Tuesday 17 May 2011

Black Powder for the English Civil War

The English Civil War

The major difference from standard Black Powder is that the three elements the pike and the two sleeves of shot are able to operate as individual units to achieve common goals, So the sleeves may elect individual targets, and the movement of all three is as required to achieve a new configuration. The individual elements also are treated separately for combat but as a unit for morale purposes.

Command dice

Exceed command on 2D6 and movement is restricted to 50% of standard move

A roll equal to or one below the command entitles the unit(s) to move 100% of standard move

A roll of 2 or more under the command entitles the unit to(s) to move 150% of standard move

Once within 12 “ of enemy all moves are subject to initiative no die rolls and all moves are 100% of standard

No interpenetration is allowed through a pike block, units will flow around a pike block. If that is impossible the unit will become disordered and will make its way to the rear of the pike block in a state of disarray, and will need to be rallied by a brigade commander

.

Orders may be given to brigades or individual units. Should a unit be asked to include any other movement than moving forward it must be given an individual order.

Units and StaminaTinySmallStandard
Less than 1011 to 2021 to 40
Elite345
Trained234
Raw123

COMMAND MODIFIERS
Per 8” distance from commander to unit-1
Enemy unit within 8” of unit receiving order-1
Column, limbered artillery+1
Column, limbered artillery on road or track+2

MovementEliteTrainedRaw
Pike block8”7”6”
Skirmishers10”9”8”
Cavalry : Galloper15”14”12”
Cavarly: Trotter13”12”11”
Commanders on foot12”
Commanders mounted18”
Medium guns
Light guns

SHOOTING
Ranges
Matchlock12”
Light artillery20”/10”/4”
Medium artillery24”/12”/6””
Heavy Artillery36”/18”/9”
Shooting to hit modifiers
Artillery shooting at column or square+1
Close range (6”), closing fire, skirmishers+1
Shooters Shaken or Disordered-1
Target skirmishers, deployed artillery or Not Clear-1
Artillery at over half range-1
Cannon shooting overhead-1
Artillery which have been laid and protected by gabions-1
Tactical modifiers
Enfilading infantryShoot X2 dice
Enfilading artilleryShoot X2 dice

MORALE
Save modifiers
Infantry in column unless hit by artillery+1
Target within woods, hedgerows or similar (light cover)+1
Target within buildings/fortifications (heavy cover)+2
Hit by artillery fire at long range-1
Hit by artillery at medium or close range-2
Target in melee with mounted includes pikes+1

MELEE
Combat to hit modifiers
Charging+1
Won last round of combat+1
Pike advantage (First round of melee)+1
Shaken or disordered-1
Skirmishers-1
Engaged to flank or rear-1
Combat result modifiers
Threat to exposed flank -1
Threat to exposed rear-2
Pike block vs. cavalry+3
Occupying buildings +2

Period Rules

Heavy guns are laid and may not be moved once the combat commences

Pike block are always in column, they may not move 90 degrees to left or right, but may wheel at a cost of 50% of movement

All other troops are always in line

Infantry must form hedgehog if cavalry within 8”

If disordered infantry must roll 1D6 to see if they form hedgehog or are hit before they can form hedgehog on die rol of 1,2 or 3 Hedgehog formed, on 4 or more the cavalry succeed

Move Modifiers

Woods Skirmishers only and at 50% of normal rate

Rough Ground Skirmishers 100%, all others at 50%

Crossing and obstacle 50% penalty

Entering a building 50% penalty

UNIT STATS

UnitMeleeShootingMoraleSpecial
Pike604+Hedgehog

First Fire
Musket234+
Horse514+Royalist Horse : Rash
Dragoon234+Marauders
Artillery13-2-13+

RashIf the unit wins a melee only a throw of 5 or 6 on a D6 will prevent them from automatically going on a sweeping advance
HedgehogCannot be attacked by horse if in good order to front
EliteAt start of command if disordered roll D6 and remove if 4+
LanceOn Charge -1 morale against cavalry and -2 against infantry
Reliable+1 Command
BraveShaken units rally on 4+ if more than 12 “ from enemy
SteadyPass first break test automatically
Determined chargeMust charge where able to do so
MaraudersIgnore distance modifier for command
First Fire+1 first volley

Monday 16 May 2011

Black Powder for The Italian Wars

Again, using Black Powder as a base, one of our members has comeup with the following amendments to allow Black Powder to be used for the Italian Wars, with big units.

What we must realise is that these are still in the process of being tested and thus are not final versions but please feel free to give them a go.

The Great Italian Wars

Command dice

Exceed command on 2D6 and movement is restricted to 50% of standard move

A roll equal to or one below the command entitles the unit(s) to move 100% of standard move

A roll of 2 or more under the command entitles the unit to(s) to move 150% of standard move

Once within 12 “ of enemy all moves are subject to initiative no die rolls and all moves are 100% of standard

No interpenetration is allowed through a pike block, units will flow around a pike block. If that is impossible the unit will become disordered and will make its way to the rear of the pike block in a state of disarray, and will need to be rallied by a brigade commander

.

Orders may be given to brigades or individual units. Should a unit be asked to include any other movement than moving forward it must be given an individual order.

Units and StaminaTinySmallStandardLargeExtra Large
Less than 1011 to 2021 to 4041 to 6060+
Elite34567
Trained23456
Militia12345


COMMAND MODIFIERS
Per 8” distance from commander to unit-1
Enemy unit within 8” of unit receiving order-1
Column, limbered artillery+1
Column, limbered artillery on road or track+2


MovementEliteTrainedMilitia
Pike block8”7”6”
Skirmishers10”9”8”
Gendarmes 15”14”
Light Cavalry18”17”16”
Commanders on foot12”
Commanders mounted18”


SHOOTING
Ranges
X-bow8”
Arquebus8”
Light artillery24”/12”/6””
Heavy Artillery36”/18”/9”
Shooting to hit modifiers
Artillery shooting at column or square+1
Close range (4”), closing fire, skirmishers+1
Shooters Shaken or Disordered-1
Target skirmishers, deployed artillery or Not Clear-1
Artillery at over half range-1
Cannon shooting overhead-1
Size modifiers
Extra Large Unit+2 dice shooting+3 combat
Large Unit+1 dice shooting+2 combat
Small Unit-1 dice shooting-2 combat
Tiny Unit1 dice only shooting1 dice only combat
Tactical modifiers
Enfilading infantryShoot X2 dice
Enfilading artilleryShoot X2 dice


MORALE
Save modifiers
Infantry in column unless hit by artillery+1
Target within woods, hedgerows or similar (light cover)+1
Target within buildings/fortifications (heavy cover)+2
Hit by artillery fire at long range-1
Hit by artillery at medium or close range-2
Target in melee with mounted includes pikes+1


MELEE
Combat to hit modifiers
Charging+1
Won last round of combat+1
Pike advantage (First round of melee)+1
Shaken or disordered-1
Skirmishers-1
Engaged to flank or rear-1
Combat result modifiers
Threat to exposed flank -1
Threat to exposed rear-2
Pike block vs. cavalry+3
Occupying buildings +2


Period Rules

All guns are laid and may not be moved once the combat commences

Pike block are always in column, they may not move 90 degrees to left or right, but may wheel at a cost of 50% of movement

All other troops are always in line

Swiss have no Brigade commander each pike block, and its skirmishers is autonomous

Move Modifiers

Woods Skirmishers only and at 50% of normal rate

Rough Ground Skirmishers 100%, all others at 50%

Crossing and obstacle 50% penalty

Entering a building 50% penalty

UNIT STATS

UnitTypeMeleeShootingMoraleSpecial
French GendarmesEliteLance703+Rash

Pike advantage

Elite

Lance

Brave

Determined charge
French ArchersTrainedLance604+Lance
French X-bowTrainedX-bow234+
French PikeMilitiaPike605+Pike advantage

Lance
Venetian GendarmesTrainedLance604+Lance
Venetian ArquebusMilitiaArquebus125+
Venetian PikeMilitiaPike605+Lance
Swiss pikeElitePike703+Rash

Hatred

Elite

Lance

Brave

Determined Charge
Swiss ArquebusTrainedArquebus234+
Black Band ArquebusEliteArquebus233+Elite

Brave
Mtd Black Band ArquebusTrainedArquebus124+
Spanish GenetesTrainedJavelin304+Marauders
StradiotsTrainedJavelin304+Marauders
Milanese GendarmesTrainedLance604+Lance
Milanese X-bowMilitiaX-bow125+
Spanish ArquebusEliteArquebus233+Elite

Reliable

Brave

Steady
Spanish PikeElitePike703+Pike advantage

Elite

Lance

Reliable

Brave

Steady
Landsknecht ArquebusTrainedArquebus134+
Landsknecht PikeTrainedPike604+Hatred

Pike advantage

Lance
Spanish GendarmesTrainedLance604+Lance
Imperial GendarmesTrainedLance604+Lance


RashIf the unit wins a melee only a throw of 5 or 6 on a D6 will prevent them from automatically going on a sweeping advance
HatredWhen engagement between Swiss and Landsknecht neither side will give way therefore no side will break from a melee until it has lost 3 consecutive rounds
Pike advantageCannot be attacked by horse if in good order to front
EliteAt start of command if disordered roll D6 and remove if 4+
LanceOn Charge -1 morale against cavalry and -2 against infantry
Reliable+1 Command
BraveShaken units rally on 4+ if more than 12 “ from enemy
SteadyPass first break test automatically
Determined chargeMust charge where able to do so
MaraudersIgnore distance modifier for command


Biocca specifics

The earthworks represent a major obstacle and the attacking troops when they reach the sunken road and the earthworks must roll a D10 to see if they can succeed in crossing both obstacles.

On a roll of a D10 on a roll of 1 or 2 the assailants will have breached the obstacle and will be at the top of the earthworks

If not they are to remain at the base of the sunken road

Whilst at the base of the earthworks the artillery may fire at them at point blank range as the earthworks were configured to allow the sunken road to be enfiladed

Black Powder for Glorious Revolution

As a club we are quite taken with the Black Powder rules published by Warlord Games and have been tinkering with them for Pike and Shot. Below are the stats we use for the Glorious Revolution, or Nine Years War period, specifically for the wars in Ireland

BASIC RESTRICTIONS

No double or triple movement within 12” (engagement range) of formed infantry

All units get first fire advantage, Platoon firers get the chance to re roll one failed firing die per turn

For a failed command roll raw units may not move at all, , any other units will move 2” for a failed command roll

No voluntary interpenetration is allowed, troops may only flow round friends if there is a gap at least a base width. Any other interpenetration will cause disorder to both units.

Orders may be given to brigades or individual units. Should a unit be asked to include any other movement than moving forward it must be given an individual order.

Any order requiring a unit to wheel, retrograde or incline must be separate, thus a unit with three orders may move forward for one, wheel for one then move forward once more. Thus each manoeuvre will require a separate order.

SIZE OF UNITS
Type of troopsStandard sizeLargeSmallTiny
Infantry18 (three bases)24+12-185-6
Cavalry6 (two bases)9+3
Artillery1 gun and crew

COMMAND MODIFIERS
Per 8” distance from commander to unit-1
Enemy unit within 8” of unit receiving order-1
Column, limbered artillery+1
Column, limbered artillery on road or track+2

MOVEMENT
Command roll -3 or moreCommand roll = or -2Command roll = or -1Charge
Infantry, limbered artillery, wagons12”8”4”6”
Cavalry, 22”16”10”18”
Manhandled light artillery6”4”2”-
Commmanders on foot12”---
Commanders mounted18”---

SHOOTING
Ranges
Pistols and thrown weapons4”
Bow and arrow8”
Muskets8”
Light artillery24”/12”/6””
Artillery32”/16”/8”
Shooting to hit modifiers
Artillery shooting at column or square+1
Close range (4”), closing fire, skirmishers+1
Shooters Shaken or Disordered-1
Target skirmishers, deployed artillery or Not Clear-1
Artillery at over half range-1
Cannon shooting overhead-1
Size modifiers
Large Unit+1 dice shooting+2 combat
Small Unit-1 dice shooting-2 combat
Tiny Unit1 dice only shooting1 dice only combat
All musket unit+1 dice shooting
Platoon FirersMay re roll one failed firing die per turn
Formation modifiers
ColumnMay not shootFight 1 dice
SquareShoot 1 diceFight 2 dice per face
Tactical modifiers
Enfilading infantryShoot X2 dice
Enfilading artilleryShoot X2 dice

MORALE
Save modifiers
Infantry in column unless hit by artillery+1
Target within woods, hedgerows or similar (light cover)+1
Target within buildings/fortifications (heavy cover)+2
Hit by artillery fire at long range-1
Hit by artillery at medium or close range-2
Target in melee with mounted includes pikes+1

MELEE
Combat to hit modifiers
Charging+1
Won last round of combat+1
Pikes in unit (first round only)+1
Shaken or disordered-1
Skirmishers-1
Engaged to flank or rear-1
Combat result modifiers
Support to rear (friendly unit charging with chargers and within 6” of enemy contacted) +1
Square vs cavalry+3
Per flank support (charging with chargers and threatening enemy in combat, within 6”)+1
Occupying buildings (size)1-3

UNIT STATS

UnitTypeMeleeShootingMoraleStaminaSpecial
Foot GuardsEliteRank firers733+4Crack

Reliable

Steady
Veteran British InfantryElitePlatoon firers634+3Reliable

Steady
British InfantryLinePlatoon firers634+3Reliable

Steady
Dutch GuardsGuardsPlatoon firers733+4Crack

Reliable

Steady

Elite
Dutch, Danish InfantryLinePlatoon firers634+3Reliable

Steady
French infantryLineRank firers634+3Reliable

Steady
Old Irish InfantryLineRank firers634+3Reliable

Steady
Newly raised Irish infantryRawRank firers525+2Unreliable

Freshly Raised
Williamite CavalryLine714+3Reliable

Steady

Stubborn
Jacobite, French cavalryLine714+3Reliable

Steady

Superbly drilled

First Fire +1 dice on first shot of battle
CrackRe-roll one failed morale save if you have no casualties already
Reliable+1 command
SteadyPasses first break test of the battle
EliteOvercome disorder at start of command on roll of 4+
Tough fightersRe-roll one missed combat attack
UnreliableNo move on equal command roll
StubbornRe-roll one failed morale save
Superbly drilledFree move if command failed
MaraudersIgnore distance modifiers for command
Freshly raisedFirst shot or melee, roll 1XD6

1 Terror-all shots and melee dice require 6 to hit

2-3 Panic- all shots and melee dice require 6 to hit

4-5 Sterling Job-no adverse effects

6 Huzzah-1 extra dice for shooting or melee this turn

Examples for the Jacobite wars in ireland:

Elite British units would include Senior infantry regiments such as Kirke’s Lambs, Dumbartons (Royal Scots), Footguards and Cavalry Lifeguard.

Guard status would be reserved for the Dutch Gard de Voet and Danish garden til Fods.

The majority of Jacobite regiments in Ireland would be Raw with some of the more senior regiments, such as The Grand Priors Regiment would be Line. Thus for each three raw units one may be line or better.