A "Finished" Army, a Game, and a BIG Event

A few weeks ago, I "finished" my Wars of the Roses Warwick contingent... at least to the point where I can field a couple of variations within the framework of the Never Mind the Billhooks army list.

In all, it took me around 4 months to paint, with lots of diversions elsewhere too.

The final couple of units were: an artillery piece, and a unit of light horse with their leader (Squire Gregory Carrodus).

Then came the first game for the completed army (I had previously been fielding a couple of proxy units here or there).

This was a game against Andy Moran's highly experienced Burgundians (aka the army of The Duchy of Haut-Dijon). 

Once again, Billhooks served up a really flowing, roller-coaster of a game, packed with incident, and with a large dollop of "luck" for me... Andy's artillery did, of course, explode early on. I am pleased to report that the new units on my side fared rather well, with Squire Gregory Carrodus (a "dolt", of course), leading his horse to a decent victory in the melee with the enemy cavalry. Sadly, in the subsequent morale test, my cavalry decided that enough was enough, they'd done their bit, and it was time to head for home! Such are the vagaries of the system.

Shortly afterwards, however, I managed to draw the ambush card and poured a volley from some skirmishers into the ranks of a unit of Haut-Dijon cavalry who were threatening to maraud round to my rear. 

And finally, at the crucial moment, there was a hailstorm which so wetted the bowstrings of both armies that there was no archery for a turn, at a point where I was able to charge home a couple of units, including Warwick's foot knights, and the 'Bill and Bow' block under Mortimer of Arden who had been threatening the Haut-Dijon left flank all game. Now was their chance, and in they went. With them not taking casualties on the way in, they managed to roll well in the melees causing considerable damage to a couple of key Haut-Dijon blocks, and the game was up. A victory for Warwick!!

Regardless of the result, I can say that every game of Billhooks is enjoyable, played in the right spirit, and does look rather striking and colourful on the tabletop. Andy has been doing a lot of work on the tabletop paraphernalia, as have I, creating things such as tokens and the like, to make it more aesthetically pleasing. In the end, it's all just a bit of fun!

This coming weekend, the army is heading (with me) to Bristol for the BIG Billhooks weekend event. I'm looking forward to it, although I suspect I may have used up all my luck for a while!

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