Geekend 2024 is just around the bend and this year we’ll be playing Saga. I love this game… I have since it was released. It’s a thoroughly modern ruleset… very gamesy… and not at all like a historic simulation. The Age of Vikings universe is just a background to justify thematic battleboards and an excuse to collect foes that may have come to blows around 1000 AD. This leads to a game that looks great and is fun to play!
Speaking of fun to play, I got my second game (of 2nd Edition with my recently painted Irish) in against Phil last night. We played Clash of Warlords and it was a chance for me to put in to practice how I had been theorising the Irish work.
Here’s how we deployed. With deployment option C, all units had to be at least M (6”) apart. With the Curaidh, I have a lot of units, so we ended up with quite a chequerboard setup. Phil got first turn and used Manoeuvres to bring his force together, barely inching past the deployment line.
I moved up a little on the flanks, but didn’t really bring my force together. I think this was a mistake. I should have consolidated them a little before moving forward. The Gall Gaedhil, the green highlighted unit on the left of the screenshot, were poised to act aggressively.
That’s what they did, killing 5 warriors for the loss of 5 warriors. My dice were very poor. I possibly should have sent them in again this turn. I pushed up some Levy on that flank as well, but that was a mistake, not a big one, but still. They ended up unsupported by a Curaidh (potentially putting out Sidhe), but also I wasn’t adding them to a schwerpunkt. I think that’s something to think about for the future: how do I focus the ranged attacks without units tripping over each other?
The units on the left ended up being whittled away. Another melee from the Gall Gaidhil, this time into the archers, was fine, but they ended up being shot up in response. I should have focussed them on removing an enemy unit. My shooting in the centre opened up, killing half of a unit of warriors. I got a glimpse of how dangerous the Irish javelins could be.
Phil mopped up the left and the poor consolidation in turn 1 was starting to show on my force. I kept pushing, but I probably should have taken pause to consider the massacre points and where they’d come from.
I finally started to focus and attacked the central unit of warriors. It was a case of too little too late though. I even ended up sending my warlord into the fray. He was eventually shot off the board, taking out a unit of hearthguard using bodyguard. Again, probably a mistake as I should have just let him die. Phil’s archers were possibly his best unit, but then again, I did march right at them!
Here’s how it ended. Two very depleted forces, but taking out my Warlord and Gall Gaedhil made the difference. It was an excellent game and it has helped me to figure out the Irish… if only a little. I’m looking forward to in person games soon!
Until next time,
Owen