The League of Augsburg

Héros close in during the heat of the action!

Although co-architect of the attack on the stranded English slaver Temperance, Rupert was prevented from playing anything but the role of spectator on account of a strong north westerly wind. Thomas Darbyshire, master of the grounded vessel, used his long experience at sea to make the best of a difficult position. Lying high and dry in an extremely...

Off the Bakendik Bolong, Rupert attacks the stranded Temperance.

Eight days (15 turns) into the campaign, we are at the 25% mark. It has been an eventful journey so far and the Royalists are no further than four miles from the mouth of the Gambia River. They have had two encounters with Berber pirates coming off worst in the first encounter and being mere spectators to a French victory in the...

I would not normally review a work of fiction on the blog but am happy to make an exception for Robert Harris's latest novel Act of Oblivion. It is a historo-fiction set in 'my period' as the purchaser, Mrs H described it. I have little time for fiction these days with other overlapping commitments, but decided to make the effort and consume this as quickly as possible. I like Harris's writing...

The campaign has a full and detailed narrative which accompanies the turn by turn mechanics. All of the narrative is based on events which happen in the table-top wargames combined with the role-play conversations and the umpire controlled activities. 

So far, the narrative runs to over 5,000 words for the first ten turns. Below is an extract from 5th March, five days into the campaign and it...

We've recently begun a campaign recreating the adventures of the itinerant Royalist Fleet on the West African coast in 1652. Under Prinz Ruprecht von der Pfalz known more commonly in Engish as Rupert of the Rhine, a small battered squadron 'privateered' between the Islas Cabo Verde and The Gambia for some weeks. 

Campaign Map

I have manipulated a few facts but nothing too outrageous. We have...

 This one has been a long time coming because I rearranged the content of the ECW 4Play packs as more data and scenario opportunities evolved. Seas Ablaze! 4Play pack 036 is now in the shop.

This pack features Prince Rupert in the first scenario based upon the near miss off the North Foreland in August 1648 when the fleet was led by the future king - Charles, Prince of Wales and Rupert himself was...

First release in the series on Prince Rupert's campaigns

I have enjoyed reading and exploring the exploits of a quite remarkable figure form the 17th century. Not the fairly well trodden but brief path of his adventures in the land campaigns of the War of Three Kingdoms between 1640-1647, but the far more sustained period of his contribution to history. His activities as a naval commander between...

Ark Royal packs will be priced at £21.50 with a set of ratlines @ £2.50 per pack. The ratline/shroud sets are optional and will cover all the ships in a pack where relevant. Some smaller ships do not require ratlines.

There are squadron deals availalbe covering the 18 listed options below with pack numbers and quantities noted. A squadron deal has three packs and will cost £56 and thus offer a...

Who captured whom?

It does what it says on the tin. A smooth walk through of boarding and capturing an enemy ship:

Assurance versus Constant Reformation 1649

 I am very pleased to announce the release of the first 4Play scenario packs specifically designed for Mad for War. There are 16 packs which will be released over the next few weeks but the first batch of four is a nice cross section of some of the different conflicts of the late 17th century which will be covered by the series.

The Commonwealth Fleet

Action between Clan Chattan and Keppoch Macdonalds - from Crann Tara

I have been working on new 4Play scenarios including a dozen naval packs to support Mad for War. Here is a peek at what in coming up. 

CRANN TARA - Clan warfare between 1660 and 1690.

This one fascinated me after Dave sent me some information on little known clan actions which took place during my core period of interest. This pack...

 I have just uploaded a new video running through the game turn sequence of Mad for War to YouTube. 

Actually starting to see some games being played by groups now, so that's really nice.

Working on some Swedish ships right now for the Scanian War. More of that soon. 

Meanwhile here is the link;