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[Mis à jour le: Wed, 04 October 2006 00:54]

This afternoon it was with eager anticipation that I set out the figs for my first BL game. This was played solo to allow me to take as much time as I needed and to accommodate any interruptions!

Turn 1
As per the adventure instructions the English get to go first. They only had tactics cards so a 'Mounted Charge' was used to order left flank archers to fire at the French cavalry 1 hit and a retreat, nice shooting boys. 'Forward' card drawn, could be useful later

French also use a 'Mounted Charge' on their left wing to move the cavalry towards the English bowmen. Also moved R/W cavalry 3 hexes. On the French left the cavalry inflicted 1 hit on the English and forced a retreat (would have been 2 but for the support). The pursuit and bonus attack caused another hit. 'Surround' card drawn, should come in handy.

Turn 2
'Forward' card played by the English to enable some massed bowfire. Great shooting with the L/W archers killing remaining 2 elements of red banner French cavalry - first banner obtained by the English On the English right another 2 elements of red banner cavalry are taken out. 'Green Banners' card drawn looks like the sky will be black with arrows very soon.

The French use a 'Surround' card to advance their R/W infantry and their L/W heavy cavalry to attack the English invaders. One element of archers is killed and the remainder in the unit are very isolated. 'Patrol' card drawn.

Turn 3
As expected the English play 'Green Banners', bit of a no brainer there...
On the English right the French cavalry are forced back by the mass of arrows and on the left the last heavy cavalry element bites the dust of the French countryside - 2nd Banner to the English. 'Advance ' card drawn

The French are 2 banners down and nee to do something fast, those impetuous cavalry have paid the price for charging in without support. 'Patrol' card played to send forward the infantry and sole bow unit in the centre. 'Red Banner card drawn, bit late me thinks...

Turn 4

'Advance' is played so L/W English archers can fire, they aim at the French bowmen and...............miss. 'Surround' card is drawn.

'Leadership' used on French archers for the +1 die, one English archer is hit. 'Forward' drawn, at last the army can soon move forward and destroy these English vagabonds.

Turn 5
'Surround' is used to allow for bowfire from both flanks. On the English right a French blue banner cavalry unit takes 2 hits. 'Attack' R/W is drawn.

As expected 'Forward' is used, the French advance in the centre and on the right. The card is also used to retreat the one element cavalry unit out of bow range. The French archer unit fires and misses. 'Attack' card drawn.

Turn 6
The English use 'Counterattack' to mimic the French 'Forward' card. This allows mass bowfire from the left and centre. The French archers take a hit and are forced to retreat. 'Patrol' card drawn.

'Red Banners' used by the French to advance an infantry unit in the centre. 'Scout' is drawn. Bit of a lull in the fighting as both sides draw breath and manoeuvre their troops.

Turn 7
'Patrol' used to allow the 2 archer units in the centre to fire retreating a French infantry unit. 'Attack' centre drawn.

'Patrol' played to move forward 2 infantry units in the centre to a hex away from the English line. 'Scout' R/W drawn

Turn 8
Another quiet turn with the English playing 'Attack' in the centre for more bow fire killing one element of French infantry. Another 'Counterattack' card is drawn.

'Scout' played by the French to allow the French infantry to close with the pesky English bowmen, (ready to cut bow fingers off). Two elements of archers are disposed of but the unit holds; all fingers still accounted for
'Advance' L/W card drawn.

Turn 9
The second 'Counterattack' card played by the English allowing their L/W bowmen to fire and what shooting it is - 2 elements dead. 'Battlelore' card taken.

The French use 'Leadership', another R/W French infantry unit closes with the English. First attack goes in on some English archers, last 2 elements are killed (and fingers taken...). First Banner for the French. The infantry advance. Second attack goes in on English infantry using 4 dice ('Leadership' card effect), but only one element killed with the unit retreating; the French follow up their success. Is this the turning point in the battle? 'Advance' card drawn.

Turn 10
'Battlelore' played by the English but dice rolls are not that great with only 3 units able to be ordered this turn. (Deck is shuffled as per the BL card). Yet more bowfire resulting in a French bowmen unit going down to their bannerman, but the other archers miss....and the English red banner infantry wade in only hit once with their 4 dice. 'Mounted Charge' drawn LOL

For the French the 'Advance' used to push 4 units forward in the centre in an effort to rescue the day. French archery inflicts one hit on their English counterparts. 'Forward card drawn.

Turn 11
The sun is starting to go down as the English use a 'Mounted Charge' to allow the red banner infantry to attack again. No hits but a retreat with the English advancing into the vacated hex. 'Mounted Charge' drawn again - sigh.

This turn the French use a 'Forward' card. Two units in each section are ordered to attack before dusk arrives fully. The attacks go in resulting in the death of an archer element and the retreat of two other units, (not enough me thinks...) 'Surround' is drawn.

Turn 12
Both sides are frantic to end this now as the gloom descends. (Translation: the wife is due home any minute).
'Red Banners' played again to aloe the English heavy infantry to press home another attack and hopefully destroy another French unit. No contest as the 4 dice are rolled, two French infantry elements are killed and the 3rd banner falls to the English. The English Red Banner infantry hold in line. A ‘Green Banner’ card is drawn, looks like we will see the loosing of the last of the English stock of arrows!

In a desperate bid to save the day the French commander plays 'Surround' and the last French cavalry unit (1 element) charges into the enemy archers on the L/W destroying an archer bannerman, (2 banners to the French). On the French right the infantry advance toe to toe with their English counterparts, two elements are destroyed but crucially the bannerman lives on. 'Patrol' card drawn. Good turn for the French but too little too late perhaps.

Turn 13
Unlucky for some maybe?
'Foot Onslaught' is played to allow a group of two infantry units on the English L/W to close with the enemy. Can they finally destroy the last two elements of a French infantry unit to rout the French and win the battle?
First attack goes in and no effect.
Second attack goes in and blue helmets appear and the unit is destroyed, (4th banner to the English). The battle is won.

Conclusion
Really enjoyed the game despite it being a solo affair. The battle panned out quite historically, with the French knights having the potential to kill many units but able to be destroyed themselves when caught without support. (Due to my tactical ineptitude). As the French I found myself lured into short term tactical decisions when a quick kill looked to be on the cards: Leading to the early destruction of the French knights (Red Banner cavalry). As the English I was able to adopt a more strategic approach, probably as a result of being on the defence for much of the battle. It is all too easy to launch unwise attacks when that desirable card is drawn that you just must use there and then.
I did use the support and bonus attack rules, despite the advice in the adventure booklet. I'm glad I did as they do add a sense of the importance of linear formations and the ability of cavalry to bust a hole in an enemy formation. As I became familiar with the turn structure the game rattled along. I think the whole thing took about two hours including set up. I reckon next time will be below an hour for the same adventure.

Can't wait to move on to using goblins and dwarves, not forgetting spiders, of course. Above all the game is fun and comparing it to other fantasy/historical rule sets that I have used in the past, much, much, easier to get to grips with and play. I like to battle an opponent not the rules. Nice one DoW you have made a jaded miniatures player very happy..

[Mis à jour le: Thu, 07 December 2006 18:33]

[Mis à jour le: Thu, 04 January 2007 17:57]

I do not recall the thread where this topic first intrigued me, however, I may have a simple answer to card play in a future siege adventure. A slight adjustment of the rules must allow the following.

1. Troops on towers/gates to move if a right flank card is played.
b. All 4 figures in single tower.

2. Troops on walls to move if a left flank card is played.
a. Single unit (4 figures) should be allowed to defend an entire section of wall between towers. (2-3 hexes)

3. Troops in interior could move on center card play.


I have solo played this variant and found it interesting. Of course I was forced to use lame representations of the 3D fortresses to eventually come from DOW.

[Mis à jour le: Sat, 03 February 2007 04:43]