Recently, Wargame Illustrated has given away a free book of rules with each issue, and this month it was NEVER MIND THE BILLHOOKS: WARGAMING BIG SKIRMISHES AND SMALL BATTLES IN THE WARS OF THE ROSES by Andy Callan.
Now, as most of my regular blog readers will know, my main historical interest lies in periods when most of the people involved had guns rather than pointy things with sharp edges (I do make an exception when it comes to Colonial wargaming, but that's just me being inconsistent ...) BUT I know that anything written by Andy Callan will be very good ... so I bought the magazine ... just for the rules booklet.
I was not disappointed!
For a start, the cover has an illustration by Peter Dennis, and although it is not a period that interests me, I would love to own a copy to hang on my wargame room wall. (I cannot, because there isn't any space, but the picture is that good!) As to the rules ... well they are simple and easy to understand, well illustrated with pictures of beautifully painted toy soldier that are relevant to the text on the page (not something one can always write about a rule book these days!), and use a card-driven battle sequence. Suitable paper versions of the cards are included in the booklet, and these can easily be reproduced for use by players.
If I was going to wargame the Wars of the Roses, these would be the rules that I would use. I am not ... but there are some nice rule mechanisms in them that might well be worth 'borrowing'!
I have known Andy Callan since I met him at the famous Moor Park wargames conference organised by the late Dr Paddy Griffith. I have followed his wargaming career ever since, and as I wrote earlier in this blog post, I know that anything that he writes will be very good.
Now, as most of my regular blog readers will know, my main historical interest lies in periods when most of the people involved had guns rather than pointy things with sharp edges (I do make an exception when it comes to Colonial wargaming, but that's just me being inconsistent ...) BUT I know that anything written by Andy Callan will be very good ... so I bought the magazine ... just for the rules booklet.
I was not disappointed!
For a start, the cover has an illustration by Peter Dennis, and although it is not a period that interests me, I would love to own a copy to hang on my wargame room wall. (I cannot, because there isn't any space, but the picture is that good!) As to the rules ... well they are simple and easy to understand, well illustrated with pictures of beautifully painted toy soldier that are relevant to the text on the page (not something one can always write about a rule book these days!), and use a card-driven battle sequence. Suitable paper versions of the cards are included in the booklet, and these can easily be reproduced for use by players.
If I was going to wargame the Wars of the Roses, these would be the rules that I would use. I am not ... but there are some nice rule mechanisms in them that might well be worth 'borrowing'!
I have known Andy Callan since I met him at the famous Moor Park wargames conference organised by the late Dr Paddy Griffith. I have followed his wargaming career ever since, and as I wrote earlier in this blog post, I know that anything that he writes will be very good.
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I looked at the booklet. A hundred figures a side is hardly a skirmish game as we know it. It does say small battle which I would agree with.
ReplyDeleteKhusru,
DeleteThey struck me as being suitable for the large skirmishes/small battles of the Wars of the Roses ... and free is always a good price!
All the best,
Bob
Yes. You can't argue with free
DeleteKhusru,
DeleteI’m sure that someone will!
All the best,
Bob
Thanks for this opinion Bob, we're in the process of building up forces for WotR and Burgundinan Wars in 54mm and I'd been wondering if these rules would be suitable.
ReplyDeleteBrian Carrick,
DeleteThey would certainly be a good starting point for you, and with a few small modifications, they should be useable with 54mm figures.
All the best,
Bob
These rules are very good and can be tweaked for a bit beofre or after the WotR. The mechanics are axcellent and as you say, some of them can be 'borrowed' for other games. The magazine as an issue is one of the best I've seen for a long time.
ReplyDeleteSteve J.,
DeleteThe free rules were the deciding factor when it came to buying this issue of WI ... and I was very pleased that I did. As you say, it’s a good issue.
All the best,
Bob
I've had a quick read through and they seem good to me. Trouble us I've no intention to buy WOTR figures, Postie had stacks already but I can see the potential of using them for a different period.
ReplyDeleteRay Rousell,
DeleteYou wouldn’t be a proper wargamer if - when you saw a new set of rules - you didn’t think ‘I could use these for ...’! ;^)
All the best,
Bob
Thanks for bringing the rules to my attention. I have just ordered a copy of the magazine - it's the first time that I have bought a wargaming magazine in years!
ReplyDeleteBarry Carter,
DeleteI rarely buy any of the mainstream wargame magazines, but when they come with freebies like this, I certainly do.
All the best,
Bob
Darn I seem to have missed something here .. it has been a while since I have been out at the magazine shops ;)
ReplyDeleteGeordie an Exile FoG,
DeleteI’m sure that you’ll be able to find a copy on sale somewhere.
All the best,
Bob
It so happens I have a lot of 100YW figures I've been meaning to use for WotR. This might be the thing to kick it along a little...
ReplyDeleteArchduke Piccolo,
DeleteI think that you’ll find these rules a useful starting point for your purposes. Like everything written by Andy Callan, they are elegant and easy to use.
All the best,
Bob
These have come out at the perfect time as our group have just been building WotR retinue for a campaign. They are pitched at just the right level for me...I'm a fan of the large skirmish/small battle game and, add you point out, Andy Callan's rules are usually excellent. I have a couple of games lined up in the next week so it'll be interesting to see if they're as good in reality add they look on the page!
ReplyDeleteAlastair,
DeleteAndy Callan is an excellent writer of wargame rules, and I have yet to be disappointed with a wargame fought using something by him. He is very underrated (and unknown) by far too many wargamers, and - in my opinion - deserves greater recognition for his contribution to the hobby.
All the best,
Bob