Last night we had our first game of Pikemans Lament. We had to basic lists of TYW Swedes led by Kaptajn BarseBäck against Imperialists led by Helmut von Grünehosen (Trait. So great and arrogant that his men did not listen to him – no leadership benefit to order & moral test)
Swedes:
1 Aggressive elite Gallopers (with officer)
1 Aggressive Gallopers
1 Pike
2 Shots
1 Commanded shot
Imperialist:
2 Trotters (one with officer)
2 Shot
2 Pike
Scenario: Gå På (task: rout/kill the opponent). Not too much terrain so as to test the basis rules.
I think the rules worked really well. It is a frustration that you never know when your turn ends, but in my mind that is also part of what gives the game flavor.
Both companies advanced to get into action. The Swedes being a little reluctant to move in the beginning. The Shot units exchanging fire forcing the Swedish left back. The imperialist followed up with trotters but ended up being destroyed by a combination of shot and Gallopers. Helmut von Grünhosen found himself all alone in the end, abandoned by his men (dead) and fell victim to a Swedish salvo.
The imperialist Pike in the center advanced cautiously to try to make the Swedish gallopers charge. This succeeded. Kaptajn Barsebäck led his me in a wild charge. The outcome however was that after two rounds of combat the pike fled leaving a hole in the imperial center. Not really the plan.
The imperialist tried to push the pikes on the right wing and followed up with a unit of trotters. However to no use. The left flank collapsed and even though Kaptajn Barsebäck also fled the field the battle ended with a Swedish victory (points lost: imperial 16, Swedes 14).
Great game. We are certainly going to try this again. I really like the Pike & shot feeling without having mass battles that require hundreds of miniatures.