Ulster Wargames Society - Ramillies with Field of Battle

Monthly club meeting today and I put on Ramillies scenario with my 10mm Malburian stuff using trusty FOB3.

Andy and Paddy took the 29 Allied and young Mark the 32 French and I umpired.

Used half-measurements as sort of suits/looks better with the 10mm especially on a smaller than usual table (6' x 4')

Highlights were Marks gun batteries on left around the Geet blasting Andys British, who had strayed just into extreme range with an endless sequence of 10 on a D10, 8 on a D8 whilst Andy rolled low and his units took multiple hits, fall backs and a rout.

Paddy attempted to flank on the Allied left around Taviers with massed Dutch cavalry and it almost came off but French managed (ie fortuitous cards) to turn to face threat and hem it in.

Taviers itself fell to Dutch Foot Guards but they were they ignominiously evicted by some Swiss in French service. 

Allied foot in the center eventually got to grips with French foot and began to chew them up in short order which saw French morale start to dwindle fast.

Game was decided as French morale ran out and a Army Morale check came up immediately which French failed and quit the field (French had 36 morale the Allies 40)

Overall another cracking game with usual swings and roundabouts of fortune on both sides and lots of opportunities for tactical risk taking (Paddy done a Daring Deed which saw his General fall) and decisions to make.

Pics from game (for reasons unknown Blogger insists on putting them on out of order)

French foot defending between Taviers and Ramillies as Allied foot approach

Brits maneuvering towards Ramillies but come with in range of French batteries and are battered

View from Allied left with Dutch horse stuck trying to get around Taviers (in foreground)

British try to Rally under Leadership card

French foot defending behind Geet with their gun lines blasting British contingent

View from French left with Allied foot formations bearing down on center

Allied deployment at start with Dutch horse in march column (in distance)

French initial deployment

Also at club Dave M put on a Sharp Practice game but no idea what forces or how it turned out (Dave will doubtless put an AAR on Society Blog), bit of a change from the multiple games last month but still plenty of members 'in da house'

L'Art De La Guerre

Two more practice games for Stephen today for upcoming LADG competition. 

I brought Normans and Khazars but ended up using Teutonic instead (his brothers figures).

Both games against Normans one under William in 1066 the other under Guiscard with Arab allies.

Both two straight up slogs which is kind of what you get with knights I guess.

Of course as ever dice just not on my side although several of my lowly types rolled endless sixes to embarrass their noble Knightly superiors who conversely rolled endless ones and twos !

Of course 'The Dice Demon' thrice cast his spell upon my dice with the old "you don't want to roll a 1" its uncanny and frankly slightly worrying :-)

  

L'Art De La Guerre two games (and Commands & Colors Ancients game completed)

Two more practice LADG games with Stephen today.

First up I used Maurikian Byzantine against Abbassid Arab and this was a game with lots of terrain (despite my choosing to attack in Steppe) and manouvre but with Arabs on top as ever.

Second game I used my Vikings again against Stephens Feudal English (a repeat of last week but with tweaked army lists) and again the Knights just too good for Viking foot.

Viking game showing my wall of warriors with Breton Ally on left in a gully

Byzantines face the Abbassids

In better gaming news I completed second Vassal game with Mike with my Syracusans winning against Carthaginians in a very quick game, that was kind of decided on my first turn when I crushed 3 of required 5 units for no loss, was then a matter of picking off a couple of other units. 

L'Art De La Guerre - Vikings in action

Game at Stephens (more practice for him) with LADG and this time I fielded a Viking host as I have just about enough figures to field a viable force (they were only ever used as Allies before).

These are an old army of Essex figures that were done in Humbrol enamels back in mid 90s.

Stephen used his very nice Pre-Feudal English so not strictly a contemporary match-up but good game nonetheless despite losing yet again.

We also had a second game when I used Early Bulgar against Normans but I neglected to take any pics of this for reasons unknown.

C&C Ancients scenario completed on Vassal with a win (but an awful loss elsewhere)

Finished first C&C Ancients scenario on Vassal with Mike with my Syracusan force achieving a narrow victory over his Carthaginians.

Game plays pretty well PBEM and quickly once we decided to reduce file exchanges to minimum by often rolling for enemy during Evades and Battle Backs.

Already started second scenario Crimissos River 341BC

On much sadder note we lost our remaining 'fur baby' Joy on Saturday as her wee heart just gave out (as did her pal Lucys last July) and our house feels empty and so very downbeat. 

Seems like no time since they were new arrivals with us back in 2016

Dogs really dig deep into your soul..................

Field Of Battle 3 - solo Napoleonic game and A Distant Plain (Pictatstic)

No scheduled game with Stephen this week (as I had to take parent to hospital appointment) but did manage to get a FOB3 solo game on table as I wanted to test a possible change to Attack Column.

In standard FOB Attack Column gets an UP1 whenever it fights in melee but am not sure that this would be supported by history so was testing cutting this UP1.

I have already made Attack Columns Down 2 rather than Down 1 for shooting but left melee untouched.

My thinking is that the Attack Column maneuvers a tad quicker (moves 8" whilst I give Line 6") and versus a Line it can get 2 on 1 (which is Down 1 for the Line being outnumbered) and if initiating the combat its gets Up1 as standard, so essentially a difference of 2 dice types (rather than 3 as written) just not sure the extra UP1 purely for being Attack Column is warranted ? but conversely do not want to make the formation too weak.

It worked fine in test game and think I will retain the amendment, but (as ever) might consider giving the Up1 versus Towns or Fortifications, will need a few games to see if too weakened.

Game was using Markkleeberg scenario I used as manageable numbers of units.

I actually started the game with Battle Command but find this bit harder to solo (keep getting confused as to which side is 'on' and what Action each command entitled to) so quickly reset and used my trusty and favoured FOB3 which I can solo with no problem.

Loads of pics showing various stages of game which the Allies won after crushing French left 

Also earlier in week I set up and completed a solo game of A Distant Plain which was thoroughly enjoyable even in 'lonely pint'/schizo mode with Government winning (although I did underplay the Taliban)