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Battle Reports October 2004 |
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(Orcs vs Dwarves)
(Good vs Evil)
3. Organ Guns or Mortars: Battle 1 (Dwarves vs Plains Elves)
4. Organ Guns or Mortars: Battle 2 (Dwarves vs Plains Elves)
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Organ Guns or Mortars?
This battle report covers the first Vis Magica battles held at Murphy's Heroes (Delft, the Netherlands). We've had a few games of Vis Bellica, which rekindled the ancients wargaming flame after a few years of hibernation. When Vis Magica came out it corresponded with a serious investment on 15mm fantasy within the club, and made for an obvious purchase.
Although this report is written from the point of view of the elven commander, it could be suspected of bias. However, since elves are the suppreme, perfect, beings, this suspicion would be completely unfounded.
First experiment
Cast of characters:
Dwarf Artillery Force, Testing Division: Dick Bax Plains Elves Northern Border Forces: Derk Groeneveld
Dwarf Artillery Force, Testing Division
Artillery Guildmaster (subgeneral), with under direct command:
Grey Mountain Brigade
Grey Mountain Worker's Militia
Plains Elves Nothern Border Force
For background refer to the plains elves army list in the files section of the visbellica yahoo group.
Border warden (subgeneral) with under direct command:
Green Star Mounted Rangers brigade
Dismounted Rangers brigade
Aerial Scout Screen; commander is first level fire mage
The scenario Intelligence reveals the dwarf artillery guild is field-testing two prototype weapons, a "mortar" and an "organ gun". Unfortunately they have chosen our plains as the location for this. In order to stop them a ranger force intercepted them well outside the plains, still in human-claimed territory. The dwarves seem to be supported by some very long range weapons guided by some tubby dwarfs with signal flags. Our scouts have observed the dwarves setting up camp on the other side of a small wooded area, and forces have deployed to overwhelm them (The elves had a 26 vs 3 points scouting advantage)
The Battle
Deployment resulted with the dwarves deploying their artillery in the centre, the militia on their left flank, and the grey mountain regiment covering the artillery and right flank. The elves cunningly deployed a fake leader base on the right flank, the dismounted rangers in the middle, mounted rangers left, obscured behind woods. On the far left was the aerial screen.
In the centre, elvish troops advance until within longbow reach, while the dwarf militia advance through rough terrain towards the fake leader. Still hidden behind the woods, the elvish cavalry and pegasi advance (as leader bases).
Artillery opens up on the rangers, tearing through the skirmishing archers. A duel ensues at long range between the dwarven crossbows and the dismounted rangers and archers. The elves have the advantage through sheer numbers.
When the fake leader base is revealed, the dwarven guild master realizes his error. The order is given to the grey mountain regiment to pull back, whereas the militia scramble to reach the dismounted rangers.
At this time, centaurs and mounted rangers burst through the woods, the pegasi trailing on their left flank. Artillery nearly annihilates one of the border archer units, which retires shaken. Similarly, fire from the massed longbows reduces both crossbow units to shaken.
The elven fire magic helps both keep casualties inflicted by the dwarves down, as well as increase the damage inflicted. So far, the dwarven artillery spotters fail to make an impression with their scientific approach to void magic. The grey mountain elite neatly follow their orders and turn around to retire. Which leaves their rear exposed to skirmishing centaurs.
The centaurs realize this must be their moment of glory, and charge the rear of the dwarves (after their orders are changed to Attack). They manage to rout the dwarves, and are about to pursue when they are given the good news by two batteries of artillery firing at short range. They are nearly wiped out to a man, turn tail and rout.
Due to the heavy casualties already taken by the front dwarven units, their line is crumbling and about to rout. The elvish foot rangers are suffering, but in a significantly better shape. The elves, grinning ear to ear, send in the pegasi to finish the whole thing off. Waving frantically with his arm to signal his troops forward, the pegasus leader suddenly realizes flying lessons might have come in useful, as his steed is turned into pink mist by a well aimed salvo of the dwarven long range ultra accurate artillery. Failing miserable, he is turned into geography.
Still, the elven cavalry is about to finish things off when the lunch bell tolls, and agreement is reached that a victory was had. Although short tubby guys might disagree, victory was obviously for the elves. Especially since the dwarves abandoned the field.
Elves: 1, Dwarves: 0
Cast of characters:
Dwarf Artillery Force, Testing Division
Artillery Guildmaster (subgeneral), with under direct command:
Grey Mountain Brigade
Grey Mountain Worker's Militia
Plains Elves Nothern Border Force
For background refer to the plains elves armylist in the files section of the visbellica yahoo group.
Border warden (subgeneral) with 1stlevel void magic, and under direct command:
Green Star Mounted Rangers brigade
Green Star Dismounted Rangers brigade, with 1st level fire mage
Aerial Scout Screen; commander is first level fire mage
Tribal Archers regiment
Unicorn Cavalry Regiment, leader as 1st level air mage
Random Human Nuisances
Unfortunately I don't have the list for the humans, but think Normans: some heavy cavalry knights, some longbow archers, some crossbows. Also both fire and void mages.
The Scenario
The dwarves, after an unconclusive first experiment, decided on a second field experiment. This time, the help from some random humans was enlisted to provide security. The elves received backup from the tribes, as this constituted a more significant threat.
Again the dwarves are massively outscouted, and have to deploy first. The dwarves deploy the grey mountain troops around the artillery, on a hill in the centre. On the right flank the humans, the militia on their left. The elves in turn deploy on the right flank, mounted rangers extreme right, foot rangers centre right, tribal archers centre in a wood. The unicorn cavalry was sent on a cunning outflanking move yto arrive in turn 5. The aerial screeen was deployed behind the tribal archers.
The Battle
The elves advance on the right flank, mounted rangers leading. The tribal archers advance to the forest line to immediately take heavy fire from the artillery. Taking off, the pegasi take off with one clear target, the very artillery that's wreaking havoc on the tribal archers.
On the dwarven side, chaos seems to reign as the humans are ordered to change flanks to face the elven cavalry. Next turn the elven longbows are within reach of the dwarven militia and start to inflict damage. Fire magic is proving useful in maximizing the damage done. Vexed, the militia advance in two columns, rear militia units bracing the front.
Meanwhile, pegasi swoop across the artillery without seeming to inflict serious damage. The presence of three flying units however manages to create utter chaos in the dwarven centre. Several attempts to affect elvish leaders with void magic is countered by the elven mage, while some of the elven fire magic is countered by the single human fire mage.
Finding the flank of the human longbows exposed, a unit of pegasi swoops in and seriously injures the longbows, breaking them in the second round of melee. The dwarven militia charge the skirmishing archers, but fail to reach the rangers. Taking arrows at short range from front, and flank, they are quickly melting away.
Meanwhile centaurs advance to skirmish with the human knights. They however fail to make much of an impression. Another unit of pegasi swoops over the artillery, again however not inflicting serious casualties. It manages to end up right in front of the artillery, facing the artillery with their tails. A spate of 6-s, and the depletion of their void magic results in one of the dwarven artillery spotters suffering a freak accident, tripping and accidentally breaking his neck.
As the unicorns arrive, the pegasi rout the longbows. Only to get charged in their flank. This is bad news, and the pegasi rout. The pegasi in front of the artillery find out a close range salvo up the rear is NOT a pleasant experience at all, and flee.
On the right flank, however, an enthusiastic charge by the foot rangers smashes through the militia in front of them. The human knights charge the centaurs, who evade. The end result is a somewhat unfortunate position, with foot rangers on their flank, and mounted rangers to their front.
Time did not allow for the battle to be fought to conclusion - due to player inexperience with the rules. The rules themselves play fast enough. The overall result was another victory for the plains elves, with the dwarves having to spike the guns and run with their beards between their legs.
Elves: 2, Dwarves: 0
Overall Impression
Vis Magica is a very interestion addition to Vis Bellica. It retains the fast flowing mechanisms of Vis Bellica, and manages to catch the fantasy flavour quite nicely. The magic system works well, and being entirely effect-based it allows for any kind of "explanation/special effect" to be chosen. As some elf might have said, "Any magic advanced far enough might resemble really advanced technology". Like the dwarvish "void magic" artillery spotters.
Some confusion did arise from the way Vis Magica was transcribed from Vis Bellica, but nothing that cannot be addressed in the online amendments. Overall, the battles were fun, fast flowing, and whet the appetite for more.
Derk Groeneveld Photo's copyright Michel Montfrooi
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