RFCM

Rules => Longships- Wrath of the Vikings => Topic started by: Duncan on November 01, 2017, 02:53:11 AM

Title: Battle Cattle!
Post by: Duncan on November 01, 2017, 02:53:11 AM
Anyone else come across these?

I have just been listening to the 'British History Podcast' which deals with the crack Ages (a term the bloke doing g it does not like.) But anyway looking at tactics in the 700-900 kind of era. It seemed that there are several stories/sagas about having to defeat sacred cows that are seen as semi refine by some groups. The latest thinking on this is that they may be telling of a tactic of using cattle (especially bulls.) To charge at and break up shield wall formations as they would be something big, heavy and mean tempered that people would usually have to hand.

So in the next incarnation of the fills I vote for including battle cattle units with your warbands. (Unless your a Viking, apparently they did not have them but came up against them.)

What do you think?
Title: Re: Battle Cattle!
Post by: Sean Clark on November 01, 2017, 08:22:39 AM
Seems ripe for a house rule. I'll get mooooving on the idea 😁
Title: Re: Battle Cattle!
Post by: Stewart 46A on November 01, 2017, 01:59:56 PM
Sound a bit like Hannibal's Elephants. Can be just as dangerous to own side if wounded
Title: Re: Battle Cattle!
Post by: Colonel Kilgore on November 01, 2017, 05:06:14 PM
Not in Mr Cornwall's "Uhtred" books, so surely must be a load of bull?  :)
Title: Re: Battle Cattle!
Post by: Colonel Kilgore on November 01, 2017, 05:06:34 PM
Quote from: Sean Clark on November 01, 2017, 08:22:39 AM
Seems ripe for a house rule. I'll get mooooving on the idea 😁

Pull the udder one...
Title: Re: Battle Cattle!
Post by: Duncan on November 01, 2017, 09:34:24 PM
Doesn't Ivarr the Boneless slay a couple of cows that had been used to protect a town, by shooting them with bow and arrow? I think it is in Ragnar Loobrok's Saga.
Title: Re: Battle Cattle!
Post by: Leman (Andy) on November 02, 2017, 06:28:42 AM
Sounds like this idea is going to be milked.  Anyone else shed some light on this? sounds like the Vikings could be in for a good hiding!!! GROAN..........