7 players, 7 warbands, each with their own victory conditions (some secret), and about 20 men aside (1 leader, 3-4 veterans and the rest as average troops, all variously armed and armoured, as per the models). This was using the old (but good) dark age skirmish rules 'Pig Wars', and is a scenario from the book. In it, there are: 2 Norman warbands (1 defending their fort, 1 protecting a tax cart trying to get it into the fort), 2 rebel Saxon warbands (both trying to take the fort), 2 Viking warbands (both mercenaries, willing to fight for anyone for silver and plunder) and 1 Irish mercenary band (much like the Vikings).
Having randomly distributed the warbands, each player had their men, their stash of silver coins to hire help, and their objectives, and we set-to for hours of chaotic fun, every man for himself (except the 2 Saxons, working together). My personal role was as the Norman fortress commander and his garrison, to hold the fort and help the other Normans as best I could.
With 7 players, too much happened in 6 hours to cover it all, but in the end, the Normans found few sell-swords willing to take their silver (and actually help out if they did). A Saxon bounty on all Norman heads proved more persuasive. The fighting was heavy in the village as first one Viking raider, then the other, attacked them for the cart and then the princess (a new objective revealed in game). One Viking leader was killed in the attempt by the Norman knights, but his men rallied and came back to grab some cows and pigs. The attempt to quickly get the tax cart to the fort failed, many Normans dying in the effort, including my own leader, surrounded by Saxons and Irish. His fort didn't hold out either, Saxons coming up their ladders and the gate being smashed down with big axes. In the end, only 6 defenders were left to surrender (and the crossbowmen were terrible, missing just about every shot on 50-50s). The Irish played canny, took everybody's offered money and only lost 1 man, but got pretty rich.
In the end, after adding up the many VPs, both the Normans had obviously lost. Then came the one Viking raider (the dead one) with their plunder. Then the fickle Irish. Then the two Saxon rebels, having taken the fort and seen the Normans all but wiped out, a good day to be a rebel. The winner was Larson Landwaster, his Viking warband having well-plunder the village of cows, sheep, geese and slaves, and holding the princess for ransom too, as well as seeing the death of the other Viking leader (his secret objective - which the Norman knights completed for him, lucky for him). Always fun, especially with the horse-trading for coins and goods between players and many petty treacherous acts (like my crossbows try to take out the Irish leader, after he took my money and then did not attack the Saxons for me).
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'Fort Cordonbleu', looking down into the village, about to be thoroughly plunder of cows, pigs, geese and peasants (as slaves) and any extra coins found in the huts when searched.
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Norman guards must make their way through the village and protect the valuable tax cart, they have 4 very tough armoured knights to aid them, as well as their men-at-arms on foot. They also paid the monks to help them (and they were then captured by Vikings).
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My garrison, including 6 crossbowmen (useless cross-eyed fools)), at the ready. My leader would boldly sally out to help out at the village, with three guards to protect him. It didn't go well for them...
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| The village and fort, many animals and steal-able goods like barrels are dotted all
over. But plundering men can't fight, still everything is worth
something in silver (and then VPs). |
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Larson Landwaster, infamous Viking raider's men, approach the edge of the village, keen for all the plunder and also agreeing to take Saxon silver for every Norman-head taken.
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The Norman knights stay in close formation and wheel about. A Norman princess has been discovered hidden in a hut, and they go to the rescue (she's worth a handsome ransom in VPs), but it means leaving the cart, so the greedy Vikings are both soon after it!
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Vikings ambush the Normans, as they are already involved trying to kill the princess' tough huskarl bodyguard. The Normans secure the princess (at a cost), but the Vikings are again in pursuit, and steal here, overwhelming the last Norman men at arms.
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The village is being picked over, here Larson's man escapes with two cows and a slave kid - rich reward if they get them off the table.
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Larson Landwaster and his men jump the Norman commander, Charles de Gaulle, on the road, but he fights them all off, like a boss (on a big horse). Still, it was a mere stay of execution, eventually a viking would get behind him and cut him down, as the Norman guards were wiped out. The taxes, lost!
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Saxon shieldwall and ladders approach the fort, under crossbow fire, which just cannot hit!
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The fortress, soon to come under intense attack, the Saxons brought ladders, and the Irish will not fight for offered Norman silver! They have agreed a truce with the Saxons, and instead eye the valuable tax cart as their main prize!
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The demise of Henri de Cordonbleu, surrounded outside the fort gates, swamped by rebel Saxons, his desperate attempt to kill their leader failed, and in the end, the treacherous Irish finished him off. Meanwhile, Saxon axemen cleave apart the fortress gate and an Irishman seizes control of the tax cart. A Norman lance would spit him (only dead Irishman), but a Saxon archer then shot the knight from his saddle. Basically, everybody is ganging up on the Normans. By the Saxons not paying the Irish to attack the Vikings, they can freely plunder the village and win the game...
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