Commanded shot

[deadtorius]

I was just wondering, for ECW is this a full regiment of foot who have given up their pikes or are they a mix of shot from all regiments mixed together as an ad hoc unit. I was wondering about giving them the same coat colours or not since that seems to be the way to go with ECW if they are from the same regiment.

[Blathergut]

I've read both versions/interpretations of this.

One of those Osprey books you dropped off described all the pike from the companies grouped together and the shot grouped together.

But other sources mention the opposite.

I don't see why you'd train as a company only to be split up in battle. What purpose would the flags serve then?

Seems to make more sense that each company would form up, probably 3 or 4 out front and 2 or 3 behind.

As far as the game goes, it seems to make sense to see a BG as a regiment/brigade.

Any comments/clarifications from the knowledge ones out there???

[Blathergut]

The commanded shot mentioned in that sample by RBS had the BGs with only 2 bases each, so maybe more like those 'forlorn' dudes??

[mellis1644]

To my understanding and memory, a 'forlorn hope' was a unit of shot only made up of volunteers. That would have a mix of outfits from all different units and likely would not have a flag etc. as these were often small(ish) and created adhoc as required for specific missions/reasons before engagements.

However, both sides of the ECW found it hard to keep effective pikemen in the field and so I believe there are cases of units with very few pike - especially as the war progressed. I believe this was more common in the Royalist forces from memory. Obviously, these high proportion shot units were more vulnerable to mounted troops though, but were true units in their own. The proportion of shot may mean that in FoGR these are reflected as shot only units - but that's a guess without the rules and army lists.

P.S. In the ECW I believe some companies and even smaller regiments could be brigaded together to form larger 'effective sized formations', and as uniforms were far from perfect a mixing of shades and colours in a unit would not be out of line for these cases as well.

[Blathergut]

Dust off your 15mm stuff! Maybe we'll get a game or two in once the rules come out! It'll be a while before my 28mm plastic is ready.

[mellis1644]

The 15mm are waiting for the rules to come out. I have them on pre-order.

Here is a picture of my royalist foot - with a more detailed close up:

http://public.bay.livefilestore.com/y1p ... JPG?psid=1

http://public.bay.livefilestore.com/y1p ... JPG?psid=1

Here is a shot of the royalist mounted:

http://public.bay.livefilestore.com/y1p ... JPG?psid=1

I have the approx same amount for Parliament and Convectors

Hmm... can't seem to get the pictures to show. Ah well the URL's work if you cut and paste them.

[deadtorius]

Dust off your 15mm stuff!

Actually they are 20mm plastics, the old Revell 30 yrs war range figs. A mix of Imperials and Swedes painted up to look like ECW and Dutch, mostly grey coats in the army.

[Blathergut]

Dust off your 15mm stuff!

Actually they are 20mm plastics, the old Revell 30 yrs war range figs. A mix of Imperials and Swedes painted up to look like ECW and Dutch, mostly grey coats in the army.

I meant Mark (the pics he posted). He's one of the dudes in Toronto.

[deadtorius]

and I thought you were making fun of me and my first shot at renaissance....
At least it looks like I might be getting my troops painted up quicker than yours

Next unit up is..... commanded shot.... 6 figs cant ask for much of an easier unit than that now can you?

[puster]

To my understanding and memory, a 'forlorn hope' was a unit of shot only made up of volunteers

The "forlorn hope" has a tradition that ranges back for more over a hundred years at the time of the ECW. It was, eg, used in battles that were fought among the Frisians a good deal before our period. One of its usual tasks was to break up the enemy formation with a charge, so shot or ranged combat played no role.
The forlorn hope of the Landsknechts was often made up by men who were convicted to it, and thus not only of volunteers.

[deadtorius]

The Landsknecht version was the first I had ever heard of it myself. Give them heavy weapons stick them between your pikes and the enemies, tell them to try and cut off the enemy pike heads with your big swords and if your lucky to survive you get a pardon, no matter the crime. Somehow I don't think too many made it to the pardon stage.
Looks like my next unit will be the Forlorn Hope boys, multi jackets and all. Not to mention at 2 bases strong will be quicker unit to get done. I like the Warlord figures, but all that gluing and then the painting almost got unit 1 done. Going to be a slow army to build thats for sure, but it will look good in the end.