- 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 |
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).
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.
Your paper armies look great!
ReplyDeleteThanks. They have worked out well and are really useful for trying periods I may not otherwise game, because of the cost of figures and time to paint two opposing armies.
DeleteI concur; the paper guys look very good!
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteYou have done a great job with preparing these armies, they look great. The game sounded very enjoyable as well. I usually take forgetting to take pictures as a sign that the game was absorbing. As a certain blogger might say providing "joy and forgetfullness"
ReplyDeleteThank you. It was a most enjoyable game. Joy and forgetfulness is a nice way of putting it.
ReplyDelete