Conquerors and Kings: Battle of Fulford Gate

We were supposed to play this battle in September, but an illness prevented us from doing so, so we were late to the "960" celebration by a month, and our Hastings game will be played in November instead.

Tostig and the advance guard arrive; in the foreground, the book that started my love for the period

This was a chance for my figures to meet some old friends - wahj's Vikings which they last faced two decades ago - and some new opponents - Rafael's Vikings.

The Saxon right holds off the Norse

I used the scenario from Little Wars TV for our terrain, with the lists modified for C&K. wahj, playing Tostig and the advance guard, decided to attack immediately on the left. The Saxons meanwhile pushed their light troops across the stream on their flanks.

The Saxons attack across Germany Beck

When the main body of Harald's arrived, Rafael sent them to attack the Saxon right. The Saxons then launched their army across the creek. The two lines clashed, but neither side achieved a decisive victory. The Vikings then decided to hold off in the centre, and attack the weaker flanks of the Saxons, while the Saxons consolidated in the centre. The double-envelopment would probably have worked, but the game clock had run down before the attacks could develop.

The game ran pretty quickly and smoothly, even though I extended the game clock beyond the usual 36 to allow for Harald's late arrival. This is the sixth C&K game we have played this year, and by now we are all quite familiar with the rules and I did not have to revise the night before the game. I feel we are really reaping the reward for sticking with a set of rules.

Stay tuned for our Hastings game next month.