Lately, I’ve been diving into Joan of Arc: Time of Legends, and our most recent session brought us to the iconic Battle of Crécy. If you’re familiar with the history, you know this was a critical battle where English strategy, terrain, and weather worked together to devastating effect on the French forces.

In our game, my friend John commanded the English, while I took the role of the French. The scenario begins with the Genoese crossbowmen already retreating in disarray, adding immediate chaos to the French lines. As the French, I had the first turn and decided to launch a powerful cavalry charge on the English right flank, aiming to disrupt their positions and break their line early.

The charge was a success! The French cavalry hit with full force, managing to break through the English line on the first charge. However, just as the momentum built, my forces stalled, unable to sustain the push. Exhausted from the initial assault and out of actions, my cavalry couldn’t press further, leaving them vulnerable to a counterattack. The English, positioned on higher ground and shielded by their longbowmen, responded swiftly. With John rallying his troops, the longbowmen rained down arrows on my forces, punishing the exposed French cavalry and forcing them back.

Despite the early breakthrough, the English defenses held firm. A few smaller charges followed, but none were as effective as that initial surge, and John ultimately secured victory by eliminating 10 French units.

Looking back, I’d take a different approach next time. Rather than committing fully in the first turn, I’d bring up more foot infantry to support the cavalry, coordinating multiple assaults along the line for a sustained push. Saving actions for later turns could also ensure the cavalry has the endurance to capitalize on breakthroughs, potentially making a decisive impact.

Painting up the miniatures for this battle was half the fun, and they added a great visual depth to the game. Next up, we’ll be tackling the Black Prince’s Ride scenario