"Why I game What I Game" Topic

Musings on the various eras in gaming and why some hold my interest.

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"Horse and Musket
This era screams War of the Roses to me. Pistol armed cavalry charging and wheeling while mixed units of muskets and pike marched to and fro on the battlefields. "

Er … I think you mean the English Civil War rather than the Wars of the Roses?

You've got mixed up with Pike and Shot, Wars of the Roses and The English Civil War.

The Wars of the Roses are early Middle Ages. Think long bow, men at arms and bill men. Yorkists v's Lancastrians. Mid C15th.

The Roundheads and Cavaliers belong in the English Civil Wars which are very much in the Pike and Shot era. There were three civil wars fought between 1642 – 1648.

Actually, 1642 – 1651!

Yes of course – Worcester!

Interesting musings – one of my oldest and most consistent gaming periods is Seven Years War, because there is just something about a powdered wig and a nicely tipped tricorne!

I have a similar listing of all the periods I'd like to do, and why I'd like to do them. Mine differs in that there is a certain element of looking back, thinking I should have done this or that, and realizing I have limited time to do whatever periods I still want to get done. Yes, I suspect I'm a bit older than Borderguy190.

Grelber

The battlefield is a puzzle to be solved. Wargames are a game of chess played with toy soldiers. It is the art of war in theory without all the harsh reality. Wargamers are would be generals who focus on strategy and tactics, but not so much on the more mundane logistics and administration. It is an exercise of the mind, a competition, an analysis of probabilities, and a salute to history. At least that is how I see it.

Actually, the Wars of the Roses would be late Middle Ages. They began after the end of the Hundred Years War. The pike and shore era would probably start at the very end of the 15th century.

For me, the use of gunpowder weapons is one the things that separates the late Middle Ages from the early Renaissance. There were some early bombards present at some of the WOTR battles.

I consider the WOTR to be a transition period between the late Middle Ages and the Renaissance period. Just my humble opinion.

I game everything….Historical…it;s hard to get my group to do so..,so I end up painting both sides alot.

What puzzles me is why there are periods or ‘genres' that don't interest me at all. Oh, I'll play them if someone else provides, but I won't collect and paint them. I'm a gamer, so it shouldn't make a difference – except it does. So, no chariot armies for me; no interest in Renaissance, English Civil War, Thirty Years' War, Colonial, or modern. In a related manner, re-enactment leaves me cold. I have no idea why I have these gaming blindspots!?

I'll game just about anything, and have figures from most eras, but unfortunately, I'm just about the only painter in my groups, so I have to paint everything. I'm not a very fast painter – perhaps I need to try the Army Painter method, but that'll have to wait another day. An old dog & his tricks…
Woo-hoo, the 1st of my Sassanids arrived today (to oppose my Late Romans), and they will be getting a lick of paint during this CV19 period.

For me, the use of gunpowder weapons is one the things that separates the late Middle Ages from the early Renaissance. There were some early bombards present at some of the WOTR battles.

Handguns were used at 2nd St Albans in 1461.

See Majorb and Timmo UK, I don't even know the proper terms or eras! And yes, I do think I meant the ECW…

I appreciate pointing out my weakness in knowledge, I shall endeavor to expand my learning. It is somewhat a fault in my education. I can honestly say I don't recall ever hearing about any of the European Wars outside of the 2 big ones in all the history classes I took.

Thanks for the comments. I find it interesting how people get into eras, or why they game this war, but that one. I will play most anything, the main reason I attend cons is to be exposed to various eras with someone else's minis.

Additionally, if any of you fine chaps have a few good books on these particular eras, by all means share!

Would The Battle of the Dunes fall within the Pike and Shore era, Nick?

Henry Martini for what its worth I would say definately, most armies still using Pike u to 1690 but not all, the Swedes used them up to 1720 but they were a particular exception.

Interesting to see what grabs different folks, I too have blind spots, not interest in Napoleonice for the most part, but the retreat from Moscow is really interesting. I think its a visial thing for me. The Mexican adventure and the American Civil War took place at the same time with similar weapons, love the idea of oen but have no interest at all int he other. Cant explain it really other than the aesthetics.

Mmmm… I think you might possibly have missed the point of my little quip, Roger :- ).

Borderguy
If you need trees for your F&I games, I know a young lady who can hook you up with them. She should be at Historicon with lots of trees.

The Mesoamerican wars are also somewhat interesting, but not enough that I will even game them. To me, there just isn't enough known about Aztec and Mayan armies to spike my desire to buy and paint minis for that area.

So true, even though this is one of my favourite areas of interest. But this conflict isn't really Ancients. Cortez captured Tenochtitlan in 1521.