"ECW vs Grand Alliance Eras" Topic

Without considering whether one period is, uniform-wise, nicer looking, more easily found as miniatures or more popular (As in more players/opponents).

Which period, ECW (From say Bishop's WAR tp end of the last Civil War) or Grand Alliance (Which includes all those other little rebellions in Britain and wars on the continent, is more versatile, more interesting tactically and has more support materials (Such as scenario books etc.) for campaigns, battles and what not?

And why do you think that?

Obviously Louis XIV.. so much more colour, variety, places…

Grand Alliance !

If you asked me 20 years ago, it would have been ECW by a country mile. There wasn't a whole lot of wargaming options for the Grand Alliance period (I know because I was looking), not much in terms of figure options and reference material for uniforms and rules. I think Barry Hilton and League of Augsburg group really helped push the period.

I love both periods of conflict but the late 17th century has troops in uniform but you still have a lot of color variety in the armies. The French were beginning to adopt grey but a lot of their foreign troops were in a cacophony or odd colors (browns, yellows, red, various shades of blue, etc). The Grand Alliance also has more potential combatants: Spanish old Tercios in yellows, greens and purples, Danes, Dutch, etc. Pikes were still on the battlefield but a much less prominent role. Because the bayonet wasn't as widespread as later periods, sometimes the lack of either could really leave an infantry unit vulnerable to cavalry.

Lastly, you could keep your conflict to just the British Isles and still have everyone mentioned above (sans Spanish) and you also have two of my favorite battles: Sedgemoor and Killiecrankie!

I love the late 17thC and it is gaining in support materials. Helion in particular has released quite a relevant (and wonderfully done) few titles.

That being said, taking part of your original question, the support materials for the ECW are enormous. Besides having more accessible info for building armies (organization, field strengths, uniforms, standards, etc.) we also have more material detailing the campaigns and battles. Whether wanting a skirmish, small action, siege, or field battle, an ECW gamer can find a historical scenario pretty easily.

For me, its the development of the army of the Eastern Association and its morphing into the new model army. East Anglia is one of the few areas that wasn't fought over, so the army's job was maintaining the borders from Royalist incursion and, free from continual fighting, training up into a formidable force.

Is the Grand Alliance more colorful? Maybe the officers are fancier but isnt the ordinary horse/foot rather the same as in the ECW?

definitely not

that was too the latter part of your question.
Yes to the former.

Agree with Jock.