Sunday 1 July 2018

A Medieval Game

After spending a fair ration of this week's free time messing around with some Sci-Fi skirmish rules with some progress, but not quite what I am after. So it was time for a change. One set of armies I have not played with for quite a while, since completing a campaign last year, was my Hundred Years War armies.

Game Setup

The game set up had a slightly stronger French force surprising the English. Not all the foraging English units arrived in time for the battle. To add to the their woes, the French have selected the better side to defend with a village to protect their left flank. An awkwardly placed wood on the English left flank forces them place a few units well out on their flank to protect against any French mounted units skirting around the outside and threatening their flank.

The tabletop setup with Minifigs HYW figures

First Moves

With their superior numbers and better position the French make the first move. Their mounted men at arms charge towards the English centre supported by men at arms on foot and mounted knights.

The French assault on the English centre begins.
As the attack progresses the English left flank units move across in support while their bowmen occupy the wood.
The attack viewed from the French lines 
While the French attack is becoming fragmented from the English bowmen and English supporting mounted men at arms. It is not without success, breaking the English line and eliminating a unit of men at arms on foot.  
The English mounted knights (with commander) counterattack successfully sealing the gap in their lines and putting the French attack on the back foot.
Buoyed by their successful counter attack the English push ahead as the French attack looks in a perilous state.
The French mounted knights charge in putting an end to the English counter attack which had over stretched itself. In the ensuing combat the English commander is unhorsed and is carried away hurt. 
The attack quickly resumes as the English reorganise and word is passed along the lines that their commander survives.
At the risk of losing their remaining units in the attack, the French retire their centre. The English line holds.

Flank Attack

With the English line weakened and a wounded commander. The French now opt for a flank attack using forces positioned in the village.

English bowmen are forced out from the woods, but not without causing French casualties.
The flank attack progresses slowly, but the English are not in a position to launch any counter attacks this time. 
The English line starts to see the threat to their flank grow.
A gallant charge my mounted men at arms against the French commander came so close to paying off, but it was not to be and they are exhausted as a force and removed from play.
Pressure continues to mount on the flank.
The Game is over and the English retire from the field of battle.
A fun game. I use a mash up of Lion Rampant rules and One Hour Wargaming (OHW) Medieval rules. Applying a simplified sequence activation and rally from Lion Rampant and combat mechanisms from OHW to determine hits.

Meanwhile on the painting front another English Civil War unit is completed as I attempt to complete 1 unit per week. I am now within a few units or having a sufficient mix of units for a 6 unit aside OHW game.

ECW foot unit

9 comments:

  1. A great looking game with beautiful armies Peter, love the evocative 'The attack viewed from the French lines ' picture, and I love the end of the battle, English retiring in this period is so pleasant for a French player!

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  2. Splendid game both visually and narratively. Good to see this collection out on the gaming table.

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    1. Thank you. It was a most enjoyable game to play.

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  3. Replies
    1. It was good to get them out of their boxes and on the tabletop.

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