Medieval

Pig Wars Viking Raid

This weekend the local HMGS-South group played a game of Pig Wars.

A Viking raiding party led by Eric the Black has been looting the Welsh countryside. Now Eric, his men, and their loot are headed back to ships hidden in large cove to the West of Din Ganwy on the northern coast of Wales. Unbeknownst to Eric, a force of English and Welsh led by Ian Gwynedd stands between the Vikings and their ships.

Vikings

Eric the Black
4 hearthguard with 2-handed axes (Norse Gaels Bodyguard)

Warlord
4 hearthguard with axes
4 hearthguard with hand weapons
8 warriors with spears
4 warriors with Jane weapons

Warlord
4 hearthguard with axes
4 berserkers
8 warriors with spears
4 warriors with Jane weapons

Norse Gaels
Warlord
4 hearthguard with spears
8 warriors with 2-handed axes
8 warriors with spears and hand weapons

Welsh & English

Ian Gwynedd – Gwynedd Clan
4 Fully Armored Warriors (Teulu – Bodyguard)

Warlord
20 Militia Spearmen (Unarmored)

Warlord
15 Militia Archers (Unarmored)

Warlord
15 Warriors

English
Warlord
10 Warriors
5 Crossbow

Viking returning to their ships with loads of loot.

Vikings

English and Welsh

Unarmored Welsh bowmen are cut to pieces by Viking warriors.

At the top of the photo a messy melee ensues. At the bottom the Welsh bowmen have routed.

An English unit at the top of the photo has fallen back after a melee.

Both sides organize the lines for the final showdown. The remains of the Welsh bowmen return briefly, only to be slaughtered again.

The Vikings concentrate in the center against the few remaining defenders.

Since the Vikings clearly can not be stopped, the English and Welsh retire from the field.

Saga – Vikings vs Saxons in the Snow

This weekend the local HMGS-South group played a SAGA game. Consistent with the recent weather in Britain, the game was played on snow-covered ground. Each side had one battle board and shared the available activations and actions among the players.

Berserkers attack the Saxon warlord and his men. The Vikings are all killed in the melee. The Saxon warlord would prove to be impervious throughout the battle.

The victorious Saxons hold their ground.

Casualties were high on both sides, but in the end the Saxons had repelled all the Viking attacks and were declared the victors.

Pig Wars – Sherwood vs Nottingham

This weekend the local HMGS-South group played a game of Pig Wars. This time there were two sides instead of the usual free-for-all. The scene is Nottingham Castle, with a group of Sherwood Forest men about to be executed. The Sheriff watches from the top of the keep, accompanied by the captive Maid Marian.

Will Scarlet and his band awaiting execution.

A Sherwood band waiting to be let into the castle.

Little John and a band of Sherwood men on the wall.

The Sherwood band outside is let in by Robin himself.

Nottingham guards clear some rebels away from the Keep door.

Sherwood men fighting to get into the Keep.

When we had to call the game due to the time, the castle courtyard had been cleared of the Sheriff’s men, but they still had the Keep well defended. The Nottingham side was ahead by one victory point.

Pig Wars – Another Village, Another Sacking

This weekend the local HMGS-South group played a game of Pig Wars. Five bands of Viking, Saxon and Welsh warriors descended on a village market while one band of Normans attempted to defend it.

The village market, with the village idiot sitting on the left.

To the north, the Norman crossbowmen (foreground) shoot at an attacking band in the woods.

To the south, careful negotiations keep peace among the plunder-hungry Saxons, Vikings and Welsh.

Vikings plunder the church and find…. a pig!

The Normans are now in a three-way shooting match.

The Welsh are holding an archery contest. Unfortunately, some arrows miss and hit Normans in the back. The village idiot is still sitting.

Viking and Welsh cooperate to systematically loot the town.

…and then receive a charge.

The last Normans are shot down by Welsh bowmen.

The Welsh just edged out a Viking band in loot (they had to count the geese and pigs) to win the game. No other bands came close, although the Normans will be honored for dying to a man to defend this squalid little village.

Hail Caesar – Medieval AAR

This weekend the local HMGS-South group played a Hail Caesar game. The fictitious encounter was set after the battle of Grunwald (or Tannenberg) in 1410. Surviving Teutonic Order forces are attempting to escape to the west. Polish–Lithuanian Union forces block the retreat while others arrive in the rear.

The mounted Order units attack the blocking force while the foot units block the pursuit.

Several command roll blunders hinder the pursuit force.

Top right: Order knights are fought to a standstill by Polish infantry. Polish Knights all but destroy an Order mounted division.

The Order attack to the west has failed and the Polish knights are finally ready to charge the Order foot.

The confused battle lines at the end.

After about four hours of play the casualties were about even but very heavy. The remaining Order units seemed to have no chance of getting safely to the west.