28mm Wars of the Roses: The Battle of Barnet

 Today we all took our 28mm Wars of the Roses figures over to Charlie's house for a game of Hail Caesar. Charlie had devised a scenario. based around the Battle of Barnet, using the scenario from the Wars of the Roses supplement and some ideas Charlie found online. Nigel and I took control of the Lancastrians with Ian and Charlie controlling the Yorkists. Common thought is that this battle was fought in mist so Charlie had come up with some ideas to represent this too. First, deployment was done Lancastrians first then our troops were covered with tracing paper to disguise deployment then the Yorkists deployed and took the first turn. 

Lancastrians to the left, Yorkists to the right.

Centre left was this mdf farm, really nice buildings although I forgot to ask where Charlie got them from. 

In the centre both sides decided to attack so closed quite quickly. 

The battle was taking place in the mist and we threw each turn to see if it either cleared or got worse. 

Most of the battle took place in thick mist so visibility was only 6" during most turns. This really affected play and Charlie also limited the range that orders could be given at. 

The two armies soon closed in the centre and right. Over on the left Nigel's smallest division (Duke of Gloucester) was facing a larger Yorkist division controlled by Ian (Richard Duke of Gloucester). This was going to be a memorable clash. 

Some good shooting saw the Lancastrians slowly getting the better of things in the centre.

Gloucester (Ian) at the top closes in on Exeter (Nigel) who, being outnumbered was just trying to hold his flank. 

Large holes start to appear in the Yorkist centre after some severe clashes. 

Some units were destroyed , others were driven back 'shattered'.  

Then the Duke of Exeter (Nigel) took control, charging into Charlie's larger division led by the Duke of Gloucester, Exeter destroyed 3 enemy units, killed Gloucester and captured EdwardVI back from the Yorkists. With the Lancastrians easily winning in the centre the Yorkist commanders conceded defeat. Lancaster was triumphant, Edward VI was back on the throne and history was re-written. 

This was an action packed game despite the chaos caused by the limited moves and restricted vision. There were also several blunders to add to the mayhem.

Man of the Match: Nigel (Duke of Exeter).  

Finally, I have finished a Viking Command base for my slowly growing Hail Caesar Viking army. This is supposed to be Harald Hardrada, a very large '28mm' figure from Wargames Foundry. The standard bearer is an Athena Miniatures figure. The actual standard is from a free download of Viking flags available on the Wargames Foundry website. I printed the main design then painted over it to bring it to life a bit more.

 

28mm Dwarf Stronghold

 At the recent St Helens 'Phoenix' wargame show I purchased a 28mm model Dwarf Stonghold, one of three dwarven designs available from the vendor (although I cannot remember who they were?). I thought this would make a very useful piece for so many scenarios. 

I think it is a 3d printed model but a well printed one as their is very little of the linear print lines you can often see on such models. Some of my 'Old School Dwarves popped along to take a look at their new home. Does it seem 'wrong' to use such a modern model with such old figures? 

The underside of the model is quite thin so I made a mdf base for it to sit on and also add strength. I also planned to texture the base once the stronghold was painted. 

There is 'culvert' running out from the rear of the stronghold so I drew a guide line in to match it up with some stream section I have. 

The model is built on some rocks. I added a watered down bit of polyfilla to create a rougher texture on the rocks than on the smoother walls. 

My grey undercoat was almost the same colour as the original model. 

Then I forgot to take any more photo's during the painting until the model was actually finished and the base textured. 

The completed model with a few newly painted Grenadier Dwarves having a look round. 

A slightly different view from higher up. 

Rear view showing the culvert and the highlighting I did around the windows/arrowslits I have now gloss varnished the stream to help it match my steam sections.  

The dwarven faces in the corners were painted bronze as were the roundels above the windows. Painting the stronghold was quicker than I thought it would be. 

The Grenadier Dwarves, very pleased with their new home and ready for action. If I tell you they have 'bloomin big axes' can you guess which ruleset they will be used in? 

Ianberht's Last Stand, a final game of Hail Caesar in our mini campaign.

 Ianberht's Last Stand: The Battle of Alverton Moor. 

Charlie, Ian and I were all looking forward to our final game in a loosely linked set of three games. Charlie's Norman Lord, Bohemond rides north to catch up with the Saxon Rebel Earl Ianberht (Ian) for a final battle.  Both leaders need to not just win the battle but also capture or kill their opposing commander. I based the table terrain around that of the 'Battle of the Standard 1138 with the Saxons and their Viking allies deployed where the English deployed and the Normans deploying where the Scottish force deployed. However the forces were quite different from the original battle and our game was just a straightforward encounter battle. Alverton Moor is just a made up name. 

Gathering his knights Bohemond rode north to confront his sworn enemy now gathered upon Alverton Moor, blocking Bohemond's route along the Great North Road.  

It was 600 points each in 4 divisions per side. Most leaders were Ld:8, FV:2 although we use some random cards to offer some random leadership values. 

Upon sighting his enemy Noble Bohemond swore an oath, "by oak and ash and bitter thorn we shall ride north to end the vile deeds of the pernicious Ianberht. By this, my right hand I swear you will soon see this Saxon rabble brought to nought. We will rule this land and our gracious leader, Duke William will be sworn as king by Michaelmass. Then his knights took up the cry 'Dieux Aide, Dieux Aide' (God aid us). 

Noble Behomond

Ianberht, Earl of Ripon summoned his loyal Thegns and all their levy to assemble upon Alverton Moor. This was perhaps his final chance to stop the foul Norman interloper Bohemond gaining control of the North. Upon hearing of the approach of the Norman forces Ianberht deployed his army across the Great Northern Road.

Then brave Ianberht began to arrange his warriors

Gave advice as he strode, told the warriors

How they could stand and hold their place

And bade that their shields they hold correctly

Fast in their fists and not be afraid

For this land was theirs. 

The Saxon army faced the approaching Normans and took up the cry of 'Ut,Ut!' (out, out). 

Ianberht, Earl of Ripon.

Such is the hatred and animosity between the two army leaders that they each share the same objective, win the battle and kill or capture their opposing leader.

Norman deployment with Noble Behomond and his knights deployed at the rear. 

Saxon and Viking deployment with Ianberht deployed at the rear.

Were the two leaders trying to protect themselves in some way? 

Normans to the left, Saxons and Viking allies to the right. 

Charlie was quick to get his light cavalry trying to get around the saxon flanks. 

The two forces approach each other. 

View from behind Saxon lines as they advance onto the central hill. 

At this moment it looked quite threatening for the Saxon/Viking alliance as there seemed to be masses of Normans and they were starting to use their superior missile power. .

Norman light cavalry threatening the Viking Bondi archers. Neither were very good at shooting as they were both still in this area at the end of the battle. 

More Norman light cavalry (who look suspiciously like Pictish light cavalry stand-ins) getting around the other Saxon flank. 

At last, combat ensued with this complex encounter. 

More units were fed in and after some truly awful dice throwing on both sides and a bit of head scratching trying to decide who should be taking 'break tests' the Normans were defeated and pulled back. 

The two forces are getting closer, it was getting a bit tense now, who would commit to the attack first? 

Noble Behomond and his division of Knights remain at the back with no gap appearing for them to ride through to help. 

Another view of the Norman cavalry (very intimidating).

View from behind the Saxon line, note the Norman cavalry still behind their infantry. 

The first clash of the main battle lines happened right at the top of the line. The Saxon infantry getting the better of the Norman infantry. 

In the centre the Saxon Huscarls defeated another Norman infantry unit and gaps were starting to appear in the Norman line. 

(The unit with the red flag were the victors, their foe has been removed). 

More Saxon victories in the centre of this photo and the Norman infantry divisions were getting seriously weakened. Earl Ianberht had rushed his division across to his left to support his Viking allies who despite fighting well were starting to look outnumbered. 

Ianberht and his Huscarls defeat more Norman infantry and suddenly most of the Norman infantry were gone and three divisions were broken meaning defeat for Noble Behomond despite him not ever entering the fray. Behomond turned his knights around and left the battle site, Ianberht was victorious and the North was free of Normans. I somehow suspect that Behomond may return? 

This was a most enjoyable larger battle. Before lunch Charlie (Behomond) seemed to have the luck of the dice but after lunch the dice definitely favoured the Saxon/Viking alliance. 

Our next game is in two weeks time with us moving on to the Wars of the Roses. 

Back to Fantastic Battles.

 It was great fun today to play a 15mm 'Fantastic Battles' game with Ian as it is one of our favourite set of rules. Ian was using his deadly 'Undead' led as usual by the Warlord Kroogan Hymax. I used my Wylde Elf army led by the mighty Mage Princess Leofran who rides her unicorn into battle. The scenario was a fairly straightforward one with a bit of flavour added by using both the 'Objectives' chart and the 'Random Events' as well. 

Princess Leofran glanced up towards the summit of Tol Berwyn where dragons once dwelt. She wished she had a dragon fighting beside her today. Leofran patted her unicorn, Corwen and turned away back down to her army. She had seen enough, the undead were advancing. 

Elven war songs sounded across the valley whilst the undead advanced in utter silence. The Undead Warlord Kroogan Hymax made a wide gesture with his arms whilst chanting and the whole undead force came to an immediate halt. Silence fell across the land between the two forces. Leofren gave a slight nod of her head and the elf knights mounted on pegasi took to the air; the battle was about to begin. 

Here is the rough outline of how the table was set up. 

Deployment before mishaps.

Undead to the left, Elves to the right. 

We were using the Objectives chart on p23 and a quick dice throw each decided that the Undead had to try and capture the high ground (there were no hills so we swapped this to capture the woods instead which would upset the elves) and the elves had to rescue a damsel in distress. Ian placed a single figure in contact with one of his toughest units to represent the damsel (we called her Princess Marielle). 

Mishaps forced one unit of undead forward and another one backwards. 

The elf pegasus riders were sent forwards by mishaps too. 

Undead dragon withdrew from a poor mishap throw. 

Turn 1 and the elf pegasus riders moved forwards again, taking up a blocking position against any undead who may advance between the pond and the wood. 

A good birdseye view of early movements as the elves advance to get into missile range of the undead. Elf shooting proved to be quite effective early on.  

A random event causes a unit of undead archers to swap allegiance and join the elvish army! We decided the story behind this random event was that Princes Leofran used her mysterious magical powers to cause this. Ian then charged the treacherous unit to destroy it before it could cause any harm on his own troops. 

Elf eagle allies swoop in and kill an undead wyvern. 

Over on the left flank a unit of centaurs supported by mounted elf archers take on undead infantry and after a couple of rounds of melee destroy them.  

In the centre the undead Hydra and his skeleton supports were also killed/destroyed by a unit of elf rangers.The undead casualties were starting to mount up. 

The undead rogue known as 'The Piper' attacked the elf rogue Emyn Lockhard and kills him in a duel. The Piper then went on to attack and kill an elf captain called Cadvan Longspear. This was starting to reduce my command capability. 

Sensing the end of the battle the elf pegasus riders charge into skeleton archers to try and destroy them.  

The elf rangers get caught in another fierce melee with another unit of skeletons. (the purple dice are a reminder of their 'empowered bonus in the melee from a spell).  Warlord Kroogan Hymax waded in to assist the undead but gets killed by the elf rangers who are also killed. However, the death of Kroogan Hymax causes a huge 'resolve' loss across the undead army which now collapses in defeat.  

My Treemen had just charged into melee with an undead dragon which with the help of the resolve loss caused by Kroogan's death is also slain. A great victory for the Wood Elves (it is not often I win at Fantastic Battles against Ian, a true master of using traits to great effect). 

Neither side achieved their objectives. The undead were nowhere near capturing any woods and the Princess Marielle was escorted from the battlefield by one of the few remaining undead units (a quick 50:50 dice throw decided this which could be an objective for another game?).  

Ian and I both had great fun playing this game which left us wanting to play again soon. 

We both think that Fantastic Battles is one of the best fantasy rulesets around.