Thursday 15 December 2011

Thirst of War and Blood - Italian Wars

Peter and I have started to work on a new set of rules for fighting battles set during the Italian Wars period. Last night we started play testing the basics. The rules have a working title: Thirst of War and Blood. The title comes from a satirising of Europe, in 1522, by Erasmus.
  "These are the instruments, you must know, that are still irritating Kings to thirst of War and Blood under the splendid notion of Empire and Glory: and with the same art and industry they inflame the spirits of the Nobility likewise and of the Common People."

The test game I set up uses most troop types and terrain. It is clear that the rules will be quite an easy task to get right as most of the donkey work on basic mechanisms has already been done for the 'Ager' series - melee with pointy sticks doesn't change much over time! It is more a matter of giving the rules a distinctive period feel; which will be harder but rewarding.

Here are some shots of the battle. The troops are on newly sized bases, but the bases are unfinished - thankfully they are not, being dull brown, too stark.


The French are attacking the armed camp of the Spanish and their Papal Allies. The Spanish are rushing reinforcements to the camp.


The Spanish reinforcements arrive just in the nick of time.

The French flanking attack appears - Medici is here!


French pike assault the outer defences and break into the camp before being checked by a newly arrived brigaded coronela.





The battle at the barricades and ditch is in full swing. The French Landslnechts are being held back under muderous fire from artillery and Spanish arquebusier. The battle is in the balance.

Peter and I will finish this battle next week. I hope you like the look of things to come.

9 comments:

Christopher(aka Axebreaker) said...

As usual it all looks fantastic! You got the pike formations looking how they should. Over the years I've really come to dislike 16 figure pike formations as it just never looks right. I understand folks wanting to save on cost and time, but in the case of pikes it just isn't worth it to go small as it looks wrong. Stay with what your doing as it really looks brill!

Christopher

Guidowg said...

10 out of 10 my good man, this is how a good table top game should look. Great stuff.

Dalauppror said...

Stunning pictures!

I realy like your Italian war minis and the terrain that i lovely.

Best regards dalauppror

Flags of War said...

an amazing looking table mate

Msoong said...

Ager Sanguinis goes Italian Wars? Sign me up!!!

Rodger said...

Awesome!! Always impressed with the way your tables look.

maciek said...

Arghhh !
I envy every italian wars figure you have !

topi said...

Brilliant looking table and even better news about Ager Sanguinis going to new periods!

Stuart said...

I really like the basing results, they add an extra depth to your displays and do show that you've thought about it, not to mention giving your figures a new lease of life