PAY that much... So when a kickstarter came along for a new edition that, including shipping, would end up costing me less than $100, I jumped right on board.

It originally listed the estimated delivery as September 2015... I guessed they must have had everything completed and all their ducks in a row to print and distribute... Not so much, I guessed wrong. I started to wonder if it would EVER show up. But it has. And I'm super excited to try it out - I LOVE games by Phil Eklund (LOVE, not like, LOVE!). It is a beast - I'm sure the box and it's contents was over 5Kg, and the rules look... well... very "in depth"...? We're going to try and have a go at it this weekend.



They also included a copy of Ares Magazine, which Finnegan seemed rather interested in...

Later in the day the regular postie delivered THREE MORE (considerably smaller) packages:



This included orders from Perry Miniatures, Eureka Miniatures USA, and Black Hat Miniatures. From Perry I got some Musketeers to finish up a few units of Shot for The Pikeman's Lament, three heavy cavalry (two to complete an element of Kn for DBA-x army and another to finish another unit for The Pikeman's lament) and some ECW Casualties for morale failure markers. From Eureka I picked up some of Montrose's Irish - a unit of Pike and a unit of Shot as well as a couple of preachers and James Graham (Marquis of Montrose) himself (on foot!). From Black Hat I got some Dwarvish Highlanders to finish up a few units for Dragon Rampant.

I'm still waiting on a few orders from my post birthday spree. I ordered some MORE English musketeers as well as some Scots Musketeers and Pike from Dixon Miniatures. I ordered some Winter of '79 miniatures from Miniature Figures (to go with some Mike Bravo Miniatures State of Emergency figures, which I crowdfunded last year and have also now finally shipped - and will hopefully be here SOON!). I ordered an additional pack of Irish Pike and a mounted version of James Graham from Warlord Games while they had a free worldwide shipping deal on. And finally I'm expecting some Dragoons and armed civilians from Redoubt Enterprises.

Oh and there's the order I placed with Hasslefree back in January... which STILL hasn't arrived. I have to admit I'm exceedingly disappointed by this. I've had such exceptional service from them in the past. But I've send five emails to three different addresses over the last couple weeks - an even sent a message through facebook -with no response...

Oh and I also found out this morning that the creators of the Jet Bike Construction Kit Kickstarter just shipped out rewards to Backer #100 (they've been casting and shipping them out in order of backer number since the campaign ended). I'm #108! So hopefully I'll be seeing those pretty soon - sooner than then expected shipping date of June!
 

In other news... In addition to basing and priming all these new arrivals I've been desperately trying to finish up this Polar Lights Lost in Space Robot for a friend that I've been sitting on half-fisnished for FAR TOO LONG! He's been waiting for this longer than I had to wait for my High Frontier Kickstarter... I painted The Mummy for him a while back... I still have two more to do... I am going to finish them before the end of the year!


Coming soon on Tim’s Miniature Wargaming Blog:

Pics of the finished Robot!?

More ECW stuff?

A Game Report!?

Sunday, March 26, 2017

More English Pike!


I finished up a second unit of English pike for The Pikeman’s Lament over the weekend. As with the recently painted English pike in red four of these were painted almost a year and a half ago, but I replaced their original pikes and repainted helmets and one of the buffcoats.


(Remember: click on the pictures for a bigger version):


A unit of Pike for The Pikeman’s Lament. Most of the figures are from Old Glory Miniatures, but there are three in there from Warlord Games as well.


Push of Pike!

I’ve said before I hate the “at charge” pose for wargaming figures – at least on multi-figure bases (such as for DBA-X) as long pikes sticking out in front of the bases often make it difficult or impossible for said bases to actually make contact. I’m starting to come around to the point where I don’t mind it so much in skirmish games – at least when they’re individually-based and can be moved to not block to combatants from making contact. Also, actually making physical contact in a skirmish game seems less important than in most games with multi-figure bases – as long as they theoretically had the move to make the distance and you know which point from where the losing combatant would have to retreat from…


Coming soon on Tim’s Miniature Wargaming Blog:

A GAME?! Maybe?! There’s trouble a-brewing in the highlands!

I have more highlanders on the workbench at the moment, and I’m just finishing up another batch of ECW Irish – which are going on a multi-figure base for my Scots Royalist DBA-X army. 

Friday, March 24, 2017

The Pikeman’s Lament Dramatis Personae: Robert MacRame


One of the really fun things about The Pikeman’s Lament is the little narrative campaign system for your company commanders. With Lion Rampant and Dragon Rampant your commander gets to roll for some sort of special trait (that isn’t always good!) – and in The Men Who Would Be Kings the leader in EVERY single unit rolls for some sort of trait! But in Pikeman’s Lament, in addition to rolling for a background for your officer (each of which confers an associated trait that affects the officer in the game), as your officer survives games and gains Honour (victory points, essentially) he can gain new, additional traits! There is a topping out element, however: once your commander gains a certain amount of Honour, they are promoted to higher command and no longer lead a company, and you start anew with rolling up a background for his replacement...

So I got very excited thinking of all the possibilities for my commanders. I’ll have five at some point; a Scottish Highlander, an Irish Catholic Mercenary, a Scots Covenanter, and English Royalist and Parliamentarian. But I thought I’d start with The Scottish Highlander… and rolled a 4… “You are a weasel of a  man with little Honour, much to the regret of your rich merchant father who paid for your officer’s rank”… The Basic trait is – Sly: May refuse challenges without incurring the usual Morale Test…

Okay… not totally what I was initially imagining, but I can work with that…

Giving it a little thought I decided that rather than a rich merchant, his father could be the head of a minor clan: The MacRames of Glen Dunny!


Our Hero: Robert MacRame – Third son of Angus MacRame of Glenn Dunny

He does cut a dashing figure, does he not? Unfortunately, he’s a bit of an unscrupulous cad.

Being the third son, Robert is not likely to inherit. All will go to his older bother James. His father and brother have very high ideals about honour and family and expect that Robert should always stand by his brother’s side. Robert bristles under leadership of his eldest brother James and is determined to make his own way – he is always scheming and looking for a way to make a great deal of money with very little effort on his part - much to the chagrin of his father. His father says his shady deals bring dishonour to the family name, but Robert cares not. He is determined to set himself up as a self-made laird.

As for the troubles in the south, Robert couldn’t give a fig whose arse polishes the throne of England, or what prayer books are read from down at the kirk, as long as there is money to be made… and he is sure there IS money to be made selling provisions and other supplies to the government for the army being sent south – if only he could corner the marker on SOMETHING the army desperately needed...


Robert has gathered around him a gang of loyal toadies and thugs. There are his two younger brothers; Jock and Willy, who also despise their eldest brother. Also he has in his employ a couple of well paid hard men who had no compulsions whatsoever about perpetrating a bit of brutal violence at their masters behest; Hamish Graham “The Cracker” (known for cracking skulls!) and Archibald McPhee (a bit of a practical jokester!). And, of course, every good Scots leader needs a piper to announce his entrance!

For game purposes Robert and his crew will be fielded as a Forlorn Hope. With them will be a number of units of clansmen – a few of his FATHER’S men that had been put at his disposal. I might add in a unit of shot or commanded shot…?


Two units of clansmen (so far….)

With the two units of clansmen and the Forlorn Hope I have 12 points worth of units – halfway to a standard 24 point force. Seems like a good place to start though, and add units as the force progresses through the campaign and Robert (hopefully) gains Honour!

I could simply field the Forlorn Hope and SIX units of Clansmen. Unfortunately I only really have enough figures for four…. Unless I pilfer a few I had set aside to make a Scots Royalist DBA force… I might do that… otherwise I’m not sure how I’ll come up with 24…? I do have some Irish I could add, but I had thought I’d field them as their OWN force… We shall see – young Robert needs to survive his first action, then perhaps we’ll start worrying about what to add to his force!


(Those of you who have been following the blog a LONG time may remember visiting Glen Dunny before - an action during the 1988 Soviet invasion of Great Britain - and two further actions at the Village of Dunny - as the Soviet VDV tried to establish a crossing on the Black Dunny Water - and Dunnymuir


Coming soon on Tim’s Miniature Wargaming Blog:

Possibly a report of Robert MacRame’s first engagement against the government forces (what could possibly turn this fine capitalist, wannabe war profiteer against the potential cash cow of the government!?)…?

Or perhaps an introduction to Robert’s soon-to-be nemesis Evan “Holy” McErrol – a dour Covenanter Commander and son of an even dourer martyred Calvinist Presbyterian preacher – with a hatred for the English and anyone who would support their king…?

Thursday, March 23, 2017

English Pike


Another unit ready for The Pikeman’s Lament...

I had thought I’d hold off on posting these and use them for a round of the Lead Painter’s League, but then I realized I’ve submitted photos for the first three rounds and the league doesn’t even get under way until April – so I don’t have to submit another team for a MONTH!? While I know some people are painting away to get ahead of the game, painting up a new batch of five figures a week is nothing for me, so…

Figures are from Old Glory Miniatures

(Remember: click on the pictures for a bigger version):


One unit of Pike for The Pikeman’s Lament.

Four of these I actually painted over a year ago, but I used much shorter and skinnier pikes, so I replaced those when I painted up this unit (and ended up repainting their gloves!).


When the dust settles I should have four units of pike and four of shot for the English.

Being all part of a company they should probably all have the same colour uniform… but I’m doing each in a different colour – though there will be similar colours. The red and orange units could be in one company, and the blue and green units in the other…

Of course two units of pike and two units of shot isn’t going to make complete companies… I’ll need to add some other stuff, but I will have a couple units of  Horse and I do have the Forlorn Hopes Dismounted Cavalry… not to mention a few Clubmen to pad things out where necessary…


Coming soon on Tim’s Miniature Wargaming Blog:

Probably some More ECW Pike… or a report of some ECW action with The Pikeman’s Lament.

Monday, March 20, 2017

English Civil War Cavalry


I have been busy painting new things… it’s just that most of them you’ll have to wait a month to see. I thought I’d try and get in on the Lead Adventure Forum’s Lead Painter’s League this year. Stuff submitted to the league cannot previously have been be posted anywhere on the internet. So…

I have been working on some more post apocalyptic scavenger types for Mutants and Death Ray Guns and some English Civil War Irish for The Pikeman’s Lament. I will post them here after they’ve been featured in the Lead Painter’s League.

I also happened to finish up a solitary mounted cavalryman – which I will not be submitting as an entry into the League – which finishes off a unit of six for The Pikeman’s Lament (the other five were painted over a year ago…).

(Remember: click on the pictures for a bigger version):


Solitary newly painted cavalryman from Old Glory


Completed unit of Cavalry. Could be “Trotters” or “Gallopers”. I’ll probably use them as “Gallopers”, because that’s how I roll…

Huzzah!


Coming soon on Tim’s Miniature Wargaming Blog:

I was planning a post to introduce some of the Dramatis Personae that will be involved in my upcoming narrative campaign for The Pikeman’s Lament.

I have a little scenario I’d like to run sometime this week, hopefully there will be a report of that little action! 

Tuesday, March 14, 2017

Dismounted ECW Cavalry


Moving on…

I’ve been obsessing about The Pikeman’s Lament since it was released a month or so ago and having recently abandoned the Vimy Project I’ve launched straight into trying to get some units together to play a game.

Of course I have a pile of DBA-X ECW units I COULD use… just use casualty markers… But I happen to HAVE a lot of individually based ECW figures anyway, so I shouldn’t take much to organize dedicated units for Pikeman’s Lament.

Picking some “low-haninng fruit” I painted up three dismounted cavalrymen that finishes up three units of “Forlorn Hope” – smallish units of hard-hitting elites – similar to the dismounted knights (Foot Men-at-Arms) in Lion Rampant except… y’know… with muskets and the like.

(Remember: click on the pictures for a bigger version):


Three newly painted dismounted ECW cavalrymen. The two on the left are Wargames Foundry figures that came are part of a pack of dismounted ECW cavalry I ordered a year and a half ago (when I was last excited about the era – as I was reading about it with the kids and the release of 
En Garde!</a> was approaching!) I mostly ordered them fort the OTHER figures in the pack – which I painted shortly after their arrival. These are copies of figures I already owned and had painted… so… there was less motivation to get them done… (until now!!).

The fellow on the left tossing the bomb is from Warlord Games. He was part of a storming party I painted up previously. This fellow wasn’t painted at that time because his flimsy little scabbard broke off. I was going to model a proper scabbard on their, but in the end just drilled it out, stuck in a bit of wire and painted that… If I hadn’t mentioned it, no one would probably have noticed…


Forlorn Hope #1 – Dismounted Cuirassiers – these would be classified as “aggressive” – a 0 point upgrade that removes the ability to shoot, but increases their Stamina and Attack Value. All but one is from Wargames Foundry, the odd man out is actually a Dixon Miniatures figures from their Flodden line?! I figured it was close enough – could be some poor old chap that couldn’t afford new armour and swords and had to go into battle wearing his granddads armour…

The four cuirassiers that are identical to the newly painted one I have had for-EVAR – I actually painted them 27 years ago!


Forlorn Hope #2 – Figures from Wargames Foundry and Dixon Miniatures again. This unit doesn’t actually include any of the newly painted ones above… I just thought I’d include a picture of them. As with the cuirassiers above, a couple of these chaps were painted 27 years ago. Can you guess which ones?


Forlorn Hope #3 – figures are mostly f from Warlord Games - with one from Wargames Foundry.



The entire storming party from Warlord Games... which I guess could be fielded as a Forlorn Hope of its own - if you could imagine the petard stand as a single element thus making a unit of six. I imagine I would more likely use the petard as a “token” of sorts in a scenario that has to be escorted to the gate of an enemy fortification and left there long enough for the storming party to clear away to a safe distance… much like the critters in the foraging or rustling scenarios. 

Good to be back working on a project I actually WANT to be working on! I actually completely reorganized all my ECW figures into four DBA-X armies (ECW Royalist, ECW Parliament – with options to make an ECW New Model Army, ECW Covaneteers, and ECW Scots Royalists) and four similar Pikeman’s Lament forces – with a few options for each. I've ordered just a few new miniatures to finish up a couple units in each. 

Despite these English Forlorn Hopes the most likely forces to be completed first will be the Scots.


Coming soon on Tim’s Miniature Wargaming Blog:

More English Civil War for Pikeman’s Lament!

Or possibly some more post apocalyptic types for Mutants and Death Ray Guns

Or possibly even some JET BIKES for Faustus Furious 3000!