(GM's Notes: No magic was used. I was introducing some new, untested rules. The forces were rather large, on both sides, and one new, inexperienced player was involved, so I kept it relatively simple…)
Ran a 2e BattleSystem game Saturday: Hobgoblins inside a wooden fort, defending; attacked by joint Human and Dwarf armies. The Hobgoblins had adapted the idea of "Tiger Pits", to create "Dwarven Pits". Not in the rulebook, but we experimented with creating our own rules to address them in play. We learned a lot, and we plan to replay this scenario, with the Dwarf Pits modified by what we learned; we may also have the players switch sides, to give them an idea of what it was like for the other guy…
The Hobgoblin Army (South Gate side, the monstrously huge Orange Guy is the Hobgoblin King, disdaining armor -- none would fit his great girth!) consisted of Spearmen (Unit directly in front of the South Gate), Pikemen (2 x Units, in front of their King), Longbowmen (off the corner of the Fort), and six Ballistae (3 x South catwalk, 3 x North Catwalk), within the Fort. They deployed all of their Pikemen, many of their Spearmen and Longbowmen, outside of the Fort, on the South side, with other Spearmen and Longbowmen, on the North Side. They tried using their Pikemen to entice the Dwarven Ram Cavalry to charge them, hoping they would run headlong into the covered, hidden Pits. It almost worked…
The Dwarven Army attacked on the South side gateway of the Fort, while the Human Army attacked the North side of the Fort.
The Dwarven Army consisted of the following Units: 2 x Great Axemen Units, a large Spearmen Unit, the Widow's Brigade Unit (Female Dwarven Warriors who lost their husbands in previous battles against the Hobgoblins -- more on them, later), a Heavy X-Bow Unit, 2 x Ram Cavalry Units, a heavy Chariot equipped with four, slow reloading, magical cannons, and the massive King's Heavy Chariot, drawn by a monstrous, naturally armored hippo-like creature with a penchant for stomping and crushing, everything in its path.
The Human Army was composed mostly of mercenary Units: 5 x Spearmen Units, 2 x Halberdier Units, 2 x Heavy X-Bowmen Units, each equipped with Mantlets [one Unit had wheel-less Mantlets, which they could carry, very slowly, forward; the other had wheeled Mantlets, which moved (not much) faster].
Each attacking Army was also equipped with Scaling Ladders which were easily capable of reaching the tops of the Fort walls. However, we never got to the point of using the ladders, as it was obvious that it would be a s-l-o-w, grinding battle of one figure versus 2-3 enemy figures, attacking the poor bastards climbing the ladders! We discussed it at the end, deciding the best option would be to send elite Units, or heroes/leaders with multiple Hits, leading up the ladders: they would most likely die, but they would give their grunts, behind them, the best chance of making it to the top of the ladder, and over the wall to the catwalks occupied by the enemy! It would still be a slugfest of attrition, which would not be much fun to play…
Here is the initial deployment on the North side of the Fort, Humans in the bottom of the image, Hobgoblins near the Fort, in the center of the image.
Another view of the Dwarven Army, at initial deployment. Note that the Hobgoblin deployment is carefully arranged to avoid the hidden Dwarf Pits! They have to be careful maneuvering around the static pits, to avoid falling in, as well as giving away their positions! The Hobgoblins on the North side are in the same precarious situation…
End of Turn 1, North side: the Hobgoblins are standing pat, letting the Human enemies come to them. The Humans are pushing/carrying their heavy Mantlets forward, up the hills on each end, to give them the best firing positions possible, to inflict as much harm as possible, on the poor Hobgoblins who are standing in the open, waiting.
Meanwhile, on the South side, the Ram Cavalry redeployed to the East and the West, attempting a pincer movement to hit each flank of the Hobgoblins! The two chariots moved to attack more centrally.
The Hobgoblin King was holding his troops in position. He was imagining the Dwarves falling headlong into his carefully prepared, carefully camouflaged, deep pits, which his troops would gleefully fill in, burying the screaming Dwarves, alive! Well, he did have an overly active imagination!
On the next Turn, the Dwarven Ram Cavalry advanced (their view, from the hilltop). The Dwarven Heavy X-Bowmen sent a volley of death across the gap, routing the Hobgoblin Longbowmen! They made for the safety of their Fort, in spite of the deafening protestations of their King! The Spearmen, realizing their flank was exposed, and soon to be charged by the Ram Cavalry, turned face, and moved to meet the onslaught. The Pikemen stood their ground, setting their extra-long spears to meet the charge of the Dwarven King's horrifically large chariot, thundering towards their line -- they stood against this terror because they knew it was heading towards the pits they, themselves, had dug into the earth. They were salivating at the imagined sight of the Dwarven King falling, screaming, to his death, just a few feet in front of them, being denied his attack! Like their King, their imagination was running away with them!
On the North side, the Hobgoblin Spearmen see their enemies getting closer, and closer… Their Ballista Crews opened fire upon the Mantlets, destroying one!
On the Southeast side of the battlefield, the Dwarven Cavalry charged into the flank of the Pikemen who had killed their great King, running across the damnable pits, just as their beloved King had. They, too, suffered horrific injuries crossing the pits, but some of them managed to crash into the Pikemen, still.
On the North side, the Humans continue to advance forward, slowly, but surely. The Hobgoblin Ballistae managed to destroy another Mantlet, in the center, exposing additional Human Heavy X-Bowmen, who continue to move ever closer to the Hobgoblin Longbowmen, who continue holding their ground out in front of the gates! At this point Morale is good, for everyone. Unfortunately, for the Hobgoblins, that will not last…
Back on the South side, the Dwarven Spearmen continue to advance, along with the Great Axemen, X-Bowmen, and the Widow's Brigade. The 2nd Unit of Ram Cavalry continue to ride around the far flank side of the Hobgoblins, covering ground more slowly than they had hoped. Melee continues between the Ram Cavalry and the Pikemen, as well as the Spearmen. The Hobgoblin King decided to withdraw inside of the Fort, where he could directly command the defense of the Fort. He had always planned to sacrifice his Pikemen and Spearmen, pulling back his Longbowmen inside the Fort, sending the Bowmen to the catwalks to assault the ladder carriers, as they approached the walls. Surprisingly, the Hobgoblin Longbowmen rallied, within a few feet of the doors to the Fort! They turned around, and faced the oncoming Widow's Brigade, ready to send them to meet with their long-dead husbands!
On the North side, the Hobgoblin Longbowmen took severe casualties, and routed away from the Fort, and the battle entirely (small group, upper left of the image, beyond the blue tabbed, Hobgoblin Spearmen, looking so smart in their Bronze Plate Mail armor)!
The Hobgoblin Spearmen, standing directly in front of the gates, took some heavy 'love' form the Human X-Bowmen, as well. While they stood their ground, they were Shaken (noted by the presence of the Goat marker; a Chicken marker denotes a Routing Unit). Things are looking rather grim for the Hobgoblin forces outside of the Fort, on the North side…
Tell me, if you were a Hobgoblin looking at these enemies, who would you fear more: the Human Army, or your bloodthirsty, savagely violent King, who does not hesitate to punish failure? Hmmm?…
A Turn later, and two of the Hobgoblin Spearmen Units beat feet into the safety(?) of the Fort, abandoning one of their fellow Spearmen Unit's to cover their retreat! There are only the Sergeant, and one Hobgoblin Spearmen left in a former Unit of Nine + Sergeant! They held the enemy long enough for the others to make it safely inside the Fort! The Human Spearmen, ladders in hand, continue to march towards the wall! The X-Bowmen, on both hills, have abandoned their tedious Mantlets, in favor of quick advancement, flush with confidence from the victory of their comrades, beneath them, inspired by the sight of the Hobgoblin forces retreating inside of the Fort.
Revenge is, indeed, sweet! The Widow's Brigade finally met with, and engaged the enemy! Much retribution was issued that day! The Dwarven X-Bowmen were not expecting melee, but they acquitted themselves, honorably. The ranks of the Widow's Brigade, however, grew that day, as more Dwarven women would join them, as many Dwarven men left their dead bodies upon the field. All of the Dwarven Pits had been revealed, proving a considerable hindrance to the creatures who dug them! Not only was the enemy channeled by them, so, too, were the defenders!
The Hobgoblin King successfully retreated to command his forces from the safety of his Fort. His veteran Pikemen, and loyal Spearmen, left to cover his royal advancement to the rear!
The battle on the South side is winding down. The Pikemen are taking heavy casualties, both from the Widow's Brigade (top center), and from the Cavalry and the Heavy Axemen (center of photo); the spearmen, behind them, have Shaken, and fallen back, towards the gates. It is turning into a mop-up operation, with the Fort waiting patiently for some tender loving care, at the hands of the ladder-climbing Dwarves!
On the North side, all opposition has been eradicated. There is a small gap between the Human forces, and the Fort walls. The Ballistae continue to hammer the Mantlets before them, which are still staffed. All that is left, is the grim Ladder Assault…
We called the game at this point. None of us was really interested in a glacial ladder assault game. I have to make a determination as to the outcome, but it is pretty much a given that the Hobgoblins will be destroyed, after a grinding, protracted battle, with the Humans and Dwarves all taking terrible casualties. Cheers!
