Pike & Shotte Demi-culverin

[Correus]

SWEET!!!

I really like the new Demi-culverin.

This brings to mind a few questions.

#1 - what kind of ratio would you use to field this? Right now I have two of the Saker cannons - how many of these would you table before you tabled a Demi-culverin? Or would this be used only for sieges?

#2 - the advert states: "...but a cannon the size of a demi-culverin would need a huge team of horses...". Are the WG gods coming out with ECW horse trains?

[mikeland]

The Demi could be used as a field peice, but it was pretty heavy. I'm sure I read somewhere that Wallers ordinance contained at least one Culverine (24lb) piece.

The pike and shot book seems to suggest one piece of canon for each battalia, so typically you only need a couple per army, 3 at the most I would say. Artillery wasn't used as much in the ECW as in say the Napoleonics era, it was much less accurate and dependable. It was more a tool of shock and awe Han the battle winner it would later become. Not that a well places, or lucky shot couldn't wreak havock.

[Correus]

So...hoe many pieces of artillery would you have per army - 3? Would two Sakers and a Demi-c be good?

[mikeland]

That is pretty much my plan, I am going to start off with a couple per army and work from there. But like with most things it is really up to you.

Have to say that Demi Culverin looks like a fantastic set, the crew are great!

[Correus]

Yes it is.

Now if I could only focus....

[BigMike]

Mike is absolutely right that there would generally have been fewer heavier guns around than lighter pieces, but a general wouldn't have had much choice in the matter of the weapons at his disposal, so there is no real 'ratio' to be made of say 'x' sakers to 'y' demi culverins.

I've ended up with 5 saker guns and 4 light frame guns, and i'll just add one of the big D-C's for now - which will give me an extremely well equipped field artillery train, but not one that will bother most fortified places too much - which seems about right.
The mortar, on the other hand, will worry fortified places

[Wargaming Dad]

For my Eastern Ass'n hero's, I got 4 of the WL sakers but then thought I would treat myself to 4 more and bought the cheaper ones from Renegade, only to find they are huuuuuge in comparison (almost twice the size) so I will have to use them as Demi Culverines (serves me right..will stick with WL in future) . My cannon now consists 4 sakers , 4 demi culverines, 3 falcons, which is more than enough on the average 6'x4' gaming table. I love the mortar crew figs and the new crew figs for D/Culverine...WL take note ...you should sell all the crew figs as separates so you can 'pick and mix' for each gun.

Cheers
W-D

[BigMike]

They tend to get released as seperates a few months after the main release W-D. Especially if enough people hint to Paul!

[johnm]

Just tried painting a Demi-culverin, using GWs (50p in swear-box) new paints and it pains me to admit it but they worked well

[Wargaming Dad]

I always use the GW (another 50p in the swear box) paints, I find they suit my style ('damp' brushing over a black basecoat... same as dry brushing but with slightly more paint on the brush) and I use them straight from the pot. I did find the Black primer (Imperial primer) a bit 'odd' and runny at first with but now I've got used to it, it's fine (good for black lining) also slightly thinned Devlan Mud is my preferred shading and I mix it 50:50 with the red wash for shading flesh tones.

Cheers
W-D