Wargaming in Minnesota

Sunday, January 18, 2026

War of the Roses - First Forray

On Saturday January 17, 2026 the Centurions wargaming club hosted their first game Field of Glory, Ancient and Medieval: 3rd Edition set during the Wars of The Roses. The Wars of the Roses has long been a passion project of mine. Seeing the game on the tabletop, even in it’s incomplete form, brought me a lot of joy. It also inspired me to complete more figures from my gray pile of shame.

The Wars of the Roses, a dynastic struggle between the House of Lancaster and House of York, lasted from 1455 to 1487, vying for control of the English throne.

The Centurions game was a fictional encounter diving up the sides, putting 12 units on the Yorkist side facing off against 8 units and two light units and a light gun on the Lancastrian side.

Yorkist forces on the top
Lancastrian on the bottom

Both sides initially surged towards one another closing to long range bow fire when the majority of the Yorkist side paused and the Lancastrian Left and Center closed the gap.

Positions in the center
after both sides closed

Lancastrian Right at the Pause

The forces of Stanley were outnumbered on the Left of the Lancastrian line and determined the best defense was a good offense. The Longbowmen charged the Yorkist Longbowmen on the other side.

The Lancastrian Left

With the Left of the line engaged the Lancastrian Center moved forward, slowly and methodically.

The Lancastrian Center closes
the gap.

The forces of Stanley were routed from the field on the Lancastrian Left, but the Lancastrian Center broke the Yorkist Line and began pushing outwards.

The Yorkist Center Collapses

The Forces

Lancastrian

Rys ap Thomas
Stanley

6 Stands of Archers
6 Stands of Men at Arms

Rys ap Thomas

6 Stands of Archers
4 Stands of Men at Arms
4 Stands of Billmen

Earl of Oxford

6 Stands of Archers
6 Stands of Men at Arms

Unnamed Duke

The Earl of Oxford
6 Stands of Hand Gunners
4 Stands of Light Cavalry (Scurrors)
1 Stand Light Gun

York

Unnamed Yorkist

6 Stands of Archers
6 Stands of Archers
6 Stands of Billmen

Unnamed Yorkist

6 Stands of Archers
6 Stands of Archers
6 Stands of Billmen

Unnamed Town Militia

6 Stands of Archers
6 Stands of Billmen
6 Stands of Billmen

Unnamed Town Militia

6 Stands of Archers
6 Stands of Archers
6 Stands of Billmen

Lessons Learned

Game Play

Even though the base measurement increases from 1 inches to 1 1/2 inches units need to start closer together. We started approximately 36 inches apart, and while the turns moved quickly it was still three turns to get within range as both sides closed. At most 24 inches.
On a 12 foot wide table the largest game could be 15 units per side.
It will be interesting to see other unit types on the battle field, Pike, Spearmen, Combined Battle Groups, and Strakes.

Rules

All foot in this period are NOT shock troops except Mercenary Pikemen.

Big Bad Butch Men-at-Arms wielding a variety of nasty can openers are not a shock unit.

The order for post combat is Commander Killed, Death Roll, Cohesion Check
Pole Arms reduce the opposing armor by one step, protected becomes unprotected.
Longbowmen, crossbowmen (and combined units) need to pass a CMT to charge.

Tactics

A unit of Men-at-Arms, Heavily Armored, Superior, Drilled, is 17 points per base well spent.
Canons are pretty but with a range of 9 inches, not worth the points.

Friday, May 23, 2025

War of the Roses - Census and Planning

First Battle of Saint Albans

The Centurions are working towards gaming the Era of the War of the Roses. It has been a ten year
cycle in discussion, planning, and painting. As other get their figures painted, for some that is quite literally what is happening, I has come time for me to knuckle down and finish what I am working on.

Henry VII (Tudor) Inspired Commander and my Claimant
John de Vere (Earl of Oxford) Field Commander
Rhys ap Thomas (Welsh) Field Commander

Four stands of Heavily Armored Mounted Men at Arms (Henry's Body Guard)
Two stands of Light Guns
Six stands of Hand Gunners

Four Stands Heavily Armored Men-at-Arms (Oxford Livery)
One Stand Heavily Armored Men-at-Arms (Welsh Livery)
Four Stands Armored Men-at-Arms (Welsh Livery)
Eight Stands Protected Longbow Men (Welsh Livery)

On the Painting Table

Two Stand Heavily Mounted Men-at-Arms (Oxford)
Three Stands Heavily Armored Men-at-Arms (Welsh Livery)
Six Stands of Longbow Men (Oxford Livery)
Philibert de Chandée (French Livery)
Eight Stands of French Crossbowmen (French Livery)
Eight Stands of French Pike Men (French Livery)
Six Stands of Currors (Oxford Livery)

We will not talk about my gray pile of shame, it's quite large for this period, I could easily double the figures I have painted and on the painting table probably quadruple, so let's not go there.

My painting plan for the first round of painting is for a main force, under the Earl of Oxford:

John de Vere (Earl of Oxford) Field Commander
Troop Commander (Unnamed)
Six Stands of Heavily Armored Men-at-Arms
Six Stands of Armored Billmen
Six Stands of Longbow Men
Six Stands of Longbow Men

And a secondary force under Rhys ap Thomas:

Rhys ap Thomas - Field Commander
Four Stands of Heavily Armored Men-at-Arms
Four Stands of Armored Billmen
Eight Stands of Longbow men

The French are not the focus of the first round of painting.

This leaves the following to be painted:

Two Stands of Heavily Armored Men-at-Arms (Oxford Livery)
Six Stands of Armored Billmen (Oxford Livery)
Twelve Stands of Longbow Men (Oxford Livery)
Three Stands of Heavily Armored Men-at-Arms (Welsh Livery)

That is a total of 80 figures, give or take.

It may seem backwards but I am going to start by finishing up the Welsh under Rhys ap Thomas first. They have the least amount of work and if push comes to shove I have at least one command to play. Than I plan on moving into the forces under Oxford.

Wednesday, March 12, 2025

Battle of Fort Johnson

Utilizing a variation of "The Men who would be Kings" the Centurions played through a scenario set during the South Carolina Campaign of the American War of Independence.