Quatre Bras at the NWS - Again

With the time available this is really just a training session, but it still gave a fun game.

The French were commanded by Mark B and David B (left and right flanks).  The Allies by Stephen B and Matthew (in what I recall as a more fluid command structure).

I set up the forces and then left them to it, just offering words of advice (and occasional cries of horror) as the game progressed.

2nd Nassau holding the wood, with the militia in the farm, with the Orange-Nassau, jagers and artillery in support.  Picton and Merlin have just arrived (I think for future play balance Picton should be in march column as at 14:30 he had only just arrived).

Ney launches an attack on the farm and gets repulsed.  It was +2 to +1 in the French favour, but they threw badly.  They used a free roll and then got a much worse result.

This is before the charge of the Dutch-Belgian cavalry against Pire's cavalry by the side of the wood.  The French have also pushed over the stream, but faced by the Brunswick cavalry decided to form square, not something I would have done with that British line so close.  (The rogue base near the sunken road is just a casualty that hasn't been fully removed).

After mauling the French cavalry, the Dutch-Belgian horse fell back (as a result of a bounce against the second French brigade).  It was exciting stuff and also used up another free roll for little effect, both sides tying and therefore bouncing.  The French square got beat up by the British line, but was able to withdraw (funny rule confusion there that I must investigate).  The French horse artillery, firing over the pond, had disordered the Brunswick cavalry, neutralizing that threat.

Note the new unit cards (downloaded from the Yahoo Napoleon's Battles Group and with a bit of additional work).  They have been very well received.

The new wheeling mechanic worked well.  I also introduced a 90 degree turn as a change of formation move.  It works well for units in column, not sure it can be used by a unit in March Column (in the same way they can't form square).  For a unit in line... I'm still thinking it through.

Wheeling in Napoleon's Battles

So, I'm organising a refight of Waterloo in 15mm using Napoleon's Battles, a ruleset that is not known to many of the players... I need to keep it simple.

Also practical.  The maneuver template, critical for wheeling was going to be a tad unwieldy (which it is at the best of times).  I've always used it, but, as it's an optional rule I thought the basic wheeling rule would be fine.  As I found out yesterday, it's not.  It allows units to wheel at super speed, something that was sure to cause cries of anguish etc etc.

Back to the template.  However I checked the Yahoo group and someone had made a comment (on a thread discussing the not totally unrelated artillery fire zone template) that the maneuver template was just basically double the distance, measured just like in FOG.

Is it?

Old Guard Chasseurs ready for wheeling

Wheeling template deployed.  They will do a "six dot wheel" which will cost them six inches of movement.

Wheel completed. 

Positioned marked and measured.  As close to three inches as fiddly possible

So it is.

Problem solved.

And credit due to:

Now, what about turning 90 degrees?

D'Erlon's Attack

Well, not really, but for today's Napoleon's Battles practice game, I lined up the French I and VI Corps supported by the IV Cavalry Corps against a hodge podge allied side commanded by Mark W and Stephen B.

The aim was to see how D'Erlon's attack might look as well as fighting for the three built-up areas.  Note the clear labels in use for some of the French units - they looked good and displayed well.

The Brunswick cavalry filled in for the Scots Greys in cutting a swathe through the I Corps.  Picton then led his lads in an attack and after some excitement pushed the French back.

After this I launched a cavalry attack.  I was able to pin one unit, but two others formed square.  The results weren't too bad.

The attack on La Haie-Sainte never even got close as the troops were repeatedly shot to pieces.

An attack did go in against La Papelotte, but was repulsed.

A determined attack against Hougumont failed miserably, but not before weakening the defenders. 

I am very happy with the BUA rules (double score required to do one hit on deployed troops, plus one to the disordered number).  Attacking units use their formation combat modifier.  Note I am playing these three farm complexes as BUAs rather than deal with detachments for buildings areas that are very small.  As I have left out hedges and sunken road considerations I felt these defensive terrain considerations can be abstracted into slightly bigger BUAs than the ground ratio would permit.  It worked well with this game.  Given the wooded areas around these three places they also represent rough terrain for just moving through them.

We were using the basic wheel rules and I'm taking some getting used to them, especially the ability it gives troops to clear rough ground - I need to do a post on this by way of example.

I am also not fully happy with how attached generals behave after combat.  Time for some more discussion in the Yahoo Group.

Mustering Forces for Waterloo - Part 3

My mate Myron, who I've possible known since high school (it's so long ago I can't remember, but we where at the same school in the same year and grade) sent me some of his collection to use in our up and coming game.  Cheers!

Just need some TLC (note bottle of PVA glue at the ready).

Kiev to Rostov - Turns 32 and 33

Another two turns completed today.  Times just flies, we played about four hours straight.

End of Turn 32.  The Soviet line holds along the Dnepr.

However down south...  I had not paid any attention to this part of the front and suffered badly as a result.  The only good thing is it is not where the main game is.

The Axis establish a bridge head and the Soviets made their first mandatory attack.  Despite looking promising, it achieved nothing.  Luckily losses were light.

The big picture, end of Turn 33.  Time for the Axis logistical pause.

Wings of Ambush

Last night at the club Stephen arranged an ambush scenario for Wings of Glory.  It was to be two Camels surprising five Albatri.  I didn't fancy the odds, knowing how hard it is to get a quick kill, however Stephen had come up with a 3 card hit if it was a diving attack at close range.  Greg took two of the Albatri and Stephen the other three.  Mark B took one Camel and I took the other.  Luckily we were joined by Jason whose opponent was a no show and he took a third Camel (bit of a come down from the game he was going to play - Star Wars Armada I think).

Pounce!

After the surprise attack Greg turned his two Albatross fighters to face me - good move.  I over lapped one and so only got one hit (I'm an altitude level higher).  Stephen did allsorts with his three planes.  Mark B is the central Camel and Jason the one with blue rings.  We had lots of jammed guns at this stage (and later stages too).

I've lost my targets, but my fellow flyers are on the tails of two of the bad guys.

Circling round.  Best thing to do when you're on fire.

Jason has bagged his bad guy (very top of the picture).

Then it was my turn - a very lucky shot destroys an Albatross (the third Camel is flying under my plane - I had maintained altitude).

Mark B's Camel burns to a crisp - we suffer our first loss.

 

But a mid air collision takes out another of the Albatross. 

There are now only four planes left - two on two.

A close up of my plane.

We're all over the place.

Yikes!  How did that happen?

Ha ha!  Got him.  Thanks heavens for Mr Immelmann and his invention of the eponymous turn.

But I had not got off Scot free.

Somewhere in all that I also downed a third Albatross - three kills in one game!  Hoot!

I've credited Mark B's kill to Greg.  The very unofficial leader board now looks like this:

British 16th Light Dragoons

Yeah!  Finished my bag of Old Glory British Light Dragoons which I bought about five years ago (and no idea how long before that they had been languishing in the store).  I had been a little disappointed as they didn't have the variety that I am used to with Old Glory, but now they are finished I am very happy.

16BrLC in march column.

The flag is printed from something I found on the Internet.  The detail has come up really well in this picture, it is a bit pale with the naked eye.

Ready for business.

Showing discretion - most unlikely!

This completes the cavalry I need to do for Waterloo at this stage.  Some infantry, artillery and generals remain to be done.