L'Art De La Guerre - Normans vs Arabs

Game with Stephen today using LADG.

We only managed one due to excess waffling and army list discussions (in particular Vikings) with my Normans in Sicily against an Arab horde (not sure which possibly Aghlabids ?).

I completely fluffed my deployment putting my main command on flank instead of center and saw several expensive knights foolishly chasing Arab light cavalry to no avail !

A wall of supported Arab spearmen pushed into my other commands (thankfully activating a vacillating Arab Ally) and ground me down with only my own Arab spear doing any real damage

Been ages since Normans have see action and they really could do with basing revamp (as could my Vikings) as they are circa 1985ish (one of my first ever 15mm Ancients armies first seen under WRG 7th.

 

Guildford Courthouse with Warfare In The Age Of Reason

Game at Stephens today and he selected to use the venerable Warfare In The Age Of Reason (now on their 3rd edition) and Guildford Courthouse scenario from scenario booklet.

I took the attacking British (Stephens SYW Brits standing in for AWI chaps), we managed a full 7 turns which was pretty good especially as not played rules for a good while and lots of waffling about Saturdays game and other 'important' stuff. All Stephens lovely 15mm figures

Only a couple of queries mainly to do with QRS have some additional entries to actual rule book but only one we could not reconcile was if Disordered units move a half speed (this was in previous editions but not mentioned in current edition). Don't recall noticing this before ?

AOR is a good old style set that plays quite fast for smallish games but does have some 'memory' issues (especially for charges) for units from turn to turn that need markers and would slow bigger games. 

All the 'action' systems are easy to understand and implement which is not always the case in more modern sets, but maybe feel a bit less dynamic than newer sets but guess that sort of suits periods covered.

British initial advance on Rebel first line (Militia and Skirmishers)

American 3rd Line on ridge (cannot activate until fired on or at musket range) around 'Courthouse'

Large clearing in woodland sees bulk of action in scenario

Fences have no effect in scenario (assumed to in poor repair/knocked down)

British have pushed Rebels back from initial line 

Broken and Routing Rebel units cause disorder on units behind

Large Rebel skirmishing riflemen unit (lower right) a real nuisance as able to Evade and keep coming back 

Highland unit (just behind fence) refused to charge twice !

A top of pic a unit of Insurrectionist light Cavalry are about to ride down some Loyalist skirmishers (they then pursued into woods)

US Militia in disarray but have held up enemy for several turns 

British pushing forward but with mounting casualties

Kolin with Field of Battle 3 at Ulster Wargames Society

Club meeting to see out a rather damp August with Field of Battle 3 and a scenario based around Battle of Kolin.

Had played this once before under FOB2 (no idea of OOB source) and so pretty much good to go with FOB3 (coupe of minor tweaks re decks)

I brought my Prussians and Stephen the Austrians and I ran game as umpire with Stephens help.

Dave B (warning there will be a lot of Daves) led the Austrians with Stephen (Jeremy M and mate played for short while) whilst Prussians were commanded by (here we go) Dave T, Dave S and Dave M.

As is usual with FOB this proved to be a cracking game with loads of incident and units that performed well or poorly and much cheering, teeth gnashing and similar from each side. 

Prussians won initial initiative of 10 cards but elected to give Austrians first go which proved to be an error as the two Austrian artillery batteries caused havoc with super rolls (Dave B was on fire with rolls throughout game!) and timely reload cards, with 2 Prussians units being routed !

A Prussian gun battery was caught limbered by a unit of Austrian Cuirassier and destroyed outright, whilst this unit seemed to have ridden into a mass of Prussians it led a charmed life throughout game and almost single handedly held up the Prussian left wing for good portion of game. 

Prussians had lost several morale chips before even starting their engine.

When the Prussian 10 cards came to be played they suffered several reverses after aggressive charges into Austrian lines, with their single unit of Guard foot (best unit in game) being routed by more effective Austrian artillery fire from which they never recovered fleeing the field.

Potent Prussian Grenadiers also were badly damaged and failed to close with lesser Austrian foot as they suffer a deluge of effective volleys. 

Only in the center did the Prussians see any success as a unit of Dragoons rode down a disordered unit of foot and they inflicted several casualties on Austrian supports.

On Prussian right Dave M (brand new to rules) had a ding dong cavalry battle with Dave B as several units clashed. The Austrians had initial success but then suffered similarly and it was very much in balance on this flank until a Prussian Brigade failed to move allowing Austrians to regroup.

Prussians losses were mounting fast although Austrians had also lost several units and game could have gone either way, but again a period of further Austrian success (in both cards draws and combat) saw Prussian morale pool quickly expire and teeter on edge of defeat.

They did survive two Army Morale draws but succumbed on third after a bloody battle.

View from Austrian left prior to cavalry clash. Prussian Guard visible in ignominious rout at top left (between villages)

Central portion as Prussians struggle to climb slopes of the Krzeczhorz Hohe into Austrian defence

Prussians having to deal with annoying Grenzers around Brezan

Lines of Austrian cavalry advance to left of Przerovsky Hohe

Prussian horse advance to met their Austrian counterparts

The to and fro clash begins (both sides lost several unit here)

As cavalry clash the Prussians are trying to break the center as their right wing lags behind 

Prussians just do not have strength to push forward in center as Austrian foot rallies

Prussian number dwindling

Prussians are now a spent force grimly fighting on 

Also at club Andy put on another 28mm Napoleonic bash (either with Black Powder or GDA ?) and Phil and co played a fantasy skirmish game (think rules are Relic Blades ?) which players seemed to enjoy - for reasons best known to themselves :-) 

I however failed to get any pics as just too busy/engrossed in own affair.