Age of Eagles, Europe at War 1700 -1914

11/11/2025

The Final Playtest, Fire and Fury Pike & Shot, Saint-Denis 1678.
The images provided by the social media folks really don't capture the grandeur of the game IMHO. This is because the game was 10 mm, where each unit of massed pikes and musket substitutes for a single figure in other games. Thus, closeups of one model aren't that impressive. SOOOOOOO, click on the link below to access all 60 or some images via the cloud.

https://tinyurl.com/FallIn25FandFPikeand-Shot

Otherwise, great game, primarily because of the people who played it. I had 8 out of 10 spots preregistered and 2 no-shows, but reinforcements arrived in the form of three more folks via on-site registration. Everyone got a well-deserved goodie thumb drive which included free digital copies of Age of Eagles 2 and Age of Honor and more.

And the game was pretty historical, with the Prince of Orange leading the States Army in the capture of the Abby of Saint-Denis which the French never retook. But as happened historically, the French stubbornly held on to Casteau and used the town as the jump-off for blistering counterattacks. World class play by all involved and unbelievable patience listing to all my "don't quit your day job" jokes. It was truly an honor.

11/10/2025

Four days partying at a convention with my minions, libations in open faucet mode, in bed at 3 AM, awake ready to rock at 7 AM, can REALLY make it a challenge getting back to work.

Ask me how I know.

11/03/2025

OK, gents, last call for my Fire & Fury Pike & Shot game

https://tabletop.events/conventions/fall-in-2025/schedule/149.

As of five minutes ago I am up to 5 out of 10 slots filled (and for the love of my local Druid please don't stand me up), and I really need six players to make this work, 8 optimal and 10 a stretch.
Yes, I know some people wait til the last minute while others do so when they get on site. Sometimes I have a full table registered and only two people show, others four people register and 11 show up.
I'll check Friday afternoon to see how many tickets are left on Friday afternoon and go from there, so register now to make sure there is a game and you have a seat.

Anyway, details at the link above and below the map we'll be using to set up the table and a look at how our playtest from the last con looked. Thanx muchly.

09/29/2025

Age of Eagles Pike & Shot, the Final Playtest. Yes, my event has finally been approved and posted. Covering the 1678 battle of Saint -Denis, France vs Holland/Spain/Britain and Huguenots. As usual, free digital rules and other goodies to everyone who plays, to include Age of Eagles II (Napoleonic Fire & Fury). Our game is due to be the subject of an upcoming Wargames Illustrated article come the holidays, which is when we will also release the final product. Did I mention it'll be totally FREE?
I have 10 slots, so sign up today via the URL below which will also give you all the details. And for images at our previous soiree, go here - https://onedrive.live.com/?redeem=aHR0cHM6Ly8xZHJ2Lm1zL2YvYy8wMDVmN2FhNzU1MzAyOTk4L0VvaC1fVzFPRUgxR3NnR2M2Nnh3WnBRQkdvQzV6Nnp4Zm9FWl9GeVM3d2hnelE%5FZT1GUVBDbUU&id=005F7AA755302998%21s6dfd7e88104e467db2019cebac706694&cid=005F7AA755302998

https://tabletop.events/conventions/fall-in-2025/schedule/149

08/30/2025

Folks this is a general update on AOE II since I am on the other side of 70, so I'll be winding down my direct participation. No worries as AOE II still has a LOT of years left taking care of the gamer and the hobby. Let's begin:

1) AOE Product line. Hardcopy will be sold and distributed by On Military Matters in the US, Caliver in the UK. Digital downloads will be the primary retail method, Amazon for the Kindle, Google Play for MOBI/PDF. As of now, I am OUT of the direct sales business. https://ageofeagles.com/buy-now
2) The Website will remain online and updated. https://ageofeagles.com/
3) All our FREE reference portals will remain online and updated. https://ageofeagles.com/weblinks
4) Because of the latest Microsoft OneDrive update, I've had to reestablish new shared URLs for all my photo galleries. I've also changed some of the old stuff and added in some new stuff, such as our recent Pike & Powder battles covering battles from the 30YW to the WSS, and also some WWI engagements as well (see below). https://ageofeagles.com/gallery
5) The Boardgame Geek page will be updated soon and will remain so. https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamefamily/61124/series-age-of-eagles
6) The AOR Group IO page will remain functional and updated. https://groups.io/g/ageofeagles
7) Current and Future Projects. a) Completion of Free Age of Tigers add on module covering the British in Indja! b) Completion of Free Pike & Powder module as described above.

8) Sleep late. 😴Anything I do further will be free and for fun. Obviously, you can contact me for any questions you might have. 🫡🫡🫡

07/22/2025

OK, on a more visual note, yes both Historicon 10 mm playtest games of Cassel 1677 went off, the morning session having 9 players for 8 slots. One prereg emailed me that he couldn't make it due to a personal medical emergency. No problem and I'll be mailing his goody filled giveaway thumb drive as a result. Two more did not show up, no contact so I have no clue why, but sometimes I swear we need to post names of shame about these folks. But I had a walkup and two who registered onsite so all was well. The afternoon session was light with only 4 of 8 slots filled, so we played on one half the table and that worked fine, all gaming objectives achieved, everyone had a great time and hopefully there will be a WI article on this experience coming soon. UNTIL THEN - PICTURES!!!

07/21/2025

I made it home alive (depending on definition) from Historicon sponsored by HMGS - Historical Miniatures Gaming Society, Lancaster Convention Center - Marriot Penn Square, Wednesday - Sunday. Five days WITHOUT spouses (who cheered), religion and politics. But, FULL of 8000 step days, hosting two games, Amish buffet, Shoefly Pie and other grub I shouldn't be looking at much less eating, bedtime at 3 am and rising at 7 am, friends, shopping, flea markets (still no fleas for sale), back pain, one-way streets, Starbucks and walking two blocks to my parking garage. It's like my body never remembered it was 70 years old.

Monday morning, and my body got its memory back. Now I feel like a svelte gazelle. An old one. With arthritis. Run over by a Land Rover. And my smart-ass coffee has been less than supportive. ☕

07/13/2025

OK gang, last call Fire & Fury Pike and Shot at Historicon 25. The morning game on Saturday is completely filled up, but I still need players for the afternoon game starting at 5pm. I have only 3 out of 8 signups and I really need 6 players minimum to make this work right. Tell your friends or sign up at the link below. Remember PreReg for games closes down this Tuesday at 6pm:

https://tabletop.events/conventions/historicon-2025/schedule/302

AND NOW FOR BREAKING NEWS!!! Thanks to a very generous donation from a firm called Skynet, all miniatures now have imbedded nanobots that will allow players to control their forces - movement, fire, combat, everything - via psychlink earbuds provided to each player to keep! You don't even need to touch the table, even for measuring! Seem like really good blokes, so what could possibly go wrong? See demo below:

07/04/2025

"Treason is a charge invented by the winners as an excuse for hanging the losers." Dr Benjamin Franklin (Howard de Silva) to John Adams (William Daniels) from the 1969 Broadway musical "1776."

"But did we really lose after all?" Britain.

"You're welcome," France.

06/25/2025

05/26/2025

"It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived. " (George S Patton, General, United States Army)

05/22/2025

OK folks it's time. Fire & Fury does Pike & Shot at Historicon 25, 2d playtest, the battle of Cassell 1677. Heritage Ballroom Table HR 73, Events 301 and 302, both Saturday, one at 10am the other at 5pm same table. New rules, new charts and all registered players who finish the game get a copy of the scenario PLUS a FREE digital copy of the Age of Eagles II (Napoleonic Fire & Fury) base rules PLUS a FREE hardcopy of the Age of Honor rules. Now here are the two links for these events on Tabletop Events:

https://tabletop.events/conventions/historicon-2025/schedule/301

https://tabletop.events/conventions/historicon-2025/schedule/302

And here is a picture album from our first playtest at Cold Wars!

https://onedrive.live.com/?redeem=aHR0cHM6Ly8xZHJ2Lm1zL2YvYy8wMDVmN2FhNzU1MzAyOTk4L0VwZ3BNRlduZWw4Z2dBQ2xEUVFBQUFBQnJBQTIyWURhOU84WklNVzFtN2VTSVE%5FZT1OWlU4RG4&id=005F7AA755302998%21265637&cid=005F7AA755302998