ADLG - Game Report 149

Feudal French (182) vs Later Crusader (196)

Next training opponent was Kevin who had assembled a Late Crusader force with allies to fight the French. This time the terrain was much more appropriate for the knights to negotiate, albeit that this would also be useful for the Mongol allies as well!

There was about to be a huge clash as armour contacted armour.

In the face of the massed knights on my right the Mongols decide to withdraw, and of course in doing so they started to thin out my line of knights.

Of course, the Mongols with their bows started to rain bow fire down on the knights sufficiently painfully as to create a challenge when it came to contacting the Mongols. On the left the Knights have engaged the infantry and have broken through. In the centre contact has yet to be made.

A mixed bag of results saw the knights in the centre breaking through but also suffering casualties in return. To their left rear the knights who broke through the infantry line continued their pursuit and overran the flank of infantry spears that had just destroyed some knights, only to be held in check by some crossbows. The Mongols for their part are content to drive the knights away with bow fire.

Outcome

A marginal victory for the Crusaders by 23 to 24.

Lessons Learnt

As usual mounted bow fire can severely disrupt the impetus of knights.

Impetuous Knights are a one trick pony – they either win or are destroyed.