Celtic SAGA

So after some months of flinging Anglo-Danes at Normans in games of SAGA my regular opponent and I have branched out. He across the dyke into Welshwales and me northwards into Scotland.
Progress with both warbands has been slow, both of us not being especially quick at painting and prone to easy distractions. However we got together on Tuesday night with semi-painted warrior groups and gave them a swift four point outing.

I selected the river crossing scenario and we both picked four point warbands. Mine were led by Ruiseart the Thane of Invericay - known to history as Invericay Dickie.
He would be leading two  four man units of hearthguard and two eight man units of warriors.
Opposing him was legendary welsh hero Jones the Cart leading three units of hearthguard, one of which was mounted, and a unit of levy bowmen.

Ruiseart split his forces down the middle electing to lead a unit of hearthguard and one of warriors toward the ford, whilst trusting the remaining warriors and hearthguard to take care of the bridge over the river Cay.
Jones placed his bowmen in the centre, hoping to cover both crossings with a unit of foot hearthguard facing toward each and the cavalry in reserve.

Scots. Milling

By the banks of the river Cay.

The welsh got the first turn and picked up six dice. It was at this point I remembered Levy don't generate SAGA dice. Which rather threw Jones' plans into disarray.
So, casting his five dice Jones moved the cavalry in support of the hearthguard by the bridge and pushed the other foot hearthguard toward the ford. Ruiseart urged his men into the chill waters of the ford. While over at the bridge, use of a deer dice meant the warriors were able to chuck javelins at the welsh, killing one.

 Its a braw wee bridge the noo!

"Aa'm glad am no wearing troosers"

This pattern repeated over the next few turns. Use of the scots defensive powers and the lucky frequent appearance of deer on the dice meant I was able to advance steadily, avoid too much punishment, and spear a few luckless welshmen.

Come on then, lets have ye! 

Use gaein' hame in a taffy ambulance!

Even the arrival of the cavalry by the bridge wasn't enough to dishearten my bravehearts. While Ruiseart and his men established themselves across the ford

See you wi yer fateeg 

Mounted fellas try to dislodge Scotsmen from a narrow bridge - it can only end one way...

By this stage Jones was beginning to think all the dragons had somehow been rubbed off his dice, whilst deer seemed in endless supply on my side of the table. Finally he launched his mounted hearthguard at the stout skirt wearers on the bridge, where by a ridiculous combination of Scottish board skills I was able to kill both of them and still have a man left alive.

 See how you like the taste of arrows boyo!

This'll be a cakewalk bach! Oh. Buggwr.

In a final act of desperation, his army vanishing around him, Jones the Cart launched himself at the hearthguard who had replaced their fellows on the bridge. Once more Scots board abilities led to the inevitable demise of the welsh warlord and victory was Ruiseart's

Jones the Cart, gets an Invericay Kiss

A good fun game. We're both still very much learning how our boards work and adapting to the different styles of these two warbands. I think I found a couple of key abilities in this game and also had the run of the dice. I rolled multiple deer (probably stags, actually) and the welsh got only a single dragon all game which certainly helped, and together with the fact that the welsh only ever had a maximum of five dice meant the game was probably mine to lose.