Dux Bellorum for the Burgundian war of Succession

As some of you may know, Luddite did a post on using Dux Bellorum for the Wars of the Roses. I've tried these and they're rather good, and following an idea i had for using my figures for the Burgundian War of Succession, i knocked up a quick version for this setting. It can be used for any European conflict of the late 15th century, even the Italian Wars.
I've only really added some period flavour strategies, modified one or two things and added continental units. I've had one game with them, pictures to come soon. I might also add more strategies as i think of them. Enjoy!

Type	Move	Bravery	Aggression	Missiles	Protection	Cohesion	Notes	Pts
Foot companions	2	10	6	-	6	6		5
Mounted companions ^	4	10	5	-	5	5		5
Mounted men-at-arms ^	4	9	5	-	5	4		5
Dismounted men-at-arms	2	9	6	-	5	5		5
Coustillier ^	4	7	4	-	5	4		3
Skirmishing Coustillier ^	5	8*	3	-	4	2		2
Mounted crossbowmen	4	8*	2	2	4	2	2 BW range	2
Heavy infantry	2	7	5	-	5	5		3
Militia infantry	2	7*	4	-	5	4		2
Archers	2	7	2	3	4	4	Pavise, 4 BW range	3
Militia archers	2	7*	2	3	4	3	Pavise, 4 BW range	2
Skirmishers	3	8*	1	2	4	2	4 BW range	1
Field artillery	1	6	1	3	4	2	Unlimited range	5

*Brittle: Use bravery 6 when testing for rout.

^Must follow up if win a combat.

Companions: The elite troops who form the bodyguard for the army leader. They are the best equipped and the most motivated troops in the force. Can fight mounted or dismounted.

Men-at-arms: Made up of the gentry, richer citizens (the poorterij), professional soldiers and knights, and are the gen d’armes of the ordonnance companies. Armoured in full harness, they may fight mounted or dismounted. They may be supplemented by some squires or coustilliers in the rear ranks.

Coustilliers: The lighter cavalry who often scouted for the enemy. This unit represents a band of these horsemen who have been detached from the main body of gen d’armes, or could be used to represent French ‘archers’ who later fought as mounted lancers.

Mounted crossbowmen: Either mercenary Italians, or mounted ordonnance archers, these men are similar to coustilliers but have crossbows and fight in a loose formation.

Heavy infantry: Either dismounted coustilliers, ordonnace pike men or halberdiers, Swiss mercenaries or better trained and motivated town militia (or town watch even). There might be some heavier armoured men in the front rank as leaders or to boost the line. Lowland and Swiss heavy infantry carry pikes.

Militia infantry: Either Lowland militia drawn from both the towns and the countryside, or franc archers for the French, but armed with spears and halberds instead of missile weapons (franc voulgier). Lowland militia infantry carry pikes.

Archers: Either ordonnance archers or Lowland shooting guilds armed with a variety of weapons. No difference has been made between crossbows and bows, as it is possible that both were mixed in the same units. These units may carry pavises. Could also be English mercenary archers, these troops do not carry pavises but have a protection of 5.

Militia archers: Either reluctant shooting guilds or franc archers. As above, they will carry a mix of weapons and are equipped with pavises.

Skirmishers: Loose order missile troops, these troops are a mix of crossbowmen and handgunners; no difference has been made between the weapon types.

Field artillery: Can be bombards, light cannons, organ guns…

Special rules:

Pikes: Units pike armed always count as moving as a group even if a single group. Any enemy fighing a pike armed unit frontally with suffer a -2 aggression and gets no bonus for moving into contact. If fighting to the flank or rear, pike armed units suffer an additional -1 aggression in addition to the normal -2.

Pavises: A pavise armed unit has a protection of 6 against missile fire (except field artillery). It loses this benefit if the unit retreats from close combat.

Ammunition: All archer and skirmisher units only carry enough ammunition to allow them to fire 3 times during a game. Field artillery has unlimited ammunition however.

New strategies:

Horse armour: Armouring horses with padded, leather, chain or plate armour increases protection against missile weapons. Effects all mounted companions and mounted men-at-arms in the force. This unit gains a protection of 6 against missile fire. 3 points if 5 or less units are equipped, 5 points if 6 or more.

Wedge: A cavalry tactic to break through enemy ranks, wedges rely on hitting power and depth to destroy the enemy. A unit of mounted men-at-arms or mounted companions may have a unit of mounted men-at-arms or coustillier (not skirmishers) directly behind it and gain an additional +1 aggression when moving into contact. The units may move as a group, but not with other units and may only move forward. Formation lost if force to withdraw in combat. 3 points for training.

Armoured mounted crossbowmen (in front rank): It is possible that some mounted crossbowmen fought with the men-at-arms, firing their crossbows not long before the charge hit. Drawings from the period show armoured mounted crossbowmen in almost full harness, so include them if you wish. Including armoured crossbowmen in you mounted men-at-arms gives them a single missile aggression with a 2 BW range. It does not hinder their ability to move that turn as the crossbowmen will fall back. 3 points if 5 or less units have mounted crossbowmen in their ranks, 5 points if more.

All mounted men-at-arms units must have armoured crossbowmen if this strategy is taken.

Read here for some thoughts on this subject.

Swiss tactics: The Swiss trained their militia to charge the enemy in dense columns, a revolutionary tactic that impressed military minds all over Europe. Many mercenaries were hired by all the major powers and the tactics were copied by the French and Germans. A unit of heavy infantry may form an attack column with another unit of heavy infantry behind it (or militia eventually) giving it an additional +1 aggression when moving into contact. Pike armed groups may also move normally if alone. 3 points for hiring the Swiss or getting them to train you men.

Eager nobles: Although the age of chivalry is coming to an end by the 15^th century, with infantry beginning to dominate the battlefield did not mean that the nobles still held onto their ideas that war was a noble pursuit. All companion and men-at-arm units are Impetuous. 3 points.

Extra ammunition: All shooting units with limited ammunition have an additional turn’s ammunition. 3 points if 5 or less units carry extra ammunition, 5 if 6 or more. This may be bought twice, giving 2 turns of extra shooting, at 6 or 10 points.

Organised supply train: Allows some cohesion points to be restored. If a unit has lost cohesion this game and is further than 5 BW away from the nearest visible enemy may restore 1 cohesion point. A unit may only restore 1 point in 1 turn, and the supply train has 2 cohesion points in total. 4 points to organise the wagons and obtain the supplies.

Subterfuge: Spies spread rumours around the enemy camp, lowering morale and causing some men to desert. Before the battle, choose an enemy unit and remove d6-1 cohesion points. If this takes the score to 0 then the unit does not arrive. It does not count as a loss and is ignored for all moral purposes in the game. 4 points to pay for the spies or buy off reluctant enemies.

Personal standard: The leader has brought his personal banner to the battle, and his inspiration means that men are more willing to fight for him when things become tough. All units within 3 BW of the companion unit may re-roll bravery tests for morale. 3 points.

The following strategies can be used freely: Ambush, Assassination, Dismount (Companions men-at-arms and mounted crossbowmen only), Experienced warlord, Loyal, Monks, Swift deployment, Veterans (men-at-arms, coustilliers, or heavy infantry)

The miliputting never ends

Almost there...

Pushing on with the builds, once i've done the starter forces time to break out the paints and get some colour on them.

More Kaliads, some levies and a noble, who was seen on a previous post as a WIP.

The noble. Looking at him now, i didn't round off the breastplate properly which makes him look a bit chunky. Just need to finish the left hand, add camail and voila!

Runissians, i tried a scratch built klappvisor helm on the middle man, using a bare head as the base so i got the eyes in the right place and what not. Needs a camail like the noble and he will be ready.

The fully armoured man took quite some time! He would not be out of place at Agincourt, with the breastplate over a mail hauberk. I also did him with mail sleeves over plate on the lower arms, it's becoming a notable feature on recent builds, which is good! Adds cohesion.

Only 11 to do in total!!!! Nearly there!

Norvarje Workbench

I present thee with the fruits of mine labour...

Just more WIPs.

Forums and blogs are great, as i can copy ideas and use them myself. For example, the idea for the noble below came from this banner bearer. I studied the pictures for quite some time, and decided to take the plunge and give it a go.

But not to make it identical, i also swapped the body with a fireforge one, so instead of chain mail sleeves he has a surcoat showing. Here he is, needs a head that i'm still thinking about. He will be wielding a lance over arm, like the Normans.

Here's the other half of him; fireforge body in Perry legs to make my first Runissian rider. Although mostly an infantry force, the Runissians have some cavalry, mostly javelin wielding light cavalry around a core of heavy cavalry. This man could be used in both roles, depending if i say the spear is a lance or javelin.

I lengthened the surcoat to cover damage, and also just to look good! Needs a sword and then on with painting!

This man has appeared before, a Kaliad with sallet and pavise. Well, i didn't like him so tore off the arms, chopped off his jacket and added a mail hauberk and breastplate instead. Lots of work (soooooooo many holes...) but i like him better now.

A couple of to-be Runissians, one built with a fully armoured man with the groin armour cut away and replaced with a mail hauberk under the breastplate. The other, lighter man is simpler, bill arms with padded jacket sculpted over.

One of my crazier conversions, a body swap between the walking breastplate body and a padded jacket body. I had to repair bag straps and make a plakart for the right hand man, but i'm glad they worked. On paper i was really wondering how it would work.

I'm sure as this project goes my builds will get crazier and crazier as i search for new ideas. I relish the challenge!

WIP Champions

Doing a quick 'to do' list shows that i need just over a dozen figures to finish both of my Dux forces for my Runissia setting! Mostly odds and ends; a Group of Levy, 2 nobles and some warriors and elites. I also needed champions for both forces, so set about converting an interesting pair.

Dux players will know that every Lord has a champion and, being a champion, he needs to look the part, so i converted a couple of hard looking fellows to protect their lords.

Still WIP as the camails need doing, but almost there.

The Kaliad champion. I was planning to do him with a visored bascinet but the face looks perfect for a hardened veteran.

The Runissian champion. The arms are from the merc box, and i decided to do some decoration on the helmet, perhaps a gift from his lord for his service?

Getting stuck in

Thank the gods my new figures are here! After a six week wait i only had to wait a couple of days for them to arrive from the shop.

While i was waiting for them to arrive though i painted some more men, such as these below:

On to the unpainted stuff!

I almost have a full starter Dux force, i need 12 men for the Runissians and about 10 for the Kaliads. I've done quite a few body swaps recently to get some variation.

Kaliad levy. I like the fireforge figures, the only problem is they have no neck so one needs to be made, not a big hinderance for me as a camil hides them anyway. The middle man has a fireforge kit shield.

More Kaliads. I might change the second from the right as i'm not really happy with him. The one holding a pavise is inspired by stuart's Picard pikes. I plan to doa  few more of these to add to the levy groups.

A Runissian archer with coif and a Big Man who will carry a shield in his left hand.

Three very converted Runissians. Desite the body swaps, i've done a LOT of chain mail on these guys.The left one has a full mail hauberk, then a camail. In the middle is a standard bearer, and the swordsman has mail showing below the waist and will be wearing a coat of plates over it.

And finally, the fireforge cavalry! I've seen some people don't really like the fireforge figures but i don't see what they mean. Sure, the weapons are a bit big, but i won't use them and the conversion potential is huge. They're also useful because the left arm is loose and not sculpted on like the Perry men at arms.

I've made three to represent the Kaliad noble cavalry who fight with javelins and swords. No crouched lances here, instead they will be using lances overarm or thrust forward. The leader is a Perry man at arms with chain mail instead of the fauld, he will be a Runissian leader. I need one more for a Dux Brit Group, and a mounted Big Man to lead them.

It's not all trees and streams

Another batch of 10 Runissians and Kaliads.

You will notice i have snuck a bit of terrain in, as they're posing before my new barn and pig sty.

The Runissians. The pointing chap is rather 'classic' again, but i changed the hands with the german ones from the Mercenary box to change the look a bit. He also wears along wolf fur surcoat as he will be the leader of a Kwenth war band. Kwenth is the furthest north in Runissia and was an independant kingdom for a while and has some individual features. His armour is blackened and gold lined.

Another view. Odd camera angles because i was having trouble finding a good spot to take a photo without standing in the light.

The Kaliads. The older man closest to the camera here will be the leader of the levies, an older man called out to defend his home.

'If you want our barn, come and get it!'

Also experimented with a white padded jacket, since they're on loads of wall paintings but i haven't got one yet.

And finally...

'Get away from my pigs you northerners!'

The battle for Serlac Hill

So the other day i decided to continue my Anglo-Burgundian vs French campaign asi really felt like a Dux Brit battle. It also gave me a chance to test out a couple of new chances i made.

So, Steffan, the Burgundian captain, had some success in 1477, but lost his first major attack on the French lands. now it is 1478 and he prepares for another attack.

The French hear of his intentions and march out to halt him, aiming to take the hill (they chose the side with the hill but ended up on the wrong side of the table).

Militia crossbowmen prepare to cross the stream and dash for the hill.

Meanwhile, Steffan had similar ideas, but he was closer to the hill.

View before the first turn. Alain, the French lord, gave a stirring speech to his men that raised his level by 1. Steffan's speech was not so good and lowered his level by 1, but he had no chance to raise it as the French opened the battle.

Vite! The handgunners dash across the stream and spot some Danish skirmishers as they appear from the clump of trees.

Alain throws his men forward, determined to get to the hill before the Burgundians can form up.

Ils sont la! Archers are spotted on the hill.

The English archers spot the French below and hurry to reach the top of the hill.

Not everyone is happy though in the French camp, as Robin decides not to attack and stays put, thinking an attack on the hill is folly.

There's only one way; up. And up into the blades of the waiting men-at-arms.

Some Burgundian halbardiers appear on the French right, threatening the flank.

Steady men! Steffan watches to French coming for him.

Instead of waiting for the French, Steffan leads the charge into the enemy ranks. Both lords join in the melee.

Battered but not beaten, both sides pull back to regroup. But the French still have more men, and Alain regroups them quicker than Steffan.

Not many left, this'll be a piece of cake...

...there's only some English between us and victory!

Meanwhile, Charles attacks some militia who have not closed ranks. Levy not in formation, easy kills.

Steffan attacks the French again, but comes off for worse.

Although better skilled, the French have more men and fight off the men-at-arms. 

Here come the archers, drawing swords and bucklers to drive off the French.

The next time someone says levy not in formation die easily, i'll show them this;  first round, the Brugundians (soldiers, ie warriors) loose 3 MEN and the levy loose 1! The Burgundians charge again and kill a couple more.

Melee generale on the hill and the archers charge the French in the rear.

Everyone flees. The Men-at-arms loose their amphora, as do some French will the rest are at the limit. Only the archers stay.

The English see off the remaining soldiers and turn their arrows on the crossbow men below.

The militia aimed to kill a couple more men to push the Anglo-Burgundian losses from moderate to heavy, but they only kill one for the loss of four crossbowmen, so they quit the field to fight another day.

A +2 win for Steffan and he besieges a French manor, but the French sill be back in 3 months and the manor will fall in 4, so the French have one last chance to save their first manor from falling...