Slitherine

Please read the description then tell me if the scenario in P&S is accurate:

Waller set off late on 26 October and camped overnight far to the north. His force broke camp and resumed its outflanking move on 27 October while Manchester launched a diversionary attack on Shaw House. Although the Royalists at Donnington Castle observed Waller's movement, and even sent a small detachment of cavalry to harry his rearguard, the troops at Speen were not warned of the danger.[8] Waller's force crossed to the south bank of the Lambourne at Boxford, and formed up and attacked at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, with cavalry under Oliver Cromwell on the left flank, infantry under Philip Skippon in the centre and cavalry under Sir William Balfour on the right.

Maurice's forces had been dispersed to forage, and were caught unprepared. Although they repelled the first attack on Speen, the Parliamentarian infantry rallied and stormed the village, capturing several cannon (including some which the Royalists had captured at Lostwithiel).[9] Balfour routed Maurice's cavalry and also defeated the Earl of Cleveland's brigade, but was then checked by the fresh Queen's Regiment of horse and musketeers under Sir Thomas Blagge lining hedges east of Speen.[10] Cromwell was uncharacteristically slow in coming into action and his wing was thrown back by a charge by Goring's remaining cavalry under Goring himself.

The Earl of Manchester was slow to throw in his own attack, pleading that the noise of Waller's guns had not been heard over the exchanges of artillery fire at Shaw House. Just before dark, he made a determined attack on Shaw House, but was beaten back.[9]

Casualties in the day's fighting were heavy, but roughly even on both sides.

------end of historical writeup from Wiki article on battle-------

I have an issue with the fact that the Royalists can easily bottle up Waller's deployment across the river at Boxford. In my game it was with no problems, even when the cavalry that were guarding the bridge routed, for my opponent to bring over sufficient forces to not only face up against my forces but also to ROUT them off the map. Matchups were pitiful. Unless Parliament player is very lucky there is no way he can cross there. I also used firepower to help my movement across the river scoring good hits on his cavalry, forcing it to rout, but firepower alone is not going to work.

Suggestions: fix the Royalist side for 3 turns. Then release them. Maurice's cavalry was caught unprepared according to the article. They were not able to rush over and block the bridge crossing and subsequent deployment.

Old_Warrior wrote:Suggestions: fix the Royalist side for 3 turns. Then release them.

That might do it, except that then the Royalist defence of the bridge south of Shaw Houser would be hampered, so I think one might need to make the restriction only apply to some sections of the Royalist army.

If you are willing to play test the idea, perhaps you could try playing the battle with a self-imposed rule that no orders can be given for 3 turns except to the infantry force in and south of Shaw.

Sure, am willing to playtest the scenario with those rules. Honestly I do not even think that the defense force in Boxford should be there. I havent seen anything to indicate that Waller's force had any obstacle in their way to crossing. I got lucky and routed the cavalry unit away with fire. Had they held up things would have been even worse. The small shot unit was chased off the board.