Medieval Battles and Leaders

(book)

by Tom McMillen

Terry Gore has published a very useful booklet of scenarios ranging from Andrianople to the Crusades. Each of the twenty scenarios (though there doesn't appear to be a # 19) presents a map of terrain and dispositions, historical synopsis, and Order of Battle both for the standard, rather complicated WRG 7th Ancients Rules and the much simpler DBA, also published by WRG. The author's special interest in the scurfier, rather fogbound fringes of Europe is shown in that well known encounters such as Chalons and Tours are omitted in favor of the squabbles of the denizens of Mercia, Wessex, and Northumbria. There is also emphasis on the Crusades, as well as the campaigns of the Normans in Italy.

One concern is that some scenarios appear to be highly speculative, yet are presented as historical fact. For example, very little is known about the site or course of the Anglo-Scottish battle of Brunanburh (937), yet it is presented with a palisaded town, ploughed field, and strategically placed hills and forests. There is nothing wrong with such 'educated conjecture', of course, but it is difficult to determine which scenarios are well documented and which are not. Some scenarios show interesting differences between the two WRG systems. At Taginae (552) for example, the point of the rather one sided exercise is to demonstrate how Byzantine archer's angled forward on the wings will shoot up the Ostrogothic cavalry charge and render it ineffective. In 7th ed. this will certainly be the case, but in DBA archer's don't have the range to be of any use unless they leave their defensive position to envelop the charging horsemen. Full of interesting ideas and ready made gaming situations, this is a terrific booklet and is highly recommended. - Available for $ 10 from Terry L Gore, 890 Janes Road, Rochester, NY 14612.

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