It was off to Charlie's house today to play a Hail Caesar scenario based on the 'Battle of Verneuil, 1424. Charlie had the game all set up and ready to go when we arrived with dice deciding that Ian and I would be the English and Nigel and Charlie the French. We were using Charlie's very large collection of 20mm plastic figures which looked amazing on the table. Charlie devised his own army lists but also used some of the ideas (such as 'Arrowstorm') from the Wars of the Roses supplement.
English deployed behind stakes on the right, looking at the far more numerous French on the left. Ian and I were determined to make the most of being behind the stakes.
Some of the many French and allied cavalry lined up against us.
Here comes the main division of French mounted knights. (5x small units).
Another view of all those knights and a glimpse of the town of Verneuil.
Here come the French.
The English lines looks thin compared to the rapidly advancing French, all heading for Ian's division.
Then the longbows started shooting causing mayhem in the French line, one unit of knights threw a double '1' for their break test and legged it. The division of knights ended up being broken by the longbowmen but they had now used up all their arrows.
Meanwhile over on my flank, a unit of knights tried to break through my line. The knights were dis-ordered as they crossed some stakes. (red marker). Although it took them some time to recover the disorder they then went on a rampage around my flank and rear.
In the centre it was mayhem with huge fights going on involving most of the English units. Sheltering behind the stakes and receiving the charge seemed to work well.
The English troops fought very well but were eventually overpowered by the superior French numbers.
It took nearly all game for the Scottish pike units to enter the fray. The toughest unit on the table struggled to beat a unit of longbow.
Amazingly, the longbow unit fought so well that both units ended up 'shaken' buy sadly the pike won after about 4 rounds of melee (and a couple of other allied units helping them out.
Despite being so outnumbered it ended up being a really close game. The French eventually bulldozed their way to victory but it was a very close battle and a narrow win.
