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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Qigong of Qin*

A Headless Body Production

 *Not to be confused with Qi-Gon Jin

Venue: Lancaster Convention Center
Event: Historicon 2025 
Theme: Mandate of Heaven, Round 3
Players: Phil running Yi Korean, list 282
               Steve Roper running list 80, the Warring States, Qin edition, 286BC
Game System: L'Art de la Guerre, 15mm, 200 points per side.

The Forces:
The Qin are commanded by one Brilliant and two Ordinary commanders
4 Heavy Chariots, Impact, Elite
1 Light Cavalry, Bow
4 Light Infantry, Javelins or Bow
6 Heavy Sword, Polearm, Support
2 Heavy Sword, Polearm, Support, Mediocre
2 Bowmen
4 Fanatics, Medium Sword, Impetuous
Breakpoint of 24

Korean 
The Koreans are commanded by the Brilliant Kim-Lari, his Brilliant brother, Kim-Dari, and his other brother Kim-Dari, who is somewhat Unreliable.
4 Heavy Cavalry, Impact, 3 Elite
5 Steppes Horsemen, Light Cavalry, Bow
4 Heavy Spearmen, 
2 Guardsmen, Heavy Swordsmen, Polearm, Elite
4 Hwacha's, Integrated Artillery
2 Crossbowmen
2 Light Infantry, bow
2 Light Infantry, Firearm, Elite
Breakpoint of 25

 

Display Conventions: When you see a jagged word bubble like "Ouch!" or "젠장!" or "好吧太糟糕！",  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 Yi are defending and picked 2 Plantations in addition to the mandatory Field. Steve selected a Plantation as well.
"I already picked the plantations."
"You did?" 
"Yes." 
"Well, one of us is making a mistake." And he selected a Hill with a Plantation on it. 
Time will tell. 

The Qin deploy their chariots on the right. And a force of foot ready to march on the right flank as well.

Their heavy foot deployed to shoot the gap between Plantations. Their fanatical troops deployed to assault the Plantations.

Kim-Larri's horse are deployed in the only clear area.

The Yi heavy foot, backed by Hwachas, cover the gap between the Plantations

Other brother Kim-Darri's command cannot be seen.

Turn 1:

The Qin send two commands to attack on the right. With chariots supported by a lot of heavy foot.

More heavy foot, flanked by fanatics, run down the center and left.

The left looks like unfavorable match-ups for Larri. He sends just to Tribal horse forward to slow down the Qin chariots to a normal move only.

While redeploying his Guards cavalry to the center.

The brother's Darri advance their shooters

 Turn 2:

Qin chariots push forward.

Qin lights and Bowmen clear the left most plantation.

The Fanatics advance behind a screen of a few skirmishers.

Larri orders more withdrawal of the Tribal horse. Brother Kim-Darri orders his Guards foot to intercept the oncoming chariots.

Hwacha fire rakes the main line of Qin foot.

Other brother Kim-Darri's thin line of bowmen nervously stand ready. They cannot run, they cannot hide.

 

Turn 3:

Light horse trade arrows.

The left side plantation is now truly invested by Qin forces.

The Qin main battle line continues to suffer volleys of rocket propelled arrows.  On their left, and with a great ululation, the fanatics charge in.  Amazingly, the Korean Crossbowmen hold, if only barely.

Yi Guards foot deploy to receive the chariots.  Tribal horsemen covering their flanks from Qin skirmishers.

  The flank of the Yi Spearmen are somewhat covered by their guards horse.

The Yi Crossbow die horribly.

Turn 4:

Qin chariots continue the long turn around the corner of the plantation.  Which is still contested by Yi skirmisher foot.

Qin fanatics are in search of another target.

Including Yi lights in the nearby field.  Who are caught evading.  But then dice reverse and they survive, causing more disorder on the fanatics.  

Larri and Darri coordinate their defenses.

The main Yi line advances, turning the flank of a fanatical tribesmen.

Kim-Darri joins his desperate lights.  And manages a tie for this round.

Turn 5, not 6 as annotated. 2 chariots charge.  The chariots on the ends both pull up short.  With the chariot v cavalry fights, both sides win one.

In the plantation, Yi skirmishers are ZOC'd in the rear and cannot evade.  The Qin swordsmen charge, but suffer massive weapons entanglement in orchard, taking two levels of disorder.  That is the second miracle Yi lights have pulled off.

Going for a hat-trick with the lights, but fail, taking other brother Kim-Darri (u,o) with them.

The score is a near tie, with 12 of 24 for the Qin.

to 11 of 25 for the Yi.

Yi Guards horse rout a chariot.  One of the Yi Guards foot turn and face the orchard.

Yi Spearmen move forward to support the their lights in the plantation.  Note here, they are NOT touching the Bowmen with one, now two hits.

Another Yi spearmen flanks and routs a fanatic tribesmen.

Turn 6:

At the top of the 6th, the score is 15 out of 25 for the Yi...

to 17 of 24 for the Qin.

Qin chariots charge and disperse a Tribal horse.

Their foot emerge from the plantation and confront various Yi units.

Also emerging from another plantation, fanatical warriors destroy a Hwacha battery.

In the middle of the 6th, the score is now 19 for the Yi!

And holding steady at 17 for the Qin

 

The Qin now have a chariot that is fully in play, with a flank shot available on a Yi heavy cavalry. Time to push hard. Kim-Lari chases off Qin skirmishers. This had to do more with avoiding a flank charge by the chariots, and getting in their rear, than actually catching the skirmishers. But the chance was there.

 

The surviving Kim-Dari (aka "Spare") leads a charge of guards foot into Qin swordsmen, and is repelled.

Fortune smiled on the Yi. In the above pictures right side, Yi Guards cavalry charge Qin swordsmen (splat marker next to the +2) with the support of Tribal horse in the flank, canceling the Polearm bonus, and roll a 6 to 1, with Furious Charge, and rout the Qin swordsmen. Routing into the Plantation, the swordsmen disorder the Qin light foot for another point. Taking the Qin from 17 to 20 of the 24 points towards their demoralization.

Then, in the final picture, we have +1 for Qin light foot lost fighting Yi light foot in the Plantation. +2 for Heavy Spear on Bowmen in the same Plantation. + 3 for Bowmen routing out of the Plantation into a Qin swordsmen at the top of the plantation.  Then lastly, +4 for for flank by Yi spear into Qin Fanatics.

A total of 7 points in the last round for a win by the Yi in the bottom of the 6th. All 7 of those points were due to favorable, sometimes extremely favorable dice-off's. Anyone of those would have given the Qin another turn. They had one easy point then, possibly two. Which would have lead to the bottom of the 7th, and then, who knows?

So who was right about picking Plantations for terrain? Terrain almost never benefits that attacker. In this case, the Qin heavy chariots had to divert around one of the Plantations, being delayed by Yi lights. Giving the Yi a chance to withdraw their heavy horse (only to be redirected back again). But still, only 3 of the chariots ever fought. One win, one loss, one still fighting.

What went wrong? The Yi horse and Guards foot vacillated in the rear areas. Wasting time to be committed. The Hwacha's performed 'ok', causing 4 disordered units and trading 1-1.5 by luring a fanatic into the rear. Their main effect was to cause the main Qin battle-line to halt, rather than advance. A win of sorts.

The Crossbow command was largely a failure. They should have pushed for position on the hill, offering a +1 for high ground.

Great looking 25's for sale.