A Dominion by any other name...

Steve Parker's "Dominion of..." rules have quite captured the imagination of some wargamers I know and solo wargamers in particular. I had a go at the original "Dominion of the Spear" about six months ago and didn't get it, so the growth of the series has passed me by.

Then on a Wars of the Roses Facebook group Steve started to plug "Dominion of the Roses", saying he'd done an adaptation and researched 17 battles. Seeing "Edgecote Moor 26th July 1469" listed raised my hackles a bit, and made me doubt the depth of the research as regular long term readers of this blog would probably have guessed. So I told the author so, and invited him to get in touch. Which he did.

We have since exchanged a series of emails about current research and how battles were fought, leading, I think, to a number of changes to the original rules. So, well done to Steve for being open minded and listening. And he promised to send me a copy of the printed rules, which arrived yesterday. Given the baking heat of the third heatwave of the summer, I retreated into the shade with some figures and dice and set about playing a few scenarios.

I obviously started with Northampton. I was surprised that the Lancastrians got guns, not the Yorkists, seeing as the only cannon balls found on the battlefield since were probably Yorkist. The rules have a bit more nuance that the original ancients set, and fit the three battles v three battles medieval model really well. Players have little agency, and that's probably right once you get to the battle itself. I think the "weather advantage" rule doesn't fit well with this scenario, which is a tough one for the Yorkists to win. Their hopes rely on the Lancastrian guns being ineffective and Lord Grey of Ruthin switching sides. Which is about right, I guess.

The opening artillery barrage resulted in the Lancastrian guns not firing and being removed. I like the idea of artillery being resolved before the battle starts, as in "Blood Red Roses".

The Lancastrian archery was lethal. The Lancastrians have the Weather advantage, so they're +1 on their shooting and the Yorkists are -1. That's harsh, and looks more like the fabled Fauconberg archery trick at Towton. Doubly harsh as current thinking is that it didn't even happen at Towton either. Anyway, all the Yorkist battles had to advance and attack.

That didn't go well. Lord Grey of Ruthin stayed resolutely loyal. He only flips on a 1-3, so you're on a 50:50 to get on an even keel after wading through the arrow storm.

Neither did the next turn go well. Complete Yorkist failure. Total Lancastrian victory.

I set it up again, giving the Yorkists guns and ignoring the weather advantage.

The Yorkists did a bit better, but Ruthin still stayed loyal and the Lancastrians ran out narrow winners.

As a simulation model the rules are crude, or simple, whichever you prefer. They capture the essence of combat, with the three battles lined up, and a bit of flavour around how artillery and archery work. They're every bit as accurate as some other sets of rules out there, more accurate for big battles than most and don't waste an evening with a slog fest. There's minimal player agency, so they are avowedly a solo set of rules. They aren't something I'd normally buy, but it was fun to try them out.

There's no bibliography for the research done, and my guess is that it has been solidly populist and mainstream. I pointed Steve at the latest work on Wakefield (i.e the action was in Pontefract and it wasn't a battle more an ambush) but he's gone with the traditional interpretation, which will probably suit the audience who'll expect to see it. Towton is still "thought to be the largest ever battle on English soil" (no it isn't) and so on through the standard myths and tropes. However, no one is buying this as a history book, so it is what it is.

From my perspective I can certainly see a use for it as a show game as it plays quickly and the mechanisms have some solid lessons in them. In that environment with short games and quick turnover no one is going to realise that all they've been doing is roll the dice and do as they're told.

And as you don't actually need figures, these would be great if your stuck somewhere, like on a train or in hospital and you just want to scratch that wargaming itch and at £6.50 for a printed copy they don't break the bank either.