MEG Maximus Western Wei vs Maurician Byzantine

 

Hi All

Had a very interesting game of MEG Maximus yesterday.

I am testing lists for a tournament I want to take part in (COVID permitting) so my Western Wei took the field vs Maurician Byzantine.

My opponent was Defender and also out scouted me by 40% so I started setting up troops first.
My center had 3 units of mixed foot (Short spear/bow).

My right had 3 units of cataphracts (1 superior & 2 average) and 1 unit of cavalry with bows.

My left had 1 unit of mixed foot, 1 unit of cataphracts and 2 units of cavalry with bows.  

My opponent put units as to counter my deployment and his heavy foot spearmen were on my right posit to my cataphracts, while in the center he had 3 units of cavalry lancers vs my mixed foot units, finally on my left he had 1 unit of heavy foot, 1 unit of foot bows, 2 light horse units with javelins and 1 unit of cavalry with javelins.

Both our allies were ok (got colored cards)

Turn 1

I started by discarding some cards as to make my opponent move first.
I moved my left up the field as to start shooting at the enemy units. My center got to 4bw from the enemy horse as to take some shoots (and get charged) while my right moved up.

Turn 2

2 units of Maurician Charging lancers charged my mixed foot in the center and thankfully for me I only lost 2 bases total out of the 3 units that were engaged.

In the shooting phase I killed a base of enemy bowmen.

I moved my cataphracts on my right as to get in the best position to charge the enemy.
The melee saw my mixed foot kill of the 2 enemy cavalry that charged me (2 units of 4 bases each). 

Turn 3

Another charging lancer of the Byzantines charged my mixed foot (my foot had taken casualties in the previous round)

I only managed one hit on the shooting and the lancers fell on me. The impact was terrible and one of my units broke.

The movement saw my Cataphracts ready to charge the enemy lancers on the right and another group of cataphracts were in position to charge the Byzantine ally.

The melee miraculously saw my last unit of mix foot hold on (it needed one more wound to break).

Turn 4

My cataphracts charged on both my sides. And a unit of mix foot charged the lancers in the center from the flank.

On the right my superior cataphracts were in contact with the enemy’s superior lancers

On the center my mix foot had contacted the enemy lancers from the flank
on my left my lancers chased the enemy light horse of the table and contacted an enemy unit of horse.

Only the center enemy unit broke the others will still in contact after the impact.

The movement saw both of us maneuver and the melee saw my cataphract cause many losses to the enemies without breaking them.

Turn 5

Saw some more fighting and maneuvering but by now we both agreed the game was over
I had lost 3 untis (1 cavalry with bow and 2 units of foot) while my enemy had lost 5 units.

We stopped the game and started talking about the tactics

As both of us were testing our lists we tested tactics
I used my cataphracts in 4 base frontage and even though 2 units of skilled bow and one unit of experienced bow were shooting at one unit of cataphracts I had no issue

My mix foot units even though I did not expect it held on against the lancers.

MEG Maximus Late 100YW English vs Free Company

 

Hi All

A battle from last week

My Late 100 YW English vs Free Company

I was attacker and actually managed to out scout my opponent (not by much).

We started the set up and I aimed my English mounted knight for my opponent downgraded men at arms on my left.
My longbows in the center were opposite to his men at arms but my plan was to shoot and fall back. While on my right I had some skilled and my Ally opposite to some Polearm.

  Turn 1

I moved my left wing up as to be in charge range with the knights.

My opponent also move his center up the field.

Turn 2

I started with my knights on the left charging in on the foot.

The impact was tremendous with shatters happening.

Some shooting from my longbows on the men at arms did not do much.

In the movement I fell back with the longbow in the center while my skilled bow on my right got in position to shoot.
The melee was not good for my opponents foot which having taken many casualties in the impact broke and my knights followed them fleeing.

Turn 3

My opponent started by charging with his superior knights on a group of longbows that did not have stakes in the center. While we both charged each other on the left side (only my mounted knights could not charge as they were far away now).
The enemy knights devastated the longbows but I did not brake (thankfully they were only 2 wide and even though he killed 2 of my bases I survived). The rest of the charged were equal (I charged with dismounted knights on longbows and he charged with men at arms on longbows)

My skilled longbows again shoot the pole arms and actually started making a dent on the 9 strong unit.

In the movement I started to get the mounted knights in position for flank charges and shuffled about my unengaged units.

My ally was also ready for a charge next turn on some men at arms and some more longbows.

Turn 4

My mounted knights charged in on the enemies’ rear catching two units (longbows and men at arms) on the left.

The charge was terrible for the enemy and it saved my longbows which were fighting the men at arms.
In the shooting my skilled longbows on my right devastated the pole arms and finally broke the unit (9 green dice is all I needed).

Most units were either engaged or pursuing troops so movement was minimal.

In the Melee I broke the men at arms with the mounted knights and the longbows.

While the battle in the center was also coming to an end with me losing the superior ally knights and my opponent losing some longbows.

At that point the Free company army broke and the game was over.     

MEG Maximus Later 100YW English vs French Ordonnace (2nd battle)

Hi All

Second battle (English vs French)

The lists are the same as the previous battle

So after the roll of the French chose to defend and picked Coastal area.
After terrain was placed and scouting was done (French won the scouting) we started setting up.

I placed my Burgundian ally on my left flank, my skilled longbow on my right and the rest of the army in the center (knights and longbows), while the Welsh spearmen protected the camp (very important).

On the opposite side the French had 2 mounted knights opposite to the Burgundians, longbow in the center and 2 dismounted knights and a crossbow on my right.

Turn 1

I moved one of my mounted knights at full speed as to come close (outside 5 BW of the enemy longbows). The move caused havoc to the enemy battle plan.
I also pushed up my skilled longbows as to both shoot at 1 unit of enemy longbow men.
On the opposite side the French moved up their knights against the Burgundians and their center moved up. But due to lack of cards and my pesky knights 2 units of longbow had to stay back (moved only 2 BW as to come just outside 4BW and placed stakes).

Turn 2

No charges yet but the 2 units of French longbow shot at my knights (causing 2 kills). My skilled longbows also shot at the French causing 3 kills.

In the movement the French knights on my left came close as to charge my dismounted Burgundians next turn.
I moved my center a bit (one dismounted knights unit came close as to charge the enemy longbow) as did the French.
After the French ended their move I (with my last move) turned my knights (all 4 of them) in the center and moved as to be ready to charge the French knights on my left.

Turn 3

The French knights charged against the Burgundians on my left, I charged the French knights side, my foot knights charged the enemy longbows and then a mess of units fighting for their survival.

In the Shooting phase my skilled longbow destroyed the unit of longbow opposite to them.

The French moved the 2 units of longbow that were in the back as to threaten my knights, I moved the skilled longbows as to be in range to shoot more targets and I pulled my center back.

I the melee that followed my unit of 4 knights managed to destroy the enemy superior knight they were fighting but it was simultaneous in the last roll of the fight.

My dismounted knights managed to break the enemy longbows they were in contact with and in the peruse fell on another unit of longbows.

The French knights fighting the Burgundians on my left broke off as to charge again next turn.

Turn 4

The French charged all over the battlefield (knight’s vs Burgundians, dismounted knight’s vs foot knights and longbow men).

In the shooting phase my skilled longbows again hit their marks and caused casualties.

In the movement I did not have many units unengaged as to move and same was true for the French.

The Melee was going to be the last one as I needed only 2 French units to break him while I had only lost 2 out of the 6 he needed.

My dismounted knights having already destroyed a unit of longbows were fighting the second but even though they killed of 3 bases the French managed to break me first.

The enemy dismounted knights fighting my foot knights and longbow broke my foot knights but the longbows managed (white and black dice) to break one of the enemy units as well.

Finally I got the last unit I needed to break in the form of the French mounted knights that were in combat with the Burgundian dismounted knights.

A victory for the English

5 units lost for the French and 4 units lost for the English   

MEG Maximus (Later 100 YW English vs French Ordonnance)

Hi All

Had 2 great games in the last two weeks both I used Later 100 Year war English. 

The first report is Later 100 year war English vs French ordonnance

The English had a Burgundian ally

And a total of 11 tugs, 6 missile units, 4 knights units

The French had a total of 9 tugs

4 knights units and 5 missile units (all the knights were superior) 

English were attackers (rolled skulls) and the coastal area was chosen (thankfully no secured flank)

After set up the English had

The Burgundian ally + 1 unit of mounted longbow on the right   
4 units of longbow and a unit of men at arm in the center

1 unit of knights on the left

The French put 3 units of knights on the English (Burgundian) right

4 units of longbow in the center

1 unit of knights and 1 unit of crossbow on the English left.

Turn 1

All the English / Burgundian knights dismounted as well as the mounted longbow

The French moved all their knights forward (in true French fashion) while the longbow in the center tried to catsup.

Turn 2

 The first French knight unit charged in on its own vs a unit of dismounted Burgundian knights and a unit of skilled longbow on the far right of the English line.

The longbow fired in but only caused 1 wound
thankfully only 2 bases of French made contact (one vs each unit) so the dice were not that many and with a lucky black dice the English caused a loss of a very expensive superior knight base.

On the rest of the front some exchange of bow fire caused some losses to both sides but nothing out of the ordinary.

In the movement phase the rest of the French knights positioned to charge, while the English moved about as to threaten the flanks of enemy units.
In the Melee phase the dismounted Burgundians (having opened up more bases to fight) caused more casualties to the French mounted knights.

The French knights broke off having lost 3 bases.

Turn 3

3 units of French knights charged in.
the knights in the English left slammed into the dismounted English knights causing 3 kills in the impact.
On the English right the French knights again charged the Burgundian knights and the longbow but was close to breaking from the shooting and the impact (needed only 1 wound to break).
The last unit of knights charged some Burgundian crossbow and some dismounted knights but as only 1 base hit the crossbow and 2 hit the dismounted knights again the results were not as good as someone would have expected.

After some shooting and more movement

      In the Melee the unit of French knights in the left broke the English dismounted knights and only the unprotected Irish stood in their way for the English camp.

On the right the French knights broke and the pursuing Burgundians fell on the side of the other unit of knights.

Turn 4

The game was almost lost for the French and the English men at arms charged a unit of longbow in the middle while another unit of French longbow was close to breaking from the shooting.
In the melee the English foot broke the French longbow while 2 units (1 skilled) of English longbow broke the other French bowmen.

When the dust settled we had a chat on the tactics used by the players.
The English thanks to the skilled longbow had an advantage vs the French longbow in the center.

The French did not coordinate the charge of the knights as to fall all together as to cause max kills (only did that vs the English on the left).       

MEG Maximus (LNS vs French Ordonnance)

Hi All

Even though I wanted I could not make it to the LGT to play MEG.

So I had a game of MEG Maximus with a good friend.

My Later Northern Song vs French Ordonnance.

My opponent had 4 units of 6 superior knights that could dismount if needed, he also had about 5 units of archers (4 units Longbow with stakes)

I had my usual mix of foot with some cavalry and artillery.

He won the PBS roll and I won the scouting.

I put my cavalry on my left (in some bad going) and then my infantry. My opponent had all his foot on my right while most of his cavalry (knights) was on my left.

Turn 1

I used the more cards I had to make my opponent move first. Then I double move my cavalry as to threaten the exposed side of the knights.

Turn 2

We had some shooting with only minor wounds.

Again I used my cards to make the opponent move first and then I moved my units in the positions I wanted. One of my cavalry was in place for a flank charge by now

Turn 3

I charged in with my cavalry while 2 units of my opponent’s knights charged into my infantry line. I actually caused some wound with my shooting (black dice).

The battle that followed was in favor of the knights but it was a slow process.

The rest of the armies shoot at each other with little effect.
In the maneuvering phase I moved units into position to be able to charge the side of the knights that were fighting the infantry.

My cavalry broke off from the battle with the knights

Turn 4

I charged the side of the knights fighting my infantry just in time as I was close to breaking.

The shooting again was not very good but one enemy unit was taking some wounds.

In the battles that followed 1 unit of knights broke from the flank charge, and the second knight was about to break as well.

Turn 5

The enemy knights in the far right charged my cavalry (which stood to fight).

While I concentrated my shooting on enemy foot units one wound from breaking

By the end of the shooting and fighting of round 5 I had lost 2 units of cavalry while my enemy had lost a further 4 units (2 foot and 2 knights).

With him loosing 5 units his army broke and I won the game.

The knights with the armored horses proved a formidable opponent and had my friend protected their flanks they would have surly broke through my foot.

The Longbow men with stakes is another very good option although it makes no difference vs the Song which are foot shooty heavy as well.

I have actually made a later 100Y war English army (5 units of longbow men) and will start to test them out shortly   

MEG Maximus (LNS vs Venetian)

Hi All

More battle from my summer exploits

The Later Northern Song found themselves in Venice.

I have analyzed my LNS list many times so I will look at the Venice list.

My opponent had 3 units of 8 bases crossbowmen (all had SC or Pavice) some knights and some units of foot with short spears.

I won the scouting so my opponent put his crossbow units first, at that point I decided I would focus my cavalry to charge the crossbowmen while my foot would support the effort.

As my opponent was an experienced war gamer he put a unit of knights behind the crossbowmen just in case I broke through.

Turn1

We both maneuvered as to get in place for shooting and charges. I kept my cavalry just outside of 4bw from the enemy crossbowmen, I had a red card and planned to charge next turn and to use the card if needed to prompt through fire.

Turn 2

I charged in with 2 units of cavalry on the 2 enemy crossbowmen (thankfully I had the red card) and contacted.
In the combat that followed I scored 1 wound with 6 yellow dice and my opponent got one hit per unit with white dice.

The shooting was mediocre and we continued the maneuvering of our forces

The combat was better for my cavalry and I started causing problems for the crossbow unis  

Turn 3

My opponent charged in with his spear units taking some hits from the shooting

In the combat we were equal so green dice for both of us (he was a bit luckier)

The shooting was again in my favor.

The cavalry broke one unit of enemy crossbowmen, while my foot broke one enemy foot unit.

Turn 4

My opponent’s knights behind the crossbowmen charged my cavalry (the unit that broke the enemy crossbow) and I opted to stay and receive the charge, some more units charged each other.

Again I was the only one with shooting

The combat was fierce and I lost the cavalry fighting the knights but I broke the other crossbowmen with my other cavalry and another enemy foot unit

Turn 5

By not my enemy had lost 4 units and I need another one to win.

So he charged all free units (some knights).

I lost the second cavalry to enemy knights in the charge phase so I had lost 3 units (I also had 4 units 2 wounds from braking).

In the shooting phase I managed to take the last unit I needed to win the game.

It was very close especially my 4 units that were 2 wound from braking were a game changer.