Renaissance Battle: Hussites versus Maximilian (Part 4)

The Game Builds to a Crescendo ...

With the battle at a its crisis point careful choices have to be made. The great Maximilian cannon now concentrated on the killer Hussite Knights and spoke well bringing disorder to them. With their foe now vulnerable in so such disorder the call went out to "Send in the heavy Burgndian Knights (with attached General)" ...and for the first time in my Impetus wargaming career, my gloriously painted Burgundian Knights (from Redoubt Miniatures) were in the right place at the right time with the potential do a great deal of damage. The Burgundians got in without disorder, endowed with a good combat factor of eight and an impressive additional Impetus of six bringing the total number of dice to fourteen, in response the "Hussite King" threw back a mere five (see below):

The Hussite King went down fighting, but down he went.

(Hussite break points 6, Maximilian break points 9)

The fleeing routing Hussite Knights caused great devastation to their immediate friends,disordering a Wagonburg and causing a casualty, but destroying the Hussite heavy cannon.
 
(Hussite break points 7, Maximilian break points 9)

As equal of importance to the "loss of break points" of the Hussite Knight unit (with attached General) was the effect on the Hussite Army's command and control status. The uninterrupted run of initiative wins came to an end and the Maximilian army gained a valuable "flip-flop". The Hussites did however decide to continue fighting for the sake of their honour and their general's memory. A close call for the Hussites but they live to fight on, no quick win then for the Maximilian Army.  

In the immediate aftermath of the charge the momentum of the Burgundian Knights carried them through onto the Wagonburg behind. Both sides became "locked in melee", a great result for the Burgundians as they did not have to endure the deadly "bricks and bottles" attack from the Wagonburgs.

The Maximilian "flip-flop":

The Germanic Men-At-Arms positioned themselves as further insurance against the last remaining Hussite Knight unit (though in a sad blown state with a casualty so without its Impetus rating). 

The Maximilian heavy ordnance speaks with devastating effect of the far left Wagonburg and without any remaining "dice of destiny" left to spend the Hussite is powerless to stop its demise.

(Hussite break points 11, Maximilian break points 9)

One more Hussite Wagonburg or Knight unit would seal the fate of the Hussite Army, "In with the pike". Here the previously mentioned "impassable terrain" caused me much suffering. Instead of going ahread to contact the Wagonburg, the Pike Block had to perform a turn before it could get in to assist in the continuing "Knight versus Wagonburg" melee, causing it to be disordered, but at least it made it to the party (see below): 

The dice are rolled and "bad boy" wagonburg goes down, a sigh of Maximilian relief is audible and believe me  have not had many of those in my wargaming history.

(Hussite break points 15 and the army is BROKEN, Maximilian break points 9,however the game must be played to the end of the whole turn)

I have been in this situation before, one side is broken, but the win is still yet to be sealed as the Hussite has one last chance to break the Maximilian army in its death spasm. My attached Maximilian general sustains a "bricks and bottles" attack, takes a casualty and to my horror sustains a very "bad" discipline test roll (see below0. The 'six' (and what a time to roll it) means the Maximilian general goes down, but does the army fight on or rout?

I roll my "fateful dice" they decide to fight on (another Maximilian sigh of relief).

As it stood a really fantastic game of Impetus and my only second Impetus "win" (but that is not why the game was deemed good, as a game it had everything). A brilliant way to start the year's campaigning, but hats off to the Hussite wargaming general and his sense of adventure in building up such a new "project army" (with so many War Wagons to paint). He played out the rules in complete fairness and was the perfect patient player encouraging this novice to expand my Renaissance army by painting more units (with the aim of getting my current 300 point army to 400+ points).

Renaissance Battle: Hussites versus Maximilian (Part 3)

The Maximilian General gives an audible sigh of relief as finally, after what seemed to be an age of disordered movement, the Maximilian Pike finally "gets in" (see below, top middle for the 'heroic' Maximilian pike):

The odds were calculated at (the attacking Maximilian at five dice versus the defending Hussites at six [slight advantage to the defenders] - however post match analysis revealed that should have been actually eight to six [slight advantage to the attackers], but in the heat of the battle 'some things get missed', "cest la guerre"). The result was a "locked in melee" situation. Meanwhile the "better" (as in upgraded) Maximilian Pike Block was zeroing in on the Hussite "heavy ordnance" (see below,top left). Note: The terrain to the right of the heavy cannon is actually "impassable" which will cause me much grief later on (see below, top middle) as I have inadvertently aligned to clip it and unlike "other terrain" impassable is what it "says on the tin".     

In the background the Maximilian General pulled the heavy cavalry in from the wings as a backstop to the infantry attack on the center. You never know when you will need a "counter-punch" to get you out of trouble. First the Germanic Men-At-Arms (see above, bottom right) negotiated some rough ground (Note: In Impetus if you base only clips by less than half a base width you ignore its terrain effects as the troops are deemed to 'flow round' the bad bits, it puts a stop to "geometric battlefield tinkering"). Secondly the Maximilian Burgundian Knights moved up behind the engaged "Pike v Wagonburg" melee (see below, bottom middle) as an "insurance" policy against the remaining Hussite cavalry (Knights). Also "missing" from below is the left Trained Band of Harqubusiers, who have succumbed to Wagonburg "ranged fire".

(Hussite and Maximilian break points now level at three points each)

Not caught on camera before the "disappeared" were my victorious mounted crossbowmen (who 'were placed' top right in the picture below). The mounted crossbowmen closed in to the Hussite war wagon on the extreme left of the Hussite line of battle, "drawing fire" away from the Maximilian Pike Block (seen from the Maximilian left point of view below) who were closing in to engage the Hussite heavy canon. Another "bricks and bottle attack" from the war wagon and a bad dice roll on my part, despite the somewhat desperate attempt to evade, nevertheless saw them "meet their maker".

(Maximilian break points 4, Hussite 3)

Then "it" happened, a huge turning point in the game. The Hussite "King" was committed. Fearing for the sake of the Wagonburg under attack the Royal Knights jumped through a Wagonburg (that's why those armoured wagons are so nasty they allow passage of lines to friendly forces to allow these types of counterattacks) turned to angle into the flank of the Maximilian Pike Block. The "flank" being the killing factor here as if the Pike loses the combat, er it dies (alas see below):

Again after a recount I was probably two or three dice down on what I should have thrown, but my rolls were poor and the Hussite rolled good.

(Maximilian break points 8, Hussite 3)

The "Hussite King" is now in control of the battlefield (see below).

Time to call in that Maximilian Heavy Cavalry"insurance" policy" methinkds

Renaissance Battle: Hussites versus Maximilian (Part 2)

The Infantry Attack:

In the center of the battlefield the opening rounds of the infantry confrontation began as the Maximilian skirmish Harquebusiers moved forwards, taking stock and careful aim at the "impossible to miss but improbably hard to hurt" mass of the Hussite Wagonburgs (see below):

Unfortunately the rash actions of these skirmishers above brought about their doom as a volley of 'opportunity fire' from said Wagonburgs came back with interest. Being within 'one measuring stick' of the enemy, the really bad news was that the Wagonburg attack constituted "various" anti-personnel weapon types (meaning I got to be on the receiving end of six dice in return to my paltry two in this simultaneous exchange).

The result was the "mysterious case of the disappearing skirmisher" (see below) as the locally dubbed "bricks and bottle" attack ripped them to pieces.

(1 break point against the Maximilian army)

These Wagonburgs are nasty beasts, the only thing in the Maximilian arsenal that looked like it stood a chance of "shifting them" was the much vaunted Maximilian Pike Block.

Next the Maximilien "Trained Harquebusier's" moved to a flanking position (see below, top left) and survived a ranged weapon exchange with another Wagonburg. Not caught on camera was a Hussite experimental tactic of  using a unit of Knights in an attempt to draw fire from the Maximilian heavy artillery piece away from the Wagonburgs (as heavy artillery love firing at Wagonburgs - rolling six dice even at long range). "Sad rolls" (for the Hussite, I tried my best to hide the Maximilian relief, nay glee) saw the Knights catch a casualty (therefore losing its Impetus and taking an edge off its offensive capability, the Hussite commander was gambling on just getting a disorder). Meanwhile the Maximilian Pike made slow headway under the ranged light artillery fire from the Wagonburgs. Push, push, push forward in disorder in the only way the Maximilian Pike know how to attack. Early days but the attack plan 'seems' to be holding together (ahem, famous last words).

Although technically still part of the Maximilian attack plan, my second unit of skirmishers (crossbowmen) die valiantly in the process of screening my 'upgraded' Pike Block from the attentions of the Hussite heavy ordnance.

(Therefore the slate is now 2 break points against the Maximilian Army). 

Both Pike Blocks are now looking somewhat "naked and exposed" to the elements (see below).

The Cavalry Battle is Concluded: 

Finishing off those Hussite Knights who were "pinned in a totally hopeless position" unexpectedly took quite some time. So much so that the Maximilian mounted crossbowmen, rather than dashing off to do harm elsewhere, were forced to lend a much needed helping hand

(Note to self: These "mounted crossbowmen" are very useful chaps to have on your side, classed as "lights" with that annoyingly fast "12 move", they can "evade", are "missile armed" and having that much sought after "Impetus combat value" to pitch in and help an ongoing melee or scare pure skirmishers away. Almost too good to be true, best check that their abilities have not been "overstated" by said Maximilian general) 

The mounted crossbowmen had to perform a "slide-slip" and thus ended up coming in disordered, but their extra dice probably tipped the balance as my combat dice rolling was not brilliant. 

However after another round of fierce combat the brave Hussites Knights passed away, in effect having been little more than a lengthy "diversion sign" (perhaps harsh) but failing to inflict nothing in return bar a couple of temporary disorders to mark a 'wake' of their passing (see below):

That made it 3 breaks points against the Hussite army, so overall: Hussite 3 (Break at 13) - Maximilian 2 (Break at 11) - still too close to call.

Meanwhile, elsewhere on the battlefield: The Pike Blocks wee closing in on "that line" of Wagonburghs.

Renaissance Battle: Hussites versus Maximilian (Part 1)

On learning that a '300' point Hussite Impetus wargaming army had descended on the good people of Hartlepool a Maximilian relief force was dispatched from North Yorkshire. The hoard of Hussites (or should that read "wagon park") arrayed itself thus (see below) bringing fear and dread to the townsfolk.
  

All told:

• Four War wagons(!)
• Three units of Knights (one with General attached)
• An artillery piece behind a cunning fortification 

The "Master of Hussites" secured his right flank with impassable terrain (just out of camera shot), with rough ground also to the left and right of his main battle line. Note: no need of a "Camp" for the Hussites. I deployed a fourth (optional) piece of impassable terrain to the left of his battle line, with the intention of "pinning him into a defensive mindset". To which he replied "Thanks you have just secured my flanks", hmm, both generals getting apparently they both wanted.

My Maximilian Italian Renaissance Army deployed thus (see above):

• A central artillery piece, flanked either side by a "Pike Block" (Note: Only one base of rear support, 'quantity' was deemed to count for more than 'quality' in this battle)
• Screened to the front by Harquebusiers and Crossbowmen in a thin skirmish line (two units)
• A sleeve of "Trained Shot" again to the right and left flanks 
• The left wing of horse is block of Knights (with General attached)
• The right a 'deep' formation of Men-At-Arms supported by a unit of (light) mounted crossbowmen.

Note to self: A beautiful (borrowed) camp sits behind the Maximilian army (I need to paint myself a decent camp scene or two up from my Irregular Miniatures camp followers acquired at SmoggyCon last year).

The Maximilian force advanced "zulu" style with the wings (horns of the buffalo) running ahead of the slower moving Pike Blocks with the intention of laying down a hail of covering fire. Note: On reflection here I lost out on five, possible ten inches of movement here as the Hussites are an artillery heavy force so there was no place to hide. Disorder would soon be the "normal state" and the Pike best "suck in air through its teeth" and press on to seal the matter in hand-to-hand combat.  

The right hand side wing of horse and trained shot are cautiously eying a Hussite unit of Knights just out of camera shot (see above, top right). My mounted crossbowmen are screening the Men-At-Arms and Trained Shot as the former (in their cumbersome formation) angled themselves to what they thought would be an advantageous tactical position (fingers crossed).

The Hussite Knights tried to 'intimidate' the mounted crossbowmen, whom evaded in slippery style and enticed the Knights once again to come forward another bound. If the Knights passed a discipline test they would stand a very good chance of running these elusive light horsemen down. Instead they failed, laying in in a state of tepid disorder, directly in the path of my Germanic Men-At-Arms (that deep formation doesn't feel so cumbersome now) and even better it was now the Maximilian turn.

 
The MAA need  no second asking and they are off to the races, but a good Hussite discipline test dice roll mean that the Hussite Knights, though in a perilous position, take a casualty and "hang on" (see above). The MAA formation makes me burn "my one dice of destiny" as they roll terrible on the discipline test, but pass on the re-roll.

The focus of attention now drifts back onto the infantry attack in the center!