"Warlord Pike and shot rules" Topic

Hi guys. Looking to start gaming ECW and wondered if these rules were worth a play. They seem to be popular as are their black powder rules but I haven't played those either. I've played Bolt action and whilst entirely different, I didn't rate them at all. One thing I've read is that Pike and Shot are always separate units which means that both elements can't be kept together as one unit as they historically were. This can lead to pikemen of one battalia running away and leaving the muskets behind? I suppose this is plausible but it seems strange they would treat them as separate when their boxed sets contain both elements as you would expect.

Hi, we have played Pike and shot a few times for ECW and like them. However, we like other groups, treat a pike and shot unit as ONE unit for all purposes, unless a commander decides to drop off some shot or pike for a task on their own. the rules overall have a good feel for the period and the special rules, if used moderately, can enable accurate actual battle reproductions to be carried out. We have played out Wigan Lane, Nantwich and Stow on the Wold with acceptable results. Give them a go, my humble opinion is that they, along with Victory Without Quarter are the best ECW rules for 28mm

I have Pike and Shotte, but for ECW we play Victory without Quarter. Love it

Like P&S after playing a few games. The force that I'm finishing up is my favorite Poles, however. Haven't done ECW.

My research into ECW is not overly extensive, but I'm pretty sure from my reading of engagements such as Edgehill, both Newburys and Lostwithiel, the infantry did not always form up as pike with two wings of shot attached.

And I also thought that the Cornish foot attacked at Braddock Down and Stratton as a solid group of pikemen with only a few shot in support?

I have played P&S for the Italian WArs, and I think it works well. Apologies for sounding trite, but it is a kit set, rather than a straight set of rules. There are plenty of straight forward tweeks you could make to give the games your own "right feel".

the infantry did not always form up as pike with two wings of shot attached.

And I also thought that the Cornish foot attacked at Braddock Down and Stratton as a solid group of pikemen with only a few shot in support?

Some interesting discussion on foot formations here:
TMP link

The forthcoming ECW supplement for Warlord Game's Pike and Shot has an extensive range of period specific rules, and combined infantry formations are one of them. These rules will allow you to use divisions of pike and shot within the same unit

I have played P&S for the Italian WArs, and I think it works well. Apologies for sounding trite, but it is a kit set, rather than a straight set of rules. There are plenty of straight forward tweeks you could make to give the games your own "right feel".

Here is a quote from one of the authors of the ECW supplement:
link

Have a go at Regiment of Foote by Peter Pig.I just got their pdf for 20 can. Lots of good period rules and units are pike and shot. There are also different ratios of pike and shot for different armies and periods.

For my money DBR still offers the best ECW gaming. You can build in character and detail and the mechanics still allow a fast moving game. And the mechanics also allow pike and shot units to be modelled and played.

I'd go for 'to defy a king'.
1. Regiments are integral units
2. Swift mechanisms, great club games
3. authors understand period and this is reflected
War without enemy!

Pike and Shotte rules are our small group's preferred rule set for ECW. They may not be the most historically accurate set, but they give a good fun game with a minumum of fuss. We have played 1st Middlewich using 28mm figures, as well as several 15mm games. The command system brings in a nice element of chance, which seems appropriate for the period.
Definitely worth a go in my opinion.

Victory without Quarter is a great set of rules and free to boot.

ECW Rules from Warhammer…