Solden Hill, Another Look

Peter (Grid based wargaming - but not always) joined me in a remote game on Wednesday (Thursday for Peter) to bring the Battle of Solden Hill (see Battle of Solden Hill for scenario specifics) out for an encore performance.  While this was Peter's first crack at the game, he is quite familiar with the OHW scenario.  Peter chose to command the Yorkist Army (blue dice) in this contest.  I commanded the Lancastrians (red dice).

Pembroke, alone on Solden Hill

Somerset and Northumberland

Yorkist army of Edward, Stanley, and Suffolk

The battle opens with Pembroke positioned alone on the high ground of Solden Hill.  Stanley advances on Solden Hill with Suffolk advancing on his right.  The King, Peter, holds back in reserve.  In the initial missile fire, Stanley's archers hit Pembroke's Battle.  In a calamitous way to start the action, Pembroke's archers break under fire and his whole ward retires from the high ground.  I hope this is not a harbinger of things to come!    

Pembroke retires from his dominant position.

Having fallen back so unceremoniously, Pembroke recovers and finds himself in an archery duel.  While Stanley gains a foothold on the hill with his archers leading the way, Suffolk pushes his melee line through his archers and arrives at the foot of the hill, adjacent.  Edward decides that now is the time to make his grand entrance onto the battlefield.  The King moves up on Suffolk's Right.  Looks like the Yorkists are trying to outflank the Lancastrians by putting Pembroke under pressure early.  Somerset marches onto the battlefield from the north to support Pembroke.  As Somerset reaches the hill, Stanley's archers fire into Somerset and then retire back through their melee line.  Stanley's melee line advances up the hill to replace the archers.  

Archery duel.

Stanley and Suffolk move up with Edward in support.

The battle lines close.

While all three Yorkist Battles have come up and formed into line abreast, Northumberland remains to fully come up on Somerset's Right.

Yorkist Army ready to rumble.
Lancastrians not all there, yet!

Choosing not to wait for Northumberland to come into the fray, Stanley charges forward into Somerset.  In a long hack and bash melee, both melee lines are taking casualties and losing cohesion.  Finally, Somerset is forced to retire.  Still despite his losses, Stanley follows up in pursuit.  Somerset is sent backwards once more but in the fighting Stanley's body of MAA is destroyed.

As Stanley and Somerset are locked in extended mortal combat, Northumberland has time to maneuver his Battle inward toward the fighting.  The problem Northumberland faces is that he cannot encourage his ward to go over on to the attack.  When Somerset is driven back and Stanley's MAA scattered, Northumberland finally sees his men take to the attack.  He strikes!  Into the unsupported billmen Northumberland charges.  Standing firm, Stanley's billmen repel the enemy.  Hoorah!  Perhaps, Northumberland was not completely convinced that attacking was the right choice?

Northumberland attacks Stanley's bill...

and Northumberland is repulsed!

Seeing both Northumberland and Somerset repulsed, Suffolk moves up to take command of the high ground while the King swings around on the right.  The two Yorkist Battles face only one Lancastrian Battle.  Peter announces that Pembroke will be on the receiving end of a one-two punch!     

Yorkists poised for a one-two punch against Pembroke.

The King attacks!  Pembroke's archers see the writing on the wall and fall back through their own melee line before the King can close.  The King and Pembroke fight desperately.  Both Pembroke and the King are wounded in the melee.  Poor Pembroke is carried from the field by the enemy!  The King falls back but is determined to fight on despite his wounds.  Seeing the King under pressure, Suffolk's melee line comes down from the heights.  Suffolk hits Pembroke driving him backwards.  Unfortunately for Suffolk, he cannot encourage his melee line forward into pursuit.

Facing overwhelming odds, Pembroke is driven back.

Battle overview

The King has a second body of MAA, however, and those lads are sent into the fray with billmen in support.  This time, the outcome is different.  The King's melee line smashes into Pembroke and Pembroke is pushed back.  Pembroke's archers flee!  Exhausted, Edward does not immediately pursue allowing Pembroke a brief moment to rally.  Brief moment, indeed!  Edward re-energizes his troops and back into Pembroke he goes. The mounting pressure on Pembroke is too much.  Pembroke breaks and quite the field!  

Edward charges into Pembroke...

pushing him back.

Pembroke rallies but Edward hits him again!

Having seen Pembroke off, Edward turns toward the center to finish off these usurpers.  Before the King can swing around to re-enter the fray, Somerset strikes into Suffolk.  Fighting is brutal.  While Suffolk's MAA are destroyed, these men fight hard enough to see Somerset's first melee line off.  Losses are heavy for Somerset.  Somerset commands a second melee line composed of MAA with archers in support.  Passing through his now exhausted first melee line, Somerset hits Suffolk driving him back upon supports.  As Somerset pursues Suffolk back up the hill, Somerset's first melee line is uncovered.  The Lancastrians have regained Solden Hill!  Before Somerset's first melee line has a chance to rally, Edward smashes into them scattering them to the winds. 

Somerset attacks Suffolk!

Edward destroys Somerset's first melee line...

as Somerset pursues Suffolk.

Back on the Lancastrian Right, Northumberland goes in against Stanley.  Using a series of clever tactical moves, Stanley brings his archers to the fore, lets loose a volley of arrows before falling back through his bill as Northumberland closes.  Already much depleted from earlier efforts, Stanley's archers are successful in destroying Northumberland's body of MAA before the enemy can close.  In the following clash, Northumberland's unsupported billmen are scattered.  Northumberland breaks!

Northumberland charges in...

loses his MAA...

and then loses his bill!
Northumberland breaks!

Even though Edward is now in position to mop up the remaining Lancastrians, with two of three Battles broken, the Lancastrian Army has endured enough, Somerset lays down his arms.  This battle is over.

The Lancastrian Army is broken!

Edward's ward poised for more.

With Suffolk looking on, Somerset lays down his arms.

A decisive Yorkist victory!  Congratulations, Peter, for a finely played contest.  Mid-game and even after Pembroke fled the field, I figured the Lancastrians not only held Solden Hill but were in position to deliver heavy blows to both Stanley and Suffolk.  It was not to be.  Northumberland's tardy commitment to battle and some clever tactics by Stanley held Northumberland at bay until he could be destroyed.  Stanley's archers performed marvelously on this day.  Although wounded in the action, Edward retains his crown.

Post-game discussion centered on expanding yet simplifying leader priorities and a future test on a non-gridded table.

Great job, Peter, and thank you for an entertaining contest!  Game duration just under three hours.

On Deck, British Cavalry

Last week saw a complete bust at the gaming table.  One game was cancelled due to illness (not mine!), and a second game scrapped due to a Zoom server outage.  This was the first time that Zoom technical issues caused a game cancellation.  This event was surprising after five years of no interruptions.  I will give Zoom this one, this time.  With my annual contract coming due, this could have been an inopportune time for system failure.  

Last week also saw a pick-up in activity in a PBEM SYW campaign that had fallen silent for several weeks.  We ready ourselves for a big battle at Prague.  Prussians have a tough task of dislodging the Austrian Army from their White Mountain defenses. 

The week ahead looks to see the game schedule back on the rails with games slated for Wednesday (make-up game from last week's Zoom outage) and Thursday.  Thursday sees a playtest of Tony's WSS rules.  Beautiful 25mm figures played on a hex grid with a lineage of Commands & Colors, what is not to like?  I may even get a call to join into a F2F gaming session at some point in the week if I am lucky.

What the gaming lull allowed was a couple of meaningful painting sessions.  Seeing an increase of effort at the painting desk was a needed boost.  With other hobby activities taking much of my time, painting had decidedly taken a back seat to these other activities.  Good to be back on track with April output looking to be not brilliant but at least respectable.

A couple of Biblical units are mustering out and will be queueing up at the photo booth once they have been based.  First, though, is a regiment of British cavalry for the 18mm SYW project.  These troopers muster out as the 6th Dragoon Regiment.  Figures are Eureka Miniatures.

For now, back to the painting desk.

Battle of Solden Hill, BatRep

With a second Battle of Solden Hill on tap for later today, I figured I better get cracking on recounting the first Battle of Solden Hill fought last week.  Besides, Richard, my opponent in Game #1 just published his account of the battle (see Battle of Solden Hill).  I know, I am falling behind but weather has been good and outdoor activities have taken priority over indoor tasks.

For battle briefing see my prior post at Battle of Solden Hill.

On to battle!

Richard chose to declare for the Yorkists so my Lancastrians are defending the high ground of Solden Hill.  Somerset is positioned upon the heights with Lancastrian reinforcements off table when the Yorkists under Edward attack.

Somerset, all alone on Solden Hill.

Edward and his army waste little time in moving on to the attack!  From left to right, Stanley moves along the road to cut off approaching Lancastrian reinforcements while Suffolk and Edward move straight to the heights and Somerset.  As Edward and Suffolk move up the hill, Somerset's archers fall back in the face of such an overpowering threat.  Somerset's MAA, supported by a body of bill, are uncovered to face this determined onslaught.

Yorkists move on to the field of battle.

The Yorkists attack!

As Edward and Suffolk's archers shoot into Somerset and then retire back through their own lines, Edward leads the attack up the hill.  Somerset is ready for the assault.  Supported by a body of bill, Somerset's men repel Edward's attack.  Not only is the attack repulsed but the King falls dead on the field of battle.  Seeing the King fall sends a shock wave through his retinue.  All troops under the King's immediate command drop one level in combat effectiveness.  Oh, what a blow!  Seeing the King go down, Richard paused to consider the ramifications of such an early setback on his plans for taking the hill.  I reckon he considered throwing in the towel at this point.  No, the Yorkists would carry on without their King.  They must avenge his death!       

Edward attacks up the hill and into Somerset...

only to be bloodily repulsed.
Edward falls dead on the field!

Picking up the cry for vengeance, Suffolk leads his MAA forward into Somerset.  Again, the Yorkists are repulsed!  Somerset is proving to be a tough adversary.  Unfortunately for Somerset, he cannot encourage his ward to go over to the attack to capitalize on these Yorkists setbacks.

Suffolk goes in!

With Lancastrian reinforcements arriving onto the field, Stanley attacks to disrupt enemy plans to bring relief to Somerset positioned alone on the Solden Hill.  In a ferocious and prolonged clash, Stanley and Pembroke are locked into mortal combat.  Each are grinding the other down to near the breaking point.  Finally, Stanley is compelled to fall back.  Exhausted, Pembroke cannot follow up.  Both bodies will require time to lick their deep wounds.  A brief lull falls over the battlefield. 

Pembroke attacks down the road.

Finally, Stanley concedes the ground...

but Pembroke is too exhausted to pursue.

A brief battle lull.

Seeing Stanley stymied on the Lancastrian Right, Northumberland decides to turn inward to support Somerset.  Advancing up the western slopes of Solden Hill, Northumberland plows into Suffolk's melee line.  After a brief clash, Suffolk is driven back through his archers.  Northumberland is in hot pursuit.  Suffolk's archers stand but are driven back in disarray after having suffered heavy casualties at the hands of Northumberland's MAA.  The battle is looking good for the Lancastrians!

Northumberland turns toward Solden Hill.

Northumberland hits Suffolk's MAA...

drives them back...

catches Suffolk's archers in pursuit...

sending archers streaming to the rear!

Was looking good, that is!  The Lancastrian position all becomes unhinged rather quickly.

Making best use of the brief battle lull, Stanley rallies his troops and goes back on the attack.  Pembroke, unable to successfully rally any of his ward, is at a decided disadvantage when Stanley strikes.  Overwhelmed, Pembroke's melee line scatters and Pembroke is wounded.  Unfortunately for Pembroke, he is carried from the field by the enemy.  Pembroke's ward is broken! 

Stanley takes the fight to Pembroke.

Buoyed by this success, Suffolk throws caution to the wind and attacks back up the hill and into Northumberland.  This attack does not go well.  Having suffered greatly in earlier efforts, Suffolk's melee line is destroyed in the attack.  Northumberland follows up his routing foe and falls upon Suffolk's archers.  Suffolk's archers retire with Suffolk's ward broken.  Northumberland, flushed with success of seeing Suffolk off, attacks into Edward's ward.  This is when catastrophe strikes.  Appearing to gain the upper hand in this fight, Northumberland has had enough and falls back from the melee.  What?  Northumberland!  

Suffolk attacks and is destroyed!

Northumberland pursues...

but cannot dislodge Edward's melee line.  He retreats.

What is the catastrophe?

With Pembroke broken and Northumberland retreating to the north, Stanley is definitely in the right place at the right time.  Swinging his ward around, Stanley advances up Solden Hill to strike Northumberland in the rear.  First cutting through Northumberland's archers, Stanley hits Northumberland's main melee line.  The fighting is over very quickly.  Shocked by this sudden enemy attack from a perceived safe quarter and with enemy now to both front and rear, Northumberland and his men lay down their arms.  Even though Somerset still clings tentatively to Solden Hill, with two of the three Lancastrian Battles broken, this battle is over. 

Northumberland surrounded!

Edward's Battle.

Somerset's Battle.

Victory to Richard and his Yorkist Army!  Congratulations, Richard!  Very well played.  I thought I had you until I didn't!

While I have some thoughts on this game (especially on Somerset's inability to go over to the attack), those thoughts must wait for another time.  I have a second playing of this scenario in a couple of hours.

That was really good fun.  Thank you!