The League of Augsburg
4Play quo vadis?
Firstly, a big thank you to those who have bought some 4Play scenarios. They got off to a good start and I am happy with the response. Of course, the rub will be the play feedback but on format and content, they seem to have hit the mark.
With the first releases I wanted to try and avoid the common trap of re-hashing what is already out there in some form or another. By focusing on different...
Every bullet...
I was keeping my head down and quietly getting on with this but now it is out there I guess it's OK to mention it here.
I am working on a book for Helion which is a guide to wargaming the period from the 2nd Anglo Dutch War through to the Nine Years War. It is not a beginner's guide. It is an enthusiast's guide. I have tried to distill 30 years of digging in this patch of earth into something which...
Gone live - 7 4PLAY scenarios now available in the LoA online store
After some final UAT modifications the first seven scenario packs in the 4PLAY series are noe commercially available in the LoA onlone store. Click on each in the shop to get a description of content. All contain 16-17 full colour pages
All are priced at £3. Use the pdf postage charge which is 1p.
001 1667 Medway campaign (land and sea)
002 1689 Scotland (land and sea)
003 1689 Western Ireland (land...
Snorkel up..
Aha! you say, where is he? Locked up at home and not blogging? Yes but...
I have been using all non-core work time to get these scenario pdfs packs produced from scratch. So far I have created six packs and play tested and photographed 18 scenarios for inclusion. All the games have brief AARs to help players with tips and recommeded rules or adjustments where necessary.
All games are played on...
Campaign report: de Ruyter on the Volta 1664
I have been a bit remiss at not posting this campaign report sooner, but, it was a cracker and worth waiting for... Brilliant game, well played by both Dave and Colin.
Mouth of the Volta River, Slave Coast. August 22nd, 1664
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| The den of iniquity that is Adafoah - target of de Ruyter's squadron. |
The mission to extinguish Arab slaving activities operating from abandoned Portuguese facilities on the...
Battles of Goa 1638-39
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| Da Silva sails out to do battle with Van der Veere |
The Portuguese colony of Goa came under repeated pressure from the Dutch VOC during the period of European expansion in the 17th century. Here is a link to a previous blog post about my visit to Reis Magos - the 16th century Portuguese fort at Goa, still in working order.
Portuguese Fort Reis Magos -Goa
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| 1639 raid by van der Veere on the three... |
His wonders to perform... God and the Medway Estuary
I actually wrote this piece last year and made a conscious decision to give up flying about two weeks later. I have am pleased to say I have only been in a plane eight times since. Of course, the current situation makes flying almost impossible anyway. Good, we're saving the planet.
I do a lot of flying....
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| The terrain as it stands |
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| Upper middle of shot - Isle of Sheppey and beyond - The Medway Estuary. |
I do a lot of flying....
Chinese take- out? VOC v Pirates 1666
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| South China Seas action |
In my continuing Covid-induced privateer laboratory I decided to blood some ships I had painted a few months back just because I had them. A few packs of Chinese pirate junks which I had intended to use specifically to run out against European vessels exploiting the riches of the South China Sea.
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| VOC Trading station somewhere in modern day Indonesia |
By now you know the form -...
Campaign report: Run for home, Mull October 8th 1689
The third report from round two of the campaign.. Jan Baert kidnaps a very important person dear to King William and burns some Scottish assets in the process. Taking on no less than twelve enemy ships he runs for home!
Turns 1-4
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| Baert's ships approach the island chain. |
The fresh westerly winds created heavy seas and made sailing extremely challenging for Baert’s four ships as they nosed northward.
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| Th... |
Continuing the privateer scenario play tests: Portuguese man o'war
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| Rainha Santa Isabel - 52 guns Portuguese man o'war |
Lots in this post for those interested in more involved ship to ship combats and small actions involving boarding and character play.....
The three iterations of the three on one ship scenario produced thought provoking results. The single privateer vessel won all encounters although the final run against the Martinique based French was a very close...
10 Reasons why this is my favourite wargaming period
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| 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...
Saved the best to last.. Caribbean test 3
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...