BIG Billhooks IVth Ticket

The Event

The event will be on Saturday 26^th April 2025 from 09:30 to 1700. Andy Callan, the author of Never Mind the Billhooks, will be in attendance and will be our Roving Umpires and Rules Guru.

 The aim is to get as many Billhookers together for as much fun as can be had with toy soldiers and good company, however, that being said there will be a trophy for the Top General “King of the Day!” This will be awarded on a points basis, 3 points for each victory and 1 point per level for Enemy Generals killed. Keep a tally of coins taken as this will decide any tie breaks. Participants will each be given a results slip at the start of the day which their opponent will fill in during the game and will be checked by both generals before handing in to the Tourney Organisers.

With the release of Billhooks Deluxe, the event will accept any army built using any of the lists within that book-Hussites are limited to 60 points!

Painted Armies

The aim is to run 120-point armies plus 10 points for leaders on 6 foot by 4-foot tables. We would ask that players bring 28mm painted armies (minimum of 3 colours), unpainted figures will not be allowed. Movement trays are optional but preferred.

There will be a prize for best painted army. At the lunch break all attendees who wish to participate will be asked to display their army and everyone will be asked to vote for the one they think is best.

Everyone’s a winner!

All Generals will receive a GOODY bag!

Equipment

Please bring your own tape measures, dice, rule sets, FAQs, order and morale counters and cards if you have them.  You may need to bring six extra skirmishers in case the Ambush card comes up. Please bring a printed or clearly written army list.

Catering

The entrance fee does not include lunch which can be purchased at BIG from their fine range of grub, orders will be taken in the morning. Only food and drink purchased 1.

Terrain

Terrain will be provided by BIG. Each table shall have one, two or three terrain features, d3 to decide,1=1 6=3 any other result = 2 pieces, which are then randomly moved by the players using dice to decide direction and distance. Only one player should dice for terrain, there should be maximum of three pieces. If a piece of terrain would be moved to a table edge, then move it in the opposite direction. Orientation of the terrain piece can be as decided by mutual agreement of the players. Different types of terrain cannot end up on top of each other. If the dice rolls would cause a piece of terrain to move onto another then only move it up to contact and stop. No rivers or streams will be used.

Games

Each player will play one game in the morning and two in the afternoon, against a randomly drawn opponent, most games take about two hours so this should be doable. Occasionally a game can take longer, all games will be stopped at two hours and the result will be decided on most groats taken

Tournament Rules

Rules: As set out in Never Mind the Billhooks Deluxe, subject to any clarifications or amendments contained in the latest published Errata February 2024 (see nevermindthebillhooks.com click on Resources then Errata) 

The 120-point army size is for troops, one leader is free and an extra 10-point allowance for additional leaders.

Pre-measuring of distances for movement and shooting is allowed.

Troops may deploy up to 9” onto the table.

Scouting-If both players have the same number of companies of Light Horse or both have none roll a dice and the highest starts deploying first.

The first group of troops to be deployed must be skirmishers and artillery, afterwards wards will be deployed in turn.

If one side has more companies of Light Horse AND/ OR Mounted Skirmishers than the other then he has Out-Scouted the other player and that player must then deploy his skirmishers and artillery and a ward before the Scouting player deploys his skirmishers and artillery, afterwards wards will be deployed in turn.

Knights Morale will be decided by a d6+2!

Leaders in Melee – Duelling

We will not be using the Duel rules the leaders simply add to the hits caused but may take wounds.

Unhistorical encounters

The original Billhooks rules were strictly Wars of the Roses but now we might see armies facing each other on the tabletop who never did so historically. In such cases apply the following rules of thumb:

1. Core (WOTR) rules apply in case of any historical contradictions.

2. If in doubt, either toss for it or ask the tournament umpire.

 Here are some example cases:

100YW armies: Core WOTR archery rules apply when a 100YW English army meets any non-100YW opposition. Herce formation may be used (NB see errata February 2024).

Bohemia: Mobile wagons are not allowed in competitive games but static wagons are allowed as field defences (@ 3 pts per company frontage)- apply the standard WOTR field defences rules.

Helvetia: Ignore the Optional Swiss deployment rule. Swiss pikes and halberds count as Veterans but pay no extra points for this (reflecting their well-deserved reputation for stubbornness and savagery!).

Italia: Guns blow up on 3x1s when facing non-Italia era opposition. Forked arquebuses are not allowed. Swiss must and Landsknechts may pay extra points for Veteran status. Other infantry should be rated Retinue unless you wish to field Italian militia (rated Levy @ -3pts per company). Treat all Gendarmes the same as WOTR knights.

Northumbria: Ignore the 'looting' rules

Lusitania: Ignore the special rules for 'Espingardeiros'. Treat them the same as crossbow companies for ranges and saves.

Hibernia: Irish infantry only gets the charge bonus against local opposition (ie Anglo-Irish or Palesmen). 100YW or WOTR English (and anybody else) all count as foreigners.

Special Events Cards only “core rules” Special Event cards (ie those labelled as such in the book plus any of the extras given out at recent events) should be used. This rules out any period specific ones (including the 3 Albion cards in the book).

Good luck, have fun and above all… Slay the Enemy Generals!