1813 - Donnergrollen on the Krawallpass somewhere in the Western Carpathien - fictional Napoleonics

 BIG SUNDAY GAME - 28mm Napoleonics, Black Powder - my Austrians against Barts Polish-French!

The Defender of the Duchy needed to hold the mountain pass and the little village, apart from that the usual "Who-killed-more" was applicable. Both sides had around 1500pts+  to spend... but Bart forgot his remaining 10 Regiments (they were still in their Perry boxes) and just brought his new guns - it was an amicable game. 

First, I was with my Austrians in the unfortunately position to actually attack (never good). Later, I found out that the Divisional mass is excellent to move forward, even under cavalry distress, BUT, not so good for actual combat OR even worse, to advance under artillery attacks - Ouch!

All my units, apart for the Jaegers, were large units, I had ten guns against 18 guns 6 large cavalry regiments against 7 normal and 18 infantry units against 9 - what could go possibly go wrong!

My left flank Cavalry were attacking in dashing manner and  - Huzzah for the Hussars were beating back the Uhlans! My Dragoons (I played my Cuirassier units all as Dragoons to give Bart a chance) stormed forward as little Abteilungen! Now thats is a bit of a gamble, but who doesn't love a bit of a dangerous game, especially when being dashing Cavalry. Thus I was able to give a brigade order AND had a lot of support behind me. Downside they have only a stamina of 2! (small units). They fought gallantly against Uhlans and the whole Chasseur regiment! Huzzah!

On the other flank my cavalry won't move. Thats Austrians for you. In the end they did a bit and fended off the Uhlans who had a really shitty day. Something was wrong with the Uhlans that day - ah, they were newly painted and fresh recruits.

On the centre my Jaegers occupied the first half of the village and my Hungarians and my Grenadiers were advancing on the hills at the same time (Yeah I know, as Austrians unbelievable!) BUT there were guns. Loads of them... many were struck down they reached the top and even pushed some units back... but again the closing fire, even from a shitty dice roll of the defending Polish-Duchy player, did bring them down turn by turn.

In Probably historical Austrian fashion, after the 3rd consecutive attack turn (and the loss of a regiment each turn) I called the battle off and accepted defeat. 

Three lessons, I learned from this delightful battle:

If you have gun superiority by 2:1 in Napoleonics, you have won.

Polish Uhlans can bleed. Hehe!

If you want to defeat the Habsburg masses, make them attack - they sure as hell blotch that up! ;)

Initial deployment on a real battle sized table.

I perefer my units, like my wine glasses - LARGE.

The Uhlans, still happy ...

My Hungarians (dressed as Germans with Shako) ...

My corps advanced.

The Hungarian Hussars are coming!

The hill was formidably defended...

But my masses advanced...

The Grenadiers were ready to attack!

And some Polish Horse artillery waiting for targets ...

The Uhlans of the other flank ...

Then the firestorm began ...

You could hear the thunder in Vienna ...

The Dragoon Abteilungen won the gamble ...

The Uhlans retreat...

Huzzah, from the Austrian side...

But the mountain growled in thunder ...

Even my Grenadiers were pushed back ...

Probably becaus ethey were dressing up as Dragoons, my Cuirassiers did not a thing.

Then the Uhlans attacked the Divisional mass - BAD idea...

My Grenadiers got blown to pieces ...

My right flank had won the cavalry fight ...

The Centre was trying to hold ...

And the Hungarians were successful ... in a way ...

And finally my dragoons moved in ...

Won against men on horses, but got defeated by cannonballs ...

Another regiment bites the dust ...

It was too brutal - no one can win against so many guns.

434BC - Sparta at the luke warm gates

 A 28mm totally fictional Classic Greek Hail Caesar game between the Peloponnesians and the Delians trying to sort out the long war. The scenario was simple -kill as many as you can. The Athenians were: Mike, Peter (as General) and Alisdair (opposing me) and The Spartans were: Bart (as the King) and David,  and myself as the side officers.

Barts strategoi was to hold out on the flanks (the hills) and then break through the centre of the oipoloi of our enemy, oi oi oi. On my part I failed completely - "I'm shit with skirmishers" (Bart) but thank god, before my flank crumbled totally and Alisdair could reap any of his victories - we looked right to the centre ... and there was a BIG HOLE. Bart had charged the Athenian general before he could support his troops (we told him 3 times to do so) and while losing his king - he won the combat and thus the battle.

Alisdair had to be informed by dispatch riders ... hang on there weren't even dispatch riders anymore.

A fantastic game, sadly not long enough - but we will visit the old classics soon enough.

Initial deployment

After Spartans first move ...

Suddenly Alisdairs rabble rushes over the hill ...

And I'm about to lose my horses ...

And the rest of the helots ...

Look to the centre ... looking good for the Spartans ...

A unit of mine climbing the hill and thus losing phalanx ...

And my second hoplite units attacks ...

The Spartans killer attack...

David slaughtered Mikes flank ...

The second round of angry Spartans ... ouch!

Mikes flanks disintegrates ...

But I'm getting pushed back ...

And the last picture of my photographoi  before Alisdairs riders got him killed, the centre breaks through - victory!!!

1870 - The Battle at Schoefferhoferleicht

It was a SUNDAY GAME - and we decided to go for 10mm Franco-Prussian War (my collection) at a totally fictional battle with the newly second edition of the Valour & Fortitude - testing the French and Prussian army sheets. Who knows were this would lead to - I might actually read these rules... ;)

Mike drew the french card and thus had to defend against a full Prussian corps (played by me) plus an entire cavalry division, while waiting for half a division of infantry reserve, a corps artillery reserve and a corps cavalry reserve coming in later (diced out turns 1d6). 

The first artillery bombardments were quite civil, but then turned quick nasty. My Prussian were on the attack on flanks and centre, while Mike tried to hold the line.

First relief was a cavalry reserve that would come in but on the wrong end. while the French guard cavalry and the Prussian cavalry division clashed on the left flank -  interesting detail the Prussian Uhlans were stonewalling French Guard Cuirassiers two times!! They would not break - simple!

Then on the centre Mikes infantry division got off the hill to a counter attack - mon dieu! Totallement against the defensive doctrine, but very effectual! My heavy Krupp guns were shot (partly) off the hill by chassepot.

On the right wing Mike had to withdraw and my second division of infantry marched to get around to outflank the French.

Then the left flank cavalry battle got sour. my victorious regiments were all exhausted and just in that moment the reserve of the artillery came in on that corner - Ouch!

All the way through the line my first attack came to an halt and more and more units hit the grass. Still Mikes centre was retreating - BUT I had allocated enough "black spots" that even if I would have smashed his last shaken units in the centre, he would have still killed more than my Prussians. And a fresh half-division was just on the board marching to relief - Well done! A sounding French victory! Even by NOT sticking to the historical doctrine and do the unthinkable and attack!

Rulewise:

The system is of course OK, but the Armysheets need some more historical finesse.

We will adjust the Prone rule a bit more, divide the regiment actually into their battalions (so playing Army leader / divisional leader and Brigade commands) ad some other stuff needs fine tuning - but nothing that some more testing won't iron out. :)

Initial set up

The cavalry clashes

Prussian Hussars do not fear!

Nobody breaks the Uhlans.

The Prussian "two-horn attack"

My cavalry flank is getting exhausted

Did I mentioned that the Uhlans do not break?

The French get surrounded.

Some tactical wins at the flank.

The French centre gets a pounding.

Both lines in the death zone.

The newly arrived artillery in front of my immobile and exhausted division.

The Prussian Guard that died in front of the Mitrailleuese

The French are wavering but not faltering.

Some Dragoons sweep off a shaken line.

But yet again - no break in the French line.

A consolidated flank.

And new arrivals that broke the Prussian camel...

Shortly after 790 AD ...

 Couldn't wait ... Covid came and I had time ... so there ...

I won't do any more rigging, as I want room for Minis.

The oars are removable.

The complete mast is removable ...

... just out of storage reasons.

The shields are too big, but look better that way.