A Saxaul of Saxons

A Headless Body Production

Venue: Lancaster Convention Center
Event: Historicon 2025 
Theme: Western Europe, Round 2
Players: Phil running Saxons, list 100
               Jeff Wiltrout running Saxons or Angles or Jutes or Frisians etc...
Game System: L'Art de la Guerre, 15mm, 200 points per side.

The Forces:
The Saxons are led by the Competent Ælf, meaning Elf. Leof, also Competent. They have managed to bribe a tribe of Avar horsemen to join them, the Ordinary Muhamadrasul Gadzhimagomed, "МухӀамадхаиӀ ХӀажи-МухӀаммад."
14 Warriors, Heavy Swordsmen, Impetuous, 6 are Elite
4 Light Infantry with Javelins
1 Levy
3 Avar Horsemen, Heavy Cavalry, Bow, mostly Elite
3 Avar Scouts, Light Cavalry, Bow
Breakpoint of 25

Jeff was kind enough to point out to me that my Allied command had too many light horse. Ordinarily the Avar can have 24,  but not in the date range where they were allied with the Saxons. The tournament organizer was informed, and he granted permission to amend the list. Don't read too much into that.

The other Saxons are led by Hrothgar, the Brilliant, Kaedon the Ordinary. They also have managed to bribe a tribe of Avar horsemen to join them. Chagan Baiyani, the Ordinary.
14 Warriors, Heavy Swordsmen, Impetuous, 6 are Elite
4 Light Infantry with Javelins or Bows
2 Levy
3 Horsemen, Heavy Cavalry, Bow, Elite
2 Scouts, Light Cavalry, Bow
Breakpoint of 25

Display Conventions: When you see a jagged word bubble like "Ouch!" or "Auc!" or "Ей!",  this implies a disorder caused by missiles. Letters in parenthesis represent some up or downgrade for the specific unit. For commanders it is s for strategist, b for Brilliant, c for Competent and o for Ordinary, u for unreliable. For troops it is e for Elite, and m for Mediocre. Other abbreviations, Hvy Heavy, XB Crossbow, LB, Longbow, Jav Javelin, 2HW 2 Handed Weapons, B Bow, Kn Knight, HKn Heavy Knight, HC Heavy Cavalry, Md Medium, Sgt Sergeants, LC Light Cavalry, Chr Chariot, Cat Cataphract, Pa Pavise, LI, Light Infantry, HG Hand Gun, FKn Foot Knight, Hvy Spear, Heavy Spearmen.

Inappropriately capitalized words are used to highlight terms that are specific to the game. For example Brilliant, Competent and Ordinary have specific game values for the commanders.  

Any ambiguity as to what was moved or who is being referred to is to be considered Fog of War and part of the fun. 

"XX" implies a unit killed in that location on that turn.

Deployment:

The Avar allies deploy on the Saxon right.

The rest of the Saxon horde deploys from the center to their left, all the way to an unnamed river.

Leof and Ælf also deploy from the center towards the river.

Along the river, Мухамадхаи Хажи-Мухаммад's Avars.  

My hope here was to repeat the last battle.  Where the Avar heavies would stop an impetuous charge, providing a overlap advantage for Ælf's foot to exploit.

Turn 1:

Ælf and Leof angle in for the attack.

The Avar horse races in for early shots.

Avar Heavy horse take a position on higher ground, their lights set to sweep around the flank.

The remainder of the Saxon line advances in an orderly fashion.

Turn 2:

Ælf's horde advances to force an Impetuous charge with an overlap advantage.

He leaves one warband back to make it more difficult, but not impossible for the Avar horse to get around the line.

Leof's battle line is losing contact with Ælf's.  Granting an advantage to the opposing Saxon (Jute? Frisian? Angle?) horde.

Мухамадхаи Хажи-Мухаммад's Avars loose arrows, with minimal results.

Chagan Baiyani's Avars have better bows.  But the initials charges work out well for the Saxons.  Winning 2 and losing one of the first 4 impacts.

In the center, each side has one warband suffer devastating hits.

On the far flank, the Avar's hold, having lost only a skirmishing light horse.

So far the plan is working out well.

Avar arrows continue to prove effective.  Ælf gains the flank of the Saxon (Jute, Frisian, Angle) line.  But also has a warband routed.

The line in the center is inconclusive with both sides picking up casualties.

On the river's edge.  The fight is also inconclusive.  

The score is 11 of 25 for the Saxons.

To 9 of 25 for the Saxons (Jutes, Frisians, Angles)

Avar archery continues to be excellent.  Their horsemen attempt to protect the the edge of their foot from being flanked, but too late.  The Saxon right flank begins to collapse.

In the center, both lines have routing warbands.

A crucial victory for the Saxons!  Мухамадхаи Хажи-Мухаммад is slain in battle!

The turn has been bloody for the Saxons.  Their score is 17 of 25.

To just 11 of 25 for the Saxons or Jutes or Fisians or Angle's...

Turn 5:

At the base of the hill, Saxon warbands charge.  Hoping to luck as opposed to another arrow storm.  

Ælf's forces are positioned to flank the remainder of the Saxon line next turn.

Leof also has a flank charge, destroying one warband, and pursuing into another.

Now leaderless, the Avars disengage from battle.

Despite having position, the score is not favorable.  My Saxons are at 20 of 25.

To just 14 for the Saxons.

I missed taking final pictures.  The Saxon camp was looted for 4, one warband was routed and another was disordered to take my Saxons to their demoralization level of 25.

The issue is settled then.  The victor gets to chisel the runes.  Forevermore, Jeff has the Greater Saxons, and I am have the lesser Saxons. 

What went wrong?

The plan to replicate the first battle's tactic's with the Avar's stoping an impetuous charge, and providing overlaps for the Saxon foot did not work.  And was executed poorly also.  I should have put the Avar's in the center for that.  

At 5 turns, our game was quickly over.  Other games are just getting started.

A picture of the Warrior(tm) ice table.With rules for ice cracking and plunging units into the frigid depths.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Saxfull of Saxons

A Headless Body Production

Venue: Lancaster Convention Center
Event: Historicon 2025 
Theme: Western Europe, Round 1
Players: Phil running Saxons, list 100
               Dave Boor running Anglo (we are not them!) Saxons, list 151 
Game System: L'Art de la Guerre, 15mm, 200 points per side.

The Forces:

The Saxons are led by the Competent Ælf, meaning Elf, and Leof, also Competent. They have managed to bribe a tribe of Avar horsemen to join them, commanded by the Ordinary, Muhamadrasul Gadzhimagomed, aka "МухӀамадхаиӀ ХӀажи-МухӀаммад."

14 Warriors, Heavy Swordsmen, Impetuous, 6 are Elite
4 Light Infantry with Javelins
1 Levy
2 Avar Horsemen, Heavy Cavalry, Bow, Elite
5 Avar Scouts, Light Cavalry, Bow
Breakpoint of 26

The descendants of the Saxons are commanded by 2 Anglo-Saxon commanders, both are Competent and included. They are joined by one Competent Welsh Ally.
2 Noble Warriors, Heavy Swordsmen, Impetuous, Armor and Elite
16 Select Fyrd, Heavy Swordsmen, Impetuous
4 Welsh Warriors, Medium Swordsmen, Impetuous
6 Light Infantry with Javelins
Breakpoint of 28

Display Conventions: When you see a jagged word bubble like "Ouch!" or "Auc!" or "Ей!",  this implies a disorder caused by missiles. Letters in parenthesis represent some up or downgrade for the specific unit. For commanders it is s for strategist, b for Brilliant, c for Competent and o for Ordinary, u for unreliable. For troops it is e for Elite, and m for Mediocre. Other abbreviations, Hvy Heavy, XB Crossbow, LB, Longbow, Jav Javelin, 2HW 2 Handed Weapons, B Bow, Kn Knight, HKn Heavy Knight, HC Heavy Cavalry, Md Medium, Sgt Sergeants, LC Light Cavalry, Chr Chariot, Cat Cataphract, Pa Pavise, LI, Light Infantry, HG Hand Gun, FKn Foot Knight, Hvy Spear, Heavy Spearmen.

Inappropriately capitalized words are used to highlight terms that are specific to the game. For example Brilliant, Competent and Ordinary have specific game values for the commanders.  

Any ambiguity as to what was moved or who is being referred to is to be considered Fog of War and part of the fun. 

"XX" implies a unit killed in that location on that turn.

Deployment:

I think we can just suspend with the introductions...

On the left, where there is plenty of space to run is the Saxon's Avar ringer, Мухамадхаи Хажи-Мухаммад.

Ælf takes the center with his Impetuous foot

Leof takes the right.

 Turn 1:

With a great shout, and a surplus of command points, the Anglo-Saxons charge across the battle field.

Following their leader, another great force of Anglo-Saxons.

Their Welsh ally trundles forward.  Facing the resistance of two small boys, and their dog.

Мухамадхаи Хажи-Мухаммад's horse advances fully

Ælf's foot almost keeping up.

Leof's command ascends the hill.

My plan is to attack the gap between the Anglo-Saxon commands.  With Leof on the hill, the Anglo-Saxon center and Welsh commands are likely not going to rush forward.

Turn 2:

I have written up 3 full battle reports already this week.  So I'm using the same German word for "Ouch" on both sides...

The A-S center advances, but is halted by more small boys, and their dogs too.

Upon review, I do not think the Welsh advanced at all here.

Мухамадхаи Хажи-Мухаммад advances to taunting range.  Ælf advances to charge reach.

More taunting by Saxon lights.

I really would love the Welsh to charge up the hill.  We'll taunt them as well.

Turn 3:

Dave has a choice here.  He is not required to charge the horse, but is required to charge the foot.  The number of command points he has limits his options.   He decides to charge them all.  The Avar heavy cavalry  is just a zero, +armor +elite, and so his +1 foot should handle them if they stand.

Which they did. 

Some of the Avar horse stands.  And the Anglo-Saxons get an overlap on them.  However, this means Ælf's warriors, also have overlaps on the Anglo-Saxons.  The result is two wins on each side.

The Anglo-Saxon center charges of the Saxon skirmishers.

The rest of the center and the Welsh approach to charge reach of Leof's battle on the hill. 

Мухамадхаи Хажи-Мухаммад's orders a disengage

One Anglo-Saxon warband routs.  Two more Saxon warbands charge the center Anglo-Saxon command.

Dice went both ways with each side taking 3 hits.

Leof has not enough command points to hold his men on the hill, so what the hell...

 Turn 4:

The Avar's have a fresh supply of arrows to loose.

Two more warbands rout.

When packing for Historicon, I didn't pack my 3 point casualty markers.  And as it turns out, about half my 1's and 2's.  I won't boor you with the details why.

 

Now Dave was more than happy to loan me as many red casualty markers as I would like.  Even more than I wanted.

 

What a guy! 

 

The center-left of the Anglo-Saxon line has two units routed, but the Saxon line has 4 units dangerously disordered.

In the middle of the 4th, the score is Saxons with 8 of 26 to the Anglo-Saxons at 21 of 28.

Мухамадхаи Хажи-Мухаммад tries to rally his disordered horse to no avail

Ælf turns one of his warbands left, routing an Anglo-Saxon warband, then pursuing into another.

The Saxon beleaguered center is outnumbered, but holding.

Leof also turns a warband, routing an Anglo-Saxon tribe. Taking the Anglo-Saxon score to 26.

Turn 5:

With a great ululation, another charge on Avar horse.  Who hold the line.

Ælf's warband is doing clean-up

Both sides trade warbands in the center.

The Welsh cascade on Leof's flank, routing two Saxon warbands while also catching the annoying skirmishers 

The final score is 14 for the Saxons.

 

This was to be expected.  Big armies of impetuous foot colliding.  With +1 for Furious Charge all down the line.  Makes for a very quick game.  Just 5 turns.  And we were 6th game finished!  

 

While it boils down to luck, it seems like just a little luck gets an early breakthrough.  Then the flanks charges start sometimes routing one or two units a round. 

Other Historicon pictures:

This box should have an OSHA warning label on it.

I like ADLG, but I do miss the spectacle of their 1,600 point battles.