Phil on Ancients: A Frieze of French

A Headless Body Production

Venue: Wyndham Resort, née Lancaster Host
Event: Fall In, 15mm Open Theme, Round 3
Players: Phil Gardocki running Medieval Anglo-Irish, list 234
Ethan Zorick running French Ordinance
Game System: L'Art de la Guerre, 200 points per side.
Scale: 15mm

While scrolling the feeds I found another ADLG blogger, Colin Whittaker, of the UK. The man almost 300 ADLG games documented in the last 5 years. His blog is at https://wargamingwithcolin.blogspot.com/
While googling for Colin, I few other ADLG themed blogs
https://sgtsteiner.blogspot.com
https://bucellarii.blogspot.com/
And this one from 2018 titled "Darryl Ascendant!" https://philonancients.blogspot.com/2018/07/adlg-darryl-ascendant.html
My figures were looking worn out even then.
And no wonder I am tired of typing that phrase, "... have 9 points towards their demoralization level of 20." I have been using that phrase for over 8 years.

The Forces:

The mEvil Anglo-Irish are lead by Larry, the Brilliant, his brother Darrell, the Competent, and his other brother Darrel, the Ordinary.
2 Heavy Cavalry, Impetuous
4 Galloglaich, Heavy swordsmen 2HW
2 Foot Knight, 1 Elite
5 Billmen, Heavy Swordsmen, Polearm
4 Longbow
2 English Longbow, Sword, Stakes
3 Kerns, Light Infantry, Javelin
Breakpoint of 22

The French Ordinance are commanded by Joan d'Arc and two other larger than life figures of history.
5 Heavy Knights, Impact, Elite
11 Archers. Some Medium Sword, some Longbow, some Bowmen, some Mediocre
6 Light Infantry, mixed weapons
Breakpoint of 22

Display Conventions: When you see a jagged word bubble reading "Ouch!" or "Merde!" 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.

Any inaccuracies and vagueness as to specific units is to be regarded as fog of war and should be considered as part of the fun.

The Board:

The French win the initiative and elect to attack in the plains.

Deployment:

Both of us pretty much have the same deployment. Setting up in the center, our right flank covered by a field.

The French have a mass of archers ready to invest their field

Their knights ready to go right down the center. A tactic I tend to agree with. Knights are too slow to try flanking maneuvers with.

Oh. More archers. That is a lot of archery.

Larry takes the left, with his horse poised to run around the flanks.

Brother Darrel prepared to assault the center.

Unlike the French, the Irish have already deployed in the field.

Turn 1:

Not really. Lets call attention to the leadership of the French. They are fine figures. This one is Joan.

I don't have the names of this one.

OK, now turn 1:

The French swing right

But their left command only sends forward their skimishers.

Larry shifts forward to meet the French.

The brothers Darrel advance with him.

Turn 2:

The French knights decide to avoid going down the center, and the enfilade barrage of longbow shafts that would entail. The rest of the army suddenly splits up and goes hither...

and yonder.

Larry advances and shift some more.

Darrel advances, with his brother covering his flank.

The remaining archers remain behind to deal first with the French skirmishers, then then for the eventual shoot out with the French bowmen.

Turn 3:

The flower of French nobility head for the flank of the Irish battle.

Their brother knights advance behind another line of skirmishers.

Their remaining bowmen angle in for the exchange of arrows.

Larry's battle advances full speed. He expects to lose against the knights, but totally crush the Joan's archers.

Darrel's battle puts pressure on the remaining knights.

The remainder of Darrel's longbowmen start the exchange of arrows in their favor.

Turn 4:

The knights charge. Nearly running down the Irish horse. But on Larrys flank, the Billmen hold!

The French archery prove accurate this bound.

That is 6 (one went unmarked) hits in one bound.

At the middle of the 4th bound, the Medieval Irish have 7 points towards their demoralization level of 22.

6 of which were scored this turn by archery.

The French are at 9 of 22.

With a clash of iron on wood, the Irish charge into Joan's bowmen. One knight falls, traded for a troop of Irish horsemen.

Darrel's sworsmen split into three. Clan O'Lyre and the Boys from Stafford vector to the French archers off panel. His Kerns charge and catch fleeing hand gunners. His center billmen charge and defeat a French Knight. Another Billmen sets himself up for a counter charge into the other French knight.

The disordered line of French archers loose arrows to good effect.

Turn 5:

Hand gunners are dispersed.

A troop of knights turn to flank a unit of billmen. Two units of bowmen flee to the field.

Darrel has an disastrous turn. 3 of his longbowmen are routed. Traded for 2 French.

The score is now 15 of 22 for the Irish

to 18 of 22 for the French.

I missed the pictures for the bottom of the 5th. So we are here at the top of the 6th. The score is now 16 for the Irish to 20 for the French. Time to put this one away!

Turn 6: