Hochkirk 1758 - Field of Battle 3 game played

Played the Hochkirk scenario today with Stephen using the ever excellent FOB system.

One additional change I made was to restrict visibility to 16" on first turn to account for early morning historical assault.

Game played out as expected with sheer weight of Austrian numbers a telling factor (34 units vs 20) as they appeared from the wooded ridge lines. 

Prussian lost their Garde Grenadiers very early on after some appalling dice rolls and half of Hochkirk fell soon after.

But the decisive area of battle was on Prussian right were the attacking Austrian columns of McDonnell and Loudon crushed the Prussians in short order.

This was due to an initiative of 8 cards (by far the largest we saw all day as mostly 2-3) with Austrians getting into position on a Move card with multiple moves then getting a run of 3 Melee cards (interspersed with Leadership and re-loads) that saw them munch through the opposing Prussian Infantry before Prussians could react with anything but desultory volleys.

Also on this wing the Austrian artillery was deadly taking out an infantry and a hussar unit.

This collapse used up  over half the Prussian morale of itself and further losses saw them dwindle to zero morale (from starting 30). 

The Austrians did suffer several losses (about 20 in total from 42 at start) but gained several (5) from enemy.

When Army Morale card appeared I conceded as line contracting and defeat inevitable.

One other notable event was my losing Frederick to dreaded 1 on a D12 after he Rallied a Routing unit of Musketeers !

Scenario not very balanced I suspect (not many historical scenarios are) but was still a fun game with FOB3 whose changes we both agreed are simply making a great game just that bit slicker.

The ill-fated Prussian right wing under Anhalt-Dessau

Hochkirk defended by Keiths command

Central cavalry reserve under Zieten which saw no action

Command of Forcade support Hochkirk (the soon to be destroyed Garde Grenadiers just visible over the rooftops

Austrians of McDonnell and Loudon attack Prussian right

As those of Forgach and Sincere approach the center

Command of Weise support across river

Prussian right wing has disintegrated with cavalry under Seydlitz shoring up gap

Austrian commands of Colleredo and Arenberg have appeared on Prussian left

Hochkirk has fallen and Austrians pushing forward in numbers

Prussian perimeter contracting

At the end with Austrians pushing beyond Hochkirk and pressuring Prussian left

Hochkirk 1758 - table preparation for Field Of Battle game

Game of Piquet Field Of Battle 3 planned for later in week depicting Battle of Hochkirk 14th October 1758, and so I set up table and have deployed my Prussian defenders awaiting Stephen and his Austrians.

Scenario adapted from Might & Reason so units represent Regiments/Brigades and a fairly abstracted version of battlefield.

Minor scenario rule in that Prussians during first turn (ie once through deck) roll against a D8 (rather than D6) on their Move cards to simulate surprise and disorganisation caused by Austrian attack.

Also Austrians start with a Move card in hand and will automatically win first initiative.

Prussians have 20 units the Austrians 34 although some arrive as reinforcements (on 2nd and 3rd Move cards).

We did fight this scenario before with FOB2 but keen to get another outing with FOB3.

Field of Battle 3 - another solo Seven Years War bash

Set up and played, over last 2 days, a solo SYW game with FOB3 pitting Russians against Prussians, as I want to try to keep a handle on these excellent rules whilst in gaming limbo.

Used a randomly drawn Seasons of Battle map card to select terrain then just drew up two opposing forces that seemed 'balanced'.

Russians nominally defending a stream and village against attacking Prussians.

Both sides had 3 Infantry Brigades and 2 Cavalry Brigades with Russians having more Infantry and Prussians superior Cavalry (23 Russian and 18 Prussian units).

Russians had a lowly D8 CinC and an Average deck, the Prussians a D12 CinC and a Superior deck.

Russians deployed (on left) defending the line of stream.

Prussians arrayed to attack

View from Prussian lines

The game played out really quickly with Russian Artillery (2 medium and 1 heavy batteries) dealing a lot of punishment to approaching enemy, whilst Prussian guns (2 medium batteries) inflicted minimal damage in return.

But once the forces engaged each other the Prussians gained some revenge especially in melee combats.

The Prussian mounted on their right (Kuirassier and Hussars) attacked straight across the stream after a good run of move segments were gained, against the weak Russian horse (weaker Cuirassier and Hussars) and pretty much wiped them out in short order.

A more even dual between Infantry forces, with Prussian Grenadiers on their left suffering losses and just about holding on as Russian mounted attacked, albeit mostly poor Dragoon units.

In center however the Prussians decimated Russians brigade around the village and bridge and this led to a huge drain on Russian Army Morale (Russians had 32 Prussians 25) and they failed the very first Army Morale Check due to poor CinC.

Despite being forced to solo yet again this was a short sharp but fun outing with this never disappointing rule system, I still love the game narrative the system builds and the lack of formal (ie predictable) turn sequencing leads to some great and exciting moments even solo. 

However roll on face to face gaming !!

Russian Infantry faces off vaunted Prussian foot at steam bend

Emplaced Russian cannon bombard

Heavy (12pdr) battery joins in 

Inferior Russian horse cower behind stream with Prussian mounted seeming so far away

Overview of early stages of engagement

Russian right wing mounted try to turn Prussian flank, but Frei Korps and Grenadiers bloody their nose (Horse Grenadiers routing)

Prussian Infantry stalls in Disorder after a Brigadier is shot from saddle

Crunch time in center as Russian foot forced to flee by oncoming Prussians

Prussian mounted wing has forced the line of stream and crushed the enemy horse.

Then they ride to threaten Russian left (note the massed Russian losses in foreground, by contrast Prussians lost just 1 Grenadier unit although they did Rally several Routing units)

Russian Brigade of Grenadiers heemed in (they took no part in action)

12pdrs have been overrun and Russian center in real difficulties

As Prussian force the line of stream here too.

Russian right wing to slow to engage

Overview as Russian yielded the field..............................

Field Of Battle 3 - Seven Years War Seasons Of Battle Campaign - Death Of The King !! (pictastic)

Decided to get some figures on the table for (yet another) solo game.

Played out 3rd session of the SOB Campaign I have been running solo with FOB3 over last few months.

Campaign had now progressed to Autumn (Fall for Yanks) with Prussians poised just inside Russian territory.

Several cards of the SOB system played resulting in a Move to Lichwicz by Prussians and some small Supply adjustments to Army Morale (-5% to Russians and +5% for Prussians).

Russians brought enemy to Battle at Lichwicz but an appalling set up roll (12 to 2 for Prussian) they saw the enemy pick an open map with Russians stuck on least favourable edge.

The Prussians also got a 30% boost to their Army Morale and 5 extra tabletop deployment squares, whilst Russians got only 2 extra squares and ability to define 1 piece of terrain (they chose to downgrade a Class II Wood to Class I).

Things all seemed to be going Prussian way prior to set up but they did roll poorly for Morale total (despite boost) whilst Russians rolled well seeing the Prussian 16 units having 21 AMP with the 20 Russians gaining 25 AMP, the Ivans obviously up for defending homeland.

The table prior to deployment (the poker tokens denote extra deployable areas) Note sparsity of terrain on Russian side (the fields are for decoration only)

I partially randomized the deployments which worked ok but did see the Prussian left wing mounted Brigade somewhat isolated on a hilltop.

Deployment completed with Prussians occupying high ground on both flanks but neither side able to deploy in the town areas at start.

Once battle commenced things just went awfully for Prussians as Russian artillery rolled extremely well and Prussian Move rolls saw several stuttering Brigades (in fact Infantry Brigade Kanitz failed to move 5 times !!).

Russian Infantry volleys were also much better than their superior opponents and Prussians were taking lots of AMP losses and indeed had a couple of units Routing.

Prussian Grenadiers approach the town

Brigade Kanitz fails to support their left flank

Russians advance on the town as more Infantry moves to confront Prussian Cuirassier

Russian Cavalry massed on their right wing

Supported by Infantry (three of these were lowly D4 Militia class)

Kanitz watches as battle erupts around the town and friends are engaged on his left with 2 Battalions routing (red plumes) from effective Russian Artillery.

A fairly tense action occurred around the central town as Russians managed to steal the march and occupy the built up areas.

Prussian Grenadiers did manage to dislodge the enemy but was only real Prussian success.

Action around the town as Prussian Grenadiers fling the Russians out

However static Prussian Cuirassiers are about to suffer

A unit of Frei Korps wisely stay out of trouble in the hilltop wood

Russians advance beyond the town to support their mounted wing

The town about to fall (the Prussians had to later retire from their gains here)

Despite lowly (D8) commanders for Russians they rolled well for Movement and got right into the face of the Prussians in numbers.

On Russian left their foot Regiments advanced upon the Prussian Cuirassier Brigade and simply blew them out of their saddles (they never recovered routing right off table) !!.

On Russian right opposing Cavalry clashed and after a poor Prussian charge the Horse Grenadiers of Russia soon put them to flight and this flank too was in dire straits.

Prussian Infantry suffering "Where is Kanitz !!??"

Mounted Wings about to clash on the hill

Russian Heavy Cavalry backs off from Prussian Musketeers, awaiting Infantry support

Overview showing how Kanitz (in center) has left other Brigades 'hanging'

Prussian left wing Cavalry in difficulties as their Commander falls (black plume)

Later the Prussian Cavalry has all but disappeared (one unit of Dragoons left and pulling back)

Forcing supporting Infantry to adopt defensive posture

Kanitz finally makes a slow move forward (only 1 meagre segment)

Casualties among Prussian Officer Corps was truly catastrophic as 3 of their 5 Brigadiers died in battle ! the Russian lost only 1 and so Prussian units suffered Disorders all across the line.

This then resulted in the Campaign ending event as Frederick stepped in to Rally a Routing unit which he duly did however on the soon appearing Army Moral Card he rolled the requisite 1 (on a D12) and was KIA !!!

Death of a King......................

The battle rolled on for several more cards but writing was on the wall for Prussian cause as they now suffered Down 2 on Move cards and indeed lost 4 Morale on an Army Morale card before Frederick was replaced by Seydlitz (a D10).

They did however actually manage to inflict some damage on the approaching enemy but had lost 6 units by this stage and all their Army Morale.

The next Army Morale card saw them defeated and with Frederick the King dead I decided to call an end to the campaign.

Several Prussian units have Routed off table (more would join them)

Prussian Grenadiers about to abandon the town as Russian Foot advances past on both sides

Dregs of Prussian Cuirassiers about to leave the field on their right.

Overview near the end as both Prussian wings have gone

A Russian General did fall on their left temporarily slowing progress

But elsewhere the Russians surge forward

The hill is theirs.

Positions at end as Prussian Infantry form a solid line from which to retire

Despite being forced to play solo this was an interesting Campaign and further evidence that the system and of course FOB itself is probably the best set of rules I have for solo play due to the inherent variability of the card sequencing, battle set up and unit generation.

Certainly better than not playing at all...........................