I ran a second game with the
To the Strongest! rules on Thursday night at Historicon. We had a great group of guys for this game, including a return player (Dave). Once again we had eight players for six slots (due to walk ups), but I had planned for that, so it worked fine. I used 2 decks of 80 cards each per side to keep things moving.
The Catholic "crusaders" move forward to assault the Hussite Wagenburg. Their figures are a pretty eclectic and not necessarily contemporaneous mix of 25/28mm Minifigs Alexander Nevsy range Teutonic Knights, Old Glory Wars of the Roses range, and Pery Hundred Years War Agincourt range, and even a few Hinchliffe figures.
Hussite players - from left to right are Ted, Will, Roger, and David. The Hussites are mostly Old Glory (especially the 10 War Wagons), with some recent additions of Kingnaker (1st Corps) figures painted in the past few months, as previously documented here on the blog.
Catholic players - ?? Greg, Dave, Ralph, ?? Frank.
That Wagenburg will be a tough nut to crack!
On the Hussite right, their limited cavalry have trotted out from the safety of the Wagenburg to engage the advancing crusaders. As they are both outnumbered and outclassed by their Catholic opposition, this was perhaps not the wisest move, but it is one way to see how the game plays!
Battle is joined in earnest! 4 of the Wagons have artillery mounted on them (6 box range), 4 have Crossbowmen (3 box range), and 2 wagons have Handgunners (2 box range). All are "Deep" units taking 3 hits to eliminate. Physically, each "Wagon" unit is represented by a Wagon with one stand of missile troops within (except the Gun wagons), behind that 2 stands of missile troops of the same type as the wagon riders, and behind that 2 stands of melee infantry (usually flail men).
The Hussite Right flank cavalry were swept aside with little difficulty, and the wagon line is now under heavy attack! The Hussite artillery in the open, which I have rated as Organ Guns, had better hope they get good Hit cards or they wont be much more than a rest stop for that Cavalry!
On the Hussite Left, Dave has held his small cavalry force back while he waits for the Knights to break themselves on the walls of the wagon fortress. I have used supply wagons for the Hussite camps, with added fortifications to shelter some defending (cheap) light Infantry Crossbows and Handgunners.
The Hussites bare making the most of their shooting power and rally actions, as their line holds firm. Ralph's Catholic infantry command has hung back after turning an Ace ( = no move) for their first activation attempt three turns in a row! ted has wisely swapped positions with hi Organ Guns and Militia Halberdiers.
However, the Sergeants blew right through them anyway. "Shock lances are nice!", they observe. Meanwhile, disaster- the Wagon line has been breached by the Brother Knights!
Ralph's men turn a FOURTH Ace! It seems his men think it is the job of the knights to slay heretics, not theirs!
The next turn, they finally start to close, while the Hussite Organ guns, even playing 2 Hit cards per activation, seem to have little effect on the enemy!
.
Not surprisingly, the sergeants ride down the guns at their next opportunity, whilst the Knights break through and head for the Hussite Camps! Things are looking petty grim for the men of the Chalice!
However, on the left side of the wagon line, David's patience has paid off,. The attackers are fully engaged and being ground down, so he judged it time to send forth his small cavalry force to sack the Catholic camps, and moves out his own organ guns, supported by the less than well trained civic militia of Prague.
Six camps in a row = 18 victory medals... IF David's men can scoop them all up before the Hussites break themselves
!
A Hussite camp falls to the Brother Knights, while the right flank wagon holds out against incredible odds!
The Hussite Cavalry, sweeping around the catholic rear, has sacked 2 Catholic camps already (scratch built tents were used for most.
David moves up his organ guns to shoot more knight, and distract them, as the Catholics attacking the front of the wagon line are thinning progressively. The Hussites, however, are running low on ammunition...
Some Catholic knights, with their general attached, are happy to oblige, running the uppity peasants through with ease!
David's heavy cavalry have snapped up two more Catholic camps, while his Light cavalry faces down some light infantry crossbowmen detailed to interfere with the their Glorious ride. This brings the Catholic army to zero victory medals, and they break of the attack. Game over!
This was a tense, close, hugely fin game. If you haven;t checked out To the Strongest, I recommend the rules for your consideration. Simon is having a
worldwide post free sale on the print edition of the rules this weekend (until midnight Monday July 25th, UK time).
We pretty much played the War wagons as written in the rules, except that they needed a 6+ to hit in melee (until they were disordered), instead of 8+. There was some limited movement o the wagon units after the Crusaders broke through in spots.
I personally find the Hussite rebellion fascinating, militarily, religiously, and culturally. I have done a detailed presentation of my Hussite figures, with a lot of history included, in my as yet incomplete Hussite Wars series on this blog:
CMD
|
Description
|
Save
|
Spec/Ammo
|
Pts
|
VMs
|
1
|
Attached General
|
2+
|
|
4
|
2
|
1
|
Cavalry - Lance
|
7+
|
Shock
|
9
|
2
|
1
|
Light Cavalry, Raw - Lance
|
8+
|
Shock
|
4
|
1
|
1
|
Command Cost, Demoralized
|
|
|
17
|
3
|
2
|
Attached General Heroic
|
3+
|
Replay
|
5
|
2
|
2
|
War Wagons - Guns
|
7+
|
Mv/Cover 6
|
13
|
3
|
2
|
War Wagons - Crossbowmen
|
7+
|
Mv/Cover 6
|
13
|
3
|
2
|
Light Infantry, Raw, Handguns
|
9+
|
2
|
3
|
1
|
2
|
Heavy Infantry Polearms, Raw
|
8+
|
2 Handed
|
5
|
2
|
2
|
Organ Guns, Raw
|
8+
|
5
|
6
|
1
|
2
|
Hero
|
|
Replay x 1
|
1
|
-
|
2
|
Camp w/ 2 sides fortified
|
|
|
3
|
3
|
|
Command Cost, Demoralized
|
|
|
49
|
8
|
3
|
Attached General, Heroic
|
3+
|
Replay
|
5
|
2
|
3
|
War Wagons - Handgunners
|
7+
|
Mv/Cover 6
|
13
|
3
|
3
|
War Wagons - Guns
|
7+
|
Mv/Cover 6
|
13
|
3
|
3
|
War Wagons - Crossbowmen
|
7+
|
Mv/Cover 6
|
13
|
3
|
3
|
Light Infantry, Raw, Crossbows
|
9+
|
2
|
3
|
1
|
3
|
Hero
|
|
Replay x 1
|
1
|
-
|
3
|
Camp w one side fortified, 2 Ammo
|
|
|
3
|
3
|
3
|
Command Cost, Demoralized
|
|
|
51
|
8
|
4
|
Attached General, Heroic
|
3+
|
Replay
|
5
|
2
|
4
|
War Wagons - Handgunners
|
7+
|
Mv/Cover 6
|
13
|
3
|
4
|
War Wagons - Guns
|
7+
|
Mv/Cover 6
|
13
|
3
|
4
|
War Wagons - Crossbowmen
|
7+
|
Mv/Cover 6
|
13
|
3
|
4
|
Light Infantry, Raw, Crossbows
|
9+
|
2
|
3
|
1
|
4
|
Hero
|
|
Replay x 1
|
1
|
-
|
4
|
Camp w one side fortified, 2 Ammo
|
|
|
3
|
3
|
4
|
Command Cost, Demoralized
|
|
|
51
|
8
|
5
|
Attached General, Heroic
|
3+
|
Replay
|
5
|
2
|
5
|
War Wagons - Guns
|
7+
|
Mv/Cover 6
|
13
|
3
|
5
|
War Wagons - Crossbowmen
|
7+
|
Mv/Cover 6
|
13
|
3
|
5
|
Light Infantry, Raw, Handguns
|
9+
|
2
|
3
|
1
|
5
|
Heavy Infantry, Raw, Polearms
|
8+
|
2 Handed
|
5
|
2
|
5
|
Organ Guns, Raw
|
8+
|
5
|
6
|
1
|
5
|
Hero
|
|
Replay x 1
|
1
|
-
|
5
|
Camp w/ 2 sides fortified
|
|
|
3
|
3
|
5
|
Command Cost, Demoralized
|
|
|
49
|
8
|
6
|
Attached General
|
2+
|
|
4
|
2
|
6
|
Cavalry - Lance
|
7+
|
Shock
|
9
|
2
|
6
|
Light Cavalry, Raw - Lance
|
8+
|
Shock
|
4
|
1
|
6
|
Command Cost, Demoralized
|
|
|
17
|
3
|
|
TOTALS
|
|
|
234
|
(34)
|
Medals = Total divided by 3
Reserve Ammo = 1 chit for every unit that can fire, plus 4 additional ammo purchased
Demoralized Command = Lost ½ of Victory medals
Catholic Crusaders
CMD
|
Description
|
Save
|
Ammo/Spec
|
Pts
|
VMs
|
1
|
Att General Mtd Heroic: Vignolles
|
3+
|
Replay
|
6
|
2
|
1
|
Knights, Lance (Sergeants) Shock
|
6+
|
Sv +1 FireD
|
11
|
2
|
1
|
Knights, Lance (Sergeants) Shock
|
6+
|
Sv +1 FireD
|
11
|
2
|
1
|
Light Cavalry, Crossbow, Raw
|
9+
|
2
|
4
|
1
|
1
|
Camp
|
|
|
1
|
3
|
1
|
Command Cost, Demoralized
|
|
|
343
|
5
|
2
|
Att General. Mtd, Heroic Gr Master
|
3+
|
Replay
|
6
|
2
|
2
|
Later Knights, Lance, Veteran
(Household/Brother Knights)
SHOCK
|
5+
|
Sv +1 Mele
Sv +1 Fire*
Sv +1 FireD
|
16
|
2
|
2
|
Later Knights, Lance
SHOCK
|
6+
|
Sv +1 Mele
Sv +1 Fire*
Sv +1 FireD
|
14
|
2
|
2
|
Knights, Lance SHOCK
|
6+
|
Sv +1 FireD
|
11
|
2
|
2
|
Camp
|
|
|
1
|
3
|
2
|
Command Cost, Demoralized
|
|
|
48
|
6
|
3
|
Att General Heroic (Bishop)
|
3+
|
|
5
|
2
|
3
|
Spearmen
|
7+
|
|
7
|
2
|
3
|
Spearmen
|
7+
|
|
7
|
2
|
3
|
Crossbowmen
|
8+
|
6
|
7
|
2
|
3
|
Light Infantry Crossbowmen, Raw
|
8+
|
2
|
3
|
1
|
3
|
Light Infantry Crossbowmen, Raw
|
8+
|
2
|
3
|
1
|
3
|
Light Infantry Bowmen, Raw
|
8+
|
2
|
3
|
1
|
3
|
Camp
|
|
|
1
|
3
|
3
|
Command Cost, Demoralized
|
|
|
36
|
6
|
4
|
Attached General
|
2+
|
|
4
|
2
|
4
|
Javelinmen (Throwing axes)
|
7+
|
ShockMissil
|
7
|
2
|
4
|
Crossbowmen
|
8+
|
6
|
7
|
2
|
4
|
Dismounted Knights
2 handed weapons
|
6+
|
Sv +1 Mele
Sv +1 Fire*
Sv +1 FireD
|
14
|
2
|
4
|
Light Infantry Crossbowmen, Raw
|
9+
|
2
|
3
|
1
|
4
|
Light Infantry Crossbowmen, Raw
|
9+
|
2
|
3
|
1
|
4
|
Light Infantry Handgunners, Raw
|
79+
|
2
|
3
|
1
|
4
|
Camp
|
|
|
1
|
3
|
4
|
Command Cost, Demoralized
|
|
|
32
|
7
|
5
|
Attached General, Mounted
|
2+
|
|
5
|
2
|
5
|
Later Knights, Lance
SHOCK
|
6+
|
Sv +1 Mele
Sv +1 Fire*
Sv +1 FireD
|
14
|
2
|
5
|
Later Knights, Lance
SHOCK
|
6+
|
Sv +1 Mele
Sv +1 Fire*
Sv +1 FireD
|
14
|
2
|
5
|
LC Bow Raw (Hingarians)
|
9+
|
2
|
4
|
1
|
5
|
Camp
|
|
|
1
|
3
|
5
|
Command Cost, Demoralized
|
|
|
38
|
5
|
6
|
Attached General, Mounted
|
2+
|
|
5
|
2
|
6
|
Later Knights, Lance
SHOCK
|
6+
|
Sv +1 Mele
Sv +1 Fire*
Sv +1 FireD
|
14
|
2
|
6
|
Later Knights, Lance
SHOCK
|
6+
|
Sv +1 Mele
Sv +1 Fire*
Sv +1 FireD
|
14
|
2
|
6
|
LC Bow Raw
|
9+
|
4
|
5
|
1
|
6
|
Camp
|
|
|
1
|
3
|
6
|
Command Cost, Demoralized
|
|
|
38
|
5
|
|
TOTALS
|
|
|
235
|
33
|
Medals = Total divided by 3
Reserve Ammo = 1 chit for every unit that can fire
Demoralized Command = Lost ½ of Victory medals
