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Test scenario for Brunanburh to help me learn the rules before the big battle.

Hail Caesar rules held out well. Obviously these can be a bit swingy even with the rules like elite and valiant but at least the battle is fun and quick to play. No getting bogged down in tedium and long drawn out battles in this scenario.

Both armies are lined up for battle. I think I might say they are both deployed in shieldwall when I do the next one.

Started with the Saxons

The battle started by the Vikings moving forward but being out of effective range with their skirmishes. The Mercians pushed forward far but the men of Wessex failed to move.

The Picts surged forward against the Mercians and were driven away in rout with their king being wounded. They had one unit left who held the far left flank.

The Vikings rushed forward with their berserkers and wild Irish gaining bonuses in their first charge. The Vikings smashed through the Kings Huscarles and into the ceorls behind. The Vikings also pushed forward against the Mercians. However the Irish failed to smash through and were broken and the British on the right advanced steadily.

Anlaf smashed through all before him. He killed the English King who tried to stem his charge with the Ceorls in the second line. Even the cavalry who hastily charged trying to hold him for a turn were driven away. However to his flanks the Saxon thegns proved redoubtable pushing back the Hirdmen and destroying the Bondi. This left the British on the right the only unbroken division. Seeing his way to safety through the Saxon camp Anlaf marched off the table leaving the Picts and British to their fate.

Thus Edmund became King of all England and the Saxons won the day.

I learnt the rules and enjoyed the game.

Link arrived towards the end to take up the Saxon cause and snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

The British and Picts will need to be one division next time as otherwise the Broken division rules do not work!

The rules favour the Vikings especially when they can charge. Anlaf rolled a triple advance just at the right moment!