Jim O'Neill (Established 1949)
Scotland
Motherwell
I aten't dead yet...
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Description
Beneath the Lily Banners is a 48-page soft back A4 sized fully illustrated set of rules for miniature wargames with 28mm metal figures in the period 1660-1721, devised and written by Barry Hilton and published by The League of Augsburg. Cover art, interior art and design are by Clarence Harrison. The set contains a separate double-sided laminated summary chart.
Background
I have been wargaming with miniatures in various periods since the tender age of 13. I have used many sets of rules over the years, some good, some bad and some just plain ugly. Miniature wargaming is not so much an obsession with me as a way of life; hence I feel reasonably qualified to review this particular rule set.
Disclaimer
I take no liability for the reader being seduced by this period as I have. The images contained in this review are pure wargaming pornography and may result in serious damage to your wealth should you, as I have, start to pursue the collecting and painting of one or more metal armies for use with these rules.
Introduction
Mr Hilton has been wargaming for nearly as long as I have but he came to the public eye during the early nineties through his demonstration games of the period covered by the rule set at various shows throughout the United Kingdom under the auspices of The League of Augsburg, a gaming group that now consists of only himself. Barry is also a regular contributor to such wargaming magazines as WARGAMES illustrated and many others. His writing style betrays a passion for the period and a knowledge of his subject in great depth. This same style shows through in the rules, which are written in the English manner; a narrative rather than legal approach.
The Rules #1
As said above, these rules are designed primarily for use with 28mm figures but can be adapted to other scales. The shear visual impact of a table filled with 28mm miniatures gave rise to them being called "The Queen of the Battlefield" and, in my biased opinion, rightly so.
Infantry figures are based onto stands of 45mm frontage by 50mm in depth. Six models in two ranks make up a stand. Cavalry are based in threes on a stand with a frontage of 60mm and a depth also of 50mm. Artillery, commanders and irregular cavalry have different base sizes to suit their needs. A unit of infantry consists of three stands and a unit of cavalry two. The recommended table size is an astounding six feet accross by ten feet wide, but the game can be played on smaller surfaces.
The Rules #2
Movement is simultaneous with the use of hidden order markers to avoid the "if you do this, then I will do that" fault of many earlier rule sets.
The command system involves ordering your units as would be expected but, and it is a serious but, not all of your force is able to move every turn. This is done by rolling a die to see how effective your general is each turn resulting in either 25%, 50%, 75% or all of your army moving. This is an excellent reflection of the difficulty in manoeuvring troops in that day and age.
Although there are eleven steps in the turn sequence, these follow a logical progression and give a very free-flowing and fast game. Shooting and melee are covered by simple mechanisms and the interaction of the units portrays an outstanding reflection of late 17th early 18th century warfare.
The Rules #3
I fear that if I go into too much detail here, I will spoil the enjoyment you will get from reading the book yourself so, if you wish to delve further, I can sincerely recommend that you buy a copy.
Summary
As you have probably gathered, I am smitten by this production and have resolved to spend the next year or two building up my armies. I must also mention that there are some order markers available that were produced especially for this set. The only drawbacks that I can see are the size of the gaming table needed to fully appreciate the scope of these battles and the fact that the author, although providing an excellent bibliography, does assume a knowledge of the period by the reader.
Last word
The image above is that of a re-fight of Malplaquet 1709 and featured in WARGAMES illustrated issue 263. This should give you an idea of what you are letting yourself in for should you join me in the road to perdition, penury and a most satisfying wargame experience. This is Miniature Wargamming at its simplest and most elegant.
I wholeheartedly recommend this set of rules.
Regards,
Jim
Est. 1949
Usual edits for spelling and grammar.
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Fad or not, it´s here to stay! The League of Extraordinary Heroscapers!
Denmark
Aarhus
calm and composed
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Great review Jim!
Move it about 100 years back in time, and to Japan, and I would be on it like nobody´s bussiness! 
It is, however, the time period for one of the most famous danish (born norwegian) naval heroes of all time, Tordenskjold....
hmmm...
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Bob
United States
Nebraska
Don't squat with your spurs on.
Never approach a bull from the front, a horse from the rear, or a fool from any direction.
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Thanks for the review Jim. Nice work!
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Was George Orwell an Optimist?
United States
Corvallis
Oregon
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Excellent - I'll give this a whirl with you next time I'm in Scotland!
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Ian
United States
Berkeley
California
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I would be all over this, if only I wasn't a poor student and could find gamers with similar interests. Alas, it is an imperfect world.
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**MOSHIN' JOSH** [Here to have fun!]
Canada
Cambridge
Ontario
"Sometimes game rulebooks are meant to be used as a guide - not chiseled into stone tablets as scripture. If using a specific rule makes a game more fun for you, then it is not only your right - but it is your duty to change it." --Rob Bell
“My opinion is that a game has its own life when published, and is really alive when players want to add their own house rules!” --Bruno Cathala
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oneilljgf wrote: I am smitten by this production and have resolved to spend the next year or two building up my armies.
Quote: COFFIN DODGER
You'd better get on with it, Jim! 
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Muz Fish
Australia
Canberra
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Great review! Enough information to convey the general sense of the rules and for a potential player make an informed decison about whether these rules are likely to be their cup of tea or not without superfluous detail. Also, very well illustrated!
As an aside, I have played this period in 15mm using DBR and in 25/8mm using Might and Reason and found both sets to be quite good, but I have a distinct preference for M & R. I do like the M & R "base width" approach to measuring distances in that one is not obliged to rebase to play the rules.
Can you compare this ruleset to other ones that cover this period?
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Jim O'Neill (Established 1949)
Scotland
Motherwell
I aten't dead yet...
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muzfish4 wrote: ...Can you compare this ruleset to other ones that cover this period?
Muz,
First of all, thank you for the kind words. As to a comparison, I have neither played nor read any rules specifically for this period athough I have Shako which is basically Napoleonic but with refinements to cover the late 17th and early 18th centuries.
I can only compare it with similar "Horse and Musket" rules and say that it takes me back to when wargames were enjoyable before they got tied down in too much detail. This particular set is best played by Gentlemen and not Lawyers. There is no points system as warfare is not meant to be fair.
The pleasure is in enjoying the game and the spectacle, not the outcome. Now, I'll get off my bloody pulpit.
Regards,
Jim
Est. 1949
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Muz Fish
Australia
Canberra
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Thanks for the very helpful reply, Jim.
I do agree with you regarding rules sets meant to be fun and the game and experience being the thing, not the result.
As I get older I find I have less and less time for complexities in rules and suchlike. A game that plays well, looks good and gives a 'feel' (or at least what I consider to be the 'feel') of a period suits me to a tee.
I have used Might and Reason for Marlburian battles and found them to be good. Not sure they would stretch pack to pike and shot though.
Good gaming!
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Железный комиссар
United States
Madison
Wisconsin
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Having read this review, I'm now aware of one game called Beneath the Lily Banners and one called Under the Lily Banners.
Once Uwe Rosenberg designs At the Gates of the Lily Banners, I'm cashing out.
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Posted Sun Nov 15, 2009 10:02 am
