'Oi That’s My Pig!', a Dark Ages game using Dux Bellorum

Editors Note: Ok I know these are Vikings, but who illustrates Scots and Angles raiding?

Setting:

A band of 'Scottish Persons' have been 'Biden' their time and have now illegally crossed the border through a gap in the old roman wall, it’s a lovely wall, probably the best ever; the weather is both bitterly cold and wet but this hasn’t deterred them, not even the presence of 'Ice' stopped them. Once across they head south as fast their furry feet can take them (I don’t know any Scottish people but as I live in Wales I assume there’s not much difference between our Celtic cousins), looking for warmer climes and something to steal/permanently borrow. As they near a small fishing village they can see a glow in the distance …. Is it the warning beacons or just the forest on fire because someone forgot to refill the duck pond?

The game starts as they approach the village, their scouts tell them that it is weakly defended and full of pretty animals (sorry that should read plump).

And So:

The Beacons are lit, Grimsby calls for aid! Will Rochdale answer the call?

With the terrain causing problems the Scottish raiders split into two roughly similar groups trying where possible to group move so as to get into the village as quickly as they could before help arrived. The mounted skirmishers rode out on the left wing with their eyes on some cattle at the far end of the village whilst the infantry advanced on the village. What defenders there were formed up into a shieldwall and chose a blocking position and hoped for the best.

The game would be determined by how many of the animals the Scots could grab and get back off their table edge with each figure counting as one point.

The villagers skirmishers were soon cut down by their opposition but the shieldwall stoutly defended the entrance way, giving ground slowly despite facing two groups of warriors and it needed the General's companions attacking from behind to finally end their valiant resistance.

With the village cleared it was every man for himself as figures split off from their groups to snatch any animals they could get their hands on, as the pig pen was broken into a cry was heard, 'Oi that’s my pig !' as the umpire decreed that one particular porker was worth double points.

Noticing a stand of six cats guarded by someone looking suspiciously like the club president after having fallen down a well and possibly still living in it; a single raider made a grab for the animals. Very little of him remained afterwards and no one made that mistake again (a straight dice throw determined the winner, the raiders bag contained a collection of variously numbered D6’s, the umpire's contained D20’s). Well at least I was having fun.

By now the first groups or reinforcements had arrived, the Scottish mounted skirmishers never made it to the cattle as they fell under a hail of arrows but the terrain hindered both sides and the Angles arrived into the village in dribs and drabs. One group on the right wing managed to save a few of the sheep as their new owners struggled to get them away and then faced off against a Scottish unit across a stream, despite being Noble warriors they couldn’t force their opponents back and vice versa with both sides trying to cross and getting pushed back losing figures as they did so.

The Angles recaptured the now almost deserted village destroying the remaining raiders acting as a rearguard and pushed on after the retreating Scots.

Meanwhile on the Angles left wing more reinforcements had arrived threatening to cut off the Scots but again hindered by the terrain and a stout defence by Scottish bands sent to hold them off this didn’t make any headway.

All over the board single Scottish figures were herding their reluctant plunder back whilst the remaining groups faced off the pursuing Angles however the animals were not being that cooperative as they only had a single move each turn (as opposed to two by everyone else).

Each herder had to pass their activation roll each time to move (an 8 on two dice), if this failed they were offered the option to roll the umpires white dice. For some reason they were suspicious of this at first but as desperation set in the first brave sole asked for the dice . . . which turned out to be a scatter dice and on the whole worked out in their favour. Some people should be more trusting.

The end was drawing near and the Angle leader and his companions had by now caught up with his Scottish equivalent. The Scots were slowly pushed back losing round after round, other raiders tried to help but the Angle General was still getting the better of the fighting. As more Angles cleared the village they moved to join their leader and forced the other Scots to turn and face them. Pushed back again the Scottish general, seeing that his men had now managed to get their stolen animals off table, ordered a withdrawal and the rather battered Angles having had the worst of the fighting overall let them go.

A win for the Scots by 1 or 2 points

Stay turned for part two later in the year

Oi that’s my Sheep!

Rules: Dux Bellorum liberally interpreted by me

Figures: Gripping Beast, Foundry and Footsore

Buildings etc. Gripping Beast, Hovels, 1st Corps

Animals: the above plus Pendraken

This has been a Mr Steve production