L' Art de la Guerre, Burmese vs. Normans

A Headless Body Production

Venue:   Lancaster Host, Lancaster Pennsylvania.
Event:    HMGS's Fall-In
Players: Phil Gardocki running Burmese

                  Al Ohtonen, running Normans
                 
Game System: L' Art de la Guerre, 15mm, 200 points


The Forces:
The Burmese, lead by Narathihapate, King Pagan of Bassein, and King Pagan of Thaton, all Competent.  (Don't laugh, they were quite a number of Pagan kings, most had the authority of just the city they ruled.)

      5 Elite Elephants, full fat.

      4 Medium Spearmen

      6 Bowmen

      2 Elite Medium Swordsmen, 2HW

      4 Light Infantry, Bow

       1 Elite Light Infantry, Firearm

Breakpoint...22

Normans

      The Normans moved fast and light so that man and beast were ready to fight, and are difficult to be counted.

    Nearest I can tell is 13 knights (most ordinary), 7 lights (dismounted light horse) and 4 heavy spearmen Breakpoint...24

Scenario

I looked at the board sideways and saw Mormens. Mormens?  Is that some strange list in the back of the book?  What are they armed with, Bibles?  This should be easy.  Hey, I've been up since 4:30.  I'm lucky the breakers cut in forcing a second look.  OK, Normans, I get that. 

Deployment

The Burmese win the initiative roll and elect to receive the Normans in the plains.  Seeing the elephants, the Normans elected to dismount their light horse.

The Normans seem to be going for a attacks on both wings with their knights, hinging on their infantry in the center.

Hmmmm.  The opaque writing is a bit hard to read.  I'll try something else next time.

The Burmese are defending.  I plan to use this field as the base to shoot from.  The ambushes are both dummies.

I expect the knights to charge across the board, while the infantry lags behind.  The center command will split in two to try to overpower the knights.

This command will just stay put to receive the Norman invaders.

Turn 1:
Much laughter was had over the skinny 25mm elephant I was running the day before.  They are not laughing now.  These 15mm elephants are robust.  With about 9 figures on the base, they almost out mass the 25mm elephant.

The entire Norman army double times it across the board.  The spread between the heavy infantry and the knights is not as great as I would have hoped.

Lances steeled, the proud Normans mounted on their destriers advance with abandon.

King Pagan turns his line.

King Narathihapate splits, turns and looses the first volley of arrows.

King Pagan also advances and looses arrows. 

Turn 2:

So far, things are going as expected.  But would the Normans continue to follow the Burmese plan?

Nope. The Burmese arrows proved ineffective on turn 1, the Normans take time to redress their lines.

It looks like this is going to be just a straight up scrum.

Minor hits on lights are all that's happening right now.

On the left, the Burmese level their line to their king.

The lights are given some free reign to advance beyond immediate screening of the elephants.

And, first blood to the Burmese, a skirmishing Norman light foot is dispersed by arrow fire.

Turn 3:
So far this is ok.  The missile exchange has inflicted 4 points on the Normans so far.  The hits are on lights only, but points are points.

Norman heavy foot charge the Burmese skirmishers as one block.  They roll up in distance, and slam into a hapless bowmen unit.  Conforming takes place and splits the Norman heavies in two.

But then luck goes both ways.  The dice are tossed 6-1 in the favor of the bowmen, and cause 2 points of disorder on the spearmen.

Norman skirmisher continue to pick up hits.  Another dies, and another is disordered.

The Normans close to charge reach.

A bit of light on light action.  Both contingents are unenthusiastic at going hand to hand.

On the bottom of the turn, Burmese bowmen take position for enfilade fire.

For the first time ever with LADG, my Burmese elephants enter combat.  And achieve a glorious win.

On the right flank, King Pagan stands ready to receive.  A Norman light foot, shooting at a -2, scores against an elephant. 

Turn 4:
The Burmese are 2 points towards their demoralization level of 22.
The Normans are 8 points towards their demoralization level of 24.

Norman knights show their superiority in maneuvering.  On their right flanks, the knights split apart, selectively attacking soft targets everywhere.  A bow takes two hits, while an elite guard unit is obliterated.

The Burmese are 5 points towards their demoralization level of 22.
The Normans are 8 points towards their demoralization level of 24.

They even dare to attack the flank of an elephant.

Ignoring the panic of their destriers, knights charge right through the bowmen.

The Burmese are 9 points towards their demoralization level of 22.
The Normans are 9 points towards their demoralization level of 24.

The Burmese respond.  Flanking knights now find enemy on their flanks.  A knight is trampled, others are disordered.

The Burmese are 10 points towards their demoralization level of 22.
The Normans are 13 points towards their demoralization level of 24.

On the left, King Narathihapate enters the fray, winning the fight, but not decisively. In the center, a Norman commander, the unit with two pinioned lances, is engaged with an elephant, and survives unscathed.

On the far right of the Burmese line, medium spearmen, with elephant support, defeat knights.

The Burmese are 14 points towards their demoralization level of 22.
The Normans are 16 points towards their demoralization level of 24.

Turn 5:
 Chaos ensues as both battle-lines break down into 10 or so smaller engagements.

Burmese Guardsmen chop up a troop of knights.  A Bowmen is hard pressed by their mounted foes.  On the right, another knight is trampled.

The Burmese are 15 points towards their demoralization level of 22.
The Normans are 22 points towards their demoralization level of 24.

Norman spearmen have the measure of the elephants, and save their commander.  Other Norman spear destroy their Burmese counterparts.

The Burmese are 19 points towards their demoralization level of 22.
The Normans are 22 points towards their demoralization level of 24.

Both sides are dealing with unmaneuverable units, committed commanders and low command rolls.  So the battles just continue despite opportunities for flank charges.  Two knights pick up hits, causing the Normans to reach their break point.

The Burmese are 20 points towards their demoralization level of 22.
The Normans are 24 points towards their demoralization level of 24.

A narrow win for the Burmese.

There are a thousand lessons in defeat, and not one in victory.  This was an uncomfortable win for the Burmese.  The initial battle plan seemed good.  Then they failed to follow it up.  The Burmese lines advanced to far, losing their one piece of terrain advantage, while breaking up their groups before contact was ever made.  These separations provided numerous opportunities for the Normans to generate favorable charges against inferior foes, and flank charges against superior foes.  

What went right was the focus on damaging and destroying the enemy skirmishers.  There were 7 of them, of which 5 was destroyed.  This contributed half of the points required to rout the Normans.  Of the 5 Burmese skirmishers, only one was killed.  Which means if skirmishers were taken out of the total, the battle was leaning heavily towards a Norman victory, 18-12.