For those of you possibly connected to Helion Publishing, Devereux's regiment of the ECWS or are frequent followers of Wars of Louis Quatorze, might have noticed the recent cover for yours trulies debut publication. This will cover the development, implementation and reality that can be gleaned from military manuals of the period such as Ward, Bariffe and de Gheyn and how they were enacted on the battlefield, while equally using their deposits to highlight individual units and landscapes within the battlescape. Already available to preorder from Amazon-as well as the accompanying journal article , published 15 August, with an official launch also being held at the Century of the Soldier Conference in Shrewsbury, which I'll be attending. Keep an eye on this series as they are also producing a range of wargaming and specialist publications through this logo, hopefully a number of which I will be reviewing and playtesting on this blog.
Meanwhile, painting has been slow, with article writing, preparation for the Prestonpans Show and painting for the Lion Rampant tournament in April taking precedence. However I did manage to buy further forces for my Restoration project last week and a World War II Bolt Action battle (the first in a while) on Tuesday night at the club. Wanting to playtest the new additions to my German Army, (a Puma and FW190) and having rushed there, myself and my gaming partner Paul decided to fight an engagement from very late in the war Wehrmacht/Volksgrenadier against Waffen SS. I didn't manage to take many photos but this is the result. I do feel as if he and myself have very much become engaged in an arms race, both in terms of troops and terrain,(he's currently painting a Panther and putting onto the table some very nice ruined buildings, walls and 4Ground MDF Fencing-myself [diverting from other projects I might add] starting work on a bunker, a series of tank traps, an industrial complex and a number of ruined buildings-quite a set up I should think by the end) Here is the result//
A PanzerIV inches its way onto the battlefield, providing cover for advancing infantry and making itself heard. Against raw Volksgrenadier this should be a cake walk
Meanwhile, on their other flank German Infantry are held down in a firefight with German infantry in the ruins. The Howitzer very much proved the king of the battlefield that day, inflicting meagre, but effective casualties on their opponents. It even sucked up all the antitank fire from the Puma, forcing it away from the main objectives-no mean fete.
PanzerIV reigns supreme...not for long. Two shots fired into the Stug before its wrath was bought to bare, its 88mm gun making mincemeat of its more manouevrable foe.
The first game where we've included aircraft, my new FW180, more than makes up for its points cost. With four autocannons and two HMG's it virtually anhilated an entire squad in one term, and make for some fantastic dicerolling, with its speed meaning it is virtually impregnable to anything but the best antiaircraft fire. However, despite the number of casualties I inflicted and the number of units pinned, it was not enough to carry the game, me losing by two points, a lot better margin than previously. Maybe some more aircover is needed... :)
A 15mm FOGR game between 1650 New Model Army and Royalist Covenanter/Scots was also being played out and looked very impressive, the Scots having the worst of the action. Although I didn't see much of the action, it did seem an innordinate number of units was routing from the field, but did look very impressive. With the amount of interest currently being shown in the period at the club at the moment, really eager to get going again in gaming this period once April is past.
Next week a possible SYW Kings of the Battlefield report
Sounds good, nice pictures and minis!
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