10 Dec 2008 Scenario 4 Encirclement or Breakout

This game was played solo using my 40mm 16thC armies and Rough Wooing 

I decided to stay with the 16th C, pitting English vs French on the continent to test the revised rules. Each scenario unit was replaced by 4 companies of infantry or cavalry or 1 gun. The English were in the middle with 4 Battles, after dicing for deployment of battles their army began as: In advance: 4 Border Horse, on the right: 4 Bills & 4 Bows, on the left: 4 Bills, 4 Bows & 1 light gun, in the middle: 4 Demi-Lancers inc the General. In similar fashion I formed the French army then dice for the placement within each force. Force 1: Left: 6 Levy Pike & 2 shot. Right 4 Light Lancers, Force 2: In advance & to the right: 4 Gensdarme inc General, 2 mounted arquebusier, 2 reiter, behind and to the left: 4 pike, 1 crossbow, 2 shot, 1 swordsmen, 1 light gun. Force 3: 6 pike, 6 shot, 1 heavy gun. Forces 2 & 3 were beyond "detached" and had to take a control check each turn, all 3 Captains rolled "Bold". I was going to roll for battle plans but the point of escape seemed so obvious for the English that I just went for it and rushed the French up as quickly as possible.

The game began with the English light cavalry quickly moving to face the French light lancers, the left hand infantry backed them up, the demi-lancers faced the French main body while the right hand infantry began a slow retreat facing the enemy. On the 2nd turn the light cavalry clashed shaking both bodies but driving the English back.

Arrows drove off the remnants of the French lights leaving the way open for a clash of Bills vs Pikes. Despite the depth impetus, the pikes were driven back but then dug their heels in and the melee continued for several turns. The French Gensdarmes crashed into the English cavalry but got the worst and were driven off. Turn after turn, the main body of French Landsknechts stalled but finally they got in motion, deploying the artillery on a hill and pushing some skirmishers forward. A brisk skirmish action across the entire front went on as the English slowly backed up, archers evading the occasional charge, the reiters did follow through onto the bills but were repulsed. Once a company of bills from the Right Battle moved across and outflanked the French Pikes, they finally broke and ran leaving the way open for the English to retreat off table.

The English lost 7 companies out of 25 so technically it was a draw but given the bloody nature of the rules I can't picture how they could have gotten away with much less so have awarded them a marginal victory.