15mm Peter Laing Medieval Battle

      As mentioned in my last post, I have been reading some old rules for fighting ancient battles. I was reading one set that combined the board games, Battle Cry and Lionheart.  I started thinking of other rules I have used. I wanted to use Heroscape dice, that uses both attack and defense dice. One drawback is there is no "retreat" using these dice. I decided to use regular dice, using 6's as hits, and 5's as retreats.  Heavy troops would throw the defense dice for saves, one for every figure.  Medium figures would get one "defense" dice for every two figures.

     I also decided to use my Peter Laing Medieval figures for a trial game. I've had them for quite a while and have been wanting to use them. Most of the rules sets needed more figures than I have painted. However, as this was to be a simple practice game, I figured they would do.

   The scenario is simple. A local Baron has decided that he needs not answer to any man, even his King.  The King gathers an army to show that there can be but one ruler.

At the top, the Barons army from left; 2 units of peasant infantry, one unit of  peasant archers, 2 units of mounted knights with the Baron, 1 unit of foot men at arms, another unit of peasant archers, and one more of peasant infantry.
   At the bottom, the Kings army; from left; 1 unit peasant infantry,1 unit men at arms, 2 units Mounted knights with the King,  1 unit of men at arms, 1 unit of regular archers, 1 of peasant infantry.

The Kings standard.

The Barons standard.

The Kings Knights quickly close with the Barons knights, leaving the footmen behind.

At this point of the battle the Barons army had thrown back the Kings knights, who also lost one of their number to the peasant archers.

What's worse, the Barons knights wipe out one of the kings knights unit.

Even after such losses, the Kings forces push back the Barons knights.

It looks as though the King will carry the day.  

At the top of the page several peasant units are fighting their own battle, with the Barons forces getting the better of the engagement. One of the Barons units of knights is down to one man; the Baron joins this unit  and leads it forward. 

The peasant archers manage to bring down one of the knights.

Spurred on by the Baron, the Kings knights lose another man.

In the next move, the last of the Kings knight is eliminated and the Barons forces break through on all fronts.

Even the peasants on the Barons left have carried the day.

One unit of the Barons peasants break though and come face to face with the King himself. However, the King realizes the day is lost and withdraws what's left of his army.

This game was only to test a few ideas for a simple game that I might use on occasion when I bring out my Peter Laing   ancients and medieval figures.  A plain flat board with no features, I expected a rather boring game. It actually turned out fun and with a little work it could provide a game that would be fun for a few games. The peasants at first seemed as though they would play no part in the battle. In the end, as shown in the last photo, they ended up in the thick of it.