Monday, March 18, 2024

Revenge at Sanguetta!

Having been beaten by Stephen commanding Vitelli's Army in the first match-up, Brian sought an opportunity to avenge that earlier loss on the battlefield where he commanded Borgia's Army (see Battle of Sanguetta, 1497).  Of course, I was only too happy to oblige! The players would swap sides and replay the battle.  With Brian leading Vitelli's Army (red dice) and Stephen leading Borgia's Army (blue dice), the players submitted their initial battle deployments.
Initial battle deployments
Unlike in the first game when Brian deployed his Papal Army under cover of the open woods, Stephen positioned his Papal Army at the wood line.  This would allow him to march out without incurring disorder.  
Borgia positions his army at the tree line.
The battle begins with both artillery pieces being knocked out of action by enemy fire.  Borgia brings his skirmishers forward as his MAA move up to align with the rightmost pike block.  As the MAA move forward, the skirmishers fall back through the cavalry.  With the battle line formed, Borgia advances toward the enemy.  Content to stand on the high ground as his enemy advances, Vitelli keeps his battle line in check.  He is not without a strategy, though.  Seeing the enemy advance upon him in the center, he orders his mounted crossbow to take the fight to the enemy.  Swinging around the enemy's right, the crossbowmen attack and quickly dispatch Borgia's skirmishers as they are caught falling back.  
Artillery from both armies do not last long!
Borgia advances toward the enemy...
as Vitelli's cavalry sweeps around the flank.
Seeing the enemy's flank turned and Borgia's MAA disordered from passing through the woods, Vitelli attacks down the gentle slopes and into the heavy cavalry.  In a long and hard fight with the MAA refusing to yield, Vitelli's pikemen retire from the fight much worse for their efforts.  Equally drained, Borgia's MAA do not pursue.
Pikemen attack!
After an exhausting clash, the pikemen retire.
Having repulsed the attack against his MAA, Borgia launches a counterattack.  This attack sends his two pike blocks up the slope against the enemy positions.  With Vitelli's two pike blocks split by the presence of his MAA, one of Borgia's pike blocks strikes the MAA while the Landsknechts crash into the pikemen on the enemy's right.  Borgia leads the attack against Vitelli and his cavalry. 
Borgia attacks!
Both pike blocks go in against the enemy's line. 
Borgia sends in the Landknechts first.  With the dopplesoldners hacking and slashing the path into the enemy, the Landsknecht pikemen push into the enemy as the dopplesoldners fall back.  The Landsknechts execute as expected, driving the enemy back.  With their blood up, the Landsknechts pursue vigilantly.  To their right, their companion pikemen do not fare as well.  Their attack is stopped by Vitelli and his MAA.  Borgia and his men retire back down the slope to the waiting support of his MAA.  Not wanting to court disaster by engaging both pike and horse, Vitelli holds his position on the hill.  He does not pursue.

Instead, Vitelli moves his MAA down from the high ground to bypass the enemy pike and engages Borgia's MAA alone.  The enemy's cavalry is driven off and the whole Papal Right is left hanging in the air.     
The Landsknechts succeed but the Italians are repulsed.
What befell Borgia's Right?
Landsknechts in pursuit!
With his right in tatters, Borgia sends his pikemen in the center against Vitelli and his MAA.  The attack almost works.  Vitelli holds his ground.  Borgia and his pikemen are forced to retrace their steps.  Borgia falls back to the support of the foot crossbow.  Borgia's Landsknechts scatter the remnants of the pike block that they have been so single-mindedly pursuing.
Pikemen attack...
but are repulsed.
Now it is Vitelli's turn to act.  With his large pike block descending the hill toward the beleaguered enemy, first his skirmishers harass Borgia's crossbow before launching a charge with his MAA.  Borgia's foot crossbowmen stand little chance.  They are driven from the field as Vitelli rides them down in pursuit.       
Vitelli moves to crush Borgia's will to fight. 
Papal crossbowmen are ridden down.
Despite the denuding of the Papal Right and Center, the battle hangs in the balance.  Given the success of Borgia's Landsknechts in both combat and pursuit, the battle dice show that each army is only one point away from breaking.  Whomever strikes first will likely see victory. 
Army Breakpoint tied at 1:1.
With weight of numbers, Vitelli attacks the now depleted ranks of Borgia's pike block.  The odds are too great and Borgia's Army breaks.  The battle is over.
A last, desperate defense.
Vitelli and the Orsinis are victorious in driving back these Papal aggressors!

Congratulations to Brian and Stephen for a well-played and hard-fought battle.

In a battle that could not have been any closer, Brian squeaked out a narrow victory as both armies battered themselves to the point of collapse.  Fortunately for Brian, he managed to outlast his opponent but only barely.

Great game fellas!  I enjoyed this contest very much.  With Game #4 in the record book, the tally stands at Vitelli 3, Borgia 1.

Saturday, March 16, 2024

Battle of Sanguetta 1497, Game #3

With two Sanguetta battles in the Log Book, Game #3 takes the stage with two Dave's battling it out for honor and supremacy.  Like the earlier two contests, each player submitted his initial army deployment to me ahead of game time.  David B. would command Vitelli's Army (red dice) while David C. took the reins of Borgia's Army (Blue dice).

When both players joined into the session, the battlefield looked as,
Initial deployments
with Vitelli's Army lined up along the edge of the gently sloping hill while Borgia positioned his army within the open woods below the high ground.
The armies poised for battle!
As Borgia readies his troops, Vitelli sends his crossbowmen down the slopes to bring the enemy within range.  Sensing opportunity, Borgia's Landsknechts emerge from the woods to engage the enemy.  With the dopplesoldners in the fore of the pike block, the Landsknechts attack.

Firing into the swordsmen at close range, the dopplesoldners are compelled to retire to the rear of the pike block.  Seeing the dopplesoldners retire, the Landsknechts press on.  Not able to withstand the push of the pikemen, Vitelli's crossbowmen retire back up the hill where they find support from Vitelli and his Men-at-Arms.  The Landsknechts continue pressing forward in pursuit of the retiring enemy.  There, they come face to face with a wall of enemy troops including the Vitelli and his MAAs.  
Borgia's Army waits in the woods.
Landsknechts attack with dopplesoldners leading the way.
As dopplesoldners retire, the pikemen press on.
Vitelli's crossbowmen are driven back
and the Landsknechts pursue.
The Landsknechts, attacking uphill into the teeth of the enemy position, are stopped having suffered heavy casualties.  With their momentum gone, the Landsknechts fall back down the slopes as the enemy's MAA launch a counterattack.  Faced with a now steady wall of pikes, the MAA retire back up and fall back into their place in the battle line.  Seeing the heavy horsemen withdraw, the Landsknechts redouble their efforts against the crossbowmen.  The Landsknechts go in again!  On Vitelli's Left, his mounted crossbow are suffering from the fire of both mounted and foot crossbow.
Vitelli's MAA pursue...
but quickly retire.
Vitelli's crossbowmen cannot withstand a second attack.  The men first waver and then break.  Despite clearing the enemy from their front, the Landsknechts fail to follow-up in pursuit.  This momentary hesitation is all that Vitelli needs.  He sends his large pike block in a counterattack against the Landsknechts while his pike block on the right confronts Borgia's MAA as they approach the hill.  
Landsknechts attack again driving off the enemy crossbow!
Counterattack!
While Vitelli's pikemen see off Borgia's MAA on the right, Borgia's Landsknechts hold their ground.  Vitelli's pikemen fall back.  Having suffered horrible casualties defending their ground, the Landsknechts choose not to pursue.  Vitelli's mounted crossbow fall back to avoid the punishing enemy missile fire.
You win some; you lose some.
Situation viewed from behind Borgia lines.
Surprised at seeing the Landsknechts fail to pursue, Vitelli's pikemen rally themselves and advance back into the fray.  Still wavering from their recent efforts and combat losses, the Landsknechts can hold on no longer.  Borgia and his Landsknechts reel back down the slopes with the enemy in hot pursuit.  Vitelli's guns on the hill finally find the range and begin taking shots into the dense pike blocks in the clearing below.  
The Landsknechts buckle from repeated attacks.
With their blood up, Vitelli's pike block continues to hound the Landsknechts as the pursuit continues.  The Landsknecht retreat continues.  The pursuit finds Vitelli's pikemen unsupported and among the enemy army.  Seeing his pikemen now isolated, Vitelli leads his MAA forward into Borgia's second pike block.  Charging down from the heights, the MAA crash into the pikemen.
Vitelli pursues the wavering Landsknechts.
Landsknechts are streaming toward the rear.
Even support from crossbowmen cannot stop the pursuit.
Vitelli and his MAA charge into enemy pike!
The weight of Vitelli's MAA is too much to resist.  Borgia's pike block is driven back with great casualties.  The pikemen recoil.  Vitelli pursues.  More pikemen are lost as the MAA catch their foe.  Again, the pikemen are driven back.  Again, Vitelli continues his relentless pursuit.  More of the Papal pikemen flee from the present threat.     
Vitelli and his MAA crash into enemy pike.
A running pursuit depletes the Papal pike block.
Seeing that his entire army is either scattered or in full retreat, Borgia abandons the field.  Victory to Vitelli! 
End of battle with Borgia in retreat.
Wow!  An impressive victory for David B. and his Orsini-backed army under the leadership of Vitelli.  Congratulations, DB!  This whole affair was fought to conclusion in under two hours.  DC, my condolences on your loss.

While we are hesitant to lay blame at the feet of the Dice Gods, this time they showed their hand repeatedly.  Not to take anything away from DB's stunning victory but Vitelli pursued when he needed to while Borgia failed to pursue when the opportunity arose.  Those failures to pursue and press on cost Borgia dearly.  In the end, Borgia's Army was in tatters while Vitelli's Army was still, mostly intact.

Still, a very dynamic and exciting came to watch unfold.  Well-played by both Daves!  

Thursday, March 14, 2024

Battle of Sanguetta, Game #2

Following the battle a week ago, Wednesday, between Brian and Stephen (see Battle of Sanguetta 1497), Mark joined me for a replay of this scenario in a one-on-one remote game on Friday.

Mark chose to take command of the Papal Army under Giovanni Borgia. I would command Vitellozzo Vitelli's Army. With hidden deployment, I set up Vitelli's Army before Mark joined. When Mark logged into Zoom, he faced a green cloud in the background with his army components laid out before him.  Hidden under the green cloud was Vitelli's Army.
Vitelli's Green Wall
After recovering from the surprise of not seeing his opposition and commenting that he expected to see my deployment in order to make on-the-fly adjustments to his dispositions, Mark set out his army.  I think he was joking.  The green veil was then lifted.
Borgia's deployment in the foreground.
When the veil lifts, Borgia's pike blocks are positioned abreast while Vitelli's pike blocks are deployed with a gap between the two formations. Vitelli could be in trouble early if his left cannot get into battle quickly.  For clarity, Borgia's Army carries the blue VBU dice.  Vitelli's Army carries the red VBU dice.

Let's see how the battle played out.

With Vitelli on the gentle hill, Borgia takes the initiative and advances out of the open woods.  On Borgia's Right, his missile troops cover that flank as Vitelli moves down from the hill along the road.  
Borgia's Center advances.
View down the battle lines.
With two pike blocks advancing upon Vitelli's center, the Papal pike block quickens its step and charges into the enemy guns.  The gunners really have no chance.  The Papal pikemen overrun the guns as the gunners break for the rear.  Barely breaking stride, the pike block pursues.  Continuing forward up the hill, Borgia's pike block contacts the Italian pike block in the center of Vitelli's line.  Seemingly unprepared for enemy contact, Vitelli's Italians are driven back viciously with great loss.  The Italians are pushed back, tumbling down the gentle slope of the heights.  Despite having the Italians backfooted, the Papal pike chooses not to pursue. 
Papal pike charges the guns... 
and then drives back Italian pike.
While Vitelli's Center appears to be crumbling, he presses forward on his left.  His Men-at-Arms attack Borgia's massed crossbow.  The crossbowmen are driven back.  The skirmishing harquebusiers fall back along with the crossbow in sympathy.
Vitelli's MAA drive back the enemy.
Seeing the Papal block hesitate, the Italians draw up the nerve to counterattack.  Pressing back up the hill, fighting is fierce.  The Papal pike block is driven back.  The Italians push on.  In continued heavy fighting, losses mount to both combatants but the Italians waver.  With one more push from Papal troops, the Italians have seen enough and break toward the rear.     
Heavy fighting in the center...
as the pike blocks grind each other down.
Witnessing the destruction of the Italian pikemen, Vitelli's second pike block wheels to better bring the enemy to bear.  In the distance, Borgia's MAA work their way around the enemy right.  In the foreground, Vitelli's MAA continue to pressure Borgia's Right.  Vitelli's MMA sweep around and strike the crossbow.  The crossbowmen are scattered as the MAA move into the Papal rear. 
Vitelli's MAA empty the Papal rear
after destroying enemy crossbow.
With the enemy right collapsing, Vitelli's second pike block pushes forward toward the center.  As the pikemen approach the enemy, the Papal pike charges into Vitelli's pikemen.  In very heavy fighting, the two blocks grind each other down until both formations are cut in numbers by two-thirds.  Finally, Vitelli's pikemen are forced back.  Exhausted, Borgia's pike block fails to follow-up.   
Vitelli's pike heads back into the center.
Push of pike grinds down both combatants.
Battle situation as battle breaks down
into a number of smaller clashes.
Seeing the Papal rear devoid of troops, Vitelli swings his MAA about to bring the enemy guns into sight.  Vitelli strikes the Papal guns before they can respond to this new threat.  The guns are easily overrun.  If Vitelli can quickly swing around, he will be able to lead a charge into the rear of the enemy Landsknecht pike block.  Whichever commander destroys the next enemy unit, the spoils of war and victory fall to him.
Vitelli free to roam in the Papal rear.
Vitelli overruns the guns!
Unfortunately, time has run out for Vitelli.  Borgia leads his MAA into an attack against the remnants of an enemy pike block as it retreats.  Wavering, the pikemen can take no more.  The pike block dissolves and the battle is over.  
Borgia breaks the enemy pike block.
Borgia, the Papal Army, and Mark are victorious!  Well done, Mark!

While the battle began with a strong push by Borgia's Papal Army in the center, its hesitation after successfully driving the enemy back gave Vitelli just enough time to regroup and launch a counterstroke.  Vitelli made a valiant attempt to rebalance the fight by emptying the Papal rear of troops.  The race was then on to break the enemy's will to fight.  Unfortunately for Vitelli, it would be his army that was the first to collapse.

Great game!  After a dismal start, Vitelli fought back to see victory almost within his grasp.  Still, it was not to be and Borgia (and Mark) emerged victorious in a hard-fought battle.

Mark is a very tough foe.  In a one-on-one battle, I am unsure if I have ever won against my formidable opponent.

Maybe next time, my friend.