So, Munster's High Elves took the field once more to take on the might of the Empire. Munster's army was unchanged as he had not managed to get any more Silver Helms painted - so I'll use the same picture as last time:
For my part, I had an unfortunate experience with the Steamtank in a recent game, so decided that I should try and pack as many cavalry into my force as possible.
So;
5 Knights (all I currently have painted)
4 Pistoliers
4 Halberdiers
4 Crossbows
1 Flagellants
2 Cannon
2 Wizards (1 upgraded to Grand Theogonist with War Altar)
1 Hero on Griffon with Sword of Might
1 General with Orb of Majesty
My plan here was to create 3 cavalry brigades, 2 with a mix of pistoliers and knights, and 1 with just knights. The Flagellants would screen forward, with infantry in support to take the innevitable Elf charge, then the cavalry would counter-punch with sufficient numbers to carry the day... at least that was the plan. The table had 4 hills, and a number of small forests and ruins clustering the central killing ground. I split my force, sending an infantry and light cavalry bridage to the flank, and concentrating the rest dead centre.
Main Force
Flanking Force
The Elves deployed with an elf infantry screen spread thin (anyone'd think Munster was worried about cannon bounces
), he brigaded all his heavy hitters into a single brigade (Silver helms and chariots) confident that with superior Elf leadership they would be able to rush forward when the moment was right.
The Elves moved first, infantry sweeping forward with alarming speed to occupy the centre of the table. The cavalry and flyers remained behind, confident they would reach their enemies when needed.
The Empire advanced more conservatively. Astoundingly every order was relayed without difficulty and the force moved forward together.
On the flank , the infantry were eager to pelt the High Elf infantry with crossbow fire, and moved further forward than was, perhaps, wise. Predictably when the hero tried to get the cavalry brigade escorting them into a better position, the order was failed, leaving them parked close behind the infantry line.
The Elves who normally trusted to homeback their dragon rider to the front lines were astounded that the great beast barely moved forward, leaving him unable to be commanded. The first shots from the elf infantry, reaver knights and repeater bolt throwers descimated the single flagellants who had charged heedlessly toward their lines.
The Empire continued to advance, their cannons drove back and confused a unit of elf infantry, while a wizard unleashed a Fireball on a unit of archers.
The Elf general then decided the time was right, and ordered his calculated charges. The Eagles swooped forward, directly into the empire cannons which were ensconced between empire cavalry and infantry.
The startled cannon crew unleashed a deadly salvo of grapeshot, killing several of the huge birds and driving the rest off with a show of arms that would make any dwarf gunner proud. For their part, the elf eagles had claimed 2 of the empire guns.
The massed eleven infantry hurled themselves forward into a single halberdier unit that had been screening a cavalry brigade from the relentless fire of the repeater bolt throwers.
They slew the halberdiers with small losses, and then fled to the relative safety of a nearby village to escape the wrathful empire cavalry only a short distance away (boo, hiss!).
The greatest charge took place on the flank, where the silver helm and chariot brigade, rushed forward, past the elf lines, and smashed into the empire infantry. A stupendous feat of command (3 sucessive orders), which did, at least, compel the elf general to expend his orb of majesty. The only bright spot for the empire was that the Dragon Rider had again failed to home back to a commander and so did not join the charge.
The dismayed infantry fired their crossbows into the mass of steel and horse, inflicting a small toll before being trampled. The halberdiers behind them also accounted for a number of the elf chariots, before they too were run down. Victorious the elves pressed their charge on into the knights and pistolers behind. The fighting was fierce, and the pistoliers crumbled - but not before they too has taken their toll on the elves. It was only the knights, backed by the Empire griffon riding hero that held firm.
Bodies piled high on both sides. Only a handful of empire knights remained, but the presence of the griffon rider had turned the tide, at last the empire drove the remaining Silver Helms back.
At this point I thought it would be characterful to press the charge, but a quick count showed that I was only a single unit from breaking. The single remaining stand of knights had 2 hits already, and Munster only needed to inflict a single hit to win the game - so I delayed... until my next turn!Realising the situation was dire the Empire General ordered his cavalry to an all out charge to try and destroy and demoralise the enemy so thoroughly they were forced from the field before his own troops fled.
I handled this turn poorly. I didn't calculate how many enemy units I needed to destroy and so, spread my attack too thinly. In addition, I made an error in not pursuing an elf infantry unit up a hill believing this constituted difficult ground. 
Seeking revenge the remaining Empire cannons and crossbows opened fire on the single eagle before them, but to their consternation the great bird remained entirely unscathed.
Empire knights crashed into reaver knights, who proceeded to drive them off. Into Elf infantry, some of whom dies, and some of whom retreated to higher ground, and into the elf archers and repeater bolt throwers. The latter unleashed a deadly barage which drove the empire knights back for the loss of a single bolt thrower. Not to be outdone, a foolhardy unit of pistolers did the same thing on another unit of bolt throwers and archers, and miraculously wiped both out for only small loss. On the flank the remaining knights and hero dispensed the silver hels with ease! At the end of the empire offensive the elf lines were shaken, but not were still 2 units away from withdrawing.
Sensing the Empire army's desperation the Elf general only ordered a single, decisive, charge. He, and the Dragon rider swooped forward and butchered a surviving handful of pistoliers. The the young nobles were torn from their saddles, the empire army could take no more, and rapidly withdrew.
