Wars of the Roses - Game Report 1

Wars of the Roses - with flat figures

Introduction

My friend Dave decided to invest, and I do mean invest, in buying up a number of 18mm armies of plexiglass flat figures from Wofun. When you buy the set they come with a set of rules. Dave now has a number of periods which he can use, and best of all for him there is no painting involved. These may not be everyone's cup of tea, but they are relatively inexpensive and actually very presentable.

I have now played a couple of games via Zoom with Dave using the wars of the Roses figures and the house rules with some minor modifications that Dave has brought to the rules. I thought that it would be instructive to share the battle report that Dave prepared after the battle. 

A big thank you to Dave for allowing me to share his report! Comments in italics are my own observations!

Terrain

The table was 5’wide x4’ deep, this gave 6 sectors

The random terrain selected was:

I selected quite a small area of woodland and keep the terrain towards the edges of the battlefield except the Medium gentle hill, which was placed towards the centre of the table.  The wood was placed on my table edge, the boggy ground on the table end half way up the table. Colin had the option of moving 1 piece of terrain within its sector and chose to move the woods to the centre of the table!  Even now I’m not sure he knows why? (Dave, I have to confess I am having a bit of a blind spot to terrain selection and options at the moment, just see my recent ADLG game at the London Grand Tournament!)

Armies

Deployment

The Yorkist Army Deployed, Stanley’s vanguard took the centre ground, Montague deployed on the right and Scrope on the left. 

The picture of the Lancastrian forces is too indistinct, they must have deployed in the morning mist!

The Opening Moves

The Lancastrians advanced their right with a view to overwhelming the enemy left before their centre and right could intervene. Skirmishers were sent forwards into the woods.   Montague advanced his right toward the area between the wood and boggy ground; this broke up his battle line and the ground seems to prove difficult at times as several units fell into disorder during the advance. 

The Yorkist archers and handgunners were sent forward towards to the woods where they were quickly engaged in a skirmish with the Lancastrians.  

As the centre and right of the Somerset’s force closed on the Yorkist line there was the usual exchange of bow fire in which the Lancastrian bowmen gradually gained the upper hand.

In the centre the skirmishing archers were chased off by the javelin men; Stanley ordered forward his Men at Arms into the woods to attack them, but they refused to move; he repeated the order and still they refused, so eventually bow fire was opened on them and the javelin men withdrew behind Roos.    The leftmost body of Yorkist archers, having fired off a few shots at Roos’ advancing line, to little effect, were now withdrawn behind the line and sent to counter the crossbowmen which had outflanked the Yorkist line.

Battle Joined

Somerset’s men at arms came forward against the left of Scrope’s line which, weakened by bow fire, were forced back and became disordered as they tried to recoil into the archers behind them.  Charged again, the bowmen broke, leaving the men at arms to face those of Somerset. 

In the Centre of the line Roos’ bowmen opened a heavy fire on the Yorkist units to their front. This induced Stanley to launch an attack with this billmen, which was repulsed (draw, both sides backed off).  Stanley brought his remaining troops across, together with some of Montague’s that had become separated from their own wing; this had now advanced beyond the woods and was out of sight.  Here Montague’s men came within range of Percy’s line which opened fire on them.  Montague halted and returned the fire.

On the other flank things were starting to look difficult for Scrope; many of his units had suffered from the continued bow fire and his left was under pressure and could soon crumble.  To his right Stanley had made no headway and the centre of the Lancastrian line under Roos looked in good shape.  Scrope had his bowmen release their final arrows and then led forward his strongest unit of Billmen against the left of Somerset’s division.  This attack smashed into Somerset’s line which recoiled and then broke.  

The bowmen to their right, fighting behind their men at arms, panicked and turned on their heels.  Somerset, close by, attempted to stem the rout, but to no avail.  Some reports say he fled with them, others that he was knocked over and stunned in the confusion, and was then carried from the field by his retainers.  Whatever the truth, the effect was the same; the whole of Somerset’s command, Leaderless and perhaps fearing they would be cut off, turned and fled. 

Although Roos and Percy were still in good shape, the Lancastrians decided to quit the field in good order. 

Losses

Outcome

This was an extremely enjoyable game, with lots of issues on both sides.  

I think it will spark one rules change: troops recoiling and whose route is blocked only by skirmishers that are not engaged in hand to hand combat will just push the skirmish unit(s) back rather than suffering disorder. Other troops will continue to prevent recoil /withdrawal and cause disorder.

This battle had similarities of my last game, where the enemy had difficulty in getting their right flank engaged in the battle.  On that occasion I was fortunate in being able to capitalise on this and defeat their left; on this occasion the spirited charge by Scrope, perhaps an act of desperation, turned the tables. (Hardly desperation, rather a calculated risk, even though I dare say so myself! One has to come up lucky on the dice at some time, why not then)  The history books are full of such examples.