Last week Mike and I got together to play a game of Thud & Blunder using the newly released Legends of Robin Hood miniatures…. so what’s with the sea? There are of course many scenarios that we could have played set in Sherwood Forest or the villages around Nottingham, however my curiosity had been roused by a snippet I had stumbled across on the Internet concerning the legend of Robin Hoods Bay that had mentioned “An English ballad and legend tell a story of Robin Hood encountering French pirates who came to pillage the fishermen’s boats and the northeast coast. The pirates surrendered and Robin Hood returned the loot to the poor people in the village that is now called Robin Hood’s Bay“

That sounded interesting, and a different scenario. We took a look through Thud & Blunders scenario outlines and complications and decided that the nearest fit was that the French Pirates had already seized the loot and were heading for the boats at the far end of the table with Robin and his mates in close pursuit. Mike had to nominate one of his characters to be carrying the contraband, and we decided that this would be revealed to me when they made it onto the beach.

For my warband I choose to field Robin Hood, Little John, Will Scarlet and two Merry Men armed with warbows.

Legends of Robin Hood is inspired by the original Robin of Loxley from Ivanhoe set in 1160, so Sir Guy’s forces are modelled on Anglo-Normans. In this game they are of course representing French brigands raiding the English coastline. Mike choose to field Sir Guy, the Bishop of Bayeux, two soldiers with mace, one soldier with a heavy crossbow and three with swords.

The French deployed up to 6″ from the far edge of the table and Robins men moved on to the table as and when they were activated. The French won the initiative in the first round and moved on first.

Will Scarlet and Little John catch up with the Bishop and a French Soldier. Will Scarlet was fielded as a competent melee character with a fight value of 4+, lightning reflexes and disarm on paper he was a competent swordsman. He used up his only hero point during this first melee to avoid death from the Bishops letter opener (dagger)!

The French moved steadily forward through the treeline towards the village and the open beach beyond. Here a Crossbowman is seen taking aim. The scenario complication was that at was fought at night, luckily there was a moon and clear skies, but the range was still reduced to 12″

The reduction in visibility affected Robin more than the French as we had invested more heavily in ranged weaponry.

After an initial flurry of longbows which we found were very difficult to penetrate the Pirates Mail coats we opted to do it the old fashioned way and drew swords and charged.

Little John proved adapt at the use of his Quarterstaff with a Fight Value of 4+ and 3+ for the staff meaning he hit on a 7+. The Quarterstaff was not as likely to incapacitate as some other weapons, but this Pirate was unlucky.

Little John also dispatched the French Crossbowman in melee.

Unfortunately Will Scarlet did not fare so well, he was definitely having an off day and I resented the 39 points that I had spent to field him! After a third inconclusive running melee with the Bishop, the Bishop lands a mortal thrust of his dagger on Will, who drops to the ground.

The French Pirates make it to the beach and one of the swordsman who had been accompanying the Bishop is revealed to be carrying the treasure. I had been focussing my main attention on the Bishop on the basis that he was the only character who was unencumbered by armour and could run. I was wrong!

Once revealed, all of my characters disengaged and gave chase, but to no avail. Robin had dispatched more Pirates but had not prevented them escaping with there ill gotten gains, so the game was decisively won by Mike. It was a lot of fun, it played very well with Thud and Blunder and I felt that I was in with a chance right to the end. The man of the match was undoubtedly The Bishop of Bayeux, who armed with a letter opener and protected by no more than pious words (Silver Tongue) felled the mighty Will Scarlet, and of course gave his name for all eternity to the picturesque North Eastern seaside village forever known as Bayeux Bishops Bay!

Credits:

Game was played using Thud & Blunder

Terrain built on Sally 4th Terra-Former Modular Terrain Tiles

Miniatures from Sally 4th Legends of Sherwood Range

Buildings, boats & pier 3D printed on and Ender 5 Pro from designs by Iain Lovecraft