Shadow Of The Eagles - a bit more solo play

Another solo session trying SOTE system and a lot more close combats and losses have occurred.

Close Combats are easily resolved if they occur, as often the charge process causes a unit to fall back without actual 'fisticuffs' ensuing.

Having a second line is hugely desirable (if not always possible) and pulling damaged units back to attempt to Rally (Generals very busy with this) is key tactic as any lengthy front line engagement will see units implode.

Squares are very tough for Cavalry (as they should be) although being in Line vs mounted not really an issue (as far as I can tell) as both have same basic fighting dice (2 in column 4 in line) with charging cavalry really only gaining a +1 to hit for a charge and possibly taking hits from defensive fire. 

Really the mounted need to target weakened foot or their flanks which is not unreasonable.

Overall the rules are easily understood and very playable, only real caveat is that there is a bit of 'memory' involved for remembering which units made a significant move (over half etc) as this impacts firing or occasionally which units do or don't benefit from charging bonuses. 

And its been awhile since I played a set that has Skirmish screens for each foot unit but these are easy to implement.

The influence of authors SYW set Honours Of War is evident although artillery in SOTE seems much less potent than in HOW.

Will be interesting to try these in face to face game.

Several units are weakened (yellow counters)

Guns ion either have had surprisingly little effect

Commands and Colors: Ancients - Baecula ends and Metaurus begins (Vassal Campaign)

Just finished Baecula scenario from ongoing Vassal Pbem campaign with Mike and ended with a Roman victory for me.

Also just started next scenario Metaurus 207 BC for hopefully more Roma Victor

Shadow Of The Eagles - solo try, French vs Prussian 1813

Had a solo bash using Shadow Of The Eagles rules (used once before) as a test for possible upcoming game (Stephen and I both keen to try these in anger).

Set up a table using Glory is Fleeting terrain system (any system would suffice) and fielded a French vs Prussian 1813 set of forces in a nominal attack (Prussia) vs defence scenario.

Nothing scientific in OOBs just a mix of foot and cavalry with requisite artillery supports, French do have a Brigade of Young Guard with Prussians having slight (4 units) advantage in numbers.

So far played through 4 or so turns and all pretty smooth despite referring rules a lot (QRS available are decent but not learnt core systems).

Movement is straight forward modified only by a single Inept French Brigadier General and a Superior Prussian type (one of things I kept forgetting to roll for) as is shooting.

Had a couple of melees and again easy to work through as is the Morale system.

As a quick playing minimal preparation style set of rules they seem fine although in a face to face game no doubt issues will arise that I have not discerned.

No points system but should suit scenario play fairly well.

Hoping to give Valour & Fortitude and outing as well. 

Middle Earth Strategy Battle Game - 2 games played

At Stephens today and he chose to play MESBG and I took a force from the 'Army Of The Great Eye' list with a bunch of Wargs and riders and Mouth of Sauron to try alongside usual Witch King (on horse this time) a Troll and bunch of Orc types and an interesting Eye Of Sauron rule (eye acts like a search light that gives banner bonus to friends within 3").

First game was against 'Last Alliance' list so mix of Elves and Men with Elendil and Elrond in charge.

My Orcs mostly had 2HCW which I did not realise meant a -1 to hit in duel phase which of course saw them decimated quickly.

Elves in this list have a nasty trait of killing charging enemy on a 6. 

The Wargs did not get to charge due to error on my part so did not really see them at their best and their throwing spears failed to hit anything.

Scenario had a target enemy hero, defend your own hero and capture a terrain piece.

I did manage to capture a target wood, but failed to defend my own and then despite transfixing an enemy hero 3 times I failed to inflict even a wound on him so lost 11-3 after my army imploded.

Second game was against Fargorn list so Elves and Men again but with that git Glorfindel and a few Hobbits led by a Ranger. 

Also had that nasty hero (Kaster ??) who could blow figures down which he did twice to my troll and blew Witch King off his mount. I targeted him with Black Dart twice but he countered successfully both times.

I swapped my Uruk Kai with 2HCW for Morranan Orcs with spear and shield and made much better use of Wargs (on flanks) but still failed to win many duels (lots of drawn combats which went to enemy) and whilst things were fairly even early on a couple of horrible turns saw my army broken and then as usual destroyed due to failed rolls to stand (even though Witch King and Mouth issued stand fast to several units)

Ulster Wargames Society - Big Chain of Command Normandy bash and other games

Club Saturday and I participated in a 28mm game of COC2 set up by Jeremy D and being a big battle type game (Jeremys house rules) set in Normandy with 5 British and 3 German players.

Really nice terrain from Jeremys collection immersed us in Normandy style surroundings.

British under Jeremys overall command (and some Bttn assets) with Andy controlling our armoured contingent (2 M4, a Firefly, a Humber AC, 2 Churchills and a Recce section in Bren Carriers) and with Bryn, Dave M and my own wee self commanding an Infantry Platoon each.

Germans under Simon with Mark and Stephen controlled 2 PzGr Platoons, several support units (MGs, Flamwerfer and 2 Stugs) with some barbed wire, minefields and booby trapped/mined road verges.

Both sides had Mortar support.

British had an initial phase line to capture which would release a fresh set of Infantry Platoons to replace the initial Company and its losses before pushing on to try to capture a couple of bridges and a farm complex.  

I controlled our right flank, Bryn our left with Dave and Andy in center.

After Patrol/Jump Off phase the British were slowed by an accurate Hun mortar barrage catching a section and supports in a wood in center. 

On my flank I managed to capture a phase line objective in church whilst thankfully being mostly unscathed from an ambushing MG42 team which was dispatched quickly by supporting Sherman fire.

Bryn captured an objective on his flank and then boldly charged onto the central objective again luckily surviving after running the gauntlet of an ambushing MG42.

This ended initial phase and set up another Patrol Phase which allowed me to place 2 Jump Off points well along the enemy flank.

Phase 1 and British advance covered by a Smoke Barrage

Initial phase line approximately along road (my initial objective in church tower)

Daves section in wood was soon Pinned by Hun mortars as Andy brings on Recce section in Bren Carriers, with Bryn moving through the walled orchard

My chaps about to occupy church

This second phase saw my Platoon advancing well forward on right (including moving a Jump Off point) but coming under a deluge of ambushes from MG42s, PzGrenadiers, a 75mm Infantry Gun and 2 Flamewerfer teams (their 12 dice very nasty as they cancel cover and deal double shock). 

Bryn was slowed by having to move around the minefields and wire with Dave M eventually being able to push through to support my dwindling numbers (my lot felt well out on a limb for a period).

Andys Shermans gave sterling support fire collapsing 2 buildings and routing a unit of PzGr.

2 Stugs appeared but were only able to engage our infantry (lots of 2" Mortar smoke).

Andy did bring his Firefly forward to engage but soon beat a hasty retreat after surviving being engaged by an ambushing PzFaust team !! 

Time ran out and a draw was declared as whilst German left had mostly collapsed us British were still well shy of the final objectives.

Great stuff with some lovely kit and a lot of work put in by Jeremy to set up and run the game and I seem to have failed to photograph a single British tank or Stug !!

Dave units move in center as Bryn circumvents mined areas

My blokes in house being given severe suntans by flamewerfers in opposite building (one flame team was dispatched and another immediately popped up !!)

Bryns men line hedges

Furthest advance by British on right, This section survived by remaining in Tactical Mode 

A pic of some of British armour (from Jeremy)

Also at club 

Game of Pikemans Lament in 28mm with Leslie, Chris, Ian and Billy   

Dave T and Dave B had couple of games of FOGR with Confederate Irish and an ECW English army.

Jeremy M, Charlie and others played a 6mm (not seen this scale for awhile) game using Eisenhower with an Eastern Front scenario (the buildings were 2/3mm) and I think 6" squares for grid.

Charlie struggling to see 6mm ?? 

Chris, Jeremy N, Dave S and Paddy played a Middle Earth Battle Game on a rather nice Osgiliath style board.