'Brythunian Border Chase' - Princess Zamora and the Hyborian Campaign' Part #1

When you only have medievals and ancients in old 25mm, but not enough for both sides? ...why then it's time for a Robert E Howard 'Conan' based 'Hyboria' mini campaign using 'Battle Command: Ancients & Medieval'. (Echoes of Tony Bath's legendary 1960s games of course).

Conan leads Brythunian Pike...well, for 10 minutes anyway until he gets distracted by Princess Zamora

 Forces based heavily upon the old 1975 FGU publication 'Royal Armies of the Hyborian Age' by Lin Carter.

 

This excellent Campaign is taken ladder from 'Maudlin Jack Tarr's' superb blog; forces are Brythunian mercenaries ('not' Greeks) (who have kidnapped Princess Zamora) vs 'Nemedian Knights and Adventurers' ('not' Normans and Crusaders) in hot pursuit. 

 

MJT's seminal campaign ladder

 

Conan, torn between saving the Princess and despatching the vile Thoth Amon, appeared/disappeared in the battle whenever initiative rolls were equal - and has the unique ability to challenge an opposing leader to single combat. If they refuse the challenge, they downgrade a leadership dice; if they accept, they are probably dead anyway (Conan is D12+2).

 

Conan attempts to rescue the nekkid lady

 

Great fun - An epic struggle and VERY close game (down to last card on both sides)- though the Nemedians were driven off (with Conan's help), with the Brythunian force absolutely devastated -which will affect subsequent battles of course.

 

Nemedian foot knights make moves...though the Brythunian pikes and phalanx are not easy to take on

Brythunian pike

Some nice flanking actions...the rules enable these very well

On the Nemedian right, Knights and Heavy Cavalry, stare angrily at each other, knowing that they will have extra battles in the campaign to fight

Nemedian Adventurers on their left flank, in the fight all day long

The Nemedians have an effective wedge in the centre of the battlefield. The Brythunians bloody themselves on the Nemedian left all day long

Conan leads the Brythunian pikes, until he is distracted

Brythunian medium cavalry is completely devastated - half of the dead units will return for the next battle, but the medium horse did not fair well

Conan buggers off to fight Thoth Amon

'Where did Conan go mate?'

Hard staring on the Brythunian left

Light archers vs steel - does not end well

The Nemedian 'wedgie'

Medium Cav devastated against the Nemedian adventurers

'Steady, steady

By game end, in a VERY close game, down to the last army morale card and a roll to continue... the Nemedians pull away from the battlefield, with what is left of the Brythunians giving chase, and hanging on to Princess Zamora... the next game will be a Nemedian village defence, which could be a major problem for the 'wrecked' Brythunian force... very Pyrrhic victory.

 

Next game in the campaign will see the retreating Nemedians defending a village near the border. This will be a tough ask for the already bloodied Brythunian force...especially since the Nemedian Knights remained untouched during the battle...though Brythunian pikes are a tough nut to crack... 

 

Be careful Conan, when you pray to Crom ...

 

Sometimes he hears you... 

 

Hondeghem: May 1940, with Battle Command WW2

This scenario, again fought with Field of Battle WW2's  cantankerous little brother - who keeps putting chewing gum in his work-shoes - the superlative 'Battle Command WW2'.

'some of this armour, may not get to fire a shot...'

 This closely followed the original scenario in the 'Rapid Fire' 1994 classic 'Green Book'. with N.B.C.Teacher's F Troop of the B.E.F. defending the village from the determined German advance, with old school 18 pdr field guns.

'Ye can't park there mate!'

 Today, these were played by 76mm ATGs, and since moving rooms, I have lost my Pz 38Ts, so they were substituted with Pz IIs. 

SCENARIO unapologetically nicked from here

 Fantastic rules, which are written for bases as squads , through platoons, through companies, with the same base set with appropriate tweaks by scale - allowing you to fight a Squad Leader scenario, or Omaha Beach, with the same functional rule-set - tweaked to suit. 

Initiative and action moves between players, with rolls vs card draws dictating how far you can push your luck. Very bloody and yet in some instances a flank action can see carnage, while on the other flank, units sit and look at each other in frustration, unable to play a part.

This is by far the closest game we have played, with British units pushed back through the village, the game coming right down to the last army morale card, and a British win due to German units paying a heavy price in close assaults (despite having a single un-turned morale card in the British deck).

The Goods Yard at the centre of the British defence

Less than 15 units a side and still very VERY tense. Spotting, smoke, assets at squad level and the propensity for poorly armoured tanks to be brewed up - all tested today.

The planned armoured thrust and close assault with half tracks was much discussed, but fell short of expectations, due to poor planning... 

'Vait...we are all zat is left?'

'Feeling like an armoured assault on the British positions with infantry in half tracks?...I mean the rules allow it if the cover is class I'

German armour gets brewed up very quickly, making them hesitant to commit early on

Infantry pour across the open ground on the British left

the 4th wave of German infantry moves around to the British right

The first attack goes in; supported with ineffective smoke rounds.

'Rapid Fire Gentlemen...!'

The slow moving, flank busting, genius, German counterstroke...ho hum

Close assault action at the Goods Yard, held then lost, then a failed counter-attack, before the British pull out - bloodied.

The guns abandoned, the German attack is stymied as they move through, though the remnants of British force...is about to get flanked on their right

with the final German wave, finally completing their 'too bloody-long flanking action', they capture the now undefended gun, on the British flank. "It's about time Hans!'

British are pushed though the Goods Yard, into the village, costing the Germans dearly

'Verr zee heck did everyone go?'

They think it's all over! It is now...