And so it Begins (Again)- Flat Plate Strike Tests - for Arrows vs Armour 3

 Arrows vs Armour 3 from Tobias Capwell, Joe Gibbs, Will Sherman and Tod Cutler.

Lard Magazine 2025 Out!

 

This years Lard Magazine is now out and available for download HERE! Well worth the £7. for the pdf.

I'm very much looking forward to digging into the James Morris' Midgard Bosworth scribblings, John Savage's Midgard Fornovo article and the introduction to a set of "ancients" rules that i am very much interested in by Dave Brown that go by the name of Vexillarius.

For anyone interested in Vexillarius, please take a peek at the following videos on YouTube:

Clubbing it! Troy's Anabasis into the Gobi- Trojans vs Han Chinese

 

We played another Chariot Wars era game. The relentless Trojan anabasis east took them to the arid plains of the Gobi Desert! As the sun rose quickly, facing them along a ridge line was the might of the army of the Han Dynasty! In the image above, the armies face off.

Below, Xiongnu Horse archers make a dash for the Trojan Right flank protected only with a think line of Chariot Runners to protect the chariots from the missiles of the enemy. 

General Trojan Advance

Turn 2, The Trojan Chariot unit charged the Han Bolt Thrower/Torsion Engine who fled off the table. 

Boy do those Trojan Chariot Runners enjoy a nice early sprint towards the table edge! Is rolling a 5 to rally on 2D6 a possibility? That would be a resounding no! The Trojan (operative word) Warbands continue the advance. 

Han Chinese Light Cavalry charge into the flank of the Trojan Warbands. I should explain. The Trojan Gneral (yep, that would be me!) completely forgot that Warbands halve all their movement including when they march if they Wheel. Oops! Big oops in fact! This left the Trojan Warband unable to turn around to face the cavalry threat and unable to turn and move forward enough to avoid being flank charged by said cavalry! I figured as a close Order unit with the stability that ranks afford, they would have a static combat resolution of +4, whilst the Cavalry have just +1 and they would to stand despite being charged in the flank; especially given the placement of my General and ASB who were both within 12" (Ld 9 and a re-roll if necessary).

Meanwhile the Han's Xoingnu allies pick a fight with the Chariot Runners who promptly leg it, never stopping until safely off the edge of the World!

Oops!

The "problem" from the Trojan perspective.

Crash!

As predicted, the Trojan Infantry hold but I had managed to make yet another mistake! I thought that the Trojan Warband had to be engaged and the flank in order to the front to lose their rank bonus. Wrong! This not being the case put them in even more trouble than I had anticipated! They lost the combat but just about manged to hold due to the proximity of the Army general and ASB.

The Han charge with a unit of spearmen hitting the corner of the Trojan Warband but providing precious static combat resolution to the ongoing melee. The Trojans break to be pursued by the Han infantry and cavalry. In the next turn they rally and form as strong a position as possible by redressing the ranks. ***This is where I fall out a bit with the rules, as despite playing the Trojans, I don't think a unit should be able to rally into a position where they would have a stronger static combat resolution should the enemy charge again.***

The last desperate charge of two units of Trojan chariots including the army general and ASB in order to salvage something if only for the sake of their honour! It was not to be as I must have rolled the worst set of dice I have rolled in any game of WAB I have played in a long time! Well done to my Han opponent who wiped the flower of Troy from the map! 

All in all, another great game and a great deal of fun. with more to come next week with any luck.

Longbow Master Richard Head on looking at selecting some Yew staves for the English Longbow.