Otterburn - 15 August 1388

A Scenario for Au Fil de l'Epee

By Francois Criscuolo 

Translated by Roger Deal (Roger Deal <rdeal@removecolumbus.rr.com)

 

The Scenario

The units are listed by the banner to which they belong. During set-up,
the owning players orient them as they wish. Defending player sets up first.


A-Beginning set up

Scottish Army of the Earl of Douglas

(Rout to the northern map edge, between hexes 0100-0108, 0100-0500.)

-         James, 2d Earl of Douglas, army commander, 1002

Ch (1 6 4) 1116

Ha (1 5 4) 1003

Ar (2 3 4) 1004

Ar (2 3 4) 1103

Pi (2 4 4)  1202

Pi ( 2 4 4) 1201

Pi (2 4 4) 1101

Pi (2 4 4) 1001

-         George Dunbar, 3d Earl of March 0902

Ch (1 6 4) 0902

Ha (1 4 4) 0901

Ha (1 4 4) 0801

-         John Dunbar, 1st Earl of Moray 0903

Ar (3 3 4) 1014

Mi (1 2 4) 807

Mi (1 2 4) 806

Mi (1 2 4) 709

 

English Army of Henry Percy called Hotspur

(Rout to the southern map edge between hexes 2413 - 2409)

-         Henry Percy, called Hotspur, Earl of Northumberland, army
commander, 2211

Ch (1 6 4), 2211

Ha (2 4 4) 2111 (fatigued)

Ar (3 3 4) 2110

Ar (3 3 4) 2109 (fatigued)

-         Sir Ralph Percy 2210

Ar (3 3 4) 2209

Pi (3 4 4) 2309 (fatigued)

Pi (3 4 4) arrive in hex 2411 as reinforcement on turn 2

Sir Robert Ogle 1410

Ch (1 6 4) 1410 (fatigued)

Ha (1 5 4) 1310 (fatigued)

Ar (3 3 4) 1511

Pi (3 4 4) 1510 (fatigued

 

B-Game Length and Victory Conditions

Historic Scenario

The scenario begins 5 August at 1730 with the arrival of the English
troops at Otterburn. These units immediately launch an attack,
maintaining an archery barrage and deploying into line for a major
battle. The battle ends with the coming of night at 2100, lasting 8
turns with the last two being night turns. 

Night Turns

During turns 7 and 8 only those troops which are in contact at the
beginning of the turn can conduct combat. The others withdraw along
their lines of communication at the rate of 3 hexes per turn. Archery
fire is not possible. 

Computation of Victory Points/Automatic Victory

Play ends when 8 turns have been completed or at any time either player
has earned 20 victory points or more than their opponent has. If the
difference in victory points is less than 20 and the Scots have more
points than the English the result is an inconclusive Scottish tactical
victory (the historic result). A result other than the two listed above
is a draw. 

Victory Points are awarded as follows:   

5 points for each enemy Ch unit eliminated;

4 points for each enemy Ha unit eliminated;

3 points for each enemy Ar unit eliminated;

2 points for each enemy Pi unit eliminated;

An eliminated Mi unit generates no points;

1 point for each enemy unit of any type routed off the map;

3 points for each enemy leader killed, except:

15 points if Earl Douglas is captured, 10 if he is killed;

10 points if Hotspur is captured, 5 if he is killed

3 points for any other opposing chief captured.

The English player also receives,

For each hex of the Scottish camp which is occupied solely by one or
more English units, 1 point (as this means there will be less spoils to
be taken back to Scotland where it will augment the local economy) (Hey,
I'm just translating- t.n.).

C-Special Rules

-Sir Robert Ogle: The English units under the banner of Sir Robert must
immediately attempt to occupy the Scottish fortified camp. At such time
as they have succeeded in occupying all these hexes they must be rallied
by Sir Robert as if they were disrupted before they can rejoin the rest
of the English units in the main battle. Until this rally attempt
succeeds the units must remain in place. This requirement is lifted if
these units are attacked by Scottish units (presumably in the interim.
-t.n.) 

Scots: The Scottish units are not in command on the first turn except those
attached to The Earl of Moray's banner and those stacked with their leader. 

 

D-Alternative Scenario

What would have happened if Hotspur had waited until the following
morning to attack the Scots?

This scenario begins on 16 August at 0600 and lasts for twelve turns or
until one of the players achieves a major victory by earning more than
20 or more points than their opponent. Essentially at 1200 the Bishop of
Durham arrives with English reinforcements who will almost certainly tip
the balance in favor of their side. In the meantime, however, if the
battle has gone against Hotspur and his men, the Bishop will simply turn
his cassock.(Ce petit bon mot on trouve dans l'original - t.n.) all the
troops are fresh and in command.

    The scenario lasts for 12 turns.

Positions at the Start

Scottish Army

Earl of Douglas, army commander: hex 0706

Banner of Earl Douglas: Ch in 0706, Ha in 0806, Ar in 0707 and 1103, Pi in
0805, 0807, 0705 and 0808.

Earl of March: hex 0708, Ch in 0708, Ha in 0709, Ha in 0608. All are very
fatigued. 

Earl of Morey in hex 0607, Ar in 0607, Mi in 0506, 0507 and 0406

 

English Army

Henry Percy "Hotspur" in hex 1209

Banner of Henry Percy: Ch in 1209, Ha in 1309, Ar in 1109 and 1108

Sir Ralph Percy: hex 1107, Ar in 1107, Pi in 1207 and 1206

Sir Robert Ogle: in hex 1009, Ch in 1009, Ha 0910, Ar 1008, Pi 0909.

English Reinforcements: Under the banner of Sir Ralph Percy, enter at 1200
starting with hex 2411, Ar (3 3 4), and Pi (3 4 4). These reinforcements are
canceled if an English unit has previously left the map while routed. In
that case, the elimination of Scottish troops ceases to be worth victory
points. 

Computation of Victory Points

Identical to the historic scenario except the four camp hexes, 0709,
0808, 0807 and 0806 are worth 2 points each to whichever side occupies
them last. All good order Scottish troop units leaving the map by hex
0104 or eliminated by the English are worth 1 point (except for the
restriction referred to above).

Thanks to Frederic Bey for his assistance in developing this scenario.