Warrior Ancient and Medieval Rules

[Frank Gilson]

This past Sunday morning, I met Robert Parrish at his home and we
set up, in 15mm, 100YWE (me) vs. Samurai (him).

My list was as follows:
CinC w/PA in 2E Reg A SHK L,Sh unit
Sub w/P in 2E Reg B SHK L,Sh/HK L unit
3 units of 2E Reg B SHK L,Sh/HK L
2E Irr B SHK L,Sh
2 units of 2E Reg D LI LB
8E Irr C LI S,Sh/B
2 units of 6E Reg D(1E C) LMI LB,Sh/LB stakes
2 units of 6E Reg C LMI LB,Sh/LB stakes
5 units of 2E Reg B LHI 2HCW,LB

Robert used:
CinC in 2E Irr B HC 2HCW,B
Sub in 2E Irr B HC 2HCW,B
3 units of 2E Irr B HC 2HCW,B
4E Irr B HC 2HCW,B
4 units of 8E Irr A/B LHI 2HCW,B (samurai foot)
2 units of 8E Irr C LHI 2HCT/LMI B (ashigaru)

Robert missed his first terrain choice. I got a road down the center
of the table. He then placed a brush on his side against the flank.
I then positioned an Open in a long line near the road to keep a
totally open stretch of table for my knights. Robert got a town for
his other flank. I placed another open for more open table, and he
finished the terrain off with a Brush he had to give me, as there
was no placement room on his side.

I force marched my little Reg D LI units in front of his terrain
features. He didn't force march the Ashigaru, as he later admitted
to needing to do...which allowed me to get my LI into the features
and prevent him from doing much marching.

His line was relatively uniform, with Ashigaru on the flanks,
Samurai foot down the middle, with Mounted playing a reinforcing
role (trying to avoid my knights).

I shifted 5 units of my knights all to the right hand side of the
battlefield, the brush to their right, while dancing around with my
longbowmen elsewhere.

I drew off any concentrated shooting Rob would have gotten, using my
LI and my 8 man longbow units, as well as 24 man units. I was also
able to get charges off on his Samurai foot without being charged in
response in two cases (using 2 knight units each). Lucky rolls for
me rout one of his Samurai foot at contact (he passes all wavers).
The other recoils disordered.

I have two knight units as a sort of reserve to keep his cavalry off
the flanks of my victorious knights. Also, 6 man heavy cav units
really don't want to face up to the 8 man Reg B longbow units, who
are likely to pass wavers for being charged, after having done tons
of shooting.

Having more overall units than he did allowed me to pin him down and
distract his shooting as I saw fit...and set up the correct charges.

Granted, his shooting dice were not that great, and mine were. Also,
I was able to keep a big block of table clear of terrain. Still, it
looks really tough to oppose a knight army with shooters with a
mostly infantry army (lacking something like elephant support).

Frank Gilson

> I was able to keep a big block of table clear of terrain. Still, it
> looks really tough to oppose a knight army with shooters with a
> mostly infantry army (lacking something like elephant support).
>
> Frank Gilson

A bold conclusion. One might say its difficult to oppose knights with
such an appallingly bad army. Masses of HC without lance! Hordes of
expensive irregular LHI who only fight in one rank!! No light troops
to speak of!!! I dont think you need elephants as such (although it
certainly doesnt hurt). Close order guys with a long spear (or pike
or missile weapon)and a few lance armed cav units of their own for
second hitting will often do the trick. Hopefully the world will
become a more survivable place for the japanese after oriental
warrior!

Martin

[joncleaves]

In a message dated 5/17/2004 8:13:33 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
franktrevorgilson@... writes:

> Still, it
> looks really tough to oppose a knight army with shooters with a
> mostly infantry army (lacking something like elephant
> support).>>

Well, Frank, given that you were a mostly infantry army yourself, something
similar could have 'opposed' you.
The issue is the japanese reliance on irr loose order (read non-concentrated) LB
fire and his need for terrain, which he got clobbered on. He needed to win or
contest the initial battle for position and you whipped him there before the
first bound was over.... i think that is a bigger issue than him simply being a
'mostly infantry army'..

J