First St Albans - Lion Rampant AAR

Just finished another enjoyable game - this time based on the First Battle of St Albans. My buddy ran the royalists inside of the town and I ran the rebels led by the Duke of York and Earl of Warwick. The King's forces had six units - one mounted serjeants, two foot MAA's, and three yeomen with mixed weapons (bows and spears). The Yorkists had nine units - two mounted serjeants, three foot MAA's and four yeomen with mixed weapons (bows and spears). The terrain which included plowed fields, woods, hedges ditches and stone walls was supposed to slow down the Yorkists' advance - which it did but the shorter 12" range of the bows in mixed units were not favorable for the King's troops. The Yorkists ended up getting inside the town over the field barricades at the entrances into the town at Sopwell and Shropshire Lanes. Once inside their superior numbers decided the battle. During the AAR it was recommended to have the bowmen inside the town as separate bow units - giving them the better 18" range. Otherwise we both agreed the rules worked very nicely for the scenario.

Initial deployment by Yorkists forces outside of St Albans along Sopwell and Shropshire Lanes, the River Ver on the southern flank.

The king's men manning the eastern perimeter of St Albans.

View looking south with Shropshire Lane in the foreground.

Yorkists forces moving towards St Albans on Sopwell Lane.

King Henry's forces manning the eastern walls of St Albans.

Sopwell Lane in the foreground with Yorkists forces making good headway towards the town.

Yorkists boldly advancing upon St Albans - still out of enemy bow range.

The Duke of York pressing the attack on Shropshire Lane. Foot MAA soon to climb over improvised barricades.

Yorkists attempt to dislodge the defenders at Sopwell Lane with arrow fire.

Foot MAA bravely defend the town at Sopwell Lane.

Yorkists Foot MAA having breached the walls and barricades at Shropshire Lane engage in close combat with Mounted Serjeants. The Foot MAA got the better of the mounted troops, who had to retreat.

The outnumbered forces of the king failing to keep out the Yorkists, are overwhelmed and defeated.

 Yay! Now we can move on to a lasting peace!

Addendum: One thing which was found to be a bit brutal, harsh as the author puts it, is the Courage test required by units taking casualties, particularly winners of combat. There was at least one occasion during the game where a clear winner of combat failed their Courage test and was routed off the table. We made an on-the-spot house rule (at least for this game), negating the need for a Courage test for units which won their round of combat. We'll see if we keep this mod in future games.