Updated 6/02/08

This is a modification of our earlier "The Sword and the Pike" rules which were a variant to Larry Brom's The Sword and The Flame Colonial rules set. This set is more of a "big battle" set of rules and "The Sword and the Pike" is more of a skirmish rules set with each man representing a man. in the early Renaissance period. Another set will address the later Renaissance "Musket & Pike" period. The Jackson Gamers have played various of Larry's rules sets for years. And freely admit to stealing many ideas from the talented Mr. Brom.

ITEMS NEEDED FOR PLAY

• Miniature soldiers and terrain
• Tape measure or ruler - one per player.
• Four-sided die (referred to as D4) - probably only 1, and a D6 can be used by re-rolling results of 5 or 6.
• Six-sided dice (referred to as D6) - a bunch (at least 6)
• Twenty-sided dice (referred to as D20) - a double handfull! You will need one per each man shooting.

TROOP TYPES & ORGANIZATION

GENDARMES - Heavy cavalry fighting with lance, and sword. Never dismount, Move in open order, fight in closed order, may fight 2 ranks deep. 12 figures per unit, 4 companies of 3 men each.
REITERS - “Medium Cavalry” armed with several pistols, designed to produce a large volume of fire from horseback. They move and fighti in open order. 12 figures per unit, 4 companies of 3 men each. Fight 2 ranks deep, may shoot 4 ranks deep.
LIGHT HORSE - Cavalry armed with spears or arquebus, or crossbows. Primarily to skirmish with firearms or crossbows from horseback rather than charge mounted. May shoot two ranks deep. They use open order. 12 figures per unit, 4 companies of 3 men each.
PIKEMEN - Infantry armed with long spears. May be in closed or open order, fight normally in closed order, may fight 4 ranks deep. 20 figures per unit, 4 companies of 5 men each.
ARQUEBUSIERS - Infantry armed with the Arquebus (an early musket). Move and fight in open order. May shoot 2 ranks deep. 20 figures per unit in 4 companies of 5 men each, or may be organized in a 5-man company as a sub-unit attached to a pike formation.
CROSSBOWMEN - Infantry armed with the Crossbow. Move and fight in open order. The crossbow has less effect than the Arquebus. May shoot 2 ranks deep. 20 figures per unit in 4 companies of 5 men each, or may be organized in a 5-man company as a sub-unit attached to a pike formation.
HALBERDIERS - Infantry armed with Halberds (like giant axes). Move and fight in open order. 20 figures per unit in 4 companies of 5 men each, or may be organized in a 5-man company as a sub-unit attached to a pike formation.
GREAT-SWORDSMEN - Infantry armed with 2-handed long swords. Move and fight in open order. Organized in a 5-man company as a sub-unit attached to a pike formation.
SWORD AND BUCKLER MEN - Infantry armed with swords and small shields. Move and fight in open order. Organized in a 5-man company as a sub-unit attached to a pike formation. May use skirmish order.
RIFLEMEN - Individual sharpshooter figures with rifles. Takes 2 turns to reload after firing. Range double that of an arquebus. These are not organized in units but are individual figures. Availability subject to the whim of the game-master.
OFFICERS are the Colonels or Generals that command the army of some part of the army, and are not part of any particular unit. Officers may not be shot at directly but if attached to a unit, adding thier morale and combat bonus, may become casualties if the unit to which they are attached sufferes fire or melee casualties. If this happens roll a D20. If the result is "20" then an attached officer is killed in addition to other figures. If the result is 19, and the roll is due to fire casualties, then the officer is taken, wounded to the rear. If the result is 19, and the roll is due to melee casualties, then the officer is captured and dispatched as a prisoner to the enemy's rear.

FRESH/WORN/SPENT Units

Each unit in the army is counted as "Fresh", "Worn" or "Spent"..

• "Fresh" Cavalry or Infantry units have not yet lost a stand due to casualties.
• "Worn" units have lost at least one stand due to casualties, but no more than 50%.
• "Spent" units have taken more than 50% losses.
• "Fresh" guns have taken no losses.
• "Worn" guns have lost one or more gunners. There are no "spent" guns, they do not fall below "Worn" until destroyed.

ORDER

CLOSED ORDER - Base to base, 1 or more ranks as deep as desired, but except for pikes, only 2 ranks may fight in close combat. Gendarmes may also be in closed order, riding Knee to knee.
OPEN ORDER - Must have some distance between figures - up to 1” between bases. As deep as desired, but only 2 ranks may shoot or fight in close combat. Due to some figures being mounted on multiple bases, it should be remembered that most figures will be in Open Order. Only pikemen, halbardiers, etch are in closed order.

SEQUENCE OF ACTIONS

1. The Commander-in-ChiefEach side rolls 2xD6 and sums the total. The highest side moves first, moving the total of Brigades equal to the sum of the 2xD6. After that many brigades of the first side has moved, the second side may move brigades equal to the sum of its 2xD6 roll. No brigade may move more than once. If a side's 2xD6 total is less than the number of brigades that it has it will not get to move all of its brigades.
2. Units which are attacked in close combat by the enemy moving first may not move during that turn, except for "Evasion" - see later.
3. Fire all artillery. Test morale for units which took fire casualties. (See further notes under Morale).
4. Fire all infantry units moving or stationary. Test morale for units which took fire casualties. (See further notes under Morale). Note that figures which were removed as casualties from artillery fire may not fire in this phase.
5. Fire all mounted units capable of fire, moving or stationary. Test morale for units which took fire casualties. (See further notes under Morale). Note that figures which were removed as casualties from artillery fire or infantry fire may not fire in this phase.
6. Test "To Close" morale for units charging.
7. Test "To Stand" morale for units being charged.
8. Fight all close combats, testing morale for losing units. If this test is passed, the losing units fall back a normal move and become "disordered". If this test is failed, the losing units rout.
9. Attempt to rally all routed units which routed in a previous turn. Rounted units which fail to rally are removed from the field if they are no longer "Fresh."
10. test morale for any unit shich is "Spent" (under 50% strength) which does not have an officer attached to it. If it passes, it will continue in the game. If it fails, it is removed from the game.

FIRE

Each eligible miniature may roll a D20 to see if it got a “hit” on the enemy.
Target classifications:
Closed order = Pikes or other heavy foot, base-to-base. Gendarmes may fight in closed order.
Open order = Other foot and all horse, operating in open order with ½" or more between figures.
Skirmishers, artillerists, drovers etc. with ½" or more between figures - takes 2 hits to mark one figure.
Cover = woods, buildings, stone walls, hedges.
Field Works = trenches & earthworks, towns if entire town has been arrayed for defense

Firing weapon:	Class I	Class II	Class III	Class IV
Arquebus - Short range - 12” or less	1-5	1-4	1-3	1
Arquebus - Long range - to 18”	1-3	1-2	1	N/A
Mounted Arquebus - To 12”	1-3	1-2	1-2	N/A
Single Pistols - To 4”	1-5	1-4	1-3	N/A
Crossbow - to 12"	1-3	1-2	1	N/A
Mounted Cr/bow - to 8"	1-3	1-2	1	N/A
Heavy Cannon - Short Range - to 18”	1-4	1-3	1-3	1-2
Heavy Cannon - Long Range - to 48”	1-3	1-2	1-2	1
Heavy guns may not move once they fire. Takes one turn to reload
Light Cannon - Short Range - to 12”	1-4	1-3	1-2	1
Light Cannon - Long Range - to 24”	1-3	1-2	1	N/A
Light guns may move and fire if they move only ½ normal distance

Above numbers are "hits" on a D20
Roll one D20 per man for Arquebus, Pistol, Crossbow,
Roll 3 dice per gunner for heavy gun (crew of 4)
Roll 3 dice per gunner for Light gun (crew of 2)

Infantry may not move more than 1/2 if they intend to fire.
Light guns may move ½ normal distance and still fire normally.
Heavy guns may not move during the game. Pivot in place does not count as moving.

Modifiers to above dice rolls:
-2 to each die result if this is the first time that the unit has fired in the game
+1 to each die result if firing unit "Shaken"
+2 to each die result if weather is "light rain"

Weapon Ranges:
Heavy Gun: Long 48" Short 18”
Light gun: Long 36" Short 12”
Foot Crossbows 12" foot (8" mounted) (No short range)
Foot Arquebus: Long 18" Short 12" (12" mounted)
Pistol 4” (No short range)

The front rank of cavalry armed with pistols who are charging with swords may fire one pistol if it closes with the enemy then lay about with sword, axe etc. Cavalry that does not close (halts due to morale) may similarly fire the front rank but are +1 to each fire die because they are "disordered".

While Reiters may carry multiple pistols, they only shoot one pistol per turn for the duration of the game. They may fire up to 4 ranks deep.

Reiters attacked by other cavalry with the sword or lance must test to see how many ranks can fire before the close combat begins. Roll a D4 and the result is the number of ranks which may fire.

MORALE

• All units test morale when they lose a stand of troops or more fire casualties
• All units test to stand or to close into close combat.
• All units test morale after losing a close combat. Pass means to fall back disordered. Failure means rout.
• Units which are "Spent" must test morale at the end of each turn unless an officer is attached to the unit. Pass means to continue the fight. Failure means to leave the table.
• Disordered Units test morale when they attempt to move. Pass means to rally from disorder. Failure means to move disordered.
• Routed Units test morale at end of following move. Pass means to rally from routed. Failure means to leave the field if they have taken enough casualties to lose at least one stand.

Initial Morale Chart

	Die roll (D6)
	-1-	-2-	-3-	-4-	-5-	-6-
Swiss Foot	2	3	3	4	4	4
Landsknect Foot	2	3	3	3	3	4
Other Foot	1	2	2	3	3	4
Gendarmes & other heavy cav.	2	3	3	4	4	4
Lighter mounted units	2	3	3	3	3	4
Gunners & Ausiliaries	1	2	2	2	2	3

Morale rules

• Roll 1 die and use Initial Morale Rating Chart to determine a units Basic Morale when first having to check Morale.
• When to check Morale
  • a. At the end of each firing phase that a unit takes casualties.
  • b. When attempting to Close Into Combat.
  • c. When attempting to Stand In Close Combat.
  • d. When a units' Staff Officer is killed or captured within 12" and in view (180 degree cone of observation).
  • e. When a unit loses a Close Combat.
  • f. When a unit attempts to withdraw from a Close Combat as attacker moves in.
  • g. Routed units trying to rally.

C. To Check Morale

D. Morale Results

• 6 or more - Morale Good, carry-on
• 5 - Moving unit halts (considered standing). Standing unit Falls Back. Falling Back unit Routs.
• 4 - Moving unit Falls Back. Standing or Falling Back units rout
• 3 - Unit Routs, attempt rally next turn.
• 2 - Unit Routs as above except, if loser in Close Combat, loser is captured.
• 1 - Unit routs from table if at least 1 full stand is gone.

E. Morale Altered Permanently

• If a unit routs another by fire - raise Morale 1 point.
• If a unit wins a Close Combat - raise Morale 1 point.
• If a unit Routs due to enemy action - lower Morale 1 point
• When a unit becomes "Spent" (less then 5O% strength) - lower Morale 1 point.

F. Morale Altered Temporarily

• Units in towns, forts, trenches, etc. -raise Morale 1 point.
• Pikes in Square formation - raise Morale 1 point.
• Officer attached to unit adds his Morale Bonus.
• Gendarmes vs. Lighter cavalry, raise Gendarmes morale 1 point.
• Units attacked in rear, or disordered unit - lower Morale 1 point.

* ALL THESE MORALE ALTERATIONS ARE MADE INSTANTLY AS THE CAUSE OCCURS!

Notes on Morale

• Units attacking the rear of an enemy unit need not test "to close".
• Artillerists NEVER actually stand and fight. They test morale to see if they fall back in good order or rout (morale failure)

DISORDERED UNITS

Disorder is calused by falling vack, rallying from routed, or fighting in close combat.
NOTES on disordered units:

• Move at half rate
• fight at -1 in close combat.
• Are -1 on morale
• Shoot at -1

ROUTED UNITS

Rounted unit take a D4 of casualties when they rout and are moved a normal move to the rear. They may not move during the next turn. At the start of the 2nd turn the next turn they must pass morale or they are removed from the field. Pass means they are no longer routed and must stand in place as "disordered". They may rally from "Disordered" in the next turn if they pass command response.

NOTES on routed units:

• May not move
• Rounted units attacked in close combat are destroyed.
• Routed units which are fired upon and take casualties must test morale. Failure means that they rout again with all implications. Pass means they remain in place, routed, till they test again under the procedure above.

Close Combat

A. Attacker moves units towards target units and halts 1' away. Cannot fire, but takes any defending fire and checks Morale.
B. Attacker attempts to Close Into Combat with a Morale roll. if he fails, Stops 1" from target.
C. If attacker closes defender checks Morale and acts accordingly.
D. If Close Combat occurs, fight individual stands in combat (see Combat Factors Chart). Stands that lose with 1 or 2 on their die take that many casualties. Others just fall back.
E. Loser of Close Combat checks Morale. A 6 or more, Falls Back in good order. Less than 6, loser Routs.

• a. Occupy vacated position and reform or reface.
• b. Pursue moved target if distance allows.
• c. Attempt to Close on another target within 45 degree cone.

K. Mounted Staff Officers are the last to fight in any Close Combat.
L When all Close Combats are resolved make all Morale adjustments, move losing units to new locations, check Morale of any Units that lost their Staff, and then take winners "Bonus Options".

• a. Hold position.
• Make non-combat tactical move of one normal move
• Attempt another Close Combat by passing Morale Check and rolling variable move dice - announce intent first. (Defender can fire defensive volley if not already fired that turn).

Rear Attacks
Attackers need not check Morale to close. The Defender checks Morale at minus 1, if he fails, he Routs.
**UNits attacking "into rear" must begin behind a line parallel to and tangent to the front of the defending unit. The entire attacking unit must be behind this line.

For Close Combat Each stand will receive a certain number of D6. When these D6 are rolled, each 6 will inflict a casualty on the enemy. The side which inflicts the most casualties on the enemy wins the close combat and hold's it's positio. The losing side must then test morale. If it passes, it falls back in good order. If it fails, it routs..

Close Combat "extra dice" numbers

• Gendarmes kill on a 5 or 6 instead of just a 6 on each D6.
• All swordsmen and Halbardiers kill on a 5 or 6 when fighting foot troops, instead of just a 6 on each D6.
• Units in open order are -1 when fighting closed order troops
• Medium Cavalry (reiters) are +1
• Light Cavalry are +1 win ties vs. infantry but not cavalry.
• Cavalry with lance +1 first turn for the first die roll in any melee for each company.
• Pikes closed order are fighting to their front. kill on a 5 or 6 instead of just a 6 on each D6.
• All other units fighting pikes to front -2
• Units climbing up to higher level are -1
• Units attacking “across walls” are -1
• Pikes in broken terrain or urban areas other than in the streets= die number
• Gendarmes or Rieters in broken terrain or urban areas other than in the streets= die number
• Disordered or falling back" troops are -1
• Attacked in rear - can inflict no casualties, must just TAKE it! - enemy must START to rear**
• Exceptional officers fighting with a unit add 1.5 D6 per stand in the unit (kill with 6s only)
• Ordinary officers fighting with a unit add one D6 per stand in the unit (kill with 6s only)
• Dummkopfs (Less than ordinary officers) fighting with a unit add one D6 total to the unit (kill with 6s only)