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Black Sheep
United Kingdom
263 Posts |
 Posted - 07 Sep 2012 : 00:23:40
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The Hard-men download is now available via the website's 'More Info' page or the following link
http://www.dashingdicegames.co.uk/Hard-Men%20experimental%20rules%20pdf.pdf
These new experimental rules will permit players to equip hard-men with the lethal 'pole-axe' and introduce the 'Grit & Spit' command that may allow these devious mercenaries to escape from combat if a fight is not going in their favour. These soldiers of misfortune are also 'shotte-free' and very adept at foraging - so be extra vigilant protecting your livestock.
I hope you enjoy the Hard-Men rules. As usual please post any questions or comments on the forum or the new Witchfinder Yahoo Group (if you would prefer feel free to send an e-mail).
Have a good weekend everyone. |
Edited by - Black Sheep on 08 Sep 2012 13:47:53 |
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Big Al
United Kingdom
117 Posts |
Posted - 08 Sep 2012 : 18:43:04
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| They look rather handy! Thanks for those. |
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drusty
78 Posts |
Posted - 09 Sep 2012 : 17:37:46
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| Many thanks for the download, Black Sheep. Your description has already suggested a couple of scenario ideas. The photo of the witchfinder copping it with the pole-axe is great, but could we see a photo of the pole-axe in all its glory? |
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Black Sheep
United Kingdom
263 Posts |
Posted - 10 Sep 2012 : 08:15:05
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Hello Big Al & Drusty. Thank you for the initial comments about the Hard-men download. Later this weekend I will add a couple of photos to the Grim Gallery that include clearer images of the pole-axe.
In the interim I believe the chap in this 17th Century drawing is carrying a pole-axe
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Prince_Rupert_-_1st_English_Civil_War.jpg |
Edited by - Black Sheep on 13 Sep 2012 21:43:33 |
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Big Al
United Kingdom
117 Posts |
Posted - 13 Sep 2012 : 22:52:03
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| Hmm! I'm not sure that a poleaxe could be used from the back of a horse. It certainly looks like one, but I always thought that a poleaxe had a longer shaft. What does anyone else think? |
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drusty
78 Posts |
Posted - 14 Sep 2012 : 13:30:08
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| The short-shafted MkII pole-axe, manufactured in Croatia, can be wielded 360' from horseback by hard-men in Witchfinder games. |
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Big Al
United Kingdom
117 Posts |
Posted - 14 Sep 2012 : 14:22:02
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| Thanks for that, Drusty. Sounds good to me. Could be useful for braining a few heathens! |
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drusty
78 Posts |
Posted - 14 Sep 2012 : 15:03:06
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| On a more serious note, Big Al, I just wonder how much the axe held by Rupert is more a symbol of his authority than an actual battlefield-wielding weapon. But in Witchfinder, why not? |
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Big Al
United Kingdom
117 Posts |
Posted - 14 Sep 2012 : 22:12:16
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| I think you're right, Drusty. It does look more symbolic. For Witchfinder, it will fit perfectly now we have the Hard Man rules! |
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Black Sheep
United Kingdom
263 Posts |
Posted - 17 Sep 2012 : 00:39:45
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The questions  Big Al and Drusty raised about the poll-axe have turned out to be quite controversial. I completely agree with Drusty’s definition for using the poll-axe in games of Witchfinder General. This weekend I have been to a very interesting English Civil Wars conference at Leeds Armouries. I took the opportunity to ask three people (one curator, one speaker and an experienced re-enactor) about the poll-axe. The question prompted quite a debate. Everyone agreed that some ECW cavalrymen, including Prince Rupert, used this type of weapon in close combat - with either a axe head / spike combination or a spike / hammer head combination. The names that people gave to this type of weapon varied from ‘horseman’s hammer’, pollax ( to distinguish it from the medieval poll-axe with a long shaft) or war hammer. It was also suggested that some cavalrymen may have literally used an old fashioned poll-axe, with a shortened ‘sawn- off’ shaft.
On page 24 of ‘Naseby 1645- The triumph of the New Model Army’ (Osprey 2007) there is reference to cavalrymen issued with a poll-axes, that were deemed ‘very neccessarie’ for employment against cuirassiers. Another Osprey book, ‘Soldiers of the English Civil War (2) Cavalry’, also describes cavalrymen ‘At his saddle a good stiffe sword sharp pointed, and a good poll-axe in his hand..'.
I appear to have run out of Sunday & will add another pic of a Hard-man wielding a poll-axe to the Grim Gallery on Monday after work. Have a good week everyone.
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Big Al
United Kingdom
117 Posts |
Posted - 17 Sep 2012 : 09:05:10
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Thanks for that information. It's good that we can raise such an interesting debate in such exalted places as the Royal Armouries! It would appear that the poleaxe, with a shortened shaft was used by cavalry men and Prince Rupert in particular. It sounds like you had fun in Leeds and it must have felt great to give the "experts" something to really get their teeth into!
This has been very informative and good news in gaming terms, both for Witchfinder and other rules for the period. |
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drusty
78 Posts |
Posted - 17 Sep 2012 : 18:06:02
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| The Osprey ECW Cavalry book also has illustrations of the pole-axe on Plate A [page 32], the notes to which state: "...there are several references to its use and effectiveness." Presumably, if the pole-axe was effective against cuirassier armour, it would also be effective against back-and-breast plates, a lobster, and a buff coat. |
Edited by - drusty on 18 Sep 2012 00:18:28 |
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Black Sheep
United Kingdom
263 Posts |
Posted - 17 Sep 2012 : 21:49:01
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quote:
Originally posted by drusty
Many thanks for the download, Black Sheep. Your description has already suggested a couple of scenario ideas. The photo of the witchfinder copping it with the pole-axe is great, but could we see a photo of the pole-axe in all its glory?
Hello Drusty. I have added a photo that gives a better view of the Hard-man's pole-axe to Grim Gallery 2 |
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Big Al
United Kingdom
117 Posts |
Posted - 18 Sep 2012 : 10:00:49
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quote:
Originally posted by drusty
The Osprey ECW Cavalry book also has illustrations of the pole-axe on Plate A [page 32], the notes to which state: "...there are several references to its use and effectiveness." Presumably, if the pole-axe was effective against cuirassier armour, it would also be effective against back-and-breast plates, a lobster, and a buff coat.
Ah, the effect against armour is different to a buff coat. A buff coat offers little protection, as you know and the blade will likely cut into the flesh beneath, but against plate armour, it would dent it and render it so uncomfortable to the wearer that he would be unable to breath or have difficulty doing so and would either remove the armour or be unable to fight. Removing the armour would leave him vulnerable to other weapons. At least, that is how those weapons are designed. They would be less effective against mail because mail spreads the effect of the impact. |
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Hard-Men - Soldiers of Misfortune
