Furioso for the Nine Years War in Ireland

Earlier this year I bought a copy of Furioso Wargames rules and loads of Venexia figures for the Italian Wars.  After reading through a couple of times I thought they might have potential for the Nine Years War in Ireland. My attention was initially drawn by the ‘Raiders’ cavalry type that intended for Genitors and Stradiots which would also do nicely for Irish cavalry.  The other troop types seemed equally adaptable to the Irish Wars.

Furioso does provide its own English and Irish lists, good to see, but neither reflect the combatants of the Nine Years War. As you will see I have had to tinker a little to get the right effect.  Irish caliver units could be four stands rather than the English three. As an alternative Irish calivers might be deemed ‘Drilled’ which would enable them to re roll any 1s when firing. 


Likewise, Irish mail clad ‘Raiders’ who also field four stands compared to the English three. Redshanks do not get to ‘Highland Charge’. I still need to work out how to reflect targeteers English and Irish. 

Furioso has a section on basing but I think the rules will work fine with whatever base sizes you use.

Here is my, yet to be tested, take on the armies for Furioso.

English Cavalry	Type	Tactic	Combat	initiative	Weapon	Armour	Move	No. of bases	cost
Demi lance	cavalry	Galloper	3	Plus 1	Lance	Heavy	8	4	24
Petronel	cavalry	trotters	3	Plus 1	Arquebus	Heavy	10	4	24
Border Horse	Raiders	Raiders	2	Zero	Lance	Armour	12	3	12

Pre 1600

English Foot	Type	Tactic	Combat	initiative	Weapon	Armour	Move	No. of bases	cost
Calivers	Foot	Skirmish	2	Minus 1	Arquebus	None	6	3	9
Muskets	Foot	Shot	2	Minus 1	Musket	Armour	4	4	12
Pike	Foot	Melee	3	Minus 1	Pike	Heavy	4	4	12

Post 1600

English Foot	Type	Tactic	Combat	initiative	Weapon	Armour	Move	No. of bases	cost
Calivers	Foot	Skirmish	2	Zero	Arquebus	None	6	3	9
Pike	Foot	Melee	3	Zero	Pike	Armour	4	4	12

Irish Cavalry	Type	Tactic	Combat	initiative	Weapon	Armour	Move	No. of bases	cost
Mail clads	Raiders	Raiders	3	Plus 1	Lance	Armour	12	4	24
Irish Horse	Raiders	Raiders	2	Plus 1	Javelin	None	12	3	12

Irish Foot	Type	Tactic	Combat	initiative	Weapon	Armour	Move	No. of bases	cost
Calivers	Foot	Skirmish	2	Plus 1	Arquebus	None	6	4	12
Pike	Foot	Melee	3	Plus 1	Pike	Armour	6	4	12
Redshanks	Foot	Melee	3	Zero	Polearm and Bow	Armour	4	4	24
Galloglaich	Ferocious	Melee	3	Zero	Polearm	Armour	4	4	24
Kern	Foot	Skirmish	3	Zero	Javelin	None	6	3	9

So, how does this work out on the table top?  Let’s try a few typical match ups from the Nine Years War.

Here we have a skirmish between English and Irish caliver men. 

Range is short and the English throw 2 D6 per base minus 1 dice for being skirmishers.  They score a hit on a 5 or a 6. They score 2,2,3,4, and 5. So one hit.  The Irish get a saving throw of 1 D6 for the hit and 2 D6 for being skirmishers succeeding on a 5 or 6. They score a 5 so the hit is removed.

The Irish return fire also throwing 2 D6 per base (but they have 4 bases) minus 1 dice for being skirmishers.  They score 1,2,4,5,6,6,6.  So four hits.  The English get to throw four saving D6 for the hits plus 2 dice for being skirmishers. They throw 2,2,2,2,3 and 4.  The hits stand and a base is lost. The English are now in trouble.

A clash of cavalry English demi lance against Irish mail clads. 

Both sides fight the Irish inflict 3 hits and the English 2. Both sides throw for saves the better armoured English save all their hits and the Irish only one. 

 

The following morale test makes the Irish retreat with an additional casualty.

A push of pike English and Irish.

Both sides throw 8 dice looking for 5 or 6 to hit.    The Irish manage 4 hits and the English 2. Both sides now throw for saves. The Irish throw 3 dice ( 1 dice per hit and 1 dice for their armour) and get two saves.  The English are better armoured and throw 6 dice (1 dice per hit and 2 dice for their heavy armour) getting four saves.  The melee continues but the Irish are going to be lucky to overcome the English armour.

Redshanks against demi lancers as happened at the battle of Aldfreck. 

 

The demi lancers charge but they are disordered by the ground. Normally they would throw 3 dice plus 1 for charging.  So, 4 dice per base,16 for the unit. As they are disordered, they will throw 8 dice. They get 2 hits.

The Redshanks throw 12 dice and score 4 hits. 

Both sides throw for saves.  The demi lances throw 6 dice and save two hits.  The Redshanks throw 4 dice and save one hit. In the morale test the demi lances fail and have to retire with an additional casualty.

While we are considering Redshanks I don't intend to use the Furioso minus for bow shooting.  Redshank archery standards did not decline in this period.

Also the Furioso infantry v cavalry close combat rule in my games will not apply to Redshanks, targeteers of both sides, Galloglaich or English/Palesmen Bills.  All of these types of soldier were more than capable of closing up and resisting cavalry.  That is not to say they should prevail but merely that they might. Accordingly, such units will lose 1 dice a unit when charged by cavalry.

If you have been reading the other posts in this series you will notice that the results above do not seem out of step with what we found actually happened in combat.  I may try a small Nine Years War game with Furioso.