A trial of battle

After our first game, we had time to try a set of solo rules I had written 3 years ago for medieval skirmish.
We used the same forces as in our Ragnarr game, though Ragnarr's force would this time try the solo rules out!

We deployed in 4 bodies.

As per the solo rules, Ragnarr deployed similarly though their archers and slingers deployed on the left in and around a wood. The Shield wall advanced. 

Ragnarr's missile troops stood back trading shots with our force, their archers took a couple of light wounds in the exchange. 

We advanced slowly, to allow my archers in the shield wall to shoot. 

One group of our men moved to outflank the shield walls. 

These were closing towards melee. 

 One of my archers managed to wound one of Ragnarr's bodyguards as we closed.

As the walls met, Lawrence sent his flanking unit to attack Ragnarrs' flank. 

Our force soon got the upper hand in the melee, and Ragnarr got wounded again, and so was Lagatha! 

 I had swung my archers to the right, behind the shield battle...

 ...to engage the enemy missile men.

I managed to wound another archer. 

The battle in the centre stabilised, as we took casualties too!

Their archers killed one of our flanking units men. 

 At this point, though, it was clear our dicing was better than Ragnarr's, and we would eventually win.

So, the trial ended, and I think we were both happy that the solo system didn't do anything too odd!

I have made a couple of changes since the game, to correct a couple of minor potential problems. 

I think we will be happy to use it again!

If you want a copy to try, please E-Mail me at the address on the blog header, and I will send it on. I will also ask Andy, our IT guy, to put them on our website.

The Return of Ragnarr

Today, Lawrence and I had a Viking skirmish game. I used my plastic Wargames Factory Vikings against Lawrence, using the Black Tree Vikings I used to own.

We decided on a scenario, after Ragnarr Loðbrók's loss of his village last game, he would try to regain it from the victors...

Lawrence deployed between the buildings of the village.

 His Lord initially deployed behind a small shield wall ( Skjaldborg )

 Another group formed in between the 2 large buildings, with archers behind.

 Another group on his right formed a solid block to Ragnarr's approach.

Ragnarr - and Lagatha, supported by their men arrived and studied the enemy defences. 

A group of archers and slingers were placed in the woods to his right. 

 Lawrence advanced to face Ragnarr, supported by his spearmen.

Ragnarr pushed forward quickly, hoping to fight one wing of the enemy before the separated elements of their army could join up.  

The missile troops would keep the other wing occupied, hopefully. 

Seeing the enemy lord approaching, Ragnarr changed his plan, facing the advance with his bodyguard, covered by archery.  

 The missiles caused less injury than he had hoped on the advancing enemy.

Lawrence sneaked his archers forward to harass Ragnorr!  

 Their arrows caused no casualties, however.

The  Skjaldborgs faced each other - preparing for battle!

Lawrence came forward bravely, my bowmen and slingers still failing to cause casualties amongst their men. 

 As my flank guard advanced on Lawrence's right, they fell back, refusing battle.

The main bodies clashed. In the first charge, Ragnarr was wounded by the enemy lord! 

My missile troops, with no targets, turned to face Lawrences' archers. 

These sought shelter in an enclosure, while Lawrence's spearmen charged. 

 My heavier armour meant I started getting the upper hand.

My spearmen on the road were similarly beginning to win, but Ragnarr fell! - struck down by the heavy axe of Lawrence's Lord! 

With Ragnarr fallen, Lawrence had won!.

Fortunately, Lagatha and 3 of my men were free to drag Ragnarr back. 

A long time in recovery would precede any more attempts to recover the village! 

Skirmishing at Stalingrad

Today, Andy brought down the ruined city terrain tiles he bought at the Gateshead show (Border Reiver)...so we decided to try a skirmish based on the battle of Stalingrad in 1942.

As we had 5 players, it was impractical to do a game as we normally do against the solo system, so Lawrence and I commanded the defending Germans, while Andy, Ian and Phil took the Russians. To make it a little more realistic, the Germans were initially placed as a mix of dummy and real unit markers, in likely positions to defend, then Lawrence and I would only be able to use German units when the counter was spotted or spotted a Russian unit.

The German half of the table.

The Russian half (They would advance from the right in this picture) 

The view down the road from the German end. 

The Russians entered on a broad front. 

 Andy, on the Russian left, attempted to push down the edge of the table.

Phil, in the centre, advanced more cautiously, not wanting to expose his men on the road unnecessarily. 

 Ian moved down the right of the road.

They were delayed spotting counters, but these initially were all dummies! 

Ian had a Maxim MMG in support, though this was not easy terrain for the little wheels to traverse! 

Finally, contact! - a small party of Germans opened up on Ian's flank. 

 The Russians fell back to cover before firing back.

 Their fire was sufficient only to keep the German's heads down!

 Phil, in the centre, brought a sniper forward.

 The German officer was shot through the throat.

The remaining Germans fell back, covered by their own sniper. 

 Andy's men were filtering forward on the left.

 Ian stopped his advance to bring his full force to bear...

...before probing forward again. 

Another group of Germans fired on them from the road. 

 The Russians took casualties.

More German units fired in support at Ian's men. 

 They were joined by the 2 men who had retreated from the park, and the sniper.

The sniper was particularly effective! 

Ian's men moved forward to close the range. 

One of the Germans in the road was soon killed. 

Another man was wounded. 

 The German sniper and MG34 were still shooting though...

...Another Russian fell. 

Andy, meanwhile, had cornered a retreating group of Germans in a ruined workshop. 

 He aggressively stormed the building.

 Ian, meanwhile, attempted to outflank my sniper and MG team.

Phil was now filtering up on Andy's right flank.  

My men were forming up behind the workshop, unable to help the occupants... 

 ...who were soon silenced.

The German line was now behind the workshop, across the road. 

Ian was still pushing forward. 

 The Germans here were soon suppressed and unable to react to the increasing numbers of Russians facing them.

 My sniper and MG were still shooting at Ian across the road.

Another of his men fell. 

At this point, as Andy's men outflanked my Sniper, and Lawrence's men were driven from their position, the surviving Germans retreated from the table.

A Russian victory. The Russian players used good tactics and real aggression, which the Germans could not counter.

We tried another run of the game with the same forces, but I didn't play, just running the completely solo Germans.

The solo run Germans still lost, but killed more Russians than when we were running them!!!!

Embarrassing much!