Games set in the 15th and 20th centuries were played at the club this past Saturday night. Doug Rains hosted the first season of the second year of combat in his War of the Roses campaign game and Walt Williams put on a WFG scenario set during World War II. Walt’s game had an allied force attempting to capture and German held bridge on the outskirts of a small village on the Western Front. Doug’s game was the Spring season of battle with eight players partaking.
To the left: Walt's WFG game.
To the right: Doug's War of the Roses game.
Below is the recap of the game by Doug Rains:
Hello to all you fine peasants. The following is the A.A.R. for the battle held in the spring of 1456. Read and delight or delete as you see fit!
England
1456 A.D.
Spring
With the coming of Spring and with their forces revitalized, The Bastards of St Albans met again on the field of battle in support of the Heirs contending for the Throne of England. Alas Sir Douglas of Mackie and Sir Jonathan of Lizard Rock had pressing issues on their home estates and were unable to attend the muster.
The House of Lancaster was represented by Sir Jeffery of Meadow Park, C-I-C, Sir Douglas, Baronet of Monteagle, Sir Andrew, Baronet of Plume, and Lord Luis, Baron de la Rochelle. York was represented by Sir Brian, Baronet of Firenze, Sir Robert of Elwood, C-I-C, Sir Edward of Lexington and Sir Joseph of Churchwood.
Both Sir Robert and Sir Jeffery each controlled the same number of towns so a secret parlay was held between the two. While it has been attributed to a roll of dice, rumor has it that Sir Robert’s taunting was so severe that Sir Jeffery, in order to avoid a second taunting, seeded the choice of field to Sir Robert. Lancaster’s control of the local Bishops did give Sir Jeffery control of choice of opponents.
Sir Jeffery set up his forces on the far left facing Sir Brian, Sir Douglas was on the center left facing Sir Robert, Sir Andrew was on the center right facing Sir Edward and finally Lord Luis was on the far right facing Sir Joseph who had made time away from fleecing the peasants in his shop.
Both sides deployed well forward and immediately advanced to the attack. Sir Edward moved forward especially quickly as there was a small hill in close proximity. To no one’s surprise Sir Edward immediately ensconced his Pikes atop the hill and there was much rejoicing. As the two lines crashed together casualties immediately began to rise in the ranks of the Lancastrians on the right. Sir Andrew’s forces took severe casualties milling around in confusion and your chronicler is uncertain whether it was real or feigned confusion. Whatever the case, Sir Edward became emboldened and charged down and off the hill to the amazement of all who witnessed it. Curiously at this point Sir Andrew’s casualties halted and Sir Edward’s forces began to suffer. Perhaps in an effort to reclaim momentum, two of Sir Edward’s elements did climb back up the hill. One supposes that perhaps finding out how much fun it is to charge downhill they wanted to try it again. On the far right Lord Luis shouted instructions and observations to all but did not really press the attack until shamed by accusations that even though fighting on Lancaster’s side he must have secret ties to York. In the end he strongly resisted the forces of Sir Joseph both through subterfuge and regular melee until the vengeful merchant finally broke Lord Luis’ troops. On the left, Sir Brian and Sir Robert both led charmed lives enjoying unbelievable success. (Your chronicler is convinced that either can fart rainbows on command.) Sir Robert actually destroyed an element of Billmen by shooting arrows at them. It was just wrong. However due to the determination and skill of Sir Jeffery and Sir Douglas the forces of both Sir Brian and Sir Robert were broken. As Sir Robert’s troops fled the field Richard, Duke of York, Primary Heir for York was captured by Sir Douglas. With the loss of Richard and half of their forces routed, the army of York fled to fight another day.
In the Parlay after Battle, Sir Jeffery controlling 220 votes through Mercenaries and Nobles, compared to the 70 controlled by all others assembled, decided it was time for Richard, Duke of York to lose his head. Unable to do anything about it in any event and no doubt remembering the fate of the Prince of Wales in the fall, the assembled nobles went along with it and Richard was beheaded.
Sir Jeffery as the winning C-I-C promoted himself (why are we not surprised) to Baronet and Sir Douglas to Baron.
It was noticed during the parlay that Percy, Earl of Northumberland was accompanying Sir Jeffery. As all know, this entitled Sir Jeffery to add an Artillery element to his forces. Fortunately the battle was successful so it appears that leaving the artillery in camp did not affect the outcome. This has not always been true. Just ask Colonel Custer.
Your Chronicler