It had been a long march from my home to meet the dreaded foe of my crusaders, (actually it's a 25 minute drive via expressway), the Georgians, led by the infamous Gorelius the Great also known as Terry Gore, publisher of SAGA. Both armies were ready for a fight for this was only our second game since Historicon '94.

The battlefield was largely open terrain as Gorelius was able to roll for two-large open spaces. I was able to get a flank river, hill and two brush areas. (see map) As my early crusaders were outscouted by the Georgians, I set up first allowing the Georgians to react to it.

My opening marches were hampered by enemy light infantry forced marched thus reducing my march segments down to one. However, I did force march a light infantry unit to seize the flank hill. This in turn prevented the Georgians from closing that flank. Final positions are shown on the map. I was also able to flank march a LC unit. However, camp security iwas lax as the Georgians were tipped off to the existence of this. (Some big mouth was heard to say, "Hey Terry can I borrow two stands of light cav?) So the Georgians put a LC unit in reserve to counter my flank marchers.

Having faced a Georgian army several years ago, I knew I was facing a lot of Irr A units. So I didn't want to get into charge range too quickly. As usual my slow moving irregular foot hadn't made it to the center of the battlefield. So most likely I would have to fight my way up to the centerline. I know Terry likes to use a lot of bow armed LI to skirmish with. This along with a horse archer army meant my crusaders would face alot of arrows.

The battle began on the left flank. Both of us put boats on the river. Mine held Norse seamen, his LI archers. After a brief skirmish, the LI rowed away and eventually landed on shore. At the same time fighting developed on the hill as the Georgians pushed two LI units up the hill. My LI countered with a rock slide (yes that's right, a rock slide) and a charge. I rolled down and was unable to catch the fleeing lights.

Next came two LI units against my foot to delay their advance. But the massed bowfire from my close order foot was sufficient to cause the LI to fall back after receiving 2 CPF. The rest of the battle was spent with close order foot pushing his lights back.

The center/right proved to be the real contest as most losses occurred in this sector. The remainder of my line consisted of loose formation foot, Pilgrims, backed by HC wedges. Having faced Pilgrims before Terry was not willing to press them. My flank march LC arrived only to be pounc ed upon and driven from the field. Fortunately they took their pursuers with them and by the time they came back the battle was over.

I began to push my right flank forward. My target was a LI unit in the brush. My LI were jls and bow armed so I thought that would be an easy fight, allowing me to get on the flank of the Georgian HC while his LC were busy chasing off my flank marchers. At the other end of the line (the center brush area) I foolishly pushed a bow armed LMI unit forward to begin shooting at a LC unit. These two moves prompted the Georgians into counter moves. My UL were charged by HC while the LMI were also charged in the flank. The LI tried to evade but were caught, while the LMI charged in the flank did not rout due to the Georgian HC rolling down. (Isn't that just the way with IrA's). Sensing the Georgians would follow up their attacks I pushed my HC and LMI up to charge range.

The next turn saw both lines crashing together. The LMI being flanked held foe another turn. The next unit of Pilgrim LMI were able to charge a HC unit, the third had to stand to recieve. I also threw two HC wedges against the HC pursuing my LI. The results were a true ebb and flow of the dice. The bow armed LMI were finally exhausted and vaporized.

The Georgian HC being IrA naturally rolled down while my IrA Pilgrims rolled a +4 routing the HC. Complete victory was denied as my LMI rolled short against the routing HC who had also rolled short. But a nearby Georgian LC failed a waiver and shook. The second Pilgrim unit passed its waiver but rolled down and were ridden through by the Georgian HC. My two HC wedges hit the Georgians, but naturally failed to roll up, being IrA and failed to break their opponets. To make matters worse, on the left flank the Georgians were able to get two HC against my two HC and shot them up. The ensuing melee caused one to exhaust and causeA nearby LMI to shake on a waiver test.

By turn seven the battle had been decided. My left command went into retreat orders along with the right when the ridden through LMI was pushed back and failed a waiver. My center was intact and now engaging the Georgian HI having completely tired out the two LI units. Later Terry told me his HC could not attack my close order foot as the HC were under probe orders.

With collapsing flanks, we decided to end the game, (also the beer ran out) The finally tally was a 4-3 Georgian win. But this was one of the best scores I have gotten against Terry who is always in the WRG finals at Historicon, I viewed it as a crusader moral victory.

My losses were mostly cheap D class troops while Terry's losses were more expensive. So Terry and I parted pledging another game soon. Hopefully my crusaders will continue their good fortune on their march to the Holy Land (Historicon '95).