War of the Roses (project)

Last year, the revised board game Kingmaker was purchased with a plan to combine a campaign system with DBA battles, however, other priorities postponed the start of that project.  It was during recent paint projects I began listening to a number of audio-books centred on the War of the Roses that interest for the project was rekindled. The first step was taken, a complete inventory of the late medieval collection and a list of items that would need construction. 

The goal is to build six-double size armies, beginning with the Yorkist and Lancastrians. A similar project for the Muslim collection was done, taking six months to complete. This project should require less time to as no figures need purchasing. There will be rebasing and repainting, but that is to be expected.

Lancaster and York

Longbowmen and billmen account for two-thirds of each force and these will be handled first. They will eventually have a generic look with a sprinkling of figures in livery placed on each element. Generals (mounted and on foot), currours and artillery will follow and each division (vanguard, main and rear) will be recognisable by their painted flags and banners. These will be made interchangeable, offering nobles an equal opportunity for shame and fortune.

Optional elements and baggage   

The DBMM lists have proven a useful in identifying when and for which side the Welsh, levies, handgunners, border staves and the Irish were aligned. The final step is the addition of mobile baggage, needed for the collision course option.

More terrain features

Enclosures are completed and can be viewed in a previous post though more may be added. Further construction projects will remake plough, more road sections to include road junctions and river crossings. I do have thatched roof buildings, but more structures will be made, such as town houses, inns, bridges and a watermill.

The other armies

Of the 24 armies in the collection, half will be affected by the project, the others are eastern armies and quite distinct. After completing the Yorkist and Lancastrian armies, the following are listed in their priority:

French Ordonnance (IV/82b)

German Medieval (IV/13d)

Scots Common (IV/16)

Italian Condotta (IV/61)

The above exist as standard size commands, but all will be increased with an additional command and in the case of the French and German armies, will need upgrading to a later sub-list. The French Ordonnance “a” sub-list will be remade to the “b” sub-list, freeing 24 longbowmen for the English.