The Battle of Lettonsfield. 1068.

The Battle of Lettonsfield. 1068.

Today, Ian, Charlie and I met for a 28mm game of Hail Caesar. Ian and Charlie commanded the Saxons whilst I took control of the Normans. Playing on a 6' x 4' table we limited the sides to 340 points in the hope that the armies would fit on the table with a bit of room left for manoeuvre.

The theme of the game was all about one of the many ‘unrecorded’ (made up) clashes between the Saxon and Normans during the unrest up north after the events of 1066, played a a simple encounter battle.  

Bernart, Count of Mortagne leading his knights into battle. He was going to be a busy chap. 

Norman knights about to charge. 

Charlie's Saxon skirmishers pester the local priest. 

These guys were a real pain throughout the battle. 

Here come the knights.

The knights won the melee (just), pushing the saxon line back but opted not to follow up due to all the other enemy units ready to pounce on their flank. 

Bernart led the charge and was wounded in the melee. 

Both sides regroup. 

Elsewhere Ian's Saxon Ceorls thrashed my Norman Heavy Infantry due to my awful dice throwing. 

A very busy, complex melee which the Saxon huscarls won despite being surrounded. 

 That's how bad my dice throwing was!

Next turn my knights tried to charge in again, failed the order but the one unit of 'Fierce Fighted Knights had to go in unsupported. The melee carried on into a second round with my knights being destroyed and the rest of my army looking a bit battered to say the least. Bertrand was also wounded again so I conceded the game at this point. 

Questions from this game? 

Is there any further penalty for a leader figure that is wounded twice? 

If the one unit with Fierce Charge has other knight units supporting it, can the support units move with the Fierce unit if the actual order is failed (but the Fierce unit still has to charge one move)? 

Hail Caesar gave us another close and enjoyable game and happily 340 point armies fitted on the table just nicely. 

More Pillaging, Vikings v Saxons.

 It was time today for a second game of 'Pillage' a fast moving skirmish game. Ian brought along his Saxon force led by the brave and redoubtable Waermund. Nigel and I were acting as Vikings led by the fierce yet Christian warrior Amund. The table was set up ready for the scenario where one side had to lead 3 priests to safety by getting them across the board to safety. I added a small farm to the terrain to tempt players into a bit of pillaging. 

Overhead view of the board, Saxons at the top Vikings at the bottom. 

Peace and quiet at the little farm. 

Nigel took control of a viking berserker and a few other troops. In the background the hazy figures are all Saxons.

The view from the Saxon (Ian) side of the table. 

On my side of the table tactics were fairly basic. After exchanging a couple of rounds of archery Ian and I crashed into each other in a fast and fierce melee.

In this photo Amund was bravely taking on Waermund despite being outnumbered by the sneaky saxon on his flank. 

Elsewhere, Nigels men charged into Ian's other troops and soon got the upperhand. 

Amund sent the priests to hide in the woods whilst he battled it out with the Saxon foe. Trying to achieve the game objective was largely forgotten whilst the troops battled. 

Waermund's last stand. Now on his own Waermund battled until the end. 

A good victory for the Vikings who one assumes now led the priests safely across the board as there were no Saxons left to pester them. 

Great fun.