Having entered the inaugural ADLG-R competition at my club I had to come up with an army list to use. The period was from the TYW to the ECW. Not wishing to have to rebase anything I decided to use the not really appropriate Ming Chinese, partly as I'd not used my Chinese army in a long time and partly as I had a theory that bows were a superior weapon to muskets in ADLG-R.
The army was huge with numerous bow armed spear units, some impact foot swordsmen, a few cavalry and a couple of rocket artillery.
The first game was against Simon B's Early German Protestant army which consisted of three rather scary Tercios and some supporting troops:
Both sides advance and the rockets open fire targeting the Tercios:
The Chinese substantially outnumber the Germans:
There are already gaps in the German lines:
The German horse attack, while better in close combat they are flanked and already damaged by bowfire:
The Tercio's have endured a storm of rockets and arrows, taken some hits, but are almost in contact:
They charge home! One Chinese foot unit is obliterated:
The fights rage on with the Chinese unable to finish off the Tercios:
Everywhere else though the Chinese are mopping up the rest of the German army:
With a low breakpoint the Germans rout giving victory to the Chinese:
The second game of the day saw the Ming take on Richard's Early Low Countries Spanish army, another army much smaller than the Chinese:
The Chinese prepare to attack the Dragoons defending a field on the left:
Spanish foot advance in the centre:
The Dragoons prove to be much tougher than expected:
Infantry on infantry action!
The battle continues and eventually the Spanish are routed giving the Ming their second win of the day (though it may have been slightly harder if we had realised Pike and Shot units take 6 hits not 5 as we assumed):
With fatigue setting in the final game was against Andy's Irish Catholic Confederate army, an
even bigger army than mine!
Most of this game took place on the left with a large fight for the marsh, hill and field anchoring this flank for both armies:
The Chinese also pressed forward on their right where I felt we had a slight advantage. The two centres largely observed each other from a safe distance:
Taking control of the field was vital for the Chinese, if Andy's substantial cavalry component managed to move through it they could cause havoc in the open:
The Chinese also make progress on the right with a careful attack:
The Chinese manage to prevent the Irish horse crossing the field:
On the right the Chinese are slowly outflanking the Irish:
The rockets advance to open fire on the Irish foot:
Having gained an advantage on the right the Chinese commit more units to the attack:
Time runs out though with the game starting to turn in the Chinese's favour but not significantly:
Overall, two wins and a draw was enough to win the competition making the Ming Chinese the first ever ADLG-R competition winners! I enjoyed the games though both Andy and I were flagging by the last one and the Ming certainly proved that they are a viable army in the rules as they are at the moment.
The medium spear bow units have some advantages (4MU bow range compared to 3MU musket range, +1 factor shooting at cavalry and a 3MU move compared to 2MU) and some disadvantages (only 5 hits to 6, not so good as resisting mounted charges) compared to pike and shot units. The army has a 27 break point as well so is large (my first two opponents only had 19 and 23 I think) meaning it can cover the table and absorb losses plus none of the units are mediocre (equally none are elite!).
I'd be happy to use them again but then I can't see me entering ADLG-R competitions any more than ADLG ones....
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