"Irregular Wars - Random Questions" Topic

Have had these rules since the first free edition and have always had them on the back burner. I currently own version 1.5 and have now put the game on a front burner. I'm working my way through a 28mm Royal English force (first experiment with AP Quickshade Ink, but that's another story) and I've come up with some general questions after reading the rules again.

1. Is there any form of group movement? I'm just thinking of wheeling adjacent units. So, if they have to wheel and advance separately their formation will be lost.

2. The -1 resolve for suffering effective fire… is it cumulative? i.e. if two units successfully shoot an enemy in the same shooting phase, does the enemy suffer -2 Resolve?

3. Are the random numbers of stands still used in version 2? We really like that but I'm just curious if it changed.

4. If a unit charges into contact with the enemy but, the free 1" shifting move isn't enough to line up edge to edge, what happens? Does the unit count as being in melee or not?

My plan is to buy version 2.0 AFTER my painting is finished. I need to set out rewards for myself to keep me painting :)

I have brought your questions to the attention of the author for you.

Meanwhile version 2.0 is available in a multitude of formats. Well two really. :-)

--
Martin Stephenson
Vexillia: Wargames Miniatures & Accessories
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Hi 00Jet00,

1. There is no group movement as such, but so long as the units are within command range and no unit moves faster than its movement rate, there shouldn't be a problem keeping your lads in a solid line.

2. The -1 resolve for suffering effective fire is certainly cumulative. i.e. if two units successfully shoot an enemy in the same shooting phase, the unit suffers -2 Resolve.

3. Yes, the army lists keep the randomised recruitment mechanic in the 2nd edition, although points values are also now included for players who'd prefer a more conventional approach.

4. Strictly speaking a unit still needs to be in contact along one entire base edge, but 2nd edition includes more leeway to get your units into combat.

Cheers and good luck. It'd be great to see some progress shots as you get your army completed.

Nic

Hi Nic,

Thanks for the timely response.

1. OK. I was picturing three companies of pikes, for instance, all adjacent and flush to the front, wheeling as a large group of three to face an enemy. Technically, the company farthest away from the pivot point is moving in a very organic arc that wouldn't fall into straight ahead, wheeling, or pivoting (which I believe are the only three types of movement in the game). However, my gaming group will be more than happy to apply these three types of movement to larger groups in the interest of keeping the game moving and keeping formations intact.

2. Excellent. I'm suddenly afraid of the Swedish army.

3. Good. In this game in particular, I feel that the random numbers of optional companies really adds to the feel of the period. Points are for wimps. ;)

4. I will figure out these details more clearly when I get version 2.

I'll aim to take a progress shots when the four compulsory units are finished.

So, I broke down and bought IW 2.0… my compulsory companies are almost finished… I deserve it!

Anyway, I was somewhat distraught to see that the compulsory companies I'm painting are no longer listed in the Royal English battle list anymore. It only shows Billmen and Demi-Lancers. Is that an oversight or was it by design? I assume the reference in the text to changing over to pike and shot after 1603 makes me think it was an oversight. If that's the case, is there a corrected version of the list in circulation? Either way, I have two bases of cuirassiers and two bases of pikes almost finished.

Also, just to clarify the version 2.0 movement distances. Using 6cm square bases, 1u = 6 cm? In other words, would a unit of light horse be able to move 36cm in one move? That seems fast. Just curious.

Thanks,
Jason

No, it wasn't an oversight so much as restricting the list (nominally) to pre-1603 – it is designed for the Tudor wars in Ireland and along the Scottish Borders after all.

Pike are still present as optional units. If your cuirassiers are lance armed you could sub them for demi-lancers, or you could just run them as cuirassiers regardless.

If you choose the latter, you could run them as Imperialist cuirassiers (p.54), or Spanish Herreruelos (p.46). Up to you.

Yes, using 60mm bases, a unit of light horse can move 36cm, but remember that the table at that scale should be about 4' across, so still plenty of space to maneuver.

OK, sounds good to me. I actually did some hacking, sawing and filing to outfit my cuirassiers with lances as well as to remove fire-arms. That takes care of the demi-lancer companies.

As to the pike I've painted, they will be, as you suggested, optional companies. I'm in the process of trying to figure out what's out there in terms of Elizabethan-style billmen.

My opponents are in the throws of painting a Spanish Expeditionary Force and a Lowland Scots Force. We are really looking forward to trying out version 2.0. If anyone has any advice on how to purchase/represent billmen for my Royalist English force, please feel free to share.

Wargames Foundry pikemen appear to have Elizabethan pikemen with separate pikes which would serve if you could source some 28mm bills. link

The Assault Group perhaps? link

Pendraken used to do a range of 28mm Elizabethans too, but they have moved off their main site and I'm not sure where to find them.

Well, I've found a way to move forward with this project. I have gone ahead and converted some cuirassier models by adding some lances. In fact, these two companies are almost painted.

As for the bills, I've taken some plastic and metal Warlord Games pike bodies and cut down some pikes, and added some billmen arms from the Perry plastic set. Over all, I think the two units will turn out nicely when painted and they will match up visually with the time period of the rest of the army.

I am half-way through finishing the painting on two companies of militia pike and I have two companies of light horse primed.

My Spanish Expeditionary Force opponent has finished four companies of Continental Volunteers and two companies of Tercio Shot. I believe he is into the thick of his Tercio Pike now. Our plan is to try a couple of test games when we each have our four compulsory companies and one optional company. I shall report in, hopefully with photos.

Looking forward to it!