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KINGMAKER - THE FINAL BATTLE

The following three photographs were taken during the final battle of a half year long Kingmaker campaign game. The campaign was played over the internet by six players from Australia, Canada and the US using Wim Oudshoorn's "Warrewyk"rules. Warrewyk is a system which links Kingmaker to DBA and DBM.

The forces of all six players were present on the field and were contesting control of the last two heirs in the game.

Prelude to the Battle

1. The alliance of Mowbray and Buckingham challenges the alliance of Courtenay and Grey to a "fayre and open battayle" which the latter accept.Their forces are almost equal in strength and each holds one of the last two last heirs.

2. The two independents, Pole and Fitzalan, sense an opportunity for their smaller forces to make a final impact on the outcome of events. They ally and force march north to position themselves like Stanley at Bosworth.

The Field

Mowbray and Buckingham approached from the north with Courtenay and Grey to the south and Pole and Fitzalan camped off the field to the east beyond the bogs. The western edge has an un-crossable river bordered by woods.

Order of Battle

Unfortunately I have only the order of battle for the northern alliance and it is listed here. The southern force was very similar. The eastern force was about 2/3 the size and included Swiss of various grades.

Mowbray/Buckingham

Beaufort CinC (Cautious) Kn(S)Reg/Bd(S)Reg - Plantaganet CinC(Cautious3)

Talbot Kn(O)Reg/Bd(O)Reg

Mowbray Kn(O)Reg/Bd(O)Reg

2Bw(S)Reg

2Bw(S)Irr

Herbert Sub-Gen (Bold) Kn(S)Reg/Bd(S)Reg

Cromwell Kn(I)Irr/Bd(O)Irr

1Bd(O)Irr

3Bw(S)Reg

4Bw(S)Irr

Stafford Sub-Gen (Bold) Kn(S)Reg/Bd(S)Reg

Bourchier Kn(I)Irr/Bd(O)Irr

1Bd(O)Irr

2Bd(I)Irr

4Bw(S)Reg

2Bw(S)Irr

2Bw(O)Irr

1Cv(O)Irr - Irish

2Ax(O)Irr - Irish

Percy Sub-Gen (Average) Kn(O)Reg/Bd(O)Reg

4Bw(S)Reg

2Bw(S)Irr

11Bw(O)Irr

2Bd(I)Irr

2Sp(O)Irr - Northeners

2Sp(I)Irr - Scotts

1Ps(O)Irr - Northeners

1Ps(S)Irr - Irish

1Ps(I)Irr - Irish

1Art(O)Reg

Plans of Action

1. Mowbray and Buckingham decided to attack with their secure western flank in the lead and the other two commands echeloned back, a fourth containing their heir to follow in reserve.

2. Courtenay and Grey also decided to attack but cautiously and along the whole front. The attack to be called off if their opponents do not descend from their hills.

3. Pole and Fitzalan had to decide between allying with one side from the start or arriving on field during the battle and deciding then whom to attack. They chose the latter eventhough it meant having to "gamble" on the arrival time.

4. The two main contenders secretly made a pact to temporarily cease hostilities the moment Pole and Fitzalan arrived in order to first co-operate in crushing these two before settling their own dispute.

The Tactical Situation

1. Courtenay and Grey had the larger army by only a few elements but had significant artillery superiority (with range doubled by Warrewyk rules).

The artillery gave them the potential to disrupt their opponents' formations and thus their movement ability. However, they overlooked this possibility and in any event their own PIP rolls were never enough to deploy the artillery usefully. The decision to advance their whole front would have proven superior to their opponents' echelon except that it exposed their right to the off board force. Psiloi were used to screen the western woods.

They were somewhat hampered by their decision to divide the army into only three commands - two of which were led by cautious commanders, the third being average.

2. Mowbray's and Buckingham's decision to both echelon Percy (average) to the left rear as well as make him their largest command was a good basis from which to defend against any arrival on the east flank. They needed to get to contact quickly to avoid harm from Courtenay's artillery. Their Irish auxilia were ordered into the western woods. Their decision to divide into four commands, two bold, one average and one cautious, gave them more flexibility than their opponent, especially since they were able to hold Beaufort (cautious) in reserve. Herbert (bold) was in the center dismounted and Stafford (bold) on the west flank dismounted.

3. Pole and Fitzalan had the smaller force by far, about 2/3 the size of each of their opponents. They deployed into two commands - one fast "mounted supported by bows" and one slow "mercenary foot". A third command would have made them more flexible and less brittle. Their orders were to attack "whichever side appeared to be winning". Since they were a much smaller force Warrewyk Desperation rules came in effect so it was possible that their commands MIGHT not demoralize at the normal 1/3 loss level.

The Players

This large game was played over two days. The first day's players consisted of two veterans and one inexperienced. As it seemed unlikely that the flank march would arrive immediately the neophyte was assigned to the observing force (another veteran later arrived to act as his counselor).

The Battle Unfolds

The southern force's (Courtenay and Grey) left and right flank under Plantagenet and Stanley respectively got off to very strong starts with multiple march moves but Courtenay in the center rolled a 1 and with a mix of fast and slow irregular/regular troops, didn't move. That left both flanks forward and the artillery to the rear. Oh, well we can recover from that next turn right?

The northern force's Stafford and Herbert start their echeloned march forward. Percy stands for the moment and Beaufort moves up slightly in support.

The eastern off board force rolls a six on the very first turn! Flank marchers arrival imminent!

South's Stanley's right rear is exposed to the flank march so he does his best to try to start to face right. But with a cautious commander converting his PIPs to low rolls and irregular elements moving other than straight ahead what can you do? A few elements turn. Since Stafford's command consists of ALL bows except his own mounted gentlemen Courtenay decides to send all of his own blades to help out. But again, changing facing with irregulars is a slow and painful process. Courtenay uses all of his central command's PIPS to try to help Stanley on the right. Although originally ordered to maintain a single front, Plantagenet on the left moves ahead slightly since his command is much larger than Stafford who faces him.

The northern force's right wing under Stafford continues coming forward while giving verbal reassurance to the southern force that he has every intention of ceasing hostilities the moment the eastern forces appear on table. His auxilia deploy into the woods and appear intent on force marching around that flank under cover of the wood. Herbert and Percy advance a little.

The eastern interlopers arrive. Since they are under orders to attack the person who appears to be winning and since there is not yet a battle they decide that the person who has advanced the most must be winning therefore advance against Stanley!. They are able to do this much faster than expected because the bog turns out to be only rough going rather than the anticipated difficult. The all foot command is however unable to get completely on board and leaves its Art(I) behind (it never does roll a 6 to get it on later).

The appearance of the Swiss pike supported by Ps handgunners and naptha grenadiers (Ps(X)) sends a big fright through the Percy ranks.

Under the assumption that a temporary armistice is now in effect the southern force moves Plantagenet on their left flank only slightly (even though he has a large advantage here). He does cover his left with two mounted knights Vs the opposing auxilia in the woods lest these suddenly march out and raid the camp. Courtenay in the center must again use all his PIPS to move his blades to the right as well as himself and one artillery piece. Stanley dismounts and is desperately trying to form two fronts, one facing the fast flanking group to his right rear, the other the Swiss to his right front.

The northern force, noting that the flankers are ignoring him completely even to the extent of exposing their flank to his forces decides to ignore them and ignore his treaty with the southern force opens up his artillery against Stanley, immediately killing a bows element. Untrustworthy villein!

The eastern player's inexperience causes him to make inefficient use of his PIPs and fail to grasp opportunities. He mostly ignores the good advice now being given to him by the "helpful Percy" and another recently arrived veteran player acting as his counsel. He fails both to dismount his Kn and throw them against Stanley's bows or maneuver them against Courtenay's blades and instead halts to engage in a shooting match with Stanley in which both side slowly take casualties.

The southern force now has a dilemma. If they advance Plantagenet's superior force against Stafford they will not have Courtenay's support since his center is tied down because of PIPs expended to move the blades to the right. So they risk being outflanked by the enemy center under Herbert. With Stanley on the right about to be surrounded and their center immobile, it seems that suddenly this flank holds their only chance to win. If they can only break through Stafford and get at the enemy baggage!.

The northern force now suddenly experience a complication which takes some of the heat off Stanley. Their spears go impetuous and charge towards the Swiss flank on their left. Stafford halts - afraid of Plantagenet.

The easterners also lose control of their Scots spears and these charge towards Percy's flank, resulting in Percy halting cautiously as well.

INTERMISSION

(The pictures are all taken from the north table edge.)

The large picture above shows the whole field. The southern force's Plantagenet's command is at the top right stretching from the western woods towards the center. Courtenay is in the center with his artillery on the hill and some of his blades as well as himself (mounted) moving towards the left of the picture. Stanley's command of all archers and himself mounted is towards the bogs facing both north and south. Behind him at the top left of the picture is the eastern force's Pole and his command of Knights accompanied by archers. On the left lower edge is the eastern all mercenary command under Fitzalan. The south's Percy is the large command at the bottom left, some of it has fractured off and is moving in bits and pieces towards the Swiss on the left. Their right wing under Stafford is on the far left and Herbert's small command is in the center middle with Beaufort's reserves close behind.

A closer a view of the action on the Left.

A closer of view of the action on the mid left of the larger picture.

The Battle Continues

Two days later we started again with a new mix of players - all veterans this time.

At this point an alliance shift occurred once again. The north and south generals renegotiated their alliance agreeing to move none of the troops facing each other and concentrate on the easterners. This was too much for the latter who now had to deal with horrible PIP rolls and overwhelming odds. Pole's command now faced 1/3 of Stanley's force and the artillery plus Courtenay's blades and knights. His command broke and it being over half of the eastern army, took the whole army with it. They failed their "Warrewyk" Desperation die roll and so demoralized normally. As there were three armies on the field we did not remove the demoralized force but had it rout off table so the impetuous pursuer effects could be fully utilized.

At this point the original opponents went back at each other. An amazing thing occurred. After demoralizing, Pole never again rolled less than a six for PIPs although his colleague Fitzalan did not fare as well. The end result of all this was that (1) All of Stanley's command, 1/3 of Courtenay's and 1/3 of the opposing Percy were involved in impetuous pursuits for a very long time. Pole fought to the last man - all 19 elements being exterminated and only the baggage fleeing the table. Pole himself performed glorious deeds before being cut down. The Swiss on the other hand, presuming their pay might be rather scarce, went looking for other employment. Stanley took a lot of casualties in the pursuit, coming within one element of demoralizing.

While all this was happening on the east flank, the western end got very nasty. At first south's Plantagenet made good headway, shooting down a number of Stafford bows. Courtenay's artillery was keeping Herbert's bows in disorder. These were threatening Plantagenet's Knights who had not yet dismounted hoping to ride down the dismounted Herbert and Stafford. As it happened it came down to fight between Plantagenet and Stafford, with Herbert looking on trying to avoid the remaining knight and Beaufort maneuvering to charge in as well.

Since Stafford's bows were now inferior in numbers in the shooting exchange they and Stafford's remaining blades (two had died to shooting) decided to charge in. By moving to contact they neutralized Plantagenet's second rank bow support advantage. This charge led to major losses but not demoralization for Plantagenet. Bows died, knights got shot down on both sides. Plantagenet's counter attack took Stafford to within one of DM while he himself was within 2. In Stafford's next attack Stafford went over the limit (but not until the end of the turn). By the time the turn was over,

Plantagenet was also over the limit. Both opponents demoralized each other with Herbert and Beaufort now having to reign in, or let go of impetuous pursuers. Plantagenet was severely wounded coming within 1 PIP of being killed by enemy bowmen before he dismounted.

The southern force was now within one element of army demoralization while north was not even close because of Percy's large command. Stanley and Courtenay surrendered and the battle ended.

The Swiss mercenary force is only to be recognized as a dust cloud in the distance and but Pole's command is still all on the field - all dead.

What a day!

Wilhelm (Wim) Oudshoorn Email

justa bella ulciscuntur injurias