"Calliano 1487 - Basic Impetus scenario" Topic

Calliano 1487 (Imperial vs Venetian) is the first of a series of scenarios for Basic Impetus that will be put online on the new Impetus forum (http://impetus.forumsland.com/)

Direct link to scenario: link

Direct link to Basic Impetus rules (free to download) at dadiepiombo.com/basic2.html

Hi

I followed your link with interest to view your scenario, even though I don't play Basic Impetus.

I was intrigued by your deployment, as the only English translation of this battle has the Venetians attacking across the rive, and Sanseverino dieing in the Imperialist counter attack.

Is your choice to deploy both sides on the same side of the river based on a different interpretation of the battle, or did you skip the river bit as making the game too tough?

Phil

Yes the Venetians had crossed the river leaving some troops behind but before the battle. They started the crossing at around 2am.

The Imperial (who realized the Venetian had crossed the river at dawn) attacked the Venetians but this was at 1pm, after 9 Kms of march.

The battle was a much confused affair. Venetians had troops spread all around (most of its militia was sacking the vilages, they though Imperials were retiring).
The first fight (the one at 1pm) took some Venetian cavalry by surprise while they were plundering.
The battle was a continuos attack and counter attack by troops.

The scenario gives a somewhat simplified deployment. Anyway the battle was fought all on the east side of the river. At some point Ventians asked for reinforcement to the troops on the west side of the river but with no effect as the boat bridge (used the night to cross) was dismantled when the Imperial were winning the day to avoid they could advance further.

Where did you get the OB?

I'm somewhat shocked at this early use of Arq. I thought most missile troops at this time would be xbow. I also wonder at the pike rating for the Italians (Venetians).

Thanks though for the great scenario. Italian Wars stuff is hard to find. If only some good info existed on Seminara!

Joe Collins

I suspect that there is far greater information out there for those that speak Italian and Spanish, or even German.

Thanks for the update.

The other down side of their being little written about this period in English, is the assessment of troop capabilities and proportions based on such limited material.

I'm thinking of the incompetents that wrote some of the DBR lists when I write this.

I'm somewhat shocked at this early use of Arq. I thought most missile troops at this time would be xbow.

Italians adopted the arquebus earlier than many others. For example, the Venetian militias in Friuli had about 25% of their soldiers armed with the arquebus by the 1470s. (Ref: Military Organization of a Renaissance State by Mallette & Hale).