First Photos of Our Italian War Campaign.

(editor's note: images link-out to reveal full-size, correctly oriented pictures)

Photo of the Map of Italy during the initial opening moves. The French A1 army under the command of Charles VIII, King of France are in Naples and their B army is based in Nice (enjoying the sunny climate). Papal States A1 army commanded by Prospero Colonna in Terni, Spanish A1 army commanded by Fernando d' Avalos, Marquess of Pescara in Ancona. The Venetian A1 army is in Ferrara and their B army is in Pasaro. Remember Italy was not a unified country during this period of history. It was broken up in to individual states and Cities, governed by Kings, Princes & the Pope.


As you can see the French main army based in Nice


The position of the Venetian, Spanish, Papal armies. Note the markers in Venice and Piombino, these represent the agents of Venice and the Papacy. They can do a great deal of damage to ones opponent, such as instigate revolts assassinate an opponent's general and influence treaties.


Another photo of the armies positions. In the next turn the Spanish A1 army as moved into Pasaro.

French army B, basking in the Mediterranean sun. They need to be aware there is a plague in Genoa, if they march through this area they can lose a portion the army.






Three photographs of Heavy Cavalry in Battle Mass. A Piquet, Band of Brothers formation. They are waiting for the fisrt encounter with the Venetians or French.

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.