The battle of Stone Henge hill

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guard
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The battle of Stone Henge hill

Postby guard » Sun Dec 17, 2017 4:58 pm

https://www.flickr.com/photos/guard44/ pictures showing top at present

How the bastardy Norman upstart wants to control this fair green island of riches, This England., Our England. The battle at Senlac Hill has some time now been fought and lost but far more is needed before the country is finally subdued. Armies are on the march, death is but a heartbeat away, Will these Viking descendants and their Celtic allies be taught the lesson they deserve or is it to be another humiliating defeat for the land of milk and honey (Not sure who Honey is Honey?)

Swordpoint is the rule set and fun and excitement is the name of the game (Actually it’s the Christmas 2017 wargame at Dave’s pleasure palace).

For this battle we see a confrontation between the Norman invaders (Mick – Dark Age list) allied with an earlier British Tribes force (John – Classical list) versus a gallant and hopefully glorious (Honestly I am not biased) Anglo Danish army (Ian – Dark Age list) allied with an earlier Middle Imperial Roman force (Steve – Classical list). Not quite a true to life match up (Some proxy models also needed) I hear you say but it seemed to work and more importantly appears fair to both sides. (Let’s say that anyway it is Christmas).

Points per player, 1,000

Scenario used for this game downloaded from the Gripping Beast site: Meeting Engagement – Called for this game “The battle of Stone Henge hill” (Not sure where this came from?)

Your commanders for this battle: (Also stated above)
Mick – Norman - King William the Conqueror (Bastard)
John – British Tribes - Queen Boudica
Ian – Anglo Danish - King Harold Godwinson
Steve – Middle Imperial Roman - Quintus Petillius Cerialis Caesius Rufus (Also goes by the name of Steve).

A major victory goes to the army who forces their enemy to break point first; otherwise a minor victory can be achieved by accumulating the most victory point at game end. (Or one side could give in because they have been battered).

Army compositions:
Anglo Danish – Break point 7 – (AD)
King Harold Godwinson
Ealdorman x3
Huscarl / Fyrd - 12 bases (6&6) - (Two handed Axe + Stubborn – Superior)
Huscarl / Fyrd - 8 bases (4&4) - (Two handed Axe – Superior)
Huscarl / Fyrd - 8 bases (4&4) - (Two handed Axe – Superior)
Fyrd -12 bases (Extra Rocks) Warband rules 1 & 2
Vikings – 8 bases - Two handed Axe – Superior – Open order
Coeri Skirmishers 4 bases - Slings
Early Welsh Archers – 12 bases – Bow - Open order

Middle Imperial Roman - Break point 8 (MIR)
General - Quintus Petillius Cerialis Caesius Rufus
Legate x3
Seasoned Legionaries 6 bases – Heavy Throwing spear – Light armour – Large shield
Elite Legionaries 5 bases – Heavy Throwing spear – Light armour – Large shield – Superior
Elite Legionaries 5 bases – Heavy Throwing spear – Light armour – Large shield – Superior
Lanciarii – 8 bases - Throwing spear - Light armour – Javelin – Open order
Equites Singulares – 6 bases – Spear - Light armour – Shield – Javelin – Superior – Drilled
Light horse – 8 bases – Shield – Javelin – Evade
Archers – 7 bases – Bow – Shield - Skirmishers

Norman - Break point 6
King William the Conqueror (Bastard)
Nobles general x2
Norman Knights – 8 bases – Lance – Shield - Heavy armour – Shock – Superior
Norman Knights – 8 bases – Lance – Shield - Heavy armour – Shock – Superior
Breton Knights – 8 bases – Spear – Javelin - Heavy armour – Shock – Superior - Evade
Norman Retainers – Light Cavalry - 6 bases - Javelin – Shield - Skirmishers
Norman Retainers – Light Cavalry - 6 bases - Javelin – Shield - Skirmishers
Flemish Archers – 6 bases – Bow - Skirmishers
Flemish Archers – 6 bases – Bow - Skirmishers

British Tribes – Break point 7 – (BT)
Queen Boudica
Chieftain x2
Warriors – 8 bases - Warband - Throwing spear – Shield – Open order
Warriors – 8 bases - Warband - Throwing spear – Shield – Open order
Warriors – 6 bases - Warband - Throwing spear – Shield – Open order
Fanatics– 6 bases - Warband - Throwing spear – Shield – Open order - Stubborn
Legionaries – 8 bases - Heavy Throwing spear – Large shields - Light armour – Superior – Drilled – Stubborn - Veteran
Skirmishers – 5 bases – Javelin - Shield
Skirmishers – 5 bases – Sling - Shield
Noble Chariots – 4 bases - Light Chariots - Javelin – Shield – Light armour – Superior
Noble Chariots – 4 bases - Light Chariots - Javelin – Shield – Light armour – Superior

How went the battle?

The game started like all previous ones, “Deployment” (Slight difference using the Meeting Engagement order of march, unit place on table rule) it became apparent that the central large but gentle sloped hill (Stone Henge Hill) would guide the forces to deploy either side of it. I had the night before (As normal) set the table up and sent across a recon picture to the players, on this occasion (About 10 min later) I moved some woods / hills as I felt the table could be a little encumbered for army movement, further to this on the morning of the battle some extra terrain, crops were taken off to make sure troops were not slowed down too much.

The general accord was that you should play to the terrain not terrain to the army and being a meeting engagement, a proper scouting of the battlefield would not be possible and the battle would be fought come what may. (Gettysburg comes to mind from the Confederates side of the battle). “To the victor the spoils”

The MIR Legionary units took up position (Their right flank) on a slight rise protected by a hedge with their horse to the left; this enticed a loud prolonged rumbling which shook the foundations and caused Christmas decorations to fall down, Was this an earthquake I hear you ask?, No, it was the charge of the massed ranks of Norman knights supported by their Breton allies, first against a slightly forward placed archer unit (Evade and being hit in the rear and destroyed their course of action) then onward like the valiant 600 to take on the waiting Legionaries.

For some time it was a stalemate, the Norman horse not wanting / able to close with the Legionaries who were themselves hampered by the hindrance of the hedge. In the end Roman cavalry flank and Legionary frontal attacks forced the Normans to fall back / flee towards their own lines. This side of the battlefield was a to and fro encounter where at game end both sides were still able to continue the fight.

On the left flank (AD left that is) the terrain was not as open and both King Harold and Queen Boudicca’s forces took a little longer to make contact (The AD Early Welsh Archers – 12 base unit, did have an almost immediate effect killing BT bases at will) but when they did, blood red was the colour of the ground for years to come, mostly decanting out of the Celtic hordes as they attempted to halt the AD advance. At game end this side of the table was controlled by King Harold with Queen Boudicca’s forces generally running away as fast as possible.

Stone Henge Hill was a bit of a road block for the normal close order battle lines but did see some troops trying to force their way through and if the battle had continued some success may have been possible.

This being a Christmas friendly, the game was declared a draw putting aside the above mentioned victory conditions and with much festive spirit (For me anyway, wife not too keen on any more this year) this last 2017 game was at an end. I think the game was enjoyable but also thought provoking tactics wise.

Great company made the day.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all.
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