Battle of Bosworth

Bosworth Field is quiet

Back to the gaming table after the holidays!

For a return to remote gaming, Richard offered up the Battle of Bosworth using his Battle Commander rules.  One really interesting aspect of this game and Richard's interpretation is that both Henry and Richard III had a number of stratagems to consider prior to game day.  As Henry, commanding the Tudor Army, I faced two decisions.  I suspected my counterpart, Graham, as Richard III, faced similar decisions to make.  Neither commander saw the battlefield before play began so much was left to my imagination as to what exactly I faced.

On to battle!

Henry draws up Oxford on his left with guns in between.

Norfolk leads the Yorkist army as it approaches
Henry's position.
Richard follows closely in column.

William orders his battle to move to join Henry
 but he hesitates to commit.

Richard deploys into Battle and moves to come
 up alongside Norfolk.
Yorkist guns send balls into the ranks of
Henry's mounted MAAs.

Norfolk and Richard advance toward Henry.
Lord Stanley gets word that his son has been executed.
He sends message to W. Stanley and then marches out.

Henry continues taking fire from distant artillery
 but William Stanley moves to protect Henry.

Richard advances as Yorkist artillery and
archery pound Henry.
On the left, Oxford and Norfolk exchange archery fire
as they slowly close upon one another.
Tudor guns target Norfolk.

Norfolk strikes first sending his Battle into Oxford.
Lodged in melee, both fight furiously
 to gain an upper hand.

Lord Stanley, in the distance,
marches to the sound of battle.
Northumberland remains inactive.

While Oxford and Norfolk battle, 
Stanley attacks Richard.  Richard is wounded.
Tudor gunners abandon their pieces.

Norfolk falters and falls back with Oxford in pursuit.

The trap is sprung!
French pikemen and handgunners emerge
from ambush and head for Richard's flank.

Both Oxford and Stanley fight desperately in
hand-to-hand against the Yorkists as the French close.
Henry and his entourage break from artillery fire and retire.

Norfolk can take no more.
 His command breaks for the rear.
The French slam into Richard's flank
while Stanley hammers his front.
Wounded, Richard's courage cannot affect
 the outcome of battle.
Henry returns in time to see Richard defeated.
Richard will not remain king.

Henry will be King!  Long live the King!

Great start to the New Year!

Richard presented an engaging scenario with the ramifications of the decisions made and their consequences discussed long after the game ended.  Very entertaining and a big thank you to Richard for hosting.

Next Tuesday, I step up to the plate with a look at Samurai armies at the Battle of Second Azukizaka, 1548.