A Suffering Saxifrage of Saxons!

A Headless Body Production
Venue: An Undisclosed Basement
Event: Wednesday Game Knight
Players: Phil Gardocki, Steve Turn running Saxons, or Frisians, or Jutes, who knows? List 100
               Bruce Potter running Vikings
Game System: L'Art de la Guerre, 15mm, 300 points per side.

The Forces:

The Vikings are led by Hagar the Horrible, the Competent.  And 3 buddies, also Competent when they are not reveling.  
Visible are 17 Heavy Swordsmen, some look very motivated with very big axes
8 various Light Infantry
A brace of Light Cavalry
And one group of Ulfheðnar 
Breakpoint, so far, of 28

The Saxons.  Not to be confused with the Anglo-Saxons.  Which is a whole different list...
Led by Akrylyk*, the Competent, with Pliawode* and Vynil*, also Competent.  And as their +4, Neopreme*, the Allied, Included and Ordinary leader from the south of the Danube. 
21 Heavy Swordsmen, all Impetuous, some are elite.
6 groups of small boys with sticks.
3 units of hastily raised Levy.
3 troops of Heavy Cavalry, Bow, Elite
7 hordes of Light Cavalry, Bow
Breakpoint is 40.

* I was researching basing materials to be ordered for my newly arrived Martian Front figures before creating the list.  The names were funny then.**

**OK they were not funny then, but it is what it is...

Display Conventions: When you see a jagged word bubble like "Ouch!", "ᛟᚢᚲᚺ!", "Smerza!" or "Lûtê!",  this implies a disorder from missiles. Letters in parenthesis represent some value change 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.

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

The Board:

The Vikings win the initiative and elect to defend in the woods.

300 point lists on a 1.5 meter board.

The Vikings Uber at the drop off point.

The lesser Norse God, Hagar (no relation to the commander) observes in the shadow of the Tree of Woe.

Turn 1:

The only actual wood on the field was adjusted a couple of times.  4 UD's towards the Saxon line, then 6 back towards the Viking line.  Offering a narrow band for an ambush.

Which the Vikings filled to the brim with Javelinmen.  

+ 6 Javelinmen

Viking Breakpoint is now 34

The Avar command took the center.  Both flanks were cavalry unfriendly due to the terrain.  As if the mobile piece of terrain with axes and swords were any friendlier. 

At this point I am regretting the "Ouch" in other languages.  Nordic runes, High German, Old Slavic and...

Old French.  Smerza!

In the Gully are Breton Allies.  Kinda French...  Might be closer to Gallic.

+ 6 Medium Cavalry, Javelin

Viking Breakpoint is now 40

After a conversation as to a fight between Impetuous Heavy swordsmen in the woods, the Javelinmen decided to retreat.

On Contact: Javelinmen -1.  Zero base, no Javelin bonus when facing impact, - 1 for Difficult.

                    Heavy Swordsmen 1 + Furious Charge.  +2 Base vs LMI.  +1 Impact.  -2 for Difficult.            

The Viking commanders was having a lot of command control problems.  Their lines of heavies were more than 6 wide and dice rolls less than 2..

The Bretons decide that having a -2 factor in the gully was too serious a penalty, and facing Heavy Sword frontally had a more serious penalty.

Turn 2:

Akrylyk pushes a couple of tribes into the woods.  Just to keep those Javelinmen honest.  The Avar command squirts a couple of light horse between the gaps

Avar Nobles take their places in the front lines and loose arrows

The Breton's retreat leaves the Pliawode and Vynyl's commands unoccupied.  They turn and double march towards the center.

Hagar is unimpressed by the quantity of blood sølt.

The Javelinmen continue to retreat, and attempt to enclose the Avar lights.

With a stutter stomp, the Viking warriors do a short charge, causing the Avar light horse to flee.

Both the Bretons and the Viking lights take up harassment positions.  Stripping the Saxon right of its skirmishers.

Turn 3:

The Saxons continue to invest the woods.  One tribe charges a group of Javelinmen.  The Avar lights squirt out towards the Viking edge.

Avar Nobels continue to loose arrows.

The main Saxon line turns to face the enemy.  Their Javelin armed skirmishers charge the Viking bowmen.

Viking Javelinmen continue to retreat.

...retreat or chase?  You decide.

The Ulfheðnar have waited long enough and  launch an unwise charge.

The rest of the Viking line tried a couple of rallies.  But was nailed from on high for their troubles.

The command rolls were really poor here.  I think the Viking commander was first defending the hill, but now needs to line up in the low lands. 

This is difficult to explain.  There were charges, multiple evades, then a Saxon light trapped all the way back there. 

The Bretons reach down and find a pair.  Advancing out of the Gully and throwing their Javelins.

Turn 4:

The Saxon wood investment is nearly complete. 

The Ulfheðnar are defeated.  The Saxons pursue to near the Viking front line.

Pilawode's swordsmen chase down a Breton Skirmisher.

Vynyl's line has been turned.  His Levy, marked by cotton, is all that stands between the Breton's and the Saxon camp.

The Javelinmen continue their long retreat

Axes swinging, the Vikings charge.  The Avar Nobles stand knowing that help is on the way.

Fortune is not with the Vikings this day.  Winning only two, and losing the rest of the initial contacts.

The Bretons, however pursue their advantage.  One Saxon warband is crushed, and another nearly destroyed.

The only luck was the Levy held it's ground.

 

At the bottom of the 4th, the Saxon score is 15 of 40.

While the Vikings are at 19

The game was running late and it was time to call it for the night.  

Will Akrylyk roll up the Viking right flank?  Will the Bretons win through to the camp?  Can the Avar scouts escape?  Tune in two weeks from now!

Same Bat-time, same Bat-channel!

 

 

 

Bob and Cleo Liebl

It is with great sorrow to announce the passing of Bob Liebl earlier this month.  Bob and his wife Cleo were delightful personalities, even fixtures, at the HMGS conventions.  He had a great wit, like "Saving Ryan's Privates", they marvelous scenario builders, and carried a box of fresh baked cookies.  They were official chroniclers of HMGS events.

A paragraph is too small a description of a life.  And while they were always noticeable with matching Hawaiian shirts, I only had sporadic contact with them over the last decade.  Bob always had a story to tell.  And I will relate one he told me on our penultimate get together.

It involved two family members of his. I will refer to them as "the Uncle", and "the Nephew."  It is the mid 1930's.  And the depression was still going on.  But the word was out, at least in the German speaking community, that things were turning around in Germany.  So the Uncle, who was naturalized citizen, and the Nephew, a natural born citizen, went to Germany looking for work.  

They were still there when WWII broke out and both were drafted.  The Uncle had a college degree and spoke perfect English, was assigned to German Army Intelligence.  The Nephew had skills with animals, and was assigned to a divisional veterinary company.  As a side note, the German army ran on horses and mules.  8,000 per infantry division.   

Spoiler alert here.  They both survived the war.  So no drama is intended there.

One of the key events by the Uncle involved the British mini-sub attack on the Battleship Tirpitz.  They snuck into the anchorage, planted bombs on the hull, and then were captured.  The Tripitz was not noticeably harmed in the attack.   

The Gestapo was unable to get the UK sailors to talk.  And then the Uncle was sent in to interrogate them.  He took the tactic of throwing a party for them, with lots of booze and imported Swedish hookers.  He then just worked the room with pleasant conversation, and gaining everything relevant about the attack. 

And got one of the lower grade Iron Crosses for the effort.

The Nephew spent 3 years on the Russian front.  And as part of the retreat into Poland in late 1944.  He swam a river, only to be caught up in an artillery barrage.  He woke up some time later, in some hospital in Germany proper.  His uncle was given leave to visit him in the hospital.  He borrowed a car, see Iron Cross above, loaded the Nephew into it, and proceeded west.  They were stopped a couple of times by German authorities, but then again, an officer wearing an Iron Cross.  Eventually they were stopped by an American patrol, and taken prisoner.  They spent some time in POW camps before being released.  

The Nephew returned to Germany after the war and served as an air traffic controller during the Berlin air lift.  Somewhere around this time there was a massive burial of old military equipment that he was witnessed to.  Later, he worked for the Smithsonian, and recovered that same equipment. 

There was more to this story, and I may update it as memory clears.

Official obituary is here...

We are all diminished by their passing.

Hannibal on a Bad Day

A Headless Body Production

Venue: Eisenhower Hotel (well, on the property.  You can see the hotel, if you stand on one leg, and squint...)
Event: Cold Wars, 2025
Theme: Classic Age, 6 mounted units maximum, Round 2
Players: Phil Gardocki running German, 100BC
              Jeff Wiltrout running Carthaginian,  "In Italy" option.
Game System: L'Art de la Guerre, 15mm, 200 points per side.
Font: Times Roman...

The Forces
The Germans, list 91, are commanded by Asterix, the Competent, Obilix, the Competent, and Bastardix, the Ordinary, and somewhat Unreliable.
12 Chatti, "Brave", Warriors, Heavy Swordsmen, Impetuous, 4 are Elite
4 Cherusci, Medium Swordsmen, Impetuous
6 Light Infantry with sharp, pointy sticks
4 Horsemen, Medium Cavalry, 2 are Elite
2 Tencteri Light Cavalry, Javelin
Breakpoint...28
 

The title, "Hannibal on a Bad Day" just means Hannibal is only Brilliant today.  Do not consider it as foreshadowing.

The Carthaginians, list 55, year 𐤉𐤓𐤇𐤒𐤑𐤓𐤔𐤏𐤓𐤌, are commanded by Hannibal, the Brilliant, Bomilcar, also Brilliant, and Getulio, the Samnite.
2 Spanish and Samnite Horsemen, Medium Cavalry
2 Spanish and Numidian Light Cavalry, Javelin, Elite
1 Elephant, Mediocre
2 Spanish Scutarii, Medium Swordsmen, Impact
2 African Spearmen, Heavy Spearmen, Armour, Elite
2 Gallic, Heavy Swordsmen, Impact
2 Campanians, Heavy Swordsmen, Armour, Impact
4 Light Infantry, Sling and Javelin, Elite
1 Triarii, Heavy Spear, Armour.
5 Samnite Warriors and Hoplites, Heavy Swordsmen, Impact
Breakpoint...23

Display Conventions: When you see a word bubble like "Ouch!" or "𐤀‬‬𐤉‬𐤍‬!", or "AHH!", or "SMERZA!", this implies a disorder from missiles. Letters in parenthesis represent some value change 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. I tend not to point out Light Infantry, as it clutters the pictures for no real value.

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.

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

Any vagueness or inaccuracies in the descriptions is to be considered is to be considered Fog of War, and is to be considered part of the fun.

The Venue:

Having not hosted HMGS for a while, the hotel was moderately unprepared for us.  I'm sure the litany of complaints are on the boards somewhere else.  Not to promote the Eisenhower over much but...

The bathrooms in the off board area, the "Allstar Expo Complex", were not up to the volume of people there.  But they are going to be totally renovated and expanded.  Starting the Monday after we left.

The buffet breakfast area was lackluster, but clean.  It did have constant 2 or 3 attendants during breakfast.

The dinner offerings in town were outstanding.  I had dinner at the Appalachian Brewing Company which has the best root beer I have ever had.  And at the Irish Pub, the best meat loaf in many a decade.

The Board:

Hannibal continues to have a bad day and loses the initiative.  The Germans elect to attack in the plains.

His elite spearmen take the point of honor on the right.

In the center, he deploys Greek mercenaries and "me too" Italians.

Makes sense.  The center is where the heaviest fighting would occur.  As this is the "Hannibal in Italy" list, the Italians are replaceable.  Where as the African's are not.  The Gauls only somewhat.  Northern Italy was still populated with Gallic tribes.

On his left, Hannibal sets up his command behind his few remaining elephants.

The Germans have ideal terrain.  Their heavy swordsmen fitting almost perfectly between the terrain.

The field by the sea to a lowland marsh center right.

Bastardix with all the horse in the German army hopes to turn Hannibal's flank.

All the terrain fell on the German's side save one field.  But the Chatti snuck in over night and pulled the weeds and filled in the divots so it was as flat as the rest of the battleground.

It was pointed out, several times, that the German list required an allied commander due to the mixing of tribes.  Mainly the medium sword Cherusci and the heavy sword Chatti.  And upon examination, the Tencteri  are also a different tribe.  I blame reading only the list, and not the notes on the other side of the fold.

Turn 1:

Per the usual plan,

the Germans surge across the field.

Bastardix pushes his horse beyond Hannibal's flank. 

Bomilcar and Gelato's forces

march forward to meet them.

Hannibal turns to meet Bastardix's horse.

Turn 2:

Asterix's rolls deficient in command points and can only advance 2 of his three groups.

Obilix stays in line.

Looking at the pictures, it seems like this command is a couple of elements short.

Bastardix's turns his horse.  The lights to just sort of pin Hannibal's command.  The mediums to possibly run down Gelatos main line of battle.

Bomilcar advances his main line to charge reach, his skimishers scoring a lucky hit.

Gelato advances, yielding an overlap to the Germans.

Hannibal closes the gap on Bastadix's horse.  They are not going to interfere with the main line of battle.

 Turn 3:

The heroes of Germania charge!  Better described as tripping over their own feet.

The German left did not win any of the contacts to battle.  Obilix's line wins two.

Bastardix decides not to play.

In the middle of the third turn, the Carthaginian score is just 3.  (no elephants were harmed in the making of this blog)

The Germans are at 9.

I missed taking pictures at the bottom of the 4th.  But <BAM> <POW> <THACK>  there was a lot of action.  You should have seen it. 

The German score is now at 14!

To the Carthaginians 7!

 Turn 4:

The Cherusi, held in reserve till now, enter the fray.

The German right have turned the Carthaginian flank.  But are turned as well.

I really did have two fewer units on the board.  They are mounted just like the Cherusi on the far left.

Bastardix figures he did his job.  Hannibal and his elephant will not see combat.

But it did cost him 4 points in lost light horse. 

The Germans are now 18

To just 8.

Asterix is down to his last unit.

 

Gelato pulls a double envelopment. 

Turn 5:

Bastardix gallops to the center of the board.

And does a quick head count.

Obilix's Chatti died hard.

But die they did.

I'm sorry that this wasn't a more interesting narrative. 

What a blow out!   What went wrong?  Easily a succession of bad die rolls on bound 3.  But there were other factors.

In the early approach, there was a choice, either advance the main line and skirmishers, or the main line and the Cherusci.  I chose the skirmishers.  Meaning that the main line charged yielding an overlap advantage to the Carthaginians.  

But the real mistake was separating the skirmishers at all, looking for a cheap, and inconsequential missile hit.  Because 1's do happen, and always at a very inconvenient time.  Would it have made a difference?  Maybe some, we will never know.  

The second was with the cavalry on the far right.  They sacrificed two light horse on what was a 50/50 shot at winning.  And lost.  Giving the Carthaginians another 4 points.  Would pulling them back on turn 2 have mattered?  Probably.  Hannibal would still have to react to the German horse.