Andreas takes us through his special conditions for wargaming the battle using Beneath the Lily Banners...
Scenario
The battle of Helsingborg is a pretty
straightforward battle although it has some challenges to its commanders. For
the Swedish player speed is essential, you want to put those pikes to good use
against an unformed enemy. Unfortunately you’ll have to traverse some difficult
ground to get there. For the Danish player your battle line isn’t even formed
as the battle starts, you’ll have to get your battalions in order and seize
important terrain features.
We used Beneath the Lily Banners 2 when we
played this scenario but it is generic enough to use any rules you like.
The Battlefield
As we used 28mm miniatures we used a
playing surface of 180 x 480 cm (or 6’ x 16’). In the lower left corner is the
Ringstorp Heights, a suitably large hill, our hill was around 70 x 120 and
formed as a triangle. In the middle of the table, about 50 cm in from the
southern edge is the village of Berga, just a few small houses. On the right
side of the battlefield, about 80 cm from the southern edge and 30 cm from the
eastern edge is Brohusen, a village the size of Berga. All the villages are
classed as 2B according to the BLB2 FIBUA rules. A road connects Ringstorp
heights, Berga, Brohusen and the left top corner. In a belt stretching across
the board starting 30 cm in from the northern edge to 90 cm are several frozen
marshes.
Starting positions
The first Swedish line starts 60 cm in from
the northern edge, and the second line starts 30 cm in. All battalions and squadrons
are formed in column of maneuver. The Danish army starts 60 cm in on the
Ringstorp heights and their battle line then slopes towards the eastern table
edge, ending 30 cm in from the southern table edge. The second Danish line is
deployed 30 cm back from this, in the same manner. All Danish battalions and
squadrons are placed according to the Hasty Deployment scenario specific rule.
All units are placed as they are mentioned in the order of battle, from left to
right. Brigadier commanders are placed with their brigades. Stenbock is placed
in the middle of the second Swedish line in the center. Rantzau is placed with
the first cavalry unit that appears on the Danish right flank.
Objectives
The Swedish army is attacking and wants to
drive the Danish army from the field of battle. The Danish army is defending
and hopes the Swedish attack will falter on their defenses. Victory points are
scored according to who is controlling specific terrain features and the state
of the enemy army.
Brohusen 25
points
Berga 50
points
Ringstorp height 75 points
For every fleeing enemy brigade 50 points
If the whole enemy army is fleeing 100 points
Scenario Specific Rules
Hasty Deployment
The Danish forces have had to adjust their
deployment as the Swedish forces arrive from another direction. This isn’t
entirely done as the Swedish attack starts. When placing Danish battalions,
squadrons and artillery pieces throw 1D6 on the following table to see how the
unit is placed.
1 – 2 Place the unit 30cm
further back than it is supposed to. The unit is formed in line or unlimbered.
The unit is also disordered.
3 – 4 Place the unit where
it is supposed to be and formed in column of maneuver or limbered. The unit is
also disordered.
5 Place the unit where
it is supposed to be and formed in line or unlimbered. The unit is also
disordered.
6 Place the unit where
it is supposed to be and in any formation the player wishes. The unit is not
disordered.
Should any of the units end up outside of
the table the unit is not place this
round. At the beginning of the Danish
player’s turn the player rolls 1D6, on a
result of 4+ the unit appears. Roll 1D6 +1
on the able above.
Frozen Marshes
As soon as a Swedish, or Danish, battalion,
squadron or artillery piece is moving
on a frozen marsh roll 1D6 on this table.
1 The
unit breaks the ice and stops at once. The unit also takes one casualty.
2 - 3 The
unit breaks the ice and loses 1D3” of its movement.
4 – 6 The
ice holds.
Units that are on frozen marshes are
considered to be disordered.