General D'Armee - Eisdorf scenario

Game of General D'Armee at Stephens today using Gen De Brigade scenario Eisdorf as basis (only real change was to include an extra 3 ADCs for French).
I used French against Stephens Russians.

Once again a enjoyable game with these rules despite it being a rather bloody affair for the attacking French.

Use of ADC and Orders is what makes the set as the decisions how best to use the ever fluctuating numbers of available ADCs is gripping stuff.

Shooting in general is quite decisive (ie vicious !) in the main in GDA with mid range rolls of 6-9 generally generating casualties with anything higher being rather nasty with added hit of DT (Morale) tests.

My French tried to turn the Russian left flank but a supported charge against an isolated Russian unit in a copse failed miserably (I rolled a 5 and a 1 had two re-rolls of the 1 and scored......you guessed it.......another two 1s !!) and saw 3 Battalions retreat and retire.

A single Battalion from a neighbouring Brigade then showed them how to do it ousting the Russians.

However Russian Artillery and Musket volleys blew my center apart with two Brigades losing a unit and Faltering with one then becoming Demoralised and failing to Rally therby Dispersing.

Eisdorf stayed in Russian hands.............

On Sunday I had game of a very fun little game Cosmic Encounter

at my Dads with my Son. 

Field Of Battle - Battle of Kolin

After a couple of weeks of endless long days at work I managed to arrange a multi-player game using Field Of Battle at my gaff today.

Decided to do a SYW bash and with its anniversary having been on the 18th of June Kolin seemed the perfect scenario to try with 3 Austrian and 2 Prussian players with myself as Umpire.

Stephen B, Stephen P, John, Richard and Darren arrived and I randomly (via cards) allocated commands with Stephen B and Darren as Prussians and the others as Austrians.
I made units roughly as Regiments (ie 2-3 Battalions) which still yielded over 60 units in total for the scenario.
I boosted both sides Morale total by +10 to ensure game lasted.

Units were laid out on reasonably historical positions with some leeway granted to re-position Reserves.

A very successful game ensued which went right down to the wire with Prussians hitting zero Morale first but surviving first Army Morale Test.
They then got a run of initiative and managed to force the Austrians to zero morale as well and then 'stole' some 13 Morale Chips from them through losses.
This broke the Austrian resolve and they quit the field before any Army Morale tests.

FOB generated its usual exciting ebb and flow to the game with Austrians coming of their ridge line defence to pressure the Prussian left wing (lead by Richard to gasps of shock from all !!) whilst the Prussians forged ahead in the center and with their right wing.
The Austrians caused multiple casualties on the Prussians but with better Officers Frederick's lot were able to recover Hits and Routed units impressively.
A multi unit volley by the Prussians on the right saw some 4 Austrian foot units Rout in one turn (they managed to recover all but one but could not Rally off the hits).
The game saw Cavalry clashes on both flanks with mixed fortunes but again the Prussians seemed able to Rally much quicker and effectively.
At one point the Prussian right wing seemed to be folding only to Rally and force back the battered Austrian mounted wing.
Both sides suffered heavy losses and as previously mentioned the Prussians lost all Morale first but weathered the storm despite Freddy (ie Stephen B) being almost ready to concede at that point and managing to snatch a Minor victory from the jaws of defeat.

No other rules sets I have tried suit larger scale battles with such elegance and playability as FOB whilst generating such a exciting narrative to the game.

Check out some excellent pics on Darrens Blog at http://warfareintheageofcynicsandamateurs.blogspot.co.uk/2017/06/battle-of-kolin-1757-at-sgt-steiners.html


The scenario set up with card place holders for Austrian troops

Austrian deployment

Prussian center advances

Austrians push forward

Prussian push on in the center and right 

The Austrian High Command (LtoR Richard - Daun/Nadasty Stephen P - Colloedo and John - Marschall)

Cavalry melee on Prussian left

Prussian High Command - foreground Stephen B - Frederick with Darren - Bevern (sort of)

The battle lines clash around Pierovsky Hill

And so to at the edge of Krechor ridge

Chosenitz village changes hands as Prussian Grenadiers chase off Grenzers

Continuing pressure on Austrian left

Austrian right has pushed back Prussians albeit temporarily

Prussians have rallied and return to fray

Austrians in trouble around Pierovsky hill

Prussian left wing begins to push forward against weakened opposition

(Earlier in battle) The initial Austrian Cavalry charge on their right

General D'Armee - scenario from rules played (and more views on rules)

Played the scenario in rule book today at Stephens.
This is set in 1813 based around MacDonalds attack at Bautzen.
I took the French and Stephen the Russians.
We approximated terrain as best we could.

A fun game and this time round we found Artillery was not dominant (mainly down to poor rolls).
Stephen did make a minor mistake at set up by intermixing his Artillery Brigade with Infantry units but we were able to fix that early so no real impact on play.
French actually managed to form a reasonable attack, well except for my Brigade of 3 Dragoon units which were Hesitant for 4 turns (thankfully opposing Russian mounted force was similarly impotent !)
I managed to mangle (ie Disperse) the Russian right wing with my Italian Recruits besting the Russian Recruits opposing them, the loss of associated ADC is fairly critical .
I also took one village but failed in initial attempt to take central village objective.
Eventually both mounted Brigades heaved forth and into each other with a French Dragoon (Campaign Cavalry) Retreating whilst Russian Hussars (Battle Cavalry) Retired to Own Lines (this caused a long discussion on the fate of Retreating and Retiring outcomes and table edges (see below)
As we called time I was about to turn the Russian right and hopefully take the Redoubt objective so called this a minor win (at least I have !) for once.

Observations from game this time were that once more we loved the Command/ADC system (initially 6 French vs 5 Russian) and Skirmish Screens and found Charging, Shooting and Combat systems slick again.

We did come across a couple of new issues:
1. Being uphill confers no benefit to defenders (only Steep Slopes) or detriment to attackers which sort of makes retention of high ground superfluous ?

2. BUAs are fairly weak defensively and very much a dice-fest once melee occurs (automatic after defensive fire as no charge procedure).
We had no problem with this just a bit different to other sets we have played.
Similarly a Redoubt occupied by an Infantry Column would seem to have its benefits cancelled by the column effects (at least at close range or to Artillery at Effective Range)

3. As mentioned above we found that if defender sets up too close to table edge (sort of the default in this scenario) they run a major risk of Retreating/Retiring off-table and counting Dispersed.
We thought this was fine for Routing units but seemed harsh for Retiring or Retreating units that we thought should maybe stop at edge and get at least a chance to Obey Orders and Reform.

4. Some definitions in the rules could be tighter for instance we found that what constitutes a unit counting as Flanked is not fully defined (indeed only an illustrated example seems to indicate intent) in that enemy needs to face the flank not just be present it seems.


All in all an interesting encounter and we find a lot to like in the rules.
Do they produce a 'better' game than Over The Hills/Field Of Battle/Blackpowder etc I guess the answer (at least thus far) is no just a different game arriving at similar results via another route.





French left wing Brigades (Russian Artillery Redoubt visible at 1 o'clock)

FrenchArtillery Brigade in center (it was pants all day long !)

French center and right Infantry Brigades

Russian left wing on slopes and precariously close to rear table edge !

Russian center and village objective (note the guns here were placed in error and moved)

The Redoubt (moved Battery ended up to immediate right as viewed)

French advance on left wing

Russian Artillery battery re-deployed

Failed French assault on Village objective (the Russian Skirmishers were a real pain)

Infantry Assault orders on village and slopes

Russian extreme right wing Brigade dispersed (yee hah !!)

Units to left of Redoubt (as viewed) were also forced to Retire exposing its flank

Yet more horror......

Sadly again mindless cretins perpetrate another act of unfathomable horror.
My respect to the bulk of my colleagues in blue in mainland UK who have to initially face or respond to these incidents without a firearm.
Thankfully armed response was swift and effective.