Castle Roddis 1100AD.

After spending a traumatic day at the R.V.I. with my wife who had a successful,but not straightforward, cataract operation,I am now back on track to deliver this blog on our great game on Sunday!

The usual scenario and table before any movement.
Because Brian reported in as "sick" with a damaged knee(rumour has it that he dropped his wallet on it,causing major trauma!!) it fell to Graham and I to be the Normans and Dave and Paul to be the Crusaders.

Game on! as both sides manoeuvre their troops into position-this is the left of the Norman position-the village is held by enthusiastic,but not good fighting men,known as "Peasants".

As I was moving my light infantry into position on the right flank,Paul had the audacity to charge down from his defensive hill!!!-the ensuing melee went on for about 3 moves,neither of us wanting to give ground-marvelous stuff,great knife-edge wargaming.

This is an over-head shot of the "developing" left flank-someone has got to order a charge soon!!

They both did!!-this was spectacular,and again neither side was willing to give way,but Graham has sneaked a unit of knights into a position on Dave's flank-could this be the winning tactic??

Meanwhile, on the right,I have isolated and surrounded part of Paul's cavalry-hurrah!!,however my infantry are trying to beat Bolt and Farrah,back to the castle,as Paul threw a number of devastating dice ,to mince my lights and heavies!!!-come on Graham,it's up to you now.

A wonderful photo of my troops "fleeing" towards the castle-how's Graham doing?

Well,as the cavalry battle rages on(note flank attack!) his infantry,who,initially were doing great, are being forced back-so Graham decided to put his infantry commander into the fray-and got him killed!! resulting in another stampede towards the now crowded castle!!-things are not looking good for Robert de Roddis-there were shouts for him to throw himself off the battlements at one point!!!

The final straw-Graham's cavalry are beaten,and it was decided that the "Safe Passage Tax" was probably a bad idea,and that the Crusaders could get themselves off to the Holy Land asap!!!!!

One final shot of Castle Roddis-there should be a White Flag flying from the tower,shouldn't there??
Another great game,pity Brian couldn't make it-apparently he has pulled his hamstring-get well soon,mate!
Roll on next Sunday,we will be playing another Mongol game,but involving Kipchaq troops as well as Russians!