108 1st Ramla - 7 September 1101 - Medieval - Commands and Colors System

Details: Written by: GMT Games; Category: Post-First Crusade; Published: 02 December 2024; Last Updated: 02 December 2024; Hits: 311

Victory Results:

0 %

100 %

Total plays 6 - Last reported by ozzie on 2025-03-17 06:18:57

Historical Background

After the defeat at Ascalon it took two years for the Fatimid army now led by Saad-el-Dowleh to recover. Baldwin, a rash and reckless leader, had succeeded his brother Godfrey and now wore the crown of Jerusalem. Although outnumbered, Baldwin did not wait for reinforcements and moved his scanty force against the Fatimid army near Ramla. When Saad-el-Dowleh was in sight, Baldwin and his little band formed up and plunged into the center of the Fatimid army. The Egyptian flanks folded in on the Crusaders who were swallowed up among the multitude.
Yet somehow the Crusader knights managed to break through the center and the Egyptians broke and fled.
The stage is set. The battle lines are drawn and you are in command. Can you change history?

The Egyptian armies of the period relied on Sudanese bowmen supported by Arab and Berber cavalry. The archers were on foot and the horsemen attacked with lance and sword. They provided exactly the sort of immobile target that the Crusader heavy cavalry excelled in attacking.

War Council

Fatimid Army

• Leader: Saad-el-Dowleh
• 4 Command Cards
• 2 Inspired Actions tokens

Crusaders Army

• Leader: Baldwin I
• 5 Command Cards
• 4 Inspired Actions tokens
• Move First

Victory

6 Banners

Special Rules

Light cavalry/light bow cavalry units in the Fatimid army may not feign retreat.

Discuss this article in the forums (2 replies).

Posts in discussion: 108 1st Ramla - 7 September 1101

ozzie replied the topic:

#996

1 month 3 weeks ago

Two Crusader victories, 6-2 and 6-5. The knights with crossbow support punching through. The lesson for the Crusaders was that after combat, always rally the knights and medium cavalry supports back behind the infantry. Don't waste Inspired Action tokens on bonus dice etc, save it for the retreat that saves your cavalry so that they can deliver blow after blow. Crusader crossbowmen are fantastic support troops and, we all agreed, have been well thought through and worked into the rules. With a crossfire zone to their front, they repeatedly picked on the same unit causing weaknesses in the Fatimid line that a knightly charge could finish off.

Wealdhere replied the topic:

#992

2 months 1 week ago

We played 1st Ramla twice. The first game the Crusader knights hit the Fatimid center as the scenario would lead you to do... But to my utter dismay, my heavy knight cavalry units were decimated by battle backs and offensive attacks beautifully executed by the Egyptian and Sudanese forces holding the line. My knights were able to weaken the Fatimid units, but I had a rough time trying to score some actual victory banners. I had one entire heavy knight cavalry unit wiped out in one blow by Saad el-Dowleh's vicious heavy cavalry. Essentially, all my frontline heavy knights were eliminated in the first few turns. Not good. Bill then moved the Fatimid forces forward and, turn by turn, I was lucky to score some kills with my backup cavalry and medium/heavy foot troops. The Crusaders won, but just barely. In the second game we switched sides, and Bill's Crusaders busted up the Fatimid center handily and I had to bring in medium horse to shore up the line. But the Fatimid line was too broken to hold and the Crusaders won again (and far more quickly) with their powerful knights. Fun scenario!
BTW, we're still learning the little differences and changes in this new expansion. For example, one thing I kept forgetting was that the Fatimids get to add two (2) additional dice when using the Battle Bonus Battlefield Action. That could have made a difference although the Fatimids only have two inspired action tokens at the start of the battle.