House of the Three Truths: Battle of Clontarf

Brian Boru marches his Dál Cais army on Dublin in autumn 1013 and again in spring 1014 to put down a rebellion led by King Sitric Silkenbeard. Sitric has recruited men from Leinster and farther afield, most significantly Earl Sigurd of Orkney and a Viking called Bródar. Settlements at Kilmainham and Clondalkin, to the west and southwest, are sacked.

In spring 1014 Brian’s forces camp outside Dublin and go to sack Fine Gall and Howth. Dublin men leave the city to relieve Howth. Led by Sitric’s brother Dubgall they cross the Tolka towards Mag Elta along the coast near Howth. Brian sets up camp overlooking Clontarf

The Viking fleet, commanded by Bródar, enters Dublin Bay. The Dublin fleets assemble off Howth and sail inland on a high tide at dawn on April 23rd. They land near Clontarf Weir and join the Dublin Norsemen, under Sitric, and the Leinster men, under Sitric’s uncle Máelmórda. Brian does not take part, but his son Murchad commands the Dál Cais, with reinforcements from Munster and Connaught.

So that is essentially it, the armies line up and clash with the battle reportedly taking the whole day.

No accurate list of combatants is available, numbers range from 6-10,000 per side with Irish and Norse men on both sides and only the leaders are named…so it seems like a perfect set up for a game of SAGA then

After batting a few ideas around in the discord and a couple of chats we finally decided on 4 games to represent our battle of Clontarf.

They can be played out by a pair of players like a campaign, or as we talked about, imagining it to be a club day game where the first three games take place simultaneously and the result will affect the final Epic SAGA clash.

The Format

The two sides are a blend of forces to reflect the forces

On Brian’s side two warbands of Irish and one of Vikings to reflect the forces from Limerick and Waterford.

On Sigtrygg’s side the Irish of Leinster, Norse Gaels of Man and the Vikings of Dublin get a single warband of each.

The first three games are 4 point battles to reflect the initial clashes and campaigning.

The Sacking of Fine Gall

Donnach’s foraging

Crossing the Tolka

Each is detailed below, but the overall commanders must decide which of their warbands is going to be sent to complete these secretly and reveal them at the same time.

Victory Points earned in these games are used to supplement your forces in the final battle.

The game is played on a 4×3 table

In the centre of the table place 3 buildings all within L of the Centre and three crop fields within L of one of the buildings (these do not need to be within L to the centre)

No other terrain can be placed within L of these features

Both sides have 4 point warbands, no named characters name be taken

Sigtrygg’s force is the Defender, they begin by placing a single unit of Levy or Warriors within M of a building

Brian’s attacker then places his Warlord within L of his long table edge along with his all of his units.

The Defender then places the rest of his force within L of his long table edge

Brian’s Attacker has the first turn

Setting the place ablaze, any unit within VS of a crop or unoccupied building can attempt to set it on fire.

Roll a d6 and on 3+ it catches alight and cannot be extinguished.

Brian’s forces gain one VP for every crop burnt and 2 for each building.

Sigtrygg’s Defenders gain the same for unburnt features

The game lasts for 5 turns.

The game is played on a 4×3 table

No Terrain can be placed within M of the centre

Each player has 3 livestock bases to place and alternate deploying them starting with Sigtrygg’s player.

Both sides have 4 point warbands, no named characters name be taken

Each base must be placed within M of the table’s centre.

Sigtrygg’s player deploys his warband first within M of the corner, if a unit cannot be placed due to lack of space they will enter the table in the following turn.

Brian’s player does the same from the opposite corner.

The Livestock are particularly agitated and at the end of each activation phase any bases not within S of a figure from either warband will move.

Roll a die and on an odd result Sigtrygg’s warband chooses the direction and on an even Brian’s does.

The Livestock moves S and will stop if it contacts another base table edge or terrain feature.

Warbands can have the bases move off table if they are in control (within S) but only from their long table edge.

VPs are awarded 2 points for each base off table and 1 point for each base within L of their starting corner when the game ends

Game lasts 5 turns

The game is played on a 4×3 table

Place a river across the centre line and a bridge at its centre with a width of S

No Terrain may be placed within L of the River

Players split their forces into two groups. The first player deploys his first group in either A or B his opponent will then place his first group on the diagonally opposite side.

The first player will then deploy his second group in their remaining deployment area with their opponent doing likewise.

Both sides have 4 point warbands, no named characters name be taken

A Die is rolled to determine the first player.

No Manoeuvres are allowed in this game.

VPs are awarded based on survival points with 2 bonus points for each that has wholly crossed the river to the opposite bank AND is within M of the warlord.

The game lasts for 5 turns

The Battle itself is played out on a 6×4 using the Epic Saga rules.

Each 4 point Warband can be increased to a maximum of 6 points using the Victory Points earned in the previous games.

2 Victory Points may also be spent above this for named characters for your forces.

Victory points can also be spent on Ruse Cards and as additional “pips” on the dice for the first player to decide deployment on a one to one basis after the dice have been rolled.

Finally, points can be used for the challenge.

The battle opened with Plait, the bravest of the foreigners, taunting Domnall mac Eimín, a Scottish ally of Brian. The two men marched out into the middle of the field and fought, and both died, “with the sword of each through the heart of the other, and the hair of each in the clenched hand of the other.”

Each Side must chose one hero, a hearthguard or above and place them in the centre of the table.

They each get 2 SAGA dice for their battle board, VPs can be spent to buy a new die at 3 VPs per dice to a maximum of 4 dice.

The champions players roll off to see who is the active player and no VPs can be spent to raise this roll.

They then fight until one is dead. The Hero returns to their ranks while the losers side receive a fatigue on every character and unit before the battle starts.

The final game is 7 turns long and plays out using the Epic SAGA rules.