Due to bouts of ill health and to much work I have not been able to post for a while…..so a few to catch up with.

This week we played a FPW game. Keith had added 3 more bttns of French and I added a mitrailleuse to the French forces.

We as usual played Black Powder rules with the following period adjustments:

• Prussian infantry shoot 12 inches and have 4 shoots with stamina 4 with 8 attacks.
• French infantry shoot 24 inches, have 3 shoots, a first fire bonus and stamina 3 with 6 attacks.
• French Zouaves/Turco’s reroll misses in first round of any combat
• All artillery are 2 shoot howitzers. Prussians shoot 60 inches, French 48 inches(all hits -2 on save). Prussian artillery is grouped in combined batteries with a separate commander.
• Mitrailleuse shoot 24 inches, 2 shoots, any dice 4+ rolls again. Target has -2 save.
• Any units charging take shooting for each 12 inches of the charge

So for the French side Keith was on the left v Alan, and Me(Terry) on the right v Goldie. Each player had 2 brigades(5 to 7 bttns in each). The Prussians had the advantage in artillery(even when the French used some reserve artillery!)

Below French right where Goldie is sending a brigade down his flank at full speed!

In center more Prussians advance on hamlet, mitrailleuse hiding from artillery behind building.

Keith’s first brigade hiding behind wall…hamlet and small hill. You can see 5 batteries looking at him from Prussian ridgeline(there were 2 more to their left). Alan is rushing a brigade at the hamlet.

Keith’s left flank brigade where another brigade is advancing on the wood and Prussian artillery has his flank bttn well and truly in their sights.

More scenic view of that flank.

Back on French right…a French bttn is moved to block the Prussian flank advance. Disordered and 1 casualty so far.

In center the mitrailleuse has moved to confront the advancing Prussians. They are close enough that the Prussian artillery can no longer target them. You have to hide from them! This piece managed to inflict 2 casualties 3 turns running before being destroyed. They are such fun, in the right place!

On French left and the flank bttn is destroyed….2 Prussian batteries fire 4 shots a turn, hitting on 4s and target can only save on a 6. So any unit in the open is going to quickly be destroyed to average shooting, let alone above average die rolls! Prussians are assaulting the wood…it did not go well for them.

Back on French right and I moved 3 Zouave units to bolster defence ….. plan was to shoot up and then charge in and turn flank…..no plan really makes it past first contact does it!!

In center Prussians are losing units, the mitrailleuse has been destroyed after doing its bit….out of picture on French left are 3 bttns shooting at 24 inches and holding off the Prussian advance… Keith moved his reserve mitrailleuse into that side as well.

Alans attack on the Prussian right has been pushed back. He then re oriented his attack to support Goldie in the centre.

Back in the centre…..the Prussian gun line on the ridge had a less than average day with shooting…which really helped the French defence. When it did go well…we lost a bttn at a time. Bottom right there are Zoauves fighting Prussians. Previous French turn they charged the flank of the Prussians… 6 attacks.. reroll misses…managed 2 casualties only on Prussians… good saving throws by Goldie….the Prussians held….the target was just to tempting…I should have just put another 9 shots onto them and not charged! But wheres the fun in that!!

Game end… Prussians are still attacking hedge line in centre……but I feel French would have held……French left was a bit shot up…but Alan lacked troops to push through.

French right and I am one shooting round away from breaking this brigade(well average dice at least needed!).. then would push Zouaves around flank

So that was a fun game…..decided was a fighting draw for both sides. I think we have the rules sorted now. The deciding factor in each game now really hinges on how good or bad the Prussian artillery goes…how well the French are at hiding their forces from the Prussian guns… and how good or bad the mitrailleuse go.

Until next time.. Terry out.