Discussing mass tactics in the SCA, Sandy asked: Mike, how well do shield walls work?
When faced with competent opponents, shield walls in the SCA suffer the same
problem that walls of castles do--the ability of the aggressor to bring
overwhelming odds to bear on a small portion of the front. ONce through the
wall, the aggressor can turn in either direction and roll up the flank, or
simply go crazy on the inside of the form, if it is a filled group like a
"tortise."
The kingdom of Atenveldt, from out in the southwest USA (I think) specialized for years in the use of HUUUGE shields (rectangles about 3 feet by four 1/2 feet) to protect spears and polearms. They usually formed the center of whatever allied army they sided with. Every year, they were some of the last standing, but they mostly picked the losing side.
Further, they can be beat in their "traditional" form because they did not move well (hence were an easy target) and because there are groups like the Barony of Windmaster's Hill in Atlantia who specialize in the deep charge. Windmasters has lots of shieldmen using classic heater shields, a few polearms, and almost no spears. They form a column about 6-8 fighters wide and 6-8 deep, then charge straight in low and fast, pushing past the first rank of shields into the polearms and spears in the back. Atenveldt proved soft and squishy on the inside, year after year.
Over the last few years, Atenveldt has started to move more. When they can wheel as the column hits them, crushing the flank of the column, then they may last out the battle.
Of course, the column of fighters attacking them is, in essense, a narrow, fast moving shield wall. With sides secured only by velocity.
In the Pennsic Field battle, year after year, the more mobile side gains the initial advantage. The moble side almost always wins, unless they prove unable to hold some sort of formation as the battle goes on. Reforming a unit, even if not your original one, is every bit as important as movement. Units DO become disorganized. All of them. (Except maybe those really static units playing turtle) The question is--can they reform and begin organized action before the other side does?
This is extra important in SCA combat, where the desire to show off and
"hot-dog" is *not* tempered by the sinking feeling that doing so might get
you 9 inches of steel spearhead in your pancreas. But perhaps that mirrors
the bluster of the Orlanthi.
Mike
Powered by hypermail