A Contract of Condottieri

A Headless Body Production
Venue: An Undisclosed Basement
Event: Live by two older dudes that are otherwise sequestered.
Players: Phil Gardocki running Burgundian Ordonnance
                Steve Turn running Milan Condottieri
Game System: L'Art de la Guerre, 15mm, 200 points per side.

The Forces:
Milan Condottieri
Commanded by Mario Mario, Brilliant, Luigi Mario, also Brilliant, Gussepie Raisu Magnifico, the Ordinary.
8 Men-at-Arms, Heavy Knight Impact
3 Light Infantry, Handgunners, Elite
2 Light Cavalry, Crossbow
2 Crossbowmen
1 Handgunner, Light Infantry
2 Pike
1 Foot Knight, 2HW (Elite)
Break point, 19

Burgundian Ordonnance
Commanded by Lawrence, the Competent, his brother Darrel (Which turns out to be French in origin) the Competent and his other brother Darryl , the Ordinary, and somewhat unreliable.
5 1/2 Heavy 4 Spearman 1/2 Longbowmen
2 Foot Knights
3 Men-at-Arms, Heavy Knight, Impact, 1 Elite
2 Light Cavalry, Crossbow
2 Demi-Lancers, Heavy Cavalry Impact
2 Light Infantry, Handgunners, Elite
2 Italians, Crossbow, Pavise
1 Low Country Pikeman, Mediocre
Breakpoint of 20

A note on annotations. When you see a word bubble "Ouch", ("Ahia", "Aie", "Merde") this implies a missile hit.

Letters in parenthesis represent some value change for the specific unit. For commanders it is 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.

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

"????" is an ambush marker, and so it is unknown at this time.

Scores are presented in a confusing manner. This is because it is measured in number of points towards the demoralization. If I say the score is 15-8 in favor of Milan, that means the Burgundians are have 15 points towards their demoralization level of 19, while Milan has 8 points towards their demoralization level of 20. But saying 15-8 is just more intuitive. 

Those sneaky French! How dare they change the road signs on our beloved Via Milan-Dijon! And  along the scenic River Rhone! This cannot be tolerated. The famous mercenary captain, Mario Mario is given a contract to fix the signage, and fill in the potholes along the way.

Deployment:

Mario has lights and Crossbowmen covering his right flank.

The center has a strong contingent of knights, supported by pike and knights on foot.

Coming up the Rue/Via Dijon-Milan is another strong contingent of knights.

On the Burgundian left, a strong force of Italian, English, and Dutch mercenaries led by the less than reputable captain, Darryl.

Lawrence of Burgundy takes the center with his knights

His competent brother Darryl anchors his flank to a plowed hill.

The view from the Bergger Blimp

Turn 1:

And they are off! The Milanese lights race across the field to check out the ambush marker. Which they can't see, and shouldn't be reacting to

Their supporting Crossbowmen veer to the left.

Mario's knights move the minimum amount, also veering left. While Magnifico pushes his pikemen at the double.

Luigi cautiously marches his knights as well.

Darryl pushes his foot forward. Intercepting the Milanese lights.

It looks like the Milanese are willing to charge into a pocket. Lawrence sends his lights far afield

While Darrel cants his line. The hanging flank will be covered by longbowmen on the hill.

Turn 2:

Rotating the lights, the cavalry pulls back to rally, foot (e) advances.

Good move overall. Crossbowmen get a +1 when shooting horse, but not the light foot. Which is also elite, which makes it a bit more missile resistant. Something that came up time and again this game.

The Milanese main commands continue to advance towards the funnel

The remaining command is having command point problems.

Darrel reforms the shooting line.

Darrel advancing his remaining troops. The Milanese are taking their time on the approach. Giving him time to set things up. Lawrence recalls his light horse.

Good thing too, Darrel was rolling 2's consistently the first three turns for command points.

The other brother Darrel is still setting up his defense. Heavy Sword on a field hill, slow going there.

Turn 3:

Ewwww.... special effects!

Milanese knights advance, sliding right.

Mario sees an opportunity to destroy Darrel's command in detail. Gussepie Raisu Magnifico pivots his foot towards Darrel's line, Luigi's knights aim for the right corner foot knights.

Darrel pivots his forces. No matter where the knights charge, someone will be on their flanks. In a not-well-thought-out move, Lawrence orders his light horse to run the gap to either catch the Milanese lights or get into the knights rear.

While Lawrence himself patiently rests his horses.

Darrel sees he is in a bad situation and recalls his main line. But his forces on the hill are now set.

Turn 4:

Rested, the mounted crossbowmen return, only to be savaged by bolts. Mercenary crossbowmen charge Burgundian Light horse, sending them fleeing in multiple directions.

Knights begin to close in, and take hits from longbows.

Gussepie Raisu Magnifico and Luigi try to close rapidly.

Another volley of bolts, and the Milanese mounted crossbow are scattered. Next to them is the replay of the shootout at the OK Corral.

Longbow score a second hit on the right most Milanese knight

Darrel retreats and turns his main line. Other than a disorder foot knight, he is ready to receive.

A lot of maneuvering, the score is 4-3 in favor of the Burgundians

Turn 5:

Low on powder, and friends, the handgunners withdraw.

Mario has a serious rethink of his tactics. He orders a retreat of his disordered knights, but otherwise holds fast.

The lines of Magnifico and Luigi link up for a combined charge.

Darrel orders a chase

His left secure, and now with local superiority, Lawrence commits his knights.

He is confident that Darrel can hold the right.

Turn 6:

Mario's right is weakening.

He could get out of charge reach of the knights, but not the Demilancers. Magnifico sends a lowland pike and handgunner to support the knights

While his other troops launch a charge, supported by Luigi's knights.

Another view from the Bergger Blimp

Both Darrel and Lawrence sound the charges.

The elan of the Milanese knights know no bounds, winning 2 of 3 fights.

Magnifico's foot troops are ripping through Burgundian knights.

In retrospect, the taking the hill as a shooting platform was an ok idea, but it did not really support the combat line when it was needed.

Blood begins to run into the River Rhone.

Turn 7:

Darrel has cleared the Milanese right, but can he save Lawrence's center command?

Lawrence is down to two units

And Darrel's command is now at down to 3 units.

The score is 9 to 13. Both armies are small, so this isn't going to last much longer.

Darrel has flanked the Milanese knights.

His other brother Darrel takes an opportunistic flank shot.

And another opportunistic shot, but is severely rebuffed by Milan's elan.

Turn 8:

Lawrence's command is destroyed.

On the other hand, Mario's command is totally disorganized and facing an organized line.

Magnifico enters pursuit phase. Luigi watches with amusement.

Pike charge! Spearmen charge! Supported! Into flanks! It doesn't matter.

At this point the Burgundians have more commanders than troops

Luigi offers to accept Darrel's surrender.

Final score 18 to 9, a decisive win for Milan

The Burgundians agree to change the name of the road to "Via Milan-Dijon"