Sigur goes historical - The Thirty Years War

[Harry]

Wonderful, wonderful stuff.
I am completely in awe of your painting in this scale.

[sigur]

@emperorpenguin: Oh right, Perry Miniatures. I don't know where my brain was that evening that I didn't think of the Perrys. Anyhow, thanks for the comment! Painting horses is always daunting in any scale I think. ;-)

@Meraklis: Thanks very much. I didn't go for 28mm due to several reasons. But for Napoleonic or Dark Ages skirmishes (the most tempting things at the moment :-P ) I'd probably go 28mm again.

@kublai: I'm using my old mix of various sands for basing but I agree - textured paints might be pretty useful for smaller scale basing. I found two flag manufacturers who both seem to have great products and service: Warflags and Maverick Models (watch out, there's a model agency by the same name that's usually the first hit when you google it.). Haven't varnished them at all yet but if I do so I'll probably go with brush-on varnish either applied by brush or airbrush (probably the first rather than the latter). Sure, no problem, just ask if you have a question.

@Crazy Harborc: Yeah, the P&S rules are rather simple even but they work and, to my knowledge, they represent the period well. I read on TMP about pike blocks being a bit on the strong side. Not sure about that but I plan to have a game again very soon (probably solo and with more units this time). And: No matter how much cheaper the 10mm figures are, it probably is the cheapest to use the ones you already got.

@Harry: Thanks a bunch for commenting and the overwhelmingly positive feedback.


Right, after a way too long while without any updates, here are some pictures. First, my bunch of guys for month one of the Tale of Historical Wargamers:


...and the single units.

First finished unit of pikemen, in this case from the regiment of Rudolf von Colloredo, under the command of Obristleutnant Philipp Hussmann de Namedi (who is also the commander of the first batallion):


I'll add other units form this regiment lateron.


From the second regiment that makes up the first batallion, , owned by Obrist Andreas Matthias Kehraus, swordsmen:



Then there are two cavalry units from the fourth batallion - a squadron of Piccolomini's harquebusiers:


and a bunch of Peter Graf Kegleritz de Buzim's croat light cavalry:



Oh, and so that there's something for the Protestants as well - here is the first unit of Georg Christof von Taupadel's Dragoons (dismounted obviously)



So lots of names and whatnot but at least some units are finished now. All I need is adding the flags once they arrive and maybe some socks and marks on the horses.

Next up (altough after quite a while - probably the end of August) will be finished Cuirassiers, Pikemen and maybe some cannons or Dragoons. Hope that you like the stuff so far!

[mrtn]

Oh, finished (or close enough) units! Looks great mate.
Will you paint the base edges a solid colour or leave them as is?

[Crazy Harborc]

sigur

THOSE troops really look good. Heck, I am still only done with the first 8 of 40 WG, ECW, 28mm, plastic foot. I did some shooters first.

I'm a slow reader.......sooooo, I am only midway through the P & S rulebook.

What the heck, it's stuff like the above that gives us old fartsreasons to WANT to wake up early in the am. Well, NOT too early.

[Lord Dan]

How tall are these guys? 8 or 9mm?

[kublai]

How tall are these guys? 8 or 9mm?

They are 10mm Pendraken and Old Glory (and some other manufacturer) minis.

Lovely brigade (is this the right term for this period ? )

Im looking forward to the end of August !

[Avatar of the Eldar]

Sehr genial! Love this project because I want to do something similar - d.h. create two armies to play Warmaster/WMA but in the Game of Thrones setting using lists created here:

http://www.forum.specialist-arms.com...4&topic=3855.0

[sigur]

@mrtn: Thanks for commenting and drawing my attention to the unpainted edges. That's something I don't realize on the finished models but only when cropping the pictures (at least with these 1mm high bases).

@Crazy Harborc: Thank you. :-) Hey, nice to hear that you got some ECW stuff painted. I just now finished the first few musketeers. Are you through with the P&S rulebook yet?

@LordDan: Kublai's got it right - 10mm. Just like Warmaster minis.

@kublai: Thanks very much.

@Avatar of the Eldar: Allerbesten Dank. Let me know how your armies come along! If you need anything in 10mm definately take a look at Pendraken Miniatures' ranges!


Alright, it's late August and I'm back!




The above is a shot of the finished Imperials/Leaguists I have by now. Here's one of the Swedes:



Not quite as many yet I'll admit but that's soon to change. At least they got Musketeers. And horseless Dragoons. It was not uncommon though to make regiments Dragoons on paper but due to constant shortage of horses they never actually were on horseback.

So what's new in there. First, two units of Cuirassiers (heavily armoured guys with pistols and swords):



This is probably a more historically accurate formation:






Look, the trumpeters got Habsburg eagles freehanded onto their overcloth things:



As you probably noticed, most units got flags now.


The ones on the infantry are to scale even. The cavalry flags are larger than they technically should be but at this scale you gotta take the flags a size larger, otherwise they don't look good.

To end this presentation, here's an example of a typical setup for the period and the interaction between pike and shot (at least how it works in this game):



The pikemen form a block in the middle and have two "sleeves" of musketeers to their sides. If the enemy closes in the musketeers hide within the pike block which forms the famous "hedgehog". Not very mobile but defendable to all sides and the musketguys can even shoot out from it.

Hope you like the pictures. :-)


edit: Oh, and for the books: I managed to finish the August stuff for the Tale of Historical Wargamers (Cuirassiers, yellow regiment pikemen) and am very well on the way of getting the September stuff done as well (planning to do five units of veteran musketeers for the coloured swedish regiments. Got three units done for the yellow regiment, will add another two for the blue regiment asap).

[Tonny]

Impressive! The group photo is fantastic. It really gives me the feeling that I am looking at a real army.

[mrtn]

That's great work mate, I'm very impressed with the standards, nice freehand.

[Crazy Harborc]

sigur

I am doing my second reading of the P & S rulebook. So are the other guys. One old fart (the "gamemaster" normally) has been very sick. Soooo....starting to play/"learn" the rules is on hold.

Been working on some Wargames Factory plastic, WSS cavalry. Thanks to the lobster pot helmets, they can pass as ECW, etc. cavalry.

These minies do look GOOD. Details are crisp, little to no flash. BEST of all, I ordered the box (with other stuff) from The Warstore, at a darn good discount.

[Caiphas Cain]

Nice progress sigur, they're coming along nicely.

[kublai]

The eagels are freehand ? You are a monster !

Cant wait to see those colerful swedes ! Gustav would be proud to see your work

[Satan]

Man those look great. I wish WHFB had MORE of this - it's like a dogs of war army, only BETTER!

[sigur]

@Tonny: Thank you! The catholics are shaping up nicely indeed and the Swedes should get some support as well over the next two months. First, a bunch of musketeers, then pikemen and guns followed by light cavalry, dragoons, Finnish cavalry, stuff like that.

@mrtn: Thanks muchly. I'm glad I went with bought flags instead of any homemade ones in the end. Would have cost time to no end and these look so incredibly wargame-y. As does the whole army. Nice stuff.

@Crazy Harborc: Thanks, hope your gamemaster fella is better now.

@Caiphas Cain: Cheers!

@kublai: Mwahahaha! Well, they aren't perfect and nobody would notice them unless I draw their attention to them but for me it's nice to know that they're there. The little flags on the trumpets also got the same heraldry as on the regiment's flags.

@Satan: Thanks very much. Indeed, this is what I thought too. That's why I started collecting an Empire army two years ago but never got far because I noticed "wait, if I want a 17th century army that's fairly historical looking (because that's what I really like about the Empire in Warhammer) why not go historical all the way?". If you want to use minis in this style for your Warhammer, I suggest getting some figures and try them out. The historical 28mm minis mostly will be a bit smaller and lither (?) than the GW ones but might fit well.

Last update in a while (until the end of September, I presume) - Blue regiment's musketeers in a very early state or work-in-progress-ity:





edit: Hey, I just realized that I completely forgot to post this in here: I wrote another battle report now that I had all these finished minis (plus lots of unfinished ones of course): Let's have another game of Pike&Shotte! - Skirmish at Franzensmünde


Hope you enjoy!

[sigur]

Right, photobucket still is down for maintenance so I'll post this as an attachment but at least they say that there will be no picture quality loss with uploaded pictures once they're finished. if this proves to be true, I'm happy.

On topic - I got a tad bored with painting Orks so I quickly took a detour into the TYW again, getting some more work on these musketeers done. The units are nearing completion now which means that the set task for September is getting darned close to being finished as well. After these guys I'm really tempted to tackle some regimental guns for the Swedes or maybe even start getting them some nice light cavalry.

[Crazy Harborc]

sigur

Our gamemaster is alive and still recovering.Hey, I have known him for 35 plus years now.

I really LIKE those 15mm ECW dudes! Sadly, our wives would have ALOT to say to us if we switch scales now.

[Satan]

@Satan: Thanks very much. Indeed, this is what I thought too. That's why I started collecting an Empire army two years ago but never got far because I noticed "wait, if I want a 17th century army that's fairly historical looking (because that's what I really like about the Empire in Warhammer) why not go historical all the way?". If you want to use minis in this style for your Warhammer, I suggest getting some figures and try them out. The historical 28mm minis mostly will be a bit smaller and lither (?) than the GW ones but might fit well.

Thanks for the tip! I'm still a fantasy buff, but I've gotten more and more interested in "low-fantasy" settings like the Locke Lamora series and Tigana these days, so these are rigth up my alley.

[sigur]

Oh yes, I can see where you're coming from. I too prefer "low fantasy" settings (one of my problems with many D&D settings), if you're looking for a bit more historical looking Empire minis you should look into 16th century stuff, Italian Wars and whatnot.

Hey look, it's the 6th of September! Today, 366 years ago on September 6th 1634, the Battle of Nördlingen ended.



It was one of the most decisive battles of the "Swedish phase" of the war, ending in the first real defeat of the Swedish armies (now under Gustav Horn) and their German allies under Bernhard of Saxe-Weimar. Gustav and Bernhard had an ongoing rivalry for the high command of protestant troops in Germany.


Bernhard of Saxe-Weimar


Gustaf Horn


The Imperials were led by Ferdinand, king of Hungary (later emperor Ferdinand III.) and now commander in chief of imperial troops after Wallenstein's death in Febuary 1634 along with a spanish army led by his cousin cardinal infant Ferdinand of Spain. If you wanted to be someone (like emperor Ferdinand II.) in the holy roman empire of the Habsburgs you had to bring the right name I guess.


Ferdinand of Hungary


Ferdinand of Spain


Very much contrary to their protestant counterparts the imperialist-catholic and Spanish chief commanders were relatively inexperienced but had the numerical superiority on their side as well as fresh troops, especially in the form of Spanish and Italian regiments. The Swedish and German protestant troops were battle-hardened but weary after years of campaigning and despite a series of victories and being just about to enter imperial Habsburg "core lands" morale had started to dwindle after the loss of the beloved king Gustavus II. Adolf of Sweden. Apart from that the protestant commanders in chief were more rivals than brothers in arms and underestimated the numbers of the imperial catholic troops. In the Swedish-protestant side there were 16,300 foot, 9,300 horse and 54 cannon while the imperial catholics brought 20,000 foot, 13,000 horse and 32 cannon.

Prelude to the Battle
Seeing how protestant troops were threatening Bohemia, Ferdinand of Hungary decided to march into southern Germany to regain territory and to draw the enemy armies away from the core lands of the empire. Both sides knowing of the Spanish reinforcements en route the Swedish-German armies hurried to southern Germany to meet Ferdinand of Hungary's army in battle before they would unite with the Spanish army. However they are too slow and the two Ferdinands meet and prepare for battle.

The more seasoned commanders on the imperial side were at odds about their predictions of the outcome of the battle that was to come. They had numbers on their side but the protestant troops and commanders for the most part were much more experienced from previous battles. On the other hand the Habsburg side had the highly trained professional soldiers from Spain and Italian mercenaries on their sides now. Those units were trained to fight in the Old Tercio formations which were regarded as outdated for more than a decade.


The Battle
Spanish troops took the Albuch height on the 5th of September and built field fortifications after a small skirmish for the heights the night before. On the day of the main battle several things went just wrong for the protestants. First, chief commander Horn took a trip up a hill to get a better overview. One of his colonels viewed this as the sign for attack, charged his cavalry into the imperialist lines and were destroyed. At the start of the battle, Swedish infantry charged up the Albuch height from two sides and drove the Spanish defenders out of their fortifications. The fact thatthe Swedish units met on the hill unexpectedly led to some confusion. Maybe in the course of these events, maybe it was a trap or just an accident, but several barrels of the black powder the Spanish had stored in their fortifications cought fire and exploded.



With the Swedish troops on the height disordered and bruised, the imperials started a cavalry counter-attack and drove them off the hill. The fortifications were immediately retaken by strong Spanish units with the orders to hold the Albuch to the death. With the commanders on both sides being aware or the tactical value of the Albuch height, Swedish commander Horn launched thirteen to fifteen attacks against the hill but all were repelled by the Spanish tercios. An attempted flank attack by Taupadel's cavalry against the imperial lines was fought off as well while imperial Croat light cavalry managed to outflank the protestant lines and attack their flank and baggage train.

Soon the protestant commanders, after several cases of bad luck or communication breakdowns and heavy losses at the Albuch had to realize that the battle was lost and that they had to command their troops to retreat during which Bernhard of Saxe-Weimar's horse was shot dead under him and a captain of Taupadel's cavalry had to leave his horse to Bernhard. Commander Horn, along with several other officers and 4,000 troops were captured and of the fleeling troops most were killed by pursuing Croats.


Imperial troops charging down the Albuch (in the background you can see the three fortifications on the hill)


Aftermath

The Battle of Nördlingen was remarkable in several ways. First, it broke the common perception of the nigh-invincibility of the Swedish army and led to the repelling of protestant forces out of southern Germany and the imperials regaining the initiative in the war. The Treaty of Prague which was signed soon in 1635 lead to most German princes siding with the imperial cause (for now). The Swedish position of power in Germany was diminished. With the Habsburg empire seeming to grow stronger than before the situation finally pushed Cardinal Richelieu France to actively join the war on the side of the Swedes which would lead to the bloodiest phase of the 30 Years War.

The battle itself has some interesting thing to look at in regards to "fog of war", command and control and sheer bad luck. Apart from that, it's one of those battles in which the Spanish troops showed that the "old tercio", even though outdated, worked incredibly well in certain situations. I'm by no means a military historian but it was very interesting reading up on this battle which before I had dismissed as "not being as easily applicable to the tabletop as others". Inspires one to build some fortifications and such.



For an EXCELLENT copper engraving print of the battle from 1670, have a look here: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...eus_Merian.png

[mrtn]

Very nice write-up! The battle of Nördlingen is one of those I haven't read up on.
Just a pity you posted it after midnight on the 7th.