Battle of Fulford Gate 1066 AAR - Impetus 2

A few sessions ago we went back to the Dark Ages and the least well know of the Trilogy of 1066 Invasion of Britain battles, the Battle of Fulford Gate! We used Impetus II to play this scenario! George and Rolf controlled the Vikings whilst Maurice and I handled the Anglo Saxons. The full scenario details are included.

The Anglo Saxon Leaders Morcar and Edwin...

The Armies...

Viking Army (VD 22/34)
Tostig Godwinson AKA George (VD 11)       King Hardrada AKA Rolf (VD 11)
1 x Hird                                                         1 x Huscarl
2 x Irish                                                         3 x Hird
2 x Raiders                                                   1 x Skirmish Bowman SB (B)
2 x Skirmish Bowman SB (B)                       1 x Skirmish Javelin
1 x Skirmish Javelin
 
Reserve for King Hardrada (VD 12) (on table edge by River Ouse 4 turns after the first turn featuring a melee initiated by the Anglo Saxons)
4 x Huscarl
 
Anglo Saxon Army (VD 25)
 
Earl Edwin AKA Maurice (VD 14)                  Earl Morcar AKA Pete (VD 11)
2 x Hird                                                          3 x Selected Fryd
3 x Selected Fryd                                          2 x Greater Fryd
1 x Greater Fryd                                            2 x Skirmish Bowman SB (B)
1 x Skirmish Bowman SB (B)                        1 x Skirmish Javelin

Deployment Picture

Tabletop

180cm x 120cm

River Ouse is at one short edge with a Swamp on its bank

A Swamp on the other short edge

A Road across the table centre long edge to long edge

Stream, Germany Beck across the table short edge, swamp to the River Ouse

Fords at the Road crossing and 2 BWs from the Swamp on Stream

Fords can be crossed without Disorder

The River Ouse can not be entered by Units

The Stream and Swamp Disorder Units

Unit Bases are 12cm

Anglo Saxons to Left

Earl Edwin deployed between the River and the Road

Earl Morcar deployed between the Road and the Swamp

Vikings to the Right

King Hardrada deployed between the River and the Road

Tostig Godwinson deployed between the River and the Road

 
Victory Conditions...
 
Anglo Saxons Win a Marginal Victory breaking the Viking army
Anglo Saxons Win a Major Victory breaking the Viking army with at least ONE Unit South of the Germany Beck
Vikings Win a Marginal Victory breaking the Anglo-Saxon army
Vikings Win a Major Victory breaking the Anglo Saxons army with at least ONE Unit North of the Germany Beck
 
Special Rules...

Shield Wall if used as a reaction requires a test and will FAIL on a roll of ‘1’, no shield walls allowed on first turn of close combat/melee (not shooting) in the game.
Breakpoints is by Army only.
Anglo Saxon Army Break Point Value is 16
Viking Army Break Point value before Reinforcements is 12
Viking Army Break Point value before once Reinforced is 18
Vikings may only form Groups of like named Units ie. Raiders, Irish etc
Vikings Units must advance northward at least 1 full move each of the first 3 turns, they need not attack
The Vikings initial Huscarl Unit may not attack until the other Huscarl Reinforcements arrive, it may advance northwards but not into the ZOC of an Anglo-Saxon Unit, it defends normally it can form a shield wall if attacked and it can’t pursue if successful in combat

The AAR...

The Leaders of Anglo Saxons seeing the Vikings deploying toward the Fulford from the south decided to take the initiative and attack them across the Germany Beck before they were fully organised! Meanwhile King Hardrada moved his army north to the Germany Beck there he planned to halt and await his heavily armoured Huscarls who were still unloading from the Viking  long boats to the south, but his plans were thrown into chaos when a Viking scout signalled that the enemy were attacking across the stream!

Earl Edwin with his strong force astride the River Ouse had taken the lead and advanced quickly to come to grips with the invaders south of the stream, meanwhile Earl Morcar manoeuvred to pin the Vikings right while Edwin used his superior numbers to break through!

The Vikings skirmishers drew first blood dispersing most of Edwin's archers drawing the Anglo Saxons supporting Greater Fyrd forward into combat with Tostig's superior fighters this led to high losses amongst the Fyrd!

Morcar's Warriors eagerly pushed across the Germany Beck and hammered King Hardrada's Vikings! A series of close combats ensued that favoured the Anglo Saxons and they slowly ground down the Vikings facing them. The men from the North were pushed to the limit and within a whisker of breaking as Morcar's axe wielding fighter took out many Vikings!

Despite Morcar’s successes the Battle was at this point being decided on the Anglo Saxons Left as Tostig decisively defeated Earl Edwin's poorer quality Fyrd with his Raiders and Irishmen. He then turned his men to strike at Morcar’s flank and support King Hardrada’s beleaguered forces.

With his flank in peril Earl Morcar launched a final grand charge to break through King Hardrada's thinning shield wall, unfortunately this attack was unsuccessful, this failure plus the arrival from the Viking boats of Hardrada's Huscarls ensured a victory for the invaders! The Anglo Saxons were broken and fled from the field!

Some Pictures...

The opposing armies face off Anglo Saxons to the left and Vikings to the right!

Earl Edwin...

The Anglo Saxon right advances...

...as does its left!

King Hardrada's Vikings prepare to accept combat with the oncoming Anglo Saxons.

Tostig's Command holds off the advancing Fyrd at a frightful cost.

Hardrada's men take heavy losses from the Anglo Saxons of Earl Edwin and fall back from the Germany Beck.

Morcar's weaker forces begin to crumble before hammer blows from the Viking right wing!

Earl Morcar's last effective force of Fyrd try to support the left flank of earl Edwin's rampaging men...

The Fyrd on the extreme right of the Anglo Saxons line advance!

Viking reinforcements arrive just in the nick of time to save King Hardrada's Army!

The Anglo Saxons remaining units fall back as the fresh Viking Huscarls advance, the battle is over!

Comments...

A near run thing indeed, the Anglo Saxons stronger right (Maurice) did very well and were a Unit away from breaking the initial Viking force! Once the Viking reinforcements arrived the game was up for the Anglo Saxons (as it was historically)! The scenario played out well, the Anglo Saxons have two options; the short game trying to break the Vikings early (which we tried) or the long game hope to break the Vikings defending the Germany Beck and try for minor victory. Again Impetus rules worked great! We really enjoyed playing it hopefully others may give this a try and let us know how it plays out for them!

Margaritas at the Cementerio - A Song of Drums & Shakos Texas Revolution 1836 AAR

Well the third game of our Texas Revolution Campaign is done and dusted! This game used the Reinforcements Scenario from the More Song of Drums & Shakos Rule Book. I took control of the Texians and George and Rolf controlled the Mexicans!

The height of the action at the Cementario!

The Forces…

Texians

New Orleans Greys
Nathaniel R. Brister Regimental Adjutant; Q 4 C2 Sword, Pistol Leader

Pvt David N. Burke; Q 4 C2 Musket Steadfast

Pvt Herman Ehrenberg; Q 4 C2 Musket Steadfast

Pvt Joseph H. Spohn; Q 4 C2 Musket Steadfast

Pvt John Rees; Q 4 C2 Musket Steadfast

Pvt Horatio Cunningham; Q 4 C2 Musket Steadfast

Pvt Abney Holmes; Q 4 C2 Musket Steadfast

Tejano Manuel Q 4 C2 Pistol, Sword NCO

4 x Tejano Juan Q 4 C2 Musket

1 x Tejano Juan Q 4 C2 Pistol

Mexicans

Soldados and Cazadores from the San Luis Battalion with Light Cavalry Support

Initial Cemetery Defenders

Sergeant Banderas Q 4 C2 Light with Rifle NCO

5 x Privates; Q 4 C2 Light with Muskets

Reinforcement

Captain Del Toro; Q 4 C2 Sword, Pistol Leader

6 x Infantry Privates; Q 4 C2 Musket Wavering

3 x Light Cavalry; Q4 C2 Carbine, Sword, Lance May Dismount

* the Cavalry can dismount and discard their horse losing the option to remount or two may act on foot while a third holds the horse

The AAR…

After successfully defeating the Mexican Patrol that had carried off vital Texians supplies Brister reinforced with local Tejanos divided his force to locate the defeated Mexicans and finish them off. He lead his New Orleans Greys southwards while the Alabamians moved off westward.

******

After retreating from the Hacienda Sergeant Banderas was ordered to hold a strongpoint at a remote cemetery while his Officer Captain Del Toro sourced ammunition and reinforcements so they could resumed their Patrols Task.

******

Banderas and his Cazadores had just settled down when musket shots disturbed the peace. Banderas looked about and saw Revolutionaries, he cursed these Devilish Texians how had they caught up with him so quickly, he ordered his Cazadores to stand too and open fire!

Under the covering fire of the Greys Tejano Leader Manuel led his men forward within minutes he was wounded along with several others and his remaining men fled to join the Greys!

With his attempt at at Coup de Main  in taters Brister led his Greys forward but not toward the cemetery but toward another group of Soldados who had arrived and who were approaching the cemetery to reinforce it's defenders. Privates Horatio Cunningham and Abney Holmes led this advanced and opened up hot and accurate fire on the Mexicans. They quickly scored hits which resulted in one Soldado surrendering to them and most of the rest scarpering! Little did they know but their first shot had wounded Captain Del Toro who dropped to the ground writhing in pain and on seeing this most of his men fled in terror!

With the Mexicans reinforcements defeated Brister turned his men onto the cemetery and what followed was a heated closeup exchange of fire. The firefight looked to be favouring the Texians until some Mexican Cavalry arrived and decisively turned the tide!

With the odds now against them Brister ordered his men to retire. His Texians had pushed the Mexicans to their breaking point but once his enemy received Cavalry support he knew he had shot his bolt, he decided he needed to locate the boys from Alabama and combine with them before taking on these Mexicans again!

A Mexican Victory! Viva Santa Anna! With the Revolutionaries falling back Sergeant Banderas gathered the remaining Mexicans together and rewarded them with shots! Being short of his favourite Tequila he 'watered' the shots down with other items in his pack some Curacao and Lime Juice he was surprised the troops really enjoyed the mix and asked for more!

Meanwhile a frustrated Captain Del Toro his forehead wound dressed prepared himself to enter the fray again, he swore he would wipe out these Texians! 

Pictures…

I didn't take many on the night so I hope you enjoy what there is!

Sergeant Banderas and his Cazadores prepare to meet the Revolutionaries!

Nathaniel R. Brister's New Orleans Greys give the Tejanos covering fire as the advance on the Mexicans.

'El Avancxe!, ElAvance! forward rush the Tejanos right into a blistering barrage of defensive fire!

Much later after the Tejanos attack had failed and the Mexican Soldado reinforcements had been defeated Brister leads the Greys into action once the reinforcing Mexican Soldados had been repelled!

The New Orleans Greys on the brink of victory as they clear a section of the defenders walls!

But the Dismounted Mexican Cavalry restore the defences...

...while Mounted Mexicans clear all before them!

The High Water Mark of the Texians attack saw Pvt Herman Ehrenberg actually breach the defences and enter the Cemetery, he was quickly pushed back out and Brister's men retired beaten but not defeated!

Battlefield at the end of play...

Summary...

The Mexicans were handled well and scored a solid victory over the Texians, well done to George and Rolf. we played SDS as written again and with balanced Quality Forces it worked well. Two things of interest, when Captain Del Toro hit the dirt wounded and his Soldados took their morale checks we forgot the Wavering modifier that may have been significant and secondly the Texians casualties totalled six killed and wounded ALL of whom were Tejanos not one New Orleans Grey was hit that's very strange. The fourth game in this campaign is set to go and we're all eager to revisit the Texas Revolution of 1936 again!

FUBAR Moon Skirmish!

Well as if I don't have enough genres of Figures in my collection I've added another! I saw some Black Site Lunar Astronauts for sale so bought them! Okay then add a moon surface mat and a Lunar Lander and I'm just about done (I'll make up some crates, Lunar surface experiment pieces and that should be it). This is not getting any bigger figure wise than it is now.

Now Rules, I didn't like the reviews on the Black Site Lunar rules so decided I'll try adapting FUBAR and see how it goes. Initial trials seemed alright but there's still a few things to work out: movement rates, ammo recording, falling down tests (apparently reading about the Moon the chances of falling over are not surprisingly high if you more than shuffle around!) and pressure suit repairs but basics work okay...

I'll keep you posted!

Impetus Ancients AAR - 'TSOG Christmas Game 2025'

Well 2025 went like a shot and we're already in February for 2026 my where does the time go? Actually I've read an interesting article on how time seems to go quicker the older you get but I won't bore you with that on the TSOG Blog! Okay went with an old favourite scenario of mine there's a central objective and you need to have a unit within a set distance of it (in this case 2 Base Widths) when you break your opponents Army, it works well to get both sides moving so you can't just sit back and defend! Note if you break your opposition while not close enough to the objective the games ends in a DRAW! This time we had Romans and Barbarians in play using Impetus rules!

Our Christmas themed objective can just be made out in the centre of the battlefield ss the armies advance! A pretty tenuous Christmas link I know but worked for us...

Forces

Romans (Maurice & Pete)

2 x Reliable Leaders

6 x FP Legionary Units

2 x Auxilia Units

4 x S Bowman/Slinger Units

2 x CM Cavalry

2 x CL Cavalry

Off Table Reserve

2 x Auxilia Units

The Barbarians (George)

2 X Reliable Leaders

14 x FP Impetuous warrior Units

6 x S Slinger/Bowman Units

6 x CM Cavalry Units

AAR

This was a pretty balanced all in fight!

Both sides were required to advance to secure victory so there was no hanging around. The Barbarians acted as a single force advancing along the whole line whilst Roman Consuls Maurice and Peter both tried different tactics!

In the early turns the Roman Left handily destroyed the Barbarian Cavalry guarding their opponents flank and then moved into a line near the objective and awaited the Barbarians, meanwhile the Roman Right charged the Barbarians but their Units ran out of steam and did not make contact with their foes leaving their Legionaries with no skirmisher screen.

The Barbarians then launched a barrage of missile fire at the Romans and charged home! During the next three turns there was continuous combat along the whole line! The Roman Left held firm and pushed the attacking masses back with grievous casualties but the Barbarians inflicted losses on the Roman Left pushing it back and they came within a whisker of breaking the line!

With a reserve Unit moving up to assist Consul Maurice, the Roman Left destroyed the Barbarians facing them (eg broke them) which was enough to put the entire Barbarian army into flight!

A Great Roma Victory, well just...

Some Pictures

The Armies advance the Romans are to the right, Barbarians the left...

Surprisingly the Roman Horse on their extreme Left brush the Barbarian Horse aside... 

allowing them to focus their attention on the Foot Warriors!

The Barbarian Left taunts their Roman foes, it works and draws them forward!

The Roman Right Brazenly Charges but falls short of the Barbarian line!

Uh Oh...

The Barbarians unleash their fury on the stalled Roman Right Wing!

It is not long before the Roman Right's line buckles and losses are taken!

On the other flank of the battlefield the Roman and Barbarian lines meet, the advantage here though was with the romans as they had dispersed the Barbarian's horsemen! It only took a couple of turns and the Men of the Tiber put these fellows to the Sword and their leader fled in his chariot!

The Roman Right with a Unit of reinforcements holds their foes long enough for the battle to be decided on their other flank (above)!

Quickly Maurice  dash of a victory note to the Senate!

My favourite barbarian Unit, they had no Standard/Banner so I grabbed a chook from the Warlord Farm animal set, they worship the sacred God of Poulette...they performed well in this game!

Summary

So another Roman Victory but only just this time, their Right Wing was close to breaking when the Barbarian Right broke! It was a no brainer not to continue even with the Roman Right teetering their Left was virtually intact, wisely the remaining Barbarians withdrew! We are pretty happy now that we have reached a balanced forces for the Roman and Barbarians, we have found that trying to make balanced points armies with the Romans and Gauls etc lists never gives the non Roman a chance, perhaps these Rules were written by an Italian! 😁 Next time we may forget the Command Morale and just use Army Total Morale Rules this works well with our Dark Ages games giving longer and closer results with those armies?