Author Archives: terrysgaragegaming

February 2025 – Napoleonic Game, Battle of Tautino 1812

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So I had planned a game of Napoleonic’s when Goldie suggested a scenario from one of the favorite Blogs we follow. Blenheim to Berlin.https://blenheimtoberlin.blogspot.com/

This is the scenario https://blenheimtoberlin.blogspot.com/p/nap-tarutino-18th-october-1812.html

There are 3 French players who each have a Foot brigade and cavalry brigade with 1 cavalry brigade off table. The French are set up in the six sectors on the south of the map, 1 brigade in each sector.

There are 4 Russian players who deploy in the Northern sectors as 3 columns. There are 2 players in the center column. Each player has 1 foot and cavalry brigade. I have control of the off table Russian reserve.

French deployment with Rob closest, Robert in the middle and Goldie to the top.

Russian deployment with Alan closest, then Keith/Russ in center and Steve in the distance.

Turn 1 and French Dragoons charge Russian Dragoons.

The French Dragoons won the clash and swept into the Russian guns, destroyed them and the flanking battery also broke. The Russian Dragoons had retired after losing the combat.

Great start!

On French right Goldie faces Steve’s brigades of Jaegers and Cossacks.

Rob on the French left anchored on a convent.

On French right, French battery is destroyed and Cossacks moved up…the skirmish troops are in…column still.

This is stage 2 of an attack where the Russian Hussars charged a battery…destroyed it and have swept on onto stationary Cuirassiers.

Cuirassiers were defeated but only retired…woods being half speed stopped them from retiring off the table.

Hussars reform on flank of French infantry……

Robert ordered a unit of foot to move over and shoot at the Russian Hussars behind French lines…..they misinterpreted the order and instead charged a column to their front!

I had committed the Russian reserve of 4 Grenadiers, 2 Cuirassiers and a horse battery and assigned them to Russ. Cuirassiers enjoy charging shaken or disordered foot who form square in response…and so in they went.

At the same time Dragoons charged this battery…..

The French foot survived the first round of combat and fights on.

Russ has now charged the manor after shooting it up for several turns and Steve has thrown a unit in another flank of the Manor.

The Cuirassiers defeated the square and swept on into some Dragoons.

The Russian Dragoons took out the battery and swept on into these Hussars.

French Dragoons and Hussars are gone and the Russian Dragoons reface into the rear of the French line locked in combat with a column of grenadiers. French lose the combat, cannot withdraw and are destroyed.

So that was that…..a victory for the Russians but only after the reserve was committed. On the Russian right Alan was unable to get units to advance and spent the game firing artillery. Rob had similar issues with his cavalry opposite him. The French center and right was effectively wiped out by the end of the game.

A very good scenario and played to a conclusion in an evening!

Til next time…. Terry out.

February 2025 – ACW Game

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Friend Brian who lives a good 3 hour drive away has been adding more units to his ACW armies and requested a game so we had one at the Club for him.

Union players were Brian, Robert and Goldie with the Reb’s being Russ, Mike and I(Dave arrived from up country later in morning for a few hours so gave him command).

Scenario had Confederate cavalry defending a town….a larger Union cavalry force is to attack them and then both sides have an infantry division marching on from each corner. Again, the Union had superior numbers but the counter to that was they were commanded by Slocum, so I gave them a possible movement penalty on the first two turns.

Russ commanded the 2 Confederate cavalry brigades in/around the town along with their light artillery batteries…and a battery of 3 rifled batteries on a hill behind the town. Brian also had 2 larges cavalry brigades, with 1 light battery. Russ and Brian were the Army commanders and they the ability to pinch a brigade of infantry frm their sub commanders it the so desire…they did of course1. View below is South to North.

Turn 1 and Union went first…all except the Cavalry who didn’t move…for 2 turns(Brian has corrected me…was 4 turns)!! There goes the plan of Union charging into the town!

Robert arrived on NW road…he placed his 3 batteries on a low hill on edge of table.

My command opposite Robert a couple of turns in…..joining up with dismounted cavalry… I have 2 brigades to Roberts 3…. but my guns will be going into front lines to maximize hits!

Robert moving up to the still stalled Cavalry regts.

In NE Goldie quickly advanced towards the Town and farmhouse in SE comer. Mike coming on from the SE corner had Goldie in his face before he got ready for him….thankfully Russ used the 3 batteries on the rear hill to bludgeon the advancing Union…… oh…and getting cavalry unit in to the flank was fun……this inflicted casualties and stalled the Union advance.

Mike holding Goldie at bay while his 2nd and 3rd brigades advance onto table behind them.

Woohoo…Brian finally got the Union cavalry to move…..and they charged some dismounted cavalry.

Roberts Union and my Reb’s start their firefight.

Robert has beaten up the dismounted cavalry but got shaken and has retired.

Rush of blood..Robert charged across the road!

Beside the charge…….the Reb artillery firing at close/medium range was doing the damage.

The casualty makers and disorder marker tell the story……a charge on an undamaged unit is…fraught with peril.

Brian is fighting in the town….it had 4 modules and as only thin skinned buildings……attacker has the advantage.

Union cavalry on the charge……buildings are all Alans printing/painting efforts….lovely.

Over in the NE…Goldie has had his high water mark and is getting pushed back.

Robert also is getting pushed back……

Mike’s recalcitrant brigades are now in position and ready to clear Goldie from the table.

And there we called the game…Confederate Victory. Was clubs AGM so we lost some playing time……but enabled us to sit downstairs in bar and chat……had forgotten was AGM…..focused on the game!

Scenario kind of worked…..the Union cavalry not moving for 2 turns really threw it out sadly……I probably overdid the number of Confederate batteries….but Union could have used their batteries better….but everyone seemed to enjoy it…and other club members do seem to like our games.

Bonus for day is one of those attending was selling 20+ lots of figures at great prices. Goldie picked up an Epic ACW army box for NZD$100…, retails here for NZD$190+. I was tempted by several offerings but held off and was staunch until leaving when looked at a Warlord Games Macedonian Pike offering, 48 painted figures(not great paint job) and 24 on sprues. ….this elicited an offer to me I could not refuse! Had a play inking with one figure…..came up okay….so another unit for Pyrrhus is on its way.

Thankfully…Goldie getting the ACW box saved me having to take one for the team and buy it… so StephenC has been painting up an Army Box…Goldie now has one…and we noticed Alan that sneaky chap has been printing and painting some as well……so another favorite period in a different scale beckons!

Until next time…Terry out.

February 2025 – Black Powder Napoleonic Epic Game #1

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The year seems to be flying by, its a public holiday on a Thursday(New Zealand Day)so we organized our first game of Warlord Games Epic(13mm) scale Napoleonic Black Powder Rules Game…that’s a bit of a mouthful isn’t it! A few of us are collecting forces and it was our fist game with the new figures.

We played at Alans as he has been working away on armies……having recently retired…having a 3D printer……and being an awesome painter with great speed…he is rapidly generating armies and terrain!

So Goldie(Austro-Bavarians…Alan figures) and Terry(that’s me…with French….with 6 almost finished French bttns…the rest all Alans) played Alan(Prussians) and Stephen(Prussians).

Franco-Austrians are on the left…….that’s Goldie…and Prussians on the right…that’s Alan.

Stephen’s Prussians…outstanding paint job on them!

Alan’s Prussian……..mix of Warlord’s and self printed. Look great.

Austro-Bavarian…all printed and painted by Alan.

Stephens guns look out on advancing Enemy.

The farmhouse below should look familiar!

Its infested with Prussians.

Austrian light cavalry below……

Right Prussian flank…columns supported by cavalry….horse battery in front line beside farmhouse.

In a moment of madness…..I decided to charge the Prussian Landwehr…who were in column’s…..behind a hedge…..so Stephen is saving on 2+…..madness……

Lunch break…….Alan and his wife Joni knew just what to feed us! Was Yummy!!

The result of my madness…took several rounds of combat……but one of my combatants lost combat…and the unit supporting the other unit in combat decided to run away as a result.

To the right of the Farmhouse…Prussians await the Austrians.

From my earlier moment of madness charge…another unit had lost combat….retired and been followed up by the Prussians…..who I then managed to get a unit a unit of lancers with the brigade commander into their flank…..I was feeling pretty cocky…8 attacks…hit on 3s…they save at a -2…so that’s 6s.Yep….didn’t go quite as planned…2 hits…a lousy 2 hits!

To slow the Prussian advance.. I sent light cavalry into a disordered square…no expectation of destroying it..but hoping to cause high casualties…and not pop when if it didn’t go my way…it didn’t go my way and I retired safety…but they were now pinned in square.

Very impressive Austrian advance over on Austrian left flank…….Prussian flank is getting turned.

An ouch moment…Austrian Cuirassiers charging Austrian light cavalry…Austrians have 9 dice…hit on 3s…save on 3s….add D3 to combat and have a support…so a +1 on result. Austrians are a large unit so 8 attacks…hit on 3s…save on 4s…no supports….but commnader added to combat…so 9 attacks now…still lose!

Few turns on over on French left…..2 Prussian units in square are pinned by French cavalry within 12 inches…another is taking the wood…..squares have 2 French batteries on hill shooting into them…2 combats are being fought…..on the left French Old Guard are beating up Prussian Fusiliers…..Prussian Guard are the white tipped unit on left end.

Game end……Goldie on Austrian side is rolling up the Prussian line.

Over on French right……French have won the 2 combats from above….then hit the flank of the Prussian Guards who have been destroyed. Stephen and I have both lost a brigade so looks like a draw here.

Well…that was fun….its still Black Powder….but looks totally different not being 28mm. It does look ‘Epic’ …..I will have to get a move on painting more French! Stephen, Alan and Goldie are painting Epic ‘ACW’….and Alan has Epic ‘Pike and Shotte’…..and Alan the machine that he is will probably add every Army in Napoleonic War before he is through!

Now if anyone is looking for Uniform information, there is a wee gem of a site I will attach the link to: https://centjours.mont-saint-jean.com/index.php

Now…been a while but here is a lovely drop of Whisky….it comes from Cadenhead and is the Tamdhu-Glenlivet 15year. I have had several Cadenhead Sherry Bombs and this is another one….am enjoying it immensely.

Tasting note I found are:

  • Nose Sufficiently strong nose with lots of sherry spices and also a slight sharpness.
  • TasteOily mouthfeel. The palette is noticeably fuller than the nose and the sharpness is gone. Abundance of spicy sherry.
  • FinishThe warm sherry influence lingers in the aftertaste.

Can’t argue with that…..very pleasant.

Until next time…Terry out.

January 2025 – Napoleonic Leipzig Game – Schonefeld

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Due to the earthquake in Vanuatu in December, friend PaulW returned home to NZ early so I quickly organized a game for him as he had been starved of such fun for some time.

So on Saturday January 4th 2025 we played another scenario from the wonderful ‘Lets Fight Leipzig’ book by Steve Shann. The venue again being our local club venue at the Johnsonville Club(hoping this time my wee car won’t get backed into in the carpark…previous visit a supplier truck decided to do so… gggrrrr).

For this game there are 4 Allied players and 3 French/Saxon players. Map and orbats are below.

The Objective of the game was the Allies MUST capture the whole of Schonefeld, including the gardens and Paunsdorf. If they also capture Sellerhausen it is a decisive victory. Any other result is a French defensive success.

The villages of Alt Naundorf and Sellerhausen are single module built up areas. Paunsdorf has 3 and Schonefeld 4 modules. The gardens are impassable to cavalry and artillery but no effect on infantry. The stream was impassable except at the bridge.

The Allied players were PaulW, SteveT, StephenC and Alan.

The French players are Rob, Robert and Russell.

French set up with Rob on the right at Paunsdorf, Robert at Sellerhausen with the Saxons and Russ in Schonefeld. The French cavalry was split amongst the 3 players.

The Allied set up with the Prussians not yet on table opposite Paunsdorf, StehenC has the Russians opposite Sellerhausen, SteveT the Russians around Alt Naundorf while PaulW has command of the artillery and the 9th Corps which arrives next turn.

Schonefeld with Russell’s troops in wait.

French in gardens watching Russians advance.

Russian gunline supported by 10th Corps and Dragoons.

Bulow arrives to the battle. The Prussians would take 3 turns to fully deploy.

The Saxons had a special rule where the first time they charge, or are charged, they must make a test. On a roll of 1-2 they are removed from the battle. 2 attacks went in with one failing…that’s the gap in from of the right side Russian unit.

The Saxons had held the Russian attack, and Russell was able to get an attack into the open flank. FLANKS…guard your FLANKS!!

By a miracle the Russians did not break but retired from the combat. French cavalry had forced the other Russian unit to form square.

SteveT advances on Schonefeld.

Saxons hit the Russian square on 2 sides! With amazing die rolls.. they hold for several turns!

Meanwhile, the Russians manage to get an attack into the open Saxon flank, plus Dragoons into the French light cavalry.

Some space now cleared!

SteveT attempting to take a Schonefeld module.

Alan’s Prussian grinding down the defenders of Paunsdorf.

The Russian light cavalry brigade had been advanced…..but was in an open space where French Dragoons could reach them….

Sadly the Dragoons did not win the combat and the Russian Chasseurs followed up into them.

The cavalry combats cleared more space!

End of game and Rob still holds Paunsdorf….just.

Robert still holds Sellerhausen….just!

And Russell holds 3 of the 4 modules of Schonefeld.

So game was a French defensive Victory.

The game was fun but did have some issues. The Buildings I used are just to big so I have commissioned Alan to find some C18th French building of smaller size he can print which would be suitable for our Napoleonic and FrancoPrussian games. This morning he has sent me pictures of some which I will get him to print and be used for a garage resource. Also the players mistook the fields in front of Paundsdorf and Sellerhausen as woods…they were fields with only the gardens at Schonefeld being treated as terrain.

This is another game worthy of a refight in the near future…..I am looking forward to it!!

Until next time… Terry out.

Jan 2025- FrancoPrussian War Game

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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.

October 2024 – Napoleonic Game- Mockern 1813

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So we visited the new location for the Wellington Warlords at the Johnsonville Club to play another Leipzig 1813 scenario, this time Mockern.

Sadly, the level where games are normally played had been taken over by Wellington’s Disfunctionally, totally inept Councilor’s and and some disgruntled ratepayers!

We were therefore banished to the bar area where we managed to fit a 12 foot by 5 footish table instead of the planned 14 x 6 foot table. Picture disgruntled gamers!

Anyhow… the ladz seemed to have a good game, I was unwell so watched and offered sagely advice and Terry interpretation’s…welcome or not!

Below is the map for the game.

The French are in Mockern…along the ridge and can extend to the western edge of the table. The Prussians are on southern table edge.

Objective is for Prussians to take all 3 modules of Mockern and Objective ‘A’ for a decisive victory, and Mockern alone for tactical. French gain tactical by holding A and at least 1 module in Mockern.

Due to the table being only 5 foot wide and not the correct length, the 2 sides very quickly got into combat. Below are Poles who Dave had recently purchased, so they got a game in place of French. Dave’s command was the 22nd Division with 7 infantry and a battery. Opposite Dave and part of Robert was Goldie with the Prussian 1st Brigade of 5 infantry, a Leib Hussars and a battery. He also had the 2nd Brigade of 5 infantry and a Hussar and the cavalry reserve of 2 Dragoons, a Landwehr cavalry and a horse battery.

On French right and Robert is facing off against SteveT who is using Russians as we did not have enough Prussians in group to field.

Troops between Poles and right flank of French.

Rob had the French cavalry and horse artillery, a force of the 25th Light Cavalry Brigade of 2 Wurttemberg Chevau-legers and the 5th Light cavalry Division of 4 Chasseurs. Prussians formed square after being charged by the Hussars..juicy target for the artillery.

In Mockern, Brian was defending the 3 modules with his battery adjacent beside the Polish battery. It took me a few turns to realize he had only 5 units on the table, not the 9 he should have……much to the shock of the Prussian Commanders……there were special rules for combat in the Village modules…you fought a combat to its conclusion……so it was going to be a meat grinder….and the Prussian Corps Commander had placed Alan with the Advance Guard to attack it…that meant 7 infantry… 4 cavalry and horse battery to take the 3 modules….cavalry cannot attack buildings. The reserve 12pdr battery was there as well.

At the other end of the Prussian line…. SteveT had the 7th brigade with 8 infantry and a landwehr cavalry unit, and the 8th Brigade with 7 infantry and a battery. Opposite him was Robert with the 21st Division with 8 infantry and a foot battery.

Alan charged straight into the village. There was a module each side of the road with another to the rear of the right one.

From the other side.

In the centre Dave sent a bttn into the side of a Prussian square, Rob then charged the front now it was engaged…the French did not win the combat!

To the South, SteveT roars into the attack.

The Prussian Leib Hussars then joined the combat…..

The Prussians…somehow…lost the combat…….the dice rolls below are the break tests…to survive you need more than a modified roll of 4……all 4 failed! Goldie was not a happy wee Prussian……

So a large hole appeared in the Prussian lines…thankfully the French lacked the manpower to take advantage.

Although it did open up the flanks to Rob and his cavalry to charge in!

Back in Mockern the fighting raged…..

Rob was having fun hitting units in the flank…..sadly only light cavalry so they lacked the hitting power to do to much damage….

Rob’s cavalry are forced to retire from combats…not best place to end up…..

The attrition in the Mockern keeps mounting.

Poles hanging on in the centre….

Prussian artillery advanced to close range on Polish column….needed 2’s to cause hits…..oh dear….wet powder.

On the French right SteveT is wearing Rob’s French down.

Alans cavalry in front of Mockern….French batteries on ridge beside village.

Endgame and Prussians getting advantage in centre…to late….

Endgame on Prussian left and SteveT has taken objective ‘A’, and realigning to role down ridge…but …time is up.

Endgame…and Mockern safely in French hands.

So by Endgame the Allies had taken objective ‘A’ but failed to take and hold any modules in Mockern, there fore game is a decisive French Victory!

We will refight this again on the correct sized battle and I will command the Prussians….who will implement my original plan…which is sure to result in a spectacular Victory!!

Until next time.. Terry out.

September 2024 – Napoleonic game Lindenau(Leipzig 1813)

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Another scenario game from the ‘Lets Fight Leipzig!’

This time we have a 5 player game of Lindenau. In this scenario the French 4th Corps under Bertrand is charged with holding Lindenau. The Village has a wall around it which on the western side can only be entered via the gate. The river is impassable to all troops. The woods are impassable to cavalry and artillery but close order infantry can move through at half speed. Lindenau is a 2 module village. The small village of Plagwitz is 1 module.

The Austrians gain a complete victory if they hold 1 module in Lindenau at the end of the game.

The French players were Rob(North side) and Terry(South side…me). The Austrians were Goldie from the South, SteveT from the West and Alan from the North.

Lindeanu defended by Rob/Terry with the Divisions of Morand, Margaron and Fontanelli(15 bttns, 3 batteries) with support from some Dragoons and Wurttemberg Chevau-Leger.

The Austrians rolled to see what turns they arrived. Turn 1 only Alan in the North arrived….he was Gyulai with a mix of Jager/Grenz/Line , 3 batteries and Dragoons/Chevau-Legers. The Village of Plagwitz is in foreground.

Goldie marches on from the south and storms towards Plagwitz.

And storms straight into the attack! Mixed force again.

Then SteveT arrived from west via Schonau…another Austrian mixed column.

Initial attack on Plagwitz is held…….but my French are taking casualties.

I pulled the guns out of the redoubt to face SteveT advancing….the Cossacks were ordered in to take the fire of the battery…..fail the charge home…allowing another unit of cavalry to then attack the now silent battery..that didn’t go to plan…the battery fluffed its dice rolls and popped instead!

Defence of Plagwitz carries on as initial Austrian attack is replled.

Austrian column charged the French square…who hold…for several rounds of fighing!

Austrian central columns attack gate into Lindenau.

Goldie 2nd attack against Plagwitz succeeds.

Sigh……the square had been holding the Austrian square off until pointy sticked Cossacks joined in……

Who then made a sweeping advance into another square..that being disordered allowing them to charge in…bye bye another square…..

The initial charge from the West was repelled…but the French had suffered losses…..

The Wurttemberg cavalry who blundered the first time they received an order and went the exact opposite direction…finally arrived…

Austrians are in the village…

While on the Northern side…..Alan and Rob had shot at each other all game…..

So clearly Austrian Victory…..I lost all my infantry…the fought….bravely!

But Austrians in South and West were aggressive and ran over me…well done!

Until next time…Terry out.

September 2024 – Napoleonic Game Probstheida(Leipizig 1813)

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So Friend PaulW was back for a visit from Vanuatu so we had Saturday game followed by an evening Whisky Tasting(my partner was away on a Girls weekend).

Rob, Alan, Goldie and Finn(later in day) joined in.

For this game we played the Leipzig Probstheida scenario from the Steve Shann book that is JUST SO GREAT!

The Scenario has the village of Probstheida defended by Victors 2nd Corps, with some Young Guard artillery supporting. The Village has 3 modules and is on a ridgeline with the Objective of the game is for the allies to take all 3 modules to claim a victory. The Allies are Kleist’s 2nd Corps along with Wurttemberg’s 2nd Russian Corps. Various reinforcements are available to each side through the game. Should the Allies call on an optional reserve of the Divisions of Duka and Pisareff then the game is a Draw at best for the Allies.

Paul W/Alan/Finn are the Allies with Goldie/Rob/Terry as French.

Start positions with the French on the right. Goldie has the left flank Division, Me(Terry) the Village with a Division and Rob the right Division. The 2 Young Guard batteries are in Goldies force.

Alan had the Allied left and PaulW the right. Finn arrived later in day and played on right.

The Village had a bttn in each module with a legere bttn skirmishing on front of it.

Russians advanced quickly….with the legere taking advantage of this and charging the artillery in the flank and destroying them. I normally prefer to play Russians so taking out the large batteries is a priority if an opportunity presents its self.

Prussians chasing off French skirmishers.

Prussian artillery assisted by Russian column approach the village.

View from village … Cavalry reinforcements have arrive for Russians.

PaulW starts his attempt to turn Goldies flank.

On French right Rob had a long line to defend while he awaited our cavalry reinforcements. Alan is pressing the line.

Oops…Goldie has been forced off the ridge faster than we hoped!

French cavalry arrived and the 2 armies cavalry forces went hard at it. As expected with Cavalry v Cavalry….mutual extinction is often the outcome.

A prefect attack by Alan…Uhlans to front…then when French engaged send Cossacks into the flank. Cossacks cannot charge formed cavalry to its front.

I confiscated the Cuirassier Division when it arrived and used it to do as much damage/distraction I could in the center. Would have preferred Uhlans but we had none. The -2 save on a lance attack against infantry is better than extra attacks on infantry in column who are saving on a 3+.

Alan wins the cavalry combats on the Allied left.

Having picked on Alan I now turned to PaulW…aim was to destroy the column I have hit in the flank…as it could not form square…the artillery would auto pop…and I would rumble on into the skirmishers and destroy them as well. They were facing this way as my other Cuirassier regt had broken through Alans line and they were shooting at it.

Sadly the dice Gods totally deserted me …my dice were rubbish.. Pauls were not and I bounced….how…humiliating!! But… I was distracting them from the Objective!

Alan closed in on Rob’s open flank.

On the French left PaulW with Finn now in attendance is attacking the French reserves who now man the ridgeline.

Prussians have taken the front Village Module….my bounced Cuirassiers to their rear!

On French right Alan has sent his Prussians in again against Rob’s line…..Alan makes 5 hits…Rob saves all of them!

French left where continuous Allied attacks have failed to take the ridgeline.

And that’s how it ended…..the French still held 2 of the 3 modules of the Village and its a French victory. We managed to tie up and distract the Allies long enough to win the game!

The Whisky of the week is a beauty.

PaulW bought this glorious liquid with him as a Bday prezzie for yours truly

The Glendronach 25 year Old Port cask..

This handsome rascal is a 25 year old single malt from GlenDronach, released as part of the distillery’s 17th batch of single cask releases. It was distilled back in May 1993 and aged in a single Port pipe until 2019, when it was bottled with an outturn of 835 bottles. We love a good Port cask-matured single malt, and this one looks to be exactly that.

Tasting Note by The Producer

Nose Intriguing richness and depth of redcurrant, bramble jam and cherry cake balanced with bitter orange, black grape and a hint of tropical fruit.

Palate Long, silky and persistent as juicy blackberry and apricot liqueur build to mango and guava. Currant, papaya and mixed nuts linger in the fruity finish.

Drinking this reminded me of the first time I went to the tasting of some Bordeaux Reds and the revelation in the taste and complexity of it….and then was even told was meant to spit it out…like…NO!

THANK YOU PAUL!

Until next time…Terry out.

September 2024 – Napoleonic Game

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So I organized a Napoleonic game for 2 out of towners In September. Brian and Dave both live on Rural properties several hours distant from Wellington so was a Saturday game.

Dave is collecting Calpe Prussians so I invited Alan and Goldie along as they have Prussian Armies, Brian has Spanish so on the day Goldie(Calpe Prussian) and Dave(using Alans Perry Prussians) were Prussians, with Brian being Spanish and Alan used a Dutch/Belgian/Hanoverian force. I was on food, drink and rules!

Brian set up on the Allied right. Some pictures of his Spanish..I do like the look.

Some of Alans force on Allied left.

Centre of table with combined advance on central village.

View down table. Dave’s Prussians then Goldies in distance.

Prussian Cavalry facing the Spanish Mob!

Prussians have beaten the Spanish to the central village.

On Allied left Alan beats the Prussians to Church.

Very orderly Spanish lines!

Flanks…flanks…flanks….Dave gets pointy stick cavalry into a Dutch flank.

Dave’s advance down his right flank.

Prussian attack through the center continues.

Spanish blunted Prussian advance……..

Spanish guerillas are very annoying I was getting informed!

Oops…Alans used his cavalry effectively to force Dave’s attack back…..

Oh dear…another unit of pointy stick cavalry found flanks…again……..sadly the combined attack with the infantry column did not net the victory expected….dice are so unpredictable!!

The village changed sides several times…sucking units in….very historical. Hanoverians have it below.

Prussians take it back.

And that was that……both sides ground out a draw…..

Ladz will come down again next month for another game.

The whisky of the week is the Glenturret 12.

On my pilgrimage to Whisky Galore, I tasted this one and was brow beat into submission to buy one(it really wasn’t that hard a task to be honest).

Tasting Notes;

Nose Oily barley and toasted nuts mingle with sweet raisins, a whiff of malt loaf, and vanilla cream.

Palate Warming ginger, juicy sultanas with dustings of cinnamon, spiced apple crumble and zesty oak.

Finish Toasty oak char, dry cakey spice with a silky, creamy texture.

For a 12 year old it is remarkably good value and certainly one of best I have tasted in a while.

Until next time….Terry out.

August 2024 – Napoleonic Game – Liebertwolkwitz 1813

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Sorry for delay in posting… Technical issues between laptop and phone which now seem to be sorted.

I recently visited friend Pete https://vonpeterhimself.wordpress.com/ and he lent me a couple of books on Leipzig 1813. One was ‘Lets Fight Leipzig!’ by Steve Shann which can be obtained from Caliver Books https://www.caliverbooks.com/ a long-time favoured source of Books and Figures for many of us down under.

I have gone and ordered the book and decided to play all 12 scenarios in the book. Thankfully the ladz seem keen so we kicked off with ”Cavalry Batte at Liebertwolkwitz’.

This battle is a meeting engagement between cavalry forces with some batteries. Both sides have 4 cavalry formations with the French also having a ‘Grand battery’ of 2 batteries on table. The game was played down the table with starting forces and then reinforcements entered on the table ends/sides as the game progressed.

The French were commanded with Murat who had special orders to represent his behaviour on the actual day of the battle…a Blackpowder ‘Follow me’ exponent to warm the wee cockles of my heart. Murats Special Orders were at the start of each French Turn, on a roll on a d6 of 1 or 2, he would join the closest regiment able to charge…and declare a charge on the closest Allied unit with it. He would stay with that unit underway combat resolution had occurred. In addition a successful charge by any other French commander would result in 2 d6 being rolled, on a 1 they lose the bonus for charging that move.

Starting French force……Rob and Robert played the French, Goldie, Alan and Keith were the Allies. Steve T and I were sampling a whisky below.

Close up.. Rob’s French cavalry are stunning.

Couple of turns on and the French Dragoons are approaching the Russians.

Russian Hussars take on French Dragoons.

Oh dear…….

Russian Hussars have routed 2 French and reformed facing them again.

Prussians join in with Dragoons charging French Dragoons and being supported by Cuirassiers. The skulking Cossacks then joined the conflict in the French flank!

Another view..

Prussian Dragoons and Cossacks won the combat…French retired and the Prussian swept on into another unit. The Cossacks swept in behind in support.

Meanwhile on the other flank, Robert through his light cavalry into the Cuirassier’s, who took artillery fire as they charged past the horse battery on the hill. The Horse battery was then charged in the flank by another light cavalry unit…and popped.

The cavalry having defeated the Artillery swept into the main combat, now in the flank of the Cuirassiers. Well planned attack.

Goldie had stolen Alans dice and was rolling ridiculously high dice…..the French lost the combat…and the Cuirassiers swept into the small supporting unit.

Elsewhere, more combat.

And more…..

The Prussian Dragoons were still making charges…..

French reserves pour onto the battlefield.

Even some Polish arrived!

The Austrians arrived and some Russian Uhlans…..

Alan through his Cuirassiers straight into French Dragoons…..

And a large unit Chevau-Legers into Dragoons……

The Austrian Cuirassiers chewed up 1 regt of Dragoons and sweep into another…..

The dice below show the newly arrived Austrians losing combat and rolling 1s…so they left the table in disgrace.

Pointy stick French and Austrians at it… Austrians winning.

The Polish Uhlans and the Russian Uhlans charged each other…below their commanders are looking for them. It was mutual extinction.

Well…that was fun….be most charges we have had in a Thursday night game for a while if not ever. Great fun. The Allies get the win.

Now I have just had a 65th birthday and a number of Whisky’s have come my way. Below is a GlenAllachie 12 which my partner particularly liked so we procured it.

Tasting Notes:

TASTING NOTES 

COLOUR – Polished Bronze. 

NOSE – Butterscotch and honey playing the lead, with raisins and mocha in the background. 

TASTE – Honey, marzipan and bananas, with lashings of butterscotch, raisins and a delicate hint of mocha. 

In other words….itsis very drinkable.

Until next time…Terry out.