Scenario 4: Arthur's Dilemma

 This is a dark age battle.  King Arthur is defending Britain against a Saxon invasion led by Uhtred the eldest.  Arthur is on the north side (left in the picture) and Uhtred is coming up from the south (right side).  

Previously I learned that conventional figure bases are necessary in battles that have a hand-to-hand element.  This in turn requires a bit more space so this battle is back on the card table and not on the floating grid.  

Notice that a road runs left to right across the battlefield.  It is not helpful.

Scenario 4 has a hill in the center that is occupied by two of Arthur's infantry units.  Arthur also has two units of skirmishers, one cavalry and a reinforcing infantry unit.  Due to a shortage of skirmish figures, I am using archers to depict skirmishers.  Just assume they are throwing javelins instead of shooting bows.

Uhtred has four infantry units, one skirmisher unit and one cavalry unit.  I chose not to include a warband, making the assumption that all infantry would form shield walls when fighting face-to-face. 

In the first picture, the Saxons are advancing toward the hill.  The cavalry is sheltering behind some trees.  The skirmishers are approaching toward the point where they will be within range.   They will avoid hand-to-hand combat if possible.  If necessary, they will attack on the flank.  Frontal attacks with skirmishers are suicidal. 

The fourth Saxon infantry unit moved toward the west side of the hill where they were met by the first British infantry.  They formed shield walls and went at it. When the first Saxon infantry unit was close enough for a flank attack on the east side of the hill they charged, as did the two infantry units on the south side.  The hill was encircled on three sides.  If the Saxons could scatter their opponents, they would be able to rotate and mount a flank attack on the hill.

The British infantry units on the hill enjoyed protection from the elevation and also protection from their shield walls. The Saxons were doing a lot of damage with their flank attack but not so much with their uphill fights.  The British skirmishers were hurling javelins at the Saxons who were flanking the hill.  The Saxon skirmishers were throwing at the British skirmishers.  

Eventually, the first British infantry unit on top of the hill was broken.  The Saxon infantry unit who had been flanking it took possession.  But the British cavalry who were holding reserve rushed over to flank attack the Saxon position on the hill.  Already weakened by javelin fire, the Saxons were routed. The British cavalry continued on over the hill to attack the Saxon infantry on the slope.

Meanwhile the Saxon cavalry emerged from hiding to assault the British skirmishers on the flank and scatter them.  Units were being routed right and left.  The Saxon cavalry flanked the British cavalry and destroyed them. At the end, the first British infantry had managed to relieve the hill but they were faced by Saxon cavalry on the other side of the hill and the surviving Saxon infantry unit was approaching down-slope (see second picture).  This was the 15th round and the battle was over.  27 minutes elapsed time.