Die Fighting another SYW action

Played a very enjoyable game using our Seven Years War toys (Russian versus Prussian) today at Stephen's with Die Fighting rules (we now operate a variable game selection system of one picks period other picks rules !!). I used same army as last outing but managed to roll much better officer standard (ie no bloody Inept types) also Prussian used army divisor of 3 (instead of 2) giving them 4 less leaders (a big change) but still with inbuilt advantages and the more flexible sequencing. We really like the flexibility of the rules in these aspects but still struggle a bit to set a 'scenario' that feels balanced (ie both sides have some chance to perform if not just plain chance to win). Ivans burned dice like nobody's business with only 99 left out of initial 321 after 3 full turns of play (ie 18 'action card' phases) especially when subject to enemy firing with loads of Artillery bounce through attacks !!!! Prussians much more conservative with use of less than 100 in same time (starting base of 250ish IIRC). First turn was rather slow as we did a lot of memory refresh with the rules but once into flow it sped along very nicely.
We used a house-rule of allowing Leadership dice to be used defensively in melee which offset standard ability to load offensive melee too heavily as per standard rules. We both liked this and will likely keep it for future games.

Last post for couple of weeks as off to Bonnie Scotland for fortnights R&R from Monday. Lots of reading material to be consumed and Stephen lent me a nice looking Dvd set of AWI documentaries in obvious attempt to try to inspire me to paint the British army which arrived yesterday from Peter Pig (and very nice figures they are too).

Forces of Mother Russia arrayed in all their splendour

Ubermensch deployed in their grubby glory

Russian Cuirassier to the fore

Prussians move to occupy the town

Russian Infantry Brigades advance 

Awaiting Prussian infantry ready to volley

Crack Prussian Infantry deploy into town

Prussian Grenadiers advance through light woods

Russian right wing

Russian Hussars and Horse Grenadiers line up

Russian left wing Cavalry Brigade

Opening salvo from Russian artillery

Russian foot ready themselves in center

Action of left as Hussars bounce off blown after foolhardy charge (forced by headstrong leader)

Prussian Horse arrayed on their right

Another purchase

Bought this by the late and much lamented Dr Richard Holmes and looking forward to delving into its pages.

Birthday purchases pending......................................

My birthday looming on 25th July (my 47th aaaaaaarrrrrrrrggggggghhhhhh !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) and so a few purchases made to ease the pain.

Peter Pig army pack for these rules a 'British Southern late war army' ie yet another totally new period and figure range for me to paint !

This of course means obligatory Osprey title required

Ordered another 12 Prussian Landwehr Cavalry from Black Hat to complete my cavalry 'pick' from Lasalle army builder

Pre-ordered this first Black Powder supplement from Warlord Games












And when Piquet Field Of Battle II is available (should be soon) it too will be ordered.

Much more spending like this and it could be my last birthday !! :-)

FOG Renaissance Polish vs Early German Catholic

Played another excellent game today using my German Catholics against Stephen's Polish (with some very nicely repainted Winged Hussars). A real bloodbath of a game with numerous units destroyed between us including all the Polish foot and most of my Cuirassier. I tried a flank march with 2 units of Reitiers which took way too long to arrive and then 1 unit straggled lost off table !
Lots of action throughout game (just the way I like it).
Nice to get a game in between mega long shifts and a trip to England  








German set up

Polish set up

Cuirassier on German right

Polish Hyduk infantry

Polish right (target of my late arriving flank move)

Polish initial move

Late Tercios in German center

Cuirassier await the Winged Hussars

Winged Hussars 

Tercios advance

Polish Artillery ahead of German Mercanries

German artillery on left (never fired a shot but dominated the flank)

Blitzkrieg Commander II

Played a game of Blitzkrieg Commander II today at Stephens using his very nice but under-used 10mm kit (I have lots of 10mm Infantry but very few AFVs as I find them very hit or miss in quality/accurracy). We played a 1944 British versus German game using the Counterattack scenario with average Brits (Stephen) as attackers with 3000pts against fanatical Hitler Jugend (yours truly) with 2000pts. In addition to 'blooding' the toys we both have had BKCII since publication but not actually played a game (I have played original  set once or twice) !! Found them to be a very enjoyable set to use with straight forward systems. Use of Commanders and Formation Activation to our liking as it has that chaos/unpredictability factor we both enjoy in our games.
Overall a sort of WWII-lite but very playable.
Only downsides we found are lack of target priority/proximity rules which can lead to odd situations (with maybe several units concentrating fire on one to try to achieve a knock-out whilst other closer/more 'logical' threats are disregarded) and the costing (in points) of Bazookas/PzShks and PzFausts (a stand of HJ Inf costs 65pts and an upgrade to include a PzFaust costs an extra 65pts  per stand !!!) we fielded some 24 Inf units between us and only one stand paid for a PzShk (No Piats or PzFst) which tells its own story.
Still a very enjoyable game with Brit artillery being very effective (mainly by suppressing 2 of my HQs ie no orders able to be issued for several turns) and my 3 Panthers whilst individually potent being overwhelmed one by one by massed firing of some 14 Brit tanks (including 3 Fireflys) as well as being annoyed by roving Typhoon (which I managed to abort a couple of time but couldn't knock it down).
We are definitely going to use these rules again.

HJ left flank with Panther support in center

Brit left with Churchills

Pak40 plus PzGrenadiers in a wood (initial misunderstanding of LOS/Concealment rules has them visible instead of hidden)

HJ PzGrenadier Battalion enters cornfield

The Panther Battalion with Flak support (which was very busy !)

HJ PzGrenadier Battalion in wood

Sherman Squadron makes a belated appearance after losing a Sherman to Command Blunder whilst still off-table 

Brit Infantry Battalion with an FOO and an FAC in tow