DbECW development thread.

[tim.w]

Hedgerows were quite rare in England at this time

Really not sureabout that. Hedges were an established way of delineating prperty for a long time before this period. Specific tools were created for hedge laying etc... I don't have my books on the subject to hand but will have a look when I do.

Magazines with trimmed bushes?

[levied troop]

My experience of ECW is limited to A level history (with the worst teacher ever) and all the books I read to make up for that teacher. The impression I gained was that the Baron is right about the amateur nature of English ‘army’ of the period and that would have been exacerbated by the volunteer nature of civil wars. Mind you, I like games where you lose control of the troops fairly quickly - it’s the story of what happens rather than the winning I like (as some of you will have noticed).

Push of pike I never understood. The purpose of a pike is to keep the enemy 16 feet away from you. It might be possible to charge with a pike into another pike unit (especially given that ‘amateur’ status) but (a) you wouldn’t want to do it again and (b) it’s very quickly going to change to a sword/knife/hand to hand combat and neither unit is likely to reform quickly or at all.

There’s some good scenario booklets published by Caliver which I always thought were helpful in understanding some of the battles and smaller engagements.

[World2dave]

What we need to do is to decide what we actually DO want our units to do... and come up with a mechanism to reflect it.
If that mechanism can be as straightforward as possible, and stay within the existing mechanics of DBN: BONUS.

I like this man. And i dont even know what i'm talking about.

How has Iain gotten hold of Simon's login credentials?

[Essex Boy]

What we need to do is to decide what we actually DO want our units to do... and come up with a mechanism to reflect it.
If that mechanism can be as straightforward as possible, and stay within the existing mechanics of DBN: BONUS.

I like this man. And i dont even know what i'm talking about.

How has Iain gotten hold of Simon's login credentials?

I'll have you know that back on page three I suggested the approach proposed by the very lovely NDL. So, yet again, Simon is agreeing with me.

[Buff Orpington]

Do you remember the election of 2010 where everybody said "I agree with Nick"? Fat lot of good that did us.

[tim.w]

I have, hopefully here somewhere, Don Fetherstones book on Wargaming the Pike and Shot period. Will give it a good read when I can. Picked up the Osprey book on ECW armies at Vappa too. Also Don's wargames through the ages for this period.

[FreddBloggs]

C F Wesencrafts pike and shot book is a great resource for battles in the period.

[Wg Cdr Luddite]

My two penn'orth ; blokes with pointy things is so 1970s. I still have friends and aquaintances who were in the ECWS/Sealed Knot* and have never recovered. 50 and 60 year old 'mature' men. Just add beer and watch them fight over 370 year old politics.

* delete as appropriate

[grizzlymc]

Were there two factions in ECW renacting?

I would think that if you thin your pikes a lot, you get to the point where their only function is to provide a screen to duck behind if people with sharp things get too close. I find the idea of phalanx warfare with pikes a bit daunting, although a nice metalo cuirasse should ensure that your entire body (minus brain and ghoulies) is protected. But I concur with the melon hatted feline, that once they had got disorganised, we were probably into edged weapons, at which point the musketeers might be expected to drop their guns, draw their swords and pile in.

[tim.w]

I'm now back to looking at a 40x30 double ranked base of 8 figures. I gather that not all batallia had pike even? Is that right?

Ordered the Osprey book on ECW tactics, see what that comes up with.