Downs Lord Battle Against The Interloper, Matchlocks And Magic Versus Gatlings

John Whitbourne's series of novels, the Downs Lord series was the inspiration for this game. 17th century English prelate finds a portal into a parallel world where humans hide in burrows from the top predators, the Null (vaguely orcish but purple). Over time he arms and trains humans in 17th century warfare and push back the Null with the weapons he imports from his world.

There are also some rather nasty 'angels' and rebellions of those who come to doubt his god-like status.

One of the more interesting episodes had a rival enter from another portal, this time an individual who finds a pre-Columbian America or its equivalent and arms and trains its people in ACW weapons and tactics. Eventually he invades 'England' (or its equivalent. A great battle occurs where matchlock men are demoralised by firearms with twice their range and effectiveness. They even come up against Gatling guns. But the prelate, Thomas Blades has an ace up his sleeve - wizards secretly trained in his psychic schools.

For our game the invaders had to set up first and the 'English' know where the river is crossable (only in one place).

                                                         View from the invaders side.

                                                                      The defenders

                                         On the Eastern flank disaster struck the invaders as  a sorcerer cast a reversal spell and an infantry regiment was forced to shoot its own side's artillery crew! Fortunately for the Amerindians the spell lasted only one move.

                          In the centre the knights charged and defeated the invader's cavalry.

                                                 This was repeated on the Eastern flank.

                                        On the Western flank King Blade's winged hussars are wiped out by infantry percussion rifled muskets and carbines.

       Meanwhile, on the Western flank, despite the wiping out of the winged hussars, the mounted knights completed the destruction of the cavaly.

                             On the same flank the foot knights push on against a murderous lead hornet swarm. The musketeers provide supporting fire power.

In the centre a sorcerer unsuccessfully tries his magic. The matchlock men fire from cover but will eventually be wiped out by combined shooting from two regiments and  Gatling gun.

                                               A sorceress attempts to cast her own spells.

                                              A sorcerer accompanying a unit of knights on the western flank has a 'misfire' as his attempted spell backfires with 'perils of the warp' and the resultant burst of energy also kills five knights.

                                      A  sorcerer accompanies musketeers on the eastern flank.

A pikeman unit moves into attack with a much diminished knight unit on the eastern flank.

       The shrinking musketeer unit in the centre comes under additional threat as the enemy advances. However, it shoots the entire crew of an enemy 18 pounder.

                                          The Western flank attack by Blade's forces falters.

                           A Gatling gun is turned to support the faltering Eastern Amerindian flank.

 But then another catastrophic spell is cast and the Gatling crew are controlled to again turn their gun and shoot at their infantry in the centre!

 The pikemen on the Western flank had turned to the centre and destroyed an infantry regiment only to be shot down by another regiment (although that regiment had come under fire from its own Gatling).

    Blade's musketeers that had been kept back at the hill turned and took cover in some rocks, to await a fire fight with advancing Amerindians.

 A regiment of pike men and one of matchlock men, after their success on the Eastern flank march to the centre and cross the river at the one crossing point.

FIGURES: Blade's Army - ECW and medieval, outnumbering the enemy by three regiments and including two cannons and a mortar. Blade modelled some of his units on medieval ones; for example, one of his many sons commanded the 'Knights Of The Round Table'.The winged hussars are my own addition. The invading Amerindians - ACW infantry and cavalry with two Gatling guns and two cannons. The cannons and Gatlings were classed as fast horse and the 18 pounder as field artillery. The figures were not actually native American

 but as they were clothed and trained as any ACW soldiers only the skin colour was incorrect.

RULES: Mat and I used our usual medieval rules with grid references for melee and casualties from shooting. We factored in the mid nineteenth century weaponry which nullified armour except in melees. Mat chose to be the invading, technologically superior invaders.

MAGIC: The rules were influenced by Hacket's 'Fantasy Wargaming' and also Warhammer however I came up with a fast very simple rules sheet. Blade's forces had three sorcerers and a sorceress. For each one a D6 was rolled after stating the spell desired.

 1= misspell Roll again and an additional 1 means the wizard is killed. If he is close to or attached to a unit a D6 is again rolled and that many figures are also killed in the magic blast.

2-3 =     not cast         

                                                                             

4+  = wizard reappears at any point on the battlefield

5-6 = Magic missile 70 cm range D6 casualties on target

6 = Reversal: The target unit will attack the nearest friendly unit for D6 moves.

The wizard needs one move to recover before casting again but can still move as usual. He can also move away from or join a unit.

RESULTS

The army of King Blade prevailed despite the superior fire power of the invaders. The magic, although difficult to cast was powerful when it worked. The spell mostly used was reversal as it had unlimited range and did not require line of sight. The two times it was cast was enough to make a big difference to the battle. 

The outcome was similar to the battle in the novel.