Tag Archives: Horse & Musket

Colonial, Historical, Horse & Musket, Modern, Napoleonic, Renaissance, Tactica 2024, Vietnam War, WW2

Tactica 2024 – Historical

March 10, 2024 Subedai 12 Comments

This February I attended the Tactica wargames convention in Hamburg for the first time, after having been tempted with pictures of beautifully presented gaming tables for many years.

Situated in a community centre that suitably looked like a fort with moat from the outside, the atmosphere was quite different from typical shows held in sports or convention halls. Spread over two days, I opted for the Sunday which should have been the less busy. The location shots below are from early in the day – it did reach what I would call a capacity crowd later, spread out between the main trade and gaming halls plus a multitude of smaller gaming rooms containing about half a dozen tables each.

Since there was no program to easily reference the gaming tables as to who built them and what they depicted, I’ll leave my snapshots of some of them here without further comment.

More information and pictures can be found on the Tactica website, and the Tabletop Deutschland blog is promising a closer look at the displays in the near future, as they provide every year.

Historical, Horse & Musket, Salute 2023

Salute 2023 – Horse & Musket

May 13, 2023 Subedai 8 Comments

After Ancients, the second period of wargaming that usually makes tabletops buckle under the sheer weight of lead is Horse & Musket.

A number of prime examples of this were on show again at Salute 2023, starting with the Battle of Domstadtl 1758 by Ardhammer Group. The unusual aspect of this game were the flat figures, giving the game a suitably old school feel.

Crawley Wargames Club put on Ferocious Fighting at Ferozaphur 1845, fielding the East India Company against the Sikh Khalsa Army in 15mm scale.

Ferocious Fighting at Ferozaphur 1845 by Crawley Wargames Club

The Battle of Austerlitz 1805 was the theme for a 28mm game of Command and Colours by The Old Guard.

The Battle of Austerlitz 1805 by The Old Guard

Warlord Games presented their Pike and Shotte Epic Battles figures and terrain for the Thirty Years’ War and English Civil War of the 17th century.

Pike and Shotte Epic Battles by Warlord Games

The Wyre Forest Gamers and Roll a One blog brought the fruits of a lockdown project for charity, during which 50 wargamers each painted a base of 6mm figures to make up two imaginary 17th century armies.

17th century fictional battle by Wyre Forest Gamers

Hugo’s Heroes staged the Battle of Oravais 1808 in 6mm for a strategic view and in 28mm for the decisive clash of arms.

The Battle of Dirschau 1627 by The Friends of General Haig was fought over a battlefield with beautifully executed terrain features.

Stunning terrain recreating the frozen Thames and old London Bridge in the 1650s provided the backdrop for the London Wargaming Guild’s Cold Doings in London.

Cold Doings in London by London Wargaming Guild

The Death Ride of Gustavus Adolphus 1632 by The Officer’s Mess honed in on a specific course of events during the Battle of Lützen.

Last but not least and somewhat pushing my definition of the era, Too Fat Lardies launched their latest offering What a Cowboy!, a game of gunfights in the Old West.

Historical, Horse & Musket, Salute 2019

Salute 2019 – Horse & Musket

April 10, 2019 Subedai 7 Comments

On to the riot of colours and massed ranks of the age dominated by horses, muskets and black powder. There was a strong showing for this period again at Salute 2019, combining beautifully painted armies and terrain. Photos by myself and undeadhighelf.

One of the largest and best displays came courtesy of the Crewe & Nantwich Wargaming Club and the Battle of Aughrim 1691 during the Williamite Wars in Ireland.

The decisive battle of the Williamite Wars in Ireland — Battle of Aughrim by Crewe & Nantwich Wargaming Club at Salute 2019

The Friends of General Haig fought the Battle of Lützen 1632 between the Swedish and the Holy Roman Empire, which saw the death of Gustavus Adolfus (historically, not sure if he had a better fate during this recreation).

Battle between the Swedish and Holy Roman Empire — Battle of Lützen by Friends of General Haig at Salute 2019

The Old Guard fought a battle during the Napoleonic Wars, as one would expect from their name, using the Command & Colours rules set.

Battle in the Napoleonic Wars — Napoleonic battle by the Old Guard at Salute 2019

Dalauppror presented the Battle of Dänholm during the Siege of Stralsund 1807 which won this year’s Robert Bothwell Memorial Award for Best Historical Game at Salute.

The French landing to attack a fort held by the Swedish — Battle of Dänholm by Dalauppror at Salute 2019

More games from this period were fought by the Gravesend Gamers Guild, Tin Soldiers of Antwerp, Wargamer Poland and Loughton Strike Force.

Late English Civil War skirmish — Skirmish at Staplethorpe by Gravesend Gamers Guild at Salute 2019

Belgian revolutionaries versus Dutch troops in Brussels — Once Upon a Time There Was a Revolution by Tin Soldiers of Antwerp at Salute 2019

17th century battle using By Fire & Sword rules — Muskovites versus Ottomans by Wargamer Poland at Salute 2019

Napoleon's last victorious battle — Battle of Ligny by Loughton Strike Force at Salute 2019

Colonial, Historical, Horse & Musket, Napoleonic, Salute 2018

Salute 2018 – Horse & Musket to Colonial

April 20, 2018 Subedai 5 Comments

One of the outstanding gaming tables at Salute 2018 was built by Bill Gaskin & Friends – another highlight following 2016’s Battle of Wilhelmstadt. ‘Raid at Gaskin’s Plantation’ was set in 1761 and portrayed a fictional Spanish incursion into Florida.

Wooden ships in an estuary in tropical climate — Raid at Gaskin’s Plantation by Bill Gaskin & Friends

Soldiers lining up after having landed in row boats — Raid at Gaskin’s Plantation by Bill Gaskin & Friends

Units of soldiers marching inland under their banners from the river bank — Raid at Gaskin’s Plantation by Bill Gaskin & Friends

A cart and wagon outside a colonial house — Raid at Gaskin’s Plantation by Bill Gaskin & Friends

Red coated soldiers and irregulars marching through fields — Raid at Gaskin’s Plantation by Bill Gaskin & Friends

View from behind a watchtower over open woodland with scattered troops — Raid at Gaskin’s Plantation by Bill Gaskin & Friends

Some more atmospheric close up shots (no pun intended) by undeadhighelf.

Soldiers in blue uniforms shooting at soldiers in red behind a fence — Raid at Gaskin’s Plantation by Bill Gaskin & Friends

Three cannons belching smoke — Raid at Gaskin’s Plantation by Bill Gaskin & Friends

The League of Gentlemen Anti-Alchemists sent Garibaldi’s Redshirts to rescue a beautifully constructed convent in the year 1860.

Convent with courtyard and church tower overlooking a village — The Biscotti War by The League of Gentlemen Anti-Alchemists

Troops in mostly red uniform jackets advancing towards small buildings — The Biscotti War by The League of Gentlemen Anti-Alchemists

View into the convent's courtyard garden from above — The Biscotti War by The League of Gentlemen Anti-Alchemists

A rustic house with red roof tiles — The Biscotti War by The League of Gentlemen Anti-Alchemists

Dalauppror presented the Battle of Stäket, which took place on 13th August 1719 during the Great Northern War and pitched Russians versus Swedes. The scenario was played out using The Pikeman’s Lament set of rules.

Costal landscape with wooden ships on shore — Battle of Stäket by Dalauppror

A small settlement and tents set up along the shore — Battle of Stäket by Dalauppror

Troops amongst blazing buildings and firing from prepared positions on either side of a river — Battle of Stäket by Dalauppror

The hypothetical ‘Battle of Freeman’s Farm’ during the American War of Independence in 1777 was staged by the Essex Warriors.

Column of troops with a cannon passing by a farmhouse — Battle of Freeman’s Farm by Essex Warriors

Lines of troops advancing over green fields — Battle of Freeman’s Farm by Essex Warriors

Further games within the wider era ranged from Napoleonic to British colonials in India.

Units of soldiers on hex terrain surrounding a small town — Battle of Aspern-Essling 1809 by The Old Guard

Massed units of troops marching towards a house — Battle of Aspern-Essling 1809 by The Old Guard

An army storming over a hill — A Napoleonic battle fought using General d’Armee rules

City walls in arid terrain manned by soldiers — Indian Mutiny Escape by The Sons of Simon de Montford

Feudal Japan, Horse & Musket, Renaissance, Salute 2017

Salute 2017 – Horse & Musket

May 6, 2017 Subedai Leave a comment

Salute 2017 saw Dalauppror return with another great looking wargames table. Fort Mosquito was the semi-historical setting for a battle between Swedish and Dutch colonial forces in mid-17th century Delaware.

Wargames table showing a coastline with boats approaching — Fort Mosquito by Dalauppror

View from behind a sailing ship and row boats towards shore — Fort Mosquito by Dalauppror

A small redoubt next to a quay and Swedish troops — Fort Mosquito by Dalauppror

Two canoes with native warriors — Fort Mosquito by Dalauppror

A small band of irregular troops under trees — Fort Mosquito by Dalauppror

Troops moving through a hamlet with civilians and pigs — Fort Mosquito by Dalauppror

A coastal fort under attack from sea — Fort Mosquito by Dalauppror

Warlord Wargamers played the Battle of Inverlochy 1645 during the Scottish Civil War using the Pike & Shotte rules.

Two pike armed armies meeting along the coastline — Battle of Inverlochy by Warlord Wargamers

View from a castle over the camp and battlefield — Battle of Inverlochy by Warlord Wargamers

The Battle of Kalisz in 1706 during the Great Northern War was recreated in 6mm by Wyre Forest Wargames Club.

Countryside battlefield with two large armies lined up using small scale miniatures — Battle of Kalisz by Wyre Forest Wargames Club

Close up view of 6mm cavalry stands — Battle of Kalisz by Wyre Forest Wargames Club

The Art of War in the Age of the Condottieri was demonstrated by Real Time Wargames in the 10mm scale.

Encampment in green fields with regiments marching in the distance — The Art of War in the Age of the Condottieri by Real Time Wargames

Troops behind defensive earthworks waiting for an attack through a vineyard — The Art of War in the Age of the Condottieri by Real Time Wargames

Scimitar Games Club fought an engagement during the French and Indian War with Muskets and Tomahawks rules.

Trading post defender by British troops in a wooded area — French and Indian War by Scimitar Games Club

Column of troops moving through the forest — French and Indian War by Scimitar Games Club

Always a favourite are the Japanese tables by Oshiro Modelterrain. This year the setting was an assault on a keep, with naval forces landing and deploying their siege equipment.