DBA IV/55a Ottoman 1281-1361

A switch back to DBA Armies now, here's our DBA Ottomans 1281-1361. VERY heavy on the Light Horse elements, so lots of mobility. Two elements of Cavalry for some offensive power. Two elements of Psiloi & a mix of options for the final element. Spears (in fact Ottoman Pikes by Essex Minis. I painted a load of these, before realising that Ottoman Pike don't feature in much about any Army list..!), Auxilia, Hordes & Another Light Horse. Half of these were a purchase from EBay, the others we painted.

DBA IV/55a Ottoman 1281-1361
1x3Cv(Gen), 1x3cv, 7x2Lh, 1x3Ax or 4Sp or 7Hd or 2Lh, 2x2PS

-----------------------------

The super mobile Ottomans, all options.

-----------------------------

-----------------------------

Light Horse, Essex & some Museum.

-----------------------------

The options, Light Horse, Spear, Auxilia and Hordes

-----------------------------

-----------------------------

The mighty Psiloi

-----------------------------

Ottoman Cavalry & the Magnificent Ottoman General

-----------------------------

-----------------------------

Up close to the General. Flags from the great Dansk Flags...... http://www.krigsspil.dk/download/medieval/ottoman_1.jpg

-----------------------------

For the Crescent shape on the Banner Pole, I raided the little uns' Art Box. Lots of shiney shapes, including crescents & glued them onto the pole.

BoB2 Welsh vs Scots Common

I'm back from the Gym & Jacks finished his Swimming training, a quick bite to eat, now there's time for... Battle of Britain 2 (BoB2), the Spear armed Welsh versus the Pike heavy Scots Common. Jack would be the Scots & I the fiery Welsh. The Welsh defended so I set the terrain. Two OVER sized hills (not pure DBA I know), a marsh & a river running through battlefield.

----------------

The Battlefield, a Welsh Valley. Welsh on the left, Scots on the right.

----------------

The Scots Common Army deployed for action. Psiloi on the flank to capture the swamp. Pike in the centre. Robert the Bruce, then the other flank with Warband/Bow/Warband.

----------------

The Welsh plan was to wait on the hill. The Bows spread within the Spears.

----------------

The direction of attacks for both Armies.

----------------

Nice view from behind the Scots Army.

----------------

Good PIPS for Jack & the Scots Psiloi leg it to the Marsh

----------------

Owen King of Wales has the ROCK HARD attribute, but would he be able to use it in combat?

----------------

Just in case... A Welsh Spear is sent to bolster the flank.

----------------

HALT!!! The Welsh Army prepares to hold the high ground.

----------------

On come the Scots. Robert the Bruce has the SWIFT attribute, the Scots Army advance quickly.

----------------

Cooeeeyyy!! Scots Psiloi peer out through the reeds....

----------------

The Scots halt, suspicious at the Welsh standing still, Jack waits a turn...

----------------

WWaaaarrrggghhh!!!! Over the river he goes.

----------------

Welsh arrows fly into the Scots Pike, with little effect.

----------------

More Welsh arrows pour into the Scots, still no effect.

----------------

Another round, this time the Scots Pike recoil from the arrows.

----------------
Battlefield overview & element positions before the main scrap.

----------------

Knowing that Jack will 'pile in' on his next turn, I sense an opportunity. The Welsh Spear block charges down the hill into the Scots Warband. The dice are rolled, surely an easy kill.....

----------------

.......for the Scots Warband!!!! Arrrggghhh it's a major disaster for the Welsh.

----------------

The taunts are loud & annoying from Jacks lips.

----------------

In go the Scots, but fortune smiles as Welsh arrows take out some Pike.

----------------

Line up of the main scrap, Robert the Bruce, knowing that the Welsh King has the 'Rock Hard' ability, elects to hang back. The Pike vs Spear combats fizzle out.

----------------

But the other flank is something else, first the other Scots Warband 'steam' through a solitary Welsh Spear. The Scots Bowmen unleash an attack against the Welsh Bowmen, the factors are badly in favour of the Scots. The dice are thrown & it's a double against the Welsh.......GAME OVER.

----------------

View from the Scots line, unfortunately I can't include a soundbite of Jacks 'Whooping'....

----------------

Final positions

----------------

The mighty Scots pile up the hill. Oooh my shame...Beaten by Warband nutters with pitchforks.


----------------

Well, well, now that was a disaster for the Welsh. The combat was brutal & over in a couple of rounds. This one promised a match up of Welsh Spear versus Scots Pike, however it was the Scots Warband proving deadly against Spears. Why.. Why.. Why.. Did I charge the Spears down the Hill?? Why.. Why.. Why.. Didn't I attack with the Welsh General knowing he has the 'Rock Hard' ability?? Hindsight is wonderful.

Campaign scoring... That puts the Scots Common with the Highland & Isles Mob in the lead with NINE points each. While the Feudal English & Welsh lag behind with ONE point each.

Next up, what looks like could be the 'Battle for the Wooden Spoon', Feudal English commanded by yours truly, against Jacks Welsh.

DBA IV/7 Early Crusader 1096-1128AD

GOD Wills It...!!! The call of the Crusaders marching on the Holy Land. Here's our Early Crusaders, lots of Knights & lots of Spears. Half of the force comes from an EBAY purchase, probably paid well over the odds for it. We've added a few bits 'n' bobs to get all the required elements.

They've played well & featured in our Crusaders vs Ayyubids battle.
http://mrfarrow2udba.blogspot.com/2008/02/dba-ayyubids-vs-crusaders.html

DBA IV/7 Early Crusader 1096-1128AD
1x3Kn(Gen), 3x3Kn or 4Bd, 5x4Sp, 1x2Ps or 3Bw,
1x2PS or 3Cb, 1x5Wb or 2Ps.

---------------------

Early Crusaders, all options

-----------------

-----------------

The fearsome Knights & dismounted Blades

-----------------

-----------------
Early Crusader Knight General

-----------------

Rear Rank - Crossbows, Pilgrim Warband, Bows. Front Rank - Psiloi

BoB1 Highland & Isles vs Feudal English

Battle of Britain 1 (BoB1), the Blade heavy Highland & Isles Mob versus the Knight led Feudal English. Jack took the English, while I the Highland Lads. Jack defended & set the terrain, a marsh, a hill & a wood.

---------------------------

Feudal English set up, the attack would be led by the Horsemen, while a group of Spears & Hordes formed the other flank. Fearful of the Bows being 'chopped up', they were kept as a reserve in the centre.

---------------------------

Knowing that the English attack would be a straight charge, one flank comprised a Blade/Bow combo. The Warband nutters would head up the centre & 4 Blades made up the other flank.---------------------------

Battlefield overview & direction of attacks.---------------------------

The English Knights charge headlong into the Attack, King Henrys Skill adds +1 PIP per round.

---------------------------

Pips are good for the Highland & Isles Lads, even though they are penalised by Magnus Bearlegs poor skill ( -1 PIP per round)

---------------------------

'They came on in the same old style....'
---------------------------
The Battle would have two phases, the left flank & the right flank.

.-------------------------------

Arrows fly into the English, but with no effect. ---------------------------

Highland & Isles Lads on the right are about to crash into the English.

---------------------------

Advantage to the Highland & Isles Lads with overlaps. Jacks General is the Green Knight in the middle...crafty lad.

---------------------------

Early success, the English spears recoil.---------------------------

Surprisingly the English Hordes put up a good fight.

---------------------------
Crash, Bang, Wallop, in go the English Heavy Horse.

---------------------------
The Battle is shaping up nicely.

---------------------------
Oh dear, TWO English Knights bite the dust against the Highland bowmen!

---------------------------

.A Highland & Isles Blade crashes. In the confusion Jack forgets to advance the Knights..whoops!

---------------------------
Jack looks worried as there's a few too many Blades now.... ---------------------------

The English Hobilars are in trouble (circled) ---------------------------
Meanwhile, the Spear/Horde combo is putting up a mighty fight! ---------------------------

It's too much for the Hobilars & they fall in combat. ---------------------------

One more Kill for Victory... Magnus Bearlegs is not that daft after all. ---------------------------

Jack is forced to commit his Bows

---------------------------

However the arrows fail to make an impression against the Warband. .---------------------------
Jack retreats the remnants of the English Horse. ---------------------------

Nice view of the English LongBows. ---------------------------

Eventually the English Spears go down, Victory for the Highland & Isles Lads!!

---------------------------

Final Battle positions ---------------------------

Final view from the English side

----------------------

Disaster for Jack & the Feudal English. He didn't play that one well, the loss of the Horse was too much & eventually the English Spear/Hordes Combo failed to hold out against the Highland & Isles Blades.

So Magnus Bearlegs, despite his penalty, takes an early lead in our Campaign. Nine points for the Highland & Isles Lads & a lowly 1 point for Henry & the Feudal English. Next up will be the Welsh against the Scots Common Army...!