As I had a rare afternoon to myself (and likely the last for a while when "real life" starts back next week) I thought I'd bring out the Crusaders and Saracens for one last hurrah and play a proper game of To the Strongest!
This was just a straight battle, 150 points each on open terrain.
The Saracen forces under Saladin:
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/61Db3Z293ZBYonnoxakf0nGOPtn5kgRA58wVf6SCHLimC5RFbtrmrjLZYqRqfDS6_CEPAca5OpYXgoiQbXMV1J7I74MpUds9k-kzi5xNOyuQSDRcfBEpkBt76gN6e9FQka1Dm0eAOgk=w1366-h271-no)
The Crusader army under Richard:
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/lfZR7GVBggh2nAFvuQcIXJC00ciRK8TW2JXQhRK_w6ir3881esc_rZzgj_Q9Mcce2MKh5Liv0IYyPNiyH832_m5H88KzicWUuSMgjePAVGeQL-lJO_VZxTHZWa_LMoM-28ky9ve8xaA=w1366-h217-no)
Facing each other down:
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/heIo4KIrbC2MSQ1Kzs-DRe1oJH3LgxMoXOzvh-UghrxKckUjkISGGC5Ooryyf6oYxDRzkAKlDJeHPLKb8SL_yBiUfML1O6G__EgTw66JfBfU-fhGY_8Dl9wv6ic10au2XjL9O2T5dH0=w813-h667-no)
When cards were drawn for the initiative, Richard thought for sure he had lost with a measly 2, only to be pleasantly surprised when his arch nemesis drew an Ace, ceding the first move to Richard.
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/zc7P_nPxRq2dU2emZOvrUwiV3mxrF4gBAvbCbvq14pVKb4w7Cgay3F_ANZoWlSx77_A6FNKKVmdbg0iGCLOAY8C5GiCS3BV-z4AXABqcddZG4O8BoqWQyfp1lxgUtLMICGx8dBbajtE=w1324-h667-no)
The Knights Templar leapt into action, rapidly advancing up the left flank in an attempt to ride down the archers and cavalry before they could unleash their hailstorm of arrows on them. The Holy Order Knights crashed into the Mameluke cavalry pushing them into disorder, but they fight back valiantly and the knights find themselves disordered as well. The turcopoles fire off a few timid potshots at the Sudanese skirmishers but their arrows fly wide. The mounted sergeants on the far left of the Templar line move sluggishly up, showing an unholy hesitancy unworthy of their devoted brethren!
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/tuAubr7PrWgP1wUb2IaMLWUXFk1LR-m9TAuIkAXQRpTSitf0GDIlRFzAwdqRVB_EMuEKtVPU6mpwGDWe61Ru0iQN7UPLbkdrxKaihV2kDWvpz_-lOam3rv6gOM91eoFCJmpQrMSo7QM=w501-h667-no)
More cautious than the headstrong Templar, Richard moves his forces up to the centre preparing in good order, sending a detachment of knights to back up the left's advance. The Hospitaliers on the right, usually even more ferociously unruly than the Templar, follow Richard's push to the centre in good order showing a rare restraint.
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/1cBKmMjdo99dFH68jxXhuQbZOJ9yZ4aD1sEpN2Wg5amP4YF24Itogwvdn2PZDUYobxdvjhvoiGCURey23OlabhS9m-mbZhhjCd6ca4j2g1E9-1C9zUO4Biyav_iE-7HAJGrAyoQpyXs=w501-h667-no)
Undaunted by the rapid advance of the Templar upon them, the Sudanese archers and skirmishers showed their worth, unleashing a devastating rain of projectiles into the exposed turcopole cavalry, leaving nothing but the cries of the fallen infidel where two units had previously stood. On the left flank, a steady advance upon the Hospitaliers ended in a stalemate, with the projectiles falling short and leaving the Crusaders unharmed. Meanwhile, concerned about the Templar advance on his right flank, Saladin peeled off two units of cavalry to intercept them while moving the rest of his forces up to meet Richard's.
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/kpT0jwzCMkv1kuEi40jRuzJl_EpdsQ9DkgzdKkx528UvILLxpGxUlFf52w3Qc_GXIizlW8FxeLR3zrx7pFXEeOX1YIX0EwMFGq6hH86HVFMq4lO4Z6nYze6jYJpUXGKheb7I9bpBJNo=w890-h667-no)
The cavalry launched themselves forward unleashing arrow after arrow into the Templar flank. Allah blessed each shot so that it found its mark, obliterating the mighty Knights of the Holy Order and severely wounding Grand Master Robert IV leaving his few surviving men to drag him from the battlefield. The Templars had suffered a devastating blow. Richard's knights, seeing the mightiest of God's soldiers brought low by the arrows of the heathen began to waver.
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/x94QGQz2X1uRcSxHeQ7gQbLOoVopOjgbODN0ruoeLoOz9FNYuHA7qR5Y_CQKc2tmsqltCLXW5RBAMVYSO8tn-MkQIMkEOLbDQgCyCYH3ZD8qn26HtzXwWyWGF5d8IscYNvMpPJL4TJg=w712-h534-no)
The Hospitaliers on the right flank prove sluggish in their actions, perhaps wary after news reached them of what was happening to their Templar brothers. A half-hearted charge by the knights was repulsed and the crossbowmen failed miserably to hit anything. Richard, knowing he had to do something drastic or face the collapse of his lines raised his sword above his head and with a roar charged headlong at Saladin's elite cavalry bodyguard. His archers unleash a volley to soften up the ranks before the mighty knights crashed into the elite guard and with the Almighty at their backs, they tore through the cavalry and swept around the back of Saladin's lines. Saladin himself escaped the fall of his guards and found refuge amongst another unit, though Richard was not far behind him. Mesmerised as they were by their king's charge, the rest of the units under his command didn't manage to do anything of significance. On the left, the remaining Templar forces failed to recover from the shock of their loss and did nothing.
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/GvaHWFHDYhKTD_kGvQl3N-INnBZfH_hxGLthdycvkRN3cUAWM2rdVsXidVL5_Z9ZVj01qnNLipRbWvyPORomYyckiChPwVcWRgp06ihG896Xn0qEzgIUvjMQdGwvtSitr3QhkGRAPLo=w712-h534-no)
Reeling a little from the bold charge of the Crusaders, Saladin's forces in the centre do little but consolidate their ground, however the flanks pick up the slack with the right picking off some more of the shocked turcopoles and the left pushing forward into the Hospitalier lines, doing some damage, and putting some unwelcome pressure on Richard's rear, forcing him to evade.
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/xW65bS2SSVotsyfWj1Wo4oD2KjSiOuv8EZ8xngsgE2jbAW_c5mjF2mFFT1ywMmckUNaYA0iLjvg9ZF1y3ac3_aDGIBLAxNg6inesz-2GI8sN-C6qMVH_BRvvt6HvOKhbg27_8CIlPC4=w890-h667-no)
Remaining in a torpid stupor, perhaps they were too much in their cups the previous night, the Hospitaliers do nothing but hold their lines on the right. The infantry in the centre launch their attack on the Ghazi fanatics under Saladin's command and after a volley or two of arrows the heavy infantry charge forward. The Ghazi put up a heroic fight but the Crusader infantry steamrolls over them. Buoyed by his previous success, Richard launches a foolhardy charge into a unit of spearmen, escaping with his life but leaving his knights dead under their skewered horses.
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/t0mfrstUJoyIS_wGPL6QKX1suMu7_2m7Dy0Ncltyxh5p2UzrSwBaS0b9pznE_qetHsDPwdZjIQRt3c57OfIiGmFWMNXw9LltRBDz24UG2Bzxm2a6fCF1q6p7f2MLmlFTCzbXHce5XpA=w890-h667-no)
The demoralised Templars left on the field attempt to shoot and retreat, but their hearts are not in it and their arrows fall short. Their retreat is foiled by Saladin's careful use of a stratagem and the knights rather than retreating towards the camp move forwards into the mouth of the Sudanese archers, pulling up at the last moment just out of range. The Sudanese, being out of arrows, bring their infantry up to put pressure on the remaining infidels.
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/mwOBdbbxc5_G8pYp45AIaBVe0dhTqDYuGgftZ5fezjX3KWNw-k0FtaJmU-yBE7-cVSygHELGrQfC6uonDlOc5tjPCROyRny8oPmlYo-ItwHPkgfoaZdTsOnD20hG0-W1XxPmor_gdF4=w890-h667-no)
A mighty barrage of arrows from the left flank of the Saracen forces punishes the Hospitaliers for their complacency, utterly destroying the Crusader infantry and leaving the knights in disorder.
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/BizIr1e-jJ4Xp_BBzvp7vup6XeXcT24R5xKn2dAGg5gXfJINOtwQiewO4TWQZCz6xzi3X4GlGRA1VX4_l-h6wFBgt6QOeh8GnmEza_TkbyqKgCnqlPoDnG9er5R7qjXOJ1K1tNl692s=w890-h667-no)
Saladin's infantry push forward while his cavalry sweep round to let fly the last of their arrows into Richard's troops and with his right flank in retreat, his left in disarray and his centre assailed from all sides, he wisely sounds the retreat and cede's the victory to Saladin. Praise be to Allah!
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/qpf7NfbB8bTBWByOY03t1kA9TBV3CBF8Te348DKAhUN5cbf7E365aCp8r9ps1KF8F_AFjSusfESkAD9tXPK8Ns8H0N0JO9VAretjf7MN8zZ6yPEnnTRTVnWglY6CI9tKpA-qOMF8Buc=w890-h667-no)
All in all a fun game. There were a few moments that it could have gone either way, had the Hospitaliers been a little more successful on the right flank it could have tipped the scales despite the losses on the left, but such is the way of war.
This was my first proper time playing this rule set, having only done a demo game working through the rulebook before. It's an enjoyable game and movement doesn't feel too constrained for being on a grid. There is, however, a few bits that lacked clarity in the rules and I spent a good ten minutes flipping through different parts of the book trying to determine what to do when a general was hit, which really ruined the flow of the game at that point. All in all, though I had a good time and will definitely be bringing them out again. Maybe playing a similar battle with both TtS! and Hail Caesar! and seeing how they compare.
Apologies that some of the photos are a bit blurry or shadowy, my photography skills need some serious upgrading and I'm just using my phone camera.
The last few piccies look great.....But I've still got a load of grey 'no entry signs' for the first 5 or 6.....
Wossgoinon ? ;)
Won't be your fault mmcv......But I wish we had a clue as to what's happening with 'wodges' of picypoos that refuse to show up.
Come on... You computer savvy dudes...Give this computer numpty a hint.
Cheers - Phil,
(I mean...WHY do some show up....and others don't ?)
I can't see any of them this time
Chrome does keep telling me this is an unsecured site though
Can't see a thing. :(
What about now? I've updated the original post.
I think in my case the issue is on my end. Seems to be a weird bug in Google Photos that the link it initially generates is only a temporary one, then the privacy settings lock it out again. It must be caching it in some instances as when I was testing in on a different browser not logged in it was working fine, which might explain why some appear sometimes. Had to test it in a different browser in "incognito mode" to see the images not appear for myself (and even then they just didn't show, no "No Entry" sign.
Think I've found a route to make a more permanent shared image, assuming they're showing for you now? And don't disappear in a little while.
I can see all the pics now mmcv....using firefox fwiw......looks like a good game.
Great! Hopefully It'll work for the others now too. The browser shouldn't matter too much, I'm using Chrome myself, I just needed to switch them up to test the image links it to avoid any caching issues holding onto the images in the browser I'd been using.
Quote from: Techno on 04 January 2019, 04:57:05 PM
Won't be your fault mmcv......But I wish we had a clue as to what's happening with 'wodges' of picypoos that refuse to show up.
Come on... You computer savvy dudes...Give this computer numpty a hint.
(I mean...WHY do some show up....and others don't ?)
Do you know what image hosting people are using for the images that don't show? If they're using Google Photos it might be the same issue's I've had. If you have a link to a thread other than my ones with dodgy images I'd be interested in taking a look to see if it's the same thing.
Added a post to Forum Info there in case anyone else is having the same problems as me, might prove useful!
Can see it all now.
Lovely looking figures, how long did it take you to paint them all?
:-bd =D> :-bd
Great reports, lovely looking game too
Quote from: Fenton on 04 January 2019, 07:04:04 PM
Can see it all now.
Lovely looking figures, how long did it take you to paint them all?
Thanks!
Probably around 3-4 months to paint them all. I did "speed paint" some of them, especially the mass Sudanese infantry/archers, so the quality isn't as high on those as some of the more characterful units, but they look grand on the table.
I've some more detailed pics of the figures here if you're interested http://www.pendrakenforum.co.uk/index.php/topic,18100.0.html.