Battle of the Somme 1411

Here are some photos from our most recent fight between the Constable of France and our favorite Burgundian, John the Fearless. Burgundy has formed a secret alliance with England and has marched into the Somme river area to claim some of the towns located there. The Armangac Constable of France has been ordered to drive Burgundy back before English invaders land on the mainland. The Duke of Burgundy is a vassal and blood relative of the French king, right? Well, things in France are a bit complicated.

In Piquet, you draw cards from the Army Characterization Deck prior to the battle. These cards might give you morale bonuses, extra cards, special stratagems, and most importantly, morale chips which measure the capacity of your army to take losses and setbacks throughout the battle.

The Burgundians drew 22 morale chips.

The French drew 9 morale chips, an extra Cavalry Move in Open card, an UP1 Morale Die for Infantry card and a Reinforcements Stratagem. The French traded in the UP1 Morale card for another draw which gave them a 6 morale chip card for a total of 15 morale chips. They kept the extra cavalry move card and the Reinforcements Stratagem.

Unfortunately, the reinforcements (6 more units) would not arrive until Turn 6!! It was a d6 for units and a d6 for turns. We normally allow players to trade in special ACD cards to draw more morale chip cards from the deck, but we do not allow the players to trade them in after they decide to roll for the particular stratagem card to see how good it is. Once the player decides to keep the Stratagem card, he can't trade it back in because he tanked on the result. Tough luck.

So, the French are more brittle when it comes to morale, but their deck is souped up with an extra card. Let's do this!

(ABOVE) The battlefield. The Burgundians are on the left. The French are on the right. That's a road running down the middle of the table. The table is actually for my Kursk scenario I'll be testing over the next few months. Works just as well for the Hundred Years War.

(ABOVE) Hundred Years War Burgundians. French dismounted Men At Arms (MAA), Picardy longbowmen, and low country pikemen on the right flank. Mounted retinue knights, low country crossbowmen, and Burgundian dismounted MAA in the center. Burgundian dismounted MAA on the left flank near the woods (they are rated as Militia. Not good).

Militia troops are vulnerable to the Levy Apprehensive card. When this card appears, all levy troops rated as Militia or worse have to check morale. If the majority of the levy troops fail the check, all of the levy troops flee the table unrallyable. All Hundred Years War armies have this card in their decks, but only the Burgundians have militia men at arms so the Burgundian commander's heart always skips a beat when this card flips over.

(ABOVE) Late Hundred Years War French. Mounted men at arms (MAA) on the left flank. Dismounted MAA, brigans (common pikemen), and Voulgiers (common Halberdiers) in the center. Peasants, skirmishers, bowmen, and crossbowmen on the right flank. Somebody plans on using that extra Cavalry Move in Open card! Cavalry can only move on that card. The 28 card French deck normally has only 3 of them.

(ABOVE) The French mounted left wing charges over the hill into the Burgundians. We actually used a cavalry morale challenge and an opportunity charge against the archers at the top of the screen. And we did it properly! Hooray for us! Then I pulled the Courage! card. Aaargh. All units in contact check morale. Luckily, only one unit failed and went disordered.

In Piquet: Band of Brothers, cavalry can attempt to intimidate and disorder other units by issuing a cavalry morale challenge and literally challenging the morale of the target unit. If the target fails, it becomes disordered. Disordered units (and flanked units, for that matter) then become possible targets for Opportunity Cavalry Charges. So, a unit of knights can challenge an enemy unit, disorder it, and then charge into melee with it.

(ABOVE) Another cavalry morale challenge followed by an opportunity charge against dismounted French men at arms. Burgundy (Jason) started grumbling a bit about the overwhelming cavalry advantage enjoyed by the French.

(ABOVE) Mounted knights doing their thing!

(ABOVE) These Low Country pikemen took advantage of some great impetus to engage this French MAA unit in the flank, automatically disordering it. Looks bad for the French.

(ABOVE) D6 versus D12 results in a 2 to 1 win for the knights! Jason must have rolled a "1" five separate times in melees during the game. Followed by a morale challenge, the pikemen routed.

(ABOVE) In the foreground, the French mounted knights have crushed the Burgundian right flank. A few impetuous nobles rode off the table in pursuit, but the French horse just need to reorganize from disorder and things should be just peachy. In the top right corner, you can see the Burgundian mounted retinue knights going after the French commoner infantry. The battle lines have become a bit confused. The French have no morale chips left at this point!

(ABOVE) A few moves later. Both sides have taken Major Morale checks. Morale chip count is 4-0 Burgundians.

(ABOVE) The Burgundian retinue knights, eager to get out of armor and into their nice, silky court clothes, attack and crush a unit of French brigan pikemen. Yes, they are led by an English duke. The Burgundian army is an international force!

(ABOVE) The last unit of mounted French knights with leader attached fights off another unit of Low Country pikemen D6 vs. d12 = 3 to 1!

(ABOVE) On the next turn, the pikemen advanced again, despite their disorder and drove off the French knights. The French pulled a Major Morale Check card, down 12-0 in morale chips. The French withdrew from the field.

The Burgundian commander has since reassessed the battle and decided his army needs one major upgrade: MORE LOW COUNTRY PIKES!! And better dice.

Burgundy Forever!

This battle was a hypothetical Hundred Years War battle roughly based on the Battle of the Golden Spurs. A Flemish city has revolted against the authority of John the Fearless, Duke of Burgundy. Their revolt has been sponsored and supported by the Armagnac followers of the King of France. The Duke has raised an army of his vassals to enter the city and crush the revolt. The rebellious guildsmen are attempting to block the passage of the Duke's army at a river. If the rebels can hold off the Burgundians for six turns, it will encourage other Low Country towns to rise up against the Duke's authority.

(ABOVE) View from the Burgundian side.

(ABOVE) View from the Low Country side of the battlefield. The Low Country troops are defending from behind the river. The main river is a Class III obstacle. The side branch is a Class II stream.

(ABOVE) This bridge is on the left flank of the Low Country defenses. It is barricaded.

(ABOVE) The Low Country army consists of 4 units of militia pikemen, 3 units of mercenary crossbowmen, 4 units of burgher knights, a unit of mounted French knights, and an organ gun battery. Their general is Average.


(ABOVE) The Burgundians have 3 units of mounted knights, 5 units of dismounted Burgundian knights, 2 units of mercenary spearmen, 3 units of Picardy longbowmen, and one unit of English longbowmen. Greg rolled up an Abysmal general. Poor Greg!

(ABOVE) The French archers approach the river bank and fire against the crossbowmen with little effect.


(ABOVE) The river has been crossed.

(ABOVE) The Burgundian knights crossed the river and were blasted by the organ gun. The organ gun fired with great effect during the early part of the game. Meanwhile the Burgundians successfully forced the bridge and Low Country pike units have started forming into Hedgehog.

(ABOVE) Burgundian cavalry attempts to force the river and bridge.

(ABOVE) Reinforcing burgher knights drive off the Burgundian dismounted knights' assault

(ABOVE) The cavalry unit assaulting the bridge was driven off, but another unit of mounted knights managed to ford the river. (BELOW)


The knights crushed the disorganized militia pikemen, but were then caught while pursuing and defeated by the French knights who waited in reserve. (BELOW)



The end result was a resounding win for the rebellious burghers. It was a good playtest of the scenario that was made much more difficult because Greg's Burgundian general ended up as an Abysmal commander. The Burgundian knights are terrible and about the same quality as their rich city counterparts. Known more their courtly manner and fine clothing, the militia-rated Burgundian men-at-arms underperformed once they realized the common townsmen actually planned on putting up a fight. Greg probably rolled up at least half of his units as poor, battle weary quality.

The militia pikemen were average (good against cavalry), but the Low Country mercenary crossbowmen were very strong and I might reduce them to two units the next time we play. The heavy armor of the crossbowmen was a big advantage against the Picardy longbowmen. The organ gun battery was fun and did pretty well.

Greg felt the river was too difficult an obstacle, so I plan on reducing it to a Class II obstacle. That will still make the river a Class III obstacle for the Burgundian mounted extra-heavy knights.

HYW Perry Command 3

This post is for Greg to prove to him that I'm still painting for our medieval project. Here are some pictures of some of the newest 28mm Perry Miniatures Hundred Years War command stands I've been painting for my Piquet: Band of Brothers games.

In Band of Brothers, the sub-commanders and commanders fight in the ranks, like real men. We're trying out a new house rule that reflects the household troops that would fight alongside these high-ranking nobles. The command stands actually form up with the unit they are attached to and count as an extra stand for stand difference modifiers. A four stand unit with a commander attached to it would count as a five stand unit.

We'll see how that works. It might be too much of an advantage, but it doesn't hurt to try it out.

I took a command figure from the Perry personality set and matched them up with two miniatures from the Perry men-at-arms and command packs. The flags are from Maverick Models. The owner was nice enough to design a flag for Thomas Erpingham for me. He also can size the flags to suit your needs. Great service.

I'm still using the idea I stole from James Roach for removable flags. Each flag is wrapped around a small tube so I can remove them for travel and when the commanders need to represent different armies and nobles.

The command figures are:

Sir Thomas Erpingham who marshalled Henry V's archers at Agincourt:



The Count d'Eu, captured at Agincourt. But he looks pretty! The Perry's did a great job of sculpting his heraldry:



Anthony, the Duke of Brabant, who arrived late to the battle of Agincourt, rushed into combat at Agincourt. In his hurry, he wore improvised armor and a surcoat made of a trumpeter's flag. He was captured and executed when Henry V gave the order to kill the English captives. He most likely died because no one recognized his value as a hostage without his heraldry. In my games, he fights dressed to the nines:




Coming soon: Late 15th Century Swiss pikemen and handgunners!

Gamex 2011 HYW Game

On Saturday, we ran a Piquet: Band of Brothers game at the GAMEX 2011 convention here in Los Angeles. The battle was set in the early Hundred Years War. During this war, the English would often launch raids (known as a chevauchee) through France. The raids would start at one English possession, rampage across the countryside, looting and sacking castles, and then end at another English possession. The English would then happily divide up their loot and high five each other. Sometimes, the French would manage to raise a large army to shadow or fight these raids.

In this scenario, the French army is pursuing an English raid led by the Black Prince. Feeling the heat of the close pursuit and slowed by his siege guns, Edward parked his army on a hill parallel to the French line of march and waited for them to approach. Once the French saw the English, they immediately deployed to do battle.

(ABOVE) The French mounted knights. They ignored the Constable's request that they dismount. A unit of retainer knights and three units of nobles with the Orriflamme. Scary!

(ABOVE) A Marshal of France leading dismounted men-at-arms with Genoese crossbowmen and Breton skirmishers in front.

(ABOVE) The city militia and some locally raised archers have come to fight alongside their social betters.

(ABOVE) The English defense opposite the French mounted knights. The archers at the bottom of the hill are Welsh and all of the archer units are protected by pits and stakes. I'm sure the Welsh appreciate being used as a speed bump by the Black Prince. "Hey, how come we're not up on the hill like everyone else?"

(ABOVE) The French mounted nobles charged impetuously. The rest of the army watches them. Big surprise there! One units of French mounted nobles had already been shot to pieces. Three more to go!

(ABOVE) Two mounted units left, but they reached the Welsh defenses. They eventually overran the Welsh, but by the time that happened, the French mounted units were wrecked.

(ABOVE) Inspired by the destruction of their mounted wing, the rest of the French army began to walk across the battlefield under a storm of arrows.

(ABOVE) The French pulled a Battle Lust card around this time and it allowed them to charge into combat with five of their dismounted knight units. That really dropped the hammer on the English. In the picture you see a unit of English longbowmen firing against a rising tide of armored knights, but the English do have a second line of their own knights to back them up.


(ABOVE) The French missile troops actually performed pretty well. On the center right, a unit of Genoese crossbowmen is firing point blank into the English lines. The unit's status was Determined and they were firing with a D12+2. Unfortunately, by the time this photo was taken, they had lost half of their stands. They need to run already so the dismounted knights can get in there! You can also see the unit of French archers sneaking through the woods at the top of the picture.

(ABOVE) As the fighting rages along the hill, the Constable of France leads his lust-filled knights to victory. Flushed with success, they pursue impetuously and run into the Black Prince and his household knights. Uh oh! With the French already disordered from their battle lust, this ended badly for the French and the CinC and his unit routed from the table.

After a few more phases, the French had 3-4 disordered units remaining on the hill, but no morale chips left to rally them. The English also reached no morale chips and drew their Major Morale Check card first. This check routed every English unit but the Black Prince's household and an artillery battery.

The Black Prince refused offers to surrender and wheeled his tired retainers to fight the dismounted French knights. Faced with his fearsome determination and reputation, the French then flipped their own Major Morale Check card and routed from the table. A close battle with both sides losing all of their morale chips and struggling to survive. Thanks to all the players who participated.

Upcoming HYW Convention Game

Greg and I are going to be running two Hundred Years War games at Gamex, the local convention here in Los Angeles, and I thought I would take some pictures before I packed up the miniatures. I've managed to tempt my friend Greg with the period and he has become a pretty prolific painter of 28mm medieval miniatures. Between the two of us, we've managed to amass a significant army. I do all of the basing to keep it consistent and also because Greg can't stand basing, flocking, etc.

(ABOVE) Our mounted knights with pikemen in front. All of them are Perry Miniatures and I've replaced many of the lances with steel wire.

(ABOVE) Our command stands with skirmishers in front. Most of the flags can be removed from the poles.

(ABOVE) Casualty markers (Perry and Old Glory),

(ABOVE) Dismounted men-at arms. Perry in front, Old Glory behind.

(ABOVE) Some of our longbowmen. There are actually too many to fit in the shot. (Perry and Old Glory)

(ABOVE) Close-up of my Breton skirmishers (Old Glory)

(ABOVE) Unloaded and disorder markers.

(ABOVE) Crossbowmen and pavisiers (Perry Miniatures).

(ABOVE) One of Greg's artillery units.

(ABOVE) Billmen and other common infantry. The big peasants are old Vendel figues. They look like freakishly large peasants. Don't trust this scum to hold the line.