Italian Campaign. France plunders Naples. Venetians Falter at Ferrara

This is the lastest update of the Campaign. The French King, Charles VIII played campaign Card #2, collecting 9 florins in Italian Revenue. This he needed as their war Chest is somewhat empty.
He discarded Campaign Card #18
Campaign Card #33 allowed the French army to plunder Naples. This dastardly action gave Charles 18 florins for his War Chest, bringing the French total to 27 florins but he lost 6 Victory Points.

The last we heard of the Venetian 1st Army was they were in the area of Ferrara. Well the Genenral of this army decided to lay siege to the City. Oh Dear!!! He did not succeed. The Citizens and Soldiers of Ferrara put up a brave defense and sent the venetian General "packing".
This is how it happened. The Venetian general committed 50 florins of his army, giving him plus 5, he also gained a plus 1 as this was the first part of the siege: this gave him a total 6 to add to a dice roll of a D6, a 2 was rolled equaling 8 "Not bad he thinks. I have a chance to take this City".
Well it din't quite work out like that. The Citizens of Ferrara had plus 3 for the area, plus 2 for garrison, giving them a total of 5. this ment a 4 or more had to be rolled. The d6 was rolled and they throw a 6 giving them 11.
The Citizens and Soldiers of Ferrara jump for JOY, as they had repulsed half the Venetian army. "Now the Citizens hold a Holiday on this Day".
The Venetians lost half their army in this siege.
The last bit of news we heard, is that a messenger as just arrived at the Venetian camp, ordering the Venetian General back to Venice, as the Doge and The Council of Venice would like a little Chat with him! Remember Venice was a Republic.
Some consolation though, camapign card #21 gave them extra Influence Chits and Campaign Card #31, Spanosh Disease, ment the Spainish had to give up 2 Influence Chits. Leaving them with none.

Extra! Extra! Read All About It! Italian Campaign Begins

Scot and I have now commenced the Italian War Campaign and I must say that I enjoy trying to work out Scots next moves. So far the situation is as follows:

Scot represents France and Venice, yours truly represents Spain and The Papal States.

France A1 army of 120 florins under the command of the French King is based in Naples, A2 Army recruited in France and now marched onto Nice. (No doubt enjoying the Sunny climate)
Venetain A1 army of 59 florins is based in Venice, A2 army of 41 florins commenced the campaign in Ravenna and as now moved to Pasaro.
Papal A1 army of 72 florins under the command of Prospero Colonna a condottiero, mustered his army in Rome and as now moved onto Terni.
Spain A1 army 82 florins under the command Fernando d' avalos, Marquess of Pescara landed at Cosenza and as now marched onto Barletta.
The Spanish army draw a Campaign card denoting a plague in the region. On a throw of 5-6 a plague breaks out but fortunatly the Spanish commander throw a 2 "Phew"
The Papal Commander picked up a Russe de Guerre card with a Fabian Tactic which means my Papal General may avoid having a battle forced on him until the start of the next campaign phase.
Let me say "For those who wish to follow the campaign, why not get out a map of Italy and track Scots and my movements".
Campaigns are not everyones "Cup of Tea" but I find them challanging, in trying to out wit ones opponant and reading the Historical aspects of the period.
Now I'm waiting for Scot to make his next move(s).

First Trail Game for Italian Wars

Goodevening to you all, just a short post. Today, Scot and I played a trail game in preparation for our Italian War Campaign. The game was for the soul purpose to get an idea of the "Piquet" Rule set "Band of Brothers". We may have made some minor errors, having not played them on a regular bases before but when all is said and done, we both had a very good game. I dont know about everyone else but the more I get used this game mechanism the more I enjoy playing these rules. You either hate or love "Piquet", as for me, the more I play "Piquet" the more I'm able to gain an understanding of the philosphy that underpins this system. This is coming from someone who in the past did not wish to play them. Iam no expert yet in how to use the rules to benefit the armies I game with but given time I should beable to hold my own with the more experienced players.
Ho! by the way, Scot won the game, his Gendarmes performed very well on the day. No! it was not an easy victory for him, he had to work hard to win, especially when he had to take on 1 unit of Household Cavalry and 2 units of Heavy Lancers. I apologise to all those readers expecting photographs, only there was no camera available (The Newspaper people, forgot to pack it hA!). Scot has very kindly given me some Landsknecht Pike and Arqurebusiers, these will look good form either my papal guard or a Landsknecht pike block, once again Thanks Scot! and thanks Russ for lending me your figures for the day.
We are now ready to start the campaign, so when Scot and I set a date, I shall commence writing up the background on events and I do hope the "Newspaper people brink the camera Ha!". "What you my ask were Scots Units like?" I can sum in one word "Fantastic!!!!" and with that I shall sign off.

Up and coming "Pike and Plunder Italian War Campaign"

Before I continue with the news, I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone who reads my Blog sight "A Happy New Year" with plenty of gaming. Now for the news, yes! I know it as been a long time since I put fingers to the Key Board, only I have been busy painting figures, for the Itallian Wars, Franco-Prussian War, World War 1 Russians etc; etc;
At this moment in time it will be Scott and me playing the Campaign. Scott will represent France and Venetian States, as for me I shall represent the Spanish and Papal States. The Rules for the campaign are "Pike and Plunder, Wargames Campaign Rules for the Italian Wars Version 2" by James Roach. I purchased these rules in 2009, for a princly sum of 5 Pounds, I must say a bargain. Having studied them they are well structured and easy to follow. The rules for the Table top gaming are "Piquet Master Rule Set" by Bob Jones and "Band of Brothers 1200-1600 A.D 2nd Edition" by Peter Anderson and Ken Baggaley. These Rules are what Scot and I will be using but I see no problems if a gamer wishes to substitute anothor set of Table Top Rules covering the Late Medieval Period.
Scot has been busy painting figures, Pike and cavalry units etc; the finished figures I shall get to see this coming Friday 15th when we will have a game. If I know anything about Scot's standard of painting, they will be Magnificent! It will also give Scot a chance to the Map of Italy, which I have had enlarged and laminated.
So! for those who wish to get into this colourful period, then I recommend you visit James Roach's Blog Sight "Pike And Plunder", where you will see photographs of his figures, gain an insight to the Italian Wars, plus read some very interesting Senarios.
In the future I shall be posting the progress on the Campaign and poblish photographs of the Battles.

I'm Back.! "Zulus Knocking at the Door"

Hi! Everyone, it's been a long time since I posted anything on the sight, yes I know it's remiss of me but I have not done much gaming lately. It fact, as you will see, this Zulu game is the first game that I have played since the Franco-Prussian game in June.

So last Saturday the 19th Russ and I played a very enjoyable game of British fighting off a Zulu attack, you mind say somewhat simmular to "Rorke's Drift". The above photo shows the Zulus knocking on the front and side doors. The Zulus at the front door ended up depleted and being pushed back.

This is a another view of this part of the battlefield. As I said this unit of Zulus suffered heavy casualties and were pushed back. I this was the player in command of the Zulus, ME, holding the world record on the night for rolling Ones! Note the Catling gun and figures, these belong to Russ that he purchased from Front Rank miniatures. The detail on the gun and miniatures are the quality one gets with Front Rank.

In this photo the British have build a wall from mealie bags. As with the Catling gun, this piece of the scenery was supplied by Russ. The unit behind the bags fought off two Regiments of Zulus

Before the game I took a photo of the rules. Let me say, if you want a set of rules that not only reflect colonial warfare but give you FUN then "Sword and the Flame" are for you. The game we had was the first time we played using this set of rules, we both found them not only easy to use but gave Russ and I heaps of laughs!! Russ (British) thought he would get over run but the rules for all their simplicity in the end balanced everything out. So in future when Russ and I play colonial we will be using these rules as well as "Piquet"



Two photos of showing two Zulu regiments rushing up to take on the British. The Regiments in the middle of the photo finished the game some-what depleted.

Russ did a "Bromhead" trick holding a unit in reserve. Remember, in the film "Zulu", Michael Cain formed the firing line to plug a gap. This reserve unit are standing by a waggon I scratched build from lollypop sticks. What one can do with a little imagination.





Well! Russ' reserve in our game was not called in to the action, he only had to use one figure.

A better photo of the Catling gun with crew.

Well thats it for now so until my next game, which will be a battle from the Austro-Prussian war, which Russ will be putting together, Happy gaming and remember "Game to have Fun" "Stop the Press!" our little group are about to commence a "Pike and Plunder Campaign, (version 2)" in the near future. Using the very good system developed by James Roach.