My first game of the new year was one of Rocky's offerings, "Song of Battle", which is meant for larger battles in the Dark Ages.
The scenario for the game was a "What if" Battle of Ouse Bridge in 1066 between Harold Godwinson and Harald Hardrada/Sigurdson. Historically, the Battle of Stamford Bridge was decided when the Anglo-Saxons surprised the invading Norwegians, who rushed to battle without their armor. In Rocky's version, the Norse were aware of the Saxon approach and had time to gear up.
Both armies sought to break the other side through unit losses; additionally, the town and road exits would contribute to losses if held by enemy units.
The Anglo-Saxons were commanded by Harold and his brothers Leofwine and Gyrth, with an army consisting of huscarls, dismounted mounted fyrd, and regular fyrd. The Norwegians were commanded by Sigurdson, Harold's traitorous brother Tostig, and the Norwegian noble Eystein Orre, and commanded an army of huskarls, bondi, and mercenaries from Scotland and Flanders.
As the town was fairly open and didn't impede combat, Harold took his command up the center, facing off against Orre's smaller force.
Sigurdson's larger force held the Norwegian left flank, protecting the army's road exit from Leofwine's command.
On the Saxon left, Gyrth's fyrd faced off against Orre's bondi and mercenaries who held the riverbank.
Harold's glorious charge into combat was hampered somewhat by his huscarls panicked by some arrows fire by the bondi.
He was joined by another unit of huscarls who suffered the same lack of nerve!
Harold's other warriors had a better time of it, forcing back their opponents.
The Norwegians did attempt a rear charge into the retreating huscarls, but my dice luck swung the other way and they managed to hold. That allowed Harold to rally one unit of huscarls to a better morale state, while the rest of the troops reformed.
Sigurdson's troops crossed the water to engage with Leofwine's fyrd units.
Orre's troops were holding against Harold's huscarls, but the grind was beginning to go the Anglo-Saxons' way.
Outside of the town, Sigurdson's warrior punched a hole through Leofwine's line, threatening to collapse the flank.
Harold's troops were chased out of the town again!
Having spent the entire battle shuffling forward, Gyrth's command finally made their way to the river, somewhat outflanked by Tostig's bondi.
With his troops spent, Orre commanded them to go into shieldwall to block Harold's advance on the Norwegian's line of retreat.
Leofwine's troops were still fighting, but his line was collapsing in the face of Sigurdson's warriors.
We had to call the game due to time, with an inconclusive result. Post game discussion was that it could have gone either way. Harold was likely to win in the center, but would have to then turn to face Sigurdson's troop.
I did enjoy Rocky's rules, as they gave what could have basically been a shoving match some tactical flair. Units could decided when to go into shieldwall, trading offensive capabilities and movement for better protection and steadiness. Leaders could use limited resources to intervene at critical moments.
I'm looking forward to trying this again; I suggested another "What if" of Harald Hardrada against William's invading Normans.