Friday, July 12, 2013

Battle of Novara, June 6, 1513; Scenario for BoB2

    Viewed as the last great victory of the Swiss pikemen, the Battle of Novara was a surprise dawn attack by the Swiss, who were supporting the return of Maximilian Sforza to power as Duke of Milan. Despite the French victory at the battle of Ravena the previous year, the French had lost control of the Duchy in 1512, and had only recently taken control of it once again. The French, under La Tremouille, were aware of the approach of a large Swiss relief force (the Citadel of Milan had only just been recaptured by the French a few weeks prior). They stood to arms in the event of a Swiss attack, but none materialized, and the Swiss were reported to still be some distance off, and doubtless tired from their long forced march form their cantons. The French bedded down in the village of Trecate for the night, figuring the weary Swiss would surely rest overnight before reorganizing for the attack....

This scenario has been adapted for use with my own  Band of Brothers, 2nd edition rules from that of James Roach, James' version is for his own Piquet/FoB inspired rules, "Hell Broke Loose". If you've some how missed his posts about Novara, and the Italian Wars in general, do yourself a favor and check them out. His painting is awesome in both its quality and its volume!


Terrain notes: The buildings of Trecate are class III terrain. The Marsh is Class III terrain for movement, but offers no cover. The woods and French camp are class II terrain.

French Order of Battle:

Use the following Sequence Deck (modified from the "Great Italian Wars" Muster French):
Cavalry Move in Open 2, Cavalry Maneuver 1, Infantry Move in Open 2, Infantry Maneuver 1, Inf-Cav Move in III/IV 2, Engines of War Move 1, Engines of War Reload 1, Missile Reload 2, Elites Reload 1, Deployment 1, Heroic Moment 2, Melee Resolution 4, Leader Check 3, Milling Around 3, Courage 1, Command Indecision 2*

50 Morale Points



UNIT/description
RATING
FIRE
MELEE
MORALE
NOTES
Gendarmes #1
Elite Household EHC; Hvy Lance
N/A
Up 5
Up 2
metal bard; +2 BDV Fearsome!
Gendarmes #2
Elite Household EHC; Hvy Lance
N/A
Up 5
Up 2
metal bard; +2 BDV Fearsome!
Mtd “Archers”  #1
Elite Feudal HC; Light Lance
N/A
Up 4
Up 1
+2 BDV
Mtd “Archers” #2
Elite Feudal HC; Light Lance
N/A
Up 4
Up 1
+2 BDV


COMMANDER
description
LEADERSHIP
RADIUS
Notes
La Tremouille



+2 to Quality roll; Army C-in-C


Difficulty Die:

Class II/IV D6;  “Other” D6
** La Tremouille was nearly captured in bed by the Swiss assault in Trecate; as such, he cannot be rated any better than Average, regardless of the D20 roll for his quality!



UNIT/description
RATING
FIRE
MELEE
MORALE
NOTES
Gendarmes #3
Elite Household EHC; Hvy Lance
N/A
Up 5
Up 2
metal bard; +2 BDV Fearsome!


COMMANDER
description
LEADERSHIP
RADIUS
Notes
Robert, Duc d’ Bouillon



aka Robert de la Marck; +2 to Quality roll


Difficulty Die:

Class II/IV D6;  “Other” D6



UNIT/description
RATING
FIRE
MELEE
MORALE
NOTES
Mounted Crossbowmen
Militia LC; X-bow, Imp weapons
Up 1
Dn 1
Dn 1
Skirmish only!
Stradiots
Mercenary MC, Javelin, swd, shld
NC
Up 2
NC



COMMANDER
description
LEADERSHIP
RADIUS
Notes
Sieur de la Bodice



+2 to Quality roll


Difficulty Die:

Class II/IV D6;  “Other” D6



UNIT/description
RATING
FIRE
MELEE
MORALE
NOTES
Sk. Crossbows #1
Militia LI, X-bow. Imp weapons
Up 2
Dn 1
Dn 1
Skirmish only!
Sk. Crossbows #2
Militia LI, X-bow. Imp weapons
Up 2
Dn 1
Dn 1
Skirmish only!
Sk. Crossbows #3
Militia LI, X-bow. Imp weapons
Up 2
Dn 1
Dn 1
Skirmish only!
Sk. Crossbows #4
Militia LI, X-bow. Imp weapons
Up 2
Dn 1
Dn 1
Skirmish only!
Crossbowmen A
Mercenary MI; X-bow, Imp wpns
Up 3
NC
NC
Formed only
Crossbowmen B
Mercenary MI; X-bow, Imp wpns
Up 3
NC
NC
Formed only


COMMANDER
description
LEADERSHIP
RADIUS
Notes
Sieur de Beaumont



+2 to Quality roll


Difficulty Die:

Class II/IV D6;  “Other” D6




UNIT/description
RATING
FIRE
MELEE
MORALE
NOTES
Landsknecht Pike #1
Mercenary MI; Pike
NA
Up 2
NC
36 -Pike Block
Land. Arquebusiers A
Mercenary LI; Arquebus, Imp wpn
Up 2
NC
NC
Skirmish only!
Landsknecht Pike #2
Mercenary MI; Pike
NA
Up 2
NC
36 -Pike Block
Land. Arquebusiers B
Mercenary LI; Arquebus, Imp wpn
Up 2
NC
NC
Skirmish only!
Hvy Artillery C
Militia Artillery; Heavy Guns
Up 2
Dn 2
Dn 1

Hvy Artillery D
Militia Artillery; Heavy Guns
Up 2
Dn 2
Dn 1



COMMANDER
description
LEADERSHIP
RADIUS
Notes
Florange



+2 to Quality roll


Difficulty Die:

Class II/IV D6;  “Other” D6



Swiss/Milanese Order of Battle

Use the following Swiss Sequence Deck (modified from the "Twilight of Chivalry" Muster Swiss): 
2 cavalry Move in Open, 1 Cavalry Maneuver, 3 Infantry Move in Open, 1 Infantry Maneuver, 2 Inf-Cav Move in III/IV, 1 Engines of War Move, 1 Engines of War Reload, 2 Missile Reload, 1 Elites Reload, 1 Deployment, 1 Heroic Moment, 5 Melee Resolution, 3 Leader Check, 2 Milling Around, 1 Courage!, 1 Pillage and Loot!

35 Morale Points



UNIT/description
RATING
FIRE
MELEE
MORALE
NOTES
Milanese Famiglia
Elite Household EHC; Hvy Lance
N/A
Up 5
Up 2
metal bard; +1 BDV Fearsome!
Swiss Pikes
Elite Mecenary HI/MI; Pike
N/A
Up 3
Up 1
24-Pike Block;
+2 BDV; Auto-Rally; Fearsome!
Swiss Crossbowmen
Mercenary LI; X-bow. imp wpn
Up 3
NC
NC
Skirmish only!
+2 BDV


COMMANDER
description
LEADERSHIP
RADIUS
Notes
Maximilian Sforza



+1 to Quality roll


Difficulty Die:

Class II/IV D6;  “Other” D10




UNIT/description
RATING
FIRE
MELEE
MORALE
NOTES
Swiss Pikes
Elite Mecenary HI/MI; Pike
N/A
Up 3
Up 1
36-Pike Block;
+2 BDV
Auto-Rally; Fearsome!
Swiss Arquebusiers
Mercenary LI; Arquebus, Imp wpn
Up 2
NC
NC
Skirmish only!
+2 BDV



COMMANDER
description
LEADERSHIP
RADIUS
Notes
Hauptman von Lucerne






Difficulty Die:

Class II/IV D6;  “Other” D10



UNIT/description
RATING
FIRE
MELEE
MORALE
NOTES
Swiss Pikes
Elite Mecenary HI/MI; Pike
N/A
Up 3
Up 1
52-Pike Block;  
+2 BDV
Auto-Rally; Fearsome!
Swiss Arquebusiers
Mercenary LI; Arquebus, Imp wpn
Up 2
NC
NC
Skirmish only!
+2 BDV
Swiss Pikes
Elite Mecenary HI/MI; Pike
N/A
Up 3
Up 1
52-Pike Block;  
+2 BDV
Auto-Rally; Fearsome!
Swiss Arquebusiers
Mercenary LI; Arquebus, Imp wpn
Up 2
NC
NC
Skirmish only!
+2 BDV
Medium Gun
Militia Artillery; Medium Guns
Up 1
Dn 2
Dn 1





COMMANDER
description
LEADERSHIP
RADIUS
Notes
Hauptman von Zurich



Army C-in-C


Difficulty Die:

Class II/IV D6;  “Other” D10




Deployment Notes

Commands outlined in Red are Swiss/Milanese, those outlined in Blue are French. The inside colors correspond to those used for that Command in the OOB's above. La Tremouille's command are all billeted in the village's buildings, Out of Command and dismounted. The units of his Command may only leave the village by one or more of the roads. 


Scenario Rules

The Charlotte "Rule of 1/3" will be used for Impetus. The two French Command Indecision cards are each removed after their first appearance. If the French camp is occupied by the enemy, the French lose D6 Morale chips each time a French Leadership card is turned and there are Swiss/Milanese units inside the camp. 

This scenario will be run next week oin Saturday at Historicon.

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