The armies, when I drew them up, couldn't be more different. The Angevin army came out on top with very powerful Knights and some really great infantry units. Their CnC was average and the two other commanders were poor and skilled. What really hurt them was getting only 20 morale chips. The Sicilian army ended up with sub-par troops with 3 vacillating units (you have to roll them up upon first contact to know what they are). Their commanders all ended up being average but they scored big with 36 morale chips.
The battle field was simple and well picked by both commanders. The Sicilian's lined up on the right side of the battle field. The Angevin's lined up on the left. The hill at the far end provided the only obstacle in the entire battle.
Some of the Sicilian Knights prepared for battle.
More of the Sicilian army arrayed for battle.
The Angevin army pushed the infantry forward. This would be a fatal mistake at first.
That hill at the far end with Angevin troops.
Saracen Archers setup to fire at the enemy.
The bold Sicilian Knights charge across the field of battle and slam home in the infantry. Destroying them to the man.
The Sicilian Knights shift and stabilize their line.
The Angevin Knights meet the challenge and take on two of the Sicilian units and hold their own. The Angevin training helped out in holding the line.
A routed Sicilian Knight unit.
A little confusion in the Sicilian rear. A Angevin Knight unit charged into the flank of Sicilian knights routing them and were poised to flank another unit.
An Angevin reversal. Their knight unit gets disrupted and falls back but the Sicilians don't follow up.
More routed Sicilian Knights. The Sicilian commander was looking rather glum at this point. Most of his knight units were routed or disrupted. The teeth of the army was hurting at this point.
The far side of the battle field finally sees some movement.
A long look at the routed Sicilian units.
You will also notice that there is a lack of Angevin Infantry units left.
It what could only be described as a miracle the routed knights of the Sicilians passed their morale tests and swung around ready to fight. The beating the Angevin infantry took was enough to wipe out their available morale chips. The Angevin commander fled the field with his army following behind.
This is one of the reasons I love playing Piquet. The games never play out the way you think they will go. There are always some sort of reversal in the game that sends it in a direction you didn't think it would go.
We had a great time with this little battle and will probably journey here again.
Very nice report. Good work. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteJusto
Great report!
ReplyDeleteUntil Pikemen, or at the very least good quality halberdiers like the Swiss,arrive on the scene, most infantry will be at a serious disadvantage against knights and the like unless they are behind some kind of defensive position and supported by decent quality missile troops (Longbows or Arquebusiers). Most of the Italian Infantry of this era were fairly poor quality civic guards, with a smattering of better mercenary troops. Try using the Carroccio for these states if you haven't done so already' in addition to being a marvelous piece of period fluff (well, properly more 1300's, I think),the Infantry really need the Morale boost. Just the Cavalry Morale Challenge can make many of them run for the hills otherwise!
Peter
Peter,
DeleteI agree that infantry in this time period are very fragile. Both of my commanders have played enough BoB that they are aware of the infantries weaknesses, hence the reason most of them were placed on hills or in woods. I do use the Carroccio for the later battles in Italy. It does help, so does having the Pope leading the army. Unless of course you get him killed. :-)
Victor
Very nice report, great batllefield!
ReplyDeleteGreat game. Thanks for posting this.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good game, thanks for the report. Got to love how morale and troop quality rolls change the situation in Piquet.
ReplyDelete