Sunday 8 June 2008

An Army list proposal for DBM

The weather has been great and so I have spent a great deal of time planting, watering and sowing in the garden. We also started clearing our garage - a glory hole if ever anything was !However I have started to plan my force.

CinC - kn (o) Hermann Landgrave of Hesse
6 elements Kn(I) - knights of Neuss and from Hesse
Town of Neuss :
8 elements RegSp(I)- city spearmen
2 elements RegPs (S)- city handgunners
5 elements Reg Bw (O) - city crossbow
2 elements Reg Bd (O)- city guard
1 element Reg Art (S)- bombard
1 element Reg Art (I)- light bombard
2 elements Hd (O) - citizens
Mercaneries:
5 elements Reg Pk (O)- pikemen
2 elements Reg Bd(O) - swordsmen
3 elements Reg Ps (S) - handgunners

Allied Command City of Cologne
Ally General Kn (O)
2 elements Reg Kn(I) knights of Cologne
5 elements Reg Pk (I) town pikes
1 element Reg Bd (I) town swordsmen
1 element Reg Art (s) bombard
2 elements Reg Ps (S) town handgunners
3 elements Reg Bw (O) town crossbowmen
2 elements RegBd (O) Mercaneries
1 element Reg Hd (O) citizens

All in all around 300 pts for DBM. painting started and much work to do over the Summer...

Tuesday 3 June 2008

Rules and what do you think?


I know that wargames rules are a very personal matter. I have no wish to decry the pleasure of others. As they say one man’s meat is another man’s poison. I started with W.R.G 4th or 5th edition, moving on very, very happily to 6th. They provided me with many happy hours at home, wargames club and university. I still look back on these games fondly.
When D.B.A came along I embraced the revolution (I owned 7th but never had a game – they just did little or nothing for me.) and also enjoyed D.B.M. An exciting game could be had in the space of an evening – no book keeping – something that has become more and more important as I have got older and more tired of an evening.
Today we are in an age of a plethora of Rules Sets. I guess this is the sign of a healthy hobby. New rules come out all the time – often beautifully illustrated and presented – wab, fog etc etc! I have found myself over the years buying many sets- often never to use in battle.
For my 15th century games we are looking at two sets at presnt – dbm and a super set called Free Company – written by Anthony Clipsom and available fom a Yahoo group. Free Company seem to offer the best of element style wargaming combined with the things I loved in 6th edition/MW. I will be certainly giving them a try sooner or later.
However for the present I will be majoring upon dbm. I firmly believe dbm is undervalued by many people – ok they are not glossy and have dense text but they give a great game. Many people extol to me the exciting virtues of wab yet I have not found it so personally. Dbm gives an exciting, realistic and entertaining game. The troops interpenetrate each other’s formations. Combat moves back and forward – it is deceptively simple yet such great fun. I have used them for years. They are, in my opinion the best there is around at present ( I will explore dbmm very soon ) and if you haven’t tried them give them a go..
Gentlemen, let me know what you think…

Monday 2 June 2008

On the workbench...




These are my first set of figures awaiting basing. Some mercenary Blades and Bow based for dbm and dbmm. The standard bearer carries the banner of Herman IV - Landgrave of Hesse , third son of Ludwig I. He organised ( with great skill) the defense of Neuss against Charles the Bold.


The weekend



A busy weekend with a Family wedding and my wife being unwell has meant I have only done a few more figures- pictures to be posted here asap.

However I can reveal the army I am collecting is based upon the defenders of Neuss and her Allies 1473-1474...

Army list, rules information etc coming soon...