HYW - Agincourt - Battle Report

Agincourt..........AGINCOURT. 

Its one of those battles, isn't it, that all gamers have on a mental ticklist somewhere of ones to do? But, as a strong advantage, with the benefit of being reasonably doable!

So, after the scenario was done, we were ready to go..........

Table layout and deployments. 

The English went for the classic "fighters in the middle, archers on the flanks"

French went for some v organised lines of troops, and an odd column of cavalry units down each flank

Soon to be disorganised lines of infantry

French make the first move and almost instantly start getting bogged down in mud

Doesn't look that far!

English commanders sit back and watch the (shit)show

French lines begin making their way across

English archers just within range to begin opening up on the French cavalry

Who promptly rolled a brigade blunder, turned tail and all fled straight back to where they'd started!

Some plucky French light shooting units attempt to set up shop

Before getting promptly demolished by longbows

The other cavalry brigade begin to weave through the mud and other units, making v little progress.

At this point, the rearmost French commander gets impatient and forces his way through the other brigades to take the front, causing mass disorder and unrest in his wake.

English sitting back having a jolly and firing rather nicely.

Until, disconcertingly, a couple of units of French make it out of the mud, in quite a foul mood, and spoiling for a fight

Damned English men at arms were clearly not ready (not as if they had ample warning!), as they couldn't fight for crap on the day

Rest of the French still wallowing though!

Archers on the English left go in to support the fight in the front.

Can the French lines re-order in time to take advantage?

Henry getting stuck in royally.

With the support from behind for the English, the distinct lack of advance from the French rear, its looking threadbare on the main attack

And with that, the English managed to break a few units, opening their lines up to take some choice of charging, and it was clear the French were going nowhere as the clock sounded.

A solid English win. That'll cost you!

Really good game. Being on the English side made for much amusement, as we could feel pressure as the lines advanced, but once the mud started bogging down the French and the various generals started elbowing past one another for position, it was a source of much mirth all round. Loads of chaos and all good fun!

HYW - Agincourt - Scenario

 

Date: Weds 29th May 2024

Table Size: 8x6

Context: October 1415. After the surrender of Harfleur on 22nd September 1415, Henry V now faces a dilemma. The season is changing for the worse, he is surrounded by larger forces assembling, and the French barons are uniting against him. 

Henry assembles his council and tells them he intends to march for Calais, against the advice of his councillors, who consider this a foolhardy plan and one full of risk.

On 8th October 1415 the English army marched out of Harfleur to begin its 100 mile journey to Calais.

When reaching the Somme, there was no sign of expected support, and in its place is a French force barred the crossing. The French are gathering all around Henry, guarding the bridges and fords along the Somme for a considerable distance.

Henry marches south east up the left bank of the river, a French force keeping pace and opposing any attempt to cross. Finally the English army have been able to outstrip the shadowing Frenchmen by cutting straight across a bow in the river, crossing and resuming the march north east towards Calais. In the face of the gathering French armies Henry orders his archers to cut sharpened staves to form a barrier against mounted attack.

As the army marches, the scouts come riding back at speed with the news that an immense army has blocked the road. The French had managed to march past the English and cut across their route during the delay on the Somme.

Beyond the village of Maisoncelles the French come into sight, a mass of knights and men-at-arms spilling across the valley from the East. Seeing that he cannot not pass without giving battle Henry orders his army to encamp and prepare to fight the next day.

Battlefield Map:

Objectives - English: Deploy in a defensive line, hold the French and give no ground

Order of Battle - English:

Commander - Henry V

York - 3 units of Men at arms. 1 small skirmish unit of archers

Erpingham - 3 units of English Longbowmen

Camoy -  3 units of English Longbowmen

Objectives - French: Having finally caught and cornered the British, engage and destroy the army, taking as much ransom as possible.

Order of Battle - French: 

A lot! Roughly outnumbering the English 3:1, with a mix of light,  medium or infantry and light, medium, or heavy cavalry.

Deployments:  

The game is played lengthways along the table. The French deploy up to 24" from the Western edge, the English up to 18" from the Eastern edge

The weather preceding the battle has been foul and the central point of the table is a quagmire. The English have chosen to deploy in a space flanked by woods, making avoidance of the mud difficult for the French.

This is a 3x4 area which is extremely difficult to keep order in and any unit moving across this space will roll on the below table:

Light infantry need to roll 2+ to not become disordered when moving

Medium or Heavy Infantry need to roll 3+ to not become disordered when moving

All cavalry need to roll a 4+ to not become disordered when moving.

Even if becoming disordered, the unit will still carry out the order given, if the command roll is passed.

English longbows will have a 24" range and can fire in two rows of units and have the marksmen rule.

The English have fortified their position with sharpened stakes. All charge bonuses of all type are cancelled when charging a unit behind stakes. Cavalry automatically become disordered when charging against stakes, in addition to losing their charge bonuses.

15th Century Knights

 More Knights, because you can never have enough of them. These are the Perry Agincourt ones which I knocked out on a whim.

Through Shadow Deep - 1421 - The Village

We travel for some while before reaching a village. After discussion between us, we enter to search for supplies. There is a silence about the place which makes us uneasy. 

Rauf sees the embers of a fire burning, indicating people were here recently. None are seen.

Then we hear it.........a cry. A wounded figure appears.

Three of us run to aid, when a foule figure appears, being walking dead.

This creature advances quickly, ignoring Johns arrows

I hear a cry from behind, as the others in our group spot similar figures and are beset by imps.

I see other figures approaching and call warning to my fellowes.

A building collapses, thankfully far and none is hurt. What is this place?

Brave Rauf takes the fight to this enemie, dealing much damage, whilst I stuggle to deal with my foe.

A call from Rauf indicates he has found another person, recently dead

The rest of our fellows fight the deviles, with Tom Poachers arrows proving strong

I find myself transfixed by this enemie, needing aid from friends. My blows do seeming no damage

Brave Harold finds his warhammer to be of great use in combating these walking dead, as he pursues and destroys them in a rage.

More buildings around us fall into ruin. This is a curs'd tun.

Our immediate fight over, we spy more figures approaching. Good bowmen make ease of these.

I give the call to regroup around the barn, as enemies press us from all sides.

I break the doors of the building, finding store of food. We take this and make our retreat from the village, defending one another.

I check the corpse we pass. English, with a good light hammer. I take this weapon for Harold, for he has show much vigor this day

We carry injuries, mercifully no major wounds nor hurts. 

This land is a forsaken place. We take our goods and hurry on.