Cairns, Conrad/Ashton, Colin All is Lost, Save Honour

A Wargames Guide to the Italian Wars

The Italian Wars are perhaps the most spectacular, colourful and visually appealing conflicts ever to be played out on the gaming table. Although they have been popular for half a century and there are a multitude of beautifully crafted figures available, there has been no book to date that gives players an insight into the history of these wars and the nature of the armies involved. All is Lost, Save Honour fills this gap. The armies of France, Spain, the Holy Roman Empire, the Italian states and the Swiss Confederation were all different and changed over the 65 years of the conflict. Here we describe what distinguished them and how, in the later stages, something developed that closely resembled the pike-and-shot infantry that would become the Western standard for the next century and beyond. Wargamers have often been frustrated by the lack of information on all but a few of the forty or so major battles (and naval engagements) of this period. We point out the contradictions and ambiguities surrounding some aspects of many battles, but provide enough detail to present 15 battles with maps and descriptions of the forces involved. There is also a section on new techniques of siege warfare, with a detailed account of the attacks on Montalcino and Siena. The armies that fought in Italy (the battles in France are also covered) can be used for contemporary conflicts in Germany, the Pyrenees, Castile, North Africa and other areas. This book is not tied to any specific rules, scales or figure manufacturers, so it will be useful for your game regardless of the system, size and manufacturer of your armies. It contains an extensive bibliography, with an emphasis (where possible) on English-language sources, although the book also includes much material from titles not available in English. Reading a work of art or interpreting an armoury is another skill that the authors bring to this book and explain to the reader.