The Battle Of Tewkesbury 4 May 1471

A refight of Tewkesbury based on the orders of battle in the Hail Caesar Wars of the Roses supplement. Using my 12mm Kallistra WOTR collection. We switched inches for centimetres and played some "epic" Wars of the Roses Hail Caesar.  The game was tight but after couple of play the club, the yorkist probably edged it.

The Skirmish at Atherstone: A Prelude to Ruin

 This is a fictional scenario based on an actual skirmish between the advance guards of Henry Tudor and King Richard III, which took place two days before the Battle of Bosworth. It assumes that this skirmish, at Atherstone, developed into a more significant engagement.

It allows players to use fictional armies in a plausible setting other than a re-fight of the famous battle. We've replaced nobles with those we have in our collections.

Somerset is advancing down Watling Street to link up with the Percy, who are encamped at the village of Atherstone. Warwick the Kingmaker is on the move from Leicester to intercept Somerset's army. There has been a skirmish between the scouts of the two armies near Atherstone. Percy has deployed for battle, awaiting Somerset's main body to join them. Warwick has advanced on a separate route from Fauconberg and Devereux. He has already arrived near Atherstone and has started to deploy in front of Percy.

Warwick has ordered Fauconberg to advance quickly to reinforce him, sending mounted men ahead, hoping to overwhelm the Percys before Somerset can reinforce them. The battle progresses as nobles arrive along Watling Street

Initial Deployment

Scurours fought themselves to a standstill. Shaken!

Fauconberg arrives!

A Bloody Flank Attack: When the Wars of the Roses Go Sideways

Today's Wars of the Roses wargame, a twist on the classic "Flank Attack" scenario from the old Warhammer rulebooks, delivered a swift and brutal lesson in battlefield positioning. It was a stark reminder of how quickly fortunes can turn when a plan goes awry.

My Yorkist forces, typically so stalwart, found themselves on the back foot from the get-go. I'd hoped to catch the Lancastrians off guard, but the crucial element of surprise was lost. Devereux's division, meant to be a flanking hammer, was agonizingly slow and found itself bogged down behind a thick wood. This immediately negated any advantage I'd hoped to gain.

To make matters worse, just as I thought I had Somerset's Lancastrian centre in my grasp, Herbert's Yorkist division recoiled. They couldn't press their advantage, leaving a gaping hole in my lines. The Lancastrians, ever opportunistic, seized their chance. Their perfectly executed flank attack shattered my resolve, and with Herbert's division badly mauled, the Yorkists had no choice but to retire from the field.

While a tough loss, these kinds of games are invaluable. They highlight the importance of deployment and the unpredictable nature of war, even on a tabletop. And let's be honest, a good thrashing every now and then keeps you honest as a commander!

Clash of Roses: A "Hail Caesar" Debut!

 The air was thick with the imagined clash of steel, the thrum of bowstrings, and the roar of battle this past February 8th! We dove headfirst into a fantastic Wars of the Roses game, powered by the new Hail Caesar supplement.

Thomas Wood and I proudly led the Yorkist charge, ready to face down Ian Sherrington's Lancastrian host. And let me tell you, the new rules – especially the devastating arrow storm – really ratcheted up the immersion. You could almost feel the hail of arrows raining down on your lines!

Despite a truly valiant effort from our Yorkist forces, our centre ultimately buckled under the relentless pressure of the Lancastrian bills and longbows. It was a hard-fought and well-deserved victory for Ian.

While the sting of defeat lingers, the excitement for the next encounter is already building. Roll on to the next battle!