sails to the Skeleton Seas, and finds inspiration as she goes.
Furioso 15mm Renaissance Starter Armies & Starter Scenario
Welcome to Alternative Armies' 15mm scale historical news and releases for July 2017. We have some great things for the new Furioso wargame rules for the 16th Century, written by Steve Danes. Focused on Renaissance warfare in the 16th Century, it is a simple to learn but tactically challenging set of rules, good for any scale from 6mm to 28mm with our focus on 15mm. We have two new 250-point starter armies, each with all the miniatures you need, plus free element bases to give you a French or Italian army. We have packs of Furioso-size element bases for your miniatures. We have a mega-starter bundle which includes two 250-point armies with over £19.00 GBP of free element bases, and the rulebook included free (£10.00 GBP saving) too! Lastly, for free download, a starter scenario for the game, written by the author. All below.
Furioso is a set of wargames rules that covers European warfare in the 16th Century. The rules allow players to fight large scale land battles with a simple to use and enjoyable gaming system. Wargaming the 16th Century is an attractive prospect for players, it is an interesting and colorful period, full of garishly dressed soldiers and colorful and exotic troop types. The period also shows signs of the beginnings of modern warfare with the introduction of the firearm and the tactical developments that went with it. Armies struggled to find a way of incorporating this new technology into traditional practices. Much time was spent experimenting and introducing new battlefield tactics – and yet, the tried and tested methods of medieval warfare continued to produce spectacular victories. Few could stand against the awesome charge of the French Gendarmes nor face the ferocious onslaught of the Swiss pike-square. Despite this, warfare did evolve during this period. The arquebus and musket replaced the bow and crossbow, knights began to put aside their lances and take up the pistol. Already the nature of pike & shot warfare that would dominate the 17th Century was already beginning to take shape by the end of this period. Furioso is designed to re-create large scale battles such as those fought at Fornovo, Cerignola, Bicocca, Dreux, Moncontour, Clontibret, Yellow Ford, Ivry – to name but a few! Furioso can be fought using any scale figures from 6mm to 28mm.
The rules themselves have a very simple system at their heart. If you want to do anything, you need to roll a dice, a score of five or more will achieve success, a score of four or lower means failure. Modifiers are applied, but this is to the number of dice rolled to achieve success and not the score required. Success will therefore be measured by the number of successful scores achieved. At the start of a turn, players will roll one Initiative die for each unit, better quality and motivated units will receive a bonus to this score, poor quality unit's a deduction. Units will be activated in sequence with the highest scoring unit going first followed buy lower scoring units – and units that score zero or less won't be doing anything! This means that play will pass from unit to unit rather than one side, activating all of their units and then the opposing side activating all of theirs. The result of this kind of mechanic means that players will have less control over their overall force and may find it difficult to execute a strategic plan – but in a period when many commanders would be personally leading their troops in to battle and fighting sword in hand in the front rank – that seems like an entirely realistic ambition for the period.
Also included in the rules is a series of random events of Hazards that cover such situations as Swiss troops striking over pay, raiding cavalry stealing an armies baggage and a whole host of other misfortunes that commonly befell armies of the period. To the rear of the rules are a number of army lists for all of the major armies of the period. Also included are unit cards for all of these units which you can copy for use. These will be used during the deployment phase of the battle so that opposing armies will have only a limited idea of their opponents composition and dispositions. And finally, we hope you enjoy playing these rules. Our intention with this game is to provide a fun and entertaining way to explore the tactical changes and challenges of the period with a healthy dose of period-feel thrown in for good measure. We think this has been achieved – and we hope you agree too!
– S. Danes 2017
- FUR01 – Furioso Rulebook
- You can get the 52-page rulebook for Furioso in print, and as a digital download. Containing all the mechanics and army lists you need for this fun and tactical wargame title set in the 16th Century. Save 20% with the digital download version over the print version. Written by Steve Danes.
- FURA00 – Furioso Mega-Starter Bundle (two armies, free bases, free book)
- Our mega-value starter bundle for Furioso gives you two entire 250-point starter armies, as well as their element bases, and a copy of the rulebook. The resin element bases (68 resin bases worth over £19.00 GBP) are supplied for free, as is the Furioso book (worth £10.00 GBP) – meaning, you are paying for the two starter armies which total 278 pieces in 15mm scale white-metal. This is amazing value to get you into the game. The supplied armies are FURA01 French Army and FURA02 Italian Army, both of the Great Italian Wars of the early 16th Century. For additional information on contents, please refer to the army codes on our website. Supplied with assembly instructions. Total Value: £126.30 GBP. Price: £96.40 GBP. You can also get this bundle pro-painted and based, ready for immediate use.
- FURA01 – French Army of the Great Italian Wars (250 Point Starter Army)
- This pre-made army for use with Furioso contains all you need to field a 250-point starter army for the French during the Great Italian Wars of the early 16th Century. Supplied with 118 pieces in 15mm scale white-metal, consisting of infantry, cavalry and artillery, there is also an included army list for assembly. Also included are 30 element bases (40mm by 30mm and 40mm by 20mm) for the army, worth over £8.00 GBP, for free! All the included miniatures are from the Altuos 15mm range. Total Value: £49.10 GBP. Price: £41.00 GBP. You can also get this army pro-painted and based, ready for immediate use.
- FURA02 – Italian Army of the Great Italian Wars (250-Point Starter Army)
- This pre-made army for use with Furioso contains all you need to field a 250-point starter army for the Italians during the Great Italian Wars of the early 16th Century. Supplied with 160 pieces in 15mm scale white-metal, consisting of infantry, cavalry and artillery, there is also an included army list for assembly. Also included are 38 element bases (40mm by 30mm and 40mm by 20mm) for the army, worth over £11.00 GBP, for free! All the included miniatures are from the Altuos 15mm range. Total Value: £67.20 GBP. Price: £55.40 GBP. You can also get this army pro-painted and based, ready for immediate use.
- FURB01 – Furioso Bases: 40mm by 20mm
- For use with Furioso, this pack of eight high quality, grey-tone resin element bases gives you 40mm by 20mm size for your armies. Price: £2.00 GBP.
A free starter scenario for Furioso, written by Steve Danes. Download it from our Dropbox by clicking here. The two starter armies of French and Italian troops face off around a homestead where an abandoned Turtle Car lays for the taking. This short scenario will get you into the game and goes excellently with the new 250-point armies.
