Ulster Wargames Society - Oudenarde with Field Of Battle and other games

Society meeting today (our December meeting delayed to today) and at last minute I decided to put on a Malburian game with my 10mm toys.

I selected scenario based on Battle of Oudenarde 1708 and trusty old FOB3.

French were commanded by Vendomme  (Bryn) and Burgundy (Ivan) whilst Allies led by Marlborough (Ian) and Eugene (my ownweeself) with reserves under Lottum (arriving on Move card 2) and Overkirk (move card 3) to be allocated as they appeared (Overkirk on left flank and Lottum on base line)

Burgundy had option to place up to 6 units on a flanking maneuver (on French left on 3rd Move card) which he choose to accept placing his 4 units of Horse and an ADC into said reserve, his on table troops unable to utilise 1st Move card. 

Allies had 32 Morale and an extra 'Rolling Fire' card (allowing their Platoon firers an extra re-load) with a Superior deck the French had 36 Morale and an extra Melee card with a Poor deck.

The town of Eyne (in Allied rear) I allocated +10 Morale for its capture (in hindsight +5 Morale would have been better). 

Allies set up first with Marlborough on left and Eugene on right then the French deployed massing both Vendomme and Burgundy on their left (I did not restrict them to historical placement) ie facing Eugene trying to avoid the forces under Mr Churchill.

And so it was to the fray and as ever a great game with FOB.

Vendomme led the advance taking some licks from Allied artillery (both sides had 4 Batteries each) but getting quickly (good Move rolls) into Eugenes force, and I lost both my guns tout suite.

Burgundy advanced in march Columns with his foot and also with his Horse when it appeared.

Marlborough was sluggish (poor Move rolls) trying to swing to his right with Overkirk in support whilst Lottums force came on to aid Eugene (boy did I need it as mass of French foot to my front)

Vendommes horse were roughly handled by Overkirks Dutch foot and were pulled back.

Burgundys horse were also slow getting into posistion as they tried to ride from the left flank they had appeared on to their right (simply no room forward with French foot massed).

A tough old fight took place around Eyne with Eugenes Imperialist foot holding on initially but then suddenly folding and Eyne fell giving French a huge Morale boost.

I did try to re-take the town but could not dislodge the new tenants.

Allied losses were mounting a somewhat faster rate than French and Marlboroughs faith in victory waivered but fortune did swing back toward Allies for a short period before their Morale was fully depleted and despite passing an Army Morale check we decided to yield the field to the bloodied but victorious French.

One notable feature of battle was the Guard and Elite units on both sides were uniformly pants with most ending up Routed or Destroyed

The fleecy type mat I used seems to change colour in the following pics but is in reality much greener

Imperial troops under Eugene deploy around Eyne

French foot push forward

Vendommes forces to fore with Burgundys foot in columns behind

Eugenes force deployed up to Dieonbeek stream

Marlborough on Allied left facing a field devoid of the enemy at start

Later in proceedings as French foot massed in front of Eyne with Marlborough trying to come from left, initially held up by Vendommes horse but these were pushed back beyond Groenwald (town on right)

Things getting hot and heavy at Eyne and French have managed to deploy all their artillery as a sort of massed battery

Both sides taking losses and disorders

Marlboroughs and Overkirks forces starting to get to grips but in piecemeal fashion

Meanwhile British and Dutch Guard in center (the 2 units forming the 'L') about to both Rout unhinging the defence of Eyne which thereafter soon fell to French assaults. This is closest to true colour of mat

Burgundys foot and guns begin march forward

Vendommes guns squeeze past Groenwald 

Also at club (usual comment that I have no idea how these progressed)

A 28mm skirmish type game (not sure of protagonist forces) using Pillage rules (by Victrix) run by Leslie

A 28mm game of Hail Ceasar run by Andy and Jeremy with Romans facing a Barbarian horde

Lastly a large 28mm Sharps practice game we British vs French (?) run by Jeremy D and several others

Appeared that the British were invading from sea and from a superb vessel supplied by Chris

L'Art De La Guerre - 2 games played

Back to fray with Stephen today and more practice for him for Cork Competition.

He has seemingly decided on using Ottoman army and I used Order Of St John again to oppose the Turks.

Two excellent games although I suffered horrendously to shooting (everything can shoot in Ottoman army) in first game.

Second game saw us both have our camps looted which was a first !

Also came across this image, not a fan of such AI slop usually but this one raised a grin

Of course AI has completely failed with lack of gray hair (copious amounts of Grecian 2000 perhaps ?) and wrinkles (Nivea cream ?), minimal spectacles (Contacts ?) and most obviously lack of girth (Whale bone corsets ?) of these alleged wargamers !!

Field Of Battle - solo game to see in New Year - 'Morning at Zorndorf' (pictatstic)

Decided to see in the New Year with a solo SYW game using the BP 'Morning At Zorndorf' scenario.

Firstly battle is one of my favourites and the scenario is pretty much a stand up slog with little room for maneuver which suits solo play.

Was undecided which rules to use but in the end went with trusty FOB3 which plays well in solo mode.

Had considered Battle Command and Black Powder along with Warfare in Age of Reason and Koenig Krieg but discounted latter two as been awhile since I played these and would need a good re-read.

In the end I chose FOB3 and a cracking game it generated.

Set up forces pretty close to one another and so it was a bloody affair from the off.

Prussians struggled early on with poor Movement and Ivans seemed to be outshooting them. 

But things turned quickly after a couple of successful Prussian melees and Russians suddenly taking losses and seeing units Routing.

Seydlitz (under a special deployment rule)  and his Cuirassier did get across the Zabern Grund stream/ditch but could not get into the action.

Russian losses mounted although they did bloody some of Freddies foot and they ran out of Morale (25 chips) and failed their first Army Morale test which occurred on very next card !

Prussians winners then and with 10 Morale remaining (from 30 at start)

Took a ton of pics (not sure why ?)

Russian left wing deployed

And their right facing Prussian left (Seydlitz command across the Zabern Grund)

Seydlitz could only attempt to cross on a friendly Move card if he rolled equal to or more on a D6 compared to number of Move cards played - he was a activated on third card)

View of initial positions

Situation at end as Russian center almost overrun

Seydlitz crossing the Zabern Grund but with little space to deploy into as Manteuffels Grenadiers hold off Russians

Prussian guns done a good deal of damage supporting Grenadiers (to left)

A more even situation on Prussian right as Russians stand firm

Russian line under pressure with units Routing or destroyed

Prussian Grenadiers proved too tough for Russians (who had their own Grenadiers but these were dispersed across several Brigades)

Action in center which seemed to be going Russian way in initial exchanges

Both sides taking their licks on Russian left

Russian guns in center failed to stop Prussian advance and were soon overrun

Prussian Grenadiers advance

More Grenadiers (I had to use 2 units of Fusilier figures as not enough Grenadiers) lead the way in center

Firefight in progress 

Russians hold on

Russian mounted command on right failed to Move forward to annoy Grenadiers before Seydlitz committed

Prussian Dragoons similarly slow to advance

Prussian Hussars no place to be useful due to woods, although Russian foot failed to enter until too late