Whether you favour King or Parliament in the English Civil Wars, or Imperialist or Swedish during the Thirty Years War the wait is over - the plastic Pike & Shotte Cavalry are now ready to pre-order (http://shop.warlordgames.co.uk/-pre-orders--59-c.asp)!(http://www.warlordgames.co.uk/neo/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/parliament_cav_on_terrain.jpg) (http://www.warlordgames.co.uk/neo/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/parliament_cav_on_terrain.jpg)There are few more iconic images of the English Civil Wars than the grim-faced lobster pot helmed, buff-coated Parliamentarian Ironside (http://shop.warlordgames.co.uk/parliament-cavalry-2093-p.asp). Parliament cavalry cut a fearsome appearance on the Civil war battlefield. For offensive purposes they could be armed with a good stout broadsword, two long flintlock pistols and sometimes a carbine. This reflected their tactical use on the field, often drawn up six deep, using their carbines, and then their pistols, in the Dutch fashion, to pepper the enemy with shot and then and only then close with the sword.When it worked it worked well, but crushing defeats by the dashing Cavaliers led to Cromwell reorganising his horse regiments and playing the Royalists at their own game. Warlord Games’ Parliament cavalry are equipped with sword and pistol, in addition to carbines and poleaxes. The boxed set also contains standards for Parliament regiments and the Thirty Years War Swedish army .(http://www.warlordgames.co.uk/neo/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/royalist_cav_on_terrain.jpg) (http://www.warlordgames.co.uk/neo/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/royalist_cav_on_terrain.jpg)Royalist Cavalry (http://shop.warlordgames.co.uk/royalist-cavalry-2090-p.asp) earned a well deserved reputation for ferocity from their first clash with their Parliament foes at Powick Bridge in September1642 to the last major battles of the Civil wars. Inspired by commanders such as Prince Rupert of the Rhine, Cavalier cavalry adopted a style of charge that overwhelmed their opponents in the early war years. Drawn up only three deep, their tactic was to approach steadily then spur their horses into the enemy at a gallop, not using their pistols until they literally pressed the muzzles against the bodies of the Roundhead troopers!Well led, well motivated, and superbly mounted, the Royalist horse was the terror of the battlefield, until Parliament learned how to stop the ferocious charges and turn Royalist indiscipline against them. Warlord Games presents their Royalists with all manner of options. You can equip them in helmets or hats and arm them with swords, pistols or even carbines and poleaxes. We include standards for Royalist regiments and the Imperial amy in the Thirty Years War.You can see the riders sprue here (http://www.warlordgames.co.uk/?p=2787)(http://www.warlordgames.co.uk/neo/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/leaflets_fan.jpg) (http://www.warlordgames.co.uk/neo/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/leaflets_fan.jpg)Each box contains 12 mounted Cavalrymen, a set of 6 cornets (4 English Civil War and 2 Thirty Years War), a painting/background pamphlet, and a set of bases. All of these excellent new models will be released in Late October and are available now for pre-order in the Warlord webstore (http://shop.warlordgames.co.uk/-pre-orders--59-c.asp).