https://www.flickr.com/photos/guard44/ (Pictures should be at the top of page at present)
This Saturday’s battle was another introduction for two more friends to highlight the Swordpoint Ancient and Medieval wargame rules, it was for me a step in the dark slightly, as our main rules guru could not make the battle so it was understood prior to the game that things may take a little longer to play out and some re-reading of the rule book would be needed.
All of the above was true but at the same the positive nature of the game and players led to a generally enjoyable and well thought out encounter. Of course not everything went correctly,(I never expected it to) deployment could have been better, some things were forgotten, learnt again and then done correctly but across the table at the end of the game all things turned out fair to both sides. Some fog of war in places.
So far in our small group of Swordpoint playing friends (About nine of us now) there is available (Or will be) – Ancient British / Early Roman / Imperial Roman / Spartacus slave army / Macedonian / Early Persian / Later Crusader / Anglo Danish / Dark Age Scots all in 15mm.
Armies for this battle: Anglo Danish v Dark Age Scots
The commanders:
Gavin & Chris - Anglo Danish
Mick & Paul - Dark Age Scottish
Points 1,000 per side (Kept low for learning the rules)
Army compositions:
Anglo Danish – Break point 7
King Harold
Ealdorman x3
Huscarl / Fyrd 12 bases (6&6) - (Two handed Axe + Stubborn – Sup Fighters)
Huscarl / Fyrd 8 bases (4&4) - (Two handed Axe – Sup Fighters)
Huscarl / Fyrd 8 bases (4&4) - (Two handed Axe – Sup Fighters)
Fyrd 12 bases (Extra Rocks) Warband rules 1 & 2
Vikings Open order – Two handed Axe - Sup Fighters
Coeri Skirmishers 4 bases - Slings
Early Welsh allies 12 bases – Archers
Dark Age Scots – Break point 8
King Macbeth
X1 Sub General
X1 Highland Chieftain (Attached to Clansmen)
Scots Spearmen x12 bases
Scots Spearmen x12 bases
Skirmish Thanes x8 bases - + Javelins
Highland Clansmen x8 bases
Norman Knights x6 bases
Skirmish cavalry x6 bases
Skirmish cavalry x6 bases
Both sides deployed as they saw fit, maybe not necessary as well as they might do for the next battle “but it was what it was” and with a positive spin lessons good and bad would be learnt.
The Anglo Danish held on to the centre of their deployment area (Perhaps we should it Senlac hill may be??) and I expect were hoping the Scots would do the right thing and attack up it at them. The Scottish were not having any of this and advanced on the left with their cavalry with the aim of outflanking the Anglo Danish line. Initially this went quite well catching the Anglo Danish off balance and it took some effort to realign units before any charges could come in, Norman Knights being particularly feared as Skirmish cavalry although irritating did not prove that disastrous from where they were.
The Welsh Archers did a fantastic job of securing the Anglo Danish right flank which came under extreme pressure from the Norman Knights (I have to say there was a slight hiccup in the amount of bases used in the combat on this occasion – Let’s call it Fog of War and exceptional dice rolling).
Both main battle line advanced with the Anglo Danish winning the initiative and so charged first into contact, all units in the line fought and the outcome was an overwhelming success for the Anglo Danish, in one bloody contact the whole Scottish line broke and the game was over. It happened so quick it was almost jaw dropping. lack of Scottish commanders to rally broken units player a factor in determining game end.
This game achieved what it was set up to do, show off the Swordpoint rules again plus have some fun and enjoy each other company for a few hours. More games will be played as soon as possible.