Saturday, August 3, 2024

Lion Rampant Crusader States Game - Bloodbath in the Vines - Crusaders and Byzantines versus Syrians and Seljuks.

 

Crusaders and Byzantines deployed in the foreground


Syrians and Seljuks deployed


Crusaders and Byzantines attackers advance


Syrians and Seljuks advance


Byzantine horse archers cop a hammering


Azerbaijani warrior infantry charge
the Byzantine horse archers

Battered units retreat in the centre


Last Friday afternoon Craig and Robert came over and we played a Lion Rampant Crusader States game out in the shed. Craig commanded the Syrians and Seljuks with two 24 point warbands, one an all cavalry force and the other an all infantry force. Robert commanded a 24 point Crusader force and I commanded a 24 point Byzantine force. The scenario was the usual Bloodbath, the game proved to be fast and frenetic and very bloody indeed for both sides. 

The Seljuk horse archers quickly found their mark and almost destroyed the Byzantine horse archers in the first couple of turns. It was only a matter of time before both Byzantine units routed. The Crusaders did most of the fighting and only the Byzantine klibanophoroi (elite cavalry) really contributed. Casualties for both sides were very high, the entire Syrian and Seljuk cavalry force was eventually wiped out and both Crusader and Byzantine leaders were killed. In the end the Syrians and Seljuks just managed to hold on for a very brutal and bloody draw.


Most of the fighting is on the Crusaders' flank


Byzantine klibanophoroi line up a wild charge


Heavy cavalry casualties for both sides


Crusader knights charge again



Only Syrian and Seljuk foot remain


Game ends in a brutal and bloody draw


6 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Thanks Michal, it was a fun and very close game.

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  2. Superb looking game, lots of lovely miniatures on show and the draw is a good result.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Donnie, it was a fair result in the end.

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  3. Wonderful looking game, planning a 4 person battle in a few months, how did you handle initiative we were thinking of having chits per turn to decide who goes each turn?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Stew, we just used the normal LR initiative where the attacker goes first and players do a warband at a time with activations. Mixing it up with chits sounds like a good idea.

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