6 mm ECW wargame. Lords at war

As befits the leading men of the county, Lord Holland and Lord Battersby raised forces for Parliament and the King respectively.
Lord Holland raised 2 regiments of foot, 2 of horse and 2 of dragoons.
Lord Battersby raised a similar force for the king..
Having been bested in the race to secure the arms in Ashgrove, Lord Battersby set out with his small force to make his presence known in no uncertain terms.
Being aware of this, as it is no easy task to conceal a mustering of forces in the same county, Lord Holland gathered his force and went to confront the upstart on his march. Thereby saving his tenants and neighbours from unseemly ruffians upsetting their livelihoods and forcing them to into allegiance with the king.

Lord Holland had the following force:-

1 regiment of pistol, inferior. Colonel Dove (2 elements, green coats)
1 regiment of pistol, inferior. Colonel Houghton (2 elements, black coats)
1 regiment of foot, ordinary. Colonel Dierden (6 elements, red coats)
I regiment of foot, ordinary. Colonel Smith (6 elements, green coats)
I Regiment of Dragoons, ordinary. Colonel Potts (1 elements, purple coats)
I Regiment of Dragoons, ordinary. Colonel Booth (1 elements, orange coats)

Lord Battersby had the following force:-

1 regiment of pistol, ordinary, fast. Colonel Ainsworth (2 elements, yellow coats)
1 regiment of pistol, ordinary, fast. Colonel Walker (2 elements, blue coats)
1 regiment of foot, ordinary. Colonel Barlow (6 elements, red coats)
I regiment of foot, ordinary. Colonel Tyldesley (6 elements, blue coats)
I Regiment of Dragoons, ordinary. Colonel Jackson (1 elements, yellow coats)
I Regiment of Dragoons, ordinary. Colonel Clegg (1 elements, green coats)

Foot regiments are on  80 x 40 mm bases. I am counting them as double. It just looks better to me personally.
Lord Holland's force 110 points
Lord Battersby's 1118

On a bright August day they arrayed their forces on even ground near the town of Walkden. A few stands of trees was all that stopped it from being a bleak moor.
To the sound of drum beats and course shouting the armies advanced.

Lord Holland's infantry

Lord Holland set his infantry regiments in motion supported by the dragoons and pistols.
Col. Booth headed for the clump of trees hoping to gain some cover and advantage over any passing units.
Lord Battersby, feeling confident in his horse, sent them to chase the commoners horse away.
He had a little more difficulty persuading his foot to advance.

As the Royalist horse approached Colonel Dove gave the foot the order to fire. Colonels Walkers horse recoiled from the flying lead. Ainworth's horse, not wanting to be disadvantaged by the Parliamentary horse pulled back.

Lord Holland was satisfied with the early events of the battle. He was to be sorely tested later though. Strangely, he waited to see what the Royalist horse was going to do instead of pressing his advantage. Both commanders, in truth, were inexperienced in warfare. It was a learn as go war, hopefully a short one.
Col. Potts took position to shoot at the Royalist horse. He was somewhat exposed. War is a risky business and he was hoping for a little glory to brag about to his friends and impress the girls in town.
After sometime the Royalists manged to coerce their foot to advance. Col Clegg saw the opportunity to charge Potts but it was ineffectual. Potts, well aware of the risk had kept an eye out and defended well. He sent the Royalists back with their tails between their legs. But the foot were coming ever closer so he mounted and rejoined the Parliamentary lines. A hero in his eyes!
Col. Booth proceeded to the far edge of the trees to pepper the Royalists when they came within range.  When they did he found himself out shot, and retreated.
At last, a little success for the Royalists.
The Royalist cavalry had been stationary, not in range of the shot but wary of advancing because of it

Then the Parliamentary foot advanced once again. Some said Lord Holland was insistent the battle be over before before dinner, he was hungry. It may have been the clouds over the enemies lines that could let pour the rain it threatened, thereby dampening the powder. He wanted resolution this day!
The Royalist horse commanders happy to have the foot advancing in support charged again to mixed effect. With the foot in support Walker was decimated, Ainsworth persevered sending Dove packing.
The Royalist foot was closing slowly.

Royalist's at the top

Dove received the charge at the halt

Houghton, meanwhile, had manoeuvred his horse to the left wing to support Dove but had moved too late. He took position in line to charge the Royalist horse. But was a little to slow as the Royalists charged him!

The Royalist foot charged into contact and drove back one regiment but were pushed back with the other. Both successful regiments followed up, driving the advantage. Both opponents rallied and pushed back. It was hard fought until, suddenly, Tyldesley's regiment gave way and fled. Not long after followed by Barlow's. The Royalists had fled the field. The horse hearing the cheering broke off and followed the infantry from the field.

It was a bloody days work.

Lord Holland sent Houghton to follow the Royalists to make sure they didn't stop and return. He took his army back to celebrate his soon to be famous victory.
Lord Battersby cursed his regimental commanders and vowed to give the king victory in his county, come what may.

This battle was a curious affair.
Both armies showed reluctance to close with the enemy, low dice rolls for pips in reality. Lord Holland's decision not to advance was dice driven though.
I dice for initiative each round before dicing for pip points. The Parliamentary army won slightly more than their fair share. They also, usually, did better with command pips rolls also. And combat and shooting rolls! Only occasionally did the Royalists better them.
I was nonplussed when the dragoons on horse charged the dragoons on foot as to what to do! Contacting the yahoo group solved this problem. Thank you! But it seemed a curious rule that they fought on the same factor.

I may, at some point, try a different rule set. Though which one I don't know. Any suggestions will be taken on board.

6 mm ECW mini-game

Hi!
This bank holiday weekend, 24-26 August, I'd thought I'd try to get a game or two in with the ECW armies.
Rules used will be DBR
Initially, two small forces sent to secure some arms in a small town, Ashgrove. Neither force knows the other is coming and, by coincidence, have the same forces available:-
Two troops of horse and one of dragoons.(I had thought to include a regiment or two of foot but I wanted a small game).
Parliamentary horse are Pistols, inferior.
Royalists are Pistols, fast.
Both Dragoon troops are ordinary.

The tiles are Total System Scenics. Four, 1 foot square tiles bought many years ago for 15 mm skirmish gaming. You will see the two areas of rough ground, a few trees and the 'T' junction where the town is situated.
Two small farms with hedged fields complete the field of battle to come.

Thus, the two forces appear on the roads leading to Ashgrove.

Captain Hodgkiss with his Parliamentary horse and a troop of dragoons

Captain Sutcliffe of his Majesties Horse and a troop of dragoons

Both forces proceeded up the road until they spied each other.

Captain Hodgkiss ordered his dragoons forward into the filed, hoping to enfilade the Parliamentary horse. He stood at the halt waiting for them to advance.

But Captain Sutcliffe sent his dragoons through the wood. They gained the advantage and with their first salvo decimated the Royalist dragoons.

At this unfortunate turn of events Hodgkiss advanced to contact with the Parliamentary horse, hoping to settle the matter as between gentleman and commoners. Taking fire from the Parliamentary horse which impeded their impact on contact, the Royalist horse recoiled from the clash.

Hodgkiss decided that as the odds were against him, with the dragoons free on his right flank, to retire from the field.

I was sorely tempted to charge again but the dice decided the Royalists would retire in good order. Thus saving the troops for the war to come.

The Royalists didn't have a lot of luck in the dice rolls.
Perhaps they will do better next time

6 mm ECW

Hi!
My painting of the Heroics & Ros English Civil Wars figures got off to a good start. It continued with some moments (days!) of respite.
I now have:-
10 elements of foot, only 6 shown here, with flags to be added. I say element but each is equal to 4 normal 40 x 20 mm elements.
As you can see, I have based each battalia on one base of 80 x 40 mm. I like the look of it.
Originally, as I had done previously with my first ECW army, I was going to have different sized units. But practicality took over and I am pleased with the overall look of the units,

9 elements of dragoons on foot

12 elements of dragoons on horse

14 elements of horse

I have about 4 more units of foot to add but only after purchasing some more shot figures to make up the units. With a few more foot regiments I will have two small ECW armies. I have another batch of figures which will give me another regiment of horse (2 elements).
I seem to have an abundance of dragoons. Much too many I think, with more to paint. I will base the additional dragoons as commanded shot
Even so, it is a force larger than either of the other two renaissance armies I currently have.

I am pleased it went so well.

Salute 2019 part 2 and ECW catch-up

  Hi!
I bought a few things at Salute. More impulse buys than planned. Although I knew some of the traders attending through looking at the website it was unknown traders, unknown to me, that had my interest.

First in the lucky bag at the door:-

Two fantasy figures and a Salute die. OK. One or two people may have slightly different items but nothing to complain about or set my world on fire.

My purchases:-

Oriental bridge for Ronin

A Tori gate that may not be suitable for Ronin.

Following on:-

A colourful ruin for Frostgrave

My Frostgrave is going to be a riot of colour if I can find the pices. Far too much grey around in most Frostgrave games don't you think?


Lastly, a two sided 4' x 4' mat. One side snow which, I hope, I can use for Frostgrave and the winter French and Indian Wars

The other side 'old grass'.

A couple of close ups.

 This is how the Napoleonic Austrians look on the mat:-

And the ECW cavalry and dragoons from both sides. The bases still need finishing as do the guidons/standards.

The dragoon elements. More foot required

Parliamentary horse

Royalist horse

Another shot of the Parliamentary horse

It feels like I fairly batted along with the cavalry/dragoon painting. There are plenty of foot still to do but, added together it is a much bigger army than either of the Polish or Turkish forces.  Now to breakdown the figures into units before painting.

That about sums it up.
My favourite has to be the ruin for Frostgrave and second the mat.

I hope to game the Romans v Ancient British before the Easter break is over. There must be recompense for attacking Roman soldiers in pursuance of their lawful duties!

6mm ECW cavalry

Hi!
Only a couple of weeks and I've getting the cavalry in shape.
A quick shot of the 6mm Heroics & Ros ECW cavalry,
I decided to base them on DBR bases 40 x 30 mm for the cavalry. Where I normally base them in two rows of 6 I decided on two rows of 5. It give a little more space on the base. I didn't want 'boot to boot' cavalry lines. It also gave me two extra bases so I'm not complaining!

Above are some primed and partly painted dragoons.
In the middle are the Chariot miniature psiloi and a Japanese ashigaru drum figure and drum.

6mm ECW ready to paint.

Hi!
Today I spent sometime prepping the ECW figures from Heroics and Ros (heroicsandros.).
Basically, a spray paint job undercoat.
I will check the bases I will use again before starting to paint. The Polish and Ottomans are DBR based so I want it to be compatible and not too different. Indecision is a terrible thing. Probably why my troops hesitate to move because they think I'll change my mind!
I'll should change my pseudonym to The Grand Old Duke of York!

As you can see, the weather in Milton Keynes isn't the snow-swept UK that is on the news today.

I will be taking a break at the end of May to attend a wedding in the US. If they let me in. I'm hoping New Hampshire is going to be warm and inviting.

Thanks for viewing.