A Coat of Steel

On January 23, 2017, our monthly Craft Day was devoted to a Wars of the Roses wargame using the rules of The Perfect Captain: "A Coat of Steel". This is now the 3rd game we have played, the first 2 really being training sessions. I have been working to increase the size of both Yorkist and Lancastrian retinues using Perry 28mm figures and most recently, the excellent figures sold under the Crusader brand. The figures were painted by Leuthen Studios and Carl Robson with some by myself. The numerous flags are mostly by CitadelSix.

Jeff and I took the Yorkist cause and Will and Steve the Lancastrian. The photos are either by myself or, where noted by Steve. His own Blog can be found at:

http://veteransergeant.wordpress.com

This game was designed to maximise our experience of A Coat of Steel. I had fabricated some time ago all of the cards, counters and other parts and sleeved them where possible. 

Each side formed the maximum of four Wards each. The Companies within each Ward were composed according to the rules. The rules were studied in advance under the guidance of Jeff who sent out various links and study hints during the days leading up to the game. 

Although set-up is quite time consuming, once battle is joined the game moves quickly. In this game a bold Yorkist attack with the vaward and mainward on the opposing Lancastrian vaward and rearward looked promising. The first Lancastrian arrow-storm of light flight-arrows fell short in the centre. The Yorkist mainward under Warwick closed quickly on the forces of Northumberland and Somerset. Unfortunately the early death of Warwick caused Army morale ("the Cause") to decline and the Yorkists took higher losses in the melee.

The Set-Up

Yorkists

Lancastrians

Drawing Chits to Determine Ward Activation

Battle Joined Between Warwick and Exeter (photo by Steve)

Henry Percy Holds the Right Center (photo by Steve)

Clifford (viewer right) Attacks a Weak Yorkist Vaward Under Fauconberg (viewer left)
(photo by Steve)

Lancastrian Vaward Under Pressure. Jeff's Archery Taking a Heavy Toll
(photo by Steve) 

Lancastrian Counter Attack (photo by Steve)

Lancastrian Archers (photo by Steve)

Percy Supported by French Mercenaries (photo by Steve)

Salisbury Brings up the Reserve Ward (photo by Steve)

The Yorkist Right Collapses (photo by Steve)

At close of play, a Lancastrian victory was declared. Henry VI looked on from a distance and mumbled his thanks for the good outcome.

Henry VI Looks on. Brocaded Coat of Royal Standard Bearer by Carl Robson
(photo by Steve)

A Coat of Steel is an unusual but excellent game system designed specifically for the Wars of the Roses and we recommend it highly.

A Coat of Steel: Our First Game

On June 9th, 2016, Will and I played our first full Wars of the Roses miniatures wargame using The Perfect Captain's rules: A Coat of Steel. Will fielded his excellent Lancastrian army painted by the very talented Martin Robson for his private collection. Will augmented his force (reluctantly) with a few units provided by myself. My own army of Yorkists was painted by a variety of artists, depending on the "faction".  The majority are painted by Leuthen Studios, Carl Robson and myself, the latter with a lot of help from Jeff Lower. The flags are by CitadelSix. The 28mm miniatures are all by Perry, both plastic and metal.

Will and I have been building our armies for several years. I fabricated all of the character cards and other "props" provided on line by The Perfect Captain. I cannot recommend The Captain (whoever he is/they are) highly enough. The artwork and the rules are outstanding. They produced a very colourful  game which really felt like late medieval English warfare.

We played one practice skirmish to learn the rules. The game was technically a Yorkist victory. However, I consider this another learning game. In particular, we did not get quite right the Company and Ward composition. The Wards should have had more, smaller Companies. We did not really need to have all four Wards for both sides. The forces were not evenly matched and my superior firepower from Retinue archers skewed the final result. However, it was a fun and instructive game.

Here are a few photos taken during various stages of the battle. Jeff decided to spend his time on this Craft Day painting some miniatures but opined that it was a good game! 

Earl of Salisbury Retinue Archers: Wars of the Roses

These retinue archers were painted for me by Leuthen Studios. The Salisbury badge on the archer's livery is by Citadel Six. I have a number of retinues under way to help build my Yorkist Wars of the Roses Army. The artist, Richard, has done a great job with these Perry metal 28mm figures. Perry has a box of plastic archers/billmen. However I think I prefer the sculpting and the poses of this metal set. The livery jackets they are wearing, along with the retinue billmen, are very useful for creating the Riding Retinues of the the various magnates from the white and the red rose.

Richard Neville, the Earl of Salisbury, was of course the father of Richard Neville, the Earl of Warwick and known to history as the Kingmaker. Salisbury was a very important early supporter of Richard Duke of York, supplying many retainers to fight at First St Albans. In addition to the badges, Geoff at Citadel Six has created excellent banners and flags for the Earl. Highly recommended.

Battle of Bosworth Field, 22nd August 1485,

Many years ago when visiting Bosworth Field, maybe mid 1980's, I purchased a print of the heraldry of the participants. It looks like it may have been copied from a water colour original by the artist Peter Russell, dated 1981. It may have been commissioned in anticipation of the 500th anniversary of the battle, and just as the battlefield restoration was in full swing with the new museum and visitor's center and flags on the battlefield.

Anyway, the Perry's new Wars of the Roses 28mm figures in plastic and metal have me thinking a lot about heraldry and badges of the principal participants. The print is somewhat fanciful with a mix of gothic armour and armour for the joust. However I thought this might be useful for modelers wishing to paint the tabards and coats of their figures in heraldry. The new Foot Knights set in particular allow this with several new models.

Anyway, with thanks to Peter Russell for this poster which I have kept on various walls for over 40 years, here are some photos of his work.

Battle of Bosworth: Death of King Richard III, 1485

I have decided to sell this 54mm vignette by Grenada. It is currently listed on eBay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/151384511909?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

This very rare set by Grenada of Russia features 2 mounted and 2 dismounted 54mm metal figures, designated P3208-P3209-P3210-P3211. The vignette shows the death of King Richard III in the closing moments of the Battle of Bosworth, 1485, during the Wars of the Roses.

The animation and painting of the figures is outstanding. 

This is Russian craftsmanship at its best.