Little-known Rules: War of the Roses by the Perfect Captain

Seems the English are just as fond of civil disobedience as the rest of us. Without really bothering to delve greatly into the matter (at eight years old, intellectual curiosity was very limited, under-developed, and mostly superficial anyway), I intuitively sided with the losing Lancastrian cause. Nearly sixty years later, I am still siding with the losing side simply because I know the value of what-ifs. Especially when wargaming. And, besides, ultimately the Lancastrians won when Henry defeated Richard III at Bosworth.

ACOS stands for A Coat of Steel which is set in the War of the Roses (1455-1487). It covers the main areas of conflict - England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland. 

I am really liking the breakdown and detailing these rules provide into the period and how it was fought back then. 

Within the concept of the rules a Band, usually refers to a single 40mm stand representing 60-100 men. Whether this is historically the case deserve further investigation but for now I content to accept their explanation. Besides, it makes for an interesting appeal, and it's better than being called a "thingy". 

A group of bands (normally 3 or 4) belong to a Contingent while a Company comprises several contingents (ranging between 6 to 16 contingents - no more, no less). Scale for these rules is 28mm. Which allows scope for painting beautiful minis.

The Company is the basic tactical unit within the game, and must be led by a commander. Beyond that, as you rise up in organisational levels terms like Ward, Host, and Battel become more common and therefore the norm, especially in Campaign Mode (ACOP - A Coat of Paper). Like I said before, the rules are designed for company-level gaming but it is possible to wage large-scale tabletop conflicts. It means more players of course.

What is attracting me right now with this ruleset, i.e., wanting to pull out the paint brush and acrylics, are the coat-of-arms of those involved. These are part of the multitude of other files - cards, counters, personalities, scenarios - that seriously much colour to the ruleset. And it's a big plus rergarding The Perfect Captain; their production output is seriously good for Little Known rules.

Always found shield heraldry fascinating. There is colour. There is history. There is symbolism. And the perfect opportunity to create a colourful company, especially the standard bearer, is really motivating me to buy some minis and assemble a group together.

Which commander to choose from the eighty-odd has yet to be determined however. But I do know he will be Lancastrian-aligned. Although there are some nice shield emblems on theYorkist side too.

Leaders come in all degrees of competency and loyalty. I like the fact that you can have commanders on your own side suddenly turn Treacherous on you. Much like real-world situations. Gives it a spice from your usually bland commercially produced sets. 

I've already printed out Ironbow 2, Strongbow (the campaign mode), The Armies of Strongbow, and John Bull/Patriots (covering the period of the American Revolution up to 1815 on the North American continent). 

Also exploring my options in terms of suitable figurines, their availability within Australia, and type. My son is planning on travelling overseas to the UK next month so I could probably save on the pricey overseas postage if I can get my act together. 

I will test the waters, so to speak, with these various rules to some degree of commitment. 

There are other rulesets within the free grab bag from all those years ago. There is a set of seven modules based within the Pike and Shot era (16th-17th centuries) centred on the Spanish domination in European affairs at that time. Rules cover such specifics as conventional naval warfare, piracy in the New World, religious persecution (Hugenots), conventional land battles, sieges (coastal and fortifications). There is even a simple duelling module! And a Nordic ruleset covering the local wars of Scandinavia is tossed in for variety.

Of course, I should end this brief post back on the topic of English civil disobedience, namely that other great conflict that divided the nation: the English Civil War. There are three modules for this period - Planter Fox (Ireland module), Tinker Fox (core ruleset), and Very Civile Actions (campaign module).

There is a lot here to keep me occupied for many several years.

Red River campaign - revisiting the American Civil War

Long ago, back in the late 90s, I ended a solo ACW campaign that grew from two opposing brigades into two veteran corps battling in an alternate timeline. Once completed, and after some lengthy analyses over the subsequent years, I came to an eventual understanding that my fascination with the period had somehow reached its finality. Which surprised me as for as long as I could remembered the ACW was one of the pillars of my wargaming experience ever since I found this hobby as a teen. Now I had somehow reconciled myself to answering why it had held such a fascination for so long. Once that realisation bubbled up into my conscious awareness, I found a relieving sense of peace.

Since then, apart from the occasional flirtation that never materialised into anything concrete or lasting, I have not had any real desire to open up that ACW drawer ever again. Until now. And now it's more a nostalgic trip. And a desire to fulfil to a commitment made to myself a few months back.

So, let's get started.

Firstly, the Red River campaign was an actual historical campaign. Why Red River? The name itself is the obvious attraction. Secondly, it's not as well known as Grant's Vicksburg campaign or Sherman's famous march to Atlanta. I've always enjoyed exploring side alleys and little-travelled paths more interesting anyway. I knew nothing of the campaign. What better place to start.

From memory, I believe I have enough minis to cover both sides for this upcoming short campaign. 

Scale will be 20mm. 

Painting minis will not be an issue - certainly not on the scale of the Borodin refight project. 

But first I need an idea of the exact amount of minis needed for this campaign. Still currently doing research on total numbers for the campaign. Using wikipedia as my start point. Not expecting to venture further beyond wikipedia as it covers well enough the essentials of the campaign. Plus it gives breakdowns on exact numbers per formation.

The ruleset I am interested in (Terry Wise's Airfix #33) is still available online but I am not keen on spending any money if I can avoid it. Still hunting for a free copy somewhere online. If after all that searching I come up empty-handed, I can always fall back on D. F. Featherstone's Wargames rules. Bare basic but certainly doable. And definitely familiar.  I really don't want to devote too much time or effort bringing this short campaign to the table. 

Two main battles were fought in the campaign. Obviously these will be replayed.

Map movement and What-if? The notion of map movements inspired by planned intentions is interesting. And invariably raises notions of what-if. But I have to make a firm decision on whether to run this campaign as just the known battles or play the what-if option. If the former, no need for map movement. If the latter, then "yes". But the latter means greater investment in something that shouldn't be so involved. 

Compiling a suitable list of actions to wargame from the campaign (wikipedia), I've come with enough actions to get this wargames campaign going.

• Battle of Fort De Russey - March 14, 1864
• Battle of Henderson's Hill (or Bayou Rapides) - March 21, 1864
• Battle of Mansfield (Sabine's Crossroads) - April 8, 1864 (major)
• Battle of Pleasant Hill - April 9, 1864
• Battle of Blair's Landing - April 12, 1864
• The Actions near Alexandria - April 24 to May 13, 1864
• Action at Hudnot's Plantation - April 30, 1864
• Actions at Wilson's Landing - May 1 & 2, 1854
• Foraging Party attacked - May 2, 1864
• Capture of City Belle - May 3, 1864
• Loss of John Warner, USS Covington, USS Signal - May 4, 1864
• Battle of Monett's Ferry - April 23, 1864
• Action of 26-27 April 1864 
• Battle of Mansura - May 16, 1864 (major)
• Battle of Yellow Bayou (or Norwood's Plantation) - May 18, 1864

More to follow over the coming weeks. Cheers.

Little-known Rules: Iron Bow 2 - a Medieval wargaming project

Been looking beyond the Borodino Refight for a new modelling/gaming venture for some time now. Various ideas have been bandied about but nothing firm enough has emerged beyond initial enthusiasm which doesn't carry far. 

I did recall some old rulesets that were freely available from eight years back. What attracted me to them, besides being free, back then were their high quality production. They also covered various specific periods within the historical wargaming genre - from the Pelopponesian conflicts of the Ancient eras through to the numerous wars of the Middle and Renaissance periods right up to global conflicts of the early 19th century. 

The rules themselves were aimed at company-level (of low hundreds) operations. Not quite full-on large-scale battles but definitely not skirmish. And they cover not just land but naval actions. Nowadays all levels of wargaming are catered for in the twenty-first century. But these sets produced from the early 2000s (and earlier) were few and far between and often quite crude in their output production values, i.e, one or two Word-style pages and tables. 

I was indeed fortunate enough to find these treasure trove of rulesets.

I invested in a couple of sets many years back. The first was the Peloponnesian Wars. I managed, at that time, to assemble together, in 15mm, a small Spartan and Greek list. I had high hopes for future expansion but nought came of that. Even though I coaxed a fellow club member at the time to join in for a playtest, interest soon waned as something else soon caught my eye.

The next set was devoted to the Russian Civil War. Chose 20mm and accumulated a large enough list of both Bolsheviks and White Russians. Even had armoured vehicles. Started campaigning after playing a few small engagements to acclimatise myself to the rules. 

Of late, however, I've begun to rediscover renewed interest in starting a new wargaming/painting project. Hence the search for other rulesets from the publisher who offered a wide variety of period rulesets. These included both land and sea and stretched from Ancient times to early nineteenth century. 

Lately I've begun reviving interest enough to read through some of the rules, going so far as start prepping them for printing. 

The publisher of this veritable treasure chest of free rules is The Perfect Captain - a North American entity made up of several talented rules writers. One of their strengths is the production values pertaining to each ruleset produced. 

Their website (The Captain's Chest) is still active. However, downloading the still-listed rulesets is no longer possible as I recently found out the other day when I tried to download the Medieval set. EDIT: I have since learned the site shut down October 2020. Good news is that they're still active as a facebook group. 

Fortunately, for me, I had the sense to download the sets all those years ago. 

The ruleset I am interested in reviving Ironbow 2 which happens to be the core ruleset covering the Early Medieval period. It is not confined to one specific region; this is where Strongbow comes in being an expansion set that covers those lists not in IB2 - specifically all manner of feudal French (both northern France and south of the Loire valley, Flanders, German (Holy Roman Empire), the wild Irish, Scots, Welsh), 

Other expansions of the IR2 series include Alexius 1113 (Byzantine campaign against the marauding Seljuks), and Villehardouin (an IB2 scenario for the Byzantine-Archean War 1262-64). 

There is also Princes of the East (dealing with the First Crusade) and In The Shadow of Byzantium 2 (1205-60). Both of these are separate rulesets to IB2. 

I have lumped all these sets listed above into one grouping and called them Medieval. 

The main author of Ironbow 2, by the way, is Billy Toufexis (I believe) and it was released by The Perfect Captain in 2006.

I am focusing on the Strongbow expansion specifically to get me started on the road to discovery. And as I read through the document, it calls to mind Lion Rampant by Mr. Mersey. But apart from that single distinction Lion Rampant is very much a simplified generalised tabletop game wearing historical costume whereas IB2 seems more historically substantial and less gamey. Various factions have specific characteristics emphasised more than LR which tends to lump all types into neat gaming boxes.  

The usual hurdle remains, namely, adapting IB2 to solo gaming mode. But as this is par for course anyway, it's not really an issue. Just another step to actual play.

FoGN 2 Quick Reference Sheet

Not sure if this is available elsewhere. Got tired of continually referring to the rulebook in the Borodino Refight so sat down at my computer and retyped all the tables provided in the current FoGN 2 rulebook. Also a good excuse to use my new laser printer...again. 😁 

Added page number in the header of each table for ease of convenience. 

Also made a few "editorial corrections" simply because, for me, it made for awkward reading a few times. Not many and they're more personal idiosyncracies but just enough to make pause in reading.

End result is my own QRS. Four double-sided pages. Tables are even colour-coded similar to the rulebook. Just need to laminate the pages and she's good to go for the next time.

Borodino Refight Update Report

 Hi

Decided to reactivate this blogsite because the situation at the other (main) blogsite is fast becoming difficult. Problems abound daily and they're associated with the preparation and editing of the blog posts. These are both constant and continual; there is no real satisfaction in settling the matter there so I am going to switch to here for the time being. If it proves more viable, then that should help. For now, I am going to concentrate of posting reports and updates on the actual refight now that I've begun.

Hopefully things here will prove less stressful and much simpler. 

To start, the latest current update regarding the Borodino Project is as follows:

• Deciding that there was enough formations completed (minus some missing parts - mainly commanders) on the whole to begin the refight
• Time and motivation issues saw me drag heel quite a lot before finally starting the refight. 
• Location settled on was that this would be an indoors refight. Reason was simple: I wanted to be able to leave the game permanently setup (without packing away all the time), and outdoors was therefore out of the question. Outdoors offered the space but not the opportunity to leave the table in situ and protected. The studio however offered both options.
  
• But the space restrictions indoors, and the scale of the task, meant having to set up two tables - one in each room. And it is cramped due to layout arrangement.
  
• Game finally began around June of this year.
• I've been trying to play at least once a week. However there is no fixed or set timeframe. I play when I get the chance. 
  
• So far, I am up to the Russian Turn 6. French have the initiative as they were on the offensive from the start of the historical battle.
• Trying to use the historical account for reference and guidance. But leaving the actual results of play to determine the flow of the game.
  
• Breaking down a Turn into manageable parts has developed as I've played each Turn. It is beneficial because it is a big big battle. It shortens the length of time engaged. And therefore helps maintain continued interest. 
• There have lots of improvement moments, many of which I have forgotten because I fail to make note at the time of occurrence. Apart from a couple of major points. But more on that later.
• Photo storage space on the normal forum site I frequent means relying more on the blog sites where storage space isn't as much as issue. 

Some points to note about this refight are:

1. This is definitely NOT a solo refight to take on unless one is fully prepared and devoted to every last detail being correct. My casual but hurried approach has been a major problem.
2. This definitely requires larger space. A covered outdoor venue (this is Queensland) is fine BUT only if this refight involves several individuals, and that it is completed in one day. A major undertaking for sure. 
3. ALL the models selected need to be painted. Using proxies is fine BUT ensure they are clearly defined.
4. ID tags on unit stands is imperative if I want to replay this.

 Above image shows the situation at the end of the first major French assault on the Grand Redoubt (Raevski's Redoubt). There are four French infantry divisions gathered in the vicinity of the defensive fortifications. Raevski's defenders are managing to hold their own despite taking some damage.

North of the redoubt Dokhturov's division is having to contend with the French advance over the New Post Road bridge (top centre), east of Borodino. The Guard Jagers holding the town were eventually ousted but instead of retreating over the bridge and destroying it they left it intact. And now Dokhturov has to somehow defend the approaching assaulting brigades and then recapture and destroy the bridge. Fortunately de Tolly, commander of the 1st Western Army and this sector, has two infantry corps and two cavalry corps and the Cossacks at his immediate disposal. 

Also, it is now the Russian Turn 6.

More to follow soon. Cheers.

October

Fast forward a few weeks to the new month of October. Spring has seen the jacarandas already in bloom, albeit sleepily. I think November is really when they flourish and shine. Maybe see the Honeyeaters even? Love my birds.

The Borodino Project has been extended as I struggle to complete the artillery and command stand of Part Three. Putting aside my disappointment of not being able to buy the necessary cavalry to complete the French & Allied component I have continued to do the best under these changed circumstance.

Managed to complete the Russian artillery and all the infantry commanders - Army, corps, and divisional. But still lack the equivalent for the cavalry; fortunately they are few. Completed the artillery for the active corps; just lacking the artillery reserve.

On the French & Allied side, I've started on the commanders and finished over half. Same with artillery although completion rate is much higher (nearer 90% done) and which includes the artillery reserves. As stated, missing a fair proportion of cavalry and am unable to acquire them unless I purchase from overseas which makes it most expensive, something I've tried to avoid as I had started this with the intention of assembling from the large amount of figures already in my possession. The last thing I wanted to do was spend money on more figures! But I never really had a full account of what I possessed.

However, I did complete one major to-do objective - paint up all the Russians I had acquired from several years ago. The image belows show the Russian list for Borodino near completion (just missing the various cavalry corps commanders and the huge artillery reserves).

As far as the refight goes, it's still happening but maybe towards the end of the year. I have so many other projects that I'd like to tackle. And this has dragged on longer than desired. So, expect a full batrep in the new year outlining how it all went. Cheers.

September is Spring in the Southern Hemisphere

 Hi. Spring is here. September 7 came and went and I am sorta stuck with my grand plan on pause. Part 3 is proving the stuck-in-the-mud obstacle. 

While writing up a shopping list in July, I failed to take into account the availability of said minis. Well, first trip to the local hobby shop in August soon disclosed the problem, namely said minis required are not readily available due to supply issues. When queried, the store owner said his supplier has gone out of business which means no more HaT models unless I order elsewhere or overseas. Further investigation revealed this local problem was widespread. So, buying what I could proved disappointingly low in yield. 

This development pretty much sunk the plans for the Sept 7 deadline. Now, I've extended it to same date but in 2022. Hopefully I can complete the listing before then which will mean the refight finally get a showing.