Billhooks Deluxe - A Flodden Project

 

Regular readers will know that I have been putting together both Armies for the Battle of Flodden and related encounters imagined and real.  I'm using Billhooks Deluxe as the rules for the project. As Billhooks Deluxe doesn't have a Flodden section we need to adopt a toolkit approach. All the troop types needed are there-just not in the same section.  Let us start with the Scots. Below half of the King of Scots own unit. 

The Italia section of Billhooks Deluxe offers a range of pike unit types. Degrees of armour protection are also clearly defined.  This is sufficient to differentiate between the King of Scots Battle and those of the rest of the Army.  The former are all Men at Arms with pikes.  Formidable, but vulnerable to bad terrain. Heavily armoured pike men were.  At Flodden the Scots nobility fought pretty much to the last man.

The issue of better armoured front ranks for the rest of the Army is easily accommodated without adjustment. You can even add pavises should you wish. More on this subsequent as new units are completed.

The Highlanders are covered in the Hibernia chapter. There are two types, clan and mercenary company.  They have both missilery and melee capacity. For Argyle's wing I'll opt for the clan stat’s. 

 

Consider Argyle's fellows above and below.  To the front mailed gentry to the rear un-armoured clansmen. At Flodden the English arrows fell on the rear ranks of the Highlanders.  Result, complete collapse.  Easy to replicate with Billhooks, if you can get your English archers in the right place.

 

Highlanders also fought on the other flank at Flodden.  I'm tempted to use the mercenary company stat's for that contingent.  Their role was to protect the flanks of the Border pike men.  Note how the degree of armour fades down the ranks of pike men.  It is the sort of nuance Billhooks captures nicely.

 

Another Highland clan unit below. Many Irish figures will do nicely as Highlanders in this period.  No javelins though. Highlanders preferred the bow.

My Highlanders are from a mix of ranges and manufacturers. I think it helps create the right image.

The respective abilities of both sides’ artillery deserve attention. My current thinking is to give the English light guns.  The idea of making the English guns mobile as per the rules also appeals.  I should say they wont be very mobile.  

Here are two of mine.  

 

Guns from Donnington and very nice they are too.  

 

The crews are what I had lying about.  QRF I think. 

 

The Scots get heavy guns, great for making castles surrender but once placed on the battlefield they are stuck.  Here are mine  above and below.  I'm following the Billhooks convention of separately based guns and crews. Thus English heavy guns in France just need to add the crews.

The English Army at Flodden was quite an old-fashioned affair.  Mainly Bills and Bows, the innovative types were off in France. This means the troop types can be lifted directly from the Albion section of the rules.   

 

The Border Horse can come from the Northumbria chapter.  All very straight forward.

I'm putting together a QRS for Flodden and related engagements.  Play testing will commence once the troops are done.  I'm still wondering about the Special Event cards.

That’s it for the moment.  As for painting there is not much new to show.  I found a few more Scots and got them done.   QRF have re listed the rest I need but have yet to re stock them.  The artillery shown above is new.  English progress fell victim to my sudden need to complete my SYW collection.  They are now getting my attention.

The rest is history, appropriately enough.

More soon.