The League of Augsburg

Limerick - Jacobite stronghold in 1690 and goal of the Williamites

 

The 4 x 4 table for the game

I have realised as we play test the scenarios from the new book that they hit two buttons which would be important to me (and I hope other enthusiasts)  if I was buying a book on a period in which I had an interest.

One of the Guard patrols make a circuit of the camp

The first is to shine a light and a different perspective into the conflict and highlight some aspects...

The Marlborough Fanzine issue

Well, it is no news that I am not Supporter #1 in the 'John Churchill for beatification campaign'. When Wargames Illustrated asked me if I wanted to contribute to their 'Marlborough Special' edition I decided the answer was... yes, but.

OK, so I liked Rainbow very much!

The but was; I wrote a piece which presented a slightly altered image of the great man and cast him...

This part of Whiskey in the Jar-Oh! deals with the colourful figure of Michael Hogan a central character in the scenario and the story of the Rapparees.

Political firebrand AND/OR military buffoon?

Sir Arthur Rawdon features heavily in the early story of the war. He was young, a Member of Parliament and motivated to prevent all of Tyrconnell's initiatives. He was a leading light in the northern Protestant Association.

A rich man with lots of influence

Although known by the sobriquet 'Cock of the North' his prominence may have been a comment on his...

Ireland action from 1691.. Paul Mc's Kirke's Regiment

I wrote this scenario for the Wargamer's Annual several years back and thought it would be nice to serialize it here on the blog. It is quite a long article so will appear in seven parts. Originally the idea was play tested by Joe North and Gavin Tovrea in the US. Joe is a well known Jacobite!

Hero or Villain? Piers Butler

He was feared and respected as a dashing if bloody cavalry commander and his regiment of Horse were hated by the enemy.

His equipment is commensurate with his...

Adam Murray - commander of Derry's Horse

Adam Murray is a character whose role in the Irish campaigns starts and finishes more or less with the Siege of Derry.

He was a Presbyterian of Scots descent and lived near to the city. He provide to be a bold soldier and inspirational leader to his men. He was involved in many adventures, skirmishes and battles during the period of the siege.

The colours...

Ah! The Boyne.. new, this will be fun

After a traumatic evening digging out my friend's car from snow and ice and preventing it sliding down a hill in a 'run of chaos'  I decided to recover by spending a mindless hour playing Pike & Shot which I very much enjoy particularly since they added the 'Campaign' package featuring our period.

Uniform colours and accurate flags.. even better!

I always check...

I spent the Christmas break working on individual personality models for the key players in the 1688-1689 period. These feature in volume 1 of the new Ireland book.


I decided to be very disciplined and complete them all together so having painted 12 (Clarence has already done the 13th - Richard Hamilton), I have gotten them all to the pre finishing stage. By that I mean the figures are painted but...

Standard bearer or wealthy clansman

It's all my fault. For that I apologize. To not have hurried up and painted these lovely sculpts and share them is in of itself a serious misdemeanour.

Clan warrior

I commissioned these models from the talented Steve Shaw many moons ago. Steve works at his own pace and so the figures have trickled to me in batches over a protracted period. This perhaps contributed...

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stairwells just to be weathered. Basic shape of removable Armoury roof

Building this project has taken quite a lot of time. One of the advantages of such a protracted construction has been the frequent ideas which have come to me as the whole thing took shape. Experiments and triumphs have begat ideas. Leaving things not quite complete has allowed me to revisit and extend or...