Condottiere: The Dogs of War Renaissance Mercenary Warfare Rules & Campaigns - Hardcover

Frank Chadwick

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1901543218 ISBN 13: 9781901543216

Publisher: Foundry, 2011

Synopsis

Brand new rules set for re-creating the glorious battles of the Italian mercenaries of the Renaissance era and the Middle AgesIn the late Middle Ages and early Renaissance, the great cities of Italy enjoyed a growth in wealth and power. As they absorbed the smaller villages and towns around them, they became true city-states, and inevitably came into conflict with each other. As the communal militias of the cities were amateurish and largely ineffective, the princes of the cities turned increasingly to mercenary captains to provide armies of experienced veterans. The contract with them was called a condotta, and so the military leader who worked under such a contract was a Condottiere. Condottiere allows you to re-fight battles from the Age of the Condottieri. The game aims for a high degree of playability and fun while still addressing the real tactical and leadership challenges of that age. These battle rules allow you to play pitched battles at a club meet or between several friends. Also, the campaign rules allow a larger group of players to conduct a series of battles, and gradually build up their forces. True to the spirit of the Condottieri, the campaign rules also provide many opportunities for deceit and betrayal, and only a clever combination of tactical skill and duplicitous double-dealing will enable the player to line his pockets with gold and build his reputation as a great Condottiere. The need for cunning and deceit, of course, makes it a nearly ideal pastime for a typical group of friendly gamers.

About this title

Review:

The need for cunning and deceit should make playing this wargame a ton of fun for a group of trusted friends --Toy Soldier and Model Figure Magazine, November 2011

The need for cunning and deceit should make playing this wargame a ton of fun for a group of trusted friends. --Toy Soldier and Model Figure magazine, November 2011

From the Publisher:

Frank Chadwick began creating games in the early 1970's when he and two of his friends formed Games Designers Workshop (GDW) and he is now hailed by some as being one of the finest games designers working today.
Condottiere is the epitome of his skill, experience and creativity, it being a good example of a game that is both interesting to read and fun to play; its highly readable style is followed through on the tabletop with an entertaining game that captures the feel and atmosphere of the time it represents. The lively use of random events and other surprises readily allow for a challenging `fog of war' as well as many other unique situations that are sometimes further complicated by consummate treachery.
Unlike many periods of history when armies were permanent entities kept in place by loyalty, honour or profession, the forces of the Italian Wars were mercenaries personified; mercenary companies that fought for a given state might well fight for their mortal enemies the following campaign season, and even nominally allied regiments might pillage the village of an accomplice. It was a colourful, turbulent, and dramatic time where skulduggery and intrigue were the order of the day.
Condottiere brings all this richness and atmosphere to life on the tabletop.
True to the spirit of the Condottiere, the tabletop game rules provide many opportunities for deceit and betrayal and only a clever combination of tactical skill and duplicitous double-dealing will enable the player to line his pockets with gold and hence build his reputation as a great Condottiere.
This is a great game to play in an evening with friends. Hopefully they will still be your friends when the game is over!!!!
Keith Pinfold Foundry Publication

About this edition

• Publisher: Foundry
• Publication date: 2011
• ISBN 10: 1901543218
• ISBN 13: 9781901543216
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 170
• Editor: Keith Pinfold, Martin Buck
• Illustrator: Kevin Michael Dallimore, Kevin Dallimore, Martin Buck