Ulster Wargames Society - Sharps Practice Game and a milestone reached

Society meeting and Jeremy D put on a Sharps Practice game using his 28mm French and Austrians for Revolutionary period in Italy.

Austrians (Jeremy, Paddy and I) nominally defenders of a village and its line of communication with French (Dave S, Dave M and Jeremy N) attackers.

Six leaders per side (2 per player) with 12-14 units under command. 

Fun game with plenty of incident including a bloody sequence of cavalry charges and my losing 7 skirmish figures in one turn (for once I rolled a ton of sixes !!) and in the end French winning as Austrian Morale expended.

Also this week I celebrated my 60th birthday (how did that happen !!) so lots of family visiting including my son and brother and family over from England.

The Barrmen (Steven, my Dad, Warren and moi)

Chomping time a favoured Barr pastime

Great time although really missed my wee dark furry pal Lucy (who passed on 16th) although her 'other half' Joy of course got spoilt rotten.

A change of pace - Middle Earth Strategy Battle Game tried

At Stephens today and he was keen to show me the Middle Earth Battle Game system (trying to tempt me I fear) with his lovely figures which are a mix of 'official' WH stuff and various 3D printed stuff.

One does need to know the army you are using and the myriad of various abilities,traits, spells and attributes applicable to its units and more importantly its heroes.

Its a point based system with a lovely book of 'army' lists (pick 'n mix points style a favourite of Mr B) covering just about every type of force from the LOTR world and with a very nice hardback rules/battle manual.

Stephen has a couple of armies and so I chose to use a Mordor Orc force he had compiled.

Lots of Warrior Orcs (armoured and unarmoured) some (crap) Orc archers and 'heroes/leaders' with an armoured Troll in tow.

The leaders included Gothmog on a Warg, Goroth, a Shaman and an Orc Commander all with differing abilities.

First game (a standard fight o the death scenario) saw these Orcs face the men of Rohan with loads of bow armed cavalry and several with throwing spears, backed by some foot archers and swordsmen along with Theoden, Eomer and other Horse Lords.

Not knowing the system I deployed incorrectly to my rear (trying to utilize terrain) and was deluged by a ton of arrows which saw me lose 11 figures (out of 36) before I even got close to enemy !

I did manage to assault 2 isolated Riders with the Troll killing 1 but would have failed to close anywhere else had not the Rohan moved into contact on my right where I was soon overwhelmed by the charging horsemen

But I did get to learn gist of system, although hard to remember all the stats and especially when best to use certain powers and abilities which is of course key to such fantasy type games.

Riders of Rohan pummel Orcs on my right

Central Orc force decimated by bow fire and unable to close with swift mounted

Rohan foot line hedge as some Orcs cower in a pig sty

Orc archers lined wood but their shooting is pretty dire (no hits or kills all game)

Second game was played on same table set up but this time the Orcs faced a Rivendale Eleven force with less bows (but better shots) and lots of decent foot and no mounted units but several heroes all with nice abilities.

Having learnt from first game I deployed as far forward as possible (ie up to half way) and simply went straight ahead. 

Elves held back to use their bows (poor shooting rolls thankfully) but soon we were both involved in dozens of melees all across the board.

Eleven ability to win drawn combats aided them several times and 2 heroes double teaming my Troll saw it die horribly although Gothmog managed to kill 3 Elves after knocking them down with his Warg (gives double kill dice if you win initial 'Duel').

Elves devastated the Orcs over course of a couple of turns although they did suffer losses (unlike the Rohan chaps)

Whilst WH not a system I have neither enjoyed or played much (ie twice) but this LOTR version is a fun and playable played on a 4' x 4' table with nice flavour of the Tolkien world. The generous movement and therefore very easy ways to surround or outnumber figures is different to what I am used to but easy to play and pick up.

Orcs getting to grips with Elves (hugging their table edge)

Orc archers ended up charging into contact where they were much more effective

 

Field Of Battle 3 - Zorndorf: The Afternoon Attack again

Minis game with Stephen today and I decided to replay the Zorndorf scenario I had soloed last week this time on slightly larger table with larger units (4 bases vis 3 bases), with he commanding the Prussians and I the Russkies.

Pretty much a repeat of my solo game (its a fairly straight forward scenario) with Russian Cavalry wing being rolled over by superior quality Prussians.

However this time the Russians did at least get the first charge in but failed to win the combats.

Stephen pushed his infantry through the woods on his left led by his Grenadiers and my right wing was pushed back.

Centrally the opposing foot brigades exchanged musketry with the Russians taking lots of hits and fall backs (my D8 defence rolls were continually poor) for very little hurt on Fredericks lot.

One critical turn saw Russians fail to rally hits or disorders despite having 2 Leadership cards and this was then followed by the Prussians absolutely devastating Russian lines with crippling fire and potent charges, resulting in my Army Morale being expended and passing a ton to Prussians.

Inevitably an Army Morale Card appeared and Russians quit the field.

Again FOB produced a fast playing and fun game and so nice to complete a decent sized game in under 4 hours playing time even allowing us extra time our usual waffle (this time including football, wargame stuff, and the dreaded politics !!) with no rules headaches.       

Russian brigade of six battalions arrayed near swamp.

Prussians press against my left through woods supported by artillery

Prussians begin to advance

Russian cavalry on left awaits Prussian mounted wing

Central brigades face off

Russian right begins to fold

As does their left with Russian Cuirassier either dead or routing with Hussars left to hold line

Only a lack of melee opportunities and some disorder slowed the Prussians (although one Hussar did sterling work repulsing a Cuirassier but only bright spot in a darkening deluge) 

Russian foot suffering losses from Prussian volleys

This happened all across the front whilst Russian return fire was ineffective