Norman Conquest 1066 Game Report

Having spent a few evenings this week playing some quick test games to refine the D3 Norman Conquest 1066 rules. It was time to play a full game and provide a battle report. The updated rules can be accessed through a link at the top of page. A thank you to those who commented on the draft rules posted previously, they all got me thinking about the changes, which are:

• No diagonal movement on the square gridded tabletop.
• Command actions simplified for movement, shooting and melee.
• Melee uses options for dice re-rolls rather than rolling multiple dice and selecting the highest.
• No differing unit elimination/routing numbers. All units rout at 7+ hits unless in defensive positions.

So on to the game which is based upon scenario 12 "an unfortunate oversight" from the book One Hour Wargames. We have what appears to be an advance party of Norman cavalry and archers blocked from crossing the bridge by a Saxon force consisting of: 2 Housecarl units (one with their commander) 3 Fyrd units, and 1 archer unit.

Game setup with Saxon and Norman forces deployed

Unbeknown to the Saxons the majority of the Norman force: 3 spearmen units and 1 cavalry unit (with commander) is fording the river out of sight behind the woods. The objective is to rout the opposing force or take the hill.

Turns 1 and 2

The first couple of turns see the Normans fording the river and pushing forward towards the hill. While the archers exchange volleys of arrows with their Saxon counterparts across the river. Other than one Fyrd unit left to defend the bridge, all other units rush to head off the Norman flanking force.

The command actions early in the game allowed for all units to move and archers to shoot.

The Norman flanking force ford the river.

Turns 3 and 4

As both sides rushed for the hilltop the leading units soon clashed. Up to this point commanders were still choosing to use command actions to move units and shoot with their archers. By turn 4 the Normans had the bulk of their forces across the river.

Norman forces almost across the river and are about to clash with advanced Saxon units

Normans attack

Turns 5 and 6

As units engaged in melee fewer command actions were used to move units. Instead they were  directed to galvanising units into second assaults and defensive efforts (re-rolling melee results).

An attacking Fyrd initially roll a 2, but with spare command actions a re-roll is attempted and another 2 is rolled. The Norman spearmen have an unused action and use it to re-roll a 1. Using their last available command action Saxons make a final effort and roll a 2. The result is reduced by 1 to cause 1 hit against the spearmen.

The Saxon commander with Housecarl unit reaches the hilltop.

Unfortunately I became somewhat absorbed in the game and forgot to take pictures of the turns 6 and 7. 

Turns 7 and 8

During turns 7 and 8 both siders were heavily engaged in melee just below the hilltop. The Saxon commander and Housecarls were successfully defending the hilltop against a unit of Norman spearmen. 

The Norman cavalry began to come into their own attacking weakened Saxon units and flanking the  hilltop defenders. On turn 8 the Saxon commander was lost and all remaining Saxon units took 2 additional hits immediately with many units routing at the news. A victory to the Normans was assured.

The victorious Norman cavalry.

I now need to cut out the Viking units to add to these paper armies.