The League of Augsburg

10 Reasons why this is my favourite wargaming period

by augsburgeroberst
Neerwinden/Landen 1693


I have been gaming the period 1666-1720 for thirty years this year. Despite forays into other periods of which I am fond, I always return to my favourite. Recently, I have agreed to write a title for Helion about wargaming the period 1666-1697 specifically and that has made me reflect on why I maintain an enduring fascination for this 60 year span of history.

So, here are my...
Posted in 17th century naval campaign, Beneath the Lily Banners, Ireland, Nine Years War, Ottomans, Restoration and Dutch Wars, Scenarios, Terrain, The War of Three Kings, Wargaming

Saved the best to last.. Caribbean test 3

by augsburgeroberst


It's a funny old game (to paraphrase Greavsie). Having experienced two wins from two for the single 'blinged up' privateer Sea WolfI thought I'd give the European power trio's third leg a chance to prevail over the pirates. It turned out to be the best game of all with so many little twists that I played on for 15 turns to get the final result. It took about 90 minutes altogether but of course I...
Posted in 17th century naval campaign, Nine Years War, Restoration and Dutch Wars, Scenarios, Terrain, The High Seas, Wargaming

Launching a privateer - Small ship action using my naval rules

by augsburgeroberst

The game setting... tropical paradise or, mosquito infested hell hole? Europeans in the Caribbean.

I  took an inevitable diversion into the world of piracy by painting a 4th rate up and flagging it as a late 17th century privateer of indeterminate nationality.

The frgiate Elizabeth set sail to meet the privateer threat

Having further developed the points system for my rule set I thought it would be...
Posted in 17th century naval campaign, Nine Years War, Restoration and Dutch Wars, Scenarios, Terrain, The Glorious Revolution, The High Seas, Wargaming

Campaign report: One thousand Irish 19th March 1689

by augsburgeroberst


The game is underway... Akkerman hugs the coast and O'Brien has to reposition to block the channel at Duncriege.

Dave O'Brien's nautical Jacobites are once again, all at sea!................


Late in the action - Indomitable pounds Komeetster from an advantageous angle.

King James, newly arrived in Ireland is mustering his forces to take possession of the entire island and reinforce his loyal troops...
Posted in 17th century naval campaign, Nine Years War, Restoration and Dutch Wars, Scenarios, The Glorious Revolution, The High Seas, Wargaming

Guest post: Gareth Lane's Scots-Dutch Brigade

by augsburgeroberst
George Ramsay's Regiment

The Scots-Dutch Brigade had a long and active service but is probably best remembered for its great defeat at the hands of Viscount Dundee's Highland army at Killiecrankie in 1689.


Hugh Mackay of Scourie's Regiment

That it was composed of and largely officered by experienced Scots officers is something occasionally yet deliberately overlooked by those intent on some Scots v...
Posted in Basing, Beneath the Lily Banners, Guest Post, Nine Years War, Painting, Quindia Studios, The War of Three Kings, Uniforms, Wargaming

Naval campaign part 2 preview

by augsburgeroberst
A nice day out at Ardnamurchan.... maybe not for some of these ships

With a little help from my friends.....

Dave and Colin came over last week to keep the campaign going. We played three cracking games with me going to pick up the fourth and fifth when I get a chance.

Make ready your guns! Tocht challenges Rochefoucauld at Duinkirk 1672

Scenario number 1 entitled 'King Louis's ships'takes place off...
Posted in 17th century naval campaign, Basing, Ireland, Modeling, Nine Years War, Painting, Restoration and Dutch Wars, Scenarios, Terrain, The High Seas, Wargaming

Painting a 1/2400 scale ship model for the Anglo Dutch War period (1650-1700)

by augsburgeroberst


Quite a few people have been asking for a how to guide for painting, rigging and basing the 1/2400 scale Dutch Wars ships. So, here we are..




I have chosen a 4th rate model which costs £2.40.




The contents of a pack are laid out above. The 2mm thick, 20 x 40mm pill base does not come with the model I buy these from Warbasesin packs of 20. The price I don't recall but, it is less than £2 for that...
Posted in 17th century naval campaign, Basing, Modeling, Nine Years War, Painting, Restoration and Dutch Wars, Wargaming

It's Saturday, I'll build a castle

by augsburgeroberst


I have several new scenarios coming up for the 17th century naval campaign. I needed something that resembled a Scottish castle. I thought - just a tower. Then, what about a tower on a rocky outcrop? Then that morphed into... maybe I could expand it to look like the stronghold of a clan chief with outbuildings etc.. yeah...




Now, how was I going to do that. Well, two cups of coffee, various rummages...
Posted in 17th century naval campaign, Basing, Ireland, Nine Years War, Painting, Restoration and Dutch Wars, Scenarios, Terrain, The War of Spanish Succession, Wargaming

I found it in a box....

by augsburgeroberst



I obviously bought this for my 28mm projects about the time I was making merchant ships and pinnaces however it was long overlooked in a box, buried under other non started projects. During a recent wargaming colonic irrigation I cleared out much accumulated clutter. Purchases which never got off the stocks or even out of the bubble wrap.



I came across this. I remember buying it at Claymore two or...
Posted in 17th century naval campaign, Beneath the Lily Banners, Ireland, Modeling, Nine Years War, Painting, Restoration and Dutch Wars, The Glorious Revolution, The High Seas, Wargaming

BLB Head to Head #2: Jacobite Highlander v Williamite infantryman

by augsburgeroberst



Williamite infantry march into the Highlands

Of course not all Highlanders were Jacobite but, in our period of interest the terms fit together well to describe the feudal warriors who supported the Stuart cause. Men from the Highlands adhering to an individual method of fighting as opposed to a collective one. Highland forces were often small. At Killiecrankie it is doubltful whether Dundee had...
Posted in Beneath the Lily Banners, History, Nine Years War, The Glorious Revolution, The War of Three Kings, Warfare Miniatures, Wargaming

Walking through 17th century naval rules Part 2 - Hail Mary!

by augsburgeroberst
What will happen to the unlucky Eendraght?

The walk through of my evolving naval rules for the 1640-1700 period continues where we pick the action up at the beginning of Turn 4 with the Allies once more winning the initiative which allows them to move first or, compel the French to move.




By the firing step in T4 the Allies had manouevred ships into two opportunities. The first involves Eendraght,...
Posted in 17th century naval campaign, Basing, Modeling, Nine Years War, Painting, Restoration and Dutch Wars, Scenarios, Terrain, The High Seas, Wargaming

Walking through 17th century naval rules Part 1

by augsburgeroberst
Let me start by saying thanks to Neil Fox for helping me get onto this path in the first instance. He sent his Solebay Fast play sheets to me and I played many games with them to get a feel for the issues around naval gaming and in particular the period 1650-1700.

The Allied squadron in line astern

The more I played, the more I enjoyed, the more I tinkered. The new situations offered additional...
Posted in 17th century naval campaign, Basing, Modeling, Nine Years War, Painting, Restoration and Dutch Wars, Terrain, The High Seas, Wargaming