Tuesday, May 2, 2023

Set up for Battle of Towton, March 29, 1461

 This Saturday I will be running the Battle of Towton at the Gardiner Public Library in Gardiner, NY. Actually the plan is to run it twice, for a morning and and afternoon session. The game will be played using the Test of Resolve rules; a game with them seldom lasts much over 2 hours. Towton is said to have been the largest battle ever fought on English soil, and was fought during a spring snowstorm, with the wind and snow blowing into the faces of the Lancastrians. 



Hawk's eye view of the battle, to be played on a 4 x 6 foot surface. 


Another overview, Yorkists to the left, Lancastrians, with the wind and snow blowing into their faces, to the right.

House of York 


Left

11 BMP

Centre

14 BMP

Right

14 BMP

Reinforcements

8 BMP

Warwick

Edward IV

(Inspiring VIP)

Fauconberg

Norfolk

1 Household

1 Household

1 Superior Retinue

1 Hosehold

2 Retinue

3 Retinue

1 Retinue

1 Retinue

1 Inferior Array

2 Archers

1 Inferior Array

2 Archers [Mass]

2 Archers


2 Archers





Yorkist Right Battle, under Lord Fauconberg


Potential Yorkist reinforcements, under the Earl of Norfolk 


Yorkist Centre Battle, under King Edward IV.


Yorkist Left Battle, under the Earl of Warwick


House of Lancaster


Left

14 BMP

Centre

14 BMP

Right

11 BMP

Right Flank

Percy

Dacre

Somerset

Independent Command

1 Superior Retinue

1 Household

1 Household

1 Retinue

2 Retinue

2 Retinue

2 Retinue


1 Inferior Array

1 Inferior Array

1 Inferior Array


2 Archers

2 Archers

2 Archers





Small Lancastrian independent company hidden in the woods, hoping to spring an ambush on Warwick!


Lancastrian Left Battle under Percy, Earl of Northumberland.


Lancastrian Centre Battle under Clifford, masquerading as D'Acre. Dice spots indicate losses (6 = none), color indicates quality: Blue is Superior, Red (for Lancaster) or White (for York) is Average, Green is Inferior, Black is Very Inferior (none such in this battle). 



Lancastrian Right Battle under Somerset.



14 comments:

  1. Without going back to check my notes, I think it was Towton I played with Tim and David a couple of years ago at Virtual Huzzah.

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  2. That all looks great Peter and I am sure it will make for an enjoyable day. Those flags look spectacular fluttering in the breeze.

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    1. Thanks, Lawrence; Pete's flags really kick the look up a big notch! :-)

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  3. Wonderful set up Peter! I hope all goes well and the games are a blinding success....look forward to reading about it all very soon!

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    1. Thanks, Keith. With the wind and snow in their faces, it's likely to be blinding for the Lancastrians at least!

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  4. Certainly look like a great event. Have fun!

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  5. I am also looking forward to the write up, and perhaps an order or two!

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    Replies
    1. Game write up I can provide; sales... que sera, sera! :-)

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  6. Just got Test of Resolve and revisited my moribund WotR project. Some of the painted figures could do with a touch up and have more than enough unpainted. Be interested to see how Towton plays out.
    Neil

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    1. ToR is the only reason that I even have Wars of the Roses armies; I have supplemented those figures here and there with my very incomplete HYW project started long ago, and Bill's refurbished Late Medieval figures.

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  7. One of my favourite battles of the Wars of the Roses. It is very tempting to make a winter table one day!

    Best wishes,
    Jan

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    Replies
    1. A winter table isn't hard to do at all. I've used mine quite a bit over the years. The only drawback is that miniatures don't ten to show up well on the white background in photos.

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