David R. Moody  - Jul 11, 2008 12:58 pm (#23431 Total: 23444)  
What has mood to do with it? You fight when the necessity arises--
no matter the mood! Mood's a thing for cattle or making love . . . . 
It's not for fighting. 	 

On Wednesday night Joe Oppenheimer and I had a go at Warriors of God,
the new game from MMP on the Hundred Years' War. The action was too
involved for a blow-by-blow account. I led most of the way, with the
most activity centering on northern and southwestern France. The Black
Prince tried to amass an army in the Aquitaine, but died before he could
lead it (leader death was something that plagued us both, but Joe
especially--a couple times during the game he had no French king). So I
sent Edward III, just booted out of Normandy, to take command of it, and
he established a good position in southern France. There was some
squabbling between rival Gascon claimants (and a Navarre leader) before
the Gascons also joined the English side and marched into Lanquedoc. 

Back in Britain, the Welsh rose under Owen Glendower (the game uses the
Welsh spelling, which I will not attempt to duplicate), but Lionel of
Antwerp (one of the many sons of Edward III) put it down and locked up
Glendower, who was soon released and joined the English. Wales was never
a problem after that, and Welsh archers did good service in gardens
where leeks did grow. 

Even more fun in Scotland, with rival claimants to the throne fighting
(and one of them ending up in prison twice before dying there) until the
English candidate prevailed. Then Harry Hotspur took over, and allied
with the French. The English backed James I, who was forced to flee to
Ireland. He went back to Scotland with some Irish mercenaries in tow, to
find Hotspur (who had beaten Prince Hal) had died. James spent the rest
of the game trying to subdue Scotland. 

In France, fortunes varied. At one time I held Paris, though did not
control it (Richard II was crowned there); I did control Normandy,
Brittany, and all the western coast. Henry V won a great victory in
Normandy (though he did have a 2-1 edge in numbers) while his brothers
campaigned in the south. I think I even had a 6 VP lead. 

But French fortunes turned. The Maid of Orleans led a resurgence,
beating Henry V (who died soon after the battle--either of shame after a
girl beat him or of being wounded). Joe, with Burgundian allies, began
taking back bits of France. I lost John Fastolf fighting Hotspur in
Scotland, and one of Henry's brothers got beaten badly in southern
France. When it was all over, Joe won with 3 or 4 VP in his favor. 

Great game, and lots of historical flavor. I would definitely play it
again. And it got me in the mood for Kingmaker, which I almost played
last night. 

And I should note what a bad game Henry V had. Beaten by Hotspur (while
still Prince of Wales); won one victory with overwhelming odds; beaten
by a girl. Star of England my butt. No plays about him.