Managed a couple more card plays with Mockern scenario and Battle Command.
French are suffering a bit despite being better quality overall as Prussian numbers starting to tell and they have had a few superb volleys.
Pics with iPad in rather low light with which it can struggle
Largish scenario (44 Prussian vs 35 French units) so using 2 base units (ala Shako) and even so a pretty crammed battlefield (that is 1813 for ya I guess)
Young Guard subbing for Marines (do many paint these chaps ?) otherwise OOB doable from my collection.
May give this a run out with Snappy Nappy as well but probably not :-)
Quite a few pics as tweaking camera app on phone and iPad.
Couple of images released by Brent Oman of up coming 'Battle Command WW2' rules that are due out in next few weeks (likely a PDF/Lulu option for me).
Liked the Field of Battle WW2 but found it difficult to generate suitable scenarios for its Company/Battalion scale.
The new Battle Command 'version' has Squad, Platoon and Company scales included so hopefully much more flexible in types of actions possible
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
As an aside I found these images which certainly awoke some nostalgic childhood memories
Game with Hugh using Battle Command and Dresden scenario (ripped off from GDA of course)
Hugh has played FOB once but as 90% of Battle Command is same (only the Initiative/Card Deck differs) not to much 'teaching' required (certainly not to Cambridge Professor standard).
Hugh took the attacking French And I therefore the Russo-Prussian defenders.
After deployment we both tried to attack each others left wings as both had our weaker infantry (2nd Line/Provisional) on respective wings.
On my right I pushed my Jager Brigade up and Hugh withdrew his lesser chaps and sent a couple of Young Guard Battalions across from center to assist, which did weaken his push against the Prussian Brigade on central hill.
Situation changed drastically when the two Guard Light Lancer units appeared from reserve on this flank (not unexpected) forcing the Jager into squares one of which the crushed (fatal roll of 1 on d10 vs 11 on d10) but one Guard unit was later routed in another charge on a square.
The remaining Guards tried to breakthrough to the rear hill objective whilst my light Cavalry Brigade failed to intercept them.
On my left my 2nd Line troops were holding back defending villages to rear and Hugh had his light Cavalry on this flank which crested a hill to threaten my lot.
His first charge was repulsed by my volleys but second damaged another unit which luckily managed to get into square and cavalry repulsed in disarray ie 3UI lost and Disordered.
This square was then pummeled by volleys from French Line units and destroyed.
The game was decided around village of Seidnitz in center.
Hugh charged his Young Guard early on with one unit being forced back but the other forcing my defenders out of village section and it fell to French.
I did Rally and retake this sector but the quality of Young Guard shone through with further charges seeing both section of village being captured by French.
The rate of casualties on my force saw it Morale Drop to zero (from 28) and whilst I passed first Army Morale I decided to yield as no real way to retake village.
Hugh did lose a Brigadier which slowed his progress for a while but of course I managed to roll my usual 'bucket of ones' in a couple of turns to aid the enemy.
French ended with only 7 morale (from 34) so quite a bloody affair overall.
As ever a fun game with this system although am now of opinion that Battle Command is a more 'grindy' version due to new card system (no big runs of initiative possible compared to FOB3).
Further games planned with Hugh
The battlefield from French side with Seidnitz in center (this plus villages of Grosse and Kleiner Dobritz to rear were objectives as is hill in far left)
Pics from the game (of varying quality due to lighting)
Young Guard and Line Brigades push forward to right of Seidnitz
