2000pts Irish (Dan) vs Scots (Dave)
After our usual pre-game goading, we rolled off for choosing our ground which was a Planned Attack. The Scots also won the roll for who gets to place a terrain piece first but chose to forgo placing any terrain as they wanted a clear battlefield to defeat the invading Irish. Dan decided to place a rough (-1 movement), and hindering (cavalry can't march or charge through) piece of terrain on his right flank to potentially slow down the two formed units of cavalry he was facing.
Initiative was won by the Irish and they took the first turn.
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| Irish Army List |
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| Scots Army List |
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| Scots Special Objectives |
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| Irish Special Objectives |
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| Armies deployed ready for turn 1! |
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Turn 1 Irish:
The turn started with both the Bonnacht units and mercenary Scots-Irish failing their unruly tests, they can't take orders from commanders this turn! This wasn't too much of a problem this early on as there weren't many units that were a threat this early into the game. Some skirmishers moved into position to shoot the brave Mounted Warriors in the centre of the Scottish battleline and only ended up killing one in the shooting phase. With no combat, and most of the Irish not being able to receive extra orders it moves to the turn of the bad guys...
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| Slightly bruised Mounted Warriors |
Turn 1 Scots:
At the start of the charge phase Macbeth decided to use a command point to order his Mounted Thanes to move out of sequence to get closer to the skirmishers in front of them. Needing a 4+ to pass they failed the test twice and as such no charges were made. With that, the slightly hurt Mounted Warriors decided they weren't in a great position to support the Thanes, and if they stayed where they were they were going to be shot at all game, so moved back into a much more advantageous position. The Warriors started to move forward as they knew that they were more than a match for the more lightly armed Bonnachts in the Irish centre.
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| Battlelines start of turn 2 |
Turn 2 Irish:
Initiative was kept and all the unruly units failed yet again. The armies were now very close to being in javelin range so the Bonnachts moved up without caution to hail their weapons in the shooting phase. The allied Vikings chose to form shieldwall to protect the left flank with Brian Boru's Fianna. Although there were plenty of skirmishers, the shooting was very ineffective, a few casualties were caused on the Scottish Warriors in the centre, but nothing to put them off of pushing forwards in their turn.
Turn 2 Scots:
Now that the Irish had moved close to the main line of the Scottish Warriors they decided there was no better time than now to charge. The Warriors on the left flank were ordered to move closer to stop them from being hit by javelins on the way in but failed. They charged anyway and only suffered a few casualties from the javelins. They got away with that! Without much of a fight, and some very good kill rolls in the initial combat, the Bonnachts were beaten and although Brian Boru used a command point to try and hold the flank they were destroyed. The Warriors were still in pretty good shape so moved to threaten the rear of the remaining Bonnacht unit whilst the others moved closer to throw some javelins. The right flank was looking like a stalemate at the moment (all the strength of the Irish was on their left flank), but maybe if the Scots could push through on the left maybe they could win the battle...
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| Warriors threaten the rear of the Irish! |
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| Mounted Warriors waiting to exploit any weakness |
Turn 3 Irish:
Although the Scots were in a good position to take advantage of their position, Macbeth had wasted too many command points early on to try and take the initiative, and so the Irish could now react to avenge their fallen friends. Brian ordered the remaining Bonnacht unit to maneuver and turn to destroy the unit behind them, and they passed! Now it wasn't looking so bad for the Irish.
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| The Bonnachts charge the warriors in the flank! |
The Scottish warriors had no choice but to stand and hope they survived what was coming for them. A flank charge can be brutal, especially when you're outnumbered!
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| The Bonnachts smash into the flank and cause lots of casualties! |
They were beaten, as was expected, and suffered a stand fast test with -4 to the roll for the momentum the Irish had (+1 for winning, +1 for the flank and +2 for a charging warband), this is the roll they got...
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| Insane courage to pass the test! |
Needing to get equal to or more than their leadership with modifiers, the remaining Scots brushed off their sweat and could now turn to face the surprised Bonnachts. Luckily for them though, there was still combat to be fought later on in the turn and they destroyed the remaining Warriors in the combat phase, meaning they could now turn and face the last unit of Scots on their right flank.
On the left flank the Scots-Irish had received an order to maneuver and charged the surprised Mounted Warriors.
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| Unarmoured Mounted Warriors are no match for the better armed mercenaries |
They survived the charge and passed their stand fast test but were easily defeated in the combat phase too. The Scots suffered a lot of casualties this turn, but it was now their turn to react.
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| The start of Scots turn 3 |
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| Macbeth gives a successful order to his Thanes to maneuver into the flank of the remaining mercenaries |
Turn 3 Scots:
Realizing they had to do something before their whole left flank crumbled, both the Thanes and Warriors turned to face the mercenary Scots-Irish that destroyed the Mounted Warriors. The Scottish Nobleman ordered his men to shoot in the charge phase to cause some casualties before the Thanes charged in and ended up killing the priest and some warriors! The Thanes charged but didn't do as well as expected. They won, but even without the priest to increase leadership, the mercenaries passed their stand fast test and aligned to face the Thanes.
The rest of the army was still waiting around, if they overcommitted now they might all be in a worse position. The skirmishers on the left were outranging the Irish javelins and slings, and nearly wiped out one unit.
In the combat phase the Mounted Thanes were now outmatched and lost the combat and half of their men. They are the best troops the Scots have to offer though and proved it by passing their stand fast test.
One of the Scottish Chieftains realized there was now an opportunity to charge the Irish mercenaries and potentially save the Mounted Thanes, they only needed a 5+ to do this order...
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| That went well! |
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| Position of units Turn 4, this is close! |
Turn 4 Irish:
Brian decided that now would be the time to push up and finish off the remaining Scots. The allied Vikings were ordered by their Hersir commander to maneuver forward before charging but failed their roll on a 4+ twice! Maybe they were paid off by a Scottish spy before the battle...
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| The Vikings look tough, but don't like to do much! |
Brian ordered his Fianna to do the same but seeing that their flank would be threatened without the Vikings they also refused. With an extra command point for the re-roll, and figuring that they should probably do what their king tells them, they obeyed. They charged in and beat the Warriors but they held, even with the -3 modifier to the stand fast test.
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| The Fianna show their quality against the Scottish Warriors |
On the other flank, the Bonnachts failed their charge but moved forwards to throw some javelins into the backs of the other unit of Scottish Warriors, like real men...
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Although not honorable, the Bonnachts killed the Scottish Nobleman |
In the ensuing combat phase, the Scots-Irish mercenaries were decimated by the Thanes, and although the Fianna won the combat again, the Warriors held them in place, this is not good!
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| Macbeth looks on as his warriors hold the elite of the Irish army! |
Turn 4 Scots:
With the Scots-Mercenaries finally destroyed and the Warriors somehow holding the Fianna in place, the Thanes managed to charge into yet another flank.
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| Thanes charge the flank but lose the combat, forcing the commanders to move in to help |
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| The warriors turn and face the Bonnachts |
On the left flank, the last of the Warriors throw javelins at the Bonnachts. They don't have any shields, so are very easy to hit and kill. Maybe that'll teach them to use better equipment next time!
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| Turn 5, it's still close... |
Turn 5 Irish:
It's not looking too good right now. The best warriors of the Irish are fighting to the side, and the rest of the men are suffering lots of casualties to missile fire, maybe the Vikings could help out?
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| Nope. The Vikings fail their charge, this could mean the end of the Fianna soon |
On the left, although the Bonnachts suffered heavy casualties, they move up to throw javelins. With the support of some skirmishers they cause a few casualties, but not as many as they suffered the turn before.
Time for combat! The Fianna have the numerical advantage and manage to kill the last warrior, capturing Macbeth and a Chieftain. The combat still results in a draw and so they cannot turn to face the Thegns in their flank.
Turn 5 Scots:
There isn't too much left to do now. The Freebooters on the right don't fancy their chances against the Vikings and move back in shieldwall. The warriors on the left cause more casualties on the Bonnachts and reduce the unit below half. The skirmishing bowmen finally destroy the unit of javelinmen that were chasing them too, this has been a hard fought battle.
In the combat phase yet another draw! Somehow no casualties were caused, but at least it means that the Fianna can't turn and face the Thegns, otherwise that would likely be the end of them.
Turn 6 Irish:
With it being the last turn, and knowing that the Fianna will likely lose their combat, the Vikings attempt a final glorious charge against the Shieldwall of the Freebooters. Unfortunately none of them want to go to Valhalla today and fail again, moving forward only slightly and shouting curses at their opposition instead! The Bonnachts also figure that charging into a hail of javelins wouldn't be a good idea so throw some more javelins with their skirmish backup but do nothing to effect the last unit of Warriors.
The combat against the Thegns somehow results in another draw, no casualties yet again. Maybe they can survive this?
Turn 6 Scots:
Without much else to do, and knowing that the Vikings are no longer a threat, the Freebooters throw back some insults but cannot charge to help, this is all about the Thegns and whether they can fight their way to recapture Macbeth!
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| The Thanes win the combat killing 2 and suffer none in return! |
The Thegns make their final push through and win the combat. With them being in the flank, they gain 2 momentum, meaning even the Fianna need a 9+ to hold and end the game.
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| Somehow they did it... |
Although the Fianna had been at a disadvantage over multiple combats now, they somehow managed to survive and keep hold of the captured Scot commanders. With no more command points in the army to be spent to try and order another combat, the game is over. A well fought game on both sides, and very, very close.
Outcome:
To figure out who won, we calculate the units you have destroyed, units with less than half remaining, captured or killed commanders and any special objectives you may have completed.
Irish Victory Points: 1308
Scots Victory Points: 883
With a difference of 425 points the Irish claim a 'Standard Victory'.
After talking about the outcome of the game, it was clear to both of us that the unit of Fianna holding their ground and capturing Macbeth and a Chieftain kept the Irish on the winning side this time!