Blood in the South - the follow up

You might have read the first part, where Adam and his men attacked his old rival instead of following the Queen. Well, i decided to continue the story...

While Adam was off plundering and what not, the Lancastrian army has been defeated at Tewkesbury, and the Queen is trying to escape. The Yorkists are fast on their tail, but Adam arrives and is ordered to hold off the pursuers to give time for the others to escape. Always a hero, Adam readies his men for the battle.

I played the game as a battle with the Dux rules, using Jim's cards and some of his ideas.

The forces entered the table from opposite corners. Adam was near a hill, and planned to form a stand of pike to hold off the Yorkists.

Both sides started with a speech, which reduced the Yorkist's morale and fate hand by 1, and raised the Lancastrian's by 1. Next, Adam's men had a drink, gaining 2 morale but putting 2 bibamus cards in the deck. Not good.

And so the battle commences!

The pursuers, with their retinue spears fighting mounted.

And they're off! The second Yorkist leader is drawn first and the cavalry ride down the left, followed by the Danish crossbowmen.

Adam's force moves into position, the small hill becoming priority for both sides. On the left are some household (elite) archers, and some German hand gonners.

Test rule number one: massed bow fire. Here, 2 groups deploy one behind the other, adding a +1 modifier to hit and effect on the front group. Result: three dead mercs.

Surprised by the speedy Yorkist advance, the Germans close ranks and level their pikes as the Yorkist horse rides into view.

Danes take cover.

The Germans advance up the slope, met by the Yorkist lord and his household men at arms.

Meanwhile, the horse charge Adam and his men at arms. Although the men at arms are confused by the drink, some idiot cries treachery and the charge falters in confusion...

Four retainers are dragged from the saddle and cut down. Time to run.

The Lord is made of firmer stuff, however, and the Germans are pushed off the hill.

Get down!

On the other flank, both sides fire arrows and gonnes at each other, resulting in casualties for both sides.

The Germans have had enough,and pull though the men at arms. The Yorkist lord drives on.

And is repulsed! Both sides wait and shore up morale, then the Yorkists go in again.

Confusing melee.

This leader's not happy though, and refuses to budge until something good happens (this card, 'look what a fine mess you got me into!' forces a leader to stay unactivated until his side wins a combat, which wasn't happening for the Lancastrians at this time).

As the men at arms grind on, the Danes, who have so far done nothing, run to catch up and join in the scrap with sword, axe and buckler.

In the end, another man at arms is killed and much shock is delivered. The archers on the other flank have packed it in and run, so i called it game.

(It might have seemed easy, but in fact it was only a +1 win)

Adam is later captured, tried, and executed for his crimes.

The rules bit:

The other purpose of this battle was to test Jim's new battle rules, such as massed shooting and stand of pike. There was one big thing i noticed when playing; bows are (too?) deadly, such as when the 3 mercs got killed with one volley. On the Yorkist right, they lost 4 household archers to bow fire in several turns.

Perhaps they need toning down a little? Sure, bows were dangerous, but then again it depends if i want to play a wargame or a historically correct game. For the wargame, i want more combat, as a shooting affair is less fun.

I thought the +1 to hit was fine, but +1 on the effect roll means elite die on a 5 or 6, 'levies' on a 4+. It must be thought over however...

Stand of pikes was good though, even if it did not help the Germans much.

I do really want to start a campaign soon, either a family feud, or try my Routier idea, using elements from Jim's Lords of War. Or continue my Viking and Saxon one, when i fought one battle, and haven't continued. This blog is scyld and seax, after all!