Thanks to Andrew W for this P.I.G.S. game report.
For this game we tried to “re do” the battle of Hastings.
We used the rules and army lists from Big DBA. But we set up the terrain based on our perception from reading about the battle.
The hills were Good going. Both flanks end in Forest on the hills.
The Saxon (Harold) army was set up by the umpire, again being based on what has been read. It consists of mainly Spearmen with Swordsmen generals and nobles.
The Norman (William the Bastard) player was able to set up the army as he wished within the rules. The army consists of mounted Knights, Spearmen (dismounted Knights) and some Light troops.
Most of the pictures that follow were taken from The Bastards side.
PICTURES.
These show the starting position of both armies. All from Williams side. The three Saxon commands consist of Harold in the middle and two even sized commands, one a hill on each flank.
04 William centre and left 2 and 05William right flank 2
These show more detail on William’s start position taken from Harold’s side of the table.
07 William right 4 and 08 William centre and left 4
The Normans advance.
The Saxons decide to stay where they are with some minor adjustments. They move some of their Swordsman into different positions and Light Foot into position in the forest.
09 William left 5
William’s left command moves up and combat begins between the Light Foot of both armies in the forest.
10 William left 6
The Saxons move some Spearmen into the help the Light Foot and the rest move down the slope and engage William’s Knights.
11 William left 7
The Normans recoil. They re-engage moving in Spear to assist. But the Saxons still have the up-hill advantage.
12 William right 7
Meanwhile on the right flank the Norman Knights have moved in also. The Knights engage the Light Foot in the Forest. True. These Normans are prepared to try something different.
13 William right 8
The other Knights in the command charge up the hill along with some of their spearmen and engage the Saxon spear wall.
14 William left 8 and 15 William left 9
Back on the left flank the fighting has moved off the hill for some units. On the far left near the forest the Saxons have destroyed a couple of units and broken through.
16 William right 9
Meanwhile on the right flank the Saxons have prevailed. Three Norman units have been killed.
17 William left 10, 18 William right 10 and 19 End 1
Following up from their breakthrough the Saxons on the left have out flanked and destroyed another unit thus breaking the Norman left command.
The fighting continues on the right flank and the outnumbered Normans lose another stand thus breaking the Right Command.
Two broken commands means army break. The Normans loose. Harold survives and History has changed.
Huh?
What happened?
The Normans decided to try a few things and attacked on the flanks not the centre.
Spearmen on a hill, with the up-hill advantage, ably defeated the mounted Knights and then the enemy spearmen.
Some of the Norman Knights were dismounted as spearmen.
Throughout the game the Bowmen were not very effective.
Nevertheless it was an interesting game and we may try it again with a few changes.
After the game we tested running the Knights against Harold’s centre command which was on level ground. Again the Spearmen easily repelled the Knights.
Harold safely back at his court after the battle.
END