Renaissance covers a
fascinating century of warfare, from the close of the Medieval era to the
eve of the Thirty Years War. The period starts with the French invasion of
Italy in 1494 and the armies are still largely Medieval in weaponry and
organization.
While firearms and artillery are
present on the battlefield they have yet to secure a dominant tactical
role. However, by the close of the sixteenth century, traditional missile
weapons such as the longbow and crossbow had been supplanted by arquebuses,
muskets and pistols, while the proportion of firearms to pike had greatly
increased since 1500.
The pike, once the primary
infantry weapon for many armies - and often a decisive battle-winner in
the hands of professional Swiss and Landsknect mercenaries - was, by the
close of the period retained primarily as a protection against cavalry, a
role it continued to perform for another century until the invention of
the bayonet made it redundant.
With Renaissance, you can
refight the Italian Wars between France and Spain as well as the various
Anglo-Scottish battles of the 16th century, or lead Ottoman armies against
Persians, Mamelukes and Western Christendom! Experience the pike &
shot warfare of the French Wars of Religion and the Dutch Revolt against
Spanish rule. These conflicts involve a wide range of different troop
types and weaponry, providing a diverse and rewarding gaming experience.
