“Smart Battaile”; The Battle of Cropredy Bridge, 29th June 1644 AD.
Based upon the scenario from the excellent new Pike and Shotte (Black Powder) Rules from Warlord Games.
The Battle
Cropredy
The Parliamentarians have attacked the rear of the Royalist Army as it marches towards the crossing of the River Cherwell at Hay’s Bridge. Ordering Middleton to drive the Dragoons away from Cropredy Bridge Waller has led his own Cavalry across the ford at Slat’s Mill. The Royalists have been caught unawares and are strung out in column of march along the road near Williamscote and the Wardington Ash.
Scenario Rules
On the first turn the Parliamentarians go first but cannot declare charge moves as the Royalists are too far away. The Royalists are in semi-disorder. A Battalia order can be issued to re-order only on this turn. Elite units can roll to recover and then move normally and Drilled Units will automatically re-order. The Dragoons can move normally having already mounted and retired from Cropredy Bridge after an unexpected skirmish.
Cropredy Bridge (http://www.british-civil-wars.co.uk/index.htm)
Waller’s troops can move in march column through the boggy ground near Slat’s Mill normally but can only move once per turn in battle formation otherwise. Ascending the steep hill costs 2″ for each 1″ moved but descent is at normal pace. The Buildings at Williamscote can contain 2 units of infantry (shot or dragoons) and artillery. Pike can march in column along the road through the hamlet if desired. They cannot be occupied by Parliament until the third turn due to the presence of Royalist sympathisers. The enclosed fields are lined with hedges or walls counting as obstacles. The river Cherwell is impassable and the bridge closed (by the Royalist baggage train and musketeers). Otherwise the open fields, scattered trees or rocks are all open ground. Troops retiring to the table edges can halt for 1 turn.
The Royalist Army of Oxford
Name Size M HtH Shoot Morale Sta Weapon Special Points
3rd Earl of Northampton
Royalist First Division
Earl of Cleveland’s Regt. Of Horse Std 9 8 1 4 3 Sword, Pistols Brave, Gallopers, Marauders, Stubborn, Superbly Drilled, Tough 61
Lord Wentworth’s Regt. of Horse Std 9 8 1 4 3 Sword, Pistols Brave, Gallopers, Marauders, Stubborn, Superbly Drilled, Tough 61
Earl of Northampton’s Regt.Dragoons Std 9 3 2 5 3 Firelocks Marauder, Evade 35
Royalist Second Division
Prince Rupert’s Regiment Pike std 6 6 0 4 4 Pike Elite, Superbly Drilled, Tough, HH 46
Prince Rupert’s Regiment Shot std 6 3 2 5 3 Matchlock Mus. Elite, Superbly Drilled, Tough, FF 40
Prince Rupert’s Regiment Shot std 6 3 2 5 3 Matchlock Mus. Elite, Superbly Drilled, Tough, FF 40
Sir Allen Aspley’s Regt. Pike sml 6 6 0 4 4 Pike Brave, Stubborn, Superbly Drilled, Tough, HH 44
Sir Allen Aspley’s Regt. Shot sml 6 3 2 5 3 Matchlock Mus. Brave, Stubborn, Superbly Drilled, Tough, FF 36
Sir Allen Aspley’s Regt. Shot sml 6 3 2 5 3 Matchlock Mus. Brave, Stubborn, Superbly Drilled, Tough, FF 36
Earl of Northampton’s Pike std 6 6 0 4 4 Pike Untested 34
Earl of Northampton’s Shot std 6 3 2 5 3 Matchlock Mus. Untested, First Fire 28
Earl of Northampton’s Shot std 6 3 2 5 3 Matchlock Mus. Untested, First Fire 28
Duke of York’s Regt. Pike std 6 6 0 4 4 Pike Brave, Stubborn, Superbly Drilled, Tough, HH 50
Duke of York’s Regt. Shot std 6 3 2 5 3 Matchlock Mus. Brave, Stubborn, Superbly Drilled, Tough, FF 44
Duke of York’s Regt. Shot std 6 3 2 5 3 Matchlock Mus. Brave, Stubborn, Superbly Drilled, Tough, FF 44
King’s Lifeguard Pike std 6 6 0 4 4 Pike Elite, Superbly Drilled, Tough, HH 46
King’s Lifeguard Shot std 6 3 2 5 3 Matchlock Mus. Elite, Superbly Drilled, Tough, FF 40
King’s Lifeguard Shot std 6 3 2 5 3 Matchlock Mus. Elite, Superbly Drilled, Tough, FF 40
Royalist 3rd Division
Earl of Northampton’s Regt. of Horse Std 9 8 1 4 3 Sword, Pistols Brave, Gallopers, Marauders, Stubborn, Superbly Drilled, Tough 61
Lord Wilmot’s Regt. of Horse Std 9 8 1 4 3 Sword, Pistols Brave, Gallopers, Marauders, Stubborn, Superbly Drilled, Tough 61
Commanders Rating Division
Earl of Cleveland SUB 8 1st
James Compton, Earl of Northampton SUB 8 3rd
Sir Jacob Astley, Maj. Gen of Foot CinC 9 Army (2nd)
Sir Bernard Astley, Adj. Commander SUB 8 2nd
Points 875
The Parliamentarian Army of the Southern Association
Sir William Waller
Name Size M HtH Shoot Morale Sta Weapon Special Points Notes
First Division
Sir William Waller’s Regt of Horse Std 9 8 1 4 3 Sword, Pistols Brave, Marauders, Stubborn, Superbly Drilled, Tough 63
Sir William Waller’s Regt of Horse Std 9 8 1 4 3 Sword, Pistols Brave, Marauders, Stubborn, Superbly Drilled, Tough 63
Sir William Balfour’s and Sir William Waller’s Lifeguards (Cuirassiers) Std 9 8 1 3 4 Sword, Pistols Brave, Elite, Marauder, Stubborn, Superbly Drilled, Tough, Caracole, Heavy Cavalry 81
Second Division
Tower Hamlets Trained Band Pike std 6 6 0 4 4 Pike Brave, Stubborn, Superbly Drilled, Tough, HH 50
Tower Hamlets Trained Band Shot std 6 3 2 5 3 Matchlock Mus. Brave, Stubborn, Superbly Drilled, Tough, FF 44
Tower Hamlets Trained Band Shot std 6 3 2 5 3 Matchlock Mus. Brave, Stubborn, Superbly Drilled, Tough, FF 44
Colonel Edward Aldriche’s Pike sml 6 6 0 4 4 Pike Brave, Stubborn, Superbly Drilled, Tough, HH 44
Colonel Edward Aldriche’s Shot sml 6 3 2 5 3 Matchlock Mus. Brave, Stubborn, Superbly Drilled, Tough, FF 36
Colonel Edward Aldriche’s Shot sml 6 3 2 5 3 Matchlock Mus. Brave, Stubborn, Superbly Drilled, Tough, FF 36
Earl of Essex’s Commanded Shot Large 6 4 3 5 4 Matchlock Mus. First Fire 42
Third Division
Medium gun Std 1 3;2;1 5 2 21
Light gun Std 1 3;2;1 5 2 17
Light gun Std 1 3;2;1 5 2 17
Very Light Gun Std 1 3;0;0 5 2 Wood Blinds 15
Sir Michael Livesey’s Dragoons Std 6 3 2 5 3 Firelocks Evade, Marauder 35
Fourth Division
Sir Arthur Haselrigge’s Regt of Horse Std 9 8 1 4 3 Sword, Pistols Brave, Marauders, Stubborn, Superbly Drilled, Tough 63
Sir Michael Livesey’s Kentish Horse Std 9 8 1 4 3 Sword, Pistols, Carbines Caracole, Brave, Marauder 52
Sir Arthur Haselrigge’s Regt of Horse Std 9 8 1 4 3 Sword, Pistols Brave, Marauders, Stubborn, Superbly Drilled, Tough 63
Commanders Rating Division
Sir William Waller SUB 8 Army (1st)
Sir William Balfour SUB 8 1st
Col. James Wemyss CinC 9 3rd
Capt. John Butler SUB 8 4th
Maj. Gen. Sir James Harrington SUB 7 2nd
Points 786
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Hi,
Have you ever written up your notes for playing ECW battles with Black Powder? I’d be interested in seeing how it works.
Hello
No I don’t think I ever wrote those up . Mainly because of the rules supplied being quite good .
Also more recently I have been using the To the Strongest rules version for ECW so my focus moved. Thanks for your message . I think you could give the black powder expansion a go or even try out the To the Strongest rules version . I would recommend either. Choice would depend on either whether you prefer one player taking turns at a time with black powder or more uncertainty as to who gets a go at all with To the Strongest. At the moment my group favours the latter .