Last night I had the pleasure of a game of Lion Rampant with Captain Blood. This was my first outing using these rules, we usually play the excellent Fistful of Lead set for most our smaller skirmish games. Having played Pikeman's Lament with the good Captain several weeks ago the suggestion was to try out Lion Rampant for a game involving more figures but keeping the medieval theme.
So the stage was set for a clash between the forces of Sir James of Tarbuck (me) and Sir Jehan de Lambert (Captain Blood). For reasons unknown or long forgotten these two Lords decided to do battle outside the sleepy village of Tedding on the Ton.
We managed to cobble together enough figures for a 24 point retinue from our respective collections, both taking Mounted Men at Arms, Foot Knights, Foot Serjeants and Archers. I opted for a unit of Yeomen and spent my last point on some Serfs. Captain Blood used up his remaining points on some Bidowers and his last point he spent on the mounted Men at Arms to have them controlled and not subject to wild charges.
For the first few turns we edged closer together, I sent my agile foot Yeomen through a field in an attempt to attack the Captains flank and sent my heavy infantry; the foot knights and Serjeants towards his centre. My mounted Men at Arms I held in reserve, not wanting them to go charging off uncontrolled.
The Captain advanced moving his foot units into the fields designated rough terrain slowly gaining ground, and his Mounted Men at Arms swung around to attack my left flank which was guarded by my archers and my mounted knights. My serfs on the other hand spent the majority of the game sitting it out on my right flank having failed many of their activations!
My foot knights pushed up the road between the fields, being peppered by his Bidowers who failed to do much damage, these moved back to allow his foot knights to meet mine head on. At last we had a proper fight -sword and axe against shield and chainmail! Being evenly matched they traded blow for blow, each pushing the other back and then rejoining the fight. My Foot yeomen arrived via on the flank, but started taking bow fire from the Captain's Bidowers who kept firing and evading. Eventually the Yeomen lost too many men and fled, but I had managed to reduce the enemy foot knights to the point they ran away and the Bidowers became battered!
My foot Serjeants clambered over the hedgerow and met his foot Serjeants in the rough terrain. Again being evenly matched the fight went backwards and forwards until a really bad roll of the dice saw my Serjeants flee.
On the left flank the Captain had pushed his archers and his mounted knights up. Each side traded shots to little effect and eventually the knights got bored and charged each other. Mine came off worse and were wiped out to a man, the Captain's knights then made short work of my archers and it was all over.
A really enjoyable game, I found the rules very easy to pick up and the game was fast moving. I will definitely give these another try. In the meantime here are some of the highlights.
The outskirts of Tedding on the Ton and the retinues in position.
My Forces move forward.
Sir Jehan de Lambert on the opposite side leads his mounted knights forward.
His Foot Serjeants enter the rapeseed field.
My foot knights advance up the road towards his Bidowers.
The enemy in the field
Overview at this point you can see my Yeomen unopposed about to exit the field in the top right.
Foot Serjeants size each other up.
Knights doing what they like to do!
Another overview. My yeomen attack the Captains foot knights. My Serfs can be seen in the bottom of the pic sitting this fight out!
The Yeomen about the get stuck in.
Sir Jehan de Lambert and his Men at Arms charge along the riverbank towards my archers
The clash of steel as Sir Jehan crashes into Sir James of Tarbucks men.
The furious melee in the field between the Serjeants.
A lull in the fight.
After my mounted knights fall my archers are soon ridden down.
Tomorrow I'll post photos showing the battle unfold from Captain Bloods perspective
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May 23, 2024, 04:18:18 PM
November 26, 2014, 11:50:49 AM
