Ulster Wargames Society - Jakubowo 1812 scenario played again this time with Field Of Battle 3 (pictastic)

Club day today and I had planned to do Montmiral with FOB3 but couple of usual suspects awol so I decided to put on Jakubowo again as more modest number of units (Montmiral is large and I usually use 2 base units in lieu of standard 4 bases).

Hugh and Mark were the protagonists with Mark arriving first so getting choice of sides, he selected French, therefore Hugh commanding the Russians.

This turned out to be another cracking game that was a real swings and roundabouts in terms of fortunes and a nailbiter at the end.

Mark advanced to take central hill (a no brainer for French) and brought his early arriving reserve Division on on his left.

Hugh got both his reserve Divisions on toute suite as well placing his Line on his right and his Veteran Grenadiers on his left.

Both sides cavalry faced each other in a stand off near the hill

It was on the Russian left/French right flank that the drama of the action unfolded.

Two batteries of Ivan guns pounded the French right causing several losses and disorders and the Grenadiers were able to charge enmass (some great Move options) into the French.

However the Grenadiers were severely repulsed (so many 1 rolled !) with one unit Destroyed, another Routed and the remaining two damaged.

French 44e Ligne Regiment won many battle honours during this action.

To add further misery to Hughs efforts his central command lost their General (this Division underperformed all day failing Move several times) and things looked grim indeed.

However Ivans did get their Commander back very quickly but only Rallied a couple of his units.

Then the fickle gods of war seemed to turn completely against the Emperors minions as the Russian Grenadiers rallied their Routers and all hits and disorders in one fell swoop.

They then launched another assault on the exhausted French right and all but crushed it with four French Battalions swept from the field (Mark rolled a succession of 1s that was a rival to my usual standard, yes it was that bad).

The French also saw two of their three Commanders suffering wounds and half their army was in Disorder !!

But they managed to pull an unbelievable three Leadership cards in quick succession seeing their Generals revived and most of their Disorders rallied.

But the damage was done to the French Army Morale which was now at zero and on the brink but Mark passed first Army Morale test although they were 'gifting' morale to Russians (5 at one point).

This however seemed to inspire the Elan of the Grognards (and Mark) whose Cavalry and left wing Infantry advanced onto Russian right and gave them a torrid time, indeed they clawed back their Morale (to zero) gifts and began to inflict Morale losses on Ivans (and Hugh !!)

It seemed they might even punish the Ivans further but another Army Morale appeared and French lost roll off being thereby forced to Quit The Field.

The Russians finished with a mere 5 Morale (starting levels were 19 for French and 20 for Russians) and they (ie Hugh) breathed a huge sigh of relief after a hard fought game.

A game full of drama and excitement with the narrative aspect of FOB on full display with events and the unpredictable nature of system creating a game story that reads just like a real battle account. 

The multiple dice type system (which some dislike) can be very unforgiving (especially with the extremes of high vs low rolls) but I say 'embrace the chaos' as these decisive moments make for exciting gameplay and lots of groaning and cheering.

Very enjoyable game to umpire (especially watching the ebb and flow of emotions of both players).

I have stated it many times but FOB never disappoints and what it may lack in perceived 'historical' chrome or tactical nuance it more than makes up for in playability and plain good old fun in spades.

I have yet to find another rules system that so consistently creates such dynamic games in such playable fashion, some come close on occasion but are often more staid in comparison, although those with less 'chaos' and more predictability can be appealing if a more chess like game is preferred.

You pays yer money and takes yer choice

'A lora lora' pics (Cilla Black evoked) again of varying quality and back to front order

View from Russian left with French right virtually gone but Russian right also in serious diffs (note central Russian Division in Disorder as General 'hors de combat'

Ivan Grenadiers have crushed French right flank (after likely being threatened with punitive measures) 

View from French left just prior to French knocking seven bells out of oppossing Russian infantry

It was something of a stalemate in center and French right for most of game as neither side wanted to engage (or could due to Generals be out of it)

Russian center exchanges fire with French with some Jagers in skirmish mode

Cossacks in skirmish line (a house rule) as Hussars (under Hughs trotter) move to shore up right (Grenadiers in early difficulty phase)

Hits and Disorders for both sides

French right has repulsed Russian Grenadier assaults but are bloodied and bruised

The Russian Grenadier assault the French line but are repulsed 

Pressure mounts on French right

Note Routing Russian Grenadier (red marker) and one of their assault columns was soon to be wiped out

This repulse of Grenadier attack on left looked somewhat worried Russian CiC (Wittgenstein)

Earlier stages of the Grenadiers assault (they raced across battlefield into close quarters action)

French advance to take central hill

The 44e Ligne Regiment about to achieve everlasting glory as assault columns of superior Russian Grenadiers approach

Russian guns had been softening up the French 

The Grenadiers looked unstoppable, as they later proved to be so after ignominy of initial failure

Initial French advance

And initial deployment of Russian Jager Division

Early days before either sides reserves have appeared.

Of course other games at club (there was a Midguard game scheduled but organizer ill)

Chris put on another of his visual spectacles this time with invasion of Tarawa. No idea of rules (likely Rapid Fire or Bolt Action ?) or outcome

Leslie put on another naval game this time set in WW1 and again not idea as to how it went or rules used.

Middle Earth Strategy Battle Game - two scenarios played

Game at Stephens today and he choose to use MESBG with his excellent kit.

Just for a change I took the Minas Morgul list (was rather last minute arranging game) at 700pts with usual Witch King on a Fell Beast with a Troll, a couple of Spectres and usual mix of Moranin and Mordor Orcs.

First up Stephen used an Alliance (?) army with mix of Elves (barstewards every one) and Gondorians.

Scenario was to retrieve several Artifacts.

I won initiative on first couple of turns but only managed find  and dig up 1 of 3 artifacts (I had a Spectre fail on 5 attempts despite only needing to roll 7+ on 2d6).

Elves and their Heroes (powerful sods) proved too tough for the Orcs who just cant beat any rolls of 6 by Elves although I did manage to keep Witch King alive (he cast 5 spells but none had any effect)

I did try to run off with an artifacts but was caught and it was stolen from the dead Orc

Second game was against Riders of Rohan with Theodan, Eomer and someone else with lots of Riders and several on foot.

This scenario was a Capture and Conquer type with 5 central placed objectives up for grabs.

Only the Witch King and Troll really have much chance against the Rohan Riders and indeed Witch King managed to Transfix one which Troll dispatched (Rending is always nice) and and Fell Beast akso managed to Hurl a Hero causing loss of two horses. 

But not much else went way of Orcs as the Riders are essentially battering rams who get to choose when to close with Orcs.

Stephens shooting was awful with both bow and throwing spears but charges by Riders uniformly successful everywhere with hordes of Orcs thrown to ground and then its really an auto-kill and I lost 10 in first charge and several each turn after seeing my army Break.

Fun games as always but one really needs to have a properly deep knowledge of the Heroes and their abilities to make an army effective.

 

Battle Command - Jakubowo 1812 scenario

Game with Stephen using Battle Command and a scenario based on action at Jakubowo 31st July 1812 (taken from scenario in Bataille Empire rules).

I was defending French and Stephen the Russians.

Both sides sides start with about a third of their force on table with reserves arriving to boost to 19 units versus 20 (French/Russian).

I pushed initial forces forward onto central hill with Ivans pushing initially on their left.

Both sides had their Light Cavalry forces on same wing and initial clash bewixt these saw Cossack forced back in disorder (a state they retained throughout) and it seemed French would gain ascendancy but was not to be as Russian Hussars broke on of their counterparts in short order and forced another back.

Both sides reserves arrived quite soon

On my left it was mostly a stalemate as it was in center around hill aided by a Russian Brigadier General coming off his horse (although and his disordered troops were rallied before I could take advantage). 

But on my right the arrival of a Russian Brigade of Grenadiers proved too tough for French and this wing was soon crumbling.

Morale losses mounted and soon plunged to zero from 24 (Russians had lost around 10 of their 25) and I was then gifting to Ivans.

I did pass my Army Morale role but called it quits as losses too grievous.

As ever fun game played to completion with this FOB variant.

My dice rolling was mostly fine except I just could not roll Evens on 'Action' Cards meaning I was restricted in Order options especially at key times (ain't that always the way !)

Trying out a new blanket/fleece mat (£10) which lies really well over hills but is bit bland in colour (will try to stick on some shading if I can be bothered)

Initial French deployment with Foot Brigade on left around Jakubowo and Hussars on hill on right wing

French advance onto central hill just before Ivan Jager do same

French right. Cossack in disorder but one French Hussar annihlated and the other forced back as Russian Grenadiers push forward. Note Russian central Brigade in disorder as General patched up

French left awaits Russian reserves

Just prior to the clash of cavalry on French right

Wittgenstein 'elbows' (groan) his way onto battlefield

French dominate in center

But wer ultimately let down by their supporting light horse

Just prior to opening firefights 

As an aside I found these images which certainly awoke some nostalgic childhood memories