Field Of Glory Napoleonic - French vs British in Spain

(Had to re-post this as original gone awol for reasons unknown)

Another game with FOGN today at Stephens.

I used French in Spain 1808-1812 list and Stephen fielded British from same period (with a Spanish ally).

Another fun game and I do so love the 'scenario' set up for this (really must try to adapt if for other sets) with my French adopting Prepared Defence and the British selecting Probe.

Such a lot of variation via a very slick and easy method.

Stephen felt that FOGN lacks distinct National Characteristics compared to some sets, but I think that the British are pretty unique with their hybrid Reformed Line formations (and British Training for allies like Portuguese).

The Veteran British in Extended Line formation are pretty tough if charged by French infantry as a lot of dice in shooting and re-rolling any 1's. 

Pretty much like last game it was decided on a single wing as 2 Large French infantry units on my left got pummeled before I could get to grips with Spanish foot on my right.

'Highlight' was my shooting with 13 dice from 3 units needing 5's to hit and scoring a truly impressive 1 hit, could have been worse I suppose 😉.

Pretty hard to recover from any set backs in FOGN which of course plays into its 2-4 hour game play time frame and equal points 'tourney' style.

Field Of Glory Napoleonic - Prussians vs French 1814

Game with Stephen using FOGN (as I know he prefers points/list type games) which we have not used in a goodly while.

I choose Prussians circa Autumn 1813, Stephen choose 1814 French which thankfully my list also covers (I much prefer historical match ups even in point style rules).

I had forgotten just how much I am impressed by the initial set up system in FOGN with the use of various 'stratagems'.

As it turned out with but ended up choosing Flexible Defence but with French as nominal attackers.

Terrain once again fell pretty much in favour of my opponent after selections, positioning and repositioning rolls.

The game was very enjoyable with FOGN doing pretty much what it says generating a Corps sized game with decent period feel that is playable within 3-4 hours.

No real national traits but sort of seems appropriate at this level

Once a Divisional formation starts to suffer losses to its constituent units morale especially with Wavering units it is nigh on impossible to recover but this certainly makes actions such as shooting or melee decisive within the game.

French had 2 Divisions of Cavalry which massed on my right and eventually crushed my wing aided  by a Young Guard Division.

On my left I had 2 Divisions assaulting up a large hill but they did manage to turn this wing but too slowly as losses mounted on right.

FOGN has victory system that stops any 'flogging a dead horse' type games as if one side losses are much higher than their foes the game ends and so French won after inflicting 30% losses whilst sustaining less than 10% themselves. Closer loss ratios mean games carry on.

We found the rules easy to get back into overall only really having queries over Pursuit rules a couple of times, they fairly well written and no errata I could find which is in itself unusual even with a 2nd edition.

Only took a couple of pics as engrossed in game 

Prussian left facing ridgelines and a 'strongpoint' town

Assault on the hill in progress as Young Guard pile into my Landwehr on right 

Fuzzy shot of Prussian right assailed by French cavalry and Young Guard

L'Art De La Guerre - another double dunter with Romans and Sassanids

Ever the glutton for punishment I had two games again of LADG at Stephens today (just as well this is such an enjoyable set of rules).

First game saw my Early Republican Romans face historical Carthaginian opponents under Hannibal.

This was a very close contest that went to Carthage in the end after my Iberian Ally was crushed on my left.

My Legionaries had pretty poor rolls throughout whilst two lowly units of medium Javelinmen rolled nothing but sixes and fives !! 

"Its a game of skill !!"

Second game my Sassanid Persians faced a contemporary Late Roman force as Stephen wanted to use his newly painted Forged In Battle figures and very nice they are too (think this is 3rd version of figure manufacturers he has painted up for this army !!).

This game was pretty much decided at start by the terrain set up which saw most terrain we have ever had on a Plain (A coast line, 2 fields 2 plantations, a hill and a marsh) and with several centrally placed pieces really cramming my mostly mounted force into middle (I of course failed to move or remove any with my 2 attempts)

This one took much longer than I expected to complete but Sassanids succumbed in the end as the Roman Heavy Infantry just take too long to defeat, I did manage to punch a hole with 2 Cataphracts but not quickly enough as flanks imploded.

Combat Commander - Father vs son

Played a game of CC Europe with son today using the Commando School scenario from original game set. I played as Russian defenders against Germans.

Great game with this ever excellent board wargame. 

Things swung to and fro with usual excitement engendered by random events and card play.

Germans simply ran out of time as game ended on first sudden death roll just as they were putting pressure on main building objective, this gave Russians a VP win.

Field of Battle - Father vs Son SYW

Played a quick game of FOB3 with my son (who thankfully got home for Christmas this year) using SYW kit.

Used one of the Seasons of Battle terrain cards to set up table and just selected a force of Russians (22 units in 5 Brigades) and Prussians (17 units also in 5 Brigades), I commanded the Prussians.

Prussians had a superior deck and better leaders (with an additional Move card) whilst Russians had an average deck (and an extra Melee card).

Game was a fast and furious blood soaked affair.

Russians lost 7 units to Prussian 3 but did inflict a steady drain of hits on Prussians. 

Both sides ran out of Army Morale at virtually same time but Prussians pulled 2 Army Morale cards in a row and failed to stay on the field on second morale roll.

The game was great fun with lots of incident including Prussians losing 2 commanders in one turn which stymied their temporary advantage.

FOB is so very easy to teach and play. 

Table set up prior to deployments from Prussian perspective

Russian commander

Action in center

Russian cavalry charges in 

Prussian cavalry gain advantage on right but Commander shot from saddle to ruin plans

Bloody losses on both sides

Prussian Cuirassier on left fall back in face of Russian Grenadier Brigade

I Ain't Been Shot Mum - South of Cherbourg

Played one of the introductory scenarios from IABSM with Stephen 'South of Cherbourg'.

This is an all infantry scenario with regular Whermacht defending against advancing US troops. Been ages since we have seen Stephens Yanks on table with any rule set and ages since we have played IABSM.

Very enjoyable it was too despite less than stellar card sequencing for Germans even with two 'Tea Break' cards in deck, I had two turns I got virtually no activations whilst Yanks had several.

Must say this sort of system really appeals to me as I prefer this to standard you go I go styles overall and IABSM works pretty well for the Company-a-side game it covers.

We failed to finish (spent way too much time waffling about our frustrations with ongoing Covid crap) but did get to see lots of action.

The on table 60mm mortars teams (3 of the buggers) seemed pretty effective especially compared to my largely ineffectual off board 81mm mortar battery.

This of course assume we were doing things correctly which not a given after so long away from rules, and still find some parts rather under explained despite this being a third edition.

We fluffed the auto spot and close combat rules somewhat forgetting that close combat is automatic when units end up 4" apart.

Still a fun outing and whets appetites to revisit them again in future.

The table set up from US entry point (the road)

Action around the walled farm

German 2nd Platoon sections just prior to being routed by US firepower

Our close combat mistake at the track/hedge (these two sections should have 'meleed')

L'Art De La Guerre - two more games played

 Another couple of games of LADG played today at Stephens.

First up it was my Avars vs Thematic Byzantines, however I had got my army list slightly schewed a tad by including Elite Medium Cavalry Bow (not allowed but could have been Heavy Cavalry Bow instead at same price) and then counting my Light Cavalry as Elite when only ordinary despite costing them correctly.

Not sure it made any difference as my shooting was pretty pants from get go but may have made a couple of elements hang around longer than they should due to Elite bonus ?

Quite evenly matched armies although the Avars find it difficult to deal with supported Byzantine heavy infantry of which there were thankfully only a few.

Avars lost eventually.

Avars advance trying to hold Byzantine foot on right 

Next game I fielded an all mounted Central Asian Turkish force for a good historical match up against T'Ang Chinese. 

My 22 elements were all elite but again they just have no real answer to the T'Ang mixed spear and bow heavy foot of which comprises a third of their force.

Thankfully the river Stephen placed turned out to be dried up so I did try a flank march with a light cavalry command which arrived right away (ie on turn 2) which was maybe just too early letting cat out of bag rather soon, but at least they arrived.

T'Ang where able to march right along my left flank and push the 'wall' of heavy foot directly forward due to good leaders and high PIP rolls, of course I managed to roll a one twice for my command PiPs limiting my ability to react.

The Chinese heavy foot then shot up my light cavalry and a gap soon appeared in my center as my left wing cavalry clashed with more numerous T'Ang mounted.

I did kill a couple of crossbow units with some lucky shooting and killed a cataphract but too little compared to losses I sustained as Turks fell apart.

One of these days..........................................

Turk right wing tries to envelope Chinese (flank march appeared on far right)

The 'jet propelled' T'Ang do an on table outflank

My left wing in difficulties with low PIPs hampering options.

Barbarossa To Berlin - solo play

Got Barbarossa To Berlin board wargame to table for short solo session.

Been awhile since I have had a board game in action and very enjoyable this was too even if only solo mode.

This game really does show just how preeminent the Eastern Front was compared to the sideshow that is the North African theatre (but a possible drain on resources) and even when Western Front is opened in Italy and France the main area of pain or gain for Whermacht is definitely Russia.

I only played until Total War started and Germans up against it due to insufficient VPs gathered in Russia and think the would have been hard pressed had I continued to bitter end.

Moscow was threatened but Panzer Armies failed to take it and then suffered losses to Panzers (a real hurt to German cause), Leningrad also held out and Germans never really got further than Kharkov before having to shore up a collapsing line.