Final ECW campaign game

The final game of the English Civil War campaign was not going to stop the Royalist cause from winning. However, it would determine whether the winning margin would be a solid victory (8 regions controlled to 5 regions) or a convincing victory (9 regions to 4 regions).

Action during the game

Campaign map showing Parliament's move on the Royalist held West Midland region.

As the weaker force Royalist forces had the choice of deploying first and opted to secure their left flank by occupying the village and pool all their cavalry together beside the woods that split the battle field. Parliament had secured both hilltops with infantry.

Map of unit deployments

Left side of Parliament's forces

Right side of Parliament's forces

The initial battle moves had Parliament push forward their dragoons to engage their Royalist counterparts. On the other flank they pushed forward their infantry and began bombarding the village. Royalist forces countered and the commanded shot moved through the woods and engage Royalist forces at range.

Dragoons on both sides pushed forward in the fields and were soon engaged in musketry.

Royalist Dragoons occupy the woods

Initial moves on the village

Parliament quickly responded to the appearance of the commanded shot in the woods, moving forward units to quickly suppress the threat.

Royalist commanded shot are quickly engaged.

Once the Royalist commanded shot were suppressed the attack on the village was able to begin in earnest. Forcing the Royalists to commit their infantry reserve to support those forces in the village.

The attack on the village begins in earnest.

With the ever increasing threat to the village the routing of the Royalist Dragoons, the Royalist commander opted to let loose his cavalry in a last bid to turn the battle's tide. The cavalry charged forward into the Parliamentarian dragoons, cavalry and infantry on the hill.

Royalist cavalry charge forward.

The Royalist cavalry with the bit between their teeth swept away the dragoons and launched themselves into Parliament's cavalry who put up a brief resistance before routing. After regrouping there were sufficient units to turn their attention to the few remaining Parliament infantry positioned on the hill.

Royalist cavalry charge gains momentum.

The cavalry charge had swept away their opposition. 

While both forces now on the cusp of losing force resolve. The shock loss of Parliament's left wing and roaming Royalist cavalry was sufficient for the Parliamentarian commander to call off all attacks and cede the field.

It was most exciting seeing the cavalry charge unfold and change the course of the battle which up until that point had been favouring Parliament's forces.

Map of unit movements

A Royalist victory leaves them in control of 9 regions in the campaign and gives them a convincing win. After some 28 battles the campaign comes to a close.

Final campaign map

So what would I do differently if setting up this campaign again?

1) I would introduce leaders into the campaign and allow them in increase their standing with each victory, or reduce their standing with losses. A higher standing would allow additional units to be fielded.

2) Some regions would be of greater value if held. For example, London and the Thames Valley and the West Midlands and Oxford. Holding these regions would also increase the likelihood of fielding a larger force.