New English Army

It's no secret that the blog is largely neglected these days. It's mostly a place for me to stash things so I can look back at them later. Barry and I are working on a new book called Floppy Hats that is designed to be a bridge between Beneath the Lily Banners and Donnybrook. Units are built by "Detachments" of four models. The scale of the game depends on what man-to-model ratio you want to use so armies can represent a few hundred soldiers or a few thousand. 

The wargame is designed to be simple to use and set up with three to eight units per side. Activation is alternative by unit so players frequently have important choices to make. The dice mechanics will be familiar to players of our other games. Floppy Hats is designed produce a result within 90 minutes.

The launch of this project coincides with the release of the new 28mm resin Warfare Miniatures and this was the perfect opportunity for me to build a new army!

The first unit I painted is the 1st Foot Guard. I needed a painted version for the shop so I stuck to what's in the package - 18 models including command - which is perfect for Beneath the Lily Banners! You'll notice I based them individually rather than in the standard BLB manner and that's because I was just getting into the new project (if you have units based for BLB, they will work fine for Floppy Hats)! I have plans to add models to this unit to bring them up to the size I'm planning for the other foot...

Like this! This is Rowe's regiment (later known as the Royal North Fusiliers)! I've gone for 24 rank and file - 20 Hatmen and 4 Grenadiers - plus the mounted leader, an officer on foot, two ensigns, two drummers, and two sergeants. In Floppy Hats, these additional characters are optional, but grant special abilities to your units. For instance a drummer allows the re-throw of a failed maneuver check.

In my head canon, three detachments or 12 models is a "company" but is not meant to actually model real life structure. I'd like to expand my standard-sized units to three companies plus command, but for now I'm concentrating on get some units on the table. Floppy Hats has a point system and these will fit perfectly into my list at this size.

My third unit is Lord North & Grey's regiment. I love the look of these units on the table.

Up next will be a unit of Horse - 12 models plus three command! When they are finished I'll post again with a few more details about the game and a peek at the point system.

I'm really excited about this rule set and these new models.

If you haven't seen the new models, hop over to Warfare Miniatures USA and take a look at the ever expanding range!

First Look at the New Edition of BLB!

 A flip through by Martin at 7th Son Wargaming!

Beneath the Lily Banners QRS

Here's the quick reference sheets for Beneath the Lily Banners (2025). After a couple of games, these are all you'll need to run the game!

You can also download a PDF here and a "printer friendly" version (no background) here!

Beneath the Lily Banners PRE-ORDERS are up!

It's here!

Beneath the Lily Banners is a tabletop wargaming rules system designed to immerse players in the epic and dazzlingly colourful world of 17th century warfare. It can be used with miniatures of most scales with the main focus being 28mm models. Games are played with as few as four and as many as 100 units per side. Action can be set at small scale engagement level by altering the model to man ratio from 1:35 to as low as 1:3. This turns battalions to companies and squadrons to troops. The rules involve simultaneous movement regulated by orders and the skill levels of opposing commanders. Results can be achieved in an hour for a small encounter or over multiple sessions if recreating one of the era’s many massive battles. This is the fourth edition of the system which was first published in 2008.

From the fields of Flanders to the deserts of Iraq, the sweltering heat of the Caribbean to the Ukrainian steppe, the virgin wilderness of North America to the ancient ruins of the Peleponnese.  Advance your armies to victory and glory!

hard cover, 184 pages

This is a PRE-ORDER. Books will ship to buyers in November (or as soon as we get them)!  Order your copies here!

 The League of Augsburg Shop

Warfare Miniatures USA

Beneath the Lily Banners

 Pre-orders coming soon...

A Lonely Place to Die, Part Two

I'll have some thoughts on this game in a follow up in a few days...

A Lonely Place to Die

At long last... five years in the making... Adventures in the Desert, issue two!

 Part two hopefully by this weekend!

Back to the Sudan!

It's been a while since I visited 1885... I've added some units in the last year and never got around to blogging about them... More soon!