With the release of The Devil’s Playground our first supplement for Pike & Shotte we have taken the opportunity to re-box our plastic infantry and cavalry so they can be used as either Thirty Years War Swedish or Imperialists, or English Civil War Royalist or Parliamentarians as the boxes contain all the relevant standards.
Pike & Shotte Infantry Regiment plastic boxed set
The 17th Century saw the assembling of large regular armies equipped and supplied by the state. Many units, though not all, were uniformly attired for the first time, and formed into companies and regiments then finally brigaded together into tercios or battalias.
Formations on the field could vary enormously as the situation dictated. On paper, a regiment might have ten companies of 100 men each but in reality, due to sickness, casualties and lack of money, regiments could be much smaller. The norm was to have two equal ‘wings’ of musketeers on the flanks and a central block of pikemen armed with sharp 16 foot ash pikes. While the slow-firing musketeers whittled down the enemy, the pikes’ primary role was to provide them with protection from cavalry.
This box contains all you need to field a pike and musket-armed regiment of the period, be it for the Thirty Years War that ravaged Europe or the English Civil Wars where Royalist battled Parliament for control of the country.
Pike & Shotte Cavalry plastic boxed set
The 17th Century saw large standing armies in action all over Europe, in numbers previously undreamt of, and huge numbers of infantry, artillery and cavalry were raised. The cavalry of the period were mostly of the heavy variety; big horses that could barge other enemy cavalry and intimidate infantry, while carrying a determined rider protected by, at the very least, a back-and-breastplate, and usually a sturdy helmet.
The cavalryman’s offensive arms started with at least one pistol, a sword or pole axe for close-quarter fighting, and possibly a carbine. Cavalry were formed into squadrons, regiments and finally into brigades and were usually employed en masse in a cavalry wing on either flank of the infantry line.
If a cavalry wing routed its opponents, that left it free to attack the flanks of engaged enemy infantry. This could be a battle winner, unless the jubilant horsemen galloped over the hills and far away in pursuit of plunder!
These models can built to represent Royalist or Parliamentarian cavalry in the English Civil Wars or to be fielded as one of the many and varied regiments during the Thirty Years War.
Both of these box sets are ideal to be used as regiments along with our very first Pike & Shotte supplement covers the devastating Thirty Years War:
The Thirty Years War was a series of conflicts that ravaged large areas of Europe, especially the German provinces, from 1618 to 1648. These conflicts centred on the Habsburg Holy Roman Emperors, Ferdinand II and Ferdinand III, and their opponents. Although viewed by many as a religious war between Catholic and Protestant nations, its roots and causes were also politically motivated. The combination of religious fervour and the political ambition of the European superpowers were to pit vast armies and mighty leaders against each other. The devastation caused by decades of fighting had truly turned Europe into the ‘Devil’s Playground’.
This supplement for Pike & Shotte describes the history, armies, personalities and battles of the Thirty Years War. Included are scenarios based on some of the famous battles and army lists for the main protagonists.
As with all rulebooks and supplements purchased directly from Warlord you receive a free exclusive miniature and with The Devils Playground it is the master swordsman Count von Hosenschlange.
If you are new to wargaming in this era you will need a copy of the Pike & Shotte rulebook which is our rulebook covering the Italian Wars, Tudor Wars, Thirty Years War, English Civil Wars, and The War of the Grand Alliance this 208 page hardback book is chock full of exquisitely painted miniatures, army lists and battle report.
The format of the inner pages will be a familiar one to those who already own our Hail Caesar and Black Powder rulebooks – loads of eye candy to back up the rules! With 208 pages in the book you’ll be kept busy for some time digesting the rules or drooling over the photographs or beautifully painted miniatures.
With every copy of Pike & Shotte rulebook bought directly from us you’ll receive this beautiful exclusive sculpt of the figure on the front of the book – Hugo Raleigh, ensign of the King’s Guard!
Sculpted by our own Wojtek, Hugo Raleigh is supplied with a steel baner pole and full-colour paper King’s Guard colours. This will allow you the freedom to add him into your army as any ensign, or easily converted into an officer or standard bearer.
You can only get your hands on this free miniature when you place an order for the Pike & Shotte rulebook directly from us at Warlord Games (via our webstore, over the phone, by letter, at shows or by dropping in to Warlord HQ).
Dan Hewitson
Josh Berridge