Irregular Wars Wargaming

Mark's hunters return in a new  Devilry Afoot  scenario! **** Pauline is a secret witch, who has been apprehended by the Witch Finder and his assistants. They are taking her to Oakham to be tried and hanged. Her fellow secret witches must rescue her. The secret witches are Hunters. The Witch Finder’s party are rated as Outlaws. Here are details of the cast for this encounter. The Secret Witches Pauline: Secret Witch / Innocent William Atkins SJ Religious: Devout. Secret Witch. 30s Sword, Pistol (28s) + 2s in pocket Henry Crawford Esq. Gentleman: Secret Witch. 31s Sword, Flintlock 6s to equip Cleeve with sword. 25s in pocket Cleeve Follower: Secret Witch. Polearm, Sword Atkins, Crawford & Cleeve are all characters in my progression table, and are outfitted and equipped accordingly. Here’s a woodcut showing the rescue party, with their familiars, as they were imagined by the anonymous author of the pamphlet Divers Strange Tales of Rutland Shire (photo #1). The Witchfinder ...

I ran a fun introductory game of the Wolves in Sheeps' Clothing scenario for Devilry Afoot this week for Andrew and Roger up at Clare Gaming. The werewolves emerged as far from the hunters as possible, and savaged two of the innocents before the others scattered.    One of the werewolves was killed, while the other survived, if barely. Of the four hunters, two were taken out of action. Both survived, one bearing a lasting leg wound, and both now have the wolf-bitten secret. The other two hunters both fled the scene unwounded. Great craic!

Many years ago, Mark and I used to game at the same local club in the south of Sydney. In the years since, we both moved to opposite ends of the world, but he's continued to be a staunch play of several Irregular Wars rulesets and regular correspondent, sharing reports of his various miniature adventures to a small group of us - some of which I share (with permission) on this blog. He recently sent through the roster of his Devilry Afoot hunters. While it could be seen as just a bit of book keeping, I think it's a lovely way of reviewing the rise and demise of the various characters and followers that have populated his reports over the past two years. Sadly Blogger doesn't want to play ball with the formatting of the table, but it should be clear enough. ✊ Hunter name Affiliation Archetype Secret Traits Equipment Game participation and outcome Character progression Sir Barnabas ‘Barty’ Hardacre Frommage Squire...

Mark sends another missive from the East! ***** I’ve only been playing Devilry Afoot (including playtesting) since January 2024, and I find myself returning to a scenario where the forces of darkness choose a lonely farm as their target. Not sure why … but it has happened again. Here’s a view of Ketuvim Farm yard , where the action will take place this time (Photo #1)  Farmer Job leases Ketuvim farm, somewhere in Rutlandshire, on land owned by the Cottesmore Estate (Sir Thos Bertram Bt, who we have met before). As All Hallows Eve draws closer this year, some disquieting events are cause for worry and extra nightly prayers. A foul smell is in the early-morning air in some low-lying areas. Two sheep have disappeared one morning, and the rest of the flock are obviously nervous. Job and his farm workers are God-fearing folk (outwardly, at least). Here are their details: Farmer Job Goodman, Sadist, Devout, Penitent Flintlock musket 22s, Lantern 3s 25s: spends 25s Bottom* Goodman, Lustf...

We return to Mark now with another dispatch from the East Indies: ***** It’s some time in the middle third of the C16 - as usual - as we return to the East Indies and find the Ming Chinese piracy-suppression squadron hard at work. An-te Hai has positioned a wolf pack of submersible rams (total 183 points) in ambush in the Maluku Strait, through which many of the Portuguese spice convoys pass. They are commanded by Huang Ju, on the Silver Carp. 3 x Submersible rams (62) (186) Fecui Liyu (Emerald Carp), Jin Liyu (Golden Carp), Lian Liyu (Silver Carp) Q3 C3: Ramming, Sluggish, Submersible, Unarmed, Unorthodox They didn’t have long to wait, as a convoy (total 190 points) soon appeared, commanded by Francisco Alvares on the Sao Martinho. 2 x Frigates (60) (120) Sao Jorge, Sao Martinho Q3 C3: Chaser guns, Galleon rigged, Master gunner, Trained guncrew 1 x Merchant brig (18) Moscato (Nutmeg) Q3 C2: Lateen rigged, Merchantman, Master gunner 2 x Large merchant junks (20) (40) Ginger Jar, Haina...