Written For Day Of Battle (All About Games Publishing)

The year is 1136AD.

The place, Southern Wales. The time, shortly after the unexpected crowning of Stephen as the third King Of England (reigned 1135-1154), nephew of Henry 1st(reigned 1100-1135), son of William 1st (The Conquerer, reigned 1066-1087).

Long Live The King

King Stephen was to reign over his new found domain for nineteen troubled years. But it didn't start out as so. In the beginning Stephen was a popular king. It was only as time went on that it was obvious that he was not hard enough, not ruthless enough and yes, not cruel enough to be a king in these periled times. This total lack of strictness in Stephen led to baronial revolts all over the country as he fought constantly with the Empress Matilda and her husband William as they tried again and again to seize the thrown from his hands. For you Public Broadcasting System viewers out there this is the turbulent times that the Brother Cadfael Mystery stories take place in. This modest monk of the series resides in the walled town Shrewsbury which is very near the Welsh border. This town was a very import jump off point for incursions into Wales. It held for Stephen. Many of the books that the television show comes from deal with these incursions to and from Wales.

But We Digress

The Welsh were not a happy lot at this time, but then were they ever? They had been invaded first by the Vikings, then the Romans and now the Normans. I call them Nonnans because at this time there still were large distinctions between those Norman and those not Norman. The latest invader of Wales had yet to be assimilated into the population.

The Norrnans had made inroads into the fair country of the Red Dragon, but had come nowhere near to subduing it. They showed the same strategy in Wales as they did when the subdued in King Harold's England. Their strategy was to move into a rich or important area, take over the local population center, replace the elders with their own people and build a stronghold nearby to both govern and raid from. The Welsh obviously didn't take kindly to this, would you?

In January 1136 the Normans around Cardigan and the southern Welsh coast were faced with a local uprising that would soon spread throughout Wales. Upon the death of one Richard FitzGilbert (a prominent Norman killed in ambush) the revolt flared on both sides to a raging fire and threatened newly crowned King Steven's hold on Wales.

Quell The Lot

The Constable of Cardigan Castle, a Norman Vassal was ordered by Stephen to quell the uprising. He summoned the nobles from Neath and Dufi and was further joined by Robert FitzMartin and William FitzOdod. Together they formed an army 5,000 to 10,000 strong and set out to defeat the rebels lead by The Welsh Lords, Owainand Cadwalder. They found the Welsh in about equal strength and deployed on a rise overlooking the river Teifi. The Normans crossed the river on the only bridge in the area and deployed obviously unharrassed by Owain. The rest is history.

Our Game

The following scenario is set up with even armies of 40 points. I have designed a new Anglo-Norman Army I and a new Welsh I army list. They are both included with this scenario. The Welsh have lost the Initiative which forces them to deploy first. Once completed the Normans will deploy. The Normans then have first move. The battle will last until one side has lost all of it's Leaders and Heroes or 1/3 of the total number companies in it's army.

The Battlefield

The battlefield should be 48" x 48". Each army has a set up area from it's friendly table edge and in 12". Only skirmish troops may deploy in the area within 6" of the table flanks. The Welsh set up area has a gentle slope that starts at their table edge (running all the way across and extends in (and downwards) towards the river about 18". Much as it would be some 200 years later at Agincourt. This slope is gentle but will always give an uphill advantage to the higher unit. It will be a gradual slope running all the way back to the rear table edge. It will not block line of sight as the crest is off the table to the Welsh rear.

The Welsh are given two more terrain picks from the terrain table. For players who don't use Day Of Battle roll a twenty sided dice for each piece and use the Terrain Generation Chart.

Terrain Generation Chart

01-10 is a wooded area about 5" square.
11-15 is a ploughed field of the same size with small walls, hedges or fences around it.
16-18 is a marsh of the same size with 1 0" of stream to connect it either to the river or any table edge down slope.
19-20 is a built up area the same size, representing a small farmstead or village.

Each terrain feature is diced for and then placed anywhere on the Welsh half of the table. The second feature is not diced for until the first is placed.

The Normans have an unfordable river on the table edge of their side. There is one bridge 12" from their right flank. They are also given two terrain picks from the terrain table. Again players not using Day Of Battle please use the terrain offered in the Welsh set up. As with the Welsh the Normans select and place a terrain piece one at a time. As with the Welsh they must be placed within 24" of the Norman table edge.

Deployment

The Welsh have lost the initiative and deploy first. Their army consists of 3 leaders, 1 banner and 8 units, and breaks upon losing 17 Cos.. The Welsh may deploy up to 12" onto the table from their table edge and at least 6" from either table edge. Only skirmish units may deploy within 6" of the table edge but no more than 12" on. If there are any terrain features within this area that block line of sight the Welsh may hide a unit within or behind it.

The Banner And the Battle Line

The Welsh must attach their banner to the- unit of Northern Spearmen. This will be their Banner Unit and will determine the focal point of their Battle Line (BL). During the course of the game any unit that can trace an uninterrupted line of friends (in good order and morale) back to the Banner Unit is said to be in the BL. The distance between these units within the BL may be no greater than I Maneuver Factor (MF). For players not using Day Of Battle substitute half a move for their ME. Being in the BL should give a morale bonus equal to half of a "secure flank" or "supported" modifier. In Day Of Battle morale is rated from a low of 5 to a high of 20. A unit in the BL gains a +5 modifier. If it was supported by two or more friends or terrain features it gains + 10 modifier.

The other units in the Welsh Army may be deployed as the players wish, however all units unless hidden or skirmisher must start within the BL.

The Welsh have three Leaders and Heroes. One will be Lord Owain, the overall commander of the Welsh. In DOB he is a free range Leader. He may come and go giving orders and lending his skills to each unit on the field. The other two leaders are rated as Heroes. They are permanently attached to one unit for the battle. They have the same "skills" as Owain but may only order and effect their own unit. Lord Cadwalder demands to be attached to the unit of heavy cavalry. The other Hero may be attached to any other unit in the Welsh army other than the heavy cavalry.

The Normans

This army is made up of 3 leaders and Heroes, 7 units and breaks upon losing 13 Cos.. The banner must be attached to the Spearmen. The Constable is the Leader, FitzMartin and FitzOdod are heroes who each demand to command a unit of Knights. The Norman army will follow all of the deployment and Banner Unit-BL rules as listed for the Welsh.

The Camp

Each army has a camp area that must be placed within their set up area. Occupation of an enemies camp equals 1/3 of that sides VP. I.e. 5VP if the Welsh camp is occupied and 4VP if the Norman camp is occupied.

Oh By The Ways

The river is unfordable, and may only be crossed by the bridge. Anytime a unit crosses the bridge it must make a terrain check to see if the bridge collapses. Roll ID20. If the roll is less than half the units Armor Class as listed on it's Army Profile the bridge collapses, the unit is deemed as lost for VP.

Historical Outcome

The Norman knights charged headlong into the Welsh only to halted by their missile fire. The Knights fell back, reordered and charged again with the same results. The Welsh then charged down upon the Normans, forcing it back on the river. The bridge broke under the press of so many retreating men and the majority of the English drowned in their attempt to cross to safety.

Army Profile Chart
Unit:
A brief description of the unit and any special rules are noted to be read in the Notes section below.
CV: Combat Value. Based on a low of 4 to a high of 18. In DOB the CV when modified is the number required on ID20 for a Cos. to strike another in Combat or Missile Fire.
MG: Morale Grade. Based on a allow of 5 to a high of 20. This number when modified must equal 8 or better to pass morale. In DOB there are no dice rolls in Morale Checks.
MOT: The leadership and motivation factor of the unit. Based on a low of 3 to a high of 20. This factors into the determination of the unit's CV.
AC: Armor Class. based on a low of 5 (no armor) to a high of 18 (full mail and horse armor). Clove: The number of inches (using 25mm figures) a unit may move. Non Skirmishers and L&H may use three such moves to charge an enemy. Players using 1 5mm figures should reduce everything to 60% of the distances shown.
MF: Maneuver Factor.
Cos.: The number of Cos. (stands) in the unit. Stands are standard Wargames Research Group (WRG) type. They are all 60mm wide with 4 Spearmen, 3 Cavalry, 3 missile or 2 skirmish foot or horse figures attached. If 1 5mm figures are used reduce all 3 measurements to 60%.

Anglo-Norman - Cardigan

UNIT	CV	MG	MOT	AC	MOVE	MF	COS.
Leader	-	-	-	-	-30	-	3
Banner	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Knights 6,7,9 * Two Units of 5Cos. each	15	14	18	15	10	3	10
City or Militia Spearman	9	10	8	9	5	2	10
Skirmishers Two units of 5Cos. each	7	10	8	5	15	3	10
Flemish Spearman	11	16	8	9	5	2	2
Marcher Skirmish Cavalry	9	12	8	9	30	3	2
Marcher Welsh Longbowmen Range 10"/20" Weapons Bonus +1	10	10	12	9	7	2	5
Levy	4	5	3	5	4	2	2
NOTES: 6. Individual unit, 7. If dismounted treat as Polearmed vs. cavalry, and MAA vs other foot, 9. May dismount (4" move). SPECIAL RULES: Welsh treat rough terrain as difficult and difficult terrain as open. * Do not receive En Haye bonus. Marcher refers to Nobles holding lands on or near the Welsh border. Note reduced Longbow range and weapon bonus for this period!

Feudal Welsh - Cardigan

UNIT	CV	MG	MOT	AC	MOVE	MF	COS.
Leader	-	-	-	-	-30	-	3
Banner	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Nobles & Sergeants 6,7 *	12	14	8	14	9(5)	3	5
Northern Spearman 1unit of 10Cos., 1unit of 6Cos.	10	10	12	8	7	2	16
Skirmishers Two units of 5Cos. each	7	8	8	4	15	3	5
Southern Longbowman Range 10"/20" Weapon bonus +1	10	10	12	8	7	2	10
Skirmish Cavalry	7	10	8	4	30	3	2
Levy	4	5	3	5	4	2	2
Notes: 6. Individual unit, 7. May dismount as MAA (move 5") SPECIAL RULES: All non skirmish foot treat rough terrain as difficult and difficult terrain as open. A) Based 3 figures t oa Cos.,