Category Archives: Games!!

June 2025 – Black Powder Epic Game

Posted on by
1

We played another Epic Napoleonic Game in the Garage using 4 of the Borodino boards which gave us a a 16 x 6 foot table to play on.

On the the Franco/Bavarian/Austrian side we had the left flank of Austrians commanded by SteveT, the Franco/Bavarians in the center commanded by Russ while Moi(Terry) commanded the French on the right.

The Allied side had Alan on the right opposite SteveT with British/Dutch, in the center Keith with his newly painted British having their first outing, then on the left Goldie with the Prussian’s opposite me.

Franco/Bavarian/Austrian deployment below.

Allied deployment below.

For this game we halved the movement and shooting ranges at Alans suggestion. Personally, I thought it gave a better feel to the game.

Goldies Prussians with my French in distance.

Keith’s British with Russ’s Franco/Bavarians in distance.

Alan’s British/Dutch with SteveT’s Austrians in distance.

There was a 2 foot no deploy zone on either flank and sides could deploy up to 18 inches in from table edge.

Turn 1 and I managed to get a long range artillery shot to cause a casualty!

Bavarian’s charge a Dutch Jager who lose and pop. Supports hold… although one has its back to Bavarians so may have been unaware of what was happening 🙂

On right after a few turns managed to get columns with skirmishing Legere close to the Prussians on the ridge.

The Borodino Great redoubt was covered in tree’s and classed as a large wood. I managed to get 2 Legere in and Goldie one Jager…..my shooting had them shaken.

Russ continues his attacks on the Dutch.

My Legere are getting shot up by the 2 batteries…but I had a plan!

In the Big Wood, Goldie threw another skirmish unit in.

Part 2 of an attack by the Scots Greys. The French unit had lost the first combat and retired. The British cavalry followed up and finished them off.

Which resulted in some collateral damage to supporting units.

Over on the Austrian Front….. SteveT had thrown Cuirassiers into a unit of shaken infantry…who formed square and popped. The sweeping advance took out another shaken infantry unit. The Allied flank was in a perilous position now.

Goldie moved infantry and cavalry up to attack around the right side of the Big Wood. Russ countered with cavalry charges to make the forward units form square.

SteveT’s large Austrians columns are advancing on the British lines. If you do the math, the British will eventually lose with out artillery having damaged the big columns before they get into contact.

Back on the other flank.. this was my plan…..move a unit up the the village to block the troops in it shooting at my cavalry as they race down the road and destroy the Prussian gun line! Legere have gone into the woods and attacked the Prussian skirmishers as well. I selected my newly painted 2nd Chasseurs for this glorious charge!! Yep…new unit…first charge…sigh…rolled double 6…and a 1. They left the table. They never returned…being renamed Duke of Cumberland’s Chasseurs.

On the other flank however… SteveT was like a cat with a bowl of cream…..the British brigade have broken and the was is clear to sweep around the allied flank/rear!! Woohoo…plan was working.

Back on my flank…another turn on…Goldie in his turn threw a unit of Dragoons into the flank of my blocking unit on the village. Somehow….they bounced…the dice gods can be cruel. In my turn…..this time my lancers charged the artillery. I also sent my 2 Cuirassiers charging up the ridge to hit a shaken skirmishing unit…who formed a square…but importantly…a shaken square so I was able to continue the charge into them.

Sigh……so events went like this…my lancers took out the batteries and hit the flank of the Dragoons who had turned to face the incoming Cuirassiers. The square broke and was destroyed…..I foolishly listened to the others and did sweeping advances into the columns behind…..the day was coming to an end….otherwise would have pulled them back…odds were uncertain…and so…yep one lost a combat and the other retired with a bloody nose…and then got charged by Goldies Kuirassiers…..we both did 2 casualties…but I lost the combat and popped. C’est la vie.

Surprise! StephenC was not able to make the game with his Prussians until after lunch…which I kept from the other players. We randomized which road he would arrive on….. and luckily for the Allies it was their right flank.

The battle in the center…. the Prussians have been forced into squares which Russ is grinding down….the British are unable to push forward(Keith has yet to paint the rest of his cavalry…that will help in future games). At top right you can see Prussian landwehr heading for the other flank.

Below we have Austrian reserves arriving in the top right. However, we also have Prussian Grenadiers advancing past the village in the bottom left!

Austrians grinding through the Dutch while the newly arrived Prussians advance on their flank.

View from Prussian side.

Oh dear…..Goldie removing Prussian Grenadiers(yes they are Guard…but made only Grenadiers for game). That was a surprise.

End of game in the middle… French looking a bit thin…but there is a Austrian reserve brigade…and those are French Guard moving into the front line!!

So that was that….what fun…a full days play…lots of combats…some great dice and some appalling dice were rolled! Weather outside was horrible…wet….windy and cold so perfect way to spend a Saturday ….. we had a great lunch and I shared 4 different whisky’s with the ladz to warm them up!!

Looking forward to the next big game…..should be able to fit another 4 foot board in…….and is an incentive to continue to add units…love these wee chaps!!

Terry Out!!

May 2025 – Black Powder Epic Napoleonic Game # 2

Posted on by
Reply

Another Epic game that was played Alans with a scenario Alan set up.

Stephen(Dutch/KGL)) and Alan(British) are a holding force and Robert(French) and Terry(Moi -French) are marching on.

The Allied blocking force is below. The British take their left with the Dutch/KGL etc on the right.

French march on with Robert leading(he goes left… I go right)

French now on table viewed from Alans British position.

Rifles skirmishing are shaken. I have moved my Cuirassiers to the flank…ready to charge down the British flank if able.

Yep… we are able to. Column was moved up to block traversing fire. The infantry hit and the battery are on a ridge, so the British battalion on the right has no line of sight to the charge.

Mutual extinction event…British Dragoons v French Cuirassiers. British cavalry get to reroll any misses when charging…….so French players quickly learn to hide other cavalry from them.

Now that the cavalry have done their thing…the infantry get to it…once I got rid of the British artillery(they popped when the unit hit in the flank popped) my columns could advance safely.

We are locked in combat, but the French are winning the combats. The other 3 players all had issues getting their troops to move….even Roberts French columns would not join in the fun!

Alans British are in trouble…..4 shaken foot….1 destroyed…hits on the cavalry……

From the combat above 2 more units have popped. The British are done.

Else where…there was cavalry combat on the far flank that I missed…otherwise Stephen moved up to the center , Robert attempted an attack but a lone unit got stranded and pushed back….. the dice Gods were not anyone friends on the other half of table.

So that was that…….The Dutch and surviving British were heading for Brussels!

May 2025 – Black Powder Epic Napoleonic Game # Game 1

Posted on by
2

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.

March 2025 – Hail Caesar Game Rome v Carthage

Posted on by
Reply

Late last year we played a couple of games of Hail Caesar to get back into the period.

In this game Goldie and I were Romans v Alan and Rob’s Carthaginians.

Below are Romans. Goldie on the right and me on the left.

The Enemy are below with Rob on the left and Alan on the right.

These look gorgeous!

Centre of line with Elephants, Warbands and heavy infantry with skirmishers out front.

Waiting them my staunch legionnaires! We deployed the units 2 deep…..which we need to reconsider as the Auxilia Infantry can get easily beaten up!.

Battle starts with the war of the skirmishers…..ours had longer ranges!

One elephant lost its skirmish cover so it started taking wounds.

Crunch! Warbands and Elephants go in. The Warbands get 9 attacks when charging and in their first combat reroll all misses to hit. Coupled with Elephants, the Romans needs to make above average saves!

And they did! Holding on.

Couple of rounds in and one unit of legionnaires has popped……but the Warbands and Elephants are being worn down rapidly.

The Romans have the centre!

Shame about their flank though. I had auxilia infantry and cavalry on this flank…..the heavy infantry and mercenary hoplites made short work of them.

End of game and Alan has won this flank…. center still contested but call this an Alan win.

On the other half of the battle where I took some photos, none of which are good enough to share…Goldies legionnaire outfought Rob’s foot…however Rob’s cavalry were very slow to get moving but by games end were getting into combat and there were a lot of them! So give this a marginal Roman win.

Well that was fun….rusty on rules but they are getting clearer. This was the second game in a couple of weeks and will be playing a few more this year. More armies are being painted so a few Macedonian themed armies will be making appearance, and Goldie has both Republican and Middle Imperial Roman armies to paint!

Until next time.. Terry out.

February 2025 – Napoleonic Game, Battle of Tautino 1812

Posted on by
Reply

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

Posted on by
Reply

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

Posted on by
Reply

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

Posted on by
2

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

Posted on by
Reply

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

Posted on by
1

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.