A Swatch of Swiss

A Headless Body Production 

Venue: Lancaster Convention Center
Event: Historicon 2025 
Theme: Saturday's Open Tourney, Round 3
Players: Phil running Hindu Indian, list 170
               Tom Welch running Swiss,
Game System: L'Art de la Guerre, 15mm, 200 points per side.

The Forces:
The Hindus are commanded by Gujara III*, Rashtrakuta II**, and Bharath, all Competent. And as an experiment, all are  Included.
4 Elephants, Elite
2 Horsemen, Medium Cavalry
2 Scouts, Light Cavalry, Bow
2 Guardsmen, Medium Sword, Impact, Elite
6 Warriors, Medium Sword, Impetuous
4 Bowmen, 2 are Mediocre
8 Light Infantry, Bows and Javelins
Breakpoint of 28

*Gujara III is the reincarnation of Gujara II, who was killed in a battle with the Germans.  See previous battle report.  He was reborn, and due to the laziness of the writer, named the same as his past life.  

**Rashtrakuta II, see above. 

 

The Swiss commanders are listed as one Brilliant, one Included Ordinary, and one Competent, but Unreliable. 

3 Men at Arms, Heavy Knight, Impact, Dismounted
8 Pike, some Ordinary, some Mediocre,  some Elite
3 Halberdiers, Medium Sword, Polearm
6 Light Infantry Firearms and Crossbows, one is unseen
2 Light Horse, Crossbow
1 Heavy Bombard
Breakpoint of 23

 

Display Conventions: When you see a jagged word bubble like "Ouch!" or "ओह बकवास!",  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 Swiss right flank has a strong force of pike, dismounted knights, supported by a long range bombard.

Their center with 5 kiels of pike.

Their left, the flank held by a river, are Halberdiers

Bharath's horse are behind a hill.  His archers cannot be seen.  However they have chosen a very obvious piece of cover.

The Indian center an right have the standard formation of elephant and foot.

Like castle crenelations.  

Turn 1:

Just to avoid any confusion, the archers in ambush are revealed.

The Swiss foot knights double march.  Lacking CP's to march their Lorrainers as well.

The remainder of the Swiss army advances at the double.

The archers advance over the crest of the hill.  Their arrows falling uselessly before the heavy (+3) armor of the foot knights.

The remainder of the Indian line advances just a bit.  If the Swiss advance just two UD's, then they will be in charge range.

There is a total lack of imagination in plans on both sides.

Turn 2:

The Lorrainer pike start their march.  The foot knights, recognizing the lack of a threat presented by arrows and medium horse, advance upon the main Indian battle line.

The main body of Swiss pike, having traveled in a straighter line, eagerly advance.

Along with the Halberdiers, wielding their cruel axes.

In previous games, Bharath was averaging about 2 command points per game.  This game the averages are averaging out.

Rashtrakuta II orders a general charge.

Gujara III follows suit.

It is wonderful to get so much pachydermata* charging at once.  But disappointing when only two make head to head contact. 

*Yes, that is a real word.   

Turn 3:

One troop of dismounted knights face off against Bharath's entire command.

The other two troops go at it with their two handed swords.

The Swiss order a light foot to distract Gujara's command elephant.  Even though they are routed, they were successful, and the pike destroyed Gujara's supporting warrior unit.

A fast game.  In the middle of the 3rd, the score for the Indians is 9 of 28.

To 11 of 23 for the Swiss.

Bharath orders one of his light horse to attack the bombard.  The odds were not in favor of the horse, +zero to +1.  But hey, it would have made a better story if they were successful.  Bharath marginally heavier horse flanks and fronts the foot knights.

 

Really.  Sometimes I make decisions in these games because it would make a better story.  In this case, it devolved down to a cautionary tale.  Don't send light troops in at a disadvantage.

 

 

Impetuous warriors pursue fleeing pike.  

Morgan Freeman comments, "All of which is a distraction from the rampaging elephant in Rashtrakuta II's ranks. And the near isolation of the command elephants.  Will the Hindu's lose 4 elephants, again?"

The Hindu's trade another elephant for a Halberdier.  

Morgan Freeman interjects, "That makes two elephants lost.  Will there be a third?"

The Hindu's have added 7 to their demoralization level

The Swiss, just 2.

Turn 4:

With an amazing feat of dice rolling, a troop of foot knights are routed by the unarmored, under-equipped, but fanatical Hindu warriors.

Another troop of knights turn, heavily disordering a Hindu warrior.  The one with a red 3 on the base. Rashtrakuta II routs his opposing pike, but Gujara III's command elephant is taking serious losses.

 

Due to a packing error, a lot of my casualty markers didn't make it to the tournament.  That red 3 being the only 3 to arrive, and is subbing in for a shortage of '2's.

 

The Halberdiers, regroup from their earlier loss, and begin to roll up Gujara's right flank.

Adding another 4 to the demoralization level of the Hindus.

But the Swiss added 7 to their own.

Bharath organizes a flank and front charge.  Possibly the first one of the tournament.  The knights armor save them from any real damage.

Hindu fanatical warriors plow into the rear of a foot knight.

Gujara III holds on. What to do with his last warrior?  It was in corner to corner contact with the Swiss light horse, so it cannot stay there.  If it conforms, it has Halberdiers on its flank, and probably will die.    If it advances 3 UD's, it probably still die. But buys another 1/2 turn.

The Swiss are at 21 of 23 towards their demoralization level.

The Hindus are at 18 of 28.

Turn 5:

Another pair favorable die rolls routs the remaining foot knights.

Taking a pikehead to the throat, Gujara III is slain.

Morgan Freeman closes with, "At this time the gods have decided to reincarnate Gujara as something with a longer life expectancy, a mayfly perhaps?"

Swiss Halberdiers charge the last of Gujara III's warriors, who barely hold on.

With Gujara's loss, the Hindu count is 24 of 28.

What went wrong?

The game was closer than it seemed.

A parade of dinosaur mounted troops.

Is Warhammer back?

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Gearksutite of Germans

A Headless Body Production 

Venue: Lancaster Convention Center
Event: Historicon 2025 
Theme: Saturday's Open Tourney, Round 2
Players: Phil running Hindu Indian, list 170
               Andrew Wilson running Medieval German, list 238
Game System: L'Art de la Guerre, 15mm, 200 points per side.

The Forces:
The Hindus are commanded by Gujara II*, Rashtrakuta, and Bharath, all Competent. And as an experiment, all are  Included.
4 Elephants, Elite
2 Horsemen, Medium Cavalry
2 Scouts, Light Cavalry, Bow
2 Guardsmen, Medium Sword, Impact, Elite
6 Warriors, Medium Sword, Impetuous
4 Bowmen, 2 are Mediocre
8 Light Infantry, Bows and Javelins
Breakpoint of 28

*Gujara II is the reincarnation of Gujara, who was killed in a battle with the French.  See previous battle report.  He was reborn, and due to the laziness of the writer, named the same as in his past life.  

 

The Germans are commanded by commanders whose names are lost to history.  One was Brilliant, another Competent, and the last, Ordinary. 
5 Men at Arms, Heavy Knight, Impact
2 Hungarians, Light Cavalry, Bow
3 Mounted Hand Gunners, Medium Cavalry, Firearm
6 Low Country Pike, Mediocre
2 Halberdiers, Heavy Sword, Polearm, Armor
2 Hand Gunners, Light Infantry Firearm
1 Hand Gunner, Firearm
Breakpoint of 21

 

Display Conventions: When you see a jagged word bubble like "Ouch!" or "Auc!" or "ओह बकवास!",  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:

A typical deployment for medieval armies.  Pike on the right...

... a couple thousand metric tons of knights in the center...

...followed by more pike on the left.

So what did I learn from the last game.

Have the Cavalry/Bow command deployed where the cavalry can maneuver.  Check.

Have the elephant commands operate together so they can have one impressive front.  Well shazbot!

Well that didn't work out...

Turn 1:

All in all, the terrain is extremely favorable for the Hindu. 

The Germans are the attackers...

...and move forward...

... in perfect sync.

Bharath advances to set himself up to gain the flank of the advancing Germans.

Gujara ascends to the top of the Hill.

Rashtrakuta's command does his best to fit in the Field.

Turn 2:

On the far left, shots are traded.

The main battle-lines are forming up at the base of the hill

And at the edge off the field.

Note, in the lower right is competing skirmishers, foot (Hindu) and horse (German).  Mostly, as command points permit, they exchanged missiles to little effect.  Till eventually the horse got bored, and made for the Hindu camp.  

Hindi horsemen run down German hand gunners. But have their flanks exposed to halberdiers.

It is an unrealistic expectation to expect the low country pike to assault the hill.  My elephants are never going to get a better chance than this anyway.  Gujara II orders a general charge to excellent effect.

Not to be outdone, Rashtrakuta also orders a general charge.  His personal elephant,"Fluffy", does well.  But one of is warriors are rebuffed by the low country pikemen.

And Rashtrakuta's guardsmen, who were supported for a total of +3, only broke even against the hand gunners who were a +zero.

Turn 4: 

OK, the battle is about to get real interesting.  Time for a bio-break and take pictures of other doings.

From one of the Warrior(tm) tables.  A massive foot battle is raging.

A halberdier runs off a horsemen.

At the base of the hill, two low country pike have been routed.

It is time for the knights to make themselves felt.  Two charge, and barely miss running down a Hindu warrior.

Their brother knights advance behind Rashtrakuta's line.

Bharath's bowmen advance.  While he pushes his horse forward to exploit the gap twixt the halberdiers.

The center battle of low country pike have been defeated.  

Rashtrakuta's elephantry picks up another brace of pike.

The Hindu's score is 6 of 28.  The Germans are at 18 of 21.

Turn 4:

Halberdiers charge the Hindu bowmen, and are repulsed.

Undaunted, the German horse organize a massive counter attack.  One elephant is routed, then another.  Gujara II's final words were recorded as "Oh, no, not again!", his soul returned to the reincarnation pool.

Morgan Freeman notes: "Gujara II was reborn in a nearby village, and because of the laziness of the writer, he was also named Gujara.  He was bright boy of a good family, and rose to command an army of his own."

The Germans surround the remnants of Rashtrakuta's command.

The Hindu score is now 15 of 28.  The Germans score is holding at 18.

The Hindu center command is now leaderless.  Bharath tries to pick up the slack by sending his bowmen onto the hill.

In a nearby village, a baby cries and is named Gujara III.

Rashtrakuta is slain, leaving the Hindu right side command leaderless as well.

Morgan Freeman notes: A joyful exclaim from the birthing hut, "Twins! It was declared."  The new arrival is named Rashtrakuta II."

The Hindu score is 23, to the German score of 19.

Turn 5:

German knights continue down the line, routing all before them.

Low Country pike take out the fourth elephant.

Morgan Freeman interjects:  "I told you."

The Hindu score is at 27 to the German score of 20.  Both are just one point from defeat.  

Bharath turns his horse and routs a Halberdier for the last point.

The last of Rashtrakuta's warriors charge the flank of a troop of mounted hand gunners.  Rolling well and avoiding defeat that would have made this game a mutual destruction.

What went wrong?

That is as close as it gets.   At one point, the battle was well in hand, at the bottom of the 3rd with a score of 6-18.  Only needing 3 to win the game, and then the Germans wound up their troops with multiple flank charges, taking out two commanders before just being edged out by one for the win. 

What makes this worse, is that only 3 of the 5 knights fought.  and one of them only in support!

I don't know what I could have done to have made this less close a game.  

Full credit goes to Andrew. When down 12 points and just 3 away from breaking, he did not quit.  Slamming my Hindus time and again.  Killing two commanders, 4 elephants, and was only a missile caused disorder away from demoralizing the Hindus.