Hagar the Horrible's Vikings Face the Futile Irish

A Headless Body Production

Location:  Regency at Providence Community Center, Phoenixville, Pa
Event:        Providence Gamer's Game Knight
Players:    Phil Gardocki, Steve Turn, Garth Parker, playing the Futile Irish, led by Larry, his brother Darryl, and his other brother Darryl
               Bruce Potter and Eric Turner, playing the Vikings, led by Hagar the Horrible, Sven the Savage and McBeth of Alba.

Game System: L'Art de la Guerre, about 200 points per side.

Narrative: 1000AD, Monday.  
"Wake him up!", and with that, what was left of a hogshead of Cenel nEogains best was dumped on the snoring figure.

The figure rose and roared, "Cool Tone aa, brísfaídh mé do magairlí", before grabbing his head and collapsing in the mud.

"He wants to fight, that is good.  Stand him up."

The muddy figure was hoisted by his shoulders, a bit less rougher then he could have been,  He wiped his face and blinked in the morning sun.  "Brian?" he asked?  "What are you doing here?  I thought you were kicking the Lochlannach out of Dundalk?"

"I was. and I left you in charge of this sgìre.  What are you doing about Dun Fionnachaidh?"

"Well, we were mustering the ag èirigh a-mach and..."

With a gesture from the King, Larry was released, where he promptly fell to the mud.

"That's enough excuses.  You have gas chaorach too long.  We cannot let the Lochlannach get entrenched.  Besides, this narrative is far too long and fails to amuse me.  Larry, you will get your iongantach brothers, and you will march on Dun Fionnachaidh today.

"But.."

"TODAY Larry, Clan Ramsay and the Balaich à Stafford are already on rathad Leitir Ceanainn."  If you don't catch up with them by this afternoon I'll have your retched clann bheag tossed in the nearest  ceàrr."

For the third time Larry stood up, and this time on his own power.  He gave Brian Boru a nod before stating firmly, "Yes, my liege."  And with that he turned and stormed towards a nearby tent shouting orders.

The Forces:
Futile Irish
Larry, Darryl and Darryl, all Competent
      2 Nobles, Heavy Swordsmen, 2HW, Elite, representing the clans Ramsay and Stafford
      2 Nobles, Medium Cavalry, Elite

      4 Kerns, Javelinmen
      4 Light Infantry, bow and javelin
     12 Warriors, Medium Swordsmen, 2HW
      1 Levy from  Dungloe (That is a real name)
Breakpoint of 26

The Lochlannach and Scottish Mercenaries
Hagar the Horrible, Sven the Savage and McBeth (not THE MacBeth, who has ostentatiously appended that "a" into his Mc), all Ordinary.
      6 Huscarls, Heavy Swordsmen, Armor, 2HW, Elite
      6 Viking Warriors, Medium Swordsmen
      7 Scottish Warriors, Medium Swordsmen
      3 Irish Mercenaries, Medium Swordsmen
      1 Slingers, Light Infantry, sling

      Break point 23

Scenario: The Vikings have taken the Irish village of Dun Fionnachaidh, and this time it seems they intend to stay.  Larry has mustered the Kerns in Kumacrenan and Falcarragh to show them the way out.

Deployment:

Hagar doesn't so much win the initiative and as was waiting for his hangover to clear before making decisions, so the Larry will be attacking in the plains.  Hagar has Viking Fyrd on his right, and Scottish mercenaries on his left.  His center is held by a strong force of Huscarls.  

Larry guessed this deployment, and put his warriors, all armed with two handed weapons on his flanks, and put his skirmishers in the center.  Taking advantage of the road, his two best units where going to march up the Viking right flank.

The Board:

The machinations of the Vikings to cone down the board were to no avail as the expected coastline disappeared due to the rapidly retreating tides.  So too, an nearby gully inexplicably was filled by a roving road crew.

 

Add caption

 The Norse Gods Elli and Mimir pull up a seat.

The Savage Sven's Viking Fyrd are positioned to defend the village.

Hagar the Horrible's Huscarls defend the camp.

While the wily McBeth (Not the MacBeth, see above) covers the road from Letterkenny.*

Facing Sven, Darryl has command of the Irish Warriors.  His 2HW should give him the edge against Sven's warriors.

Facing Hagar, the Larry has a command of Medium Cavalry and Javelinmen.  All skirmishers, and with luck the Huscarls will never swing an ax.

Facing McBeth, The other brother Darryl with more Irish Warriors and Nobles.  All with 2HW.  The Nobles are on the road.

 Turn 1:

Darryl steps forward lively.  His Light Infantry double moves up the edge of the board.

Larry keeps pace with Darryl.  He is in no hurray to meet the Huscarls.

Darryl keeps pace with Larry.  Clan Ramsay and the Boys from Stafford keep pace by following the road.

Sven and Hagar step forward as well.

McBeth enters the field.

 Turn 2:

Darryl has a shortage of command points, and so only pushes his lights.

Larry keeps pace with his other brother Darryl

Darryl enters the field, revealing an ambush.  It's Shawn's youngest don't you know!  What are they doing there?  Ashamed, or confused, they flee back to McBeth's lines.

Facing their second greatest enemy, the Scots charge. 

Taken by surprise, the Irish falter in their advance.  Losing 3 of 5 fights.

 Turn 3:

The attack on the left, despite it's advantages, is going badly.  Time to bring up plan B.  The lights are running for the Viking camp, while the Irish Warriors approach their Viking counterparts.  It is 2HW Sword verses Sword, so this should go well.

Larry attacks the right flank of the Scots.  He turns the flank with one Warrior, while the other slams his opponent.

The Nobles on the road, Clan Ramsay and the Boys from Stafford turn the other flank of the Scots.

But the Irish still manage to lose 5 of 6 fights.

Sven's Vikings hold their ground. 

Hagar's Huscarls approach to charge reach. 

Both Viking commanders are waiting to see how the Scot's will do.  The Scot's line is flanked both port and starboard, so it looks like they won't need to pay out much for the mercenaries.

One thing about Scotsmen, if there is money on the line, they will fight like demons.  Five units of Irish fall in one bound.

 The Irish have 12 points towards their breakpoint of 26.
 The Vikings have 4 points towards their breakpoint of 23.

 Turn 4:

Darryl moves to charge reach.  The unprotected Viking camp is only 2 moves away!

Larry's Javelinmen skirmish in front of the Huscarls.  His Warriors take a Scot in the flank and destroy it.

The Scots have a shortage of foes.  They turn their flank guards on Clan Ramsay and The Boys from Stafford.  It is Medium Swordsmen against Elite Heavy 2 Handed Swordsmen.  And both battles pull a tie!

The Scots have embarrassed the Vikings for their timidity, so Sven orders a charge.  The Fyrd was well motivated, and win 6 of 6.

 It was at this point, in full view of it's compatriots, I sacrificed the low performing die to the trash gods.

Hagar's Huscarls charge, and Larry's Javelinmen flee.

The Scots turn on their tormentors and destroy another Irish Warrior, but the Boys from Stafford obliterate their opponents.

 The Irish have 19 points towards their breakpoint of 26.
 The Vikings have 7 points towards their breakpoint of 23.

Turn 5:

Everyone agreed, the Irish had a good plan.  They numeric and quality advantages on both flanks, and could avoid contact with the Viking center of Huscarls, tying up 6, 13 point units with 4 7 point units and two cavalry units.  Then the dice fell...

The Irish Horse charge, destroying one Viking Warrior on contact, but it is way too little, way too late.

 The Irish have 21 points towards their breakpoint of 26.
 The Vikings have 9 points towards their breakpoint of 23.

There is nothing else Larry can do.  The Huscarls would make short work of his Javelinmen.

Even the Irish Nobles, despite even up odds, have taken damage.

 The Irish have 21 points towards their breakpoint of 26.
 The Vikings have 7 points towards their breakpoint of 23.

Shouting "Spara en för mig"!, the Fyrd wrack up more points.

 The Irish have 23 points towards their breakpoint of 26.
 The Vikings have 8 points towards their breakpoint of 23.

Larry's Javelinmen throw their spears and disorder a Huscarl.

 The Irish have 21 points towards their breakpoint of 26.
 The Vikings have 8 points towards their breakpoint of 23.

The Nobles hold their ground, but the last of the Irish Warriors are obliterated.

And with that the game was called with a decisive win for the Hagar, Sven and McBeth.

*The road is labeled as the road from Letterkenny, not to.  Where this road goes  is a mystery.  It doesn't go to Dun Fionnachaidh, and if you line up this field to a map of the area, it doesn't go anywhere else either.

The Polish Swansong.

A Headless Body Production

Venue:  Ferrell Fire Company Hall, Monroeville, NJ 
Event:    Kozcon 
Players: Phil Gardocki running Medieval Polish
                  Kevin Swanson running  Florentine Condotta
                 
Game System: L'Art de la Guerre, 200 points per side.
Theme: Open, no restrictions
Scale: 25mm


The Forces:

   Medieval Polish: Commanders  Larry (Ordinary and Unreliable), Darrel (Brilliant), and Darrel (Brilliant).
      4 Winged Hussars, Heavy Knight, Impetuous, elite
      2 Heavy Cavalry, Impact.
      4 Medium Cavalry, Crossbow
      2 Tartars, Light Cavalry, Bow elite.
      2 Lithuanians, Light Cavalry, Javelin
      2 War Wagons, Crossbow
      2 Heavy Spearmen, 1/2 Crossbow
      1 Light Infantry, Firearm, elite
Breakpoint...20

The Florentines are proud and wish the world to admire their greatness and present their army to one and all!  They are led by Niccolo de Tolentino, the Competent, Micheletto Attendolo, the also Competent, and Rudolfo Raisuli, the Ordinary.

     10 Men-At-Arms  Heavy Knight, Impact
      2 Light Cavalry, Crossbow
      2 Hungarian Light Cavalry, bow 
      2 English Longbow, stakes, elite
      1 Light Infantry, Firearm, elite
      2 Militia Crossbowmen, Light Infantry
     2 Militia, Levy
 
Breakpoint 21
 

KozCon is held in memory of our good friend and avid gamer Dave Kozlow who passed away in 2012.  If you've ever had the opportunity to play in one of his many games at HMGS events you know that he was not only a great person but also a notable credit to our hobby.  In light of Dave's five year battle with cancer ALL proceeds from KozCon are donated to the American Cancer Society.

The Board:

The board is fairly unadorned.  A coastal zone adorns the Polish left flank.  On their far right, and largely out of play, is a plantation and a field.

Deployment: 

Truth be told, I lost this game on deployment.  The Poles placed their Knight/Cavalry Commands on the left and center and the War Wagon command on the right.  The thought was to protect the right, and charge into the Florentine camp and win the game.  The problem is, the Florentine's have more knights, significantly more, and I knew that.  What I did was gave up any mobility advantage I had.

Niccolo de Tolentino deploys in front of the Florentine camp with 4 Knights, Longbow, Light Horse and Handgunners.

On the Florentine Left is Micheletto Attendolo, with his 4 Knights, Longbow, Militia Crossbow.  Squeezed in between them is Rudolfo Raisuli and his 2 Knights.

The Polish have fortifications, so the Florentine's dismount a couple of their Light Horse.

On the Polish left is Darrel, with 2 Knights, 2 Medium Cavalry Crossbow, Heavy Horse and Light Horse.

The Polish center has  Darrel, with 2 Knights, 2 Medium Cavalry Crossbow, Heavy Horse and Light Horse.

The Polish right is held by Larry, 2 War Wagons and 2 Heavy Spearmen, half Crossbow.

Turn 1:

Darrel urges his troops forward with a double advance.

While his brother Darrel advances at a trot.

And before a packed field consisting of two Florentine Light Foot units Larry orchestrates a drill team maneuver with his war wagons. 

Early shooting is in favor of the Florentines.

Early shooting in the center has no results.

Turn 2:

Darrel sees an opportunity for ta cheap shot, and sends his Medium Cavalry against the Light Medium Longbow.  But the dice favored the English.

The English mercenaries on the Florentine left also score a hit.

Turn 3:

Niccolo de Tolentino orders a general charge.  Darrel advances to the front.  The Knight on Knight fights are inconclusive, but the Polish Heavy Cavalry score 2 hits against their opposing Men at Arms.

In the center, things go pear shaped for the Poles. Two units lost.  Only the Winged Hussars hold.

Larry sets up his second wagon, but it is out of range of the English Longbow..

Turn 4:

I rapidly ran out of dead horse figures, substituting infantry in their stead.  Polish Heavy Cavalry finish off their opposing Men at Arms, while Darrel's Winged Hussars and destroys theirs as well.

His brother Darrel also leads his Hussars to total victory!

Larry's War Wagons take a shot and further disorder another Men at Arms.

So far, Polish luck is amazing.  3 Men at Arms are destroyed, another has two hits.
But that still means there are 6 Men at Arms left against 4 Winged Hussars.

Turn 5:

The Florentines have 7 points towards their demoralization level of 21.
The Polish have 10 points towards their demoralization level of 20.

Florentine Knights turn the flank of a Winged Hussar, and destroy it.

Then pursue into the Heavy Cavalry's flank.

Micheletto Attendolo directs his knights like a maestro, creating a Winged Hussar sandwich.    The other knights, need no direction, and just slay their Hussar.

I don't even know why Larry is here.

These Hussars know they are going to receive a charge in the rear, but take out the Longbowmen anyway.

The Florentines have 11 points towards their demoralization level of 21.
The Polish have 16 points towards their demoralization level of 20.

Darrel hopes some missile shots will help with the score.

While Larry's command, manages to shoot down a knight.

There was hope the last Hussar would at least stand.

But it was a vain hope.

Between the destruction of the last Winged Hussar, and some final missile shots, the Florentine Condotta hit the Polish threshold of 20.

What went wrong?  The Poles gave up what maneuvering advantage they had by compressing on the left side of the board.  Placing the War Wagons there would have forced the Florentine Condotta to go else where.  

Even in an open field, the Florentine Condotta would have been tough.  10 Heavy Knights against 4.  The Condotta also had ample skirmishers to screen their Knights against the Polish Crossbow.