WAB Medieval Campaign - First Round

Although we didn't get a very large showing today at the Game Matrix, we went ahead and kicked off a WAB Medieval Campaign being GM'd by Pat L. (aka Socal Warhammer). My Early-HRE army went against Old Bob's Normans. Our game ended in a tie - although I ended up with more points, there wasn't enough of a spread for a win. Our buddies Adrian and Bruce D. fought it out on the next table with their English and Crusader armies, respectively. Adrian won by a slight margin. We plan to meet again next month on the regularly scheduled NHMGS Game Day (every third Saturday of the month). The period we're using for the campaign is 900-1300 AD, or thereabouts - just no gun powder. Today, my dice rolling was not much better than usual, but it was comforting to see my opponent, as well as the other players having just as unlucky rolls. It's not just me!

The Early-HRE battle line. The infantry is now two units of spears and two units of crossbowmen. Previously there were three units of combined spears and crossbows. They performed satisfactorily enough that they will remain in these formations.

Szekeler light cavalry moving up to fire on the Norman left at the top of Turn 1. With their Nomad Cavalry Deployment rule, they were able to march move up during the initial skirmisher free movement before the first turn. They then made a normal move up to fire their bows without movement penalty due to their Expert Cavalry rule. Then they moved back a normal move with their Parthian Shot rule. They managed to do this same maneuver in all six turns. but due to mediocre dice rolls only took out a few enemy troops the entire game.

Center of the battlefield. The HRE crossbowmen held their flank, but didn't score many casualties.

The small militia bow unit did surprisingly well. They moved into the wood line and provided nice bow fire. That is, until they failed their Leadership test after taking several casualties from Norman infantry javelins.

Things got interesting on the HRE left flank. First the crossbowmen fled from a Norman cavalry charge. The charge failing brought the Norman unit close enough for a charge by the HRE knights in their turn. Prior to this, the HRE units on the left all reformed to face the Norman approach - after passing Leadership tests using the General's 9 Leadership.

Thanks to the Normans' counter charge response, the HRE knights were able to just make contact. They have a limited 12" charge range due to their encumbrance of barding. The HRE general going first took out a couple of Normans, followed by another Norman casualty from the rest of the attacks. The Normans failed to cause any damage to the well protected HRE knights. Interestingly - both the Norman and HRE warhorses forgot to use their attacks! The First Charge rule auto-broke the Normans. However, again due to encumbrance, the HRE knights couldn't overtake the fleeing Normans. In fact, the 2D6" move only got them 4" up - just enough for the other Norman cav unit to make a flank attack in their next turn.

The next turn had the other (non-fleeing) Norman cavalry hit the HRE knights in their flank. Although the HRE only had two attacks back to the Norman six, only one casualty resulted. Yet this was enough for a loss and auto-break themselves. Both the earlier fleeing Normans and the HRE knights both passed their subsequent Leadership tests and returned to the fight. By Turn 6, the Normans decided not to charge the HRE knights facing them and thus ended the game a close tie. Both armies returned whence they came to lick their wounds and hopefully come up with more dynamic tactics the next time they meet. In fact, thanks to the campaign generator, the Normans can add another 65 points and the HRE army can add a light bolt thrower.

Meanwhile, the English - longbow heavy - are taking on an army of Crusaders with Saracen allies.