Maisnon - Italian Wars BatRep 3

After two Battles of Maisnon using To the Strongest! and one victory apiece for each of the protagonists, the battle was reconvened a few days later for a rematch.  With the rules and scenario still fresh in mind, the forces were redeployed and the game readied.  Jake remained in command of the army of Charles V while I commanded the army of Francois I.

Francois draws first Player and sets to work advancing the French army to engage the army of Charles V.  The French advance begins across the breadth of their battle line.  The Imperials, under the eye of Charles V, push the deeply ranked arquebusiers ahead of their main line.

French army advances in foreground

The three French pike blocks

Arquebus and crossbows from both sides exchange fire in a series of continuing volleys.  At first, few casualties are suffered as successful saving cards seem all too common.  Francois' center pike block pushes forward and soon outpaces its supporting pikes as the distance to its opposition closes.  With each block preceded by light infantry formations, these light infantry must be brushed aside before the main action can commence.

French pikemen

In the opening stages of the battle, the two Imperial guns, so deadly in the first game find pinpointing the range difficult.  The guns' accuracy likely is hindered by the French ability to screen their vulnerable, deep pike blocks.  French crossbowmen and arquebusiers maintain a harassing fire against their opposition.   

Looking down the battle lines.
(French on left, Spanish on right)

Not to be caught flatfooted, Charles orders his army forward to meet the attackers.  Charles does not advance too fast in order to keep his guns firing as long as possible before their targets become obscured.  Francois maintains a brisk pace in crossing the beaten zone of the Imperial guns. 

Imperial pikes advance

Imperial Men-at-Arms advance on the Imperial left

French heavy infantry continues the advance

After watching the infantry advance on the French left, the French cavalry on the right flank finally step off towards the enemy.  The cavalry have much ground to cover.  Bringing the French cavalry into contact against the Imperial cavalry will take time. 

French cavalry on the right advance

With the Imperials pushing forward a unit of Zweihanders in the center, the French Gendarmes are compelled to respond.  The aggressive Zweihanders are inflicting casualties on the French light infantry and must be stopped.  

Gendarmes attack the Zweihanders

As the heavy horsemen barrel into the swordsmen, the Zweihanders fail to make good their escape and are cut down by the elite French Genadarmes.

Zweihanders cut down by Genadarmes

While one unit of Gendarmes is taking care to clear out the Imperial center of light troops, the remainder of the French right wing charges into the waiting Imperial cavalry.

French cavalry charge into the Imperial left

The Spanish jinettes are forced to scatter while the French heavies contact the German MAAs.  In the following clash, the French Gendarmes suffer more than the Germans.  The Gendarmes fall back.

Cavalry clash on the French right

On the French left, two pike blocks crash into one another.  Weakened by arquebus and cannon fire beforehand, the French pikemen are scattered by the Imperial pike block. 

Push of pike

With a flank opened, the French need time to adjust.  A loss of two out of three pike blocks for either side likely spells defeat.  No time for repositioning is forthcoming, though.  The center Imperial pike block crashes into the central French block.  Seeing the tide turning against him, Francois pushes his final pike block into the fray.  While the third French pike engages and ties down the block to its front, it is too late.  A second French pike block is destroyed.  

Battle for control of the center

Two French pike blocks, gone!

Having defeated two French pike blocks and enough light troops to force the French army to its breaking point, Francois abandons the attack.  The French have been defeated and will be unable to send relief to their countrymen, this time.

Charles V victorious

That was a close contest and an enjoyable evening game.  Congratulations to Jake for his determined victory.  

The game lasted longer than the previous two contests due primarily to the length of each of the pike melees.  Each of these pike scrums battled back and forth over several turns with neither player able to exact the deciding blow.  Misses were plenty as were saves.

Witnessing a seemingly, above average number of Aces pulled on initial brigade activations in the previous two games, we implemented Peter's suggestion of redrawing an initial brigade activation failure.  While we had not tallied the number of initial activation Aces drawn in the first two contests, the number seemed large.  In this battle, we counted initial brigade activation failures.  The count was twelve.  Twelve!  Included in that lot were two double Ace draws.  Fortunately, brigade failures seemed to be evenly distributed between the two players.  This change worked well and allowed the game to move along with continuity.  This is a change we will likely keep.  

The Battle of Maisnon will see one more action before the troops retire back to their storage boxes.