Second game of the great Never Mind the Bill Hooks

 Hi Folks

Following Monday nights game of Never Mind the Bill Hooks (now referred to as NMTBH) we were keen to get a second game in this week. Joined by Mark K and John we had a 200 point aside tussle. John and I would once again command the Lancastrians and Mark would do his best to get revenge for Monday night. (Alastair, the Lord of Rutherglen - was sadly unable to attend)

Once again I set up a simple table shown below. A couple of key features included a small impassable pond at the road junction, some field in the near and far distance, a wood on the right and although not clear in the photo a long hill along the top right edge.

View from the hill in the picture below

Both sides as mentioned had 200 points aside, six commanders and a couple of random units on each side. We agreed in advance of the random card draw that any six point units would feature two units. In the end both John and I received two units of Crossbows. During the game we increasingly came to the view that skirmish six point units are disproportionately powerful in large numbers especially if the have armour penetrating weapons. The current rule that a max 20% units can be skirmish seems to be right for 100 point games but as the forces get larger it might be necessary to curtail back on these numbers more or make them more expensive. 

Out of curiosity I used a levy archer unit for 9 points, given the choice I think I would always choose a skirmish unit especially as they do not contribute to the morale pot. 

Our maneuver phase saw deployment of both sides with the Yorkists taking the higher ground. Unsurprisingly their cannon sat on top of the crest.

A small force under Stanley deployed on the Yorkist left flank

Meanwhilst the Lancastrians deployed down in the valley...

Lord Audley and Howard (Surrey) on the Lancs side pushed up round the woods on the Lancs right flank to take on Stanley

The Duke of Norfolk moved to join the centre supporting John, the Earl of Arundel. The left hand bow unit is levy and note it is NOT supported by bills/men at arms. No point in getting another unit into trouble.

The battle proper kicked off on the Yorkist left flank, a lone unit of Yorkist light horse tried to hunt down the Lancastrian skirmishers operating on the far edge of the table. It came off second best and was soon shot away by the numerous crossbowmen hiding in the hedges.

The Lancastrian centre continued to push up, privately we were concerned that the Yorkist were going to sit tight on their hill, but our taunts worked and off the hill they marched. 

Warwick's troops lead the advance off the hill...

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Followed soon after in nice neat ranks by his brothers, cousins and uncles retinues

Battle lines were beginning to draw up in the centre and its at this point the order of the cards becomes crucial. Who can get their archers in first and inflict some damage on their opposite number.

Special mention to John on his 'comedy gun', called comedy because it was expected to explode. It didn't and throughout the game inflicted some severe damage on the Yorkists. Their gun, stuck on the hill took very little part in the engagement.

Whilst the centre was getting ready for some serious action a private little war was breaking out between Stanley and Audley/Surrey. An archery duel and skirmish fire were whittling down both sides.

Despite the protection of the hedgeline the numerical strength of the Lancastrians was telling on Stanleys forces and they just about held toil the end of the game

 

Despite initiating the attack from there vantage on the hill the Yorkists were in trouble and morale tokens were stacking up in the Lancastrian pot.

Fierce melees were erupting across the table and some serious casualties were being taken on both sides. However lady luck was with the red rose once again and the Yorkists were getting slaughtered.

Units were being routed and having a knock on effect on their neighbour's, archers were scything down the advancing Yorkists, and leaders were toppling quite quickly. 

Two and a bit hours later it was all over, the Yorkists had no more morale tokens to give. The Lancastrians lost two (those levy archers). It really was quite a one sided battle. 

All credit to Mark for putting up stiff resistance, its a big ask to fight six commands in a new set of rules and both the cards/dice really didn't fall his way. When he did win the bonus card (rarely) all he drew was the dummy card.

So John's and mine 100% record still stands - played 2 won 2. Monday night next week will see this challenged as we move from Englands green fields into the  hilly moors of the North.

Stay safe folks