England 1000 AD (Anglo-Saxons/Vikings) – A strong position

Now the vikings attack on both flanks!



The blades are flanked  by warband and the Psiloi under attack. The Anglo-Saxons move single units to help them.



On their left they are too slow.



The blades are wiped out! And on their right their light troops give way.



A very lucky chain of orders helps the vikings to increase the pressure on their right.
Their warband moves on to threaten the camp while their generals measure each other over some distance.



On their extreme left the viking blades found their flanked position in the woods untenable and drew back.
Other blades moved on to give support. And then the Psiloi counterattack with the support of spears.



On the left arises a dubious situation. The Anglo-Saxon general rushes on to pin the warband, only a biscuit's toss away from the camp, and orders one unit of spears to threaten the viking general. (Remark: this move was illegal, because the speares were in fact in the threat zone of some vikings. But both sides did not notice this and so the battle raged on.)



Meanwhile on their left the Viking blades crushed the Anglo-Saxon Psiloi in the woods, the second unit is gone!
The blood thirsty Vikings turn round and encircle the spears...



But on their right the Vikings' march for the camp is stopped, at least for the moment.



And the third Anglo-Saxon unit is wiped out. The Vikings already see victory near while the Anglo-Saxons draw back some units from their flanks!
A feeble effort to stabilize their wings?



But on their left they manage to push the vikings back!



Now the Vikings think they are strong enough to attack the Anglo-Saxon centre...They want to give them the final blow.



On their right they even detached a unit to support their general.
But their overall attack fails: Their shieldwall breaks!



The Anglo-Saxon spears break through. The vikings suddenly suffer heavy losses.



They renew their attack, but somehow seem to have lost heart.



And the Anglo-Saxons hold their ground.
On their left the viking blades rush into the back of enemy spears.
At this moment each army has already lost a fourth of its men!



And now the Anglo-Saxons loose their fourth unit! But right then...



...they manage to massacre another fourth of the Viking army! 
And that is the moment the vikings realize that they are beaten.

The Vikings lost half of their army. The Anglo-Saxons also suffered heavy losses, but they survived.
Their position was really strong.

(6:4)

Hello Brian Ború

I just saw thiS and it was awesome. Thank you very much for playing the game through.

As expected, the game revolves around the flanks.

Still an exciting ending. I have to read it in detail.

Do you think the Vikings would have won if they did not attack the center?

To the Viking General....patience is a virtue...the center was pinned and not going anywhere unless Sp elements backed away or came at you on level ground...you had already crumbled both flanks placing advantage clearly on your side.😉

You're right, stevie!

(And it is not the only mistake, I have to admit.   Since publication I've found at least 5 edit: 3 dubious moves!  )

And I don't think it is too pedantic, because we all want a fair and fun game.
So the main thing is to know the rules...

It would be worth trying, though I can't see how it would have worked in this case, for the viking warband still may close the door sooner or later and so puts an end to the blades. Maybe It depends on the Anglo-Saxon general. Will he make it in time and give support? The 45° might buy precious time...

Edit: But, hey, in this disposition the blades are standing on higher ground! That's nice, a good point.

Generally I often like to disturb the enemy's straight battle line by such oblique single units. If he wants to attack, he must conform and maybe he loses support of his near units or becomes exposed to my faster units...