Trying Warlord Games 'Epic Pike and Shotte 'rules using our 15mm figures.

 In recent weeks we have been play-testing the 'in development' rule set 'Never Mind the Matchlocks' by Billhooks author Andy Callan. These have given us some fun games but as we played we also painted and now have enough figures for bigger battles that are perhaps beyond the intended scope of 'Matchlocks'. So today we tried a bigger battle using Warlord Games 'Epic Battles'. Having read the rules they seem a fairly straightforward adaptation of the Black Powder Pike and Shotte rules with the main exception being Pike and Shotte units are now treated as a single unit rather than 3 connected units. 

I set up the table with a deliberately open centre to encourage a straightforward encounter battle. Nigel and I commanded the Parliamentarians and Ian and Stuart were in control of the Royalists. 

Deployment at the start of the game has the Royalists on the left with the Parliamentarians facing them on the right. The Royalists opted to take the first turn and quickly advanced their cavalry. 

Looking along the Royalist line. 

Nigel's shooting was pretty good today, three shots and three 6's!

Sadly Ian saved two of them. 

Looking along the Parliamentarian line as their cavalry advance to meet the challenge of the Royalist cavalry. 

Royalist dragoons supporting their cavalry advance. 

After a couple of turns of melee, the Royalists won the first cavalry clash, chasing the Parliamentarians cavalry away. The dashing cavaliers seemed to be heading for a comfortable win at this point. 

The right flank Parliamentarian infantry lining the hedge, soon cleared the dragoons away with a lot of shooting. 

On the left flank some Parliamentarian skirmishers took refuge in the church and helped stall the Royalist infantry advance. Parliamentarian shooting seemed to be better than the cavaliers, was the outcome of the battle changing. 

Having won the clash of cavalry the Royalist horse then got hit with every fire from every direction which weakened them so much they had to withdraw. 

At this point the Royalists started to withdraw their forces as suddenly it was the Roundhead's who had the advantage. After seeing the Royalists off with another fine turn of shooting a Parliamentarian victory was declared. 

This was one of those great games where possible victory swung first one way then the other. All four players seemed to enjoy the battle so we play again next week.