I am struggling with this ECW thing.
Two sets of minis, two scales, two simulation ideals, still little idea.
The Redoubt 28’s have been partially remounted, about 30 figs, just what I have ready and about the third time they have been unceremoniously ripped from their bases, using 45mm circles, rough by design, placed in threes. I will use 50mm for looser troops and horse.
Why circles?
I feel that ECW battles are often portrayed by perfect blocks and files, all very neat and organised, but almost every illustration or reinactment I have seen, including the covers of almost every set of rules on the period has a rough group of pike or shot mid battle and it does not look neat by any measure.
Circles allow me to form decent shapes, but they have a softness, a malleability that lets presented pike fit in gaps, unit sides to turn slightly in reaction to a threat, even form a decent looking pike block.
They can be used for Pikemens Lament, Very Civil Actions, Forlorne Hope, WABECW, 1644 etc. Any game where large figures may be removed in single or more amounts (casualty counters used). Sabot bases can be used to tighten these formations up, the round bases still adding variety and a naturalness to their look.
Th
The 15-18 Museum have been harder.
I like the idea of DBR, the element basing also very malleable for basically any game I have, but square bases for VWQ are in the mix. I will go with DBR though for the following reasons.
They can create standard Battalia for POW-R, VWQ, DBR, any of the above using sabot bases or not.
The pike ratio thing in VWQ, is hard to fix with their own square bases, but it is an easy fix with DBR elements, simply add a third element for higher pike ratio units, so 2/2/2 for 2:1-ish (12 shot, 8 pike), 2/3/2 for 1:1 (12 shot, 12 pike).
I intend to re-write the DBR rules in a softer, more characterful tone, omitting the irrelevant bits, renaming the troop types (and supplying unit cards for each), making a more thematic results table. It will not change at its core, but it also will not resemble the original. I will also retain the 1st edition Battalia or 4el maximum command width.
I already have a regiment based and I like how they look.
DBR can be played at condensed scale, allowing very big battles to be simulated.
The DBR game allows for single elements to function as well as larger units. I favour small to medium engagements, scenario and terrain driven, so endless “demo” videos of massed regiments lined up on a bowling green have done little for me. Give me single elements holding a rear guard bridge, forlorne hope ranging wide, horse running rampant in the rear, beleaguered regiments being ground-down and making a stand, the battlefield degenerating into a dozen micro battles, but mostly, give me a story! Oh, and spare me all the dice.
I really need to paint another regiment, fourth time I have used these I think. They look right in several favoured systems, a sabot base is an option, but really not needed.
Really need to get on with this.