Italian Wars - Turn 2

The planned attack by Fiorento against San Barzano was called off due to both armies becoming lost on the march and so we fought 3 games; Roccamurata vs West Gallomaga, Castellombra vs Virezza and Montigrifone vs Taverno. The scenario was "Capture the land" was players scoring points for holding upto three strategic objectives on the table. 

The forces of Roccamurta were on the offensive against West Gollomaga and used their more plentiful light infatry to grab and hold the central village. They were able to flank and destroy several Gallomaga cavalry units and hold off the infatry counter attack to win on turn 4.     

Castellombra counter attack at the hill vs Virezza

Montegrifone advances

Montigrifone vs Taverno was more of the slugging match with both sides holding the objective closest to their lines and pouring troops into the centre to take the ruined temple. The Taverno general brought troops forward from a scoring objective at a critical time, but was unable to get them back quickly enough to avoid defeat when the temple he was occupying fell.       

Roccamurta and West Gallomaga sqaure off

Taverno foot approach the central objective 

Castellombra started on the defensive against Virezza and were initially pushed back off the central hill. They  counter attacked vigorously and managed to win in turn 8.   

The Taverno advance off this hill would eventually cost them the game  

Virezza foot deployed to attack

  

Cotswold Wargames Day 2025

CDW has become an autumn tradition and this year we once again convened at Big Battles in Cirencester for a day of gaming. There was a definite theme this year with WWII and Horse & Musket dominating the gaming.

We laid-on the Battle of Abbach - 1809 from the Wagram campaign. We fought this to an Austrian victory over 7 turns at a fairly leisurely pace to give plenty of time to look around.     

The second Napoleonic's game was some 6mm MDF played on a 6x4 table as a solo game.  

The first of the WWII games was a Tobruk style armoured attack in 6mm.  

The second was Keith Flint and Roy playing the latest version of Startline in 15mm using a 1945 scenario. Roy was pleased to report a crushing British victory.  

The third WWII was not one I had a chance to investigate but was a figureless system. 

Back to earlier times there was a  large 1920s Afghanistan game using Osprey's World in Flames inter-war rules. 

Finally, and winner of the Stuart Asquith trophy for best game, was a vintage style 30mm SYW seaborne invasion pitching the British vs the Spanish in the Caribbean.   

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Italian Wars turn 1

In the first turn of our new campaign we had three attacks to play through; Vizerra (Adam) vs Montegrifone (John), Fiorento (Nigel) vs Castellombra (Roy) and Taverno (Chris) vs West Gallomaga (Robin). The forces of Roccamurata (me) and East Gallomaga (Mike) joined the Fiorento battle.

The defenders deployed half their forces as a vanguard and had to prevent the attacker getting units over the halfway line with no regard for their losses. 

The Vizerra (Adam) vs Montegrifone (John) battle feature a large infantry contest in the centre with the defenders eventually pushing rhe attackers back and Montegrifone running ourt winners late in the game.   

Vizerra horse take a hill

Taverno field sqaures attack

Montegrifone foot vanguard hold the line

In the Fiorento (Nigel) vs Castellombra (Roy) clash the attackers and their Roccamurata allies attacked down the flanks and managed to get enough units around the flanks to win in turn 6  

West Gallomaga foot attack

Finally in the Taverno (Chris) vs West Gallomaga game the defenders launched an assault that stopped the attackers gaining any foothold in their territory and took the win. 

West Gallomaga pushes Taverno back

Italian Wars - Imaginations

For our next campaign we're returning to the Tercio  - Liber Militum renaissance rules we've played before. This campaign will be set in the Italian Wars of the mid-1500s, with each player controlling a City State they can personalise in terms of background, silly names and fighting style.   I've also generated some starter briefs for each of the cities below. 

Finally, there are two mercenary factions for less regular players.

Each turn 3 players will launch attacks on neighbours, with the other players acting as allies in various games.   

Name	Description
Virezza	A coastal trading powerhouse known for its silk guilds and cunning diplomats.
Montegrifone	A mountainous fortress-city famed for its mercenary schools and iron mines.
Castellombra	Shrouded in misty forests, ruled by a shadowy ducal family with a taste for poison and poetry.
San Barzano	A theocratic city of gold-domed cathedrals and fanatic holy orders.
Fiorento	A republic of artists, engineers, and schemers—think Florence with clockwork.
Taverno	A port city-state full of taverns, pirates, and exiles—chaotic but fiercely independent.
East Gallomagna	A landlocked industrial city ruled by merchant syndicates, always plotting expansion.
West Gallagomaga	The coastal twin and fierce rival to their landlocked neighbours. They share their industrial heritage and expansionist ideas
Roccamurata	Perched on crags above the plains, famous for its arcane libraries and alchemical labs.

The game is greatly added by Roy's large collection for the period and others painting efforts. We've done two practice games so far with some eye candy from those below. 

28mm Tercio formation 

28mm Shot company

28mm Landsknecht in field square

28mm Demi lancers

28mm Cuirassier

28mm swordsmen