The end of June saw (what I think was) the inaugural On Bloody Ground Day at Bristol Independent Gaming where about a dozen of us gathered to play some Norman Conquest games. Borrowing part of Phil's rather large collection of Saxons, I refought 1066 in reverse having a crack at the pudding bowl haircut Normans in the morning, then rocking up against the hairy scary Vikings in the afternoon. Whilst the games were played in reverse historical order, the results reflected what happened in 1066!
Game One:
The first games was against Steve Porter and his beautifully painted Normans - with a LOT of cavalry! Having twonked Phil's Normans earlier in the month I thought I'd try and replicate my successful tactics, The key word there was "try"!
Wining the initiative Steve pushed his cavalry forward...
Targeting the unit of Ceorls anchoring the Saxon flank (this may have been a mistake...)
Once again the Carling Black Label fuelled Geburs came to the fore, tossing some stones at a unit of Milites, killing two!
This didn't stop them charging into the Ceorls though, along with another unit which smashed into the Saxons flank - ouch!
The result was somewhat predictable, and although the Ceorls took down two Norman knights, thirteen brave Englishmen died...
Failing their Leadership test saw their ranks reduced further, resulting in more losses in the ongoing melee...
Eventually seeing the Ceorls wiped out by the end of turn two!
Not resting in his laurels Steve pushed on, readying his Milites and mounted skirmishers to charge in on the second unit of Ceorls (yes I realise with hindsight that maybe some Thegns might have been more useful to anchor the flank with but I was hoping the Ceorls javelins would have done some damage and not been made of rubber...)
Steve pushed his infantry forward a bit - they didn't do anything in the game but they were nicely painted so I took a photo of them!
Turn three saw the Saxons somewhat boxed into a corner...
So the Geburs having run out of Carling Black Label decided to take on the enemy mounted skirmishers in hand-to-hand combat!
Somewhat surprisingly this didn't result in their immediate eradication!
In fact the melee swung backwards and forwards with the Geburs taking down a number of the mounted Normans...
However despite a gallant effort...
The Geburs were eventually wiped out!
Meanwhile Steve launched his Milites at the second unit of Ceorls...
Two units smashing into the Saxon shieldwall!
Like their deceased companions, the Ceorls seem to have been equipped with rubber javelins as they failed to score a kill on the incoming cavalry!
Which along with their rubber swords, saw the Normans wipe out over half the Saxons for no loss of their own! Amazingly though the Ceorls passed their Leadership test so the turn ended with them holding the Milites back.
Turn four saw the continuation of the combat, again no Norman casualties as two more Saxons fell on Englalande's green grass, but once again the Ceorls passed their Leadership test.
The fifth turn saw more Saxon casualties...
And this time the surviving Ceorls decided to run away, leaving the Milites victorious...
The Normans surged forward...
Ready to charge the rest of the Saxon army...
Who stood ready in Shieldwall awaiting the Norman charge...
Which did not come in as it was the final turn and the game ended. Totting up the points Steve had won by 785 points to my 150 (achieved solely by mission objectives).
Something of a weird game as I barely laid a finger on Steve's Normans, however the resolute second unit of Ceorls passing their Leadership tests held up the Norman advance preventing them getting into the Saxon Thegns and Huscarls - and who knows what would have happened if they had!
Game Two:
The afternoon game was against Jenny Turner with her Norse army - and I thought Steve's Normans were aggressive!
Heill Óðinn! The Norse pushed forward across the battlefield towards the waiting Saxons...
The English Geburs tossing some stones at the Viking javelinmen...
Jenny wasn't waiting around as her hairy rabble stormed towards the English lines!
Her first unit of Bondi charging into a unit of Saxon Ceorls who stood firm...
A situation repeated along the battle line as the Vikings attempted to smash through the Saxon defenders!
In the centre the Saxon Thegns stood firm against their opponents...
Wiping out their Norse opponents in two rounds of bloody combat!
Frothing at the mouth the Ulfhednar charged the Saxon Huscarls!
A bloody melee ensued with the Viking beserkers coming off worst!
On the Saxon left the previously victorious Thegns went to the aid of the Ceorls engaged with the Bondi, hitting the Vikings in the flank.
Many a Norse warrior was lifted to Valhalla by a Valkyrie...
The Bondi being wiped out and their leader captured!
In the centre the remaining Huscarls went on the offensive attacking a unit of Bondi...
Their Dane-axes flashing in the English sun and decimating another Viking unit - another enemy leader was captured!
The Norse tried to exploit the gap the advancing Huscarls had left in the Saxon line trying to outflank a unit of Thegns on the English right...
But they were unable to charge in before the Thegns swung to face them, who then engaged the Vikings in a fierce and bloody melee...
Casualties were heavy on both sides...
But the fate of the Viking unit was sealed as another unit of Saxon Thegns charged them in the rear...
The Vikings were wiped out with their army commander and war banner captured by the Saxons!
Hāl to Englalande! A crushing defeat for the heathen Norse, the final points score being 2580 to the Saxons, the Vikings scoring just 350 points!
The On Bloody Ground day was a lot of fun, and everyone enjoyed themselves, hopefully another one is scheduled soon. Thanks to Steve and Jenny for two enjoyable (if somewhat different) games and Phil, Dave and Dan for organising the day.
