Saxon Surprise

This was a battle fought by the Southern Strategists a while ago using the Stradhogg rules.
The Vikings had carried out a dawn raid on this little coastal village somewhere along the Saxon coast. After defeating any resistance the victorious Vikings set about collecting up the spoils of war. These included  monks, women and children,farm animals and a few other odds and sods. As the mopping up operation got under way over the hills came more Saxons intent on preventing the Vikings from taking anything away, even their lives!
So, the game began with the Saxons arriving on the table edge and the Vikings in and around the village. While some of the Viking warbands tried to slow the Saxon advance the rest of the Vikings were herding their captives toward the waiting ships, well, ship in this case.

Vikings prepare to face the oncoming Saxons.

Vikings herding cattle and pigs toward the longboat.

Farm animals and peasents being incourged to join the Viking way of life.

Viking ship waiting for the plunder to arrive

Some of the women didn't seem very keen to leave.

A Saxon warband charging down the hill into the Vikings.

A mounted Saxon warband reaches the village. Are they in time?

More mounted Saxons arriving on the hill top.

A controlled retreat toward the waiting ship.

Saxons begin to over power the Vikings still in the village.

The Vikings are struggling to get their captives to the ship with the Saxons about to recapture the towns folk and animals.

By the end of the night the Vikings had managed a very narrow victory. Having herded just over half of the available victory points worth of plunder to the ship.

A special thanks to Tim from Comics Compulsion (our local wargaming store) for coming along and joining in the game.

Vikings on the beach.

As the dawns early rays pierce the morning mists the ghostly silhouette of dreaded Viking long-ships can be seen on the horizon.

The Vikings are coming.

The local Saxon Eoldorman, Beaodwulf, wastes no time in mustering his small force together ready to defend his village to the death. He hurriedly sends all the towns folk who are unable to fight to the next village with a message imploring their help.

Even as the Viking's long-ships nudge their bows into the soft shingle of the enemy beach Saxon reinforcements are on the way. The Vikings eagerly leap from their ships and spread out, with two war-band going either side of the rocks.

Vikings on the eastern beach.

Sheep, loot and a building to burn.

The Saxons from the village deploy to meet the threat coming along the Eastern beach. Arrows are loosed, stones flung and insults traded as both side’s war-bands prepared to meet each other head on. 

Hold this line.

The other two Viking war-band advance along the Northern beach before heading inland, intent on killing livestock and destroying the village, thoughts of rape and pillage foremost in their thoughts. 

Northern beach.

Vikings on the attack.

Two more Saxon war-band from the neighbouring villages arrive to the south and immediately head North to meet the Vikings there. 

"Backup" moving through the village.

Close up.

By this time the Vikings on the Eastern beach are charging up the rise to attack the Saxons.  Vicious hand to hand fighting ensues and the bloody struggle rages long into the morning with neither side really gaining the upper hand. 

Vikings attacking from the eastern beach.

Saxons defending the village.

Close up view

Angry shouts and the clash of steel can be heard from the other side of the village as the other war-bands engage each other... same result, lots of blood and guts and not much progress for either side.

North side of the village.

Viking high tide.

With their numbers drastically reduced and the initiative lost the Vikings decide it's time to call it a day. They've  managed to set fire to two of the Saxon buildings but no longer have the manpower to push their case any further. They dejectedly return to their ships and head back home to lick their wounds and contemplate their next raid on Saxon soil.  Who said those damned Saxon dogs were a pushover?

This game was our first crack at “Strandhogg”, (Viking Raid).  I gave each of the four players two war-band each. Because it was our first game I made all the war-band roughly the same. 

The Saxon objective was to simply defend their land and livestock. The more Vikings they could kill the better. For the Vikings this was a raid to cause as much havoc as possible. Kill Saxons, kill their animals and burn their buildings, with the usual bit of raping and pillaging thrown in for good measure.

I had a points system worked out for each side.  

Neither side knew the others objectives. There were a few indignant cries when the Saxons realised some of their buildings were on fire. 

Saxon building on fire.

All in all, an enjoyable game with the usual light hearted banter and derogatory insults.

Reasonably simple but effective rules for skirmishing.