Lion Rampant Baron's War Scenario - Skirmish at Northleach 1265

The following is a scenario I created for our big Sunday game at the Club. Please feel free to copy whatever parts you may need or convert it to your own taste. The board setup below is looking North, with the Oxford/Gloucester Rd cutting across the middle. Northleach is in the centre, with the Copse on the left straddling the Rd. Montfortian Forces enter on the left edge and Royalists on the right edge (as pictured). If the gaming table is 6ft x 4ft then play two commanders per side, as we did here, and ignore the Montfortian Militia retinue and Royalist Spearmen retinue. If you're using the full lists however then you'll need three commanders per side, so extend the board to 6ft x 8ft accordingly.

Scenario:

The Second Baron's War:

The Siege of Gloucester (Skirmish at Northleach) July 1265

Background:

During the 13^th Century, Gloucester was not only an important trading center, it also held a strategic position in relation to South Wales and controlled passage over the River Severn. For this reason, Gloucester Castle had endured siege several times (and traded hands between Royalist and Baronial factions). Its original Commander was Mathias Bezill, a French Knight appointed by Henry III as Sheriff of Gloucester. At the outbreak of The Second Baron's War, De Montfort's forces had seized the Castle through subterfuge, and even had the Castle Carpenter (caught under arms) throw himself to his death from the Battlements. After another switch in ownership, Gloucester Castle was then placed in the hands of Roger de Clifford by De Montfort but unfortunately Clifford then switched his allegiances to the Royalists. Our scenario begins at the point where Clifford and his men have been ejected, and the Royalist army is marching once again on Gloucester.

The Montfortians.

The continuing war and siege around Gloucester has created shortages in food and other necessities. The Baronial faction have been forced to seek supplies further and further afield in order to sustain their occupation of the Castle. The main forces are two retinues under Henry de Montfort (son of Simon) and a large number of Militia. They are currently several miles outside Gloucester, approaching a small hamlet called Northleach. Not only does Northleach hold out the possibility of supplies due to it being an important stop-off point for travelling merchants, it is also rumoured to harbour an escaped Royalist prisoner – a Burgher of Gloucester who holds sensitive information about the Baronial garrison. However, it's been confirmed that the Royalists are advancing somewhere near the Gloucester-Oxford road along which Northleach lays.

The Royalists.

Roger de Clifford has firmly given his allegiance to Henry III and has joined with one of the countries other most powerful Royalist lords, Roger Mortimer Lord of Wigmore, to take back Gloucester. They have set out from Oxford with their respective retinues with a large unit of Spearmen also in support. Interestingly, locals have attested to a Baronial force currently venturing out well beyond the town and seizing livestock. This appears to show that the Royalist tactic of blockading parts of the River Severn to supplies is starting to show on the garrison. The Royalist aim is to prevent the Montfortians from gathering any supplies, and also to rescue the escaped Burgher.

Special Rules:

The Forage Carts: You must have a figure within 1” of a cart to secure it, but there must be no enemy figures within 3” of it to start moving off the board. The carts must be led off the same table edge from which the capturing force arrived. If the unit controlling the cart is destroyed, the cart is passed to the attacking unit. The exception is if a unit is destroyed by missiles, in which case the cart stays where it is. Routing units under half strength abandon the carts automatically.

The Burgher:

Only the referee knows which building the Burgher is hiding. He will not move unless escorted, and will not engage in combat. As soon as a figure from your force enters the correct building he is considered 'found'. Like the Forage carts, if the Royalists find him he must be taken off the table edge on which their force arrived. If the unit controlling the Burgher is destroyed, the Burgher is passed to the attacking unit. The exception is if a unit is destroyed by missiles, in which case the Burgher stays where he is. Routing units under half strength abandon the Burgher automatically. Important Rule – If the Baronial Forces secure the Burgher he is executed immediately on contact. They don't have to escort him off the table.

Victory Points:

Forage Carts – 10 points per cart.

Burgher Captured/Executed – 6 points

Enemy Unit Successfully Destroyed/Routed – 2 Points

The Forces:

Montfortian/Baronial:

John De Beauchamp (Commander - Vulnerable)

6 Mounted Men-at-arms (6 Points)

6 Mounted Men-at-arms (6 Points)

12 Foot Serjeants (4 Points)

12 Crossbow (4 Points)

Total – 20 points.

Henry De Monfort (Commander – Commanding)

6 Mounted Men-at-arms (6 points)

6 Mounted Men-at-arms (6 points)

6 Men-at-arms (6 points)

6 Men-at-arms (6 points)

Total – 24 points

Militia Force:

12 Foot Yeomen (3 points)

12 Foot Yeomen (3 points)

6 Men-at-arms (6 points)

12 archers (4 points)

Total – 16 points

Royalists:

Roger Mortimer (Commander – strong)

6 Mounted men-at-arms (6 points)

6 Mounted men-at-arms (6 points)

6 Men-at-arms (6 points)

6 Men-at-arms (6 points)

Total – 24 points

Roger de Clifford (Commander – Rash)

6 Mounted Men-at-arms (6 points)

6 Mounted Men-at-arms (6 points)

6 Men-at-arms (6 points)

6 Men-at-arms (6 points)

Total – 24 points

Royalist Spearmen (Commander – Forgettable)

12 Foot Serjents (4 Points)

12 Spearmen (3 Points)

12 Spearmen (3 points)

12 Crossbow (4 points)

Total – 14 points

Roger Mortimer's Retinue Charges in!

A hard fight around the Ox Carts.