An Action Replay

Paul and I had hoped to play a Punic Wars game for this month's encounter but at the last moment I was called away and we had to settle for a replay of the Normans v Saxons game from last week which I had fortuitously not cleared away! Paul took the William and the Normans and yours truly Edgar the Aetheling and the Saxons. As usual a photomontage which tries to capture the action, interspersed with rather better photos Paul took during the game. In the end after 10 of the planned 12 we ran out of time, so frenetic had the action been, agreeing on a winning draw for Paul's Normans. The Saxons, battered but undefeated, live to fight on another day ~

William's two right Divisions formed up with his knights on the far right...

...while his left mirrored the deployment.

A closeup showing off Phil's brushwork to good advantage.

Edgar threw his skirmish screen forward while his mounted warriors demonstrated on his right.

Meanwhile, the three Divisions formed up along the ridge and down into the valley blocking the road towards the north.

The Saxon shieldwall has formed up and will resolutely defend their position.

Having drawn out the Norman left Division the mounted warriors retire uphill and the Coerl bowmen begin to whittle down William's knights.

The whole Norman and Breton left Division is moving steadily forward to threaten the Saxon right Division despite coming under fire from the bowmen.

Those skirmishers' look more than a tad exposed!

William's forces are finding the going difficult - poor Command dice - but the Saxons are not tempted forward to exploit his difficulty.

The Saxon mounted warriors though have impetuously charged the leading Norman knights. Despite being at a disadvantage they earn a welcome draw and further blunt the Norman's advance.

Norman knights on William's right just will not move forward! Oh the dice! How we laughed!! The infantry meanwhile struggle forward emboldening the skirmishers to keep up their fire.

Norman pressure begins to tell as the skirmish screen first buckles, then breaks. A first taste of victory for William!

As the skirmish screen is overrun the Saxon centre and left Divisions brace for the expected onslaught. The Coerls making up the left Division look very nervous.

William's forces are attacking in the centre and menacing on his right.

The crisis point is approaching. In the centre the Saxons repel the Norman assault while the Coerls are assaulted repeatedly by the knights.

Viewed from behind the Norman right the position looks much better for the Saxons than they felt.

Fighting though along the line now is intense. Saxon lines buckle again but do not break. William just cannot deliver the knockout blow 

From behind the Saxon right it is becoming clear that William's forces are slowly gaining the ascendancy.

While the Saxon right is miraculously holding and even bearing back the knights the centre is clearly being pushed back.

As dusk falls - we ran out of time in Turn 10 of 12 - the game ends in a winning draw for William's forces! Paul had fought back from a shaky start to almost defeat the Saxons. On my part I'd done better than I feared by the end, so I was pleased by the final outcome. We no doubt got lots wrong, as you do when learning new rules, but we are getting there I think. Hail Caesar delivered a grand narrative to the game with lots of twists and turns, just what is wanted in medieval warfare I'd think.