A German affair..

On Tuesday my Prussians took to the field for a game against Quint's Austrians. As this was more of a 'test' than a proper game, we didn't concern ourselves too much with points or strictly accurate formations.. If I remember rightly;

The Austrians 

CinC
Cavalry Brigade with two small regiments, one of Dragoons, one tough Cuirassiers
Infantry Brigade with 4 Hungarian battalions and one Grenadier
Infantry Brigade with 2 Grenadier battalions and two 12 per gun batteries

My Prussians were more numerous but lower quality generally..

CinC
Cavalry Brigade of Dragoons and Hussars. Both regiments larger than the Austrians
Infantry Brigade with 3 Landwehr battalions, Two line musket and 1 Light (Fusilier), supported by a medium Gun battery
Infantry Brigade with 3 Landwehr Battalions, Two Reserve infantry battalions and a medium gun battery in support

As we were playing on  fairly small table, I struggled to deploy my fat blue line with any room for manoeuvre.. however, I placed my horse out on the left, decided to hold the centre with one Infantry brigade and to push on my right with the other. 

(Only had my phone again, and in poor light, so apologies for crap pictures..)

Early moves, Prussians on the left

The Austrians came on in good order in the centre, taking just about enough fire to keep them at bay, whilst stretched command distances made my right wing very slow to move into position.

The main lines draw closer

Reserves manoevre on the Prussian Right

The Armchairs (!) form a stout line

Some notable events included a heroic cavalry skirmish which saw the Prussians numbers make the difference, and terrifying and devastating fire from the Austrian guns, who expertly manhandled, deployed and loosed a very accurate volley at the Fusiliers, driving them off the field in dismay.

The cavalry about to join

The rules are Quint and Ade's own and mostly use D10s a system of accumulated morale/damage and a simple but very effective way of limiting command ability. There are a couple of areas to tweak and define but they are easy to pick up and give a good game.. the intention being that they give a good Napoleonic game, and not a generic horse and musket war-game. 

Our battle drew to a close before we really reached a proper outcome but our analysis was that it was fairly balanced at that point..

The climax of the action

Napoleonic Goodness

This morning I popped down to the Polly to join Quint and Ade who are play-testing their upcoming Napoleonic rules. Apart from the obvious pleasures of a table full of gorgeous painted 28mm Napoleonics, it is always interesting to be in on the thought processes and get some understanding of (and hopefully some input into) how a particular rules set comes about. Quint generously gave me the Austrian cavalry on the right wing to 'command' and I resisted the urge to send them charging in straight away (I struggle to 'get' cavalry, usually abuse them badly)

My Prussians were too late arriving today to appear on the table, but hopefully will get an airing soon.

The battle did not get too far as there was quite a bit of debate (all positive and constructive), and explanation of concepts.. however, an enjoyable way to spend a few hours on a Saturday!

I took some pictures on my phone, not expecting much.. they actually didn't come out too badly, so I shall share here.. I can't claim credit for any figures or terrain, everything is Ade and Quint..

Fire and Fury in 6mm

Tuesday night's game was a first for me.. the first game of Fire and Fury in around 20 years (I have the rules, bought them new in 1990 but only ever played them through solo once or twice at best)..Scrivs brought his collection of 6mm ACW and had set up a scenario.. being hopelessly ignorant of ACW and blaming the heatwave for my short term memory loss, I can't remember the name of it!

We rolled to randomly allocate sides and I ended up with the US. My job was essentially to effect a fighting retreat. A line of troops started the day in an advanced position but were under orders to retreat to the south of a point on the table, whilst some reserves arrived from the rear, with orders to advance no further than that southerly point. The rebs, meanwhile, were to come on and basically attack!

It was a very enjoyable game, definitely a close run thing, with total VPs at the end of the game giving the Confederates a narrow victory. I was pleased with the performance of my rather reluctant and average boys overall.. just about managed to get back in some order and form a line before becoming overwhelmed by the Reb advance.

The rules were far easier than I remember them being too, which made the game that bit more fun as I wasn't having to spend the whole game learning the stuff.

We were both on phones, so no great pictures, especially with the armies being 6mm, but a couple here..

US guns making a dash for home, being hotly pursued by the Confederate lines

The table from the Confederate end, the Union forces can be seen  forming a line up near the farm

The far left if the Union line, Stahel trying to get his cavalry dismounted

The Rebs breakthrough on the last turn, much whooping and a-hollering no doubt!