Lion Rampant AAR - Out on the razziia. Al-Andalus 1482

Introduction

Late 15th Century Spain.  As the Christians continue to push into their lands, the Moorish forces of the Kingdom of Granada try to defend their homes.  A Moorish cavalry unit led by Yusuf Naybet come across a small Castilian patrol led by Pedro Soldado.  Enraged by the incursion, he leads his force to attack.

Granadan Forces

Yusuf Naybet = Leader@ 1 pt with Braveheart Skill ;1 unit of Heavy Cavalry @ 4 pts; 2 units of Light Cavalry with javelins only @ 3 pts each; 1 unit of Light Cavalry with crossbows @ 4 pts.  TOTAL 15  pts.

Castilian Forces

Pedro Soldado = Leader@ 1 pt with Aggressive Skill; 1 unit of Fearsome Elite Cavalry @ 8 pts; 2 units of Light Cavalry with javelins only @ 3 pts each. TOTAL 15 pts.

I'm using 2/3rd sized units of 4 rather than 6 miniatures per unit, and as these are 15mm miniatures I'm using centimetres instead of inches.  The gaming mat is 3ft square.

Turn Ones to Four

The first four turns see the two enemies advance on each other, with the Granadans moving first each turn being the Attacker.  Each turn, both sides' moves are affected by poor dice rolling and the terrain, but by Turn Four the adversaries are close enough to engage.

Turn Five

The Granadan Heavy Cavalry charge into the Castilian right flank Jinetes causing one casualty, without reply.  The Jinete's Courage holds, but it's first blood to the Moors and the Jinetes Retreat. 

The Moor Mounted Crossbowmen pass their activation roll to Skirmish, and make half a move forwards and then Shoot at the right flank Jinetes.  Their five successes cause one casualty on the Jinetes, whose Courage also holds. 

The third unit to activate are the Moor Light Cavalry who continue their sweep round the farm, on the left flank.  The final Moor unit are the second unit of Light Cavalry.  Seeing they are almost within charge range of the Castilian Elite Cavalry, they move to support the Moor Heavies, currently in melee with Jinetes.

Play now switches to the Castilians.  The Moor Light Cavalry didn't move far enough and they are just about in range of the Castilian Elite Cavalry, who must test for a Wild Charge.  They pass and clatter into the flank of the Moors.  A Moor is downed in the charge, and although their Courage just about holds up, they are forced to Retreat.  As might be expected, the heavily armoured Elite Cavalry are unscratched.

The right flank Jinetes fail their Attack activation roll and that's the end of the turn.  Things are hotting up now.

Turn Six

As they have now come within range of each other, Yusuf issues a Challenge to Pedro.  He accepts and the battle pauses as the two Leaders come to blows.  Yusuf hits twice, Pedro only once and to the dismay of the Castilians their Leader falls to the ground. 

Although Pedro has fallen, the Castilian Christian zeal keeps them going as all three units pass the required Courage test.  The battle will continue.

The Granadan Mounted Crossbowmen pass their activation and Shoot at the Jinetes.  They hit six times resulting in two casualties to the Jinetes who have just one man left.  It's no surprise that he fails his Courage test and he has to take a Battered marker and Retreat. 

The Granadan Light Cavalry pass their roll enabling them to make a Skirmish move.  They wheel round and unleash their javelins at the Castilian Elite Cavalry.  They only hit once which isn't enough to do anything more than annoy the Castilians. 

 

The final move for the Granadans this turn is for the other Light Cavalry unit to complete their flanking movement round the side of the farm buildings.

The Castilian Elite Cavalry Attack must make a Wild Charge test and they charge into the Granadan Heavy Cavalry.  It's a bloody clash as the Castilians hit ten times against five from the Moors.  Three Moors fall and one Castilian.  Yusuf is the only survivor, and although he passes his Courage test, he is hemmed in by the farm wall.  Unable to retreat the correct distance, he goes down fighting and is removed from play.  Like their Christian enemies, even though the Moors have lost their leader, they have no intention of giving in, and all three remaining units pass their Courage rolls.  

Buoyed by their armoured comrades success, the left flank Jinetes attack the Moor Light Cavalry that were trying to out flank them.  Things don't go to plan and they take a casualty without inflicting any.  They pass their Courage roll, but having lost the combat Retreat.  

Turn Seven

The Moors fail their first activation and without a Leader, that's the end of the turn for them.

The Castilian start their phase trying to Rally the lone Jinete.  Alas, he fails his roll and is removed from play.  Things improve as the Elite Cavalry turn and charge a unit of Moor Light Cavalry.  Two of the Moors are trampled under the charge and the survivor's Courage fails him.  He Retreats Battered. 

The other Castilian Jinetes fail to activate and the turn ends.  

Turn Eight

The sole surviving Granadan light cavalryman manages to Rally, and the Mounted Crossbowmen swing round and move to support him. 

The other Light Cavalry unit fails to activate.

Relentless in their pursuit, the Castilian Elite Cavalry ride down the last of the Light Cavalry they'd mauled so badly in the last round.  That's two Granadan units destroyed now  Without the ability to really take the Castilian heavies on, the remaining Granadans decide to cut their losses and retreat to fight another day.  The Castilian Elites have carried the day for the Christians.  

Conclusion

This was my second game using Lion Rampant.  The first game using my 28mm late-Roman collection (AAR here) was an all infantry affair, so I decided as I'm still learning the rules to make this an all cavalry do.  

The figures are all 15mm Essex Miniatures, my favourite manufacturer.  I bought them at Salute in April and have been working on them since.  The building is from Empire at War, repainted and detailed and with my own base.

I'm liking Lion Rampant very much.  It's just right for the size games that I want to play.  The next move is to get the infantry units on the table and have a full 24 point game.  And then I think I'll have another go at The Men Who Would Be Kings using some of my Anglo-Sikh Wars collection.