La Bicocca 1522 - Historicon AAR and Scenario for Hostile Realms.

    I was scheduled to run the Battle of La Biccoca at Historicon on 7PM on Saturday. However, both the table the game was originally booked for, and the nearby one I booked early  that day as alternate (due to the unrealistic 1 hour between the start of my game and the end of the preceding game) were still occupied at 6 PM. Fortunately, I was finally able to get onto the table at about 6:15, and with the help of Czar Barry, UK Tim, and Pacific Northwest Victor we got it set up and pretty much ready to roll by 7 PM. Let me make it clear, however, that I am hugely grateful to all of those who volunteer their time to make Historicon such a success. It runs smoother every year, and the GM help desk tried hard to solve the issue when we discovered it, and I have had great support form the GM event registration staff as well. In the end, I "got by with a little help from my friends", as the song goes. 

On the French side, Czar Barry had the three Swiss Pikes blocks and their  supporting skirmish arquebusiers, Bill had the supporting French Infantry and guns, I forget the name of the gentleman at the corner, but he had 2 units of superb French Gendarmes, which he played with great gusto. Another player had the Venetian command, opposite what was rumored to be an impenetrable marsh. On the Imperialist side, one player had the Milanese Famiglia and supporting infantry on the far right flank, Victor had the Arquebusiers in the center and the reserve Spanish Knights, and another player had the Landsknecht pikes and the heavy guns. 

View form behind the "French" lines, looking at the formidable position the Swiss have insisted upon assaulting today. 

Close up of the  Imperialist position. The Genitors deployed in front of the position are to delay the French. It turned  out that I should really have rated them as light cavalry for this scenario, otherwise their inevitable loss is too costly to the defender's Morale pool. 

A Landsknecht pike block (#1, it would seem), is poised to contain any breakthroughs along the defensive line. There is both a Class III sunken road and then Class III earthworks for the attackers to contend with before they can reach the defenders. The Pikes count these as Class IV to cross, meaning that they must pass a Difficulty check or be stuck there under the muzzles of the expert Spanish Arquebusiers.   Can you say "More holes than Swiss Cheese?

In this version of the scenario, I allowed the Swiss to delay their attack until the first of two Undisciplined Advance Cards was turned. This would allow some time for attacks on the flanks by the Venetians and/or French to develop before crunch time at the ramparts. Barry advanced, but only a single segment to keep tings moving but allow the other forces to come into play. Once that Card was turned, though, the Swiss came on like gang busters. The Venetians drew the fire of the left flank Imperialist gun, this sparing the densely packed Swiss from some of the worst of the slaughter (although the Venetian pikes suffered terribly). The Marsh proved to be impenetrable as billed, necessitating a shift in the attack by the forces of the Serene Republic, which was much more easily done with Hostile Realms than it was under Band of Brothers. 

    Ob the far Imperialist right, the Gendarmes moved out hell for leather (i.e., a slow trot, about all such heavily burdened horses can manage!). The lead unit was charged by the slightly inferior Milanese Famiglia with a thwack that could be head across the battlefield. After a hard fought scrum, the French Gendarmes broke in rout!  The Famiglia then moved up and gained the flank of the second unit of Gendarmes, whilst their supporting rather poor crossbow and Arquebus armed infantry tried to find a useful position, without notable success. as it developed. The Gendarmes managed to cross the deep ditch (which they also had to treat as Class IV, requiring a Difficulty check) with only minor delay, and began to threaten to turn the Imperialist right. 

   Meanwhile, the Swiss came on at top speed (an extra MOVE each time the Undisciplined Advance card came up helped there).  They took causalities from the Imperialist guns as they approached, but largely shrugged them off. The Imperialists stock of Morale Points was so low that they dare not issue any morale challenges. The ditch held up the pikes for only a short while, and then they were scaling the steep embankment. The fire by the Spanish Arquebusiers was moderately effective,ultimately routing one Swiss pike block but they were unable to turn much in the way of Reload cards before the rest of the Swiss were at them with their pointy sticks. (Using the new Melee Card definition helped the Swiss here, especially as the French deck has four of them, instead of the usual three).  Not surprisingly the arquebusiers were routed, and the Imperialist Pike units prepared o move to the ramparts to push the Swiss back,

    By the time this carnage had taken place, the Gendarmes had turned the flank of the position, shrugging off the crossbow bolts of the Milanese foot with ease. "That's the whole point of having this damnably heavy barding on our mounts!", remarked one of the cavaliers. Seeing the threat, the Spanish Knights, who were nearly the equals of the Gendarmes, turned to face the intrepid Frenchmen, and lances were crossed in short order. With Bayard himself, "the Chevalier sans peur et sans reproche" leading (attached), the French horsemen swept the Spaniards away with ease.  Not stopping to re-organize, they plowed on into the flank of a block of Landsknecht pikemen, "We'll enjoy this!", the flower of French chivalry chortled.  One of the other Spanish players commiserated over the predicament that faced the gaudily dressed mercenaries, whereupon the classic line of the game was uttered by Victor.  "Oh no, those are your troops!" Now, if a pike block is not beaten in the first round, it will form a hedgehog, which is almost impossible for cavalry to break. The up and down shifts were tallied and the dice cast - resulting in the Gendarmes riding clear through one side of the pikes and out the other, scattering them to the four winds. The Spanish soldiered on a while, despite being down to zero Morale Points (or less), trying to turn the right cards to salvage something from the debacle. "I came all the way out from Washington State to play, and I'm not quitting!", observed Victor, and with a Piquet style wargame, it's never really over until it's done. as it transpired, the Imperialists were unable to accomplish much before turning (and failing) the Army Morale Card. Reversing history in dramatic fashion, the Swiss pikes remained the dominant infantry in Europe for another 100 years thereafter...

Thanks to all the players for a great, tense game, and especially to Victor for the use of some of his photos for this report. I hope that he can make the trip to Historicon again, and have better luck next time (hint - don't bet against the Swiss!). 

I do think that I will try to develop and codify an unofficial variant of Hostile Realms for historical armies... working title "Historical Realms", for ancients through the Renaissance (roughly the same era as covered Archon and Band of Brothers). It will have to use their army lists and have a way to crosswalk them into HR terms, as there's no way I'm ever going to tackle that huge number of lists again!  :-)  I know that Gabriel has developed a variant specifically for his Wars of the Roses armies, which he has termed "Hostile Roses", and I hope he can be persuaded to run a game with them in Fredericksburg next year!

The Scenario

* I would make a few changes to the below: 1 add a 4th Spanish Arquebusier unit. rate the Genitors at Light cavalry (hence losing an entire unit only costs 1 Morale Point), and remove the Undisciplined advance cards as they are played. 

Map taken, and indeed the entire scenario adapted, from that of James Roach. James also gives an excellent  account of the background of the battle.

Scenario Special Rules:

Point d'argent, point de Suisse: Add two ‘undisciplined advance’ cards. These effect only the Swiss. On each appearance of the card, they MUST immediately advance one MOVE segment and continue on to assault the ramparts (Charge for the Pikemen; Skirmishers may advance to Point blank range). Do NOT test for or remove the cards. On other French MOVE cards, the Swiss are not obligated to advance, but they may not voluntarily move other than to advance upon and attack the ramparts.

Potential French Flanking attack:  The entire body of French infantry and cavalry may attack the Right Flank of the position, but the Swiss and Black Bands may not. They must stay in front of the ramparts. 

Sunken Road: Class IV Terrain, Difficulty roll to Cross.
Ramparts: Class III Terrain, Superior Position for Fire and Melee
Artillery Platforms: Class IV Terrain, Difficulty Roll to cross, Superior Position for Fire and Melee, Artillery in them may change facing up to 90 degrees on any Move, or Maneuver  Card, This allows enfilading fire at attackers in the Sunken Road
Boggy Ground: The boggy ground is ‘probably impassable’. When the first Venetian unit contacts it roll a D6. On a result of 1 - 2 it is impassable (Class V); 3 – 5 it is very difficult terrain (Class IV); 6 it is ‘much drier than it looked’ – it is only difficult terrain (Class III). 

Battle of La Bicocca, April 22 1522  - French Order of Battle  - HR

Sequence Deck (based upon Middle Kingdom):  2 Army Morale, 2 Courage!, 2 Engines of War Reload, 2 Favor of the Gods, 1 Light Cavalry Move, 2 Heroic Moment, 2 Leadership Check, 2 Lull, 1 Maneuver, 4 Melee, 3 Move, 1 Move 1 Command, 2 Missile Reload, 1 Uncontrolled Charge, 2 Undisciplined Advance*

French Morale Points: (28 units)

UNIT/description	RATING	FIRE	MELEE	MORALE	NOTES
Gendarmes #1	Guard EHC; Hvy Lance	N/A	D12+3	D10	metal bard; Fearsome!
Gendarmes #2	Guard EHC; Hvy Lance	N/A	D12+3	D10	metal bard; Fearsome!

COMMANDER	description	LEADERSHIP	RADIUS	Notes
Lautrec				NC  to Quality roll; Army C-in-C; UP 2 Morale and Melee
(Left Flank Gendarmes)	C-in-C	Difficulty Die:		Class II/IV D6;  “Other” D8

UNIT/description	RATING	FIRE	MELEE	MORALE	NOTES
Gendarmes #3	Guard EHC; Hvy Lance	N/A	D12+3	D10	metal bard; Fearsome!

COMMANDER	description	LEADERSHIP	RADIUS	Notes
Chevalier Bayard				+2 to Quality roll; Up 1 Morale and Melee
(Right Flank Gendarmes)		Difficulty Die:		Class II/IV D6;  “Other” D8

UNIT/description	RATING	FIRE	MELEE	MORALE	NOTES
Mtd Aquebusiers	Regular LC; Arq, Imp weapons	D10	D4	D6	Skirmish only!
Sk. Arquebusiers #1	Reg LI, Arq, Imp weapons	D10	D4	D6	Skirmish only!
Sk. Arquebusiers #2	Reg LI, Arq, Imp weapons	D10	D4	D6	Skirmish only!
Sk. Arquebusiers #3	Reg LI, Arq, Imp weapons	D10	D4	D6	Skirmish only!
Arquebusiers - A	Reg MI, Arq, Imp weapons	D10	D4	D6
Arquebusiers - B	Reg MI, Arq, Imp weapons	D10	D4	D6
Arquebusiers - C	Reg MI, Arq, Imp weapons	D10	D4	D6

COMMANDER	description	LEADERSHIP	RADIUS	Notes
Giovanni di Medici				+2 to Quality roll; Up 1 Morale and Fire
(Black Band)		Difficulty Die:		Class II/IV D8;  “Other” D8

UNIT/description	RATING	FIRE	MELEE	MORALE	NOTES
Sk. Crossbows #1	Militia LI, Heavy X-bow. Imp weapons	D10	D4	D6	Skirmish only!
Sk. Crossbows #2	Militia LI, Hvy X-bow. Imp weapons	D10	D4	D6	Skirmish only!
Sk. Crossbows #3	Militia LI, Hvy X-bow. Imp weapons	D10	D4	D6	Skirmish only!
Sk. Crossbows #4	Militia LI, Hvyu X-bow. Imp weapons	D10	D4	D6	Skirmish only!
French Pikes	Militia MI; Pike	NA	D6	D6	36 - Pike Block
Hvy Artillery C	Militia Artillery; Heavy Guns	D10	D4	D6
Hvy Artillery D	Militia Artillery; Heavy Guns	D10	D4	D6

COMMANDER	description	LEADERSHIP	RADIUS	Notes
Marshal de Foix				NC to Quality roll; Up 1 Morale and Fire
(French Infantry)		Difficulty Die:		Class II/IV D6;  “Other” D6

UNIT/description	RATING	FIRE	MELEE	MORALE	NOTES
Swiss Pikes #1	Guard HI/MI; Pike	N/A	D12	D10	36-Pike Block;   Fearsome!
Swiss Pikes #2	Guard HI/MI; Pike	N/A	D12	D10	36-Pike Block;   Fearsome!
Swiss Pikes #3	Guard HI/MI; Pike	N/A	D12	D10	36-Pike Block;   Fearsome!
Swiss Arq.  A	Reg. LI; Arq, Imp wpn	D10	D4	D6	Skirmish only!
Swiss Arq.  B	Reg. LI; Arq, Imp wpn	D10	D4	D6	Skirmish only!

COMMANDER	description	LEADERSHIP	RADIUS	Notes
Winkelried				NC to Quality roll  Up 2 Morale and Melee
(Swiss Infantry)		Difficulty Die:		Class II/IV D6;  “Other” D8

UNIT/description	RATING	FIRE	MELEE	MORALE	NOTES
Venetian Pikes	Regular HI/MI; Pike	N/A	D8	NC	36-Pike Block
Sk Arquebusiers	Regular. LI; Arq, Imp wpn	D10	D4	D6	Skirmish only!
Arquebusiers #1	Reg. MI; Arq, Imp wpn	D10	D4	D6
Arquebusiers #2	Reg. MI; Arq, Imp wpn	D10	D4	D6
Arquebusiers #3	Reg. MI; Arq, Imp wpn	D10	D4	D6
Lanze Spezati	Regular HC; Lance	NA	D12	D6

COMMANDER	description	LEADERSHIP	RADIUS	Notes
Duke of Urbino				-1 to Quality Roll; Up 1 Morale and Fire
(Venetians)		Difficulty Die:		Class II/IV D8;  “Other” D6

Battle of La Bicocca, April 22 1522  - Imperialist Order of Battle - HR

Sequence Deck (based upon The Realm):  2 Army Morale, 2 Courage!, 2 Engines of War Reload, 2 Favor of the Gods, 1 Light Cavalry Move, 1 Heroic Moment, 2 Leadership Check, 3 Lull, 1 Maneuver, 3 Melee, 3 Move, 1 Move 1 Command, 3 Missile Reload, 1 Crushing Missilery

Imperialist Morale Points: (18 units)

UNIT/description	RATING	FIRE	MELEE	MORALE	NOTES
Milanese Famiglia	Elite EHC; Lance	N/A	D12+2	D8	Fearsome!
Sk. Crossbows A	Militia LI, X-bow. Imp weapons	D10	D4	D6	Skirmish only!
Sk. Crossbows B	Militia LI, X-bow. Imp weapons	D10	D4	D6	Skirmish only!
Crossbows #1	Militia MI, X-bow. Imp weapons	D10	D4	D6
Crossbows #2	Militia MI, X-bow. Imp weapons	D10	D4	D6

COMMANDER	description	LEADERSHIP	RADIUS	Notes
Maximillian Sforza				+1 to Quality Roll; Up 1 Morale and Melee
(Milanese)		Difficulty Die:		Class II/IV D6;  “Other” D6

UNIT/description	RATING	FIRE	MELEE	MORALE	NOTES
Spanish Knights	Elite Household EHC, Hvy Lance	N/A	D12+2	D8	(understrength)

COMMANDER	description	LEADERSHIP	RADIUS	Notes
Prosper Colonna				Up 2 to Quality Roll; Up 1 Morale and Melee
(Spanish Knights)	C-in-C	Difficulty Die:		Class II/IV D6;  “Other” D6

UNIT/description	RATING	FIRE	MELEE	MORALE	NOTES
Spanish Pikes	Elite HI/MI; Pike	N/A	D10	D8	36-Pike Block;
Spanish Arq #1	Elite MI; Arq, Imp wpn	D12	D6	D8
Spanish Arq #2	Elite MI; Arq, Imp wpn	D12	D6	D8
Spanish Arq #3	Elite MI; Arq, Imp wpn	D12	D6	D8
Spanish Musketeers	Elite LI; Musk, Imp wpn	D12+1	D6	D8	Skirmish only *special*
Spanish Sword/Buckler	Regular HI; Swords, shld	N/A	Up 2	Up 1	Up 1 vs Pikes

COMMANDER	description	LEADERSHIP	RADIUS	Notes
de Leyva				+1 to Quality Roll; Up 1 Morale and Fire
(Spanish Infantry)		Difficulty Die:		Class II/IV D8;  “Other” D8

UNIT/description	RATING	FIRE	MELEE	MORALE	NOTES
Landsknecht Pike #1	Regular MI, Pike	N/A	D8	D6	36- Pike Block
Landsknecht Pike #2	Regular MI, Pike	N/A	D8	D6	36 - Pike Block
Heavy Gun  - A	Militia Artillery; Heavy Guns	D10	D4	D6
Heavy Gun  - B	Militia Artillery; Heavy Guns	D10	D4	D6

COMMANDER	description	LEADERSHIP	RADIUS	Notes
Georg v.Frundsberg				NC to Quality Roll; Up 1 Morale and Melee
(Landsknechts)		Difficulty Die:		Class II/IV D6;  “Other” D6

UNIT/description	RATING	FIRE	MELEE	MORALE	NOTES
Spanish Genitors	Reg MC; Jav, Swds, Shld	D6	D10	D6
Spanish Genitors	Reg MC; Jav, Swds, Shld	D6	D10	D6

COMMANDER	description	LEADERSHIP	RADIUS	Notes
Pescara				+1 to Quality Roll; Up 1 Morale and Melee
(Spanish Genitors)		Difficulty Die:		Class II/IV D8;  “Other” D6