Crossing the Po

For the second week on the trot Phil kindly agreed to come over to GHQ so we could have a game as I continue my rehabilitation by getting back into normal activities as much as I can. I suggested combining our completed Italian Wars bases and trying out Neil Thomas’s Renaissance rules to see what changes we might like to make. We managed to make armies of thirteen units a side by combining our bases. Each side had an objective to seize in addition to trying to destroy the enemy army. The Florentines had to seize the farm in the Papal deployment area, while the Papal army had to seize the bridge over the Po in the Florentine deployment zone. The pictures will I hope capture the colour and drama of the unfolding action in a battle which went right down to the wire ~

The Florentine army deploys mostly to the right of the Po river bridge. The

bridge is defended by a unit of mounted crossbows and a (very) large gun!

The Elmetti of the Papal army, supported by a unit of Halberdiers and another

of swordsmen, seize the high ground on the left. The artillery covers the 

approach to the farm. On the army's right the main force is focused on the 

objective of the bridge over the Po.

The Elmetti dominate the Florentine's right flank, supported by the swordsmen

and Halberdiers. The right flank advances with determination to seize the

bridge.

The Florentine Gendarmes are strangely inactive as the rest of their army

advances steadily against the Borgia foe.

Screened from the enemy by units of crossbows and handguns the pike and

spearmen advance steadily towards the enemy.

With the Florentine Gendarmes still inactive, the swordsmen and the

Halberdiers close on the Florentine shot.

In the distance the Papal army moves against the bridge,while in the

foreground the battle rages for the centre.

Having seen off the Florentine shot, the swordsmen rashly engage the still

stationary Gendarmes, supported by a unit of Elmetti!

The Florentine and Landsknecht pike finally get to grips with the enemy,

while in the distance a unit of Borgia handgunners advances on the bridge.

The push of pike takes centre stage now, but the Halberdiers take the 

Florentines in the flank to swing the outcome. More Borgia units move on the

bridge on the right.

At last the Florentine Gendarmes engage the Elmetti! The outcome was

largely underwhelming for Phil's cause I have to say.

In the final moments of the battle the Florentine pike and their Landsknecht

allies are destroyed and the Florentine army is broken. The bridge is firmly

in the hands of the Papal army, resulting in a victory for the Borgia cause!

The game lasted about three hours, punctuated by lunch, and demonstrated to our satisfaction that Neil Thomas's Renaissance rules would suit us well, although we already have made the first adjustments and additions to the basics. The colour and spectacle of the armies on the tabletop battlefield have inspired us to press on with the project. Next week though we plan a return to the C5th struggle for the Roman Empire between Pompus Maximus and Baldinus.