Once again I have a battle report to share with our group. I was very fortunate to have 5 players assemble for the game as a snow storm began to descend on our area! We decided to give the Medieval version of Tactica a try. I decided to try out the Agincourt scenario that was in the rules. The rules use 8 foot wide by 5 foot deep tables and my gaming space is six feet deep by twelve feet six inches wide I hade to upscale the forces just a bit.
As usual we start with our happy calendar.
The rules in play.
I was unhappy with my cardboard walls so I redid them as foamcore walls instead. Much lighter and easier to set up and take down.
The English army awaiting to be deployed.
The French army.
Over all shot of the French army ready to charge forward.
The English have decided to take up an immediate defense of position with no chance of maneuver.
A few shots showing the French lines advancing to the attack.
English left flank.
The distance English right flank lines.
I had control of the French cavalry which occupied both flanks.
The crafty English have sent a Longbow unit into the woods.
The English lines brace for contact.
The French cavalry advancing pell mell across the field of honor. I got carried away.
The lines close.
I was never known for tactical subtly my cavalry heads for the staked archers!!
Collision Course!
I was never one to employ tactical subtle I plow into the staked archers. Oh Well.
The lines close
Even though only one corner of my unit has come in contact with the hated English cavalry a fight ensues.
For some unexplained reason I altered the course of my cavalry to contact the English Longbowmen hiding behind stakes!! What was I thinking!
In the unlikely event my massed cavalry assault failed my infantry had my back!
The French right engaged in heavy combat.
The fight in the center.
The fight on the French left with the giant hand trying to get out of the picture!! How dare he!
Sneek English emerging from the woods.
At this point in my narrative I must confess that the rules seem to let us down. Most of the English army is made up of longbowmen who really did not inflict much damage on us French with missile attacks. Once engaged in hand to hand combat they were no match for the French knights. We being the French had to eliminate 8 English units to win while the English had to get 9 of ours. The French in short order wiped out 8 English units while only losing one, which of course was one of my mounted knight units!! A large portion of the English army was made up of bowmen who were no match for our French knights in hand to hand combat.I am not sure if we are missing something but it was a very unbalanced game. Anyway some more action shots.
We played the Agincourt scenario as recommended without the mud option which would have reduced the French movement by half which would have allowed some more casualties to be inflicted by the archers. As writen the rules the English Longbowmen cannot initiate melee and if they are not protected by stakes they are dispersed when contacted by the enemy. The stakes are only useful against the French cavalry the French infantry are not effected by them. Even though I was on the winning side it felt that something was wrong with the rules. We may try this game again with the mud in effect.
The unfortunate weather made life difficult for the departing players.
As always thanks for having a look.