Retrospective: 17 July 2009 Historicon WAB Medievals (Intro)

Events had conspired to make it impossible for me to attend the annual historical miniature gamer geekfest known as Historicon for several years, and I had been itching to get back into Warhammer Ancient Battles for a while. I had also been putting the ‘finishing touches’ on an army of Medieval Burgundy for over half-a-dozen years, and this looked like the perfect opportunity to finally finish painting the last few units of my force.

Medieval Burgundy was, at the height of its power in the 1400’s AD, basically the northeastern part of what is now France (Bourgogne and Alsace-Lorraine), plus most of Belgium, Luxemburg, and the Netherlands (and a sliver of what is now the western part of Germany). It was in effect a powerful independent nation that came into regular conflict with France (to whom it was technically a vassal), and even allied with England against France during the Hundred Years’ War.

Retrospective: 17 July 2009 Historicon WAB Medievals (Game 1)

Opponent: Justin Tebo (Low Countries). A soft-spoken and very intense opponent, Justin was fielding a pikeman-heavy force with a credible left and right hook (knights and halberdiers). An actual historically plausible conflict, this set up my Burgundians against a mercenary force of guilders and middle-class townsfolk from what is now the Benelux nations. Bloody rebels, anarchists, and republicans, is what they were, and no well-bred Burgundian nobleman was going to stand for it, I can tell you!

Army: (1500 pts)

• 1x10 Knights (including General)
• 2x24 Pikemen
• 1x16 Heavy Infantry with Halberds
• 2x10 Skirmishing Handgunners
• 1x20 Longbowmen
• 1x Light Cannon (and crew)

Mission: “Running Fight” – both armies start off the table, and bring a unit at a time onto the table. Deployment begins very slowly, with only one unit coming onto the table every two turns, but speeds up after Turn 6. Each player secretly determines in advance the order in which their units enter, and must stick to that sequence. Table quarters do not count for victory points, but the “village” on the table counts for a bonus 400 points.

Retrospective: 17 July 2009 Historicon WAB Medievals (Game 2)

Opponent: Tom Eiche (Teutonic Knights). A very cheerful and energetic young gamer with a brightly painted army – the white tunics were nearly blinding! – Tom had a very straight-forward ‘beat face’ strategy that perfectly fit the style of his army list. Playing a crusader order transplanted to the Balkans, and which eventually forms the foundation of the Kingdom of Prussia (and thus, modern Germany), the Teutonic Knights and Burgundians meet on the field of battle in a wonderfully unlikely conflict. Maybe we’re fighting over Denmark or Saxony?

Army: (2000 pts)

• 1x10 Teutonic Knights (plus General, ASB, and Character)
• 1x10 Light Cavalry (Lithuanians)
• 1x13 Medium Cavalry (Turcopoles with Heavy Armor and Spears)
• 1x18 Heavy Infantry with Halberds
• 1x10 Skirmishing Handgunners
• 1x18 Crossbows

Mission: “Collision!” – before the game, each player divides their list into three sections, each worth between 500 and 1000 points. They deploy their armies alternating with the other player, and deploy each section all at once. The 2nd-largest section in terms of point value (“vanguard”) deploys first, then the largest section (“mainguard”), and finally the smallest section (“rearguard”). Deployment takes place in opposite corners, with a 24-inch-wide no-man’s-land running diagonally between the two (this is a common Warhammer Fantasy setup). Table quarters do not count for VP purposes.

Retrospective: 17 July 2009 Historicon WAB Medievals (Game 3)

Opponent: John Eiche (Imperial Ottomans). Sardonic and delightfully sly, John had seen some of what had happened to his son Tom’s army in the previous game, had heard even more details about the wrath of the Burgundian gunline, and was confident that nothing similar would happen to his elite janissary corps, consisting of the crème de la crème of the Ottoman Turkish military. That said, it’s difficult to see what the Burgundians and Ottomans would be doing facing each other on the field of battle. It’s a bit anachronistic given the fact that the Burgundian military reforms that my army is based on, all happened after the major European Crusades against the Turks, and shortly afterward Burgundy ceased to exist anyway – but anachronism is the name of the game in WAB, so full steam ahead!

Army: (2250 pts)

• 1x10 Drilled Medium Cavalry (plus General, ASB, and Meterhane)
• 1x10 Allied Knights (with Lances, Full Plate, and First Charge)
• 1x8 Drilled Medium Cavalry
• 1x8 Medium Cavalry
• 1x8 Light Cavalry (Nomadic Bowmen)
• 1x10 Janissary Infantry Halberds
• 1x24 Janissary Bowmen
• 1x10 Janissary Handgunners
• 2x Light Artillery and crew

Mission: “Pitched Battle” – standard 12” deployment zones, with two variations. First, both sides deploy in secret, setting up all forces with a screen dividing the table. Second, both sides may deploy all the way to either short table edge, given the larger point values being fielded. Table quarters do not count for VP purposes.

Retrospective: 17 July 2009 Historicon WAB Medievals (Postscript)

After several years’ hiatus, I was happy to return to Historicon and historical miniatures gaming, and enjoyed myself quite thoroughly at the event. I have gotten quite a bit more immersed in history since the last event (in part because of a career change), and that plus a better sleep schedule in my daily life, and fewer stresses in my work life, meant that I had far more fun in ’09 than I have had previously. I’m sure I was also a good deal more fun to face and play against, as well.

Although initially Historicon 2010 was to be located in Baltimore, MD (a decision I thought was particularly awful), widespread dissatisfaction from club members and conference regulars forced a change to Valley Forge, PA – actually even easier to get to than previously, from New York City. As a result, I expect I will be attending the 2010 Historicon and participating in the WAB tournament this coming July 8-11.

Warmonger Charity WAB Tournament: 30 January 2010 (Intro)

Organized by local Warhammer Ancients fanatic and condottiero John Bianchi, and run by Warmonger Club President-for-Life Jim Keleher himself, the Warmonger Charity tournament on 30 January 2010 was the second annual tournament, and put together to benefit the American Cancer Society. It was also an excuse for historical WAB gamers to travel to New York City and gather for a day at the Compleat Strategist basement – on what turned out to be one of the coldest days of the winter. With a beautiful array of armies from almost every period in the WAB game, this was going to be an entertaining series of ahistorical battles.

Although I’ve many grandiose plans, I’ve currently only two WAB armies, and by far prefer my Burgundians to my Dacians – thus it was my Burgundians that showed up that day. It’s an army list that I’ve had a good deal of practice with, and was I was feeling fairly confident about how they would do that day.

Warmonger Charity WAB Tournament: 30 January 2010 (Game 1)

Opponent: Bob Rioux (Teutonic Knights). A marvelously wry and subdued gamer with a killer army list, Bob was fielding a Teutonic army with a several metric tons of Knights (not even including horses!), backed by two big blocks of infantry warbands, and supported by a smattering of some missile fire. In all, it was a collection of units that would absorb almost any opponent’s assault, then annihilate it with warbands and First Charges in the following turn, and I was very happy at the fact that I was fielding a medieval gun-line when I saw what Bob had.

Army: (2000 pts)

• General, ASB, and Hero operating solo on horseback
• 1x12 Knights & Turcopoles (Sergeants in back ranks)
• 1x10 Knights & Turcopoles (Sergeants in back ranks)
• 1x9 Allied Latin Knights
• 2x30 Warbands with mixed weapons
• 1x15 Crossbows with Pavise
• 1x14 Skirmishing Handgunners

Mission: “Collision!” – before the game, each player divides their list into three sections, each worth between 500 and 1000 points. They deploy their armies alternating with the other player, and deploy each section all at once. The 2nd-largest section in terms of point value (“vanguard”) deploys first, then the largest section (“mainguard”), and finally the smallest section (“rearguard”). Deployment takes place in opposite corners, with a 24-inch-wide no-man’s-land running diagonally between the two (this is a common Warhammer Fantasy setup). Table quarters do not count for VP purposes.

Warmonger Charity WAB Tournament: 30 January 2010 (Game 2)

Opponent: Paul Georgian (Thematic Byzantines). A cheerfully pessimistic fellow from Boston, Paul and Bob (from my previous game) were long-time friends who were both quite enthusiastic about the possibility that their friend might get pummeled by Burgundians. I had been unable to decisively put down the Teutonic Knights, but Paul was gloomily convinced that the anachronistic match-up would heavily favor my artillery over his medium cavalry, and predicted a horrifically lopsided Burgundian victory.

Army: (1500 pts)

• General and ASB on horse, operating solo
• 2x9 Medium Cavalry with w/Kontos and Bows
• 1x10 Nomadic Cavalry
• 1x30 Medium Infantry with Spears and back ranks of Bows
• 2x10 Skirmishing Infantry (one unit of bows, one of slings)

Mission: “Delayed Reserves” – before the game, each player places two non-light formed units (infantry and/or cavalry) into Reserve. The remainder are deployed as per Pitched Battle, with the proviso that all skirmishers and war machines set up FIRST. Reserves enter the table on a 4+ on turn one, or automatically on turn two regardless. Games last strictly 6 turns, maximum, and neither table quarters nor standards count for VP purposes.

Warmonger Charity WAB Tournament: 30 January 2010 (Game 3)

Opponent: Don Effinger (Saxons). An all-around great guy, and a pillar and leader of the wargaming community in the Northeast for many years, Don was fielding an early medieval army list – a large mass of infantry warbands, but sadly without any of the traditional benefits of a classic warband army. The Saxons would not autobreak, they did not have throwing spears, and they only moved a base of 4 inches, not 5. Don was fairly certain that only doom awaited him should he face the Burgundian gunline, but being far to good a sport to take a rain check, he instead gave this astoundingly anachronistic match-up the old college try.

Army: (2000 pts)

• 1x48 Medium Infantry with spears (with Stubborn Huscarls with Double-handed Weapons and Toughness 4 in the front ranks), including the General, ASB, and an Abbot (granting Hatred)
• 3x35 Medium Infantry with spears, with Thanes in the front rank; one unit had a hero leading it as well
• 2x11 Skirmishing slingers
• 1x14 allied Vikings (Medium Infantry with Toughness 4)

Mission: “Pitched Battle” – standard 12” deployment zones, with one variation -- both sides deploy in secret, setting up all forces with a screen dividing the table. Table quarters do not count for VP purposes.

Warmonger Charity WAB Tournament: 30 January 2010 (Postscript)

The tournament was a blast, and I had a good deal of fun facing off against some good opponents that I’d never faced before. I also got to see some old friends and renew some acquaintances, and placing second overall in the tournament wasn’t exactly a bad thing, either. In hindsight, I’m a little exasperated with my deployment in my third and final game, but honestly – both my opponent and I were pretty tired by that point, and not exactly playing mistake free. That said, I enjoyed myself thoroughly, and many kudos to the two fine gentlemen running the event (John and Jim), and to my three great opponents as well.