Chainmail and Lance at the Battle of Creekkirk Chapel

 

My copy of Chainmail came in! 

Part of the introduction, after the initial introduction. I like how it says the writers’ purpose: to give a fun game and hopefully spark an interest in the study of Medieval history. 

And just look at those rules for catapult triangulation!!! How exciting!

I played a game to whet the appetite of my new foot knights, apologies for the poor quality of Turn 1’s picture. On one side, dismounted knights with lance and a unit of bows in support. On the other, mounted knights with sidearms (a note that will matter soon), bill men, and crossbows.

Though outnumbered drastically, the foot knights have the distinct advantage of their polearms. According to the rules, figures armed with polearms may only take frontal melee casualties from units with like weapons; this means that the enemy cavalry must flank or attack them from the rear. The narrow play space of this battle prevented that (something I didn’t consider until I hit turn 3, pictures above).

By turn 3, the heavy cavalry had run off the defenders’ archers, the bills had reformed from column to line, and the crossbows moved up to try and provide some support in the confined space. 

In a veritable coup, the foot knights expose their back to the bills and cross bows, and ran into the rear of the already wounded cavalry. They seal enough casualties to make the horsemen rout, and then await the next turn to see what happens…

Due to movement constraints and poor initiative rolls the bills could not turn and charge the rear of the knights in time, and so the two met in a head-on collision!

After brutal combat with heavy losses on both sides, the knights win the combat and send the last of the bills running!

They then set their sights on the crossbows, who were truthfully outmatched (armored foot with polearms vs light foot). They tore them to shreds and won the battle.

A shot of the new lads in front of Creekkirk Chapel.

A quick note on the rules some may find interesting: if you didn’t catch it in the photo of the introduction before, Chainmail was originally played with 40mm Elastolin figures. It’s making me consider giving the rules a go with my toy knights that the kids and I play with! Also, as I’m playing in 15mm on small boards, I’ve been halving measurements for movement and range.