Pages

Thursday, March 14, 2024

Battle of Sanguetta, Game #2

Following the battle a week ago, Wednesday, between Brian and Stephen (see Battle of Sanguetta 1497), Mark joined me for a replay of this scenario in a one-on-one remote game on Friday.

Mark chose to take command of the Papal Army under Giovanni Borgia. I would command Vitellozzo Vitelli's Army. With hidden deployment, I set up Vitelli's Army before Mark joined. When Mark logged into Zoom, he faced a green cloud in the background with his army components laid out before him.  Hidden under the green cloud was Vitelli's Army.
Vitelli's Green Wall
After recovering from the surprise of not seeing his opposition and commenting that he expected to see my deployment in order to make on-the-fly adjustments to his dispositions, Mark set out his army.  I think he was joking.  The green veil was then lifted.
Borgia's deployment in the foreground.
When the veil lifts, Borgia's pike blocks are positioned abreast while Vitelli's pike blocks are deployed with a gap between the two formations. Vitelli could be in trouble early if his left cannot get into battle quickly.  For clarity, Borgia's Army carries the blue VBU dice.  Vitelli's Army carries the red VBU dice.

Let's see how the battle played out.

With Vitelli on the gentle hill, Borgia takes the initiative and advances out of the open woods.  On Borgia's Right, his missile troops cover that flank as Vitelli moves down from the hill along the road.  
Borgia's Center advances.
View down the battle lines.
With two pike blocks advancing upon Vitelli's center, the Papal pike block quickens its step and charges into the enemy guns.  The gunners really have no chance.  The Papal pikemen overrun the guns as the gunners break for the rear.  Barely breaking stride, the pike block pursues.  Continuing forward up the hill, Borgia's pike block contacts the Italian pike block in the center of Vitelli's line.  Seemingly unprepared for enemy contact, Vitelli's Italians are driven back viciously with great loss.  The Italians are pushed back, tumbling down the gentle slope of the heights.  Despite having the Italians backfooted, the Papal pike chooses not to pursue. 
Papal pike charges the guns... 
and then drives back Italian pike.
While Vitelli's Center appears to be crumbling, he presses forward on his left.  His Men-at-Arms attack Borgia's massed crossbow.  The crossbowmen are driven back.  The skirmishing harquebusiers fall back along with the crossbow in sympathy.
Vitelli's MAA drive back the enemy.
Seeing the Papal block hesitate, the Italians draw up the nerve to counterattack.  Pressing back up the hill, fighting is fierce.  The Papal pike block is driven back.  The Italians push on.  In continued heavy fighting, losses mount to both combatants but the Italians waver.  With one more push from Papal troops, the Italians have seen enough and break toward the rear.     
Heavy fighting in the center...
as the pike blocks grind each other down.
Witnessing the destruction of the Italian pikemen, Vitelli's second pike block wheels to better bring the enemy to bear.  In the distance, Borgia's MAA work their way around the enemy right.  In the foreground, Vitelli's MAA continue to pressure Borgia's Right.  Vitelli's MMA sweep around and strike the crossbow.  The crossbowmen are scattered as the MAA move into the Papal rear. 
Vitelli's MAA empty the Papal rear
after destroying enemy crossbow.
With the enemy right collapsing, Vitelli's second pike block pushes forward toward the center.  As the pikemen approach the enemy, the Papal pike charges into Vitelli's pikemen.  In very heavy fighting, the two blocks grind each other down until both formations are cut in numbers by two-thirds.  Finally, Vitelli's pikemen are forced back.  Exhausted, Borgia's pike block fails to follow-up.   
Vitelli's pike heads back into the center.
Push of pike grinds down both combatants.
Battle situation as battle breaks down
into a number of smaller clashes.
Seeing the Papal rear devoid of troops, Vitelli swings his MAA about to bring the enemy guns into sight.  Vitelli strikes the Papal guns before they can respond to this new threat.  The guns are easily overrun.  If Vitelli can quickly swing around, he will be able to lead a charge into the rear of the enemy Landsknecht pike block.  Whichever commander destroys the next enemy unit, the spoils of war and victory fall to him.
Vitelli free to roam in the Papal rear.
Vitelli overruns the guns!
Unfortunately, time has run out for Vitelli.  Borgia leads his MAA into an attack against the remnants of an enemy pike block as it retreats.  Wavering, the pikemen can take no more.  The pike block dissolves and the battle is over.  
Borgia breaks the enemy pike block.
Borgia, the Papal Army, and Mark are victorious!  Well done, Mark!

While the battle began with a strong push by Borgia's Papal Army in the center, its hesitation after successfully driving the enemy back gave Vitelli just enough time to regroup and launch a counterstroke.  Vitelli made a valiant attempt to rebalance the fight by emptying the Papal rear of troops.  The race was then on to break the enemy's will to fight.  Unfortunately for Vitelli, it would be his army that was the first to collapse.

Great game!  After a dismal start, Vitelli fought back to see victory almost within his grasp.  Still, it was not to be and Borgia (and Mark) emerged victorious in a hard-fought battle.

Mark is a very tough foe.  In a one-on-one battle, I am unsure if I have ever won against my formidable opponent.

Maybe next time, my friend.

45 comments:

  1. Great looking game and sounds a most enjoyable experience.
    Alan Tradgardland

    ReplyDelete
  2. Quite a different sequence of events to game two and a reversal of fortunes. Both were clearly hard fought. What will version 3 offer?
    Stephen

    ReplyDelete
  3. Great looking game again Jon but I am confused 9some might say, it is easily done!) You have said "For clarity, Borgia's Army carries the red VBU dice. Vitelli's Army carries the blue VBU dice." But looking at all the images, it seems to be the other way around - one example, the second to last image says "Vitelli overruns the guns!" but the cavalry doing the over running have red dice, not blue??

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sheesh. You’re right! Corrected.

      Delete
    2. Lol...thank goodness...I had to think long and hard before committing that to the written word...I thought maybe I was just misinterpreting the images!

      Delete
    3. Sorry about that! Perhaps I actually am colorblind?

      Delete
  4. Jonathan,
    I think you have mixed up who is using which colour dice in the description; I'm sure it should be the other way around?
    Nice renaissance eye candy!
    What's the score btw 2:0 to the Borgias?
    Neil

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You passed the reading comprehension test, Neil. The text has been corrected. The score is now one victory apiece.

      Delete
  5. Another visual treat. I was concerned about the green fog, half expected a mash up game with otherworldly opponents. Glad to see round two of the battle.

    ReplyDelete
  6. That looks like quite a close-run affair! The deployments gave both sides distinct advantages and also challenges - I liked the way the Men-At-Arms were able to get into enemy rear areas. The models do look spectacular.
    I look forward to AAR #3 - even though I know the result!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. David, this fight went down to the last combat. Mark needed one more point for victory and I needed two. Unfortunately, Mark picked up his final point first. Game #3 was really an exciting battle, too, but that account is yet to be told. Game #4 is on deck for later this morning.

      Delete
  7. Replies
    1. Even in loss, the game was terrific. Mark is a tough opponent to face.

      Delete
  8. Nice fog of war set-up. At the end of play, as both commanders looked for opportunity ……. the MAA were in the right place at the right time.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Both MAA were in the right place at the right time. Mark edged me out in the final blow by a whisker.

      Delete
  9. Once again I had an attack of caution at the wrong time. Doh. If only I’d pressed on when I had the advantage. At the end it was a darned close run thing despite Jon’s awful die rolls. Brilliant game.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This was a very good game. Coming back after a difficult start was a rewarding challenge for me. I just could not go that extra mile to secure victory. Well played! I still think you eased up a bit after your devastating cut through Vitelli’s line.

      Delete
  10. Great looking close run thing, makes me want to dig out my Italian wars troops! I look forward to the next one and I liked the concealed set up!
    Best Iain

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! Despite being engaged with Napoleonics, maybe time for an Italian Wars diversion?

      Delete
  11. Wow, that was even more exciting than the first game! I really thought Vitelli had a chance there at the end. Great BatRep!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Vol! Had Mark not eased up on the throttle in his thrust through the center, the outcome may not have been so close.

      Delete
  12. When I first saw the green sheet I was thinking to myself that it was unusually untidy of you, but quickly realised that was how you were doing the hidden deployment. That did seem like a knife edge result which are always the most exciting, but frustrating for the loser.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Untidy? Me? You should see my gaming room. The battle was very close but I never mind losing especially when facing first-rate opposition.

      Delete
  13. Such colourful armies Jonathan. Like so many wargamers I just love seeing massed pikes!
    Regards, James

    ReplyDelete
  14. Another grand game there, I liked the green mist ploy particularly.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Phil! The presence of the green mist surprised Mark when he first saw the table.

      Delete
  15. Another cracker there Jon and lovely to see the hidden deployment option being used, which really does add to games IMHO. Of course not always easy to do or appropriate for certain scenarios, but when one can, why not? Yet again a pure visual feast with the miniatures and this period is still on my radar, especially as I'm enjoying reading Oman at present:).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Steve! Two more of these battles still to chronicle. Reading Oman? You must be getting close to beginning a new project. I could offer more reading recommendations if needed to push you farther along.

      Delete
    2. Oman is ticking all the right boxes at present Jon, as it's a completely new period for me, with some fascinating side shows from the main Italian theatre already. As a sucker for good books, any recommendations always appreciated, but just don't let SWMBO know;)!

      Delete
  16. A wild game, indeed. Must have been a romp. In these parts, New England, a device like the "green cloud" might be dubbed the "Green Monster."

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. “Green Monster” I like that! Perhaps I should proclaim the game room as “Freitag Park?”

      Delete
  17. Glad I got here after the text correction about the dice.
    Glad you and Mark had a good game. It’s kinda cool how your remote set up is connecting gamers across the globe. 😀

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Connecting gamers from across the globe is cool, indeed. Mark is a good player and tough adversary but always in good humor.

      Delete
  18. What a see saw event! Quite happy to see your lovely Italian Wars hit the table again Jonathan!

    Christopher

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I "almost" snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. Almost.

      Delete
  19. Awesome looking battle. Such a close hard fought affair.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Glad you enjoyed the battle, Richard. I came so very close...

      Delete
  20. A great game and the armies look superb

    ReplyDelete