Good day folks!
My friend Phil and I broke out the 18mm WoFun Anglo-Saxons (Wessex) and Normans to refight the Battle of Hastings which occurred in the year 1066 AD. As usual, click on photos to enlarge.
 |
| The initial setup from the Anglo-Saxon position. |
This was my first attempt to refight this battle and wasn't sure how it was going to turn out, but we had a nail-biting good game with lots of ups and downs. We haven't played To the Strongest (TtS!) in a while so I'm sure we made some minor mistakes. Well, we didn't do the ROUT TEST part of the rules so that would have changed things!
Here is the battle report along with some photos. Enjoy!
Battle of Hastings background if you are interested: Battle of Hastings - Wikipedia
Battle of Hastings Special Rules for TtS!
- All Shieldwall units are regular size units, not Deep. 2 Hits each.
- This allows up to two units per square, plus interpenetration of said units.
- Shieldwall still gives to the +1 save modifier to the unit from missile fire.
- Optional Rule: More fyrd militia arriving throughout the day? Draw a chit, on a 9 or 10 another Fyrd Militia unit arrives? Starting on Turn X? Add to any command within command range of the closes commander. We didn't try this as it was our first playtest.
- Lance is a one-use weapon which enables a unit to play a bonus to-hit card in one melee of their choice. May not reload. Should these units have lances?
- Anglo-Saxon Army – 15 Units – 15 x 2 + 3 x 2 = 36/3 = 12 VP Medals
- If optional Great Fyrd arrive, add 2 VP medals.
- Norman Army – 20 x 2 + 3 x 2 = 46 / 3 = 15 VP Medals
- All leaders are Heros (chit redraw) and Save on 3+
Battle of Hastings Order of Battle for TtS!
 |
| Anglo-Saxon Huscarls - per current histories I gave all the Anglo-Saxons "Javelins" or basic missile weapons that they could throw at the Normans as they charged up the hill. The two brown cubes are Javelin ammo. They couldn't replenish their ammo. |
 |
| Norman Milites had "lances" they could use for a second attack in an action, represented by these white cubes. |
Battle of Hastings Map Setup for TtS!
Units align to the OOB above. I'm making a PowerPoint slide deck of all the battles from the Anglo-Saxon wars (including Vikings).
Battle of Hastings Refight
Phil was playing the Normans, while I was defending Harold's Kingdom!
The Duke of Normandy's getting spiritual guidance from his half-brother Odo.
Meanwhile, King Harold yells encouragement to his soldiers! He is attached to his Household Bodyguard.
Phil's Norman army advanced while I stoically sat on the high ground waiting his assault. The Norman archers did little or no damage after firing all their arrows, so they withdrew and allowed the Norman spearmen to advance to engage the Anglo-Saxons.
The shield walls collide on the slope of Senlac Hill. The battle raged across the entire front with the Anglo-Saxons repulsing most of the Norman spearmen attacks! The Anglo-Saxon missile fire was fairly effective in blunting the Norman foot assault.
The Duke, frustrated by his infantry's lack of progress, launched his Milites into the fray! They caught several Anglo-Saxon units unprepared. Orange cubes represent Disorder hits.
My Anglo-Saxon right wing commanded by Leofwine, managed to destroy most of the Breton command under Alan Fergant ("Alan the Red"). This was the left wing of the Norman army. They even killed Alan the Red and rampaged down the hill in triumph!! They Leofwine died in the ensuing scrum!! This part was too exciting and I forgot to take photos. Odo took over the Breton wing, but was also cut down!
Desperate for glory and victory, the Duke charged in the center with his rallied spearmen and milites! He drove towards his prize, King Harold!
The first spearmen hit the King's bodyguard and are repulsed. However, several of his Huscarls were sent packing by the Duke's cavalry!
The Norman cavalry charges the Harold's bodyguard!! A Fyrd unit on Harold's right retires in disorder. Harold crushes the cavalry charge, then charges into the spearmen, also routing them and winning the last of the Victory metals from the Normans!
History has changed! England was saved! Or was it???
Here is the last photo. Harold has just crushed the Normans to his front, but the Duke with a fresh unit Milites is on his flank!! So, had the battle continued for one more turn, the Duke may have wheeled, hit Harold in the flank and overrun him!!! It was a nail-biter!!
To the Strongest delivered another strong game and this smaller battle really worked well for two players. The Normans had lost two leaders, and seven units (out of 20), while the Anglo-Saxons had lost only 3 and one leader, but many were damaged. Cheers!
Eric
