Large ECW armies for a demo battle

[mellis1644]

After a few smaller trial games (some still to be played) we are putting on a large demo game here in Ontario, Canada in MIGSCON in a couple of weeks time. This is trying to drum up some support for the period and rules etc as well as introduce new people to game.

Below are the army lists for the proposed sides. All the troops are from my 15mm collection, so we are a little limited in what can be used for a game of this size. However, this still should give a nice number of troops visible on the table for good effect. The lists have at total of 21 mounted and 34 pike & shot units. With the others of artillery, dragoons, and commanded shot etc this should at least look good.

Comments are welcome on the proposed armies, especially as we are trying to show the various levels of troops types in the ECW. Thus, the armies try to provide a flavor of the period and some discussion points rather than being aimed at being ultra competitive. Both sides are 1750 pts lists BTW, and are legal from the lists.

Overall, the Royalists have good horse and foot units and a well rounded, if aggressively formed force - for example then have no commanded shot.

The Scots using on the Marston Moor list, have much more art and 2 more units of foot available (18 vs 16) but approx a quarter of that foot is poor in quality (so likely second rank support troops in deployment). The Scots horse have 4 units of determined horse (supplied by Cromwell and the eastern Assoc), but then some weaker units as well - especially the native Scottish horse. They do have some commanded shot to help though and a small but maybe important advantage in the number of dragoon's present.

We have not decided if any commanded off shot will be used - but that might add a little more 'flavor' to either side. The use of this on either side could be interesting and with the number of pike and shot units available in this size of game it would not impact the overall feel of the game too much.

So comments welcome on this proposed lists:

Scottish Covenanters army

Scots:

1 x GC
2 x FC
2 x TC

1 x 4 bases of Horse lancers : Horse, unarm, Avg, light lance, Swordsmen
2 x 4 bases of of Scots Horse : Horse, unarm, Poor, Pistol,Pistol

4 x Poor Scottish foot units: (4 x med foot, unarm, Poor, Musket*, 2 x Hvy foot, unarm, Poor, Pike)

8 x Good Scots foot units: (4 x med foot, unarm, Avg, Musket, 2 xHvy foot, unarm, Avg, Pike)

2 x 2 bases Siege Art : heavy art, Avg
1 x 3 bases Frames : light art, Avg
1 x 4 bases Frames : light art, Avg

2 x 2 bases Scots Dragoons : dragoons, unarm, Avg, Musket

English:

2 x 4 bases Eastern Ass Horse : Determ Horse, armoured, Sup, Pistol
2 x 4 bases Eastern Ass Horse : Determ Horse, armoured, Avg, Pistol

5 x 4 bases Other horse :Horse, armoured, Avg, Pistol

5 x units of English foot: (4 x med foot, unarm, Avg, Musket, 2 x Hvy foot, unarm, Avg, Pike)

1 x Poor English foot units : (4 x med foot, unarm, Poor, Musket, 2 x Hvy foot, unarm, Poor, Pike)

2 x 2 bases Commanded shot : Med foot, unarm, avg, Musket

1 x 4 bases Dragoons :dragoons, unarn, Avg, Musket

This will face:

Late Royalist

1 x GC
2 x FC
2 x TC

9 x 4 base units of Royalist horse :Cav, arm, Sup, Pistol

3 x Vet foot units: (4 x med foot, unarm, Sup, Musket, 2 x Hvy foot, unarm, Sup, Pike)

6 x Foot units: (4 x med foot, unarm, Avg, Musket, 2 x Hvy foot, unarm, Avg, Pike)

7 x Regional foot units : (4 x med foot, unarm, Avg, Musket*, 2 x Hvy foot, unarm, Avg, Pike)

1 x 2 bases of medium Art : med art, Avg
1 x 2 bases of light art : light art, Avg

2 x 3 base of Dragoons : dragoons, unarm, Avg, Musket

Well comments on the proposed lists welcome.

[Blathergut]

Dang..not sure which side I want to be!! The Royalists with all that superior horse....or the others with lots of muskets....dang...

[SirGarnet]

It will be impressive. Your are right to omit commanded shot on the Royalist side, as the excellent horse does not need them as a crutch (and in a demo you don't want them scurrying about on missions of their own).

On the commanded out musketeer question, I suggest deciding upon one BG of those if the terrain features seem to require their use.

I think you'll squeak by with 5 commanders, though for coverage and representation of command structure you might consider adding another TC - envisioning a CinC in overall command plus two cavalry commanders and three foot commanders (e.g., 2 first line foot commanders, one second line). In a scenario the GC need not necessarily be the CinC - a cavalry wing commander, for example.

[Blathergut]

The game was very enjoyable (even if 15mm)( )!

Sure gave a feel for a large Renaissance battle!

[Blathergut]

Mark took copious notes and photos...so hopefully you will all get to see the battle sometime coming up!