Time for something bigger

Right, i know the rules well now. After another small game i'm ready for something bigger.

Before we begin, shown below is my method of drawing the Big Men cards; small counters. They work exactly the same as cards except you draw counters instead, and instead of shuffling, you shake around the box. Simple!

BTW i borrowed the idea, it's not mine originally!

 Right, on to battle! In this game we are in northern France, sometime in the 1470's during the French invasion of Burgundy. Thomas and John Stafford, the English characters from my Dux campaign have been called back north to join the rest of the company under Willian Yelde (more on characters in another post). They have been tasked to watch for French attacks and raids. During one such encounter Thomas was promoted to a dizenier and commands some archers.

The English have two groups of archers, one of billmen and one of men at arms. The French have a group of crossbowmen, a small group of mounted men at arms, some foot men at arms, some pikemen and some handgunners.

The table, with two English blinds on the left, the French coming in on the right. The French must loot the building on the left.

Thomas and his men deploy and spot a column of French soldiers marching between the houses. They let loose a volley, killing a man and shocking the French.

Hugh and the billmen deploy. The target is the building. (Note half finished footbridge, made of plastic sprues)

Two French soldiers begin to loot one of one of the houses.

Under heavy fire, the French decide to pull back, rally and have another go. They move to the shelter of the houses.

French crossbowmen deploy and begin harassing the English from afar.

The rest of the English arrive. John, who leads the other archers, is slightly concerned when on of his men is killed by a quarrel and decides to fall back (the Fear card).

Thomas spots some handgunners by a fence (half finished again) and loose some arrows, killing one. The handgunners return fire, killing no one but surprising the archers.

"Right, you over there, you that way..."

Guillame Legrand, younger brother of Alain Legrand, begins to restore some order to his infantry and gets them moving.

A eye's view from John's archers. The French crossbowmen are in the distance. 

The other way around.

The French infantry move around the village and try to charge the archers, but their progress is slowed by a rain of arrows. Progress slows, and finally the French begin to fall back after making it 10 inches short of the archers.

Hugh decides to advance and meet the French men at arms in combat. He also blocks the line of fire for the archers (damn you impetuousness!).

The French gladly meet the challenge, despite begin outnumbered.

The light was failing at this point so i had to use flash. The little cards in the wheat are the Grasp the Nettles cards, there so i don't forget they're in play.

Avancez! The soldiers aren't having it, and after two of their comrades fall from the bodkin arrows they begin  to fall back.

The French elites charge and after three rounds there is a kill on both sides and they break apart for a breather. The French are shaken though and pull back further.

Guillame, frustrated by the lack of success, rides forward, ready to charge, but comes under heavy fire that shocks his men.

We'll be back... The pikemen have had enough for today.

One of the elites passes out wounded (or drunk!).

Guillame chooses to pull back and save his men for another day. The English jeer them as they pull away.

View at the end of the battle.

I discovered what it must have felt like for the French when charging archers. Two shots a turn is mean, and if the Tiffin card comes up before Big Men can rally shock they get fired at again. I decided that armour is not used when protecting against shock from firing, but i think it might make it impossible for the French to charge. (Silver Whistle, if you read this your opinion will be appreciated, as will all ideas from everyone else!)

I'm keeping these characters to keep a sort of story running through my games and, once i have painted a good number of English i think Thomas might return to England to join in the feuding there (if he's still alive!).

The shortest Dux game ever?

First off, the characters for my sort of Historical campaign in France.

The heroes of France:

Left, Perrin Ledoux. Son of a Doyen (esquire), Perrin is 25 and is out to make a name for himself. He is Devout and is of Average build. He leads the militia crossbowmen.

Centre, Sir Alain Le Grande. Alain is 21 years old, tall with the Constitution of an Ox and good looks. He is the younger son of a noble family with no inheritance and for the time being has been left on his brother's estates while he fights elsewhere against the Burgundians. Now is Alain's chance to shine.

Right, Robin Vallet. A professional soldier, he is 30, short and a Master of Arms after years of fighting. He leads Alain's soldiers.

The Burgundian raiders.

Left, Charles. He is noble, but now he has nothing and has been forced to become a mercenary to live. He is short and a heavy drinker, and he hopes he can take some land worthy of his ancestors. He is 23.

Centre, Steffan Vogel. Son of the gentry, Steffan is 26, tall, a Devout Christian and ambitious. He fights for Burgundy and Marie and leads the mounted men at arms to battle.

Right, John Stafford. An English mercenary, John is Gentleborn of the rough sort. He is Lustful and has a Lust for Power (-3 loyalty!), and is tall and strong. He wants gold and land and leads a band of English archers just as rough as he is.

The forces i 'm using in this campaign are slight modifications of the normal lists (thanks to Jim for the lists he made). The French can assemble: 6 men at arms, 12 soldiers, 6 militia and another 12 militia armed with crossbows. Alain also has 4 skirmishing handgunners.

The Anglo-Burgundians have 12 men at arms, 6 soldiers, 12 English archers and 4 light horsemen (replaces missile troops).

March, one year in the 15th century (i'll think of one some time soon)

Alain has received good news; Robin is returning with some men to support him against the routiers some of the farmers had spoke about. These raiders have been seen scouting the border lands and Alain has assembled the militia and his few men at arms at a tower, both to watch out for the Burgundians and wait for Robin's return.

A sentry spots Robin and his men and Alain goes out to meet him. (The brown strip is a river, i need to cut out some blue fabric to make a proper one!)

Robin and his men, glad to be home.

What's that? A glint of metal? A whine of a horse? Robin forms up his men against the threat.

There is a mighty war cry, and suddenly twelve mounted men at arms burst from cover, lead by Sir Vogel himself.

Ahhhh! Unpainted men!

Robin and his men are caught unawares and half the men fall wounded or dead. Robin himself is wounded.

Not even the cover of the fence can saw them as some cavalry rides around the house and kills another 4 men. Robin and the wounded surrender. Alain watches in disbelief from the stream.

Steffan ransoms the men back for a Soldier's Pay and puts the French out of action for 2 months. They could have contested but down on 10 men Alain would not risk it. Instead Steffan amasses much plunder and by June has an eye to capture a manor close to the border...

Two turns. The Burgundian lord was the last to activate on the first turn and the first on the second, effectivly giving him a double go. His cavalry, aided by cards, devastated the French soldiers. In these changes, men at arms can mount and dismount so we keep them at 6 man strength, which also makes them very hard on the charge.

Steffan, after 2 months raiding, is now promoted to a Knight and can commence battles (yes, already!) So we all know what's coming next...