Defense of the Wellsley Estate

Happy Thanksgiving, friends! Yes, that is a Christmas tree, yes, I am that person. To repent, here’s a battle report!

As referenced in a previous post, Lady Eleanor's family estate is located near Latchwell. Above, you see can see its small symbol upon the map (Lord Wellsley's Manor). Since Sir Eagan has been captured by the Baron Mordain's forces, his brother, Sir Lawrence, has decided to take vengeance by burning the Wellsley estate and capturing Lady Eleanor's father as ransom for the exchange of his older brother Eagan.

Sir Lawrence attacks the estate with an imposing retinue of infantry supported by archers; he has the "Wrathful" trait, meaning that he gets +1 to Melee attack rolls, but may not leave a Melee combat once it has started (even if he fails Morale or would be forced to recoil from combat).

Lord Wellsley is a well-weathered veteran, previously happy to retire in the beautiful countryside between Latchwell and Sylvanbourough. He is "Old" and thus receives -1 to his foot movement speed, as well as -1 to Wound rolls. He has mustered his farmhands to mount a defense of his lands and teach a lesson to the young Latchwell noble about the stoutness of Wellsley will. They have built a barricade and are ready to defend it with their lives.

“Roight laddies, let this stubborn oak teach ye saplings what we do when the wind comes a’howling!”

By the fifth turn, a series of poor activation draws for Sir Lawrence’s forces have led to devastating losses (3 of his 5 infantry), but he has reached the barricade unscathed! Lord Wellsley’s archers have expended their arrows to the last shot (represented by the d6 behind them), but they have done enough damage to satisfy. Meanwhile Wellsley himself leads his homegrown levy to prepare to surround the young Lawrence and drag him into the dirt!

Sir Lawrence bursts over the barricade, slaying a farmhand, wounding, and recoiling Lord Wellsley!
Lawrence’s infantry finally near the barricade, but Wellsley’s archers (now unburdened of their arrows) are encroaching awfully close to his horse!

On, the next turn, a drizzle begins, while Lawrence gets two lucky strikes at the Wellsley men, but not lucky enough to wound!

This rain proves disastrous for Lawrence, whose vision is apparently too obscured to land a blow. The farmhands are able to bring down his horse however, and then the knight himself.

The remaing Latchwellian troopers rout in the wake of yet another Lord of Latchwell falling! Morale is crumbling quickly in the lands of Latchwell, something has to give soon. Meanwhile, I’m sure the Baron will be very interested to hear from his father in law about this offense.

Comments

  1. Belated Happy Thanksgiving! Your tree looks great. Talking of wood I like the twigs/sticks you used as terrain, very effective. Great game which reminds us all that terrific fun can be had with just a handful of figures a side. Btw have you thought of adapting the rules for other periods?

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    1. I have thought of adapting them, it’s more the lack of figures that’s the issue! I have a handful of 54mm Star Wars stormtroopers and Tusken Raiders, and about the same amount of Union and Confederate of the same size. One day, I’d like to get into the Napoleonic (or maybe pike and shotte) period . Perhaps some 1/72 Prussians or Red Costs…but I’ll admit, I don’t know as much about the period as I’d like. Any suggestions on a good read?

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    2. Rules or history? For skirmish type games I would recommend the memoirs of the Baron De Marbot. For history David Gates the Spanish Ulcer. The best one volume history of the Peninsula war.

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    3. Thanks Mark, I’ll look into them both!

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  2. Hi lovely report and pictures - thanks for sharing
    Was this played with your own rules featured earlier and what size are you figures and table, please?

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    1. I played using my index card rules I posted earlier on the blog, with a few revisions—I’ll post them in my next post for you! I use 1/72 figures and the field was about 12” x 20”. I’m currently working on materials for larger battles!

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    2. Thank you. I will be very interested to see them.

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  3. Happy Thanksgiving! You have quite a nice little narrative campaign going there.

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  4. A fine little skirmish. I like the special rules for individuals and effects caused by the weather. Great SFX too!

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    1. Thank you! I enjoy reading your play through of OHW!

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