The various Charles Grant "Scenario" Books are a great resource for the type of military actions that often took place. They are (for the most part) NOT "even battles" . . . but both sides have a chance to accomplish their goals.
A while back I challenged members of the "Emperor vs Elector" group blog to create some "mini-campaigns" by tying a number of these scenarios together . . . creating a "scenario tree" depending upon who wins a battle as to where they go next.
Several responded. Here is a link to a summary page of the various mini-campaigns. Click on the "brown" links in parenthesis to go to each author's full campaign description:
http://saxe-bearstein.blogspot.ca/2012/ ... lenge.html
Now, as some of you may know, I am going through a serious medical situation that prevents me from playing any face-to-face games . . . but I have found a solution (using one of the above mini-campaigns) that allows me to play at a nice leisurely pace.
I am playing games "solo" but not in the usual way. A couple of "net friends" (one in Nova Scotia; one in British Columbia), are acting as the Generals of the two sides. They send me their general orders and then I play them out on my table.
Then I post an account and photos to a blog ( http://alpianwars.blogspot.ca/ ). They then send me new orders and so on. We are now well into the second game of this particular "mini-campaign".
I happen to be using Clarence Harrison's "Victory Without Quarter" rule set because the card movement allows for lots of surprises . . . and suits my need for frequent rest breaks.
Unfortunately I do NOT have any ECW troops . . . but I do have some late Renaissance figures that are properly based, so I'm using the rules as is even though the fight is between two fictional 16th century armies.
You, however, may use any rules that you want . . . VWQ isn't required but it works very well.
For those interested, the two armies I have are "mirror images" of each other. Each consists (at maximum) of the following:
1 x C-in-C General
3 x Brigadiers
6 x Pike & Shot -- 1 veteran, 2 trained, 3 raw
1 x Commanded Crossbow -- trained
1 x Swordsmen -- raw
Knights (cuirassier) -- 2 squadrons -- trained
Cavalry (trotters) -- 2 squadrons -- veteran (trotters)
Cavalry (trotters) -- 2 squadrons -- raw
2 Light Artillery OR 1 Foot Artillery -- trained
1 Artillery Guard -- veteran
Before each battle I dice for which units are available (as guided by the scenario). The opposing Generals do not know the quality of the opposing troops . . . but they are learning that some seem tougher than others.
I'm also using the "maddening subordinates" optional rule . . . with each General always having at least one such Brigadier.
Try it out, you might find it a great way to play . . . I do.
-- Jeff