Battle Reports

Here are the battle reports for games I've played since returning to the hobby after 25 years. Most of my previous battles were with Fantasy armies but for now I'm sticking with real-life. My armies are Teutonic Order, Ottoman Turks and Sassanid Persian.

Battles to date... 1) Teutonic Order vs late 15^th Century Poland; 2) I have a battle scheduled for this May, Teutonic Order vs Ordonnance Burgundian

1) Teutonic Order vs late 15^th Century Poland (October 2007): My army consisted of 1 unit of Teutonic knights, 1 of mercenary knights, 2 of HCC sergeants, 1 Livonian light horse, 1 of LC arquebusiers, 1 Landsknecht pike block supported by a subunit of arquebusiers, another unit of mercenary arquebusiers, 2 units of peasant arquebusiers and finally 1 medium gun.

Facing me, Frederic fielded a long line of A-class cavalry of every shape and variety: EHC knights, HCC lancers and MC Lithuanian boyars with the bare minimum of infantry, 12 peasant archers and 20 crossbowmen. I confess this threw me, I was expecting a more balanced mix. OTOH, it was a good idea as it made for a quick and fast moving game, which was pretty important since we didn't start until 10pm (the guys had driven to Stoke from Paris!!!)

I set up fairly conventionally (not that surprising since my army was pretty conventional) with Landsknechts in centre, right flank on a wood, sergeants and peasants protecting their right flank, artillery to the left next to mercenary arquebusiers. Brethren to the left of the mercenary arquebusiers and the mercenary knights to the left of them. Finally, the light horse started in front of the pike and the LC arquebusiers to the far left.

Frederic's initial set up was a big line with heaviest cavalry to the middle. The archers started off in a wood on his right and the crossbowmen on a hill immediately front centre.

Basically his cavalry swarmed forward with the intent of attacking my flanks; just 2 units moving centrally to prevent my pike from reinforcing my right. Both units of my LC suffered complete morale collapses early on, partly by bad luck (the arquebusiers rolled a 3 for reaction) but mostly by my bad judgement as I hadn't realised that D-class troops cannot be sent out so unsupported. Both broke and fled back to the ranks.

But they had served my main purpose in that they tempted his over-eager cavalry in to impetuous charges, and since they were never going to catch my LC, they arrived on my left and in the centre disordered, which is what I'd wanted all along.

Unfortunately, and this must be counted my biggest error (I made quite a few but this almost certainly cost me the most) I had given my pike orders to hold, hence they were unable to advance to take advantage of the oncoming nutty Polish cavalry, which is a shame 'cos the first thing I'd worked out on seeing Frederic's army was that I had to get his cavalry to charge my pike.

Vincent highlighted my error: the pike should have had orders to attack/advance. As C-class troops, I didn't have to actually make them move until I wanted them to, but without such orders I couldn't make them move at all. Thanks to this oversight, the Polish lancers were able to rally and regroup and the moment was lost.

On the left, my 2 units of knights saw off the oncoming disordered and impetuous cavalry (after my one piece of inspired action, my general's appearance convincing the mercenaries to charge by just 1 reaction point). While on the right, 2 similarly completely potty Polish units were about to hit my HCC sergeants, supported by a bunch of peasant arquebusiers in the woods.

And that's where we stopped. Vincent kindly informed me that in a competition I'd have secured a draw in my favour ('cos one of my LC units had rallied, vice 1 of Frederic's heavy and medium cavalry still in rout), but he also made it clear that the succeeding 2 turns, had we continued, would have been very torrid for me indeed, as the Polish knights trailing their lancers and the Lithuanian boyars on each flank would have made short work of my mercenary knights (with general) on my left and at least one regiment of my HCC sergeants on the right, while a rallying Polish unit in the centre would have been perfectly placed to charge my disordered Teutonic knights in the flank.

Basically, Frederic's battle plan had worked to perfection and mine hadn't and I have no hesitation in crediting him with the victory. I had correctly sussed out what I needed to do but failed to execute properly. So, lessons learned...

a) D-class troops cannot operate on their own;

b) be very wary of taking on even the worst of missile troops ensconced in woods if your own troops don't know they're there - a mixture of shooting casualties, surprise and lack of support is a dire combination (frankly I should have known this and I knew they were in for a hiding when I gave them their orders, but I hadn't realised just how out of their depth my LC arquebusiers were);

c) be very wary of cavalry operating in waves, the first may get clobbered by your crack troops but then the following wave gets to charge your elites while they're disordered - nasty!

d) do not be afraid to set up off centre in unconventional positions if it lets you take on your opponent piecemeal.

Greatest thanks to Frederic, who was a most genial opponent, and Vincent, our thoroughly knowledgeable umpire. (Vincent, incidentally, is one of two men responsible for translating Gush's rules from English to French. He's often umpired competition games and his guidance kept things moving quickly and clarified many of the rules for me.)

Overall, I think this was a victory of experience over naivety but I thoroughly enjoyed myself and I know I'll do better next time. Frederic and Vincent have taught me a lot.

2) Teutonic Order vs Ordonnance Burgundian (May 17^th 2008): yet to be played.

If you want to take me on, please let me know. :-)