Howdy,
This is an AAR from my Thursday evening game at Historicon ‘19. A skirmish between Normans and Saxons prior to Hastings in 1066. A Norman foraging party is attempting to return to camp with their haul when their progress is blocked by a Saxon force. My draft, in-progress, rules So Convenient for Hewing were used with 15mm Essex figures.
The Victory Conditions for the game:
Normans receive 1 VP for each wagon (there were two wagons) exited off the side road.
Normans receive 2 VP for each wagon exited off the opposite board edge road.
Either player receives 1 VP for each farm occupied, or were the last to occupy (4 farms).
Control of the hill 3 VP, or were the last to occupy.
The game area was about 3 ft x 6 ft, and there were four players, two Norman and two Saxon. Both sides had six units and a Senior Leader.
Norman led by Sir Onger of Caen
2 units of Knights (veteran), mounted, armored, shielded (6 figs ea.)
2 units of Foot, armored, shielded (8 figs ea.)
1 unit of Foot, shielded (8 figs ea.)
2 unit of Crossbowmen (8 figs ea.)
Saxon led by Athelpie
2 units of Huscarls (veteran), armored, shielded
2 units of Fyrd, armored, shielded
2 units of Fyrd (light), javelins, shields
Photo 1 – Overview of the table, Normans to the left, Saxons to the right
The Saxons began with 4 armored units on the hill, and 2 light units in the farms, the Senior Leader was forward to control the light units (the leaders extra order chits would be needed when the Saxon light units attempted to break contact with the advancing Normans).
The Normans upon seeing the Saxon force were deployed in two lines the first line armored, with Knights to either flank, and the crossbowmen and unarmored foot in the second line.
At the start of the game, the Saxon players had the option to move the lead light units back. They chose to stay forward.
Photo 2 – Saxon at-start positions
Photo 3 – Norman knights – veteran units get two order chits
Photo 4 – Norman armored foot with a single order chit
Photo 5 – Saxons on the hill at-start
Photo 6 – Normans move forward to surround the farms with the Saxon light troops.
Photo 7 – Saxons move forward to support the farms
Photo 8 – Saxons vacate the first farm – those crossbows are dangerous.
Photo 9 – Normans break Saxon line near the farms. Knights ride through Saxon line. Saxon units surrounded and defeated piecemeal.
It was a very interesting game. The Saxon players, especially, were presented with some tough tactical choices. They tried to advance and fight an open field battle with the Normans – that was not a winning strategy. At the end of the game, the Saxon players felt the longer range of the crossbows and the mobility of the knights were decisive advantages. Indeed, they were advantages, but different Saxon tactical choices could have negated them. For example, a reverse slope defense would have negated the range advantage of the crossbows, and standing on the hill with terrain protected flanks would have negated the mobility of the Knights. The players seemed to be enthusiastic and enjoy the game. I did.
Ponder on,
JAS
shows how using inks makes it easier to paint a 15mm scale army.
