Templars escort wagons 1197

I really enjoy SAGA.  It is a clever game system with enough dark age/medieval overlay of what I think combat should have been like back then.  If I was a lot more knowledgeable in the period I would probably be more offended by the game system but since I am not I like it. I purchased the second edition rules because I thought there were enough changes to warrant the $15 and I still believe that.  I wasn't going to buy any of the other books because I think the old boards will work just fine.  Then I saw a deal for the new crusades book on TMP.  The new book is very nice.  Not convinced it is worth $45 but certainly worth $30; even $35.  
So...

Commander Grayson saw clouds of dust ahead.  That meant trouble.  His force needed to get these supplies through to an outlying garrison and his day just got harder.

Initial set up  This is the escort scenario from the original rules.  Knights have to escort 2 wagons off.  This is a 5 point game.

One of the wagons with Templar's and Italian crossbowmen mercenaries.  ( Italians always want money!)

Saracen bowmen harassing the knights.  The new rules make the composite bows much more useful.

One of the new auxiliary units is "borders".  These are the tough Iranians accompanied by a priest.  Javelins have also been given an upgrade. 

Here they smoked the Sergeants losing only 1 figure.  The priest is in the middle with his leopard skin cape. 

Brother knights finally catch some pesky bowmen.  Results are not pretty and 6 Arabs meet a martyrs death.  ( apologize for unbased knights!)

Mamluks and knights clash near the wagons.  Results are a bloody draw which works to the Templar advantage.  God is with us!

Mid game.  Saracen bowmen are defeated bottom right.  Iranians neutralized near the roman columns. Mamluks battling knights in the center while wagons divert around.  Arab infantry await near ruins to attack. 

High tide for the Saracens!  They attack and destroy the lead wagon.    Remnants of a squadron of knights bravely  charge while the infantry are fatigued and destroy half of the arab infantry.

End game.  Remnants of Arab infantry realize they will not break through the  weakened Templar forces to the wagons beyond.  Better to retreat and conserve strength.  There will be more wagons that need to be escorted. 


Fun game that played quick.  I have never had a game of SAGA that wasn't fun.  Real accurate; probably not but a great way for me to get my crusader fix in about 90 minutes.  


Enjoy

Joe 
 








 

Crueler Seas for Storm in a Tea Cup

WI has had Crueler Seas for 4 months now and didn't publish it so I got tired of waiting.  It is on Wargame Vault if you want it found here:
https://www.wargamevault.com/product/285122/Crueler-Seas?term=cruel

Their minimum fixed price is 50 cents so that is what it will cost; sorry.  I will take my proceeds and donate it to the local food bank here in town where the Forward money goes.   I don't want to oversell it but I think the critical hit charts are worth 50 cents.  It also includes spotting, including quality of forces during the initiative draw, a table for making repairs and alternate torpedo rules.  Let me know what you all think. 

I purchased a dock and some barges from I-94 enterprises and my Dad really wanted to try out the dock. The day before my brother visited Warlord released a free scenario, " Storm in a Tea Cup".  It is pretty fake but looked fun and included a dock!  I don't have my PT boats painted up yet so substituted 2 dog boats.  We all agreed that sinking a tanker looked more fun than destroying a dock as well.

The british set up with my new dock!

Tommy Dad and Fritz Bro

The Germans churn through heavy seas and begin to take fire.

The British coming out to play and trade fire.  They are heavier but there are only 2 of them.  

Fritz Bro has 2 engage the Dog boats while he sends 2 along the side to go after the tanker. The middle E- Boat succumbs to hull hits.  ( After I made a big deal about Crueler Seas causes critical hits we had a dearth of them!) 

In the finest tradition of the Royal Navy a Dog Boat places herself in the path of an oncoming E-boat to prevent a torpedo attack.  ( Torpedo attacks can only occur about half the turns when the seas aren't too rough.) A collision ensued roughing both boats up.

One of Fritz Bro's boats gets tordepos off at the dock doing severe damage.  Boo Fitz Bro!

The tanker starts to leave the burning dock.

The Last E-boat breaks through the screen and launches her eels 80 yards away...  
The world holds its breath...    60% chance...

Boo Fritz Bro!  The Tanker goes down after the crew can't control the flooding.  ( A poor crew has a poor chance.) 

As the Germans slink away Tommy Dad has some measure of Revenge.  The rammed E-boat surrenders ( in the background) with only 3 hps left after which they scuttle the boat.  And the e-boat that sent the tanker to the bottom is sunk after an onboard fire slows them down to be caught by a vengeful dogboat.   Only 1 E boat escapes.

Fun game with family made it priceless!

Enjoy

Joe