This week the post finally delivered a secondhand copy of "With Pike and Musket" by C.F. Wesencraft to add to my growing collection of wargaming books. I have been keeping an eye out for this particular book for a while after having read some good reviews. At first glance the book contents are meeting my expectations and covers:
- The weapons
- Historical organisation
- Preparation (setting up tabletop terrain and figures)
- The weather (and construction of a weather gauge)
- Game rules
- Battle reconstructions (some 27 battles from mid-1500's to mid-1600's)
- Summary of the rules of play
It is highly likely my ECW armies will be on the tabletop this weekend.
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| The latest secondhand book purchase. |
A couple of months ago I decided to try my hand again at writing my second solo wargaming article for Lone Warrior (the journal of the Solo Wargamers Association). My previous article was about setting up a commando raid using some simple rules which determined the defender's actions, which built upon ideas from the St Nazaire game a played in January 2020 (here) - this seems a long time ago now. This time the short article published in LW216 was about using chance cards decks to represent army characteristics and campaign situations. Some of the chance card ideas I have been testing out in the 2nd Punic War campaign which I am currently playing.
That's a great book Peter and I hope you enjoy reading it too.
ReplyDeleteThanks. I have already started reading.
DeleteGood old Charlie Wesencraft he certainly knows his stuff. Me and my son went to see him give a talk on 1066 to the Prudhoe Historical Society a few years back and after the talk we got to talk wargaming with him.
ReplyDeleteHe is a very nice man to talk to and his enthusiasm for the hobby is immense. His ideas in Practical Wargaming were way ahead of his time.
I feel very privileged to have met him.
What a great memory.
DeleteLooking forward to some more ECW action - my 25mm ECW armies are getting their first run-out since completion in few weeks time. Mus go back and have a look at your rules.
ReplyDeleteWhat battles are featured in Charlie's book?
Hi Rob, the list is too long for these comments I will send through a picture of the contents.
DeleteThanks that was enough to convince me - I am now waiting on my John Curry reprint.
DeleteI have the reprint released by John Curry's History of Wargaming project. It is a super book.
ReplyDeleteHe has a very nice writing style and the detail always seems pitched at the right level.
DeleteOne of my favorites and a classic work.
ReplyDeleteAs I am reading it I can understand why it would be a favourite.
DeleteI love that book. In my opinion an old school classic. I have the edition with the same dust jacket, plus a recent reprint I got in a job lot of ECW books earlier this year.
ReplyDeleteI’m sure you’ll enjoy it.
Thanks, I am enjoying it.
DeleteI've actually had the pleasure of gaming against Charlie Wesencraft many years ago (SYW rather than pike & shot).
ReplyDeleteIt was a huge game using a set of rules that I'd written. I ended up being drawn against him on the flank, commanding cavalry. After some spectacular success in overunning an artillery battery limbered up that was left uncovered, I attacked Charlie's first line (Cuirassier v dragoons) winning the melee and routing or pushing back all his units.
Alas, my rules included a risk to generals when in radius of a melee (my brigades were organised with a unit in the front line and one in the rear - Charlie's were organised with whole brigades in first or second lines) - Charlie promptly threw a staggering number of high scores, killing off three of my four brigadiers!
I was left unable to exploit my success until new commanders replaced those killed.
Clearly Napoleon would have approved of Charlie!
Neil
How enjoyable not just to meet but also play a wargame with the book's author.
DeleteThat's an excellent book, Peter (I can see it on my bookshelf as I type).
ReplyDeleteAnd your Lone Warrior article was very good indeed...a great issue all round, I thought. If you get the burning urge to write some more I'm sure they'd be much appreciated. Your solo gaming and blog are inspirational (just coming to the conclusion of a second snakes and ladders campaign here, sparked by your blog posts....).
Having read the book I can understand why it is rated so highly by reviewers. Thank you for your kind words. I will have another go at writing a LW article, although I find I am slow in the writing process and organising my thoughts.
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