James came over to playtest his scenario for Hammerhead (which is on this Saturday).
The scenario is one in that appears in his forthcoming Chronicles of Midgard supplement which shows how to run Midgard campaigns. We used the campaign that's featured in the book testing Alfred the Great against against Viking invaders.
I took the Vikings and James the Saxons - in this instance it was the Vikings on the defensive as the Saxon forces pushed into the Danelaw.
The Vikings lined up with Huscarls (with flags) to the fore
A watchtower held the crest of the hill
The village in the Viking territory was deserted, presumably the locals had fled the fight
The Saxons arrived - they would gain reputation for holding both village and watchtower
I had a "forlorn hope"of archers deployed near the tower
The Saxons were closing in
The Saxon force had loaded against the village - I decided to just try and delay them whilst concentrating on killing the rest of the Saxon army
The forces closed on the central ridge
The Saxons soon held the village - could my men defend the fence?
Fierce fighting across the whicker!
In the cwntre the Danes are making better progress
The Saxons have advanced unsupported
The fighting near the watchtower is thickest
The Saxons hold the ridge but their casualties are mounting
In the village the Saxon leader urges his men to slaughter
But the resurgent Danes are clawing back the hill and putting Saxons to the sword
Casualties are mounting on both sides but the Saxon line is wavering
The Danes push home their advantage
The village is in Saxon hands but their reputation bowl is fast emptying
The hill runs thick with blood, most of it Saxon
The Saxon archers and their heroic leader are finally run to ground
The blood red Raven banner foretells the doom of more stout Saxon warriors
Bloodied but unbowed the Vikings clear the hill and secure the tower
The village is in Saxon but too much blood has been spilled and the reputation bowl is empty!
A narrow Viking victory. My plan to only lightly contest the village whilst concentrating on killing Saxons paid off. But only just! Some early reverses on the hill had me worried but Viking quality and resilience told in the end.
Some more phone pictures
Great fun game and the Chronicles of Midgard supplement looks like an essential purchase for Midgard fans when it becomes available.
