The League of Augsburg

Kill Herbert! A Donnybrook 1691 production


I had fun making this. It is a Donnybrook scenario built around the mysterious death of Colonel Charles Herbert at the Battle of Aughrim on July 12th 1691.  You can see the video here:





Herbert might be described in modern parlance as 'dangerous to know'. His death may have been at the hands of his own side. A chaotic rout provided the perfect cover for Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap.



This game called K...

Red Bog - 12th July 1691




I've been threatening to do an Aughrim video for the YouTube Channel for a while and finally got round to completing it. The Red Bog scenario is a regimental sized BLB game with 1:10 model to man ratio and is played in the 4PlayX format - 4 x 4 table, 8 turns .




It turned out rather well and got me fired up to continue with the Irish output for BLB, 4Play and background reading and reference...

Part 1: I am looking forward to Christmas because...

Capital units of the Swedish fleet head north towards Stockholm, June 1st 1676

..... I will get to play my Christmas game which this year I have decided is a version of the Battle of Öland, June 1st 1676. This will be my largest effort with 1/1200 17th century ships and my target is to included 36 models. That leaves me about four weeks to paint up 7-8 ships several of which are big 'uns.


Highly...

Greenwich - hub of maritime history

Pool of London to London Bridge circa 1710

Pool of London at the Tower circa 1710 - 1/1200 scale model


I love Greenwich. Not only is it a really interesting area with fantastic restaurants, bars and quaint shops, it is a hugely important centre of maritime history. On my second visit I manage to do lots of things I missed on the first like finding the most best galleries in the National Maritime...

Way off period... but it was fun

Triremes - aphract and cataphract - very common for over 200 years.

Warfare Miniatures will soon be releasing an extensive range of 1/1200 metal warships covering the period 500 BC till the fall of the Roman Empire in the 5th century AD. This is a further consolidation of our naval offer. The ships are designed by the same talented artist who created the Anglo-Dutch Wars ships range.


The scenario...

A remarkable life - Prinz Ruprecht von der Pfalz

First release in the series on Prince Rupert's campaigns

I have enjoyed reading and exploring the exploits of a quite remarkable figure form the 17th century. Not the fairly well trodden but brief path of his adventures in the land campaigns of the War of Three Kingdoms between 1640-1647, but the far more sustained period of his contribution to history. His activities as a naval commander between...

Kronan - a bit of unnecessary but enjoyable modelling

 

Kronan heels over in a gust of wind - WiP shot - not yet finished

I am working on various projects right now including several in 28mm but none of those are quite ready for sharing. This little flight of fancy however, is.


The Battle of Öland which occurred on June 1st1676 during the Skåne War was a major fleet engagement and a disastrous defeat for Sweden. In terms of drama on the high seas, it...

Little known but exciting.. Skåne War at sea

Svärdet (Sword) 94 guns, flagship of Admiral Claes Uggla in the scenario

The naval dimension to the Skåne War is both exciting and less well known that the land campaigns. Many know of battles like Halmstad, Landskrona and Lund. Often the Swedes are seen as the the sharper, ascendant military power and the Danes as somewhat bumbling and plodding. Whether right or wrong, at sea the picture was...

More 4Play Mad for War excitement!



I am delighted to announce the release of a further four - 4Play packs all focused on supporting gamers interested in Mad for War!

This batch is a rich mix covering various aspects of the period 1650-1700. 


Scenario pack 014 Break through the Enemie!covers the exploits of the English Commonwealth Straits Squadron during the 1st Anglo Dutch War 1652-1654. This includes the exciting small battles of...

17th Century Warfare - Online talk - The campaigns in Ireland 1688-1691


Barry Hilton - Late 17th century Warfare: Online Talk
Saturday 22nd May, 2021 1100-1300 BST.


Ihave the pleasure of hosting a talk for Ulster Wargames Society on the above date. The focus of the talk is Warfare in the late 17th century with particular emphasis on the campaigns of King William III and King James II. The society is making the talk open to non members. There is no charge for...

New direction - 4Play meets Republic to Empire




It took a little longer than I thought it would but, the first 4Play Napoleonic pack is available. It is 34 pages long and contains three scenarios laid out for both Republicto Empire AND March of Eagles. Orbats are written separately for each rule system. As I have added a lot of gaming detail into this pack the 4Play game reports are not a feature. 





If these are missed I will re introduce them in...

Free Mad for War scenario pack available




I promised to make some free collateral available for those interested in using ther Mad for War system of 17th century naval gaming. Here is the first free 4Play format scenario pack called Clear for action!




It has 28 pages, full colour throughout, three scenarios including Portuguese versus Dutch, Dutch versus English and Privateers versus French.




Obviously you need the Mad for War Essential guide...