To The Strongest - Normans vs Vikings, 7th April 2022

 

To the Strongest is a great set of rules for simple, fast, multi-player pitched Ancients battles. However, we have previously used them for an ambush type game, so this game was a second go at this, throwing a predominantly cavalry Norman army, against a Viking army comprising mostly of deep Shieldwall infantry units. Normally this would just be a bit of a slugfest.

The scenario background was a fast moving Norman force, moving to intercept a retreating Viking raiding force. The Vikings had to get the two baggage train units, off the Eastern edge of the table, while simultaneously having a higher Victory Medal total than the Normans. This reflected the Vikings attempting to deter further pursuit. The Vikings started with 14 Victory Medals and the Normans 15.

The battle opened with the Norman Vanguard drawing a ‘1’, as first chit from the bag and not on the General’s unit!? Things did not look good!

The Vikings were slightly puzzled by the failure of the Norman Vanguard to advance, so decided to advance themselves, to secure some more ground, for the baggage train to escape Eastward. The Viking Vanguard advanced onto the low hills to the South of the exit road. The Viking Centre advanced down the road, to the South, while the Viking Rear took up station on the rough hill spine running West-to-East, overlooking the Western side of the battlefield.

Slightly un-nerved by the aggressive Viking advance, the Norman vanguard decided to use the superior range of their new fangled crossbows, to try to disrupt the Viking shieldwall, to then allow the Norman Vanguard cavalry to charge home. However, these new fangled crossbows seemed to be causing problems and the Norman Vanguard stalled (more ‘1’s!).

The Norman centre (5 units of heavy cavalry) arrived on the West of the battlefield and moved to threaten the Viking Rear/Centre. The Vikings responded by continuing their aggressive advance on the East side and also chose to forsake the high ground on the West, in order to create a wider escape route for the Centre & Rear. The attached Viking archers started to assail the Norman cavalry with bow fire, but the long Norman kite shields seemed a very effective foil to this!

Turn 3 saw the Norman Rear (4 Shieldwall foot + 2 bow units) arrive, but they immediately ran into the log-jam of the stalled Norman Vanguard (still more ‘1’ activation chits plaguing the Vanguard!).

The Norman cavalry Centre in the West advanced to shower the Viking shieldwall with javelins, causing a couple of disruptions. This also appeared to enrage the Viking shieldwall, who charged forward to engage the cavalry. Curiously, the Norman cavalry chose not to evade these charges and stood to receive the Viking charge, but this seemed to work! The Western side of the battle, initially just a sideline, was turning into the main feature!

The Viking Vanguard was still puzzled by the failure of the Norman Vanguard to advance, so decided to take the fight right to the Normans! However, this failure to advance by the Normans, was beginning to look like a trap! A gap was opening between the Viking Vanguard and Centre.

Into this gap rode the Norman Vanguard general and his household cavalry. He was headed for the Viking baggage train, which was now only screened by some light bowmen.

The Viking Vanguard realised this danger, but the Norman foot was working it’s way around their crossbowmen (still struggling to fix their new fangled crossbows!), to fall onto the exposed flank of the Viking Vanguard.

So, instead of looking to mop-up a couple of quick kills on the Normans, the Viking shieldwall began to collapse, right across the battlefield and then Normans seized one of the baggage units! The Viking Victory Medal total just started to dissolve!

With the stalled Norman Vanguard advance at the start of the game (five early phase ‘1’ chits), it looked like it was going to be a quick game! However, the gap opening between Viking Vanguard and Centre, allowed Normans to start rolling-up the Viking Vanguard shieldwall, as well as placing the Viking baggage ‘out of command’. It also allowed the Norman Vanguard cavalry to seize half the Viking baggage. So, it seems that Viking hubris and over-confidence, led to their downfall. A brilliant tactic by the Normans, or some good fortune?!