Everything is coming up Wars Of The Roses

 

Interests can lie dormant and then spring up demanding time and attention. This time it is the War of the Roses (WOTR). That’s in general and specifically the Fitzgerald v Ormond feud.

One thing invariably leads to another and I think on unit composition. A great bugbear of the WOTR. We don’t know enough to be sure. We do know enough to argue. 

My own take is that they were mixed. Especially if we are talking Billhooks or Rampant small battle stuff. Skirmish even.

Alright let’s get fiddly. Take a unit of 12 figures of which 4 are men at arms. There might be 8 Billmen. Or, 4 archers and 4 Billmen. Or 2 Men at arms and 10 Archers. I’ll stop there but you get the point.

When it comes to shooting 4 Archers shoot. When it comes to fighting each of our 3 types inflict hits at a different rate. Men at arms hit on a 3, Billmen on a 5 and Archers on a 6. How to do this expediently?

Use a different colour dice for each type and there you go.  I know, fiddly but it bespeaks of additional fun.

Unit cost? Each figure has a notional value, just do the sums. Two Men at Arms cost 2 points, 6 Billmen cost 2 points, 6 Archers cost 2 points. A 6 points a unit but doable.

Not only that but you get to make a decision on whether your unit excels at shooting or the close up stuff. 

Of course you can just make them all of one type.  That's where we came in with Rampant and Billhooks. Pleasingly both are very flexible systems.

Anyhow, here are my new units. Top of the page the Earl of Kildare and his horsemen. Below, with his men on foot.

The Earl's Galloglass, McDonalds and a fairly new addition to the Earl's Power. They had been in the service of the O'Kelly but found themselves on the losing side. They headed east and learned to shout "Crom Abu!" The Earl's Battle Cry. 

Fairly recently it was suggested that that they were hired as expendables. That relies on a particular reading of the Chronicle of Howth. The Chronicle was written 50 years later amid very different circumstances and sentiments.  

I dismiss it, not least because the same McDonalds subsequently became the "Queen Majesties Galloglass". Queen Elizabeth was notoriously tight, only parting with coin in extreme need. Clearly, she valued them.

All the figures so far are QRF or Matchlock. The Flags are from Pete's Flags except that of the Earl's foot men. I'm not sure of its provenance. 

Now, the Earl will need a unit of archers and a unit or maybe two of Kern. Here are the archers.

Both Kern units are in hand. Then we must to Butler of Ormond who requires both Gallowglass and Kern and a mounted retinue. The rest of his force is already done.

With two sides complete we can feud. Not only that but I can use the Hibernia rules I wrote for Billhooks Deluxe.

Next week we are in the Highlands or Russia or China.  Depending on what gets finished first.