Never Mind the Billhooks in my new wargames den.

 With me now using my daughter's old bedroom as my wargames den and the new edition of 'Never Mind the Billhooks' due out very soon it seemed good sense to refresh our Billhooks memories. 160 points of Lancastrians and Yorkist's per side would face off over control of an important crossroads. 

My Lancastrians parade around the cross-roads pre-game. 

The Lancastrians would once again be led by the famed Earl of Lawkland. Yes, our imaginary nobles are all named after local halls and villages. Here is my 160 points worth... 

Lancastrians

Earl of Lawkland (mtd). Class 3 Hero/ldr

Sir Henry Kettlesbeck (foot). Class 2 Commander.ldr (+5pts)

Sir James of Catteral Hall. Class 2 Commander. Ldr (+5pts)

Sir Harry Stainforth Class 1, Dolt (+5pts)

Type	pts	Move	Shoot	Melee D6	Save	Notes
Mtd Knight	3/24	8/12”		2	4+	Save is 3+ in melee
Light Horse	1.5/12	10/14”		2	5+	Save is 3+ in melee
1x Men-at-Arms Veteran +3 pts	2/27	6”		1.5	3+	Save is 4+ if hit by x-bow or handgun
3x Bill	1/36	6”		1	4+
3x Archers	1/36	6”	9S/15L”	.5	5+	May shoot twice a turn. Hit, 5+ at short, 6 at long
Skirmishers Bow	1/6	8”	0-12”	.5	5+	Hit 5+
2x Gun + 3 crew	9/18	4”	0-30”	.5	5+	Crew x 2 when shooting, hit on a 6, all hits kill. Three or more 1's and gun blows up.
Total	159

So with Phil helping out me out with the Lancastrian's Ian took control of 160 points worth of Yorkists led by the Duke of Eldroth. As we deployed the game looked great, but I started to think I may have put too much scenery down-the problem being I have made it, so I want to use it. 

Lancastrians on the right, Yorkists to the left. 

A great start for Sir Henry Kettlebeck (Lancastrian) as his cannon blew up in the first action of the game. 

Sir John Litton and his Yorkist troops jeer the exploding cannon. 

Of course, it couldn't happen twice in the same turn thought Phil just before he (Sir James of Catteral Hall) had his cannon explode too. Not the best of start for the Lancastrians. 

Ian sent his Leper Knights (standing in as Yorkists knights) zooming around the Lancastrian left flank with our brave light cavalry opting to evade. You may be able to spot Phil's skirmish archers in the wood who were then able to shoot a few of the Knights so Ian pulled his knights back. From this point onwards everything seemed to go the Lancastrian way

The Earl of Lawkland (Lancastrian) held to his own base line and was not troubled all game. 

In the centre Ian got his Yorkist archers in a strong position, wisely we opted not to go anywhere near them. Some of them then chose to run away as some of Ians/Yorksist Men at Arms and Billmen lost the central melee (which somehow escaped the photographer) and were routed. 

On our right this clash about to happen which went our way (the Yorkists were in Disarray) was the final melee of the game. The Lancastrian did not lose a single Morale token despite many units being badly mauled. 

Phil's skirmishers chase off the Leper Knights with some great dice throwing/archery.  These skirmishers were definitely the 'Men of the Match'. 

This was a cracking game to christen my new gaming den with and seemed much closer than the resulting loss or not of Morale Tokens would seem to indicate. The terrain did slow down a few units sending them into disarray so our next game will have more open terrain. It was so much fun we intend to play again next week. We were a bit rusty on a few areas of the rules but another good read through before the next game should put us right.