The Pikeman’s Lament

Recreate the action and drama of 17th Century warfare on your tabletop with The Pikeman’s Lament. Start by creating your Officer – is he a natural leader raised from the ranks, the youngest son of a noble family, or an old veteran who has seen too many battles? As you campaign, your Officer will win honour and gain promotion, acquiring traits that may help lead his men to victory. Before each skirmish, your Officer must raise his Company from a wide range of unit options – should he lean towards hard-hitting heavy cavalry or favour solid, defensively minded infantry? Companies are typically formed from 6–8 units, each made up of either 6 or 12 figures, and quick, decisive, and dramatic games are the order of the day. With core mechanics based on Daniel Mersey’s popular Lion Rampant rules, The Pikeman’s Lament captures the military flavour of the 17th Century, and allows you to recreate skirmishes and raids from conflicts such as the Thirty Years’ War, the English Civil Wars, and the Great Northern War.

• Period & Setting: 

  Set in the 17th century during conflicts like the Thirty Years’ War, English Civil Wars, and Great Northern War. 
• Gameplay: 

  Focuses on small-scale skirmishes, raids, and outpost warfare rather than large army battles. 
• Activation System: 

  Uses a “push-your-luck” dice-rolling system to activate units, where failing a roll can end your turn and simulate battlefield uncertainty. 
• Officer & Company Creation: 

  Players create an officer who earns honor and gains promotion, and then raises a company of 6–8 units from various options. 
• Units: 

  Companies typically consist of 6–8 units, with each unit composed of 6 or 12 figures. 
• Miniatures-Agnostic: 

  Designed to be used with figures from any manufacturer, making it accessible to all wargamers. 
• Core Mechanics: 

  Based on Daniel Mersey’s Lion Rampant rules, providing a familiar yet distinct experience for the pike and shot era.