Battle Showcase: Never Mind the Billhooks Overview and First Play

Overview and first impressions of the new 28mm historical wargaming rule set 'Never Mind the Billhooks'.
Written specifically for small battles and big skirmishes in the Wards of the Roses era, the rules were free with the Sept 2020 edition of Wargames Illustrated and can also be bought separately from the Wi website and elsewhere online.
More info on the rules on the official Facebook group;
/ 897063627788855
And at Wi;
www.wargamesil...

[@andycallan4419]

Thank you so much for posting these two videos - you have been really quick off the mark! I am delighted that you enjoyed playing my rules and got into them so easily - even if you couldn't resist the temptation to "go large". Bigger armies need more Commanders - especially if there are any cavalry involved, as you will soon find them gallopping off out of command range. 100-110 troop points, plus a CinC and two subordinate commanders would have been a better introduction to the game, but it's good to see that a much bigger army didn't break it. Glad that you have joined the Facebook page - I will be keeping a watch there for the inevitable rules questions. There will be a "Billhooks" scenario in the next issue of Wargames Illustrated, based on an imaginary skirmish just the battle of Stoke Field - which is just up the road (the A46 aka Fosse Way) from where I live. Andy Callan

[@WinstonAbRees]

Thank you Andy and understand totally re our slightly mad sizing. More commanders next time if we do go big again!! Sounds interesting and I suspect by chance I live very close by to you given I’m a regular Stoke Field walker/enthusiast!

[@nowhere3600]

"Up in Mansfield"
Oh huh, I had no idea you guys were so close to me!
Awesome video, thanks for sharing!

[@CullodenPaintingStudio]

Thanks for the overview. Nice to have an era specific game, as opposed to generic rules with modifications.

[@WinstonAbRees]

Thanks and yeah I was pleased to see something specific.

[@stephenwold2716]

Thanks mate, good to see and hear how the basics work

[@WinstonAbRees]

Cheers captain 👍

[@norm977]

Thanks for doing this. Good shout Andy and WI.

[@WinstonAbRees]

Cheers Norm. Great avatar btw.

[@pauldoyle2554]

Thanks for this video, just starting my own WOTR project and this video is a real inspiration. Thanks

[@WinstonAbRees]

Thanks a lot. Three years ago - when I had only painted my first 40 WotR minis - I saw a similar video and it inspired me too! Here we are 500 minis later.....

[@MedievalWargamer]

Brilliant battle! Love the terrain! At last another medieval video! Subscribed.

[@WinstonAbRees]

Thank you! We are indeed a niche within a niche! I also follow yours. Keep the medieval wargames faith 🙏

[@MedievalWargamer]

@@WinstonAbRees thank you! My brother in arms! 👍

[@7thson726]

Excellent video mate, really enjoyed this 👍😀

[@WinstonAbRees]

Cheers man! Enjoying the rules.

[@MaxromekWroc]

Aye, spot on mate! Seen you post those in the Lead Adventure thread so had to follow and check them out. Class paintjobs as well

[@WinstonAbRees]

Thanks a lot for the kind words. The road is long hard but the result is worth it!!

[@62seano]

Great Video mate, really enjoyed it. Just found your channel subbed

[@WinstonAbRees]

Thanks and welcome! Appreciate it.

[@davidsachs4883]

To the problem you faced with armies twice the size the game was designed for. Rather then increasing the number of orders a commander can give you could increase the number of commanders. Rather then three wings each with one commander you could have the three wings each with two commanders each with half the wing under his command. It would require more commander cards and really increase the need to properly shuffle the cards. But I think it’s a better way to utilize armies in the 200-250 point range with one commander for every 35-40 points

[@WargamersAnonymous]

Great overview and lovely looking forces mate! I'll be looking to grab a copy when it hits the newsagents, even though Wotr isn't a period I own anything for......always time eh?

[@WinstonAbRees]

Cheers. And join us join us....join us. Perry do outstanding 40 figure plastic kits in the period to start you off at only 20 quid each.

[@duritti]

I wonder if you could double all the unit sizes as well as double the points to give a much bigger looking game without breaking it?

[@WinstonAbRees]

I think you could Paul - you’d need to give your leaders bigger command ranges etc. But I think it would work well enough.

[@paulroberson9312]

Thanks for taking the time to do this overview. I have just ordered the ruleset so this has been very helpful.
I like the way you have based your miniatures. . Could you tell me if they on 20 or 25mm round bases?

[@WinstonAbRees]

Thanks Paul They are all on 1p bases.

[@georgetrowsdale7775]

Great overview. I’ve just started collecting after always having an interest in the period. What paints do you use?

[@WinstonAbRees]

Thanks a lot - I use a right old mixture of brands. You could say I have a spine of Vallejo supported by Scale 75 with Citadel and Foundry round the edges for certain colours/specific jobs.

[@georgetrowsdale7775]

@@WinstonAbRees thank you. :)

[@Flamethrower1942]

Anybody know any hundred year war era rules sets ?

[@Bede0881]

In a nutshell

[@WinstonAbRees]

I do say that way too many times!

[@Flamethrower1942]

@@WinstonAbRees It's a great song too nutshell by Alice in chains 😎