Not a scenario as such just an encounter set up by Billy with Dave S taking the Scots and I the Royalist forces. We both had two similar Brigades of foot and two cavalry wings with Scots having a extra battery of light guns.
Scots suffered a Blunder on first turn which saw an Infantry Brigade retire off-table (we allowed them to come back on to assist game) and this allowed me to get right onto their side of table on my right. This was just as well as two annoying wooded areas were cramping my movement options here. We both exchanged musketry and cannon shot in equal measure but Scots failed a couple of Break Tests (this was to be story of day for Dave S) and holes appeared in their lines which I was able to exploit. In one instance I did roll 7 hits out of 8 to Daves mere 1 in reply in a melee (wargames are games of skill I tells ya!).
My Cavalry on this flank were able to crush (more failed Break Tests) the Scots mounted who were somewhat inferior types (1 less dice in melee and crucially no ability to counter-charge as reliant on pistols) and I was able to turn this flank almost completely.
In centre I had a lesser Commander (7) who failed to advance quickly (several failed/single move command rolls) but as opposing Scots also held back this was a blessing in disguise somewhat. In later turns I did manage several potent volleys (lots of sixes causing Disorder) to harass the Scots foot.
Story on my left flank was that I had a mounted Brigade which included two Dragoon units who were able to advance quickly, dismount and occupy some buildings located on this flank from which they were able to really annoy the Scots mounted (and destroy an isolated gun battery).
My other mounted cavalry launched several charges of which the first singularly failed seeing me lose a unit of cavalry. However subsequently I launched a fresh unit lead by the Brigade commander (risky but great aid to melee hit chance) which routed enemy horse and conducted a sweeping advance to see off more Scots horse. Brigadier was however lucky not to be unhorsed by effective musketry. This saw Scots cavalry on this flank also broken.
With both flanks gone and his left flank foot Brigade under duress Dave called it a day and Scots yielded the field.
Great fun and things fairly belted along as forces engaged each other pretty quickly. Musketry having a whopping 18” range means pain gets inflicted tout suite.
Been a long time since I played P&S and it took a couple of turns to again get head around the fact that each Pike and Shot Regiment is comprised of 3 'sub-units' (1 Pike block and 2 Musketeers units) rather than one unit with each being capable of independent action and with separate hits/morale states. This can look a bit odd at times compared to other sets I have used (generally such a unit would be a single entity) but once you accept this method of showing the formations and fighting style of period it mostly works especially if players don't abuse the system too much (melee can be confusing).Break tests (ala Black Powder) can be really brutal but that is how rules generate decisive results with minimal rules overhead.
Also at club were other games for which a selection of pics, I have no idea as to outcomes
Phil and son ran a Zulu Wars game with his 20(25?)mm and his trusty home brew rules (based on old Wargames Illustrated set)
For once the dice showed you favor, Gary! A lot of people like Pike and Shot (of the BP family, of course). I have the rules but havn't ever played them, as I really like For King and Parliament, and the FoB3 ECW rules actually worked quite well also. The choice to operate the shot as subunits is odd for this era, where that would usually only be the case if they were told off at the start of the battle as a body of "Commanded shot". Game looks great and the rules seemed to serve the purpose for the game! The other games looked attractive as well.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on a win!
The separate sub-units at times seem quite plausible but not so much at others. A pike block pushing forward into contact whilst musket wings hold back in support seems fine (I guess in most other rules if the musket are in contact it is not actually physical contact but very close range shooting ?) but very odd when one 'goes off wondering' (ie like commanded shot/forlorn hope) and it gets bit confusing sorting which units are in support positions to whom. But pretty slick otherwise and if you like BP you will like P&S. The Team Yankee game looked very busy (not a fan of wheel to wheel vehicles) and some really nice 'toys' on display but did not get to see how it plays.
DeleteLovely and then some more :-) also appreciate the shots of what the rest of the club are doing. re sub-units, there was some early criticism when the rules first came out and I think one of the supplements did a ‘fix’. The new Epic mini rulebook (A5) apparently also includes an alternative rule for those who do not wish to see the parent unit operate as three entities. I will try and dig out some more info on that.
ReplyDeleteSuspect there would be some optional rules, as it can be odd seeing a sleeve of shot or central pike block wander off from main body if temptation arises :-)
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