54mm crusades wargame

 This game was played using the following figures. saracen infantry are all Britains made in England or in Hong Kong. the ones made in Hong Kong are cheaper to buy on eBay because they are of less interest to collectors but they're actually better painted. saracen cavalry again are Britains with the exception of the camelry which are Supreme and word purchased from Hobby Bunker in the USA.

the crusader cavalry is all Timpo foot knights Timpo and other infantry is either airfix or an anonymous modern Chinese manufacturer.

I bought most of these figures in quite large lots on eBay UK they actually work out cheaper than buying 28 millimetre metal figures and they come ready painted and can just go on the table.

for this game I used the Neil Thomas ancient and medieval wargaming rules but I did make a number of amendments to these.

The Crusaders had 13 units and the Saracens had 15 units, it was a straight up battle.

Saracens took the first turn and were inclined to see what the Crusaders would do however when the crusader crossbowmen open fire and caused some casualties this stung with the Saracens into advancing as quickly as they could. as soon as they came into range they opened up with a volley of arrows along the line which inflicted a sprinkling of casualties on the Crusaders.

The Crusaders retaliated by attacking the saracen cavalry on both wings.

the infantry lines now advanced towards each other continuing to trade arrows and crossbow bolts. one of the crusader crossbow units was quickly illuminated by missile fire.

the lines clashed, the better armour and morale of the crusader Knights started to tell, however the saracen made use of gaps in the crusader line to carry out of flank charges wherever they could. These flank charges did not seem to bother the Templar Knights in slightest.

after a couple of rounds of melee it became clear that the Crusaders were prevailing. on the crusader left flank they had been unable to break through the saracen cavalry, however on the right flank they had broken through and were ready to sweep around and take the saracen army in the rear. at this point we did a count of bases lost and found that the Saracens had lost over 50% of their bases and therefore the Crusaders had won. also they had lost all three of their army commanders in combat.

it was a really good game and using the Neil Thomas rules was played out in only a couple hours.

in retrospect the Saracens probably needed a couple more units to even up the odds and would have benefited from a larger table where they could have used the superior whenever mobility of their cavalry.

The two armies face each other

Supreme camelry

Britains Saracens

Saracen left flank

Crusader right flank

Templars and crossbows

Crusaders sweep forward

Saracen countercharge

Anonymous chinese made crossbowmen

General view of the Crusaders

Clash of cavalry

The opposing generals face each other

The peasants are converted chinese figures

Crusader general gets stuck in

Templars are flanked - they don't care

Looking sticky for the Saracens

Crusader cavalry break through on the right flank

AWM rules and lists for Crusades

Crusaders

Holy order mounted knights – armour 4+, morale elite

Holy order foot knights – armour 4+, morale elite

Crusading mounted knights – armour 4+, morale average

Crusading foot knights – armour 4+, morale average

Men at arms – armour 5+, average morale, medieval infantry

Crossbowmen – armour 6, average morale, heavy archers

Crusading peasants – armour 6+, morale levy.

Artillery – as the rules, fires in alternate turns.

Saracens

Guard cavalry on camels – armour 4+, morale elite, heavy cavalry

Standard Saracen cavalry – armour 5+, morale average, heavy cavalry

Saracen infantry – armour 5+, morale average, medieval infantry. Move as warband.

Greek fire throwers – D3 automatic hits no save in the first round of combat.

Changes to the standard rules

Crossbowmen – may move ½ and fire;

Saracen infantry and cavalry – may move and fire bows; 1 bow shot per 2 bases in a unit rounding down.

Saracen cavalry may move and turn without penalty. They may fire after moving. They may withdraw from combat with crusader cavalry in the second and subsequent rounds. Standard Saracen cavalry move as light cavalry.

Commanders – Saracen units with a commander count as one morale level higher. Crusader units gain an extra dice in combat.