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

WOTR 1464 - Battle of Hexham - Battle Report

 Scenario can be found here: https://themosquitoonthetenthfloor.blogspot.com/2025/09/wotr-1464-battle-of-hexham-scenario.html

Lancaster caught on the hop, York rushing in for an early attack. All to play for, right?

Well..............no. We (York) got an absolute kicking. Consumate. Comprehensive. Embarrassing.

Payback for Northampton, when York gave out the horsewhipping.

With no further ado............

Initial deployments and movement, with Lancaster milling around by the river and York getting a decent move into position from the outset

York arrives

Starts pushing straight down the hill

Lancaster responds by surging forward with EVERYONE

York men at arms appear, then halts to observe.

Lancaster eyeing up the victims.

Next line of York appears

Lancaster keep pushing forward.

Exchange of fire from both sides.

Here comes the Lancastrian cavalry. Don't worry, miles away. They'll never make it over to this side of the table

Charge #1 goes in, on the left there.

Lines drawn up nicely.

Lines start to engage, with Lancaster seeming to hit with nearly all attacks on nearly all rolls. York armour did hold, but that can't last

Cavalry from both sides is fully committed now. Again, Lancaster kicking the shit out of everything in front of them.

York lines find Lancastrian cavalry on the flank.

View from the hill of the York centre. Quite a few less of them now!

York men at arms get stuck in to try and force a break in the line.

Doesn't work and they find themselves getting that cavalry right in the flanks.

Just as the Lancastrian heavy cavalry breaks through on the other side and begins turning to bear on the main lines. That unit of York cavalry to the right of the pic would be deleted v quickly.

Lancs hevy cav steamrollers into the Yorkist lines.

View from the Lancastrian line of the massacre in front of them. Note heavy cavalry in the top right, along with Somerset.

Yorkist rear thought that holding back would help? No.

Discussions were had on whether to turn coats and join the other side..........

And yes, Lancs cavalry then catch two Yorks leaders in their way.

Yorkist men at arms do a valiant show of at least holding up their side of the field, but its nowhere near enough, and they've been isolated.

Looks like a late counter attack from Warwick, but its too little.

Main Lancs line begins advancing to close the door.

Lancastrian heavies then file into the men at arms on the far right side of the table - considering the cavalry started 7 ft away, on the far left, thats not bad going.

Late game and theres nothing left of York

Over. 

A resounding victory. Henry VI gave up trying to escape the table after turn two and just sat watching the demolition going on in front of him (lurking in the pic directly above, to the top left behind the lines)

I don't think I can hear the words "nine hits" again for a good while after this one.