WOTR 1470 - Losecoat Field - Scenario

 

(yes, there were pre battle beheadings in this one!)

Date: Weds 30th September 2026

Table size: 8x6

Context: Warwick, after releasing Edward IV from imprisonment, realises that he is unable to command real authority without the King in place, nor is Edward willing to act as a puppet King under his control. This meant that a crisis point was boiling and action would need to be undertaken, as Edward would be waiting for his moment to exact revenge.

Accordingly, Warwick begins to support the unruly Willoughby family and prepare them for open rebellion, inciting uprisings and spreading false rumour.

The King, on learning of this forming rebellion, was taking no chances and called for a muster at Grantham, as he could recall only too clearly the actions of the previous summer. During this, he finds his brother Clarence has journeyed to London and wished to meet him. After discussions and hearing that his brother would be travelling West to see his wife, Edward seems satisfied, until learning that his brother had only been delaying his departure, stalling him and had in fact ridden to join Warwick.

By the time Edward and his army had reached Fotheringhay, he learns that the rebel army has changed course and are heading for Leicester, in addition to learning that Warwick and Clarence are also heading there. This knowledge convinces Edward of the conspiracy and that he may be caught between two forces, Warwicks in the West, and that of the rebels in the North East.

Edward orders his scouts to locate the rebel army and soon has moved towards the village of Empringham, five miles West of Stamford. There, the two forces meet and prepare for battle.

The rebels, it is said, number some thirty thousand men, but the Kings army, although outnumbered, are more highly trained.

Battlefield Description: The armies have met bear the village of Empringham, with the small village of Tickencote to the rear of the Royals. The rebels have a wood to the rear of their lines, but the field is otherwise reasonably open and clear, farmlands and smaller obstacles notwithstanding.

Objectives:

Both forces are attempting to maul one another beyond any ability to continue, so its a straight fight. If the Rebels can kill or capture Edward, they will receive additional VPs.

Order of Battle - Royalist: 

6 Households

6 Men at arms 

1 Crossbows

1 Handgunners

4 Cannon

Order of Battle - Rebel: 

6 Households

4 Pike

2 Men at arms

2 Crossbows

1 Handgunners

Note: The rebels knew that Edward was coming, so have been able to prepare accordingly and may place stakes across their archers within the deployment zone. However, this static deployment will allow Edward to advance deploy his cannon.

WOTR 1469 - Edgcote - Battle Report

 

Early setup from the Rebels, clustered into a quarter of the table

Edward IV takes a position by the cavalry on the hill

Rebels begin the advance on Royals

View from the hill

BIG surge of the Rebel men at arms, which causes some costernation.

Royals prepare themselves for the attack

Obligatory "Warwick hanging around at the back" shot

Big cavalry charge ensues on one flank, but gets slowed

Royals begin charging down from the hill, as the Rebel line begins to lose momentum

Royalist flank trying to hold out against the cavalry onslaught

By this point, the Rebel line was getting well and truly stalled, with few charges happening.

Seeing this, an aggressive Edward begins leading the charges

Top left sees the Royalist reserves begin coming onto the table and threatening the flank of the main Rebel lines. This forces a choice of turn to face, or try to continue pressing the centre. 

Too late though, the Rebel charges never really made the impact required, delayed and found themselves hemmed on three sides, so call the retreat

A solid with for Edward IV, but a fair bit of luck on his point, as the Rebels began slowing down rapidly and couldn't get an early punch through the line, combined with his own households being fairly stubborn to break.

WOTR 1469 - Battle of Edgcote - Scenario

Date: Weds 30th September 2026

Table size: 8x6

Context: As Edward IV grew into his role as King, he recognised his over-reliance Warwick and broadened his support to include men personally loyal to him, like Herbert, Earl of Pembroke, and Stafford, Earl of Devon.

Warwicks plan at this point, was to marry his eldest daughter to the Duke of Clarence the Yorkist heir to the throne, Edward having no son at this point. A swift campaign resulting in a victory against Edward would put his son-in-law on the throne and the reigns of power into his hands. 

Around the same time in early in 1469 there were several risings in the north. Although some of these may been spontaneous, by late May/early June a rebel named ‘Robin of Redesdale’ (likely a Warwick associated figure) was proving particularly problematic, and beyond the ability of local Yorkist forces to suppress. Edward started to raise forces to deal with the problem, but was slow in doing so.

During July, Edward was based around Newark and Nottingham, building his army, watching out for Redesdale’s forces (now openly led by Warwick retainers).

Shortly thereafter, Warwick and Clarence publish a manifesto outlining their grievances with Edward IV and begin moving North.

Despite Edward’s massing his forces in the North Midlands, the rebels move past him. Shocked to discover he is outnumbered by the rebel forces, Edward falls into a defensive position on Edgcote Hill.

Due to a quarrel over a barmaid amongst the Royalist commanders, Devon withdraws his forces and leaves in a huff, with the possibility of returning to the main field on the day.

On the evening prior to the battle, a small rebel force led by Sir Henry Neville, encountered the pickets protecting the royalist camp. Whilst asking for quarter, Neville was dismounted and slain by his captors, causing the following battle to be especially vicious.

Battlefield Description:

Royalist forces were camped on Edgcote Lodge Hill, overlooking an area known as Danesmoor, bounded on the far side by a tributary of the River Cherwell and a ridge line in front of Culworth. 

The rebels were camped near Thorpe Mandeville, concealed by high ground. 

The armies probably numbered 2-3,000 each

Objectives - Royalist: Engage and destroy Rebel forces, attempt to capture or kill Warwick

Objectives - Rebel: Engage and destroy Royalist forces, attempt to capture or kill Edward

Order of Battle - Royalist: 

4 Households

2 Heavy Cavalry/Mounted Men at Arms

2 Medium Cavalry  

1 Crossbows

1 Handgunners

2 Men at Arms

2 Cannon

Note, the below forces will arrive later in the battle from reserve:

Devon

2 Households

1 Crossbow

1 Men at Arms

Order of Battle - Rebel: 

6 Households

2 Heavy Cavalry/Mounted Men at Arms

2 Medium Cavalry  

1 Crossbows

2 Handgunners

3 Men at Arms

2 Cannon

Revenge of the Doomlord - Battle Report

 Revenge of the Doomlord! Classic, classic, battle report and scenario from White Dwarf way back in the day. Mid 90s glory days! Remember it well.

By request, got this one onto the table, but using Midgard rules. Good excuse for me to tidy a few armies up, get some things built that have sat around too long and so on.

This is actually the second time we've played this scenario, having done it circa 2013 but nowhere near as well as we do it nowadays.

One major event in this game was we had to rerack slightly, due to the Undead commander getting a *bit* too overconfident with Dieter Helsnicht and getting him killed way way way too early, effectively ending the game haha. You know who you are!

Part 1

As the undead begin assembling and it became obvious a battle was to happen, there was a scramble for Imperial reinforcements from the North. Helsnicht diverted off all of his cavalry to meet this and tie them up, allowing his main lines to concentrate on attacking the town.

Accordingly, a smaller game using Erehwon rules happened a couple of days prior to the main game, with the results being kept secret to the GM, who would control the winners as appropriate reinforcements. This meant the players on the day knew something was going to turn up, but no idea what.

Each model was treated as a standalone activation, to promote the skirmish elements of this encounter.

Undead cavalry waiting their moment. They have all the time in the world.

Imperial cavalry arrives

Outrider heads straight out and shoots down the closest wight, signalling the advance

It very soon became a complete confusion of individual fights, but who would win?

Part 2

Table setup, with the village of Beeckerhoven waiting on the undead advance

Imperial positions

Undead begin their long advance towards the walls and town

Almost immediately the Doomlord swoops straight towards the village to menace the place.

At this point, he got himself killed by that mounted Imperial commander, so we had to rewind and start again from a suitable point.

So, Undead then begin pushing into the town with their faster moving units, while the main lines follow rapidly.

Pressure starts to tell on the defenders, who are doing a decent job of it, but being forced back

Just in time, the Imperial reserves begin arriving, under cover of a magical fog.

Poor skeletal crossbowyers find a bloody great war wagon charging out of the mist at them suddenly.

The reserves from the North appear (as they were successful at breaking through in part 1 above) and attack the undead supporting artillery.

Combat reaches the main defensive line, who need to hold until those reserves can march to assist.

Steam tank blows up on arrival, because of course it does.

Lines begin to buckle under attack from all sides.

War wagon crushes ANOTHER unit.

Imperial reserves start piling into the undead flank, forcing them to redraw their lines.

and it finishes with another combat between commanders, before Helsnicht takes to the air and leaves the armies to their fate.

Final result: Undead victory on table, Empire moral victory.

Great fun, great game, in spite of the fuck up early doors (I said be careful!)