Field Of Glory: Renaissance a Christmas game - Spain vs France

Annual game at Johns with Mr P, Le Duc and Stephen using FOGR.

Game was 1000 points per side using French and Spanish circa 1643ish

Troops from Stephen and Johns 15mm collections

John and Le Duc were Spanish and Mr P and I as French with Stephen umpiring.

We set up table using FOGR terrain system and then had at it with Mr P in control on French right facing John with my own wee self on the left facing Le Duc.

Spanish won the day as French right was virtually wiped out (think Mr P had 2 units left out of 10) and I suffered on our left (losing 4 of 8 units)

Spanish did suffer several losses but their Elite units really shone through, with their dice re-rolls turning several defeats into victories, especially in center against average and even superior French foot.

As ever a great days craic with plenty of insults and (very non-PC) banter and lots of dice rolled usingth a good set of rules.

French left as battle is joined with opposing mounted across hill slopes

French center with my foot on left and Mr P to the right

French right wing mounted force being wiped out by Spanish counterparts

Spanish Elite foot (around hillock) pounding forward

My Determined Horse tangle with Armoured Cuirassier types

Earlier as I maneuvered to engage whilst avoiding attention of some Spanish cannon

My horse arrayed a start with my foot unit in standard formation

Initial deployment on right wing

And some much better pics borrowed (ie stolen) from Le Ducs blog http://warfareintheageofcynicsandamateurs.blogspot.com

A word of warning re following pic ++ DO NOT VIEW ON FULL STOMACH ++

You have been told.....................

Are you sure ?............................

Alrighty then..............................

Left til right, Moi, Mr P, John, Stephen and Le Duc

L'Art De La Guerre - 2 games played

Tis that time of year again (and I don't mean Christmas) to start conducting some practice games with Stephen for his annual jaunt to competition in Cork early next year (start of February I think).

Its a Medieval theme again with 225 point armies.

Stephen decided to try Timurid and Burgundian which I faced with Hungarian and Order of St John respectively.

As ever two good games despite usual outcomes.

Hungarians fielded 2 War Wagons (both a bit ropey on rules re these seldom used types).

Knights playing game of 'chasies' with mounted bowmen

Hungarians also faced a flank march on this flank

Timurids used 2 Elephants and a heavy artillery piece

Hungarian center comprised foot elements

Knights of St John face Burgundians

Lots of Longbows in Burgundian ranks

I have a foot center(with a heavy artillery unit) and 2 mounted wings

 

 

Commands & Colors: Ancients - More Vassal goodness

Great Plains scenario completed against Mike with my Romans coming out victorious despite a suicidal light cavalry charge (I tried surrounding Cartho leader with a HC unit but got stuffed).

Now its on to the last of the scenario booklet games: Zama 202BC but I do have another 7 scenarios from C3i for us to try (I only own base game).

End on the Great Plains

And set up for Zama with several of those nasty Elephants to deal with

Valour & Fortitude a try with Prussians and French

Game at mine today with Stephen and decided to give Valour & Fortitude rules an outing using my Prussians against his French circa 1813/14.

We tried 400 point forces and used GDB again to generate terrain which worked fine.

Been a while since we used V&F and not sure we have tried latest version (but no radical changes).

Enjoyable test of rules that certainly play very smoothly as written, and being very much a broad brush and fast play style set.

Very liberal movement system (even more so than BP) but works along with Actions Phase and shooting/melee all easy to adjudicate.

Units stats feel pretty much as per BP but nice addition of the Army Traits and card deck Special Abilities.

Of course couple of things we decided to house rule re Light Infantry,  Heavy Guns and some Skirmish Shooting, but really only minor tinkering.

Decent set of rules at really good price. 

Ulster Wargames Society - Snodgrass Hill scenario played

Last club meeting of year (we do 2 in January as December always too busy) and I played in a 15mm ACW game run by Bryn and Ian using Black Powder (Glory Hallelujah supplement) and a scenario based on action around Snodgrass Hill during Chickamauga 1863. 

I was on defending Union side with Mike and Ian and facing a large Rebel force under Andy, Ivan, Simon and later Bryn.

Great game it was too with plenty of action all across the board.

Mike took initial Union forces deployed around Snodgrass Farm and ridge line with Ian and I controlling oncoming reserve Brigades.

Hard pressed he was too as scenario special rule had his forces facing possible confusion/friendly fire (literally blue on blue) when attempting to fire on Kershaws Rebel Brigade (under Andy) as being dressed in blue uniforms historically caused problems for Federal chaps. 

Simon commanded following Reb Division on Andy's left with Ivan sweeping further left with 2 Divisions and Bryn bring further Division on as reserve to rear.

I controlled a Division supporting Mikes left and Ian another Division on his right. 

A ding dong engagement soon developed all along the Union lines which ended up in a right angled formation.

I managed to break a Brigade of Andys which thereby forced Bryn to commit Reb reserves to face my lot.

Ian suffered horrendous losses with several broken Brigades as he faced superior numbers of Ivans Rebs, whilst Mike held on as long as possible around Snodgrass before being forced back.

A broken Brigade on my flank meant any forward progress by Union was stymied and our right flank was totally collapsing so Union called it a day (ie referee told is we were duffed).

It was a bloody affair with numerous broken Brigades on both sides. 

Black Powder would not often be my first choice but it mostly certainly works for these large multi-player games.

 

Action near end as Union push on left at zenith and right wing under intense pressure, with central Division pushed back from Snodgrass Hill

Mike deploying to try to hold at hill and shore up crumbling right

Mid-game as Union and Reb reserves committed

Reserves arrived as 'blinds' with something of a statement as to political proclivities !!

My Division advances on Union left as Mike contests the only real open ground on table 

A Reb Brigade is moved back in broken status

Whilst the table was 12' x 6' we only used half of it

Initial forces on Rebel right

Union defend ridge at Snodgrass Farm

And the open fields adjacent

Of course several other games at club and of course as usual I saw little of these or outcomes

Dave P and Adam played a 20mm Late War East Front WW2 game using Battlegroup with some lovely toys on display

A Sharp Practice 28mm game run by Jeremy D with several participants 

A 28mm game of Lion Rampant run by Leslie with Phil and others 

And last but not least a Battle Tech game with Charlie and co