Pike and shot formation
In 1495 at the Battle of Seminara, the hitherto-successful Spanish army was trounced while opposing the French invasion of Naples by a French army composed of armoured gendarme cavalry and Swiss mercenary infantry. The French dominance of warfare at this time presented a daunting challenge to those states which were opposed to Valois ambitions, particularly in Italy. The French army of the Valois kings was particularly formidable due to its combination of all of these elements.
#PIKE AND SHOT FORMATION PROFESSIONAL#
#PIKE AND SHOT FORMATION FULL#
I have played the full set of these rules over the holiday period. Lovely production values of course, masses of eye candy - worth the price for that alone. The Janissaries and Polish foot blasted each other to a standstill and the skirmish cavalry did just that, skirmished inconclusively. They rolled over the Sipahis of the Porte on one wing, but were pushed back on the other after the Balkan sharpshooters weakened them. The winged Hussars are very tough in these rules but not impossibly so. You are unlikely to need any supplements to play the period fully. For example, no light infantry musket skirmishers for the Ottomans or foot Croats for the Imperialists, but these are easily added in. The options in the army lists are a bit limited. There is a points system for those who feel the need.
A short historical overview followed by the main troop types and a few scenarios. Starting with the Italian Wars and finishing with the wars of the Sun King. More than half the book is taken up with army lists for all the main conflicts. The special rules allow for all the classic renaissance tactics like caracole, gallopers and mercenary units. Dragoons are also factored in slightly differently to reflect their proper role as dismounted troops in this period. If you get it right, pikes protect shot effectively against cavalry in particular. The key change is the hedgehog formation to reflect the close working of pike and shot units. We like many BP players use the two-thirds play sheet for BP. Distances are generally shorter, I suspect reflecting experience with Black Powder (BP). The same basic command system although initiative moves are limited to 6". Unlike Hail Caesar that has far more changes. Tested them with Ottomans against Polish, mid 17th Century armies.įor those familiar with Back Powder the basic mechanisms are very similar. Played my first full game today with Pike & Shotte, the Black Powder derivative for the Renaissance period.