Tag Archives: napoleonic

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.

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 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.

May 2024 Napoleonic Game – 1813ish

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Played a 4 player game at Hutt Valley Club with French v Russo/Prussians.

I organized the sides to be roughly equal on numbers as a new player, David was having his second game of Black Powder. Sadly David had some problems on his farm and couldn’t make it on the day. So rather than assist David, I filled in on the French side with Rob, Goldie had his Prussians and Mike was playing Russians for I believe the first time.

The Allied set up on North side of a stream, they had a couple of villages and some field fortifications to hide behind. Below is some of the Russian set up.

View down the table. Rob commanded the French right and in view of Goldies Prussian being mainly Landwehr suggested the plan was Rob attacks and I hold the Russians attention.

So Rob attacked on turn 1. Not quite what I had in mind, but, Go Rob!

I did a more sedate skirmishing advance on a village.

Hmmm….so Robs attack was an initial draw coupled with some extinction events on both sides, but Rob eventually did the deed on the landwehr. French heavies move up in support.

View from Mikes side towards my French.

I tried to get a skirmish line up to close range on the Jager…also skirmishing..to avoid the Russian artillery doing to much damage on me…it failed.

Cavalry attacks going in. Its looking good for Rob at this stage!

Missing Prussian units…others damaged……but heavies have taken punishment.

Back on other flank…French skirmish screen has taken a battering …so columns have burst through them to charge and drive off the skirmishing Jager and then carry on into the columns behind them…only…we didn’t make it…and instead decided to be target practice for Russian batteries. Being the gentleman I am(well..sometimes) I helped Rob with advice on how to beat up my French(I never play French…normally Russian..or Austrian…even Dutch before French!)

At same time the columns were meant to be engaging Russian infantry…behind this battery was a brigade of light cavalry…who were meant to charge the battery in the distance…..die in the attempt…allowing the now unloaded battery to be ridden down by the next French cavalry unit…..sadly…..no one wanted to … and rolls and re rolls just failed…and failed….and…..I need a drink….

In centre…. it was shooting..and shooting…..

View of other occupied village… a tough nut to crack frontally hence Rob’s flanking movement. Goldie has Dragoons and horse battery stationed in reserve in center.

Robs attack stalled as his cavalry commander blundered and retired…..the horse battery got shot up and popped…..and attacks could just not get going……its one of those days….

Russian horse battery has now deployed so the plan of charging the foot battery is now over and with the damage was taking…I decided to retire from the field.

In center…French skirmishers finally managed to get moving and stormed across stream to enfilade the defending troops on the field fortifications…with supporting columns to retire behind if needed,,,and brigade of heavies ready to assist. But its all to late…..

The Rob v Goldie duel and Rob has just taken to much damage to push Goldie back.

So we called it an Allied victory as they still held the villages…and looked to have a superior position overall.

Now when we visited Christchurch recently, my better half got all carried away and bought a bottle of whisky for me. She liked the name…no other reason….how can you resist buying a bottle of ‘Firkin Whisky;…just say it a few times after a tasting….it grows on you.

Found a review : ‘They say quality counts, and this dram has our number! This is a seriously sensational whisky. The elegance of Linkwood, one of Speyside’s finest, marries perfectly with the glorious earthy oak and Madeira richness & raisin spice. Brilliantly rich and fruity notes complement the hint of toasty oak with exceptional balance. This dram lingers like a summer lover, complete with a lovely tingle of spicy oak.’

Its a darn good whisky is all I can say .

Til next time.. Terry out.