Oliver Cromwell

Last Saturday, I was out with relatives rather than gaming (sigh!) but I was pleasantly surprised to end up sheltering from the inevitable rain in the Discovery museum in Newcastle (upon Tyne).
They have a gallery of Armour,Weapons and pictures celebrating the Scots Covenanter attack on Newcastle during the English Civil War at present.

Much to my surprise and delight, they also have Oliver Cromwells death mask, warts and all!

Here are a few pictures....

Sorry they arent the best pics, The exhibits were in glass cases and the area was dark!

Hope you find this interesting?

New Rules Version!

Hi there!

I have just redone the points system in the Medieval Skirmish rules used in the game below!

These are available at: Sword and Dagger rules, version 1a

I did the last version in an attempt to steer players into choosing more typical troop types armoured in a typical way.
This was a mistake! - I have realised the points system did not work so well for some lesser known forces, so I have simplified it and made the points more relative to my perceptions of how good the figures are in a game.

I hope this works, and I humbly apologise for my gross error!!

If you feel you need anything else adding or changing, in any of my rules, please contact me!

War is hell, isn't it!

A Percy!, A Percy!

(In the period before the conflicts known as the Wars of the Roses, in northern Yorkshire especially, members of the Percy family, related to Henry, Duke of Northumberland, were in low level conflict with the Neville family, based in Cumberland and Westmoreland)


Sir Richard Percy stood watching the low, rolling ground ahead of him. Despite the smell and noises of his retinue men around him, Richard could still, just, make out the tell-tale clanking of the Nevilles coming down the valley.

 To the left, he could see the banner of the De Lacy family, most of who supported Richard, Duke of York, it is true, but Hugh was related by marriage to the Percies, and was loyal as they come...

 His retinue had many well equipped Men-at-Arms, but was lacking in Archers. Richard had placed him in the most hilly part of the battlefield where archery would be less of a danger. Additionally, Hugh lacked battle experience.....

 Behind the lines was a friend of the Percies, a certain Edmund Blackadder......

 Richards own men were mostly from his personal retinue, and well armed. several times they had bested the Nevilles, but the Retinue had shrunk since the last battle to provide forces elsewhere.

 At last, the Nevilles came into view, Richard realised he had been holding his breath, and let it out slowly. Yes, they had split their forces. This could work to his advantage. Perhaps the Neville commanders did not get on?, no, that would be too much to hope for...

 The main Neville force seemed to be going for De Lacy, hmm,-- plenty of lightly equipped archers and Scourours, with a fair number of Billmen. De Lacy would probably need some help.

 The Nevilles marched towards the Percy positions, the sound of clanking arms and low voices was becoming clearer, they were almost within a bowshot now...

 De Lacy and Richard, upon a signal, moved forward to take their prearranged positions, atop two low hills...

 De Lacy sent some archers into the valley,  - Richard could do nothing but watch in horror as dozens of clothyard shafts decended like so much snow and slew several of Hughs men.

 The Yorkists had deployed against the hill De Lacy was on, and made the most of the opportunity to shoot.

 The remaining De Lacy men gratefully took cover behind their hill, shaken by their first experience of an arrow storm.

Sir Laurence Catterall, leading the Yorkists against Richard, split his forces against both the Percies on the hill and those Richard had placed in a wood at the valley head.

Richards archers advanced and shot some shafts at Laurences forces, and the archers in the woods shot at the Yorkists threatening De Lacy...

Seeing De Lacy lose his archers, and seeing a lot of shooting going into his archers in the woods, Richard withdrew his men into cover, rather than fight an uneven fight in the Nevilles favour.

Sir Laurence had pulled back himself to the edge of some woods having taken little damage from the long range Percy shooting.but seeing the Percies fall back began again to advance.

The De Lacy forces, having regained their composure, now moved further up their hill - being careful to stay out of sight of their archers!

Sir Richard himself,-in cover- moved to the front of his archers position to await the Nevilles advance.

Having let the nevilles come closer, and seeing the De Lacy archers return to shoot...

Sir Richard advanced his archers to shoot, splitting his fire against both bodies of the enemy.

De Lacys crossbowmen, having fought bravely but caused little hurt, rejoined the fight.

Sir Laurences billmen began to fall to Percy longbowmen, evening the odds with Sir Richards men-at-arms, ere they meet...

Despite their losses, Sir Laurence commited his Billmen to an attack.....

...Which Sir Richard personally countered with a ferocious charge. The fight was fierce and confused.

 

While overhead the archers on both sides engaged in a fierce and bloody exchange of arrows.

On the De Lacy side the arrow fight was finally turning in the Lancastrian favour, and the Yorkist archers, taking severe losses,  began to flee...

They retired from the field, covered by their remaining archers, and the cavalry, which had done nothing but stand and watch the battle.
Sir Laurence, who belatedly had neared the melee his billmen were losing, decided to break off when he saw his ally retreat.

The Percies did not pursue, Sir Richard was exhausted after fighting in the melee, and was still weak after his wound in the last battle. He was heartened, however, to see the retreating Yorkist leaders apparently arguing and threatening each other as they withdrew!

Hugh De Lacy  - Phil

Sir Richard Percy - Richard

Sir Laurence Catterall - Lawrence

Sir Ralph Neville - Ian

The Rules were our own, freely downloadable from our club website: Link

                                                                                                                                                        

The lay of Gunnar

This was the third and final battle in the saga of Einar and Gunnar. The history and previous battles are available to view at:

1st battle: http://blog.tynesidewargames.co.uk/2010/06/viking-game-29th-june-2010.html

2nd battle: http://herkybird-richardbradley.blogspot.com/2010/11/einar-strikes-back.html


Situation:

Einars little band of fugitives are trying to escape a vengeful Gunnar, who is trying to get blood-vengeance for a murder by Einar Scumbagga.

Einar is on a headland, awaiting a ship to escape from the pursuit, he needs only a couple of weeks before the license to kill him (1 year) expires.

Gunnar has located Einar, thanks to an informer, and has cut off the headland.

Vengeance beckons.....

   

The warfield was wooded

with many dark places

for Einar Oath-breaker

to hide from his foes

but no trees would stop

Gunnar's long quest for justice

Gunnar strong warriors

 were well armed with spears

they moved down the headland

in search of the guilty

the wolves would feed well

on Einar's bare bones

Forgrim, Trygge's brother

stood on Gunnar's left

his horses and bowmen

would help in this fight

this Olaffson feared not

the coming sword-song

Guthrum, Einar's kin

 was placed facing Forgrim

Doom-laden warriors

they raised the war-cry

they took no great part

in their kinsmans fight.

Guthrum sent slingers

to tarry with Forgrim

they lost in the battle

with Forgrims archers

Guthrum took shelter

from this arrow storm.

 

Einar own warriors

sharpened their weapons

Fell men were they

and knew battle well

they well guarded Einar

for he was their kinsman

 

Gunnar marched forward

the trees slowed him not

keen for swift justice

Gunnar, Ring-Giver

hastened to battle

his axe at his side

 

Forgrim moved forward

horn in his hand

he would call Gunnar

if he saw Einar

Forgrim went bravely

to battle his foes

Forgrim sent warriors

eagle eyed bowmen

they wounded their enemies

Guthrum the craven

fled from their fury

and went seeking cover

Einar moved forward

his purpose was clear

to cleave a way through

and escape Gunnar's trap

Einar called for Thor's aid

he and his sea wolves.

Gunnar sent warriors

to move behind Einar

and ambush his force

and weaken his strength

they moved in the trees

all hidden from view

Einars men turned

and charged their tormentors

they fought with them bravely

then drove them back

but Gunnars brave men

did not flee from the fight

Einars men assailed

Gunnar's brave warriors

they knew they must win

or die in the trying

Einar stood ready

to make his escape

Gunnar sent forward

slingers to face them

Einars men shot them

and forced them to flee

the slingers withdrew then

as Gunnar had planned

Gunnar deceived them

Einars fell warriors.

Einar pursued those

 pretending to flee

 Einar stormed onwards

and into their trap.

Gunnar came forward

and saw craven Einar

stood with his Berserkir

his archers sent arrows

but Einar escaped them

Gunnar's axe waited. 

Thorgrim came summoned

by Gunnars horn signal.

Their horses leapt forward

their prey lay before them

they cut off  all chance

of doomed Einar escaping.

Einar looked grimly

he now had but one chance

He must murder Gunnar

or die in the trying

he summoned a fury

 likewise his Berserkir

Einar charged bravely

but Gunnars axe bit him

his berserkir were no help

they went hunting archers

Einar strong sword hand

clove Gunnars shield.

Einar Scumbagga

continued the battle

 swift as an eagle

his sword descended

but he won no glory

for Gunnars axe slew him

The end of the battle

at Gunnars bidding

quarter was given

much blood had fallen

no more was needed

the great feud was over

The players:

Einar: Phil    Guthrum: Lawrence   Thorgrim: Ian    Gunnar: Richard

Hope you liked it? -- I did this one very different - in the style of an epic Viking poem!

But as you can see-I am no Skaldir!!

Einar died in ignomy

and burned up in the flames

I'm sure his figure will return

in more of our war-games!

However! - If you want to see Einar's view of this battle, then go to: Link