Charging into Saga 2.0

I ordered, after a LONG procrastination period, Saga 2.0 for my Father's Day present. I read it, liked it - as I had done with ALL Studio Tomahawk rules I own (3) - and was keen to play it. 

BUT, I was uncertain that my gaming friends would accept it. We already have so many games in our roster and meet but once a week. 

I introduced the rules to my friends over two weeks. On the third week, we played the pictured game and all have fallen badly for the rules. Two have order the rules plus all the period books they could lay their hands on. Saga 2.0 has taking flight - and I couldn't be more thrilled. 

The images show a 6 point Clash of Warlords, as per the Book of Battles, between Anglo Saxons and the Vikings. The Saxons decided to select 4 points of levy spear, 1 point of levy bow and 1 select fyrd. The Vikings chose 1 levy javelin, 2 hirdmen/huscarls (combined into a single unit) and 2 units of 12 warriors. This somewhat limited Viking Saga dice generation. 

The victory would be decided by survival points giving the Saxons an immediate advantage with their far larger numbers. The battlefield was a marsh. 

The Saxons deployed in a very pretty square. I'm yet to understand why ... but didn't it look impressive. They utilised their movement saga ability to activate units about 12 men. They attempted to flank on their left side but underestimated the short time span. 

The Vikings pushed their javelinmen up followed by the Warlord and hirdmen/huscarls. They invested their Saga dice in special moves rather than movement. For the battle their warrior units struggled to play a role. 

Above and below, the Saxons edge to the left to try and turn the Viking flank. If successful, they would catch the warriors of Ubba Ragnarson between hammer and anvil. 

The Vikings pressed down the centre in depth.

Later in the battle, the Viking huscarl unit was ordered forward to slay as many of the Saxon great fyrd as possible. The Vikings were peppered with arrows and their charged were absorbed by the mass of Saxons. Spears everywhere stabbed back at them and shields were interlocked. 

Casualties began to mount as the Viking elite are called upon to charge, and be charged, again and again. Fatigue mounts. 

Ubba, oh Ubba ... why not order forward more of your bondi?

At the final gasp (the Saxons called to end the game in round 4 - giving the Vikings only one more turn to wrestle victory from defeat), Ubba went forward and finished off one unit of great fyrd before being hacked down by the Saxon select fyrd - bondsmen of the mighty Earl Athelwulf. 

When points were tallied, all gained the bonus for being more than L from their table edge and the numbers of Saxon fyrd did indeed count. It was a victory of 21 points to 25 after survival points were tallied. The Saxons had thrown the invader back! 

And the other result ... players loving Saga! As I've painted around 230+ 28mm Dark Age miniatures, it makes me quite happy. I love the period, the literature and the history of the Dark Ages (or more correctly the early medieval period.) We all can't wait for more Saga and I'll be making another two sets of saga dice this weekend to enable me to use the Welsh, different Viking style armies and others. I may even get a box of Irish gripping beast miniatures - or maybe the Atlantic one with all the doggies. 

Let our saga begin!