An ECW game trying out a new scenario

While I have spent a fair amount of time at the tabletop lately, I have not neglected the painting side of the hobby. In the past few days, I've completed the first of several units aimed at expanding the armies in my English Civil War collection. I am planning to bolster both my Royalist and Parliamentarian armies by two additional infantry and cavalry units for each side, allowing for a total of six infantry and six cavalry units per army when required. This expansion has been enabled by the purchase of some reasonably priced second-hand figures, all of which I have already cleaned up and prepared for painting. Most of the figures belong to the Miniature Figures range, but there are a few Hinchliffe models scattered throughout. Although my current collection mainly consists of Hinchliffe figures, I am always happy to adding different ranges into the mix, especially if they are older model ranges which I generally find are easier to paint and look good with a gloss finish.

Miniature Figure cavalry with a couple of Hinchliffe figures, a converted dragoon holding a flag and trumpeter.

I have also made some additional casualty markers in yellow to add to the red and blue markers I had previously made (see here). Each colour represents different number of hits. I prefer the look of this cardboard casualties as an alternative to employing counters. The additional colour was suggested in comments (thank you) and helps to reduce the number needed to track hits which is up to 8 on my units. 

Casualty markers

A unit with 5 hits - yellow casualty (4) and blue casualty (1).

After painting a new unit I am always keen to get them onto the tabletop so it is time to set up a game for this weekend. I decided to use the Scenario #31 - ECHELONED ATTACK posted on the blog Sound Officers Call! The scenario has been created in the One-Hour Wargaming style and uses the battle of Battle of Aspern-Essling (1809) for inspiration.

The setting for my English Civil War game based upon the above scenario.

The vanguard of a Royalist force, under the leadership of Lord Cedric Harrington, a revered figure among Royalist ranks, has moved across the river Eldernorth into territory controlled by Parliament. To counter this unexpected move are Parliamentarian forces under the command of Colonel Charles Ashcroft, renowned for his steadfast dedication to the cause, earning him the admiration and respect of his comrades. Rather than opposing the Royalist crossing, Colonel Ashcroft has allowed them to establish a limited presence on the far bank. Meanwhile, he has hurriedly organised his dispersed forces to attack the Royalist bridgehead from various directions, aiming to isolate them from potential reinforcements and rout them.

Parliamentary units will arrive from points A, B, and C. Royalist reserves will arrive from point D.

Aware of nearby enemy forces Royalist units take up defensive positions between two villages.

So the scene is set for this weekend’s game.