Wilderness War Vassal defeat............

Just finished Vassal game of Wilderness War with Norman and my British suffered a rather crushing defeat at hands of Norman's French with their Indian lackeys.
Good game this with lots of decision points and two protagonists that appear similar but are actually somewhat diverse in aims and makeup.
British have stronger Regular forces but the terrain inland prohibits effective use of these chaps.
French commanders on the whole are just that bit better (ie easier to activate) than bulk of British counterparts and this can be key to effective campaigning and use of resources.
French have a lot of Indian tribes as allies and as such they can mount a lot of troublesome raids into British territory (Norman was unlucky with initial raids) meaning Kings men need to build plentiful Stockades and Forts (these are additionally key to mounting any meaningful campaigns into the hinterland as they secure and offer supply lines).
Loss of General Johnston early in war was bit of a disaster for Brits as he is really only conduit to use Indian tribes friendly to the Crown.
I did send Wolfe on a venture towards Quebec but failed to get enough reserves to him to mount an attack against Montcalm (cards with high enough value and a Naval symbol are required which I failed to draw often enough).
With a couple of victories in field battles and raids Norman accumulated enough Victory Points in a couple of turns to make it difficult for me to thwart him especially with poor card draws.
Fun stuff and I think this would be a very good game for a real time or face to face encounter.

Final positions at end of scenario

Wolfe on approaches to Quebec awaiting reserve force from Louisbourg that never arrived............

The Victory Point track in all its horror

Still have Pbem game of Paths Of Glory ongoing and am hoping Norman up for another venture onto Vassal with any game he cares to select (To the Victor the Spoils)

Wilderness War Vassal 1759 started (and more Arty)

Still playing Wilderness War by Pbem on Vassal with Norman  and just started the Early Season of 1759.
Due to holidays/trips/work and suchlike for us both we have been slow getting through turns but I still find this an intriguing game.
1758 saw fairly conservative actions from us both (I suspect we both had poor card draws ?).
French are however well established along Hudson River and whilst I am ashore in north on Quebec approaches my strength is not enough to push on as yet.
French tried more Indian raids in 1758 but none successful.
British built a fairly strong line of Forts and Stockades.
I am hoping 1759 will see a more concerted effort by my troops to mass against the French and their allies..................

Start of 1759

Also still messing around with the Instagram App (and some others) on my iPad, with some of my old miniatures photos, just something 'nice' about the images it generates and easy to use.
Totally pointless and time consuming but it brings out the artist in me (some might say piss-artist !)

Wilderness War (Vassal) 1757 ends

Norman and myself eventually finished 1757 turn of our Vassal Wilderness War game (delays due to work/holidays for us both throughout July/August).
An eventful year (ie I played too many bloody events !) with Johnston dying early on a dent in British ambitions.
French launched several unsuccessful raids in the West.
They did however take Fort William Henry and Montcalm came South down the Hudson to try to drive off my force under Loudon which was trying to recapture the Fort.
The illustrious French General failed and had to retreat but Loudon then failed to conduct a siege of the fort.
General Wolfe appeared early in British OOB (made up somewhat for loss of Johnston) and made an Amphibious Assault into Louisbourg Fortress space.
He managed to established a siege but failed in his Assault upon the fortress.
Attrition at years end is brutal in this game (especially if you don't read the rule !!) with any Drilled troops in wilderness areas or as in our case both besieged and besiegers suffering grieviously (you loss half reduced Drilled troops and Reduce all full strength Drilled troops !!).
After a fitfull start with this Vassal game I think we are both getting into it a tad more now and hopefully will flow a bit more steadily from now on.

Overall situation at end of 1757

Hudson river has seen a lot of activity

Stalemate in west regions

Wilderness War Vassal game up and running

Norman and myself now just about into first turn of our Vassal (one of best inventions since the wheel) game of Wilderness War. Since I have not managed to play a full game either face to face or even solo am finding rules Referencing is constant and literally no idea what strategy to adopt. Thankfully same applies to Norman so it a case of blind leading blind here. Am sure we will make initial mistakes but will 'straighten up and fly right' as we progress he types more in hope than expectation................












Situation along Hudson with French massing at Ticonderonga with Montcalm in charge but I managed to exchange him with Villers (up north of Lake Ontario) using an event card 'Governor Vaudreuil Interferes'

Further East all quiet so far but awaiting raids from those pesky Injuns at some point 

Looking forward to our first actual encounter.........................

Wilderness War set up and initial try

Am hoping to start new Vassal game with Norman soon with this game Wilderness War.
So I set up the game to run through the extensive Example of Play from the playbook to try to get the gist of the rules into the cavity between my ears.
Fairly standard CDG style rules with cards play and usual options how to use cards (for Actions, Construction or Events).
The subject matter garners a few quirks such as Raids on settlements and different uses/abilities for Regular Drilled troops (square units) or Irregulars/Indians (round counters) but nothing unsurprising or overly complex.
Fort and Stockades make an appearance and River connections quite important as they increase move ranges.
Looking forward to getting game going via Vassal on which it should work well as only a couple of Interrupt type cards in deck.

Initial set up

Original QRS (left) and fancy new on from BGG

Map detail

Cards and counters

iPad video of Red Storm Over The Reich wargame and yet another Ebay purchase !!

Testing out video function on iPad with Red Storm Over The Reich board wargame in my best 'Hollywood' shaky cam style and dulcet Ulster tones :-) 

Also managed to acquire this game on Ebay for under £20 all in. It gets good reviews and its concerns an interesting period with Mssrs Montcalm and Wolfe et al.