Tag Archives: dbmm

August 3rd 881 Battle of Saucourt-en-Vimeu Wargame Scenario

I had two good options for August 3rd. There was the battle of Nordingen in 1645, but I felt like that would just be another Pike and Shot style battle. Instead, we went with the Battle of Saucourt-en-Vimeu. A fight between the Franks and Louis the Younger vs Viking invaders. The battle was memorialized in an old poem called Ludwigslied. The battle was one of the few pitched battles fought by the Vikings of that era, and according to sources, 9,000 Vikings were killed.

Phase 1: The Raids
We are unsure of the number of the battle, but I think a Saga Age of Vikings game would work nicely here. Set up your French village/countryside, complete with residents whom the raiders are terrorizing.

Balance the two forces evenly.

Objectives
The Vikings are raiders attempting to steal the goods/women from the town. The Franks are trying to prevent the theft. The Vikings must reach a home or a resident to seize the valuables, then retreat to the edge of the table.

Phase 2: Due to the Viking raiders, the Franks established an army to counter the invaders.

For this phase, use Hail Caesar or other DMBB wargame Rules
The terrain has heavy woods. Then set up a river with several longships that the Vikings must defend.

Establish two equally sized armies. The shield wall was the tactic of the day. The Vikings must defend their longships, the Franks must destroy them.

August 2nd 338BC Battle of Chaeronea Wargame Scenario

Before Alexander the Great took the ancient world. The Macedonian empire was already beginning to expand. Alexander’s predecessor, Philip II, grew to dominate ancient Greece. In one of his final battles, Philip faced off against an alliance of Athens and Thebes for the freedom of Greece.

The battle was decisive; the forces of Thebes and Athens were destroyed, and the war came to an end.

Macedonia
Philip II
30,000 Infantry
2,000 Cavalry

Athens/Thebes
Demosthenes
35,000 Infantry

Wargame
The Game is simple: use DBMM or another similarly balanced wargame. For the game, Alexander should take charge of the left flank with all of his companions deployed there, and Philip should have the right.

I built the Greeks with two principal commanders, one for each wing, as they had historically. The Athenians should take up the left, while the Thebans should take up the right.

DMBB Book 2 Alexandrian Macedonian400
C-in-C RegKn(F) (Philip)31
Sub-General RegKn(F) (Alexander)31
Companions RegKn(F) x666
Prodromoi RegLH(O) x210
Thracians IrrLM(O) x210
Pezetairoi RegPk (O) x40160
Pezetairoi W/ Javelines Reg Ax (O) x1248
Greek Allie Hoplites Reg Sp (I) x728
Greek Peltasts Reg Ax (O) x416
DBMM Book 2 Later Hoplite Greek400
Theban Reg Sp (S) 27
Athenian Reg Sp (O) 25
Hoplites IrrSp(O) x 70280
Javelinmen IrrPs (I) x3030
Slingers IrrPs(O) x510
Sacred Band RegSp(S) x428

Use the DBMM rules for terrain; however, the left flank of the Macedonians should have a river.

July 25th 1467 Battle of Molinella Wargame Scenario

The 1467 Battle of Molinella was one of the most important battles in 15th-century Italy. It is also one of the first battles where firearms and artillery were extensively used. The battle resembled a pike and shot era battle more than a medieval one.

Republic of Venice
Bartolomeo Colleoni
14,000
9,000 Infantry (800 firearms)
5,000 Cavalry
6 Cannons

Republic of Florence
13,000
7,000 Infantry (1200 firearms)
6,000 Cavalry
10 Cannons

Wargame
Use whatever rules you want to. If you have a good late medieval or early Renaissance rule set that incorporates firearms well, that would be my recommendation.
2 Players
8×4 Table
For terrain, the battle was fought on the banks of the Idice River. Some minor hills, some shrubbery, and of course, the river on a short table edge.

Set-Up
The two armies should be relatively balanced; your rules set will have good army lists. The Italian Condotta Army from DBM Book 4 can make some nice lists.

Venice 399

C in C x3Reg Kn (S)105
Condottieri x14RegKn(O)168
Mounted Cross Bows x6RegLH(I)18
Mercenary Pikes x8RegPk (O)32
Militia Pikes x4RegPk(I)12
Handgunners x8RegPs(S)24
Stradiots x6IrrLH(O)30
BombardRegArt(S)10

Florence 400

C in C x3Reg Kn(S)105
Condottieri x14RegKn(O)168
Mounted Cross Bows x6RegLH(I)18
Stradiots x8IrrLH(O)40
Handgunners x11RegPs(S)33
Bombard x2RegArt(S)20
Mercenary Pike x4RegPK(O)16

July 18th 387 BC Battle of Allia Wargame Scenario

After a diplomatic misunderstanding the Senones tribe of Gaul with their Boii and Insubres allies marched on Rome. Rome tried to field an army of untrained soldiers who quickly fled the field and Rome was sacked.

Rome

Quietus Sulpicius

24,000

Gauls

Brennus

40,000

Wargame

Use dbmm, hail Cesar or other such rules.

2 players

Standard game army for both sides. Instead of legions for Rome use auxiliary or militia.

6×4 board, with the Roman left flank set to a river.

Objectives

Re-fight the battle. In real life the battle was a slaughter, but a savy Roman commander should be able,to make better use of his troops.

July 17th 1453 Battle of Castillon Wargame Scenario

The final notable battle of the Hundred Years War featured 6,000 English under the command of John Talbot against 8,000 French with 1,000 Breton allies.

The battle was a slaughter with the English mistaking camp followers as retreating French soldiers, and walking his army into a killing field of cannon fire.

England

John Talbot Earl of Shrewsbury.

6,000 soldiers

France

Jean Bureau

9,000 soldiers

300 cannons

Wargame

Use dbmm, pike and shotte, or other similar rules

Create the army lists giving the French large amounts of artillery.

The battle should take place on level terrain with some rough going.

The English attacked in waves with each being slaughtered. Can you attack as a unified force and uproot the French?

July 15th 1410 Battle of Grunwald Wargame Scenario

The Battle of Grunwald in 1410 led to the complete destruction of the Teutonic order. Out of 270 brothers, 211 were killed. The victory marked the rise of the Polish-Lithuanian kingdom as the dominant power of Eastern Europe. It was also one of the largest battles in medieval Europe.

Order of Battle

Kingdom of Poland and Grand Duchy of Lithuania

Led by King Wladyslaw II

39,000 men

50 Polish Banners and 40 Lithuanian

Teutonic Order

Led by Grand Master Ulrich Von Jungingen

27,000 men

50 Banners

Wargame,

Use DBMM, Hail Caesar, or any other large format battle. I’d plan on 600 points of Teutonic order, 350 Polish, and 350 Lithuanian. Teutonic should also have a camp. Don’t be afraid to give the Lithuanian army mercenaries.

I’d use an 8×4 table for 15mm figures. Set the temperature as hot and give the Teutonic two areas of rough ground to set as terrain.

Set-Up

Historically the Polish heavy cavalry took the left flank, Lithuanian light cavalry the right flank, and infantry in the center. The Teutonic order placed their elite heavy cav against the Lithuanians, with infantry in the center.

Terrain

A flat field, some woods, a small hill between the camp and the field. The Teutonic order should place two small rough ground areas.

Objectives

Win the battle in accordance with the rules of your chosen game.

July 6th 1809, Battle of Wargram Wargame Scenario

The Battle of Wagram was one of the largest battles of the Napoleonic Wars. Napoleon took six weeks to prepare his offensive against Vienna, assembling an army of French, German, and Italian troops, 150,000 strong. Austria responded in kind, fielding 170,000 soldiers with 388 guns.

The battle was costly on both sides, with over 80,000 total casualties. Day two featured an interesting early engagement. An Asutiran column with 32 battalions, 40 squadrons, and around 60 cannons attacked the French flank. The French III Corps under Davout commanded 31,600 soldiers, 6,200 cavalry, and 120 cannons.

Both sides were to call reinforcements to the area. Our game will start in the early hours of the morning and proceed.

Rules: Use any corps-level Napoleonic Wargame Rules, ours is set for General D’Armee

2-4 Players

Models Needed: 34 French Battalions and 50 Squadrons. 50 Austrian Battalions and 40 Squadrons. 10 French artillery stands, and 8 Austrian Artillery Stands

Table Size 12×4

Terrain. Generally flat. The French should start with a height advantage while the Austrians assault.

Objectives

The Austrians surprised the French in the early morning hours, but underestimated the French numbers. Their goal will be to seize a French command post behind the French lines. The French must counterattack or the Austrian reserves will come into the field and overwhelm them. The French goal is to push the Austrian forces back to the heights.

Set-Up

The French should be in two separate commands, one for each Flank. Each command should have 12 battalions and 10 squadrons with four batteries. The remaining battalions should be in reserve. The Austrians should start on the offensive with 32 battalions in two columns on the table, along with the 40 squadrons. Each column should have three batteries for support. The remaining Austrian forces should be in reserve.

Special Rules

Reserves. Napoleon noticed the threat of the flank attack and sent over his heavy cavalry reserve. These should begin to enter the table after the 4th turn on a 6, then a 5, and so on.

After the 7th turn, Austrian reserves should enter the fray.

July 4th 362 BC Battle of Mantinea Wargame Scenario

The battle of Mantinea in 362 BC was fought between two rival Greek city-states. Thebes and Sparta. While Sparta and Athens are the best-known city-states in ancient Greece. Thebes was renowned for its rich culture and esteemed educational institutions. It was located in the plains and had many agricultural exports.

Thebes was no slouch militarily either. In 371 BC, 8 years before our battle. Thebes defeated a Spartan army at the Battle of Leuctra.

The Battle of Mantinea was part of a larger civil war between the Thebans, led by the Boeotian League, and Sparta and Athens, which were aligned against their growing power. Thebes allied with the Spartans during the Peloponnesian War of 431 BC, which caused resentment in Athens. During the battle, the Spartans were able to slay the leader of Thebes. Although Thebes won the battle, they were unable to capitalize on their victory and achieve greater success due to the death of their leader.

Order of Battle
Thebes, commanded by Epaminodas
30,000 infantry
3,000 Cavalry

Sparta, commanded by Agesilaus II
20,000 Hoplites
2,000 Cavalry

Wargame Rules: Hail Caesar, DBMM, any other large Bronze Age battle system
2 Players
Models Needed
Two armies’ worth of hoplites and skirmishers with light cavalry. The Theban military should be about 20% larger than the Spartan army. For example, if you are playing DBMM 400, the Thebian should have 480. Historically, the famous Spartan warriors numbered only about 1,000, and that should be reflected in list building. Feel free to have many commanders and allies, as that was a common feature amongst the forces.
Terrain: The battle took place on a large flat plane flanked by two mountains.

Objectives:
The Spartans must try to kill the commanders for the Thebians. The Thebians must defend their commanders and rout the enemy.

June 23rd 1280, the Slaughter of Moclin Wargame

This is a historical fact that goes unnoticed by most of the world. Spain, France, and Portugal spent many years under Muslim control. The final expulsion of Muslims from Spain didn’t occur until 1614. In 1280, as part of the centuries-long Reconquista, Christians had one of their worst losses in their many wars against the Muslim kingdoms.

Muhammad II was able to lure the Castilian forces into an ambush with a feigned retreat tactic near the City of Moclin.

Crown of Castile
Infante Sancho
3,000 knights and soldiers

Emirate of Granada
Muhammad II
8,000 Soldiers and Horsemen

Scenario
For DBMM, Hail Ceasar, any medieval style rules.

Number of Players 2
Forces Needed, Large lightly armed Muslim force, much smaller but heavily armed crusader style force including a contingent of heavy knights representing the Knights of Santiago
Terrain 6×4 table with some wooded edges

Objective
Christians, to save their Knights of Santiago, Muslims, destroy the Christian Force

Set-Up

The battle should be joined with roughly equal forces on one end of the narrow edge of the table. The game starts when the Muslim player puts his light cavalry and skirmishers on the flanks of the battle and attempts to surround the Christians.

June 22nd 168 BC Battle of Pydna Wargame

The first battle of Pydna showed the flexibility of the Roman legionary warfare system compared to the rigidity of the Macedonian Phalanx. The Second Battle of Pydna, in 148 BC, ended the Macedonian Empire.

Historically, the first battle was falling in line for the Macedonians. The Roman legions were powerless to beat back the phalanx and were forced to retreat. As the terrain became rougher and rougher, the phalanx began to break apart, offering an opening for Roman legionaries to attack the flanks and defeat their enemy. One notable aspect of this battle, the historic Macedonia Companion Cavalry did not engage in combat due to issues between the Macedonian Nobles and their leader.

Rome
Lucius Aemilius Paullus
30,000
20,000 legionaries and 3,000 Cavalry, 22 elephants, 7,000 Greek Allies

Macedon
Perseus
31,000
4,000 Cavalry, 20,000 phalangites, 5,000 Thracians, 2,000 skirmishers

Wargame System DBMM, Hail Ceasr, Art De La Guerre, Mortem et Gloriam (army lists)

Macedonian 2415 5572 Points
4 Macedonian Cavalry
8 Agema
7 Petasts
11 Chalkaspides
11 Illyrians

Roman 2513 5572 Points
General
Sub General
Ally General
16 Hastati and Principes
8 Triari
6 Illyrian Cav
4 Illyrian Foot
4 Thureophoroi

Table 6×4
Terrain, I would have the Romans with their backs up to rough or broken terrain similar to the actual battlefield.