Bit of a backlog on game reports…so will start today ……winter storm outside!

So yesterday we had an Epic Nappy game in the Garage. We had planned on playing at the Warlords Club, but on checking Friday they were having an ‘Open Weekend’ and had 40 players already booked for Saturday so no guarantee of space to play if we turned up…so the Garage it was(the Domestic Service also provided an outstanding feast for us.. thanks Anita!)

Sadly Robert called in sick, so its was Alan, Steve & and moi. Alan ended up being Austrians and Steve and I were French.

We used 3 of the Borodino 28mm gaming boards. Alan has printed not only his armies, but now village bases and building which fitted into the building spaces on the boards. With his tariff free Temu’ish trees from China we thought the boards looked damned good! So terrain is 12 foot x 6 foot.

I took the French left flank with the French foot and battery I have painted(I am soooo slow).

Steve had the right with Alans French(all printed)

Austrian right.

Austrian left.

Looking down the line of the Austrians. The deep river we rated a a full move to cross rather than the standard 6 inches. Artillery could only cross the river/streams on the bridges, The large wood that was hiding the ‘Grand Redoubt’ was impassable. Otherwise, standard terrain rules applied.

View down the French line.

The French left. After watching a few painting videos on Epics, and seeing Alans colour scheme I went for 3 colour schemes different to his. My Legere are quite a vibrant blue, Speed Paint ‘Royal Robes’ and not greatcoated. My Ligne are either greatcoats using Speed paints ‘Sand Golem’ and ‘Tyrian Navy’ or the same coat colour’s as the Legere, but white trousers. Makes it easier to identify them on the table.

A brigade of Alans printed Austrians. Look great.

And we are off…turn 1 on French left.

Turn 1 on French right …… Steve is sending his cavalry division around the wood.

First blood…..French Horse artillery on the Austrian Dragoons.

Alan pours troops down his centre road!

Steve launches his cavalry against the Austrian cavalry that had managed to turn to face his impending attack. Odds are in Alans favour, the combat on the right has a large Austrian Hussar unit v standard Chasseurs while on the left….. we Frenchies had not seen the wee pointed sticks being carried…..so an even fight turned into the Austrian Uhlans having quite the advantage, 1 extra attack dice, and the French a -1 on their saves.

The combats over…….there was sweeping advances…..shaken units…and when the dust settled… the French Dragoons were looking at a field free of any other cavalry!

Over on the left…the French Cuirassiers had disposed of the Austrian Cuirassiers…horse artillery inflicting wounds followed by combat following turn.

Several turns on and, on the left Alan threw Dragoons into the Horse Artillery…he took a would coming in..passed his break test and destroyed the battery and swept on.

Into the foot column behind. The Dragoons won the combat… the dice gods having deserted the French…a double 1 ensures they popped … and 2 cowardly friends decided to run away with them!

So a strong line was suddenly looking a wee bit… sick(I plugged it with my reserve of 3 Guard foot)

Over on the French right…Steve and Alan had combats going on endlessly. The French line on the left managed to lose 4 or 5 combats in a row…. but the break tests started as 12.. then 11…9…10…each time with a -2 on the roll…so they stayed….meanwhile units around them on both sides were clocking up casualties.

On the left…..I destroyed the Dragoons…and got carried away and decided dice gods must favour me eventually…and swept into the column behind…..9 attacks v 8…both on 3+ saves…. who was I trying to fool…D3 combat resolution to counter his supports…..nah…didn’t work!

Both sides wearing each other out.

On the right.. Austrian unit has popped.

End of game..on left…..my fantasy end move…planned to put the 3 guard units in line.. battery in middle and shoot up Austrians…then him them when shaken with the Cuirassiers…but neded a couple of turns that were not available!

Because over the other side Steve had thrown everything in…..

Which against the odds…seemed to have gone Alans way!

So that was a great days gaming…..Epic is such fun…its a different game to 28’s and thankfully with Alan spending his retirement generating armies… we are having some decent sized games already.

Whisky of the Week time !!

Recently I sent a few days at the Tourist Mecca that is Queenstown. I have never tried a Macallan 15 so I sampled one. I bought my partner a Macallan 12 a year or 5 back as was the only whisky she liked(her palate is now much more educated)…so was interested to see the difference(they are overpriced bottles frankly).

Toasting notes curtesy of ‘Masters of Malt’.

They also describe it as a ‘Stellar Addition’, but I didn’t quite see it as that.. but then…I am a peasant at heart.

Happy Days.