Deployment variation, Late Medieval era

We enjoy historical match-ups and found the Collision Course variant for deployment has become a welcome addition. The variant allows us to create encounter battles such as Montlhéry (1465) or Fornovo (1495). Players organise their armies in three equal size columns, of which one has marched on the board followed by the lead element of the second. Off table, the third column enters with the proper pip score, an uncertainty for which an opponent can exploit.

The late medieval period is our current interest and this past week we tested an alternative method to deploy our armies. The three columns organised for the collision course variant are now labelled the vanward, mainward and rearward. The three parts would no longer march on the table, but are placed within the deployment zone with players alternating the placement of their groups. The defender placed the vanward first, followed by the attacker placing his; the sequence continued until all groups and mobile baggage were on the board.   

 Alternative Deployment

This offered an interesting alternative to the two deployment systems. The defender placing his vanward anywhere in his deployment zone, this need not be placed on the traditional right of the army. The attacker can select a position opposite the enemy vanward or elsewhere within his deployment zone. The sequence continues until all three groups and mobile baggage are on the board. 

Two points, each element within the group must be in full edge contact with another, forming a column one element wide or a line four elements wide or any combination of the two. Secondly, groups may not be closer than 1BW at the start of the game. On a player’s first bound, further formation changes are done by expending pips.   

Allies form a separate group of three elements giving a player the option to increase one of his remaining groups. Depending on their quality, allies may form the vanward of the army 

Further thoughts.

Last year, I developed a dozen scenarios for the mid-17^th century that could be played randomly and outcomes would generate a rating for both players. The rating influenced subsequent encounters developing nicely into a campaign without the use of maps. Something similar can be designed for the mid-15^th century.

French Ordonnance L-R, vanward, mainward + mobile baggage, rearward.

Burgundian Ordonnance L-R, vanward, mainward + mobile baggage, rearward.

Burgundian vanward

French vanward

Burgundian mainward + mobile baggage.

French mainward + mobile baggage.

Burgundian rearward.

French rearward.

Ready for battle, Burgundy moves first.

Bohemia vs. Saxony

During the Hussite insurrection, some nobles profited from the chaos to seize territories to hold as their own. Diplomatic and judicial measures to recover lost domains failed prompting a number of houses to resolve their dispute by ‘force of arms’. Here follows a tale of one Bohemian coalition meeting a Saxon force on the field of battle.  

Taking a position between an enclosure and small wood, the Bohemians placed the city militia and war wagons on the left, mercenary pike and crossbowmen in centre and the cavalry on the right.

Mirroring the Bohemian deployment, the Saxon host were set for a long and hard-fought battle.  

Both sides advance their lines with Bohemia placing its effort on their left wing while Saxony directing its main thrust at the enemy centre.

As both sides closed the distance, the air filled with crossbow bolts and shot presaging the clash of pike on both sides.

In the exchange of fire, Saxon shooting proved accurate, decimating the Bohemian left and dangerously exposing their centre.

The push of pike in centre turned in Bohemia’s favour however and with the slight margin of success, Bohemia launched its cavalry wing.

The battle shifted to Bohemia’s advantage as Saxony could not exploit its advantage against a weakened Bohemian left, instead its efforts were spent to repel the surge of enemy troops in centre and the cavalry combat. At that moment, Bohemian crossbowmen caught sight of a lone Saxon commander to bring him down and signal the end of the conflict.

 

In a second test, the deployment areas were exchanged. This time Saxony defended and gathered its cavalry in centre with infantry positioned on either flank.

To counter the cavalry threat posed by Saxony, Bohemia placed its war wagons, artillery and crossbowmen in centre, essentially neutralising the enemy cavalry while opening an opportunity to crush the Saxon left.  

The Saxons were caught off balance as the Bohemians bowled over the Saxon left and in centre, the cavalry could make no impression in face of the line of wagons and artillery. Attempts to shift the battle to the Bohemian left were frustrated as the enemy retired to a new position.

The Saxon pike blocks and supporting troops were vanquished from the field, securing a second Bohemian victory..

Observations

The tests were a delight to play using two recently refurbished armies and new terrain items. The second test demonstrated the advantage of deploying last as the Bohemia amassed its firepower to decimate the Saxon cavalry.

By way of an experiment, the single command was organised in three divisions following the practice of the time. This would prove useful when playing the collision course option, but would offer players to use a modified deployment of alternating placement of a vanguard, followed by the main battle and rear guard. More to follow.