A second Wars of the Roses battle in a week! Paul was finally able to find a slot in his busy schedule for a game after an overlong hiatus. We agreed on a Wars of the Roses battle using Hail CaesarMk2of course, so I rearranged the tabletop battlefield and the forces after the recent tussle with Phil earlier that week. By way of introduction the opening positions of both armies: first the Yorkists under Edward, then the Lancastrians lead by Henry VI ~
The Yorkist Army of Edward, Earl of March.
The Lancastrian Army of Henry VI.
Both armies started out of bow and light artillery range of each other. Light Artillery may only attempt to move once at any point in the game, then becoming fixed in position. Archers are limited to three Turns of shooting, in this way suggesting resupply issues for both sides. The game must be decided in 12 Turns, before 'nightfall'! Now, as is my wont, an annotated photomontage carrying you down into aspects of the tabletop battlefield action ~
A {borrowed} prayer to the 'dice gods' might have been appropriate before today's battle is joined?
"Lord, you know how busy I must be today.
If I forget you, do not you forget me."🎲🎲
The Duke of Buckingham ponders the battle ahead and perhaps offers up his own private prayer.
Edward surveys his army, eager for the day's action to begin, perhaps hoping fortune may favour his cause this day.
Like a tightly coiled spring, the Yorkist host holds itself ready to throw all its might on the Lancastrian foe! Dice permitting of course!
Oxford's Ward looks to advance boldly on the Lancastrian left...but🎲🎲
Henry orders his Main Ward forward to close with the traitorous Edward. In the foreground the Commons attached to Buckingham's Ward nervously loose off their first arrows on the distant Yorkists of Warwick's Ward.
Warwick's Household MAA clash with the Billmen and MAA of Sir John Savage early in the exchanges.
MAA of Clifford's and the Royal Household clash with the Retinue of Fauconberg and the knights of Edward's Household. Closing Fire has mixed effects on them, with those of Henry falling short of their target!
Warwick orders his Ward forward in a boldly aggressive move, feeling Buckingham's men are of poorer quality and may respond badly to the move.
Both sides are now in bow and light artillery range. Storms of arrows are loosed and shot exchanged, but still they both press on.
In a reverse of fortunes, Edward is wounded badly and lead from the field to seek aid. Will the Yorkists falter or will they double down on the fight?
Disorder is spreading in both armies leading to much confusion of the lines of battle. Henry boldly moves forward into the fray to encourage his men least they faltering.
De La Pole leads his mounted knights and MAA in a wild charge into the Prince of Wales' mounted men. The fight is brisk and bloody, Edward's men break and the Yorkists are in the Lancastrian's rear!
The confusion of a medieval battle and the difficulty of command and control seem evident in this photo!
Warwick's Vanward is making good progress against Buckingham. Events seem at this point to be turning in favour of the Yorkist cause.
On Oxford's flank things are also looking grim for Henry's Lancastrians. Losses are mounting and courage is failing it seems.
As Henry sees the MAA of his Household flee the battlefield he must sense that it will not be his day!
Only Buckingham's Ward is holding its ground against Warwick, but with Henry's Main Ward and Oxford's Van Ward Broken the Lancastrian army must quit the field while it may. News of the victory will no doubt speed Edward's recovery from his grievous wound to good health.
Edward returns to survey the field and savour his victory! No doubt though that Henry will regroup and once more the clash of steel on steel will rent the air in a future battle.
For now though, peace is once more restored to this corner of the rural idyll of
Old Englande, so sheep may safely graze again...
Both armies will move for now into winter quarters: lick their wounds, sharpen their steel, revise their plans and recruit fresh men to their cause. In the meantime games using Hail Caesar Mk2 will be superceded here in GHQ by a return to Black Powder games in the coming weeks.
