With the recent release of the Bretonnian boxed sets and Army book, I saw an opportunity to start a new army full of fluttering banners, noble heraldry blazing upon shields, and glittering lances borne by legendary knights of valour. Taking the Army book and models in hand, I considered myself a Knight Errant, given the charge to turn these new Bretonnian models into a hard-hitting force that fights for the honour of the Lady. Soon enough, I had a force created and some games under my belt.

With such limited experience, I was a little apprehensive about writing a tactics article for the US' E-zine, Black Gobbo. However, since I just went through the process, I think I can safely speak about the Bretonnian basics. What's more, going over the basics may not only inspire someone who has never played Bretonnians before, it may also remind some of the veterans of a certain ability or application of these crusading knights that will improve even a well tuned army.

Bretonnia is a land of noble knights, brave sovereigns, and loyal peasants. Marshalling a war host based on these elements may appear to be a simple task, but what appears simple is rarely so. A Bretonnian commander must first consider the various kinds of knights and other warriors he wishes to choose for his forces. Secondly, a canny commander should also think carefully about how he arranges those forces on the battlefield for the best chance of victory. Thirdly, he must also decide how best to take advantage of those strengths while minimising his weaknesses during the flow of the battle.

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