tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3279786472578722137.post3234135176071895852..comments2024-03-15T02:55:43.872+00:00Comments on Roundwood's World: The Sound of a Distant Drum: North German Foot, Legal Contracts and Oak-leaf brass fretSidney Roundwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03440705981976797774noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3279786472578722137.post-67421701280413971402016-10-12T07:20:13.379+01:002016-10-12T07:20:13.379+01:00Great additional comments, Mike. The point on hea...Great additional comments, Mike. The point on health care costs is one I'd not considered, but a very good one. I'm thinking that the subject of mercenaries (17th century) deserves another Blog post in the not too distant future!Sidney Roundwoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14795563060856586670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3279786472578722137.post-48948948546862747162016-10-11T15:54:27.393+01:002016-10-11T15:54:27.393+01:00From what I know of 21st century American practice...From what I know of 21st century American practices, I think contractors are favoured because they come trained and experienced (many are ex US special forces), because they are deniable and unaccountable to rules of engagement, they do not have to be publicly reported as casualties, and they do not have extensive health care costs attached to them. The first criteria is applicable to the 17th century, the rest, not so much.Mad Padrehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00410143683610813671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3279786472578722137.post-16368355038092527112016-10-11T12:35:05.984+01:002016-10-11T12:35:05.984+01:00Hi Iain! Thanks so much - Gosh, I had completely ...Hi Iain! Thanks so much - Gosh, I had completely forgotten the Class "M" troops from the WRG 2nd Edition Renaissance rules. It is high time I dug those out from the box of rules in the attic room! Great memories - thank you!Sidney Roundwoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14795563060856586670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3279786472578722137.post-56940466051278584642016-10-11T08:44:50.130+01:002016-10-11T08:44:50.130+01:00I like the brass etched oak leaves, very nice and ...I like the brass etched oak leaves, very nice and the chart is fun , a bit like m class troops in George Gush's wrg renaissance rules looking forward in equal measure to the based troops and the tavern. <br />Best Iain caveadsum1471https://www.blogger.com/profile/02174163740406928172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3279786472578722137.post-46104988534693909882016-10-08T13:42:23.462+01:002016-10-08T13:42:23.462+01:00Cheers Ed. As ever, I'm inspired by everythin...Cheers Ed. As ever, I'm inspired by everything you guys do - in particular the numerous charts in your own, great games!Sidney Roundwoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14795563060856586670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3279786472578722137.post-56342567073863001352016-10-08T13:41:46.605+01:002016-10-08T13:41:46.605+01:00Thanks Michael! I shall keep you all updated!Thanks Michael! I shall keep you all updated!Sidney Roundwoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14795563060856586670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3279786472578722137.post-17746691970296902152016-10-08T13:41:26.569+01:002016-10-08T13:41:26.569+01:00Cheers Curt. Great minds think alike. I promise ...Cheers Curt. Great minds think alike. I promise I have not looked at the WSS article first before this post. But I know I do have that edition of WSS, and would have read it, so it is entirely possible that I have subconsciously ripped it off in some way - for which apologies!<br /><br />As you've guessed, it is all about adding "friction" in all its forms to the game. Hopefully, in this case, adding friction in a form which is little period specific. I do like your other examples of shortages of pay and light-fingered officers. Perhaps we should have a "Hired Soldiers Attitude Chart"!Sidney Roundwoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14795563060856586670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3279786472578722137.post-48979175565972771532016-10-08T13:38:04.610+01:002016-10-08T13:38:04.610+01:00Thanks Millsy. I shall keep you posted on the bra...Thanks Millsy. I shall keep you posted on the brass-workSidney Roundwoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14795563060856586670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3279786472578722137.post-75031959050266243952016-10-08T13:37:41.851+01:002016-10-08T13:37:41.851+01:00Thanks Michael!Thanks Michael!Sidney Roundwoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14795563060856586670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3279786472578722137.post-88231981333821900432016-10-08T13:36:56.667+01:002016-10-08T13:36:56.667+01:00Thanks Martin. Funny you should mention that. On...Thanks Martin. Funny you should mention that. One of the next terrain items is a tavern from Laarden's less salubrious district ...Sidney Roundwoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14795563060856586670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3279786472578722137.post-62228601125973127312016-10-08T13:35:57.570+01:002016-10-08T13:35:57.570+01:00"Hats of Oak" - that's a wonderful i..."Hats of Oak" - that's a wonderful idea! Mercenaries - and how they were recruited and raised, how they fought, which nationalities predominated - seems to be a very respectably subject for scholars in all periods. There's a great deal on mercenaries in the Italian Wars, and a fair amount on the seventeenth century also (although mainly focused on the Thirty Years War). <br /><br />I agree with you entirely, that its very interesting as to the rise of Private Military Contractors, and their debatable and potentially deniable role in modern wars. <br /><br />Are some mercenary formations used because they are expendable? Or because they are experienced and veterans? Or, perhaps, because they are simply available? Or maybe all of these, and more?<br /><br />Perhaps a good focus for another post!Sidney Roundwoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14795563060856586670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3279786472578722137.post-8044727626071544802016-10-08T13:31:27.564+01:002016-10-08T13:31:27.564+01:00Thanks so much Phil - and great to see you stoppin...Thanks so much Phil - and great to see you stopping by!Sidney Roundwoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14795563060856586670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3279786472578722137.post-33714022012596953992016-10-08T08:52:00.607+01:002016-10-08T08:52:00.607+01:00Not sure which I like more - the wonderful idea fo...Not sure which I like more - the wonderful idea for field signs in the hats, or that chart! Very imaginative.Colonel Scipiohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02632701529009379584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3279786472578722137.post-74548432064980545952016-10-08T08:51:29.342+01:002016-10-08T08:51:29.342+01:00What tremendous progress my good man, can't wa...What tremendous progress my good man, can't wait to see some of these come to life. Michael Awdryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07049982879661559305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3279786472578722137.post-55488345603565923052016-10-07T21:20:15.724+01:002016-10-07T21:20:15.724+01:00I like your contractual chart Sid! This reminds me...I like your contractual chart Sid! This reminds me of a recent article in WS&S on how to reflect the contractual disagreements that often cropped up during the Italian Wars. These will add a fun bit of friction to your games. Perhaps you need ones for when pay has not been provided (and so the troops will not move at all) and another for when the officers have been caught skimming from the regimental paychest (Mutiny!). Curthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03202047917371080576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3279786472578722137.post-63426936523636884172016-10-07T21:12:28.032+01:002016-10-07T21:12:28.032+01:00A jolly interesting post mate. Keen to see how the...A jolly interesting post mate. Keen to see how the brass fret works out.Millsyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17580692168847505881noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3279786472578722137.post-28368810948261071992016-10-07T19:46:05.703+01:002016-10-07T19:46:05.703+01:00Very interesting indeed !Very interesting indeed !Dalaupprorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05292614404943521842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3279786472578722137.post-22008374242320566572016-10-07T16:16:15.372+01:002016-10-07T16:16:15.372+01:00Marvellous. The brass are a great idea and will lo...Marvellous. The brass are a great idea and will look really good. All you have to do now is keep them out of the pubMartinChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04465653471454483708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3279786472578722137.post-44228703706287292442016-10-07T15:22:17.725+01:002016-10-07T15:22:17.725+01:00Now all you need is a rousing marching song, perha...Now all you need is a rousing marching song, perhaps stolen from the Royal Navy and translated into Flemish - Hats of Oak?<br />Very clever idea to distinguish these troops.<br />I used to think the idea of hiring bands of mercenaries seemed very old school and quaint until I realized that, according to some figures, there are nearly as many in Afghanistan as there are regular western military. Only difference, we call them contractors. Plus ca change.Mad Padrehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00410143683610813671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3279786472578722137.post-11239038561972927532016-10-07T13:34:25.594+01:002016-10-07T13:34:25.594+01:00Looking good, I shall enjoy watching your project ...Looking good, I shall enjoy watching your project progress and reading the background info.Phil Robinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14951076081660516802noreply@blogger.com