Normans vs Lombards

We had more Lion Rampant action at the club on Monday. In this battle the Normans took on the Lombards, which resulted in a convincing victory for the Lombards. 

In reality, the Normans were hindered by the reluctance of one unit of elite knights to move into action. They failed around 7 activation tests which left the rest of the army at the mercy of the effective Lombards. Even the normally lethal Norman Crossbowmen couldn't rescue the situation. 

Eventually the hesitant knights launched into action and, in the final minutes of the game, had some success, but it was all for nought as the rest of their army battle line crumbled away.

Interestingly both commanders-in-chief were slain, which is perhaps just as well for all concerned.

Indian Mutiny - Gentlemen Volunteers' 'Daring-Do'

A British force consisting of the 52nd (Oxfordshire) Foot, the 1st Punjabis and 2nd Gurkhas, along with some irregular cavalry, supporting artillery and an unusual unit of 'Gentlemen Volunteers', was given the task of clearing an area of marauding Mutineers.

On the left flank the Gurkhas and Punjabis met with stiff resistance and accurate musketry from some Mutineers ensconced on top of a ridge line, which checked their advance. On the right flank, Probyn's Horse managed to overcome some angry Sowars, despite losing quite a number of their own horsemen.

Eventually the Mutineers' morale started to crack and a few units left the firing line, leading to a general disorganised retreat. In the closing minutes of the drama, a group of religiously inspired Ghazis sallied out form the village; the Gentlemen Volunteers were given the task of dispersing them. This, they embarrassingly failed to do as their charge bounced off the swirling swarm of fanatical swordsmen. That said, the Gentlemen thoroughly enjoyed their afternoon of 'daring-do'. The task of removing the Ghazis from the field of play fell to the artillery which, by this time was really starting to make every shot count.

All in all a successful action, although casualties amongst the 52nd Foot and the Gurkhas was worryingly high.

An Orc Waaagh! is (not) Declared

A vast horde of unkempt, unwashed, gasping, belching, sickening Orcs went full throttle against the rotting, putrefied, pox-ridden, and highly contagious, XIVth Legion - The Plague Marines of the Death Guard. 

The awesome firepower of the XIVth proved too much for the Orcs who died in their thousands, but they don't care as they enjoyed themselves immensely. Unfortunately there wasn't even time to declare a Waaagh! Next time the Orc horde won't be so reckless....

Monday Games - WWII, Medieval and Napoleonics

Four games were hosted on Monday night, three of which are posted here, representing a huge span of military history from Medievals to WWII (the fourth one - sci fi - is covered in the next post).

These match-ups included Byzantines vs Normans, French vs Spanish and British vs Germans.