Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => Medieval Adventures => Topic started by: Captain Blood on November 04, 2013, 05:55:02 PM
-
So we played another mass Wars of the Roses encounter at this weekend's BLAM gathering...
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/14/577_18_10_13_8_28_07.jpg)
The scenario this time was a defended village in the bend of a river, passable only at one narrow brigde and one shallow ford.
The men of Essex held the village - Sir Thomas Howard of Surrey, led the attack.
The defenders had around 150 figures organised into two 'battles' under Doug-em4 and Damas.
The attackers had around 220 figures divided between two battles attacking from the south (Captain Blood and Hu Rhu) and two from the north (Elk101 and DrTheViking - although Overlord later stepped in to take charge of Elk101's forces, since Steve had a train to catch!)
The terrain, including his spiffing new fortified farmhouse, is all by Steve (Silent Invader) Marshall, who also acted a gamesmaster and 'unraveller of the narrative' :)
Steve supplied all the defending forces - with a small coningent from Jimbibbly. I supplied all the attacking forces.
99% of the figures are by Perry.
Here's what happened...
A general view of the battlefield (looking north) at the outset.
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x69/pantomaniac/IMG_3258_zps317dc515.jpg~orginal)
A close up of the village.
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x69/pantomaniac/IMG_3257_zps79f5044d.jpg)
The Essex forces defending the line of the river and the fortified farmhouse.
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x69/pantomaniac/IMG_3263_zps256af95e.jpg)
And viewed from behind the line… (Try to ignore Bibbly's Japanese aeronef hovering in the distance… That's Mars over there ::))
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x69/pantomaniac/IMG_3288_zps9cd53d83.jpg)
On the northern flank, Surrey’s forces begin to roll forward. Elk101's command. The Tenchleys of Staffhurst supported by Milanese mercenaries and Burgundian guns.
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x69/pantomaniac/IMG_3265_zps28f45742.jpg)
A view of the village from the Howard (Surrey) infantry’s position on the southern flank.
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x69/pantomaniac/IMG_3269_zps90362f01.jpg)
A view of Surrey’s southern flank deployment. Flemish mercenaries in the foreground, and the various retinues of Tandridge, Crowhurst and Outwood beyond them.
In the distance, the red-and-white livery of Thomas Howard, Earl of Surrey…
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x69/pantomaniac/IMG_3274_zps6dd7efce.jpg)
Dr The Viking’s command on the northern flank – Tudor’s Welshmen, Buckingham’s Stafford billmen, and Scots mercenary pike and handguns.
In the distance, the guns of Savoy reload…
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x69/pantomaniac/IMG_3276_zpsa73f0cbd.jpg)
Amongst the first encounters on the southern flank. Essex’s mercenary crossbowmen use their hilside position to rain down withering fire on the advancing Flemings, decimating them, and causing my three newly painted Flemish additions to run away!
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x69/pantomaniac/IMG_3279_zpsb22ca697.jpg)
The Howard foot swing in towards the centre of the village perimeter, hoping to punch a hole where the hedgerow seems most lightly defended.
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x69/pantomaniac/IMG_3284_zpsa3e51cd9.jpg)
Essex billmen and bows defending the gardens and yards of the village outskirts, commanding the road…
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x69/pantomaniac/IMG_3296_zpsd135842c.jpg)
The Flemings few mounted men at arms fling themselves against the crossbowmen on the hillside. This proved a costly mistake. Most of the Flemings died in the attempt :(
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x69/pantomaniac/IMG_3299_zpseb60b0a0.jpg)
And the Howard foot didn’t fare much better.
Owing to some unfortunate dice rolling, most of the attacking party were slain trying to force a way through or over the thick hedgerow, while the defenders remained unscathed…
(Note the picket line of light cavalry behind the defenders, positioned to send any fleeing men back to the line – or face the consequences… )
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x69/pantomaniac/IMG_3302_zpsbb52c530.jpg)
Meanwhile on the northern flank, Buckingham’s billmen and Scots mercenaries advance on a spinney north of the river crossings, where the Essex forces have planted a forward defensive pocket…
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x69/pantomaniac/IMG_3311_zps68633fce.jpg)
To the south, as the Outwood contingent unleashes an arrow storm on the village, the Crowhust foot begin the bloody business of clearing the Essex men from the churchyard…
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x69/pantomaniac/IMG_3315_zpse153c36a.jpg)
…and the Tandridge foot start in on clearing the outlying cottage gardens.
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x69/pantomaniac/IMG_3317_zps86db8bf8.jpg)
With the outer southern defences of the village thus invested, Sir Thomas Howard launches his mounted armoured men straight up the road into the village… Route 1.
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x69/pantomaniac/IMG_3321_zpsd820fec5.jpg)
Where they pile into the lighter prickers and scurrers of the Essex Horse, wreaking substantial damage and forcing them to recoil…
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x69/pantomaniac/IMG_3323_zps647625bd.jpg)
And sheer weight of attacking numbers begins to tell on the defenders of the perimeter…
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x69/pantomaniac/IMG_3328_zpsbe381b3b.jpg)
Back on the northern flank,the Essex artillery urgently reload, as Buckingham’s billmen overwhelm the last of their comrades holding the spinney on the far side of the river…
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x69/pantomaniac/IMG_3325_zpsd8791dd3.jpg)
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x69/pantomaniac/IMG_3330_zpsa7eb3722.jpg)
The defenders of the village turn back into the village centre to attack the Howard horse…
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x69/pantomaniac/IMG_3339_zpsce32217e.jpg)
Who press home their advantage on the surviving Essex light horse – as the Essex commander makes a strategic wihdrawal on foot, heading to the relative safety of the fortified farmhouse…
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x69/pantomaniac/IMG_3341_zpsc88e2d00.jpg)
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x69/pantomaniac/IMG_3343_zps88bb2fa4.jpg)
The forces of Tenchley of Staffhurst prepare to cross the ford…
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x69/pantomaniac/IMG_3344_zps86cca5df.jpg)
As the Crowhurst men-at-arms complete the clear out of the churchyard…
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x69/pantomaniac/IMG_3345_zpsd3c734de.jpg)
Finally, the Essex pikemen holding the gap between the hills and the village, are sufficiently degraded by longbow shooting, that DeBrassey’s Tandridge horse can punch a hole through their defensive cordon…
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x69/pantomaniac/IMG_3346_zps90f320fa.jpg)
And so the end game approaches.
Most of the surviving Essex men rally to the fortified farmhouse, as all around, Surrey’s forces close in…
The Essex men know they can't escape, as they'll be ridden down on the road by Surrey's cavalry...
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x69/pantomaniac/IMG_3354_zps0b7bceb1.jpg)
Only the remnants of the Essex horse flee for safety… And the Essex foot still left in the village centre surrender...
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x69/pantomaniac/IMG_3356_zps5680fbd6.jpg)
The Tandridge infantry arrive to begin mopping-up operations…
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x69/pantomaniac/IMG_3357_zps74802ce5.jpg)
The men of Essex await their fate, bottled up in their stronghold…
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x69/pantomaniac/IMG_3358_zps08140b23.jpg)
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x69/pantomaniac/IMG_3355_zpsd105e10d.jpg)
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x69/pantomaniac/IMG_3362_zps980b0cfd.jpg)
As Buckingham’s billmen prepare to cross the bridge…
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x69/pantomaniac/IMG_3359_zps1a2c34f1.jpg)
And Overlord's Burgundian guns commence a bombardment of the defensive walls…
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x69/pantomaniac/IMG_3360_zps76b538c0.jpg)
And that's where we decided to end it.
To conserve men, there's no way Surrey would have thrown his troops against the heavily defended strongpoint. He would simply have reduced the position with artillery fire and waited until starvation, exhaustion, attrititon or mutiny did the rest...
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x69/pantomaniac/IMG_33621_zpsab0df9f2.jpg)
Overall, probably a predestined result, with not only the advantage of numbers with the attackers, but also greater numbers of cavalry and guns.
This imbalance was not quite offset by the strength of the defensive position.
Nonetheless, the defenders did a good job and severely mauled their attackers, completely destroying at least two or three units, and greatly reducing several more.
The end :)
-
Great report the miniatures and scenery are all top notch.
-
Outstanding. Simply wonderful to look at. Great photos showing off gorgeous paint jobs on lovely miniatures. What war gaming should look like :D
And a write up I can understand too! You sir, should work as a scrivener for the BBC (British Broadsheet Company).
-
Awesome report... fantastic minis and terrain! :-*
(Try to ignore Bibbly's Japanese aeronef hovering in the distance… That's Mars over there ::))
lol
-
That looks a fine game, lovely figures, lovely scenery. Hadn't appreciated until seeing nearly all of them assembled on one table exactly how many figures you have now painted up for the end of the 15th Century(couldn't see your Scots in the photos). Hadn't even realised that Silent Invader had such a large force of troops painted up. S.I.'s fortified farmhouse looks good, pity the mill didn't measure up to his standards as that would have looked good riverside.
-
Simply amazing, totally inspiring, :-* :'( :-* :'( :-*
-
Great write up. I thoroughly enjoyed my stint alongside Dr the Viking on the northern flank. Our plan fell at the first hurdle but we carried on regardless! Thanks too to the stalwart defenders Doug and Damas.
-
:-* :-* :-*Good grief that Looks good!!! :-* :-*
-
That's wonderful!
Just wondering - what kinds of paints did you use? Looks like high-pigment paint without washes.
(I am trying to learn to paint like what you have here, especially on the gambisons with stripes or squares.)
-
Highly envious, what a fantastic looking game.
-
Yay ..... The WotR write up. Well done Richard, a great read and your photography is as excellent as ever... :D
I have the tweaks to the rules in hand ;)
And, of course, the tweaks will need testing ;D
-
:-* The absolute bollox, as the bard once said ;)
-
Beautiful looking game, and figures!
Great report!
-
The mutts nuts indeed :-*
-
I think i asked this once before but will again
What rules?????? and how does one get a hold of them, and oh and such drool worthy gaming yet again!
WOTR goes onto the dance card after ECW project is done.
-
I think i asked this once before but will again
What rules?????? and how does one get a hold of them, and oh and such drool worthy gaming yet again!
WOTR goes onto the dance card after ECW project is done.
If you're in, I'm in. I've got a WOTR Yorkist project on the go.
-
Done and done!
-
Stunning :-*
-
That is one brilliant looking table layout, and the miniatures!! :-* :-* :-*
Just more envy here...
-
I think i asked this once before but will again
What rules?????? and how does one get a hold of them, and oh and such drool worthy gaming yet again!
Hi and thanks
The rules are mine and are available from the free download section of my store.
Ignore the buy it now and nil stock level and go to the full product description where there's a link to the free PDF.
The rules are only two pages plus a quick ref sheet of the various tables. Maybe at sometime there might be a glossy version with more expansive text and oodles of Richard's vibrant photos ;D :D
The game revealed that the rules require a few tweaks, which I am reflecting on before revision and release of the next version.
Please note that the rules are intended to facilitate the development of a narrative - so each turn represents a plot development (imagine it as a very short chapter in a novel) rather than a set period of time, etc.
-
Simply stunning!!
-
Beautiful looking game - wonderful figures and terrain - what a great game should look like. Will spend some time perusing these pics to appreciate all the detail - oh, and to spot some great ideas to nick!
Simon.
-
:-* :-* :-*
Just stunning !, Thanks you very much for sharing a interesting AAR with a bunch of greate pictures of lovely painted minis and built terrain.
Best regards Michael
-
Great pictures, i'll be back to look at these again later!
-
WoW! Great looking table stuffed with beautiful miniatures! :-*
Christopher
-
A fine, fine Captain Blood exposition. About time we saw some of those lovely figures in action!
-
Playing with Captain Blood's figures on such a wonderful table created by Silent Invader was the highlight of a wonderful weekend of wargaming. The figures in the flesh (or plastic) are every bit as good as they are in the pictures and the fortified farmhouse a superb centrepiece. And most importantly it was a great game played in the best spirit.
-
Wow guys, wow. :o 8) :-*
-
Very nice
-
Just found this topic and must say it was a real treat to take part in this game, albeit that I ended up getting a dashed good hammering from Captain Blood and Hu Rhu - all delivered with great charm and humour, of course.
What scenery...! what figures...!! A fab finale to a gorgeous weekend.
I can add a few pics which I don't think I've posted on LAF yet (if I have, my apologies):
(http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h69/CannonOlympus01/Games%20and%20Miniatures/BLAM%202013/IMG_2970_zps218714ad.jpg)
(http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h69/CannonOlympus01/Games%20and%20Miniatures/BLAM%202013/IMG_2971_zps65b0786f.jpg)
(http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h69/CannonOlympus01/Games%20and%20Miniatures/BLAM%202013/IMG_2972_zpsd90d1ebf.jpg)
(http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h69/CannonOlympus01/Games%20and%20Miniatures/BLAM%202013/IMG_2973_zps7d6c61c1.jpg)
Doug
-
Nice photos Doug. I must admit, it wasn't until the post-warBLAM posts that I realised you were THE Doug em4! It was a pleasure to meet you sir!
-
I knew it was a mistake not to wear my signature gold lamé mankini :o :o :)
I didn't twig to who quite a few people were - putting forum names to real names and then to faces left me struggling on occasions. Yours was one I was looking out for because I read your pre-BLAM posts and thought I'd like to say "hello" but everyone kept calling you Steve so I didn't make the connection. Now I think about it, didn't you have to leave the game early? I hope that all resolved OK.
Weren't we lucky to be in that game, though?
Doug
-
Likewise Doug, I had been looking to say hello to you! We were very lucky to take part, it was a beauty of a game. Yes, I had to leave early as my son was ill; hand, foot & mouth as it turned out. There's always next year!
-
Excellent looking game a and great report!!
-
So is this some kind of Lead Adventure all-stars convention!? lol
-
I knew it was a mistake not to wear my signature gold lamé mankini :o :o :)
That 's an image I didn't need :o :D
-
Smart looking game. Nice!
-
That 's an image I didn't need :o :D
You mean when I modelled for your next release I was wasting my time? ;D
Doug
-
Gorgeous...simply Gorgeous...
:-* :-* :-* :-* :-*
Thanks for sharing.
Regards,
Hitman
8)
-
SUPERB :o :-* :o :-* :o :-* :o :-* :o :-* :o :-* :o :-*