Hi all

I have RFCM Regiment of Foot. Any other rules the Gentlemen here would recommend for larger battles - I'm not looking for the Osprey skirmish style - my figures are 10mm (Pendraken)(obviously!) - 12-15 on a 30mm base. (All Pike or all musket on a base)

For King and Parliament - all our gaming group really enjoys these rules for ECW

3 of your bases would make a unit. Which would let you play on a 10cm grid, which would give you a big battle on 6'x4' table. 

I'm impressed you've got so many figures on a 30mm square base that's the kind of numbers I get on a 40mm square one.

We use the Twilight of Divine Right rules for really large battles of this period.

The emphasis is on fighting historical battles in a 'normal' gaming session and with reasonable resources. Your 3 base units will be a brigade or something similar and most ECW battles will be playable on a 6 by 4 table.

There is an ECW scenario book and also others covering the TYW and 'Eastern' battles - https://www.wyrehistoricbooks.co.uk/home

I like Tilly's Very Bad Day (free from Steven's Balagan) here: https://balagan.info/download-tillys-very-bad-day-fast-play-rules-for-the-30-years-war#more-9578

You could try Pikemans Lament using 1 base = 1 Figure

Well, as a co-author, I would have to add my recommendation to For King and Parliament!  I have played Marston Moor with it on a number of occasions in 10mm, so I know it can handle the big games.

I have to throw my hat in the ring with Hwiccee's - Twilight of Divine Right is my favourite set of rules for 17th century Pike and Shot. Designed for large games it succeeds magnificently. I've been fascinated by the period since 'A' level history and never found a set that really worked for me until Twilight.
I use 80mm bases for a unit with 27 infantry on them. The system recommends each unit is two bases but my single based ones work absolutely without problem. I can fight most battles comfortably on a 5'x 3' table.

Hi

Another vote for For King and Parliament, excellent set of rules!

Cheers Paul

Yet another vote for For King & Parliament

They are a fast play set which players can pick up easily while having a lot of subtle interactions between different troop types, moral and experience levels

Our games are always exciting and generate a great narrative

For King and Parliament - is this a 'To The Strongest' variant?
No dice, card driven and gridded table?

Quote from: Gwydion on 09 August 2023, 12:26:00 AMFor King and Parliament - is this a 'To The Strongest' variant?
No dice, card driven and gridded table?

Yes that is correct on all counts.

Certainly my favourite C17 ruleset 

QuoteFor King and Parliament - is this a 'To The Strongest' variant?
No dice, card driven and gridded table?

Yes, that is correct. As I play solo 90% of the time it works well for me (and for the reasons PaulR gave).

For those unfamiliar with FK&P, "card driven" in this case means multiple sets of 1 (Ace) - 10 playing cards which are reshuffled at certain points. Numbered chits can be used as well. They add a different kind of decision making process since odds for a particular draw vary due to previous draws. Besides outcome resolution, cards used for unit activation remain attached to specific units throughout a turn and add a new variable for further activation.

Much depends on whether you are put off by a gridded tabletop (the grid can be made quite obtrusive). if you are, then Twilight of Divine Right is excellent and an enjoyable choice as well.

IMHO FK&P gives more detail at the regimental (battalia) level but TDR is likely easier to use for larger battles. FK&P was specifically designed for the W3K while TDR covers the first half (give or take) of the 17th c. This makes it slightly more generic (although with an excellent companion scenario book, By the Sword Divided, to cover the W3K) but consequently more flexible.

As both designers are represented in this thread they can (and will) correct any of my misstatements 

Although now old fashion, I grew up (in W3K gaming) with Partizan Press - Forlorn Hope, which provided many lovely games. Both FK&P and TDR are next generation (or more) and much cleaner in design and mechanics.

Quote from: pierre the shy on 09 August 2023, 02:19:06 AMYes that is correct on all counts.

Certainly my favourite C17 ruleset 

Oops - Sorry, Peter, didn't mean to ignore your post. FK&P is my favorite as well.
Above all else it captures the feel of the period brilliantly. It's ability to produce storylines rivals many skirmish game rules without losing the tactical aspects of the overall battlefield.

Hi

QuoteQuote from: Gwydion on Today at 12:26:00 AM
For King and Parliament - is this a 'To The Strongest' variant?
No dice, card driven and gridded table?

Yes that is correct on all counts.

Actually that is not quite correct, the rules are not 'card driven' as such; normal playing cards 'can' be used for exactly the same purposes as dice in other rules sets. In fact, with the group I play with you will not see a card on the table as we use dice instead (D10's as suggested in the rules themselves), after trying out playing cards and 'chits' for both FK&P and TtS!).

Apologies for being pedantic! 

And further apologies to d Guy as just seen your full post above!

Cheers Paul

Bloody Big Battles has an ECW variant on the BBB Groups.io

I've played it a couple of times using the 2 scenarios available, Dunbar & Inverkeithing, and they work fine