Historicon #2: Battle of Ravenna April 11, 1512

I ran this game Thursday night, using Hostile Realms.

Note: This scenario is lightly modified from that devised by James for BoB2, for my use with Hostile Realms. With apologies to James, I have largely reproduced it below:

GENERAL BRIEFING

Louis XII of France placed his army of Italy under the command of Gaston de Foix. This very young but capable commander drove away the Spanish and Papal forces besieging Bologna, and then turned on the Venetians, inflicting a severe defeat upon them, and then successfully stormed Brescia.

Whilst Gaston de Foix was occupied against the Venetians, Ramon de Cordona the Spanish Viceroy of Naples and his Papal allies reoccupied much of Romagna. Gaston, realising that he could not pursue a campaign in two places at once, decided to force the allies into a decisive open battle, defeat them, and free himself to pursue any course of strategy he wished. To force Ramon’s hand Gaston marched on the most important city held by the allies, Ravenna. He set up his camp and sighted his artillery on the left bank of the River Ronco.

Ramon determined that Ravenna was in serious danger and marched to relieve the siege by threatening Gaston’s lines of communication without risking an open battle. But the celebrated engineer Pedro Navarro showed Ramon a position on the right bank of the Ronco, within two miles of the city, which given time to throw up a ditch and earthwork, he guaranteed impregnable.

Whilst the Spanish spent the night digging the French spent the night constructing a bridge of boats over the Ronco. Everyone knew that a fight would take place next day and the respective commanders issued formal defiances by trumpet.

For more background online, here is the Wikipedia article. 

Map (and scenario) are from James' most excellent blog (see link above).

FRENCH BRIEFING

To win the battle you must destroy or rout 8 units of the enemy (artillery sections and skirmish units count as half units) within 10 turns (French MOVE cards). Anything else will be considered a loss.

D’Algre's rear guard

From the second appearance of your Stratagem Card you may bring up D’Algre's force via the bridge of boats. If the reserves are called you must destroy an extra unit of the enemy to win. These troops are from the (off table) rear guard that Gaston ordered to prevent a sally from the city. DO NOT DEPLOY THE ARTILLERY SECTION.

Hidden battery

Providing D’Algres is present, you may put a battery of light artillery anywhere on the left bank of the river. This represents D’Alegres’ moving some artillery to fire into the flank of the allied cavalry.

Battle of Ravenna, April 11 1512  - French Order of Battle  - HR

Sequence Deck (based upon Middle Kingdom):  2 Army Morale, 2 Courage!, 3 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, 1 Undisciplined Advance*, 1 Stratagem

French Morale Points: (count as 26 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
Gaston de Foix				+2  to Quality roll; Army C-in-C; UP 2 Morale and Melee
C-in-C		Difficulty Die:		Class II/IV D6;  “Other” D6

UNIT/description	RATING	FIRE	MELEE	MORALE	NOTES
Ital Gendarmes #3	Regular EHC Hvy Lance	N/A	D12+1	D6	metal bard
Ital Gendarmes #4	Regular EHC Hvy Lance	N/A	D12+1	D6	metal bard
Hvy Artillery #9	Militia Artillery; Heavy Guns	D10	D4	D6
Hvy Artillery #10	Militia Artillery; Heavy Guns	D10	D4	D6

COMMANDER	description	LEADERSHIP	RADIUS	Notes
Marshal de La Palice				NC to Quality roll; Up 1 Morale and Melee

UNIT/description	RATING	FIRE	MELEE	MORALE	NOTES
Sk. Crossbows #5	Militia LI, Heavy X-bow. Imp weapons	D10	D4	D6	Skirmish only!
Sk. Crossbows #6	Militia LI, Hvy X-bow. Imp weapons	D10	D4	D6	Skirmish only!
Sk. Crossbows #7	Militia LI, Hvy X-bow. Imp weapons	D10	D4	D6	Skirmish only!
Sk. Crossbows #8	Militia LI, Hvyu X-bow. Imp weapons	D10	D4	D6	Skirmish only!
Landsknecht Pike #11 A	Regular MI, Pike	N/A	D8	D6	36- Pike Block
Landsknecht Pike #11 B	Regular MI, Pike	N/A	D8	D6	36 - Pike Block

COMMANDER	description	LEADERSHIP	RADIUS	Notes
Jacob Empser				+1 to Quality roll; Up 1 Morale and Fire

UNIT/description	RATING	FIRE	MELEE	MORALE	NOTES
Picard Pikes #12	Militia MI; Pike	N/A	D6	D6	36-Pike Block
Picard Pikes #13	Militia /MI; Pike	N/A	D6	D6	36-Pike Block

COMMANDER	description	LEADERSHIP	RADIUS	Notes
Siegniuer de Morlat				NC to Quality roll  Up 1 Morale and Melee

UNIT/description	RATING	FIRE	MELEE	MORALE	NOTES
Italian Pike #14	Regular MI; Pike	N/A	D8	D6	36 Pike Block
Sk. Arquebusier #15	Reg LI, Arq, Imp weapons	D10	D4	D6	Skirmish only!
Sk. Arquebusier #16	Reg LI, Arq, Imp weapons	D10	D4	D6	Skirmish only!

COMMANDER	description	LEADERSHIP	RADIUS	Notes
Federigo de Bozzolo				NC to Quality roll; Up 1 to Fire

UNIT/description	RATING	FIRE	MELEE	MORALE	NOTES
Stradiots #19	MC, Regular, Javelin	D6	D8	D6
Stradiots #20	MC, Regular, Javelin	D6	D8	D6
Mtd X-bow #17	LC, Militia, Xbow, imp w	D8	D4	D6	Skirmish only!
Mtd X-bow #18	LC, Militia, Xbow, imp w	D8	D4	D6	Skirmish only!

COMMANDER	description	LEADERSHIP	RADIUS	Notes
Caraciolo				-1 to Quality Roll; Up 1 Morale and Fire

UNIT/description	RATING	FIRE	MELEE	MORALE	NOTES
Heavy Guns #21	Militia Artillery; Heavy Guns	D10	D4	D6	“#22 on map”

COMMANDER	description	LEADERSHIP	RADIUS	Notes
Marquis de Ferrara				NC to Quality roll; Up 1 Morale and Fire

UNIT/description	RATING	FIRE	MELEE	MORALE	NOTES
Sk. Crossbows #23	Militia LI, Hvy X-bow. Imp weapons	D10	D4	D6	Skirmish only!
Sk. Crossbows #24	Militia LI, Hvy X-bow. Imp weapons	D10	D4	D6	Skirmish only!
Italian Pike #25	Regular MI; Pike	N/A	D8	D6	36 Pike Block
Ital Merc Gend #26	Regular EHC Hvy Lance	N/A	D12+1	D6	metal bard
Light Artillery#27	Light Gun, Militia	D6	D4	D6	** special  deployment rules - see scenario!

COMMANDER	description	LEADERSHIP	RADIUS	Notes
Yves d’Algre				+1 to Quality roll; Up 1 Morale and Fire

SPANISH BRIEFING

To win the battle you must defend your earthworks in anyway you see fit until the end of move 10 and lose less than 8 units (artillery and skirmish units count as half a unit each) doing so.

Hidden obstacles

Two of your Spanish infantry units have 20 or so small man handled carts equipped with heavy arquebus and various fixed spears and blades. These carts give the units a superior position frontally in melee and fire until the unit is pushed back in melee, when the carts are deemed destroyed. These carts, designed by Pedro Navarro, had two functions, firstly to break up infantry or cavalry formations, and secondly to provide a platform for heavy infantry firearms previously incapable of being deployed in a field battle.

Dead ground

At the outset of the game, you may declare that any/ all of your infantry is prone. Whilst prone troops count an extra down 2 cover bonus Vs artillery fire coming from the your side of the Ronco, they are DOWN 1 in Melee and Fire while [prone.. Infantry may be ordered to stand any time you have the initiative including a won Lull). This represents Navarro’s orders for the infantry to lie down in the low ground to prevent artillery casualties before the French assault.

Battle of Ravenna, April 11 1512  - Spanish 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

Imperial Morale Points: (count as 23 units)

UNIT/description	RATING	FIRE	MELEE	MORALE	NOTES
Papal Famiglia #1	Elite EHC; Heavy Lance	N/A	D12+2	D8	Fearsome!
Merc Gendarm #2	Regular EHC, Heavy Lance	NA	D12+1	D6

COMMANDER	description	LEADERSHIP	RADIUS	Notes
Ramon de Cardona				+1 to Quality Roll; Up 1 Morale and Melee
C-in-C		Difficulty Die:		Class II/IV D6;  “Other” D86

UNIT/description	RATING	FIRE	MELEE	MORALE	NOTES
Merc Gendarm #3	Regular EHC, Heavy Lance	NA	D12+1	D6
Merc Gendarm #4	Regular EHC, Heavy Lance	NA	D12+1	D6

COMMANDER	description	LEADERSHIP	RADIUS	Notes
Fabrizio Colonna				+1 to Quality Roll; Up 1 Morale and Melee

UNIT/description	RATING	FIRE	MELEE	MORALE	NOTES
Spanish Knts #5	Elite  EHC, Hvy Lance	N/A	D12+2	D8	Fearsome!

COMMANDER	description	LEADERSHIP	RADIUS	Notes
Carvajal				NC to Quality Roll; Up 1 Morale and Melee

UNIT/description	RATING	FIRE	MELEE	MORALE	NOTES
Span. Genitors #8	Reg MC; Jav, Swds, Shld	D6	D10	D6
Span. Genitors #9	Reg MC; Jav, Swds, Shld	D6	D10	D6
Mounted Arq #6	Militia  LC Arquebus imp wpn	D8	D4	D6	Skirmish Only!
Mounted Arq #7	Militia  LC Arquebus imp wpn	D8	D4	D6	Skirmish Only!

COMMANDER	description	LEADERSHIP	RADIUS	Notes
Marquis de Pescara				+1 to Quality Roll; Up 1 Morale and Melee

UNIT/description	RATING	FIRE	MELEE	MORALE	NOTES
Light Artillery #10	Light Gun, Militia	D6	D4	D6
Light Artillery #11	Light Gun, Militia	D6	D4	D6
Span Colunnella #12	Elite HI/MI  Arq/Pike	D12	D10	D8	See special rules
Span Colunnella #13	Elite HI/MI  Arq/Pike	D12	D10	D8	See special rules
Span Colunnella #14	Elite HI/MI  Arq/Pike	D12	D10	D8	See special rules
Span Colunnella #15	Elite HI/MI  Arq/Pike	D12	D10	D8	See special rules

COMMANDER	description	LEADERSHIP	RADIUS	Notes
Pedro Navarro				+1 to Quality Roll; Up 1 Morale and Fire

Spanish colunellas

This is a new formation. It comprises 8 stands. Four front row stands of arquebus backed by Four stands of pike (the latter placed centrally). The formation counts as a battle-mass for morale, melee and target. It counts as a line for movement and fire. It may take one free stand of losses as per a pike blocks. They count three hits per stand.

UNIT/description	RATING	FIRE	MELEE	MORALE	NOTES
Papal Pike #16	Regular MI, Pike	N/A	D8	D6	36- Pike Block
Crossbowmen #17	Regular MI Xbow imp wp	D10	D4	D6	Un numbered on map
Crossbowmen #18	Regular MI Xbow imp wp	D10	D4	D6	Un numbered on map

COMMANDER	description	LEADERSHIP	RADIUS	Notes
Cardinal Senzanome				NC to Quality Roll; Up 1 Morale and Melee

Set up from behind the right flank of the French Lines.

and from behind the French Center

And from behind the French Left. Note Czar Barry relaxing. as always, Barry's help was invaluable!

Close up from the French Left.

and the Spanish Right.

 French Players:  Noah/Tim, Steve. Bill, and ? Matt

.

Spanish players: Luke, Pat, Roger..

Thwe French players moved forwards quite aggressively, after a few rounds from their guns. 

I do love the sight of advancing Pike blocks!

The French skirmishers shielding the advance of the pike units were shot away by the Spanish Colunellas; no big deal, that's what they're there for!

By the marsh, the opposing light and medium cavalry units draw closer. 

Spanish Arquebuses fire, usually to deadly effect. I made a major error in handling the morale effects of this fire, making the results similar to those from melee, while in actuality a Moral Challenge was required for the targets to have to check morale at all. This seriously compromised the attack of the French/Landsknecht Pike units. 

Push of Pike!

and yet more push!

Crunch time all along the line!

Even with playing it wrong, one Pike unit manages to scale the earthworks and repulse the defending Colunella!

Spanish EHC charge the hated French Heavy guns!

At this point, all but one of the French Pike attacks had been repulsed, and the French conceded. Without my error, it would have come down to a bunch of close melees along the breastworks. My apologies to the players.

I was actually MORE rested than usual for the (miserable) drive down to Fredericksburg (almost exactly 7 hrs - left 9:00 AM, arrived 4:00 PM). I had gotten everything organized the weekend before, and allowed sufficient time so that I wasn't up super late at night, or hyper wondering if I'd get it all done. That meant I wasn't exhausted Wednesday night for a change, but then I never sleep well the first night or two away from home. I knew something wasn't right, but my brain was fried from poor sleep Wednesday evening, and I just couldn't figure out what it was until the next day. Still , the game looked great and seemed fun to play, it just would have been a lot more fun had the battle along the earthworks taken place as it should have!

Note to self - do NOT run more than one game in a day, unless at least one is a replay. I know I've said this to myself before, and then I get carried away! Doubtless I'll do it again...