A fight for a dyke (HYW AAR)

[Patrice]

Some pictures of terrible events which happened in Brittany in 1342!
…or at a games event in Theix (Brittany) on Sunday 19 April 2015.

Ruleset: « Argad ! » Characters names are invented by players (who are encouraged to build a RPG story about what happens to their character).

The events take place at the beginning of the Hundred Years War, during the War of the Breton Succession (some Bretons are allied with the French, others with the English). In two previous games, the French army entered Brittany with big difficulty. It now advances in the country, following the southern coast.

The 3.60 x 1.80 m table, seen from the West. In the middle is a narrow sea inlet, with a dyke at the end near a village, and a pond behind it (there are many such places in Brittany). The aim of the French/Breton troops (supposed to be the vanguard of a larger army) is to control the crossing.

At the far edge of the table, in the East, we can see a small troop led by "the bastard of Quimerc'h", a pro-English Breton petty nobleman. He his followed/pursued on each flank by pro-French Breton troops, one in the South-East corner led by a rival Breton nobleman "Le Pieu"; the other in the North-East corner (character name unknown, still to be created -  a new player in this historical context).



Another pro-English troop, led by "Guilo Clec'h", is alerted and begins to move from the Western edge.



The bastard of Quimerc'h leads his small troop (but three of his mounted men are positioned well ahead, already arriving in the village).



One of the Breton-French troops trying to outrun him:



After two game turns, a surprise: an English ship, carrying a few English men-at-arms and sergeants and a group of Welshmen, enters the inlet!
The ship intentionally runs aground on the sand of the western bank, to land as soon as possible.



Quimerc'h comes in contact with the foes on his right flank: he tries to eliminate them first.



A few peasants, encouraged by his sergeants, march out of the village to face the French pavise-bearers.

[Patrice]

At the same moment, light soldiers of Guilo Clec'h run on the dyke towards the village; in the background, villagers and peasants cross the end of the narrow valley to run away from the fight.



An explanation sheet explaining to visitors what miniature wargaming is about:



In the south-east, Le Pieu (although the miniature is painted with the arms of Beaumanoir) advances as fast as he can.



The French pavise-bearers have killed the fighting peasants… except one, who manages to kill some foes with his pitchfork.



After having landed and walked his troop to the dyke, the "English" player suddenly remembers that he left his ship without guard! A Welsh longbowman is hastily sent back to it.



Heavy fight on the eastern bank! Welsh longbowmen and spearmen defend the dyke against the men of Le Pieu. Le Pieu has just revealed that he had two spies in the village: they appear to push an heavy cart to block a narrow passage in the village.



At the same moment, Quimerc'h who was fighting the other Breton-French troop receives a crossbow bolt and falls from his horse! He stands up and he continues to fight on foot, but he is hit a second time and he fells unconscious.
(in the rules, to encourage role-play, the players characters have two "hit points", they can receive two wounds).

[Patrice]

And now we can see a great miracle!
The men of Le Pieu are walking on water?!
His spies in the village told him that there is an old (Roman?) paved ford which can be crossed at low tide (and some game time has passed since the English ship came at high tide; now it's low tide!) So he sends some of his men to cross the inlet.



A Breton mounted sergeant rides fast to tell the Welsh longbowman to set fire to the ship. But the Welshman is not sure to understand (although the word "tan" means "fire" in both languages) and he is unwilling to obey to an unknown Breton. He prefers to shoot on the advancing enemies and he kills one of them, while some crossbow bolts pass near his own ears.



The Welsh group on the dyke retreats with casualties. To replace them, Guilo Clec'h sents forward a ribauldequin (organ gun).



Earlier in the game the French were worried to see this machine, but it took some time to prepare it (only Guilo Clec'h knew that the two artillerymen able to use it were drinking at the village inn, and he had to send someone to call them back).

Le Pieu tells his two spies to push the heavy cart towards the ribauldequin. The gunners fire and break a wheel of the cart.

The English knigth holding the banner of St Georges is now alone on the left bank, surrounded by Breton-French billmen, and he must surrender.



Villagers and peasant are still fleeing to the West.



A French billman climbs aboard the ship and kills the Welsh defender!



Last fights on the dyke; Guilo Clec'h sends back his ribauldequin, and he will soon order his men to retreat.



So, this time it's a Breton-French victory: they control all the crossings (the dyke, and the hidden ford), and they also have taken an English ship (which was never in their objectives)!

Quimerc'h has been carried away by some men of Guilo Clec'h (don't worry, he successfully rolls the healing test and we'll see him again!)

[commissarmoody]

Great report

[Little Odo]

I enjoyed the report - I like the gaming table and minis in use too.

[Harry Faversham]

Excellent! Really enjoyed that. 

[Hupp n at em]

What a wonderful looking game!    I'm curious, who makes the figures in the last picture? I really like those infantry in the padded jacks.

[Miantanomo]

What a wonderful looking game!    I'm curious, who makes the figures in the last picture? I really like those infantry in the padded jacks.

Indeed, they look good. At least I'm not the only curious one. 

[Patrice]

Thanks guys for your comments.

I'm curious, who makes the figures in the last picture? I really like those infantry in the padded jacks.

Black Tree Design:



https://www.blacktreedesign.com/northamerica/home.php?cat=2489