Italian Wars Finale

Over the Christmas break we played the finale of the Italian Wars campaign with a grand battle over a days play, involving the East (Montegrifone / Roccamurata) vs West (Virezza vs Taverno). It was a hybrid scenario:

• Points awarded for destroying enemy units with these units recycled as reserves. 
• Points for holding the large hill and bridge from turn 5 onward

Taverno / Virezza at the top and Montegrifone / Roccamurata at the bottom

We lined-up with Virezza opposite Montegrifone facing the hill and Taverno opposite Roccamurata facing the bridge. The river was Difficult and impassable to artillery.  

Taverno horse

Taverno foot

Montegrifone horse

Montegrifone foot

Roccamurata foot

Both sides advanced looking to capture the objectives and get into range of the enemy. The first action was Taverno vs Roccamurata horse, which favoured the Roccamurtaians who pushed their opponents back.   

Centrally Taverno managed to capture the bridge but that unit was destroyed by fire allowing Roccamurta to get into a stronger position to hold it. The Montegrifone vs Virezza infatry clashed was more of a stalemate.      

Virezza attacks through the corn field

Around the strategically important hill there was a swirling melee with both sides getting troops behind the enemy but neither able to claim the hill. The Taverno infatry made good progress, throwing back the Roccamurata foot but crucially not managing to destroy them and claim the points.   

Taverno pushes Roccamurata back

After 7 turns of play kills were pretty even and the hill was contested. Roccamurata had though been able to hold the bridge for a few turns and so the Eastern alliance run out winners after a closely fought contest.   

The hill is contested

The bridge is secured

   

Italian Wars - the final battles

This week is the final round of games before a season ending grand battle, which we will play over Christmas. The scenario for was Unexpected Attack - the defender finds themselves surrounded in their camp with their generals starting off table as the attack was, well, unexpected! 

Game 1 -  Fiorento / Roccamurata vs San Barzano

The San Barzano forces deployed with a field square in each corner and a cavalry reserve in the centre. The attackers chose to focus their energies on the front of the camp with attacks at each corner.  

San Barzano defenders

The initial attacks were quite deliberate as they sought to weaken the defenders with artillery fire whilst moving a charge position. First into action were the Roccamurata infantry, who assault the eastern corner and pushed back the San Barzano troops.    

 

Defenders stand ready

Roccamurata shot

Slightly slower into action were the Fiorento Hussars, who eventually attacked and broke into the camp before being thrown back. After 5 turns there was 1 point in it. A further round of combat saw the defenders losing more units and the attackers winning by 6.     

 

The decisive attack

Game 2 - Taverno vs Montegrifone

This game had some additional jeopardy as the winner would place second and so be one of the commanders for the campaign finale. The defenders massed their infantry in the front of the camp, with horse holding the rest.     

Taverno infantry ready to attack 

Montegrifone defenders

The attackers surged forward, looking to exploit the absence if the defenders generals, and met with initial success as they broke into the camp. Some strong counter attacks pushed them back with the results in the balance.  

Eventually the Montegrifone army was able to eject the Taverno forces from their camp and claim the win. 

Defenders break out of the camp

Campaign Results

This final game left Roccamurata (8.5),  Montegrifone (8) and Taverno (7) in the top 3 spots. Fiorento (5) were just clear of the pack who were mostly on (3) to (3.5) points. So the final battle will be Red vs Blue.   

Italian Wars - week 9

Just the one battle this week with Virezza attacking its neighbour Taverno. The scenario was Take the Land - a simple land grap with 3 objectives to take. Roccamurata acted as allies for the Virezza forces.

Virezza advances

Taverno centre

Roccamurata allied forces

Virezza made the early running by taking the central hill and their allies putting pressure on the Taverno forces in the objective near their own deployment zone. The Allied forces enjoyed an artillery advantage but this was nullified by repeated saves from the Taverno field squares.    

 

The Virezza infatry anchoring the right side of the line suffered poor dice and collapsed at an inopportune time. This allowed Taverno to contest two of the objectives and hold their own.      

Virreza morale falters

Demi lancers square off

Taverno were able to run out 2 point winners in turn 7

Taverno hold the central hill

So with 1 turn to go before the grand finale Roccamurta, Montegrifone and Taverno lead the way. 

Great North War and Italian Wars week 8

 Italian Wars - week 8

Only one scoring game was played this week and I've no pictures of this as I was late back. Fiorento attacked West Gallomagna and managed a win in the Stubborn Defence scenario. The other weas declared a draw as there was a misunderstanding over the scenario rules, so 1/2 a point each.  

Great North War

With the release of Beneath the Lilly Banners version 4 we played our first game under the new set. It is basically a tidying-up of version 3 with rule consolidated from the various supplements. It plays smoothly with a few errors in the play sheet we quickly spotted. 

Danes (aka Brits) in the village

The rules contain a slow-grow campaign and so we played the last scenario of that, reset to the Great North War. I played the Swedes vs Nigel's Russian and Richards Brits acting as Danish allies.  

Russians holding the centre

Swedish attack on the centre

Swedish Dragoons 

The Swedes has the better of the cavalry battel on the flanks but struggled in the centre against Danish units emplaced in the village. 

The Elite Russian / Danish horse

Opposing Dragoons clash

Infantry clash in the centre

Danes resist around the village

Swedish Dragoons break through

An honourable draw was declared. With us having 3 copies of the rules a  future campaign beckons once I've painted some more horse.