Surprised!

One force surprises another, which then takes refuge in makeshift defenses.

Layout

This scenario is played on a 4x4 board. As usual, the more terrain for these small battles, the better.

Roll for which player is Surprised! This player takes two six-inch barriers and places them in a V in the center of one edge of the board.

Deployment

The Surprised! player divides his force into two numerically equal halves. One half can be placed anywhere on the board. The other is held in reserve.

The other player then places his force anywhere 24” away from the barriers.

Objectives

The game finishes at the end of the turn in which one side reaches less than 26% of its starting number.

Victory: Your opponent's Battle Company has reached less than 26% of its starting number and yours has not.

Defeat: Your Battle Company has reached less than 26% of its starting number and your opponent's has not.

Draw: Any other situation.

Special Rules

Surprise!: The non-Surprised! player has the initiative the first turn.

Reinforcements: The Surprised! player, starting turn one, may roll a die for each model in reserve. On a 1–2, the model may enter from the edge opposite the barriers. On a 3–5, the model may enter from a flanking edge. On a 6, the model may enter the barrier edge (even straight into the fort!). The Surprised! player need not bring the reserve model in, but then must roll for the model the next turn. As usual, models entering the board may not charge models already on the board.

Spears: Agree in advance whether to allow pole arms to fight through to a barrier (from either side).

Large Bases: A large base model against multiple defenders must kill enough of them to fit the base across the barrier. If it succeeds in crossing the wall, a large attacker must attack interior models that would end up under its new position. This attack is under normal melee rules. If the attacker wins, defenders must retreat out from under its new position or take hits as if trapped. If the attacker loses or otherwise still won’t fit inside the barrier, it must retreat one inch outside the barriers.

Cavalry: If a mounted model sits at least as high as the barrier and is armed with a pole weapon, the defenders lose the barrier’s defensive advantages.