It was time to let the Seven Years War minis out again! So we organised a fictional bash (using this time Black powder 2 plus assorted useful rules from var. supplements) between my Russians and their (fictional) allies the Prussians vs Barts Saxonians and my Austrian cavalry, as Barts Saxon cavalry is still rather haemophilliac at the moment, but we come to that later.
It would be a multiple player, short club night scenario, and as Bart set up the table he volunteered as umpire later he joined his Saxon side.
The scenario would be both sides would enter with their cavalry and try to hold a village and a bridge in the "middle" (I use that term here very loosely) of the table.
Some national specialities were also introduced, namely the Saxonian "Geschwindstück" (I will hold a workshop for the correct pronounciation, if anybody is interested), The superior Austrian cavalry, the Saxonian Lancers, the superbly drilled Prussian Infantry (incl. platoon fire) and the abysmal command of the Russian (brigade orders minus 1, and no CinC re-roll), to name a few. In hind sight they worked a treat, very playable.
So we diced about the initiative and the Austro-Saxonians won, and their cavalry promptly occupied the bridge and the village. It was decided to use the full movement of the rules, just in case some Saxons would stumble the short distance to the bridge. Then the Russian failed to turn up for two turns (see above), which basically sealed the fate of this well thought through scenario.
Just to cut it short, like the suspension of excitement of this subtle set-up, the Prussian Hussars attacked the Austrian Dragoons and Cuirassiers and destroyed them. The Polish Uhlans attacked and ... well it might be Bart's fascination for all things with a lance (I blame Polish Catholicism) but they died pretty quickly and were halted by Russian understaffed Line infantry in marching column and then shot off by some few Prussian Jägers who just happened to be near. A mess in white and red "glory" with blood and horse gore on the battlefield (much like politics today).
Then when the Russians were finally at the shooting range to the village the time ran out. What a victory for the Saxonian Infantry! And of course, for the heroic self-less stand of the BEST cavalry in the world, no sorry, the Austrians! The Polish Uhlans were today, sadly, just mentioned as men on horses with sticks. I do not mention their artillery, it didn't participate in the battle.
It was a lot of fun ... and the rest. :)
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| The Russian finally found the battlefield ... |
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| The Russian Guard Dragoons attack the Austrian cavalry |
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| The Prussians came on the battlefield ... |
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| After the v. Seydlitz Hussars dealt with the Polish Horse things |
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| The objective in firm hands till turn two... |
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| Don't attack phlegmatic Russian march columns in the flank with tooth pics! |
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| The Saxon brigadier ordering new cavalry over the phone ... |
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| The Russians finally in front of their target ... |
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| The Saxons getting drunk in the village ... |
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| The Prussians finally on the hill to begin the bombardement... |
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| The Russian Cavalry defeat the "rest" of the men on horses ... |
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| And as we lit up the muskets ... the time ran out! |
As predicted, first time on the table of the Uhlans, means disaster for them. Anyway, Austrian cavalry showed their strength (ekhm...) and achieved a new record in our games in routing from the table. Saxons need new cavalries, but of their own breed. It was fun game.
ReplyDeleteIt definitively was. You never know with these Austrians... ;)
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