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David Beaupre (Order #16990741)

 Shields & Swords: Stamford Bridge & A Hill Near Hastings - Rules of Play
Stamford Bridge & A Hill Near Hastings
1.0 INTRODUCTION AND INTENT
The Shields and Swords (S&S) system is a low-
complexity, quick-playing, coarse-grain look at
medieval linear warfare that strives to be mussless
and fussless. Command Markers dictate which
actions are performed by which Units in a given
turn; troop discipline and leadership quality is
abstracted via the mix of Command Markers each player has
available, and the number that can be played for a given Wing.
Other than that, it generally utilizes concepts common to other
historical wargames, so experienced gamers should be in
familiar territory.
2.0 COMPONENTS
Each battle is played with one or more mapsheets, a set of die-
cut counters, and these rules. Each game and battle will also
have their own special rules. A six-sided die is required.
2.1 Mapsheets
A hex-grid is superimposed over each mapsheet to regulate
movement, combat, and terrain.
2.2 Unit Counters
Each player will control certain Units per the battle rules. Units
are represented by double-sided counters, which impart
information about that Unit and its abilities. Scale varies wildly
from battle to battle; forces are merely representative of
possible relative numbers.
The background color indicates to which Wing the Unit
belongs. Each Unit is given a Combat Class (CC) ranging from
"AA" (best) to "F" (worst); Archer Units also have a Fire Rating
associated with their Combat Class. Finally, the Unit Type is
indicated by the Unit's illustration.
• Veteran: Game term for the well-experienced, well-
trained, and well-armed.
• Levy: Game term for militia, Fyrd, and other axe-
fodder.
• Archer: Game term for bowmen.
• Horse: Game term for the men who ride on horses; no,
the game term for the horses who men ride on is not
"men".
Most Units have two Steps of Strength. When a Unit takes a
Step-Loss as a result of Combat, it is flipped to its reduced side,
indicated by a yellow stripe. When a reduced Unit takes a Step-
Loss, it is eliminated from the game. Units with only one Step
have the yellow stripe and identical CC ratings printed on both
sides. Once the game has begun, neither Player may examine
the reverse sides of the Unit Counters.
David Beaupre (Order #16990741)
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2.3 Command Counters
Each Player will have a pool of Command Counters used to
determine which kinds of actions, or "phases", his Units can
perform during his turn. Each Command Counter is double-
sided:
• Move/Shield Wall
• Combat/Withdraw
• Fire/Horse
• Double
2.4 Initiative Marker
The Initiative Marker may be used by the player who possesses
it to take a second full turn in a row; when he does so, his
opponent takes possession of the marker. The battle rules will
indicate which player starts with Initiative.
2.5 Suppression Markers
Suppression Markers are placed during the Fire Phase and
provide a bonus to enemies that target that Unit in Combat.
2.6 Charts & Tables
The following charts and tables are used:
• Unit Type Modifier Matrix: Provides a die roll modifier
(DRM) to Combat.
• Combat Results Table: Used to resolve Combat.
3.0 SEQUENCE OF PLAY
A battle is played in a series of alternating Player Turns until
one of the battle's ending conditions are met. Each Player Turn
comprises the following phases, performed in the following
order:
• COMMAND PHASE (4.0): The Player assigns
Commands to his Wings.
• ACTION PHASES: The Player carries out the
Commands he assigned, in the following order:
o Fire Phase (9.0)
o Horse Phase (10.0)
o Withdraw Phase (6.0)
o Shield Wall Phase (8.0)
o Move Phase (5.0)
o Second Move Phase (5.7)
o Combat Phase (7.0)
o Second/Pitched Combat Phase (7.7)
• INITIATIVE PHASE (11.0): If the Player holds the
Initiative Marker, he may Declare Initiative at the end
of his Turn. If he does not Declare Initiative, or does
not hold the marker, play passes to his opponent.
4.0 COMMAND PHASE
The rules for each battle will indicate which Command Counters
a Player has access to, and how many Command Counters he
can play for each of his Wings on a single Player Turn. This will
determine which Action Phases he will perform on his Player
Turn. The chosen Counters are placed in front of him, and
remain in place for the duration of the Player Turn. At the start
of his next Player Turn, he will take the previously played
Command Counters back into his possession; Command
Counters are never lost or expended unless specified in the
battle rules.
 Shields & Swords: Stamford Bridge & A Hill Near Hastings - Rules of Play
4.1 Wings
The Player will control one or more Wings. Each Wing is
considered a distinct entity for the purposes of Command;
phases chosen for one Wing are not performed for another. If a
player assigns the same Command to more than one Wing,
then each Wing resolves the chosen action in the same phase.
4.2 Wing Integrity (Levies & Archers)
At the beginning of each Phase, a Player must ascertain that
his Levy and Archer Units for a given Wing satisfy one of the
following two conditions:
• If there are Veteran/Horse Units remaining for that
Wing, the Levy/Archer Unit is within six hexes of that
Unit, or
• If there are no Veteran/Horse Units remaining for that
Wing, the Levy/Archer Unit is within four hexes of two
other Levy/Archer Units.
Units that do not satisfy these conditions at the start of any
Phase during the owning Player's Player Turn are eliminated.
These eliminations count toward Victory Conditions.
4.3 Double Phases
Though a Player may have two of the same Command Counter,
they cannot play the same side of the same Command Counter
on a single Wing, e.g., he cannot play two "Move" Command
Counters on the same Wing. However, he may play a Double
Phase Counter (if he has one) in conjunction with another
Command Counter:
• Double + Move: The Wing performs a second Move
Phase immediately after the first.
• Double + Combat: The Wing either performs a
second Combat Phase immediately after the first, or
performs a single Pitched Combat Phase.
• Double + Withdraw: Withdrawing Units belonging to
the chosen Wing may Withdraw two hexes.
• Double + Fire: The Wing's Archers subtract one from
their target number (C4 becomes C3, C5 becomes
C4).
• Double + Horse: The Wing's Horse increase their CC
by two classes when Charging.
• Double + Shield Wall: Units in EZOC may also
Withdraw one hex when forming Shield Wall.
5.0 MOVE PHASE
A Wing may perform one or two Move Phases in a Player Turn.
These Move Phases are distinct and separate. During a single
Move Phase, any, all, or none of the Units for a given Wing may
move up to three hexes, provided their movement is not
restricted by enemies, terrain (12.0), or Shield Wall.
5.1 Stacking Limit
Only one Unit may occupy a given hex. A Unit may move
through a hex occupied by a friendly Unit, but may not end its
movement within that hex. A Unit may never move through or
enter a hex occupied by an enemy Unit.
5.2 Zones of Control
Each Unit exerts a Zone of Control (ZOC) into the six hexes
surrounding it. When a Unit enters an Enemy Zone of Control
(EZOC) they must end their Movement for the current Move
Phase. Units that begin the Move Phase in EZOC may not
move. Units may not move through a friendly Unit's hex if that
hex is in EZOC.
5.3 Map Edge
Units may not leave the map for any reason during any phase.
If a Unit is required to retreat off the map as a result of Combat,
they suffer a Step-Loss instead.
David Beaupre (Order #16990741)
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5.4 Reinforcements
Some battles allow for reinforcements. The first hex entered
counts as one of the three hexes that Unit may move in a
Phase.
5.5 Shield Wall Effects on Move Phase
Units in Shield Wall may not move during the Move Phase.
5.6 Second Move Phase
The first Move Phase must be completely resolved for all
relevant Wings before a second Move Phase is performed.
6.0 WITHDRAW PHASE
A Wing may perform one Withdraw Phase during a Player Turn.
During this Phase, any, all, or none of the Units for that Wing
which begin the Phase in EZOC may move one hex (two if the
Double counter is used), provided they move away from EZOC,
never enter EZOC, and end the Phase completely free of
EZOC.
7.0 COMBAT
A Wing may perform one or two normal Combat Phases, or one
Pitched Combat Phase, during a Player Turn. Combat is never
mandatory.
7.1 Procedure
Each Combat Phase is resolved as a series of Attacks. Each
Attack is declared and resolved separately; the Player is not
required to declare all Attacks for a Phase ahead of time. If a
Combat Phase is chosen for multiple Wings, they are resolved
in the same Combat Phase (but see 7.2). Each Attack is
resolved by performing the following steps in order:
1. Declaration
2. CC Determination
3. DRM Determination
4. Attack roll
5. Results
7.2 Declaration
Each Attack is commenced by declaring the target of the Attack,
and identifying the Units who will be Attacking. During a single
Combat Phase, each Unit may participate in one, and only one,
Attack: each friendly Unit may only Attack once, and each
enemy Unit may only be the target of one Attack. Further, each
Attack may only target one enemy Unit, and that enemy Unit
must be within the ZOC of the Attacking Unit(s). Multiple friendly
Units that belong to the same active Wing may participate in the
same Attack against the targeted enemy Unit:
• The Attacking Unit with the best base CC is the
Primary Unit.
• All other friendly Units participating in the same Attack
are Participating Units.
• Horse Units may not Participate in an Attack with
friendly non-Horse Units, and vice-versa.
• If multiple Units have the same best base CC, the
active player chooses which Unit is Primary.
7.3 CC Determination
The Primary Unit's base Combat Class is increased (B
becomes A) according to the following:
• +1 if target is Suppressed
• +1 if Pitched Combat Phase
• +1 if attacking Downhill (12.1)
The Primary Unit's base Combat Class is decreased (A
becomes B) according to the following:
• -1 if target is in Shield Wall
• -1 if Attacking Wing is in Shield Wall
 Shields & Swords: Stamford Bridge & A Hill Near Hastings - Rules of Play
These modifiers are cumulative. Determine the net modification
before applying it (an B-class Unit with a +2 and a -1 becomes
an A-class Unit). A Unit's CC cannot be improved beyond AA,
nor degraded below F.
7.4 DRM Determination
Now it is time to determine the Die Roll Modifier (DRM) that will
be applied to the attack roll:
• Cross-reference the Unit Type of the Primary Unit with
that of the target on the Unit Type Modifier Matrix; this
will yield a modifier ranging from +2 (bad) to -1 (good).
• -1 for each Participating Unit of the same base CC as
the Primary Unit.
• -1 for every two Participating Units of a lower CC
(round up).
These modifiers are cumulative. Some games (e.g., Thor's
Hammer) will have additional DRMs.
Example: Myrtle has two A-class Veterans and one B-class
Levy attacking an enemy Levy. One of the A-class Units is her
Primary Unit. She consults the Unit Type Modifier Matrix and
gets a favorable -1. Her second A-class Unit gives her another -
1. She has one Unit with a lower CC, the B-class Unit; she gets
another -1 as it's for every two Units, rounding up. This results
in a net DRM of -3.
7.5 Attack Roll and Results
The Player rolls one die, applies the DRM, and cross-
references the result with the modified CC of the Primary Unit
on the Combat Results Table; the indicated result is then
applied. Results that indicate a "D" apply to the defending target
Unit; results that indicate an "A" apply to Attacking Units:
• DE/AE: The Unit is Eliminated; remove it from play. In
the case of AE, the owning player chooses one of the
Attacking Units to be Eliminated.
• DL/AL: The Unit loses one Step. Full-strength, two-
step Units are flipped to their reduced side, while
reduced or one-step Units are Eliminated as above. In
the case of AL, the owning player chooses one of the
Attacking Units to lose a Step.
• DR/AR: The Unit Retreats (7.6). In the case of AR, all
Attacking Units must Retreat.
• EX: The target loses one Step, and one Attacking Unit
(owning player's choice) loses one Step.
• NE: No Effect.
• Results with an asterisk (*) may, solely at the
Attacker's option, be treated as an EX result if the
Defender is in Shield Wall.
7.6 Retreats
A defending Unit forced to Retreat must move his Unit one (and
only one) hex away from all Attacking Units, and away from all
EZOC; Attacking Units forced to Retreat must each move one
(and only one) hex away from the defending Unit, and away
from all EZOC. Units may not move through or "push" friendly
Units. If unable to satisfy all conditions of the Retreat, the Unit
does not move and instead loses a Step. However: Units in
Shield Wall ignore all DR/AR results without penalty.
7.7 Second or Pitched Combat Phase
Playing Double + Combat Phase Counters allows a Wing to
either perform two Combat Phases in tandem, or one Pitched
Combat Phase. A second Phase is only performed after the first
Combat Phase, for all Wings, has been completely resolved. If
some Wings choose one or two normal Combat Phases, and
other Wings a Pitched Combat Phase, the Pitched Combat
Phase is performed last. Per rule 7.3, a Pitched Combat Phase
increases the base CC of Primary Units by one level. It is
otherwise like a normal Combat Phase.
David Beaupre (Order #16990741)
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7.8 Advancing After Combat
When an enemy Unit is Eliminated or Retreats during an Attack,
one of the Attacking Units may move into the vacated hex,
regardless of EZOCs which may apply. Defenders that have
repelled or Eliminated their Attacker(s) do not Advance. Units in
Shield Wall may not Advance, and Units may not Advance
uphill (12.1).
8.0 SHIELD WALL PHASE
A Wing may perform one Shield Wall Phase during a Player
Turn. Until the beginning of that Player's next Turn, all Levy and
Veteran Units belonging to that Wing are considered to be in
Shield Wall:
• They fight at -1CC, and enemy Units Attack them at -
1CC as well (7.3)
• They ignore all Retreat results (7.6)
• They may not Advance (7.8)
• Enemy Archers add one to their target number (9.2)
• They may not Move during a Move Phase (5.6)
During the Shield Wall Phase, Levy and Veteran Units in the
activated Wing may move one hex, provided they do not begin
the Shield Wall Phase in EZOC. The use of the Double Counter
in conjunction with a Shield Wall Phase allows Shield Wall Units
in EZOC to Withdraw one hex. Note that Horse and Archer
Units do not go into Shield Wall, and so do not receive these
benefits or restrictions. As a mnemonic, only units that can go
into Shield Wall have a shield on their counters.
Shield Wall does not in every battle necessarily represent the
early medieval tactic, but the general idea of a strong defensive
posture.
9.0 FIRE PHASE
A Wing's Archers may perform one Fire Phase during a Player
Turn. This allows any, all, or none of the Archer Units for that
Wing to perform Fire against an enemy Unit. Each Fire is
declared and resolved separately; the Player is not required to
declare all Firing for a Phase ahead of time. Each Fire is
resolved by performing the following steps in order:
1. Declaration
2. Target Number Modifier
3. Fire Roll & Results
9.1 Declaration
Each Firing Unit may fire only once in a Fire Phase; however,
the same enemy Unit may be targeted by multiple firing Units in
the same Phase. Only Archer Units that are not adjacent to
enemy Units may Fire, and they may only Fire on an enemy
Unit that is up to four hexes distant (count the target hex, but
not the Firing Unit's hex). Add two hexes to this distance if the
Archer occupies High Ground (12.1) and the target does not. In
specific battles, certain types of Terrain may "block" the Archer,
preventing them from Firing.
9.2 Target Number Modifier
Each Archer Unit has a Target Number equal to their Fire
Rating, typically a "4" or "5", which they must meet or exceed on
a die roll in order for the Fire to be successful. This Number
may be modified as follows:
• +1 if target is in Shield Wall
• -1 if Archer occupies High Ground and target does not
• -1 if target is a Horse Unit
• -1 if Double Counter was used in conjunction with the
Fire Phase
These modifiers are cumulative.
 Shields & Swords: Stamford Bridge & A Hill Near Hastings - Rules of Play 4
9.3 Fire Roll & Results
The active Player rolls one die. If the result is less than the
Target Number as modified by 9.2, nothing happens. If the
Shields & Swords System
result is equal or greater than the modified Target Number, TOM RUSSELL
• and the target is not Suppressed, it becomes
Suppressed; place a Suppression Marker on the
target.
• and the target is Suppressed, the target loses one Game Design
Step.
When Suppressed Units are Attacked, the Primary Unit's CC is
TOM RUSSELL
increased by 1 (7.3). All Suppression Markers are removed
from all of a Player's Units (rendering them no longer
Suppressed) at the beginning of his next Player Turn. Development
10.0 HORSE PHASE MARY HOLLAND-RUSSELL
A Wing's Horse Units may perform one Horse Phase during a
Player Turn. During this Phase, any, all, or none of the Horse
Units may move 3 hexes. Horse Units that begin in EZOC may Unit Counter & Map Art
still move, but must stop if they enter EZOC. After resolving this
movement for all acting Horse Units, any, all, or none of the GABRIEL GENDRON
Horse Units that are now in enemy EZOC may Attack enemy
Units. (This includes Horse Units that did not move during the
Phase.) This is called a Charge; it is resolved as a normal
Attack, but only Horse Units may Attack/Support. (If the Double
Command Counter Design
Marker is used in conjunction with a Horse Phase, the Charging JOSE R. FAURA
Horse Units get +2 CC.) Note that the Horse Phase is distinct
from the Move and Combat Phases, and does not preclude the
Horse Unit taking part in those Phases.

11.0 INITIATIVE PHASE

A Player with the Initiative Marker in his possession has
Initiative. He may Declare Initiative at the end of his Turn. When
he does so, he passes the Initiative Marker to his opponent, and
then immediately takes another full Player Turn, beginning with
a new Command Phase. If he does not Declare Initiative, or
does not hold the marker, play automatically passes to his
opponent.

12.0 TERRAIN FEATURES

Some Terrain features have important effects on Movement and
Combat.

12.1 High Ground

High Ground represents hills and other elevated terrain
features. Moving or attacking from a lower level of elevation to a
higher one is called uphill: Units that are attacking uphill may
not advance into the vacated hex unless in doing so they enter
no EZOC. Moving or attacking from the higher level of elevation
to the lower one is called downhill: Attacking Units get +1CC,
and Archers get +2 hexes to their range and -1 to their Target
Number when Firing. Otherwise, the High Ground has no other
effects on movement/combat.

12.2 Rivers
Rivers are impassable, except at a bridge or ford. Units do not
project an EZOC across the impassable hexsides and therefore
cannot attack. tinybattlepublishing.com
12.3 Trenches
Trenches are a hexside feature. Units attacking across a trench
hexside do so at -2CC.

David Beaupre (Order #16990741)

 Shields & Swords: Stamford Bridge & A Hill Near Hastings - Rules of Play
Background
The Battle of Stamford Bridge, fought on 25 September 1066, is
in some ways typical of battles from its period, in that two
armies stood in a line and bashed the hell out of each other.
Warfare of the period was a bloody affair, and this battle was no
different; there were heavy casualties on both sides. The story
goes that of the 300 ships the Vikings brought to Britain, only
twenty-seven were needed to carry the battle's survivors back
home. The losses sustained by the English were no less
catastrophic, and I would argue that this would be a decisive
factor in the Battle of Hastings, fought less than three weeks
later.
That being said, we don't know quite how catastrophic the
losses were; we're not even sure how many men each side
fielded. We don't know much about the battle at all. We know
that two armies met at the River Derwent, one headed by
Harold II, the last Anglo-Saxon King of England, and the other
by Harald III of Norway (with some "help" from Harold's brother
Tostig). We know that Harold won, and that both Harald and
Tostig died. And really, that's about it. The historical record is
dubious at best. Our three main contemporary sources are the
Icelandic historian-poet Snorri Sturluson, born thirteen years
after the battle, the anonymous Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, and the
Bayeux Tapestry. All of these are heavily biased and come from
a period in which history was largely indistinguishable from, and
as mutable as, mythology and propaganda.
What we do know quite a bit about are the reasons why the
battle was fought, and it doesn't take much guesswork to suss
out the motivations of the four men who made the battle
David Beaupre (Order #16990741)
5
happen: Harold II, Harald III, Tostig, and William of Normandy.
Though the Conqueror would not land on English shores for
three more days, he was both a catalyst for, and primary
beneficiary of, what transpired at Stamford Bridge.
The English Succession
Before the Conquest, rule of England was-- at least in theory if
not always in practice-- not a hereditary right passed down from
father to son. Rather, upon the death of a King, the witena
gemot ("meeting of wise men") would elect a successor. This
was markedly different from the way things were done across
the sea in France and the "confusion" that arose between
Harold and William of Normandy-- either real or feigned for
political reasons-- may have been a major factor in the events
of 1066.
Further clouding the issue, much like the Holy Roman Empire,
the English Throne did tend to be a family affair. Edgar the
Peaceful (r. 959-975) was succeeded by his sons Edward the
Martyr (r. 975-978), then Edward's brother, AEthelred, who was
between ten and thirteen at the time of his "election". (Clearly,
the witena gemot picked the right man for the job.) History gives
AEthelred the unfortunate cognomen "the Unready", and sure,
I'm pretty sure anyone who is asked to rule a kingdom before
and/or while he's going through puberty would not be quite up
for the task. But that's actually a later mistranslation of his Old
English cognomen, unraed, or "badly counseled", which is itself
a pun on the name AEthelred, which means "noble counsel".
Ready or not, AEthelred ruled until 1013, when he fled the
Danes led by Sweyn Forkbeard. Sweyn ruled as King of both
England and Denmark for seven months, dying in February
1014, at which point AEthelred retook his throne, holding it until
 Shields & Swords: Stamford Bridge & A Hill Near Hastings - Rules of Play
his own death in 1016. AEthelred was then succeeded by his
son, Edmund Ironside (r. 1016), who did not solve mysteries
from a wheelchair, but whose kingdom was invaded by Sweyn
Forkbeard's son, Cnut the Great (r. 1016-1035).
Cnut ruled England, Denmark, and Norway until his death. At
that time, rule of Norway passed to Magnus the Good. England
was given to his son Harold Harefoot (r. 1035-1040), and
Denmark to his son Harthacnut. Upon his half-brother's death,
Harthacnut was elected to the throne of England as well, but
only ruled for two years before his own death. The throne of
Denmark then passed to Magnus, now King of both Denmark
and Norway.
Harthacnut's mother was Emma of Normandy, who in addition
to being the great aunt of our future conqueror, was also the
widow of Cnut's predecessor AEthelred and the mother, with
AEthelred, of Edward the Confessor (r. 1042-1066), Hartha-
cnut's half-brother and successor in England. Edward's own
successor would be his brother-in-law Harold Godwinson, who
was himself the nephew of Cnut's brother-in-law.
House of Godwin
Harold's father, Godwin, enjoyed a meteoric rise to prominence
upon the seizure of the English throne by Cnut the Great.
Godwin would have been fifteen years old when Cnut was
crowned. Within two years, Cnut had created him an Earl, likely
only of eastern Wessex; by the time he was nineteen, Godwin
had been created the full-blown Earl of Wessex. His holdings
there, and the family estates in Sussex, made him a very
powerful and wealthy man. The reasons why he was especially
a favorite of the King's, and what he could have done to merit
this elevation at such an early age, remain obscure.
There is a story of a daring midnight raid Godwin personally led
during Cnut's campaign in Denmark against the Wends, which
may have earned the King's trust. This either occurred before or
after he became Earl of all of Wessex; if it didn't result in
Godwin's elevation, it at least seemed to confirm the wisdom of
Cnut's decision. While in Denmark, Godwin married Gytha
Thorkelsdottir, the sister of Ulf Jarl ("Ulf the Earl"). Ulf was
Cnut's regent in Denmark, himself married to Cnut's sister
Estrith, and the foster father to Harthacnut. Godwin's marriage
to Ulf's sister further cemented his ties to Cnut and his line.
In 1035, when Cnut died, it was unclear if the Danish King's son
Harold Harefoot would reign, or if the deposed House of
Wessex-- AEthelred's line-- would retake the throne. One of
AEthelred's sons with Emma of Normandy, Alfred the Noble,
tried to do precisely that, returning from a long exile in
Normandy. The story goes that Alfred was met by Godwin, who
swore loyalty to the credulous pretender. Rather than lead
Alfred and his men to safety as promised, Godwin delivered
them to Harold Harefoot's men. Alfred's eyes were put out, and
he died early the next year.
One would think that Godwin's power and influence would have
ended abruptly upon the ascension of Alfred's brother Edward.
But that was not the case; Godwin may even have been
instrumental in having Edward elected in the first place. The
connection between Godwin and the King was again cemented
by marriage in 1045, this time between the Confessor and
Godwin's daughter, Edith. Around the same time, Godwin's son
Harold became the Earl of East Anglia, strengthening the
family's power. With the King childless, it was not a stretch to
suppose that Godwin would be the natural choice of the witena
gemot to succeed him.
But then the Godwins overplayed their hand. When Edward
came to power, he peopled his court with many Normans,
David Beaupre (Order #16990741)
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causing a sharp divide between "native" Anglo-Saxon lords and
their "foreign" counterparts. These tensions came to a head in
1051 when Eustace II, Count of Boulogne, was attacked by
Anglo-Saxon peasants in Dover. Eustace being married to
Edward's sister, the King was displeased and instructed Godwin
to punish Dover for the insult. Godwin refused, siding against
the Count, and the King. In response, the King had Godwin and
his sons exiled with the support of the Earl of Northumbria.
The Godwins did not take their exile gracefully. In 1052, they
returned to England, intent on restoring their earldoms, through
force if necessary. They garnered support with both the
populace and the navy, and Edward caved. The House of
Godwin had strong-armed the King, and won. When Godwin
died, his son Harold succeeded him as Earl of Wessex. In 1055,
the Godwin family's hold on power was strengthened when
Harold's brother Tostig was made the Earl of Northumbria upon
the previous Earl's demise.
Tostig was not the worst of the Godwins, but he came close.
(The worst would be Godwin's eldest son, Sweyn, who had
been exiled multiple times from multiple countries for
kidnapping a nun, murdering a cousin, and other assorted
indiscretions.) In Northumbria, Tostig proved himself a heavy-
handed and ineffectual ruler who oppressed the peasants and
assassinated members of the Northumbrian aristocracy. He is
supposed to have gone so far as to murder two guests in his
home that had been promised safe passage, which was
particularly egregious.
After ten years, in 1065, the Northumbrians rebelled, occupying
the city of York and killing Tostig's supporters. They demanded
Tostig's removal from power. The King sent Harold to negotiate
with the rebels, and Harold advocated branding his brother an
outlaw. This, naturally, did not sit well with Tostig. He publicly
accused his brother of being behind the rebellion so that he
would have a pretext to get rid of him.
There are several theories behind Harold's repudiation of his
brother. It could be that, as Tostig claimed, he wanted Tostig
removed for some reason. It could be that exiling Tostig helped
to distance himself from the more unseemly elements of his
relations, making it more likely that the witena gemot would
name him successor to the ailing Edward, who would be dead
in less than four months (perhaps for the same reason, he had
been a strong advocate of his elder brother Sweyn's permanent
exile). And it could have something to do with William, the Duke
of Normandy.
The Boy Duke
The illegitimate son of Robert I and a tanner's daughter, William
became Duke of Normandy at the age of seven. As is ever the
case in these situations, the real governance was conducted by
the young Duke's guardians. Control of William, and thus his
duchy, was hotly contested, and his guardians often met violent
ends. Sensing weakness, rebellions and invasions of the duchy
abounded during these formative years. But William was
anything but weak, proving himself an able commander and
ruler. He more-or-less had consolidated his power in Normandy
in 1060, at the age of twenty-five.
In 1051, with Godwin and his sons in exile and no longer
considered contenders for the throne, the sixteen year old
William went to visit his cousin Edward in England. According to
William, the King named him heir to the throne. Setting aside of
course the nominatively elective nature of the English monarchy
at this time, the return of the Godwins to England the following
year, and the steady accumulation of the family's power, put
William's claim in doubt. Certainly, this is something that both
William and Harold Godwinson would have been cognizant of.
 Shields & Swords: Stamford Bridge & A Hill Near Hastings - Rules of Play
In 1064, Harold Godwinson makes an unusual and fateful sea
voyage, and is shipwrecked on the coast of Northern France.
There he is captured, and given into William's custody. Harold
fights alongside William in Brittany, and-- at least according to
the Bayeux Tapestry and other Norman sources-- is knighted by
William. In doing so, he swore fealty to William, and promised to
support his claim to the throne. Norman sources further state
that Harold was sent to France by Edward to do exactly this.
"Harold swears an oath to Duke William."
Of course, we have no way of knowing whether or not any of
this is true. It could be no promise was made; it could be one
was made under duress as, after all, Harold was William's
hostage. What we do know is Harold knew of William's intention
to take the throne, and had had first-hand experience with
William's military capabilities. If Harold was intending to take the
throne-- er, to be "elected"-- he knew he would need a united
England in order to keep it. Exiling his brother would win him
the support of the Northumbrians, and allow him (in theory) to
triumph over an invasion by William. Ironically, his decision to
exile Tostig may have been the very reason why Harold lost at
the Battle of Hastings-- though Tostig would not live to see it.
Tostig's Rebellion
As with the previous exile of the entire Godwin family, Tostig did
not go gracefully but immediately began plotting to reclaim his
position through force. While his brother Harold was being
elected as Edward's successor, Tostig had fled to his cousin
Baldwin V of Flanders, who gave the rebellious Godwinson a
fleet of ships. Lacking the manpower to pose a credible threat,
Tostig contented himself with harassing the coast until Harold
mobilized men and ships to bring him to heel.
Tostig needed an ally if he was to succeed. One story has it that
he went to William of Normandy, but the future conqueror
balked, as did Sweyn Estriddsen in Denmark (more about him
later). Tostig tried to make an alliance with one of his brothers,
Gyrth, who also refused. I'm assuming the conversation went a
little something like, "He's the King, has everyone behind him;
you're Tostig; no thanks." Militarily incompetent, widely disliked,
and charismatically-challenged, Tostig's men deserted him after
a decisive defeat in Northumbria. Tostig fled to Scotland for the
summer, probably asked them for help, definitely got turned
down.
Undeterred, Tostig sailed to Norway to ask Harald Hardrada to
stake a claim on the English Throne. Surprisingly-- and much to
his misfortune-- the last great Viking King agreed.
The Hard Ruler
This Harald was the brother of Olaf II, King of Norway and later
a Saint of the Catholic Church. Olaf had been deposed by our
old friend Cnut the Great, and was killed in the 1030 Battle of
David Beaupre (Order #16990741)
7
Stiklestad when attempting to win back his throne. Harald was
fifteen at the time and took part in the battle. After his brother's
death, Harald went into exile, earning a considerable fortune in
the Byzantine Empire and Kievan Rus', and finding great
success as a military commander.
As we previously mentioned, when Cnut died, rule of Norway
fell to Magnus the Good, the illegitimate son of Olaf, and
Magnus picked up Denmark upon the death of Harthacnut.
Magnus's rule in Denmark was challenged by Sweyn
Estriddsen, Cnut's nephew and the son of Ulf Jarl (told you we'd
get to him in a minute). Harald allied himself with Sweyn against
Magnus. Perhaps fearful of his uncle's military prowess,
Magnus offered to share the throne with Harald, who agreed.
Two years later, in 1047, Magnus died while in Denmark,
leaving Harald sole ruler of Norway. While he had no problems
consolidating his power in Norway with a brutal efficiency that
earned him the cognomen Hardrada (hard ruler), enforcing his
claim to Denmark proved to be more difficult. He spent the next
seventeen years campaigning against his former ally Sweyn
Estriddsen. The war was costly and frustratingly indecisive;
victory in combat and repeated coastal raids did not translate
into actual conquest. Finally in 1064, Harald threw up his hands
and relinquished his claim.
Having just extradited his country from the Danish quagmire, it
would seem odd that Harald Hardrada would ally with Tostig
against Harold Godwinson, and Harald may indeed have been
reluctant. And yet, besides the conquests of the Great Heathen
Army a couple hundred years prior, there was never a time
when England would be more vulnerable to a Viking invasion.
With Harold II anxiously waiting in the South for the Normans to
cross the channel, it would leave the North vulnerable to attack.
The English would be fighting a war on two fronts: a dicey
proposition in modern times, and dicier still nearly a thousand
years ago. This, of course, was something that Harold
Godwinson was entirely cognizant of, and eager to avoid.
Harald Hardrada.
Tostig and Harald landed in Northumbria in September, and
marched for York-- Tostig's old seat of power. On 20
September, in the nearby village of Fulford, they were opposed
by English forces led by the brothers Edwin and Morcar, the
Earls of Mercia and Northumbria, respectively; Morcar was
Tostig's replacement, so one imagines Tostig took particular
glee in the Vikings' decisive and bloody victory over the
Northumbrians. York was captured and raided for supplies and
hostages. Tostig offered peace to the Northumbrians in
exchange for their support of Harald's claim.
 Shields & Swords: Stamford Bridge & A Hill Near Hastings - Rules of Play
News quickly reached Harold in the South. He immediately
gathered what forces he could. He had to decisively defeat the
threat in the North before William crossed the channel; it would
be the only way to avoid a two-front war. So, he moved fast--
much faster than anyone would expect. He travelled night and
day for four days, and cleared some 185 miles, taking the
Vikings completely by surprise.
Stamford Bridge and Beyond
As I said up top, a lot of what we "know" about the Battle of
Stamford Bridge comes from sources that are dubious at best.
Sometimes, these "facts" are slanted to forward an agenda, and
sometimes it's just because it makes for a better and more
exciting story.
We're pretty sure, for example, that the Vikings were not
expecting Harold to be anywhere in the vicinity any time soon,
and so they had relaxed their guard. They were not in any kind
of battle formation when the English appeared. At least some of
them had crossed the bridge that gives the battle its name, and
so had their backs to the river when Harold attacked. We can
guess that, sustaining heavy casualties in the process, the
Vikings retreated via the bridge, which resulted in a painful,
frantic bottleneck. So, those are things that, if not absolutely
certain, are at least quite probable and make for logical
conjecture.
But then there's the story, for example, that the Vikings had
been so relaxed that they had left their heavy armor back on
their ships, as it was unsuitable for the noonday heat. Did this
really happen? I don't know; I have a hard time believing a
bunch of Viking warriors would be lounging around in enemy
territory without any armor. At the same time, wars are fought
by humans, and humans are capable of some incredibly stupid
things.
There's a bit in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle-- and this is probably
the story that everyone knows about Stamford Bridge, if they've
heard of it at all-- that tells us that a lone Viking, a hulking brute
armed with a Dane axe, held the bridge against the entire
English army, covering the Viking retreat. He killed forty men
single-handedly, and was only defeated when a clever English
soldier floated underneath the bridge in a barrel, killing him with
a spear thrust through the laths. Then, and only then, the
English crossed the bridge to meet the rest of Harald
Hardrada's army.
David Beaupre (Order #16990741)
8
The Norse went into a shield wall formation. The English likely
did the same. What followed was a long, violent, exhausting
day-- a costly battle of attrition. It's quite possible that it could
have gone either way.
The tipping point was the death of Harald Hardrada. With the
King of Norway slain, command fell to the former Earl of
Northumbria. Unsurprisingly, Tostig's leadership was lacking,
and he too was quickly slain as the battle turned into a rout.
Reinforcements came from the ships, in full armor and led by
Harald's son-in-law, Eyestein Orri. This romantic, doomed,
quixotic counterattack comes to us as "Orri's Storm", but if it
happened, it did little to change the outcome.
Harold II had decisively defeated the invading Vikings. But that
victory came at a great cost. He had lost perhaps as many as a
third of his men, with the heaviest casualties coming from the
best-armed and best-trained. In order to defeat William of
Normandy's imminent invasion, he would need time not only to
levy an army and to physically recover from the rigors of the
pitched battle, but to find the sort of well-armed and well-
disciplined fighting men he had lost at Stamford Bridge.
Unfortunately, he didn't get that time, as William's invasion was
more imminent than Harold could have imagined; the Normans
had landed at Pevensey on 28 September, three days after
Harold's victory.
He gave battle to William on 14 October 1066 at Senlac Hill,
seven miles from Hastings. Defending from the higher ground
and deploying his men in a shield wall formation was a sound
tactic. Had his men been disciplined enough to hold their
positions, instead of breaking formation to give chase, Harold
may have won that battle. If not for the nearly forgotten Battle of
Stamford Bridge, the outcome of its more famous cousin might
have been quite different.
 Shields & Swords: Stamford Bridge & A Hill Near Hastings - Rules of Play
STAMFORD BRIDGE
End of the Viking Age
Anglo-Saxon Player (Initiative; Goes First)
The Anglo-Saxon Player (red) controls one Wing. The Anglo-
Saxon Player may play two Command Counters on a turn. He
has the following Command Markers:
• Move/Shield Wall x 1
• Combat/Withdraw x 1
• Double x 1
Viking Player
The Viking Player (white) controls one Wing. The Viking Player
has the following command Markers:
• Move/Shield Wall x 1
• Combat/Withdraw x 1
• Double x 1
The Viking Player's play of Command Counters varies:
• On his first turn, he may play one.
• On subsequent turns, while Harald Hardrada is his
leader, he may play two.
• When Tostig is his leader, he may play one.
• When Orri is his leader, he may play two.
• See Viking Leadership for more details.
Set-Up
The Viking Player will set aside the three “AA”-class Viking
units. All his remaining units will be randomized; the Anglo-
Saxon Player will draw six of them. The Viking Player must
deploy these six units at full-strength as he wishes within the
white-dotted hexes West of the river. His remaining units (but
not the AA units!) are placed as he wishes at full-strength within
the white-dotted hexes East of the river.
The Anglo-Saxon Player should set aside the Units marked with
an "H", as they are not used in this battle. He then deploys all
his remaining units at full-strength within the red-dotted hexes
as he wishes.
River Ford & Roads
Only the Anglo-Saxon Player may utilize the Ford to cross the
River. Units that move along the Road is this battle may move
one extra hex (total of four), and Units that move only along the
Road may move two extra hexes (total of five).
Viking Units
Viking Units are a special class of Veteran Unit. They act as
Veterans except where differentiated on the Unit Type Modifier
Matrix.
Viking Leadership
Harald Hardrada is Leader from the start of the game. When 8
Viking Units have been Eliminated, Tostig becomes Leader.
When 12 Viking Units have been Eliminated, Orri becomes
leader, and at the conclusion of that Player Turn, the game
enters a special phase, Orri's Storm: the Viking Player
immediately takes three Player Turns in a row, and the three
"AA" Viking Units enter the map at the hex marked "R". At the
conclusion of the third Turn, the game ends.
Victory Conditions
If the Viking Player eliminates 12 Anglo-Saxon Units, they win.
If at the end of Orri's Storm the Viking Player has not won the
game, it is an Anglo-Saxon Victory.
David Beaupre (Order #16990741)
9
A HILL NEAR HASTINGS
Beginning of the Norman Conquests
Anglo-Saxon Player (Goes First)
The Anglo-Saxon Player (red) controls one Wing. The Anglo-
Saxon Player may play two Command Counters on a turn. He
has the following Command Markers:
• Move/Shield Wall x 1
• Combat/Withdraw x 1
• Double x 1
Norman Player (Initiative)
The Norman Player (blue) controls three Wings. The Norman
Player may play three Command Counters for one Wing, and
one Command Counter for a second Wing. The Norman
Player has the following command Markers:
• Move/Shield Wall x 1
• Combat/Withdraw x 1
• Fire/Horse x 2
• Double x 1
Set-Up
The Anglo-Saxon Player sets aside the Units marked with an
"S"; they are not used in this battle. He randomizes his
remaining 18 Units in an opaque container and blindly pulls 15
of them, deploying them at full-strength along the red-dotted
hexes as he wishes. (After his hard-fought victory at Stamford
Bridge, Harold will take whatever he can get!)
There are three sets of blue set-up hexes for the Norman
Player. The Light Blue Wing (7 Units) sets up on the left, the
Dark Blue (8 Units) on the right, and the Medium Blue (9 Units)
in the center. He may arrange the Units within each Wing as he
wishes: historically, archers would be in front, and mounted
units in reserve.
Discipline
Following the first elimination suffered by the Anglo-Saxon
Player, the Anglo-Saxon Player must begin checking for
Discipline. Starting with the next Anglo-Saxon Player Turn, and
continuing until Discipline fails, before playing any Commands
the Anglo-Saxon Player must roll two six-sided dice, sum the
total, and add the number of eliminated Anglo-Saxon Units. If
the total is 12 or higher, Discipline fails. For the remainder of the
game, he no longer rolls for discipline but he must issue only
Move and Combat Commands (no Retreats, no Doubles, and
no Shield Wall).
Senlac Hill
From the beginning of the game, and until Anglo-Saxon
Discipline fails, when a Norman Unit Attacks uphill, he does so
at -2CC.
Bow Range
Bow Range is 3 hexes instead of the normal 5.
Victory Conditions
If eight Anglo-Saxon Units are eliminated, the Norman Player
immediately wins the game. If Anglo-Saxon Discipline has not
failed, the Anglo-Saxon Player wins immediately when he
eliminates 8 Norman Units. If Discipline has failed, he wins
immediately when he eliminates 13 Norman Units.
 Shields & Swords: Stamford Bridge & A Hill Near Hastings - Rules of Play 10

Shields &Swords & Charts & Tables

Combat Class Modifiers
• +1 CC for:
o Pitched Battle
o Against Suppressed Target
o Attacking Downhill
• -1 CC for:
o Attacker in Shield Wall
o Defender in Shield Wall
• +2 CC for Double + Horse

Die Roll Modifiers

• Per Unit Type Modifier Matrix
• -1 per support Unit of same CC
• -1 per 2 support Units of lower CC
(round up)

Fire Target Number Modifiers

• -1 versus Horse
• -1 versus Suppressed
• +1 if Defender in Shield Wall
• -1 if Firing Downhill
• -1 in Double Fire Phase

Combat Results Table

-3+ -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6+
AA DE DE DE DL DL DR DR NE NE NE
A DE DE DL DL DR DR NE EX EX AR
B DE DL DL DR DR* NE EX EX AR AR
C DL DL DR DR* NE* EX EX AR AR AL
D DL DR DR* NE* EX EX AR AR AL AL
E DL NE* EX EX AR AR AL AL AE AE
F EX EX EX AR AR AL AL AE AE AE
AE/DE: Eliminated. AL/DL: Step-Loss. AR/DR: Retreat (ignore if Shield Wall). EX: Exchange. NE: No Effect.
An asterisk (*) indicates that if the Defender is in Shield Wall, the Attacker has the option of treating this as an
EX result.

David Beaupre (Order #16990741)

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David Beaupre (Order #16990741)