Paul B
@pbgameshistory.bsky.social
Account for games, history, places and often linking them together. Live in Co. Tyrone v close to Fermanagh. Focus 2025: 1300-1500, China Song & Empire to Republic, Art, skirmishes & small battles, Dublin Castle, Hoche, 1521-26, 1536 & 1549 projects.
Royalist opponent gets a turn 3 win, so we are even 1:1.
December 16, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Royalist opponent gets a turn 3 win, so we are even 1:1.
Readying the 2nd of the #12GamesOfChristmas - I get to be Parliament.
December 16, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Readying the 2nd of the #12GamesOfChristmas - I get to be Parliament.
Turn 2 of 2 starts in the 'Above the Clouds' scenario 6 contest. I am awaiting an onslaught (am Confederate for a change).
December 16, 2025 at 9:36 AM
Turn 2 of 2 starts in the 'Above the Clouds' scenario 6 contest. I am awaiting an onslaught (am Confederate for a change).
Got them. The chase is something I don’t usually prioritise.
December 15, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Got them. The chase is something I don’t usually prioritise.
First of #12GamesOfChristmas and as we set up Chapter 3, I have those ‘Orrible ‘Obbits in my sights.
December 15, 2025 at 5:07 PM
First of #12GamesOfChristmas and as we set up Chapter 3, I have those ‘Orrible ‘Obbits in my sights.
Will play this out later with current version of melee system. Time to break off for the first Christmas game. Still in our heads.
December 15, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Will play this out later with current version of melee system. Time to break off for the first Christmas game. Still in our heads.
Crown gets a Charge card. Charges and Moves are subject to the Rule of One. One initially drawn up Battle/Guard, or line of similar contiguous formations, or a single formation gets to act. The battle can’t all reach a targets so the Carews and their Bills peel off and rush the bridge.
December 15, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Crown gets a Charge card. Charges and Moves are subject to the Rule of One. One initially drawn up Battle/Guard, or line of similar contiguous formations, or a single formation gets to act. The battle can’t all reach a targets so the Carews and their Bills peel off and rush the bridge.
Turn 2 sees ineffective fire exchanged at longish rang. Another rebel event reveals that the river north of the main bridge is crossable. The issues are more the banks. You need to get a formation down them across a river that is probably wadeable, up the opposite side and into the enemy bills.
December 15, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Turn 2 sees ineffective fire exchanged at longish rang. Another rebel event reveals that the river north of the main bridge is crossable. The issues are more the banks. You need to get a formation down them across a river that is probably wadeable, up the opposite side and into the enemy bills.
Turn 1 sees all four possible cards turned. The rebel event is for light rain, so this might lead to issues with powder. The rightmost card is Ends, not a second event - max 1 per turn.
December 15, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Turn 1 sees all four possible cards turned. The rebel event is for light rain, so this might lead to issues with powder. The rightmost card is Ends, not a second event - max 1 per turn.
A little 1549 battling before our first #12GamesOfChristmas session. Starts with an ineffective bombardment by Crown ordnance [O bottom left] against Devon billmen on bridge [an objective]. Green marker for untried - might turn out to be exceptionally good or bad.
December 15, 2025 at 3:59 PM
A little 1549 battling before our first #12GamesOfChristmas session. Starts with an ineffective bombardment by Crown ordnance [O bottom left] against Devon billmen on bridge [an objective]. Green marker for untried - might turn out to be exceptionally good or bad.
End state - 4:0 French victory, 2 for a galley exiting to the Channel Islands and 2 for sinking an English ship. This can be put away now as I know it is near stable.
December 13, 2025 at 6:04 PM
End state - 4:0 French victory, 2 for a galley exiting to the Channel Islands and 2 for sinking an English ship. This can be put away now as I know it is near stable.
Pauncy (Pansy) reaches the site, getting in an ineffective broadside.
December 13, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Pauncy (Pansy) reaches the site, getting in an ineffective broadside.
Reg Galley breaks away. Subsequently Neptune incapacitates and then sinks it.
December 13, 2025 at 5:58 PM
Reg Galley breaks away. Subsequently Neptune incapacitates and then sinks it.
Red Galley tries to break through French firing ineffectively. Neptune closes but fails in first grapple attempt.
December 13, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Red Galley tries to break through French firing ineffectively. Neptune closes but fails in first grapple attempt.
Second outing. French have a
Near calm sea with the hint of a Southerly breeze. Main
English sail trio are far off, but the Red Galley is returning from the Brittany coast and is in the way.
Near calm sea with the hint of a Southerly breeze. Main
English sail trio are far off, but the Red Galley is returning from the Brittany coast and is in the way.
December 13, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Second outing. French have a
Near calm sea with the hint of a Southerly breeze. Main
English sail trio are far off, but the Red Galley is returning from the Brittany coast and is in the way.
Near calm sea with the hint of a Southerly breeze. Main
English sail trio are far off, but the Red Galley is returning from the Brittany coast and is in the way.
Short scenario ends with wind dropping, allowing French galleys to head to safety. English 5 turns away from getting to where the French will no longer be.
December 13, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Short scenario ends with wind dropping, allowing French galleys to head to safety. English 5 turns away from getting to where the French will no longer be.
Turn 4 the wind veers, giving the English the weather gauge. Turn 5 it strengthens giving their 3 ships under sail a chance of closing more credibly. The Red Galley lags.
December 13, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Turn 4 the wind veers, giving the English the weather gauge. Turn 5 it strengthens giving their 3 ships under sail a chance of closing more credibly. The Red Galley lags.
Fate decrees that the English are so far away with the wind against them that catching the enemy galleys seems unlikely, so this might be a test the movement system and reset play through.
December 13, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Fate decrees that the English are so far away with the wind against them that catching the enemy galleys seems unlikely, so this might be a test the movement system and reset play through.
French on their way to raid Jersey in summer 1549. All under oars and the slight westerly breeze should pose no problem.
December 13, 2025 at 4:02 PM
French on their way to raid Jersey in summer 1549. All under oars and the slight westerly breeze should pose no problem.
The 'Battle' of the Solent in 1545 is the big encounter of this era, but there seem to be a number of interesting actions in the Channel and eastern Scottish Firths to explore and draw inspiration from. Especially galleys vs non-galleys.
December 13, 2025 at 9:41 AM
The 'Battle' of the Solent in 1545 is the big encounter of this era, but there seem to be a number of interesting actions in the Channel and eastern Scottish Firths to explore and draw inspiration from. Especially galleys vs non-galleys.
Mocking up some 1” standee ships to test draft mashup of own 1540-50s ideas plus Fighting Sail plus Dennis/Callan Helion Armada system.
December 13, 2025 at 9:34 AM
Mocking up some 1” standee ships to test draft mashup of own 1540-50s ideas plus Fighting Sail plus Dennis/Callan Helion Armada system.
Side side project of tracking down and understanding French galleys in 1549:
December 12, 2025 at 8:40 AM
Side side project of tracking down and understanding French galleys in 1549:
An account of the battle (an ambush) in link. My image of the 'remember everyone' sone in the sun. www.visitmournemountains.co.uk/museums/blog...
December 11, 2025 at 8:49 AM
An account of the battle (an ambush) in link. My image of the 'remember everyone' sone in the sun. www.visitmournemountains.co.uk/museums/blog...
Stopped at Saintfield again on the way to Bangor. The three interpretative boards at the far end of the 1st Presbyterian Church graveyard have been replaced. An American - French - Irish revolutionary arc is stressed.
December 11, 2025 at 8:46 AM
Stopped at Saintfield again on the way to Bangor. The three interpretative boards at the far end of the 1st Presbyterian Church graveyard have been replaced. An American - French - Irish revolutionary arc is stressed.
There's nothing big under EdVI to match Saint-Mathieu 1512, Solent 1545, Spanish Armada 1588 for instance, but there are Rough Wooing linked actions. This Channel Islands action v French galleys catches my eye:
December 10, 2025 at 8:56 AM
There's nothing big under EdVI to match Saint-Mathieu 1512, Solent 1545, Spanish Armada 1588 for instance, but there are Rough Wooing linked actions. This Channel Islands action v French galleys catches my eye: