General – Lord, Questing Vow, barded warhorse, Virtue of the Penitent, great weapon: 192 pts.
(BSB) – Paladin, Questing Vow, barded warhorse, Virtue of Empathy: 92 pts
Damsel – Level 2, warhorse: 115 pts. (with GK)
Damsel – Level 2, warhorse: 115 pts. (with QK)
Grail Knights x 5, full command: 220 pts.
Questing Knights x 5, full command: 167 pts.
Knights of the Realm x 9, full command: 240 pts.
Knights Errant x 5: 100 pts.
Knights Errant x 5: 100 pts.
Pegasus Knights x 3: 165 pts.
Men-at-Arms x 25, full command: 152 pts.
Peasant Bowmen x 15, full command, light armour: 110 pts.
Skirmishing Bowmen x 15, full command, light armour: 140 pts.
Field Trebuchet: 90 pts.
Empire Army: 1998 pts.
Elector Count – Full plate armour, shield, barded warhorse, Runefang: 216 pts.
Battle Standard – Full plate armour, barded warhorse, Banner of Sigismund: 157 pts. (with Halberdiers)
Battle Wizard – Level 2, Wizard’s Staff, Ring of Volans: 140 pts.
Captain – Pistol, handgun, Armour of Meteoric Iron: 97 pts. (with Handgunners)
Greatswords x 20, full command, Banner of Valor: 310 pts.
(D) Halberdiers x 6: 36 pts.
Handgunners x 18, full command, marksman w/ brace of pistols, Griffon Standard: 218 pts.
(D) Halberdiers x 6: 36 pts.
Halberdiers x 24, full command: 169 pts.
(D) Halberdiers x 6: 36 pts.
Knights of the Comet of Sigmar x 6: 138 pts.
Knights of the White Wolf x 6: 150 pts.
Pistoliers x 5: 95 pts.
Great Cannon: 100 pts.
Great Cannon: 100 pts.
Galen de la Quete was tired. His spirits had lifted over the previous weeks as they’d drawn closer to home. But now, with Axe Bite Pass in view, yet another setback had occurred. The Elector Count, though originally giving his leave for Galen and the tattered remains of the once proud army of Lady Auridelle to pass through his domain, had changed his mind. The count’s own forces stood between Galen’s men and home.
Sir Armand, Galen’s oldest and dearest friend, was returning from a parley with the count’s men in the middle of the field between the two armies. His cantering warhorse was scarcely breathing heavy as his friend slowed to a stop.
"What news, my friend," Galen called out.
"I am afraid the winds of fate blow ill once again," Armand replied. "Someone has convinced the count that we carry with us gold and artifacts looted from the Araby tombs. He insists we give it up as the price of passage through his land."
"I suppose it did no good to deny these claims."
"Indeed not, my friend," Armand frowned. "The Imperial churl would not even accept my word of honor. He gave us the option. We give him our treasure or we fight our way into Bretonnia."
"How much time did you buy us?"
Armand smiled. "You know me too well. I told him we would discuss his offer and give him response in an hour."
Galen nodded. "Very well. We have not yet struck our pavilions on the hilltop, have we?"
Armand looked toward the hill rising behind them. "Nay, they remain."
"Give word to Rodrick the Spider. Assemble the trebuchet behind the pavilions. And be quiet about it."
"Aye, Lord General."
"I shall quietly ready our troops for battle." Galen wheeled Gaspard, his faithful steed, and rode in search of Lady Arenne and Lady Gabrielle. They would need time to prepare.
As he made his way through the camp he was approached by Sir Langarde, Galen’s knight commander. "Your Excellency," Sir Langarde hailed him. "Our camp has just been joined by a small group of knights; Knights of the Grail and pegasus knights sent by the Lord of Parravon. He says a prophetess in his court has foreseen our return and warned him that some vile treachery will place us all in peril. He dispatched reinforcements to assist us and to warn us. They are receiving refreshment and await your pleasure."
Galen felt the load lift just a little. "Convey my deepest appreciation," he replied. "Make sure they are refreshed sufficiently, but tell them the treachery has befallen us. We must fight within the hour."
Terrain:
The village of Harsburg, was positioned near the Bretonnian left table edge, surrounded by a lake, woods, and a field on three sides. Near the opposite table edge stood another hill with a marsh below it. This created a wide pass between the town and the hill. Each deployment zone had a small hill near center.
Deployment:
The Empire positioned both cannon on their hill toward their left flank. From the my right to left, their battle line consisted of the unit of the Halberdiers (with BSB) with detachment to the right, the Greatswords (with E.C. to left side), with their detachment to the right, and the Handgunners (with Captain), with their detachment to the left. The Battle Wizard deployed just behind the Handgunners detachment. The Knights of the White Wolf deployed behind the lines to the right of the hill. The Knights of the Comet deployed to the left and behind the Handgunners, while the Pistoliers deployed far to the left flank.
I deployed my Peasant Bowmen to the right of the central hill where they’d have the greatest coverage, and placed my trebuchet on the hill. Just below the hill I placed my general, and then the KotR, QK, and then GK units in order to the left of the hill. The PK I deployed behind the hill. one unit of KE went in front of the hill and the KotR, the other in front of the QK and GK, and then the M@A went to their left. The BSB and the skirmishing bowmen deployed behind and to the left of the M@A.
The Empire wizard chose Fire magic, and drew Fireball and Burning Head. His Ring of Volans held Creeping Doom. My Damsels both too Life magic, and both drew Father of Thorn. one drew Master of the Wood, and the other drew Rain Lord.
I chose to pray, and the Empire opted to go first.
"His Excellency awaits your response," the messenger said, drawing his horse to a stop before Galen.
"Our response is thusly," Galen replied. "Treasure we have none, and what fight is left in us we cherish greatly. Nevertheless, such as we have, we shall give your lord liberally, should he seek it. We would advise he allow us to pass unmolested, lest he find the reward insufficient to the cost."
Galen raised his hand aloft, then let it drop. Atop the hill and to either side of him pavilions and tents fluttered noisily to the ground, revealing his forces, prepared for battle. There would be no time to properly strike the camp, but Galen suspected by the end of the day they would either be in Bretonnia or lay dead upon the fields. The provisions wouldn’t matter, either way.
"I shall convey your response," the messenger replied with a derisive snarl. "I suspect it will be accepted kindly. You had best reconsider."
"I am unable to reconsider," Galen sighed. "I cannot deliver that which I do not have."
"So be it!" the messenger barked. Spurring his horse, he wheeled wildly and sped back toward the Empire battle lines.
"Call prayers," Galen instructed his trumpeter. He dismounted slowly and knelt beside his horse.
The Bretonnians had nearly completed their supplication to The Lady when the Empire force conveyed its response in the form of cannon shots. A shower of dirt erupted just ahead of the lead contingent of knights errant, and Galen heard the cannonball whirring madly through their lines, miraculously missing every knight until it collided into a stack of water casks in the camp.
"So be it," Galen growled, mounting up. "We fight. Sir Armand, take some bowmen and the halberdiers and secure the town. Sir Langarde, push the knights forward with the errants screening. Artillery section open fire! May today be the day we return to the lands of our Fair Lady!"
The Bretonnian army moved forward. A huge stone from the trebuchet arched overhead, and the buzz of bowfire erupted on his left flank as the battle for the village began.
Turn one: The Empire dispatched the pistoliers toward the town to launch a flank attack, while the knight units moved to cover the main flanks of the battle line. None of the wizard’s spells had sufficient range, which left the cannons. Both targeted one of the knight errant screens. one cannon misfired, putting it out of commission for two turns, but the other cut through the knights errant and into the knights of the realm. one hit failed to wound, and the other two were saved by the Lady.
The Bretonnian army moved forward almost en masse. I sent the skirmishing bowmen, the M@A, the BSB (peasant commander), and the PK toward the town, and headed the knight units up the middle of the battlefield. The Damsels successfully cast Master of the Wood on the vanilla knights, knocking out two of them. I also tried to soak the handgunners with Rain Lord, but it was dispelled.
The shooting phase saw me guess dead on to hit a cannon with the trebuchet. Unfortunately the shot scattered two inches in the wrong direction, hitting the cannon, but doing no damage. The skirmishing bowmen fared little better, opening fire on the pistoliers on the move and at long range. They hit three and wounded none. Still, we’d drawn first blood.
---
Galen and Gaspard followed along amid the advance of Bretonnian knights. Staring down the barrel of Imperial guns, the battlefield seemed impossibly wide. He heard the damsels muttering counter-spells, and as nothing appeared to be happening, he assumed they were controlling the situation for the moment.
Then the Imperial artillery opened up. A unit of handgunners to the left side of the battle line drew aim on the knights errant. The concussion of their guns hammered his gut, and one knight slumped in his saddle, then fell to the ground. Before anyone could respond, another cannon fired on the hilltop, quickly followed by a bloodcurdling scream as one of the knights of the realm and two of the questing knights were blasted from their saddles.
Galen bit his lip. Their advance was not going well. Then he heard a series of gurgling yelps from beyond the woods on the outskirts of the village. His damsels, at least, were making progress. A cacophony from the town indicated that the battle there was heating up, but he was unable to see from where he was how it was faring.
Just then another boulder whirred through the air above them and crashed directly into the Empire lines, scattering soldiers like tenpins. An exultant shout went up from the peasantry, and Galen himself masked a smile of relief. Perhaps they were giving as good as they were taking after all.
Turn Two: The Empire continued to advance his pistoliers along the left flank beyond the village, while the vanilla knights took up a hidden position behind the woods. The Knights of the White Wolf, clearing the battle lines, moved up the right flank behind the cover of the hill. Their wizard took up a position allowing him line of sight between the handgunners and their detachment. He cast Fireball on one of the units of KE, but was dispelled. He also tried using Creeping Doom from his Ring of Volans, but was also dispelled.
The shooting phase was more eventful. one cannon aimed at a group of KE, but overshot into the unit of KotR behind them, then bouncing through and into the QK behind them (okay, I admit it was poor planning on my part, okay). I lost one KotR and two QK. The QK had to take a panic test but passed it.
One my half of the turn I continued the advance. The M@A stopped outside of town, while the PK moved into the town and the skirmishers swung around the left side of the village. The knights continued to advance up the middle, with the KotR pulling even with the KE screens. one damsel hit the vanilla knights with Father of Thorn, doing 10 hits, but only one wound. The Master of the Wood spell failed, and Rain Lord was dispelled. In spite of having twice as many power dice as the Empire had dispel dice, I wasn’t able to take much advantage of it.
The shooting phase went better, though. Much better. The skirmishing bowmen did 6 hits on the pistoliers, causing five wounds, only two of which were saved. Losing over half their group, they panicked. The trebuchet got a lucky scatter right into the middle of the Greatswords. Out of 18 potential hits, they lost 10 models. They passed their panic test.
---
The Bretonnian forces continued their advance. Suddenly a unit of Imperial knights appeared from behind the woods near the town and charged the nearest group of knights errant. At the same moment a ball of fire leapt from the Empire lines and engulfed the other unit of knights errant, followed by a hail of lead from the Imperial handgunners. Galen saw one knight fall from the saddle, and another go down beneath his horse.
Just then the cannons on the far hill roared together and Galen flinched involuntarily. But the Imperial gunners had guessed incorrectly, the cannonballs plowing into the turf just behind the knights errant and knights of the realm. Galen instinctively threw up his shield against the potential ricochet, but the cannonballs stuck fast.
A glint of sunlight to the right flank caught Galen’s eye. Another group of Imperial knights were trying to flank the Bretonnian force from behind the cover of a hill. The army’s right flank was exposed. If allowed to proceed unchecked, the Imperial cavalry would be able to savage the peasant reserves or attack the rear of the knight force. If he were to pull the questing knights or grail knights from the frontal assault their might not be enough to force to break through the Imperial lines. Taking quick stock of the situation, Galen wheeled Gaspard and moved to intercept.
A roar went up as the knights of the realm charged the right side of the Imperial line. Unfortunately the attack was uncoordinated. With the left screen of knights errant engaged, the questing and grail knights had to move around the interposing combat. The other unit of knight errants, disheartened by their heavy losses, were hesitant to advance too close to the Imperial guns. The pegasus knight, still making their way through town, were not yet in position. The assault was faltering, and it had hardly begun.
Turn Three: The Empire continued to hold position, with the exception of the knight units. The vanilla knights, hoping to at least interpose themselves in front of the Bretonnian assault, charged the closest knight errants, while the Knights of the White Wolf continued their run up the right flank. The pistoliers rallied. In their magic phase the wizard was able to punch a fireball through, doing 6 S4 hits to the second unit of KE’s, who passed their saving throws. The wizard failed to cast Burning Head, however.
In shooting, the handgunners targeted the same unit of knights, causing 3 wounds, only one of which was saved. The KE’s passed their panic test. The great cannons guessed fairly well, but the artillery die rolled 10’s both times, then misfire, sticking both shots right behind their targets. In spit of having the charge, the vanilla knights failed to wound, and the KE’s returned the favor. The KE’s won the round by outnumbering, and the vanilla knights held.
In my turn I was only able to get the KotR into combat against the main unit of halberdiers. The QK and GK were stuck behind the engaged KE unit, and I didn’t feel comfortable sending the second KE unit into combat against the greatswords (they would have had to have wheeled too far to assist the KotR, and they were out of range of everything else). I opted to get the other units into position to charge on the next turn. By then I’d also determined that the skirmishing bowmen had the pistoliers well in hand and moved the PK into position to charge the Empire units next turn. I sent my general to deal with the White Wolves, hoping his VoPenitent would be sufficient to hold them off.
Meanwhile I tried to continue the magical assault. I got one Father of Thorns through, doing 4 hits, all saved. The wizard dispelled my second attempt, and I failed yet again to cast Rain Lord. The skirmishers, now shooting at long range again, only caused 4 hits to the pistoliers, none of which wounded. The trebuchet lobbed another rock at the greatswords, only to have it drift to graze their detachment, instead. Not a single model died.
In close combat my KE’s picked off another vanilla night, who held. My KotR, who were countercharged by the halberdiers detachment, lost one knight, while killing four halberdiers. Without ranks, however, it was not enough, and they lost by two. They passed their break test. The assault was not proceeding very well, but I had strong hopes of redeeming myself the following turn.
---
Galen brought his steed to a halt in plain sight of the Imperial knights, issuing an unspoken challenge in his defiant bearing. The knights wheeled around the hill and lined up to meet him. To his left the guns continued to roar, nearly masking the cries of the wounded and the clamour of battle. The thundering of hooves, the clash of steel, and cries of pain grew closer behind him, but he resisted the urge to look. If the battle were going against them it was all the more important that he hold the line against the Imperial knights, lest their rear area become completely overrun.
The knights were close enough. Galen drew his greatsword and spurred Gaspard forward. "By your deaths I shall redeem myself to The Lady!" he bellowed. The Imperial knights raised their warhammers in response, and prepared to take his charge. But somehow his movements seemed wrong, his strikes insufficiently fluid. The knights held their ground, and only one of their number lay dead. Galen growled a vicious curse and continued his desperate attack.
Turn Four: This turn it all fell apart for Bretonnia. The Elector Count charged out to assist the vanilla knights against the KE, while the White Wolves decided to take the Lord’s bait. The pistoliers marched close to the skirmishing bowmen (and then forgot to shoot, thank goodness). The Empire’s magic phase pretty much fell flat.
But then the shooting phase turned things around. The handgunners opened fire on the QK, killing one. The cannons split their fire between the unengaged KE and the GK, killing one KE and two GK. Both units, being rather small to begin with, were significantly reduced by now.
In close combat things went from bad to worse. The E.C. and his mount killed 4 of the KE, while the KE and the vanilla knights were unable to kill anything. The remaining KE broke and was run down by the vanilla knights. Meanwhile, the KotR had another abysmal round of combat and broke, only to be run down by the detachment.
In my half of the turn I had my QK charge the handgunners while the PK charged their detachment, who fled and were caught. The GK attempted to charge the greatswords, but were too far away and failed their charge. My general charged the Knights of the White Wolf, and my M@A charged the vanilla knights in the flank, causing panic. The remaining KE unit charged the greatswords’ detachment to provide assistance to the GK’s who never showed up.
In my magic phase I tried to hit the Elector Count with Master of the Wood and was dispelled. Casting Father of Thorn on a great cannon failed. A second attempt from my other damsel on the now-exposed halberdier detachment that had killed my KotR killed four of the six, causing them to panic and flee.
My skirmishing bowmen, with the stupid pistoliers now at point blank range, proceeded to wipe them out. My other bowmen fired for the first time in the game, taking aim at the exposed Elector Count, but scoring only two hits and no wounds. My trebuchet targeted the other cannon, only to have the shot fall short and hit the detachment where my last remaining KE was engaged, killing him and three halberdiers.
In combat, the QK killed two handgunners, who had the Griffon Standard. They lost the combat, but held. My general, needing 3’s to hit the KWW, missed with three of his four attacks and killed only one knight. I haven’t decided what exactly he did to earn the Virtue of the Penitent, but it must have been pretty bad! The Lady is still mad at him.
---
Galen felt something trickling down his face and was not sure if it were sweat or blood. Engaged with three knights at once, he scarcely had the time to consider it. He was managing to avoid their bulky hammers, but they also seemed to dance just out of reach with his greatsword. Their mounts were all flailing madly at one another to no avail.
Suddenly the knights all rushed him at once. Their brazen attack left them exposed and his greatsword lashed out, beheading one and disemboweling another. But their sacrifice had been expected. Before Galen could maneuver free two powerful hammer strokes crashed in, one breaking several ribs, the other crushing his left arm. The sudden pain was nearly overwhelming, and he fought to stay conscious.
Fortunately Gaspard seemed to sense his master’s danger and danced nimbly out of reach of further damage, though not out of the battle.
Turn Five The Empire charged in E.C. into my M@A, and rallied his vanilla knights and fleeing halberdier detachment. His wizard turned his attention to the PK nearby, casting a fireball spell that did one hit and no wounds. His attempt to cast Burning Head failed. The great cannons split their fire between the GK and PK. one cannon overshot the GK harmlessly, and the other hit one PK, who failed to save. They passed their panic test.
In close combat the White Wolves and the Lord continued to flail impotently at each other, with the general losing from the outnumber, but passing his test. The handgunners finally broke the QK, who fled. However, the handgunners were not able to pursue because of the banner that saved their hides in the first place. The E.C. killed two M@A, but still lost the combat and broke, outrunning the M@A.
In the Bretonnian turn the GK and the PK charged the handgunners together, while the M@A charged the E.C., who fled even farther. The QK failed to rally and continued toward the edge. My remaining damsel failed to get off any spells. The bowmen fired on the vanilla knights, taking down another one, while the trebuchet just skimmed a great cannon, killing a single crewmember.
My general continued his reign of error against the White Wolves, killing two, but taking two wounds himself. He lost by one, but held. Meanwhile the GK and PK combined for 9 wounds on the handgunners, breaking and destroying them. I tried to restrain the GK, but couldn’t, and both units pursued off the board. Things were finally starting to go my way again.
---
Unaware of the battle raging around him, Galen fought on, though with one arm useless it was difficult to wield his sword, and he had no time to draw a smaller weapon. Though fewer in number the cavalry hammers of the Imperial knights continued to flail at him and Gaspard. With a cry of despair, Galen turned his mount and galloped away. As he did so his heart sank even further. The questing knights were galloping the wrong direction across the field, and no other knightly units were in sight. The Imperial battle line appeared largely intact. To come so far only to die now...
"No!" Galen said aloud, as much to himself as to anyone who might hear. Wheeling about, he dropped his greatsword, where it stuck point first in the earth. Drawing his weapon he again prepared himself to face the Imperial knights. But only one knight remained, and he had stopped, and were sitting still in their saddles. Galen glanced back toward the Imperial lines and saw the count himself riding forth, a white sheet tied to a pole.
He galloped up to Galen. "No treasure is worth this," the count snarled. "Collect your wounded, strike your camp, and be out of the Empire by nightfall or we will finish this."
Galen sat incredulously as the count galloped back to his own lines.
Turn Six: During their turn the Empire rallied the E.C. The wizard attempted to fireball the M@A, only to miscast and end his magic phase. Both the cannons overshot the M@A. The White Wolves continued to fight the Lord, who lost by one and rolled an 11 on his break test. Fortunately he outran the knights.
In my turn I rallied my general, but failed again to rally the QK. My remaining damsel cast Father of Thorn on the greatswords and killed two more. My bowmen took out two of the White Wolves, and my trebuchet hit the same cannon again, killing the remaining crew. No one was capable of combat at that point, and the game concluded.
Result: Draw (advantage Bretonnia)
The Empire’s artillery won this game for them, along with my poor maneuvering. Nearly every unit I had took damage before they even got into combat, and the two heavy units (QK,GK) were down to half strength or worse by the time they made contact. The Empire is very good at holding against the Bretonnian charge, and my only success came from doubling up against a single unit.
The plot of engaging my KE screen while it was still between the forest and the opposite hill was an excellent tactic, as well. My screen effectively became his screen, and getting around it effectively muddled my attack. I don’t think it was a very good idea to use the KE’s as screens, at least not in front of the main units. Perhaps next time they should cover the flanks.
My skirmishing bowmen did an excellent job of holding the one flank, and my general actually did a decent job of holding the other, in spite of his lousy rolling. The peasant bowmen were practically useless in this game. Against an army that holds its ground they aren’t likely to do much.
This game was intended to be a test of my "Light Army" concept, wherein I take only the essential characters, with no magic items. This allows me to take a larger army, which in some instances could be a good thing. In this case it gave me too many weak units. A tooled out paladin leading my KotR might have made a big difference.
The big surprise in this game was the trebuchet. I’ve never seen it do so well before. The hit on the greatswords was well worth the loss of the KE to friendly fire, if for no other reason than seeing that many models taken out in one blow.
I’ll have to play that game again some time and try a different strategy.