Normans vs. Italian Lombards Part Une

Kevin Serafini and I met at Legions Hobby and Games for a 400 point DBM battle pitting his Normans vs. my Italian Lombards in Sicily circa 1000AD. Here is the initial set-up. Kevin has three Norman commands and an allied Arab command on his left. I have the typical 3 commands; a large and mobile attack force on my left and two largely defensive commands made up of militia spear. My line is refused right and anchored in a marsh.

A look from behind my extreme right over the shoulders of my mobile strike force stationed there to exploit any holes.

The center of my left wing, my attack force looks across the field towards the nasty Normans.

A similar shot from behind the Lombard lines! By the White Christ, there is a lot of the enemy!

A look at Kevin's knights. It is an impressive army, both in numbers and appearance. Kevin's armies always look good on the table top which really adds to the experience!

Normans vs. Italian Lombards Part Deux

A Look at Kevin's Arab allies. They were Reliable, damn them! Damn them all to hell! Wait, wrong Chuck Heston movie, this is The Warlord, not Planet of the Apes.

A look from behind Kevin's Norman knight line across the field at the massed Lombard militia.

Here is a good look at the swirling melee between the Norman and Lombard Irregular Knights (F), all impetuous, all the time! You can see backs and fronts of guys as they see-sawed back and forth. My dice were better.

Here my Lombards double overlap some Frenchies while they themselves are overlapped. It happens that way when knights fight knights.



What's left of a once great melee. Most of my boys had run past the action to crash into the hapless bowmen and Norman hordes who were protecting the baggage. (Didn't they ever watch Henry V?) It was a Lombard victory by the slightest of margins, due to good luck. I am learning not to feel guilty when I have good luck. Sister Marsha is rolling in her grave but I won't go to confession over it!

It was just a 'learning' game anyway as we are new to the rules. We each made and forgave some errors as we tried to grapple with some of the more intricate manifestations of 'impetuous' troops and 'spontaneous advances'. Deemed a success by this reporter, I anticipate playing it again.

Samurai vs. the Fu Manchu 5. Part 1

Got together with Jim Naughton to play a 500 point DBR game pitting my Samurai vs, his Manchu Chinese. This shot shows his CinC anchoring the far left of his line. Interestingly enough *my* CinC was leading my left as well and the two never laid eyes on each other.

A look at the advancing Samurai from behind the right of the Chinese line. His guns are in the center-right which caused major problems for my attack wing.

Some skirmishing light horse attempt to slow the Japanese advance.

Samurai blades and bows eye the Chinese CinC. He did come off the hill and barely escaped with his life as the rest of the cavalry in his command was slaughtered or fled! Luckily his foot contingent kept the whole command from demoralizing.


A view of the Japanese as they sweep towards their Chinese counterparts!

Samurai vs. the Fu Manchu 5. Part 2

The samurai cavalry finally prepares to charge after multiple recoils caused by the Chinese gun line visible upper right center.

The same Samurai, but this shot shows yet another Chinese cavalry command to their left. These guys breed like... well, Chinese!

The lines clash! This view is from behind Japanese lines.

Same fight from behind Chinese lines. It was a last ditch effort as the Chinese spanked the samurai. The samurai had the most success on their right, the flank they were not supposed to attack with, while their large left attack flank was constantly harrassed by the Chinese guns and fragmented to the point of impotence before contact! (Sounds like marraige.) No way Jim was going to let me get two wins in a row with this army. Lots of fun and very visually appealing as his armies always look good.