Oh My God it’s Uncle Richard!! (WOTR large skirmish rules)

[KarwickWingmaker]

Contents

Pg1 - Download the Rules (Free)
Pg1 - The Battle of Rowsley Hill
Pg2 - The Ambush on Beeley Moor
Pg2 - Explanation of Narrative Gameplay








These photos are from the last battle of a campaign where we used a snakes and ladders style campaign map
(thanks for the idea Silent Invader!)

[commissarmoody]

Nice pictures. 

[MaleGriffin]

Great looking game! Are there more pics?

[KarwickWingmaker]

Not of that game sadly!

Soon there will be more the rules are (probably) finished now so the pdf will be shared on this thread soon too!

[Bloggard]

great stuff.

[KarwickWingmaker]

Download The Rules (Free!)


Hey all

The large skirmish WOTR rules that I have written along with my friend are available for FREE here:

https://orriblelittlemen.wordpress.com/downloads

Lots of play-testing has gone into these but any questions will be added to an FAQ / Errata on this thread

Also, attached to this post are our rules for using the system with One Hour Wargames scenarios, some of my personal favourite scenarios in wargaming!

Hope you enjoy our rules!

Battle reports and tutorials on the way

[frank xerox]

That is one awesome title for a set of rules!

[Captain Harlock]

The title made me laugh out loud 
Great pics

[KarwickWingmaker]

That is one awesome title for a set of rules!

The title made me laugh out loud 
Great pics

Thanks 

If you know, you know

[KarwickWingmaker]

The Battle for Rowsley Hill - 1462

(This is an invented dispute between two families that have, in real life, both been in possession of Haddon Hall & Estate. The names and events are all fictitious though I have used surnames of the real families that relate to, or have written about, the ownership of Haddon Hall in Derbyshire)

Part 1 - Prologue

The Manners and Vernon families had long been in disagreement over the Haddon Estate, and tensions had only risen since Edward IV had taken the throne. The Manners' had long supported the Yorkist cause in Edward’s rise to power, though the Vernons had subtly supported King Henry VI, though exclusively in non-military aid, such as publicly calling the deceased Duke of York a traitor after the battle of St Albans in 1455.

The Vernon family suddenly had a lot to gain, with everything to lose. The eldest of the Vernon men, Thomas, was convinced by his hot-headed brother Richard to march into Manners-held land and finally claim Haddon Hall for his family. Cowardly in nature, Thomas had not wished for open conflict, hoping instead for the Manners to merely leave the estate and not risk their own lives. Quite the opposite occurred however and, for the first time in many years, Thomas Vernon was having to dress in his harness of plate, ready for battle.



Having heard that the Vernons would be marching to capture the strategically valuable hill by the village of Rowsley, Ralph Manners had an awfully difficult task ahead of him. Ensuring his Reckless younger brother Edward knew not to leave the hill overlooking the road, and convincing his long-term ally Sir George Cook to join him in the battle.



First, giving Edward his orders. The hill would be vital as it overlooked the most viable road leading to the Haddon Estate itself from the village of Rowsley, where Ralph’s scouts had seen the Vernons organising their forces the day before. Having shown his brother the expected direction of the Vernon attack, Ralph had to leave Edward on the hill, hoping that he would hold his position long enough for Ralph to return with his ally and turn the tide of the battle against their aggressors.




Ralph immediately went on to use all of his inspiring presence to convince his long-time ally Sir George Cook into joining him in battle to defend against the Vernon invasion. Luckily, Sir George agreed and went about preparing his men. This would prove vital to the Manners’ as Sir George was a veteran of many battles, as well as a trusted ally in such turbulent times. There were no longer any questions in Ralph’s mind, the battle for Rowsley hill would commence imminently.

[Captain Harlock]

Thanks 

If you know, you know

A cunning plan is brewing   

[KarwickWingmaker]

Part 2 - Battle Commences



Edward stood among his men on Rowsley hill. They weren’t really his men, and he knew it. They were his brother’s. Edward knew they didn’t trust him, thinking of him as hot-tempered and reckless. Ralph had never judged him for a fool though, not to his knowledge. If he had done so, then giving Edward command of the hill was far more reckless than Ralph was known for. Perhaps it was just desperation. Before doubt could settle in Edward’s mind, however, the Vernons arrived.





They came along the road from the East, splitting into two just as Ralph had told Edward to expect. Billmen serving under the distrusted Henry Bennett made their way into the forest to the North-East of the hill, as the archers hurried along the road. Behind them, one of Vernon’s prized possessions, a cannon, rolled into view. Edward felt fear for the first time since donning his armour, and did not like it.





Just as Edward began to worry at the prospect of being outnumbered, Ralph returned with the remainder of the Manners forces, marching onto the road and facing the Vernon forces as they came towards him. The archery duel began and, while it was not a decisive affair, both sides were suffering casualties among their archers.



The Vernon archers parted, scattering to either side of the road, revealing the greatest threat to Ralph Manners’ men, the cannon. The crew were hurriedly preparing the weapon to fire as a huge crack rang out across the field. The cannon had malfunctioned! A cheer among the Manners’ archers turned into a relieved laugh, though the task of defeating the Vernons still needed to be done, and would still prove incredibly difficult if Sir George did not arrive in time.



The younger of the Vernon brothers, Sir Richard Vernon, took his men away from the smoking carcass of the cannon and towards the forest. He never trusted this new technology anyway, and had seen too many well-trained men slain by their own devices to be too surprised by the incredible display of the future of warfare. He couldn’t help but smirk to himself as he ordered his men toward the enemy.



With Richard Vernon behind him, Henry Bennett felt the pressure to impress. He marched his billmen toward the hill. Perhaps, he thought to himself, there could be a handsome reward for one who slays  one of the Manners brothers, if not taking them for their ransom. With money on his mind, he pushed to the front of his men, eager to prove his worth.



Ralph Manners breathed a sigh of relief as he heard the beating of hooves behind him, Sir George had arrived! The day was not lost before it had begun.

[KarwickWingmaker]

Part 3 - Disaster



Bennet’s billmen surged forwards, crashing into the men at arms serving under Edward Manners.



The fighting was vicious, but Manners’ men were worth their coin that day, pushing Bennet’s billmen back down the hill and into the forest. In the confusion of the melee, Bennet found himself up against Edward and was quickly slain by the far younger and more vicious warrior. Bennet’s men did not buckle, however, and though they were pushed back by Manners’ men at arms, they did not waver.





While the Manners Archers on the road suffered heavy casualties, the archers upon the hill rained death down upon those serving the Vernons. Very few casualties had been caused by the various units of archers to anyone but each other.



Eventually the archers on the road decided that they had suffered enough and the few remaining survivors sought cover, and rest, among the small outbuildings by the corn field.



Sir George, seeing that Richard Vernon was making his way around the back of Edward Manners’ men at arms, scaled the hill in order to offer support where required. He halted his unit of mounted men at arms with a raised hand and watched the melee unfolding in the forest. It was as though he was waiting for a signal before making his charge.



Seeing the melee in the forest was going against his brother’s men, Sir Thomas Vernon, cowardly leader of the Vernon forces, reluctantly made his way toward the melee. His heart pounded and sweat poured off his brow, stinging his eyes though, hidden under all of his plate armour, the men around him didn’t notice.



Sir George locked eyes with Sir Richard Vernon who, in the middle of the melee, raised a hand as though he were waving to a friend. Sir George waved back, much to the dismay of the Manners men around him. He turned his horse and led his men away. Ralph could not believe what he was seeing. He was more certain of Sir George as an ally than Edward, his own brother. Ralph’s heart felt like it was about to burst as he saw Sir Richard’s men moving to attack Edward’s. Knowing that Richard Vernon was a renowned swordsman that outclassed both him and his brother, Ralph made his way toward the melee. This could be the end he thought to himself, but what an end it will be.

[KarwickWingmaker]

Part 4 - The End



With his heart pounding so hard that he felt as though he might burst out of his harness, Ralph Manners directed his men toward Richard Vernon, hoping not to have to personally face him in the melee that would unfold.



Similarly anxious but full of reckless vigour, Edward Manners caused many further casualties to the billmen who had served under the deceased Henry Bennett while suffering very few of their own. They turned to face the much bigger threat of Richard Vernon’s men at arms and braced for impact.



At the same time, the cowardly leader of the Vernon army, Sir Thomas Vernon, followed his men into melee with the Manners’ billmen. Shrinking to the back of his unit, he couldn’t clearly see which side was winning, though each scream from a fallen man made him shudder within his armour. He hoped his men were too distracted to notice his absence in the melee.



While Sir Thomas’ cowardice was on full display, the Vernon archers were proving their bravery as they rushed into the melee before them in order to prevent their leader from being attacked by the Manners’ billmen. They added some much-needed pressure that seemed as though it could tip the balance of the fight, possibly the entire battle if it allowed both Vernon units rushed toward the hill.



Ralph Manners’ nightmare came true. Instead of charging into Edward’s men at arms, Sir Richard Vernon had his men rush onto the hill, storming straight for Ralph’s men. With horrifying ease, Sir Richard slew Ralph’s standard bearer, sending the man to his knees with blood pouring from beneath his gorget. Sir Richard then turned his attention to Ralph, who backed away under the intense pressure and speed of Richard’s sword strokes.



Suddenly free from Sir Richard, Edward Manners turned his attention to the older Vernon brother. Seeing him cowering behind his own men, Edward was certain that Thomas Vernon would be easy pickings. Turning briefly to see how his brother was faring, and feeling quite disheartened at what he saw, Edward saw the possibility to end the battle in an instant if he could get to Sir Thomas in time.

Just as Edward was closing upon Sir Thomas’ men at arms, a sickening cry rang out among the Manners soldiers. Sir Ralph had fallen, the battle was lost! The men around Ralph scattered or were cut down, though Edward was sure he had seen two of the Manners retainers dragging his brother with them. Perhaps it was just wishful thinking. Either way, Edward knew he needed to escape and so, without time to think of the safety of his men, he fled toward Rowsley village, away from the battle.

[KarwickWingmaker]

Part 5 - Epilogue

Ralph Manners coughed weakly, his sides burning each time he did so. It had been three days since the battle for Rowsley hill but only one since he had awoken in Haddon Hall. He knew he should feel lucky to be alive, but he wouldn’t be truly grateful until he managed to come up against the treacherous Sir George Cook in battle and exact his revenge.

Edward sat with him while he recovered, having acquired a horse in Rowsley village and then made his way to the Haddon Estate by nightfall. A large number of the men who had served them in the battle had been slain during the rout, but many of those who had survived had returned to them, trickling into their lands in groups of two or three at a time. They were still severely under-manned, but they now had enough of a garrison to hold the hall against an attack if one came.

***

Sir Thomas Vernon felt slightly ashamed of himself when his men called him a hero, saying how they saw him turn to face Edward Manners’ men even though he was hopelessly outnumbered. They didn’t know he had frozen when he saw the threat to his person, that he would have traded all of their lives just to be away from there, that he was about to run for his life. They wouldn’t find out either, thanks to Ralph Manners’ timely demise. The lack of a body to display was disheartening however, and the idea floated by his brother Richard to dress the corpse of Henry Bennett as Manners wouldn’t do either. Ralph was dead, his brother Richard had assured him, and that was all he needed. He would march on Haddon Hall soon, and before he could get there Edward Manners would come out and meet him, the hot-headed fool. That would be an easy victory, perhaps one in which he wouldn’t have to personally fight or command. Then he would have his prize, and perhaps his family would stop expecting him to risk his life for their possible financial gain.

***

Not far away, Sir William Cavendish had heard of the Vernon victory over the Manners family. Though he did not much care for their petty squabbles, he was very interested in the treachery of Sir George Cook. Sir William and Sir George had long been bitter rivals when attempting to impress the newly crowned King Edward IV after Towton. Now that the Manners family would be forced to exact their revenge upon Sir George, it was the perfect time for Sir William to aid them in their quest. He sent a letter expressing his interest in assisting with the capture, or death, of Sir George but he felt the need to impress upon the Manners family that his support would end the moment that Sir George’s death was confirmed. He awaited their response eagerly.