28mm VIKINGS FIGHT SAXONS

Here are some photos of this week's game. Saxons against Vikings. The Vikings defeated the Saxons. A feature of the game was a long running personal combat between a Viking leader and his Saxon counterpart. Both wounded the other, but in the end the Saxon prevailed and killed the Viking. It did not help the Saxon army though which eventually broke due to the losses it had suffered. The figures are all 28mm minis. The rules used are our own.

 

28mm ROMAN TESTUDO

Here is the latest addition to my 28mm Roman collection. It is a Testudo of Legio XXX Ulpia Victrix. The minis are Black Tree Designs, the shield designs are my own home made transfers.

28mm Napoleonics - 1 page rules Test Game

Hello All,

After the AWI games with the Fife & Drum rules I made a few adjustments and managed to convert them into a 1 page Napoleonic set. Richard and I played a basic scenario on Saturday to test them out. Richard used his Westphalians (in his own words "Nobody's favourite army"), while I used my Bavarians that I had just rebased but not fully completed. A reinforced division per side. Fast, fun and easy to play.

The game was successful and went smoothly. We are both fairly laid back and we made about 3 changes as we played without getting worked up about it. Regarding the scenario, the Westphalians had to attack and capture both hamlets and control the high ground. In the end I had my arse handed to me. I made a few mistakes and couldn't hit a barn door so the Westphalians won completely. Not a sentence I ever thought I would write.

Richard says the skirmish rules took a bit of getting used to. The skirmishers work as 'shields' against musketry. They absorb/negate a hit for each skirmishing pair of figures. So if a battalion has 2 skirmish pairs and they take 3 hits, then it becomes 1 hit on the parent unit. Likewise, they also add a firing die each and need a 1-2 to 'hit'. I think they worked really well as they were useful without being overpowering and having skirmisher superiority is a distinct advantage.

Anyway, on to the pics.

Cheers,
Mick

28mm Viking Battle

Here are some photos of a 28mm Viking v. Saxons battle we played last week. We use our own house rules that we have been using for several years now. One reason for the game was to test some slight amendments to the rules. Both sides were roughly equal in numbers -56 figures each. The game lasted for two hours and got down to both armies surviving only on their army morale dice which they had to throw at the beginning of each turn. Neither army broke so the fight went on until our agreed finishing time when we declared that night had fallen and exhausted both armies fell back and the battle ended. It was good fun and helped us sort out the new rules ideas. 

 The two 'armies' formed up prior to the battle

 On the Viking side the army leader and his banner

 Some of the Saxons

 More of the Saxons

A close up of the fearsome Viking chieftain and his banner bearer

 On the far right one part of the Viking line has crashed into the Saxon line

With part of his army fighting the Viking Chieftain holds back the other part of his line watching the uncommitted part of the Saxon army

From the Saxon viewpoint - their left is engaged by Vikings while the rest of the army warily watches the remainder of the Viking army

 

Another view from the Saxon side. You can see the Bishop giving heart and courage to the Saxons

 Part of the Viking battle line

 Looking at the Vikings from the Saxon battle line

 Battle is joined all along the line

 In the thick of the battle

 Neither side gives ground

 The battle goes on

The Viking Chieftain gets involved in the fight - our rules are that a warband/army leader must become involved in personal combat within a certain number of turns once the fighting starts or the opponent can make the reluctant leaders army take a morale test. After all the very rationale for these leaders was reputation as a warrior and they could hardly be expected to attract a following if they were timid. In this game the Viking chieftain did very well and added to his reputation for battlefield prowess. The Saxon army leader got involved early on in the fighting and did well, surviving the battle and adding to his reputation.

 More of the close fighting in the closing moments of the battle

The battle comes to an end with the Viking chieftain still fighting. Both sides had lost roughly equal numbers.

VIKING CHIEFTAIN Gudrek Thorsteinson Jarl of Ravensfjord

Here is my rendition of Wargames Foundry's Gudrek Thorsteinson Jarl of Ravensfjord

SUNDAY'S WARGAMES

Here are some photos of game we played on Sunday. I ran an early Medieval era 28mm game which involved a squabble over possession of a Holy Relic. We played two games. In the first the Holy Relic was captured by a faction who craved its possession. In the second the new owners of the relic successfully defended it against a counter attack by those who had lost it in the previous game. There was also a very nice looking Sumerian era game, a French Indian Wars game and a WW2 game set on the Russian front.

 The Holy Relic battlefield

 The two sides form up

 The Holy relic guarded by the Holy Brothers and others

 Those who want to possess the Holy relic

 The lonely guardian of the Sacred stone circle

 

 

 

 

There was also a very nice 28mm Sumerian era game using Hail Caesar rules

 A 28mm French Indian Wars game was also played

 And a WW2 Russian front game