Friday 30 March 2012

The Clatter of Dice: Opening Rounds

The two armies face each other across a flat plain. The Maximilian army in a defensive posture, its left flank resting on an impassable feature while its right flank protected by a "Wing of Horse". As seen from the Swiss point of view the Landsknecht Pike Block forms the number one 'target priority' for the Swiss Pikes (see below):


Two units of  Swiss crossbowmen (skirmishers) march across the field to try and disrupt the Landsknecht formation in advance of the Swiss Pike's inevitable attack (see below). The Maximilian crossbowmen stand their ground and suffer disruption (green poker chip), but the units of shot on opportunity (black poker chip) return fire: 


The results: One Swiss crossbow unit simply evaporates (see below):  


Shortly to be followed by another (see below) after a hail of lead decimates their ranks (just good dice and a lousy cohesion test for the Swiss player). The Swiss player suddenly learns a to have a very healthy respect for Maximilian shot (especially when the said 'shot' units have been upgraded to have four attack dice). One wonders what the other two units of Swiss crossbow skirmishers must be thinking (see top middle below). Without making any impact 50% of their force are already dead and they know will simply pushed forwards over the dead bodies of their comrades. The 'aggressive' Swiss player knows his army cannot wait around to be shot to pieces at a distance but must close to combat.


Meanwhile on the Maximilian left flank the Germanic Men-At-Arms position themselves to attack the Swiss Halberdier formations and are screened by the mounted crossbowmen (making a dangerous outflanking move to the far left) and (skirmish) Harquebusiers disrupting the Swiss ranks (see green poker chip in photo below):   


A sucking melee develops drawing in first the Germanic MAA (see below): 


Then second the "noble" (but not so smart) Burgundian Knights (see below):


Disruption and chaos reigns. Over to the middle of the battlefield ominously the pennants of the Swiss Pike start to move forward ...

1 comment:

Mike B said...

Loving this game!