Teutonic Orders versus Estonians - twice

[John GL]

Two more big DBM battles (500 Army Points on an 8' x 5' table), two players each side, saw the Teutonic Orders attempting to conquer Estonia.  The Teutons had three commands each with knights, mostly Superior, and crossbowmen, some with small numbers of spearmen, skirmishers and Hordes, plus a German City ally with more knights and mediocre infantry.  The Estonians had large numbers of warband, some Superior but mostly Fast, plus bowmen few skirmishers and one heavy stone-thrower (Superior Artillery).  The fourth Estonian command was a Russian ally, featuring Alexander Nevsky of Novgorod with a force of Fast Knights backed by spearmen and psiloi.

On paper the Teutonics should win easily, Fast Warband being very vulnerable to knights.  But it didn't turn out like that.

In the first game the defending Estonians were favoured by the terrain, which included large areas of rough going where their warband could get at it.  Their left flank was held by log barricades lined with archers, with the Russians on the far left.  The right flank was a stand-off as a large warband command occupied rough going where the German ally couldn't get at it. 

In the centre a vast horde of warband charged into rough going to attack numerous crossbowmen; several warband elements were shot down but the rest eventually massacred the crossbowmen.  On the far left the Russians clashed with better-quality knights and managed to defeat them; with the destruction of the crossbowmen this broke two commands and the Teutonic army.  10-0 to the Estonians.

Then the players changed sides and played again.  This time the Estonians invaded and the terrain was much less helpful for them; the warband would have to face knights in the open.  The Russians were on the far right and defeated the German ally but then broke themselves, while in the centre the elite warband bravely took on Superior Knights – and mostly survived.  They also slew the Teutonic spearmen.  One Estonian command broke, following the death of its general, but then so did a small Teutonic command.  Accumulated casualties made exactly half the Teutonic army; the Estonian army was just half an element from breaking too.  8-2 to the Estonians.

A great day's gaming, enjoyed by all.  Pictures at https://jglwargames.com/game-reports-2026/You cannot view this attachment.

[Jon Freitag]

The Teutonic Knights may look superior "on paper" but this is why we fight the battle!

[gavindbm]

Nice reports.  Sounds like it was the Russians who were vital to the Estonian wins.

[John GL]

Yes, the Russians were important in both battles.  But the masses of warband were effective, too - numbers matter and the Estonian army had 119 elements to the Teutonics' 74.  In the second game especially, I thought the Teutonic players should have concentrated rather than trying to cover the full width of the field (I wasn't playing, only providing the armies, umpiring and criticising).

[gavindbm]

Yes, the Russians were important in both battles.  But the masses of warband were effective, too - numbers matter and the Estonian army had 119 elements to the Teutonics' 74.  In the second game especially, I thought the Teutonic players should have concentrated rather than trying to cover the full width of the field (I wasn't playing, only providing the armies, umpiring and criticising).

Agree about numbers - and it did seem like the small quality army was too spread out (so enabling the large army to apply its mass).  The vulnerable bits were not hiding behind the tough bits.