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.