{"id":4139,"date":"2021-07-17T10:00:31","date_gmt":"2021-07-17T09:00:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/brigademodels.co.uk\/mws\/blog\/?p=4139"},"modified":"2021-07-06T17:35:34","modified_gmt":"2021-07-06T16:35:34","slug":"god-wills-it-a-lion-rampant-battle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brigademodels.co.uk\/mws\/blog\/2021\/07\/17\/god-wills-it-a-lion-rampant-battle\/","title":{"rendered":"God Wills It: A Lion Rampant Battle"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Stephen gets a bit nostalgic…<\/em><\/p>\n

The first historical wargames army I ever bought was a Crusader army. It\u2019s always been a period of great interest to me, especially the later crusades of the thirteenth century.<\/p>\n

I resisted buying a crusades army in 28mm because that meant I\u2019d also have to get some Saracens and I just didn\u2019t want to paint all that patterned cloth.<\/p>\n

Then a while ago I was given a box of plastic Gripping Beast Arab infantry. They sat in a cupboard for a couple of months because I still didn\u2019t have the will to paint all that fabric. Then I saw some pictures of other\u2019s Saracen armies and I saw how they\u2019d done them in plain white material. \u2018That\u2019s a good idea\u2019, I thought. So that\u2019s what I did, and decided I\u2019d make the Ghulams a bit more colourful \u2013 representing wealthier troops able to buy expensive fabrics.<\/p>\n

Being motivated to get these done, I motored through them. And this weekend I decided to have a game. I was going to play Saga, but it doesn\u2019t play solo so well. So instead I went with Lion Rampant\u2026<\/p>\n

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Forces Deployed<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The two sides lined up opposite each other. Both had 24 points a side.<\/p>\n

The Crusaders had two units of Templar knights (LR: Mounted Men at Arms), two units of Mounted Sergeants, and one of foot Crossbows.<\/p>\n

I gave the Saracens two units of Ghulams (LR: Foot Men at Arms), two units of Ghazis (LR: Foot Yeomen, armed with short range missiles \u2013 javelins), and two units of Ahdath (LR: Bidowers).<\/p>\n

I did a simple meeting scenario \u2013 both sides hacking at each other until one is gone.<\/p>\n

I rolled for leader traits and got Vulnerable for the Crusaders (leader killed on a Lucky Blow of 2 or 3) and Lionheart (ironically) for the Saracen leader (meaning his unit could re-roll 2 failed hit dice).<\/p>\n

The Saracens went first and they were lucky enough to activate all their units \u2013 moving up to occupy favourable terrain that would hamper the mounted crusaders. The Ahdath would be well placed in these areas of bad terrain, where they could lodge themselves in and shoot at the Crusader cavalry. The only solution to this would be the Crusader crossbows, so it would be worth the Saracens taking out the Crossbows as soon as possible.<\/p>\n

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Saracens Advance<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Crusaders were equally lucky, activating all their units. The Sergeants on the right went galloping past the village, the Crossbows moved up to get into range of the Ahdath hiding in the scrub, and the Knights also moved up.<\/p>\n

One thing became obvious \u2013 there was a natural funnel to the battlefield between two areas of rough terrain. The Ghulams had moved up to block this gap, with the Ahdath either side with their bows to shoot at anything coming between them. The only thing the Crusaders could do was to advance as quickly as possible to minimise their exposure to the enemy arrows.<\/p>\n

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Getting Ready To Shoot<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Saracen Ghazis kept moving up to the Crossbows, desperate to engage and eliminate them \u2013 if they could it would make a Crusader victory difficult. The other unit of Ghazis, over by the village, decided to hurl their javelins at the approaching Sergeants, scoring enough hits to take one of them out. When it came to the Crusader\u2019s turn they were more than ready to return the gesture. Although the Ghazis were approaching the Crossbows, it was obvious the Crossbows had to take a shot at the Ahdath in the scrub. Spanning their bows, they took aim, and\u2026a devastating volley! The unit of Saracen skirmishers were devastated and routed off the table! Both units of Sergeants advanced \u2013 those on the left moved into the middle of the funnel to threaten the Ghulams, whilst those on the right put in their spurs and charged the other Ghazi unit.<\/p>\n

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Sergeants Charge In<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Casualties were taken on both sides and the Ghazis were bounced back. But the Sergeants were now down to half strength which meant their combat effectiveness was also halved.<\/p>\n

It was then over to the Saracens to go on the attack. On their activation they sent the Ghazis in to charge the crossbows.<\/p>\n

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Ghazis Rush The Crossbows<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Improbably, the Crossbows prevailed! They didn\u2019t take a single casualty and pushed back the Ghazis who failed their courage roll and were now battered. The other unit of Ghazis managed to rally, ready to block the Sergeants. The remaining unit of Ahdath drew their bows, trying to decide who to shoot at \u2013 the unit of Sergeants leading the attack through the funnel, or the unit of Knights who were coming in behind to mop up any remnants the Sergeants left behind.<\/p>\n

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In Go The Cavalry<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Deciding that the Ghulams should be able to resist an attack by the Sergeants, the Ahdath took aim at the Knights and let fly. No effect this time.<\/p>\n

Now it was over to the Crusaders. The Sergeants were in charge range of the Saracen leader, so decided to go for it and see if they could get a lucky hit. And they did! OK, so the Saracen leader didn\u2019t go down, but a couple of his Ghulam bodyguards did and had to retreat. The Crossbows, knowing how lucky they\u2019d just been in repelling the Ghazi charge, took aim and let rip. A good shot that took out a couple of the Ghazis. However, best of all, the Ghazis then failed their courage test. It was such a bad fail that they routed off the table.<\/p>\n

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Sergeants Charge The Saracen Leader<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Saracens had to go on the counter-charge. The Saracen leader ordered his men to charge and in they went against the Sergeants. But it happened again \u2013 the Sergeants came out on top. Sort of \u2013 no casualties on either side, but since the Saracens had charged and failed they had to retreat. The Ahdath had another go at the Knights, this time scoring a kill. And the Ghazi unit by the village threw more of their javelins at the Sergeants, taking another rider out and leaving them battered.<\/p>\n

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Templars and Ghulams<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Things were coming to a head. The Sergeants, not believing their luck, charged the Saracen leader again. Not such a good result this time \u2013 the Sergeants took heavy loses and were pushed back, under half strength and battered! The first unit of Crusader Knights went in and charged the Ghulams. A fairly even result, meaning the Crusaders had to retreat. Had the Saracens managed to turn things around?<\/p>\n

Back to the Saracens, and they spent most of their turn rallying units. The Ahdath once again took a shot and once again took out one of the Knights. They were starting to become a real pain.<\/p>\n

So on the Crusader turn the Crossbows moved up so they could get in range of the other unit of Saracen skirmishers. The Crusader leader also decided to take part (remember, his leader trait would make him more susceptible to a lucky blow, so he\u2019d been wise to keep out of it until needed). So the Crusader leader took command of his Knights and they charged one of the Ghulam units. Casualties were taken on both sides, and a Lucky Blow roll was made against the Crusader leader: double 6 \u2013 nowhere near!<\/p>\n

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Templar Leader Takes Control<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

On the Saracen turn I noticed the two leaders were near each other. There was only one thing for it \u2013 Leaders Challenge! The Crusader leader accepted. Into the middle they went and rolled for it.<\/p>\n

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Challenge Accepted<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

No hits for the Saracen leader, but the Crusader leader scored a hit, meaning the Saracen leader had been killed in personal combat! All the Saracen units now had to make courage rolls. Only the ex-leader\u2019s unit failed, leaving them battered, but all the others passed. There were still enough Saracens left to make it worth fighting on, so I kept the battle going \u2013 despite losing their leader, could the Saracens still manage to win?<\/p>\n

Well, maybe. But on the Crusaders\u2019 turn the crossbows took a shot at the remaining unit of Ahdath in the rocks. Despite the extra protection, they still lost half their unit and fled. It was now looking extremely unlikely that the Saracens could win this one. All they really had left was a single unit of Ghazis. Well, there were the Ghulams, but both of those units were down to just two models each, so they\u2019d lost their punch.<\/p>\n

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One Last Charge<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Ultimately and inevitably, it would be a Crusader victory. The Crusader leader, emboldened by his victory with the Saracen leader in single combat, led his knights in repeated charges on the final unit of Ghazis. The Ghazis were steadily whittled down until they finally failed their courage test.<\/p>\n

And that was it \u2013 a Crusader win.<\/p>\n

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The Saracens<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Stephen gets a bit nostalgic… The first historical wargames army I ever bought was a Crusader army. It\u2019s always been a period of great interest to me, especially the later crusades of the thirteenth century. I resisted buying a crusades army in 28mm because that meant I\u2019d also have to get some Saracens and I … Continue reading “God Wills It: A Lion Rampant Battle”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":4138,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[69,32,83,22],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4139","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-28mm-wargaming","category-game-reports","category-lion-rampant","category-medieval"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/brigademodels.co.uk\/mws\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/ST-God-Wills-It-Header-e1625586736613.jpg?fit=800%2C337&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p9A5LG-14L","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"post_mailing_queue_ids":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/brigademodels.co.uk\/mws\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4139","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/brigademodels.co.uk\/mws\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/brigademodels.co.uk\/mws\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brigademodels.co.uk\/mws\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brigademodels.co.uk\/mws\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4139"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/brigademodels.co.uk\/mws\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4139\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4140,"href":"https:\/\/brigademodels.co.uk\/mws\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4139\/revisions\/4140"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brigademodels.co.uk\/mws\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4138"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/brigademodels.co.uk\/mws\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4139"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brigademodels.co.uk\/mws\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4139"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brigademodels.co.uk\/mws\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4139"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}