The Attack on Castello San Phillipe

For our regular Monday game here in GHQ, and the first in December, Phil and I settled on an Italian Wars game using Pike & Shotte rules for only the third time as I’d recently painted up four new Command bases. It was also a good excuse to see my Palazzo and all the related buildings and extras out on the table for the first time. The game saw Phil’s Florentine’s attacking the Papal held town of San Phillipe and attempting to sack the castello. As ever, a few pictures to illustrate how the game panned out ~

Castello San Phillipe and its town environs defended by the

forces of the Papal States.

Florentine forces gather, albeit rather slowly, for the attack to

commence. The Heavy Ordnance opens fire on the defenders!

Florence's finest, though they were not to live up to the

epithet during the battle!

After initial hesitancy the Papal Gendarmes and Elmetti

advance to confront the enemy.

A strong defensive line has been established by the defenders.

Masses of mercenary Landsknechts advance on the defenders

A view along the road to the battle. Cesare is leading from the

rear I see! The shame!

The battle is hotting up now with many of the defending force

being Disordered by handgun and crossbow fire. The pike

do not seem at all keen to engage their foe!

Despite suffering losses in combat, the Papal Gendarmes and

Elmetti sweep the enemy before them! On their left flank the

battle turns against the Florentines!

At last the Disorder is cast off and the infantry begins to go on

the attack as the Florentines falter!

The Garrison of Castello San Phillipe look on as the Papal

force presses forward on the Florentine centre.

All is up for the attackers in Turn 8! The Florentine left is 

broken and the centre is driven back. San Phillipe is saved

once more!

Pike & Shotte gave us a fast flowing and enjoyable game and

may in time supplant Neil Thomas's rules as our go to choice

for the period, we shall have to see.

The figures are from our joint collections and include items from Foundry, TAG, Casting Room Miniatures, Perry Miniatures, Dixon Miniatures, Essex, Hinchliffe, Warlord Games/Pro Gloria, and Steel Fist. I was never one for mixing manufacturers much in the past, but this just seems to add to the splendid Renaissance look of the armies to me. Bases were made for us by Warbases of course while they also provided the bulk of the MDF kits I used to kit bash the various buildings. Other components came from Sally Forth, Sarissa Precision, Charlie Foxtrot, Supreme Littleness Designs, Grand Manner, and Iron Gate Scenics.
We hope to revisit the Italian Wars early on in 2019 giving Phil a chance to add another unit or two perhaps to his Florentines. As for me, I've called a halt to Papal expansion and am back to painting extra units for our AWI games, the 3rd Continental Dragoons at present as I've had the dismounted versions for 20 years but never got around to adding the mounted versions! Typical wargamer I suspect, my attention wandered off to something newer and shinnier!