MEDIEVAL WARGAME (Moors versus Crusaders)

                                                                      SCENARIO

This wargame was set in Spain in about 1250AD. A Moorish Taifa army had been raised by their Hajib, or local ruler. His forces numbered about one hundred figures. However, about thirty were unarmored civic militia and could not be considered reliable. But he did have two small units of household cavalry, and also his palace foot guards. These were equal to knights in their resolve. And the forty or so mercenaries and ghazi volunteers were equal to men at arms. And not forgetting, his state artificers had time to construct a powerful trebuchet. The Hajib was determined to hold this key river crossing.

The Christian opposition was commanded by a lesser member of the French Royal Family (Chris). His army also mustered about one hundred figures, including twelve mounted knights. The others were all retinue/men at arms. To aid his assault, the prince had decided to experiment with a blackpowder light bombard/cannon...... well the noise might scare the Moors. Honour now required him to secure this river crossing. The game would conclude at the end of move twelve.

                                                 THE CRUSADERS COME INTO VIEW

Sorry folks, this was a fun game but due to the nature of melees, a detailed blow by blow account was  just unpractical. But we did take a number of photos which, hopefully, will still be of interest. It really was a bloody affair as both of us eagerly looked on to see what fate awaited our military units. 

Chris resolutely advanced his army towards the bridge.

Sword and Scimitar clashed.

The mounted knights began to cross over the river....

Nine Moorish archers on the edge of the woods almost wiped out the mounted knights in two moves! It required two moves to cross the river. Under my rules, archers shooting at close range targets (8"), that are also closely packed, only require a 4,5,6 per dice, although plate armour or shield can claim a saving throw, 5 or 6.

The assault across the bridge was a push, and counter push..

A unit of Moorish cavalry crossed the river upstream and hit the Crusaders flank. This caused several units to rout. Although some of these later rallied, and the Moorish horse were sacrificed, it severely delayed the Crusader main attack. 

The action took down so many in a small area, we just had to clear some of the casualties!

On MOVE ELEVEN I offered terms, allowing a handful of retinue to make their escape. With no hope of the Crusaders making a second crossing, GAME OVER

This really was a fun wargame, which we both enjoyed playing.

Moorish casualties were about twenty, the Crusaders suffered about thirty. The price of attacking? 

I really did not trust my three bands of civic spearmen, and purposely kept them to the rear as a potential threat, or final fling.

I'm unsure if it is an age thing, but Medieval games seem more fun with 54mm!

NEW PAINTS

I was recently in Exeter and visited a shop selling Warhammer and other similar products. I actually popped in to purchase a few paints. I wanted a standard red, and also a warm brown, the latter to be suitable for firearm stocks, leather belts, etc. A member of staff kindly assisted me but confirmed he was out of suitable Citadel colours. He then went on to say that he uses Scalecolour. Not only are they less expensive (£2.99), but they have a working nozzle, totally full, and with a thick acrylic paint which can be diluted with water. Just confirming, they are excellent!

BARGAIN ARTILLERY

Could not resist this BUY NOW pair of W. Britains artillery pieces. OK, I will need to repair the missing rear button/knob/cascabel on the ACW barrel, but that's easy enough. But I have been wanting a Britains-made Napoleonic naval piece for some time, but did not wish to spend £10+....... these two pieces were only £14.48 including delivery. And they came with some ramrods, a bucket, and original ammunition too!

ps. In about 1972 I picked up a Britains naval cannon in a junior school bring and buy, it cost 50p. I subsequently removed the spring and loaded it with 'banger' black powder. It held my attention for a brief spell, then I moved away from London and my childhood toys disappeared.................... well, I've put that right now........ IT'S BACK AGAIN!

MGB

REPLYING TO FRIENDS COMMENTING BELOW

Cheers Donnie, the Scalecolour company produce several ranges, with particular characteristics. I have only used their WW2 range. These are solid colours, and their titles are more useful than fantasy labels. I also like the price.

Hello Spearhead. I had a small collection of 54mm in my childhood, 1970s. Then raised a large collection of medievals in 28mm during the 1990s. Still have Spanish and Portuguese. But I far prefer wargaming the period in 54mm. On the positive side, it is still possible to start a collection in this scale thanks to Ebay. The prices are still very fair, and sometimes you see some great bargains. I adopted this scale helping a young relative start his collection of toy soldiers in about 2010, now I am hooked!

Cheers Brad, it was a fun change to have the Medievals on the gaming table..... surprised my tactics actually worked, as Chris typically wins! Yes, hoping the pair of guns arrive ok. To the horror of some, I intend to paint the ACW gun a shade of green, to complete a battery. I just don't like plain wood guns, this is done in museums to confirm that part of the artillery piece is a modern replacement. All, or practically all wooden gun carriages 'sent' on expeditions, from Medievals onwards, would need to be fully oiled (and adding a colour to the oil was easy and attractive....... painted).

That's very kind, Roger, thank you. The Britains Deetail Saracens/Turks were never planned. While raising armies of Guelph (Papal) and Ghibelline (Emperor) armies for Medieval Italy, I occasionally picked up a Deetail Saracen figure, or two. I really liked them, and so this collection started to increase..... their armour detail is really fun to bring out with paintwork.

Cheers MJT. Chris and I enjoyed the game, but it is time to contemplate what next to put on the gaming table. I'm tempted to stage a Dominion game, but I haven't used my Grand Budapest Hotel collection, nor the Chinese 1930s army.......... ???

Thanks Quinn. Mad keen to stage another wargame, possibly this weekend. Just spent an hour working on repairing a Britains ACW gun, and I'm pleased with the result. Have formed a battery with another such gun, and with their green carriages, they are suitable for American, Danish, French, or Ruritanian armies!

Hello Peter, always nice to see others adopting traditional 54mm figures. I think it is the combination of gaming with a strong dose of nostalgia which makes it all the more magical. I restarted in about 2010, I now have about 300 Guelph and Ghibelline, and about 120 Saracens. I also have some small numbers with English, Scots, and Swedish heraldry. Look forward to seeing how your collection grows. I'm sure the Flanders based PMCD group would be well worth making contact with. (I don't think I make much effort to promote my blog, so not surprised you 'stumbled' on to it. On the other hand, I sort of quite like having just a select group of friends that sponsor and/or regularly comment with encouragement........ there is an old joke in the UK, two Englishmen meet in a pub, they decide to form a private-members club, two Welshmen meet in a pub, they decide to form an all-male choir, two Scotsmen meet in a pub, they decide to form a merchant bank, two Irishmen meet in a pub, and they decide to have a fight.)

Peter, I am a firm believer in using a primer before I paint figures.... however. The material used on Deetail figures rarely seems to need it! So I often just prime the shield, and enhance the armour features with a mixture of silver and black (I only buy a handful of acrylic paints, and mix what I need). But I do gloss varnish my 54mm, to exaggerate their 'toy' nature.... I never gloss varnished my 28mm. I always remove Deetail shield heraldry, it is fake, and research the correct heraldry. Others prefer the Deetail heraldry, each to their own. Most of my weaponry is home-cast pewter.