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...
4PLAY Sample PDF ready - email me if you want it
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| Cover of 000 the Free pack |
I am delighted to say my second job (wargaming) has been providing plenty of overtime shifts recently. These have allowed me to get my 4PLAY concept well and truly off the ground. The scenarios are all written for Beneath the Lily Banners (unit games), Donnybrook (Skirmish games) and a soon to be published naval set of rules for the naval games. All scenarios can be...
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...
MIA? Ma - ma!
I may have appeared missing in action over the last few days... not so. I have been using every spare hour to set up, play and photograph small games for a series of pdfs I hope to release within the next 3-4 weeks. This has already involved nine x 90 minute games since Sunday last, with each of them having to be written up as a scenario, photographed and AAR completed. All are based on research I...
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 -...
Marlborough's amphibious campaign 1690 - pdf release
It is with delight and some pride that we release our latest pdf detailing the campaigns in Ireland between 1688 and 1691.
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| Charles Fort, Kinsale - scene of a bloody siege, sallies and assaults |
This one deals with the ambitious and extremely successful amphibious campaign undertaken by the Earl of Marlborough against Cork and Kinsale in the autumn of 1690. Involving thousands of troops fresh from...
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... |