Eric and I got together on Sunday to start the first of many Saga Sundays (or Saturdays) to come. The scenario chosen was "The Escort" and we actually read the victory conditions prior to the end of the game this time. That had been a challenge in our last game as we played "The Challenge" and I ended up with seven wounds on my warlord to Eric's two - winner, winner chicken dinner!!!
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| Jo-mer King of a few guys I found in Norway |
I took Vikings and as I have more baggage than Eric (no, really...), I took on the task of attacking. This was probably the nightmare scenario as Eric took Normans and mounted up as many folks as we had horses available in my box of ancients. Next time I'll bring less... He fielded a big (8) mounted unit of hearthguards and two smaller (4) units as well. To support that, he had one unit of eight warriors and another unit of eight crossbowmen. For the vikings, I took four small (4) units of hearthguard with one being berserkers, a unit of eight warriors and a unit of bowmen.
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| Gilliam the "Mad-Priest" and his Norman Congregation |
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| The deployment of forces |
Given Eric's mobility, I thought it suspect to advance the baggage until I had a clear route as he could be both to my front and rear quickly. Eric advanced first and whacked the bows in the center hard reducing them to two remaining bowman figures quickly. His unit of cavalry and warlord that did so was eventually wiped out by concentrated counterattacks by my heartguard. The flank march that Eric conducted with his big unit of mounted hearthguard was the key to his victory. They got back in the vicinity of the baggage and I sent everything back to cover them. Eric's boys had too much juice. It was a near run thing, but in the end, he had enough troops left to take out two stands of baggage and secure the victory.
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| Angry Normans! |
I think if I were going to do it again, I'd build something more akin to a battalion square with the defensive troops and not spread to cover the main avenues of approach - especially against an army as agile as the Normans. Taking out Eric's warlord took some of the steam out of him and reduced his saga dice quickly, but he still had just enough oompf to get it done.
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| Angry Vikings!! |
This was a really fun scenario and one we agreed will go in the tournament list for Historicon.
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| The Normans go on a flank March and the "Mad-Priest" prepares for reckless charge up the middle. The Viking Bowmen and Berserker Babes must die! |
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Brazen Berserker Babes! Beautiful and deadly.
Check back on Monday for Part 2!
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