It was about time ... the Kaiser needed reinforcements for the built up towards Pavia, so the Venetian Alpine side became a dangerously stretched supply line for the Imperials. In our little What if scenario the Kaiserlichen had to juggle an artillery train through a mountain gap just when some Venetians arrived to challenge their trespassing. Me and Angus were trying out some Pike&Shotte Rules Plus amends and he in particular wanted to try out his newly Ventetian Rodelerii!!
So each got 2 pike block plus some auxilliari units and guns and The Imperials had to juggle the heavier guns across a 8x6 table or at least two of them!
The start of the battle was slow as usual, my Gendarmes and heavy cavalry didn‘t move for 3 turns! But also Angus decided stage an attack from the north but kept his units out of charge distance.
So I went in with some of my sword and bucklers and Doppel-söldner in reckless small charges, which cost me 5 units in the end ... while Angus Venetians slowly dribbled down the mountain slopes. He actually made a bit of a fuzz as he contested the Rodeleros combat dice ... saying there were just too small to contest a pikeblock on their own ... well he had 2 units of them... maybe we change their hand2hand value to 4 next time ...
The slowliness of my gendarmes paid out for Angus this time, as they weren't there, when his heavy cavalieri slashed through my stradioti lines and definitively blocked the way out for my gun train.
Well it was late in the evening, but you can argue that, that was it for the imperial guns. Either they would be wasted at a stand off or captured by getting away so - it was a club first – the Venetians had won!!! And beware of the Venetian Rodelerii! Even if Angus didn't thad a chance to try them out this time, I guess he has by now a pretty good idea what they can do to a Pike block.
Figures by me and Angus, mostly Perry's, Foundry and Warlord games, Flags by me or Flags of War or Petes Flags, Terrain By the club, Scenario by me,
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| The Imperial Landsknechte are finally moving in! |
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| The Artillery train at the beginning ... |
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| The light guns support the blocks! |
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| My light Horse tries to get away from the enemy |
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| The Venetian gun lines are at the northern hills |
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| The Venetians wait ... |
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| still less movement as I hoped for ... |
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| The blocks are forming |
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| The guns train covered by the blocks |
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| sneakingly marching towards the east ... |
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| behind a wall of pikes |
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| The Doppelsöldner charge |
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| The Fugger block moves up too |
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| My Spanish Rodeleros hit the Tyrolean pike block ... Angus was not amused |
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| My Arquebusiers attacked the gun and got traversing fire of the Venetian crossbowmen ... ouch! |
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| Forward with the guns!!! |
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| Mayhem in the centre! |
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| The Fugger block moves in ... |
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| But then the Venetian Elmeti strike!!! |
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| A last pike charge fails ... |
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| the initial plan |
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| The story set up |
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| The gun train ... |
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| The Venetian stats with some copy & paste errors |
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| our special rules |
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| The Imperials (with some copy&paste errors) |
Gorgeous pike blocks on both sides, but my favourites are the Imperials, nice scenario, I might have to pinch it once I've done some flags and more light cavalry!
ReplyDeleteBest Iain
Thank you, Iain! Absolute pleasure, pinch what you need!
DeleteSplendid walls of pikes...and behind these walls, spectacular armies, a real pleasure for our eyes...Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Phil! My Renaissance project is still expanding ... ;)
DeleteSadly I missed that amazing looking game...
ReplyDeleteHi Bart, there will be more Renaissance games coming!
DeleteReally inspiring game! It looks magnificent and showcases your collection. I love these kind of scenarios - exactly the sort of thing that went on in the Italian Wars.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Oli! There will be more scenarios coming ... German Peasant War or Brescia .... ;)
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