Ulster Wargames Society - Montmirial with Field Of Battle 3 (who'd of thunk)

Club day and I managed to get Montmirial (scenario stolen from Gonsalvo) to the table with 2 players a side.

Dave T and Jeremy D commanded Napoleons bunch (so so many Guard.......) with Dave B and Tom controlling the Russian and Prussian defenders. 

Muddy conditions saw all artillery firing at Down 1

Allies had 52 units in 3 Russian Corps (2 Infantry and 1 Cavalry with 50 Morale) and a smaller Prussian Corps (1 Foot and 1 Cavalry) of mostly average status (couple of Prussian Grenadiers and heavy Dragoon types). 

French had a mere 38 units (46 Morale) in 3 Corps but with 6 Old Guard foot, 6 Middle Guard Foot, 2 Guard Lancers, 5 Young Guard Cavalry, 4 Old Guard Cavalry with Empress Dragoons in tow, 2 Old Guard artillery and 2 Old Guard Horse Artillery (!!) with support from some Line infantry and Cavalry, a formidable force indeed.

This could easily have been a quick pounding for the Allies up against such Elite French but the initial French assaults by their Guard were easily repulsed (the Guard Cavalry in particular failed to perform as expected) by staunch Russian shooting and bayonet charges.

However Sacken the Russian CinC suffered a bit of rush of blood advancing against the recoiling Guard infantry but failing make any further impression on the Guard.

Indeed having a Divisional Commander fall put his Division into Disorder and of course Napoleon then managed to easily Rally all his Disordered Guards and restore all hits then followed up by several vicious assaults (nice run of Move and Melee cards) against the staggered Russians crushing an entire Division of foot.

Russian reserves held the line but the damage to Army Morale was starting to hurt.

On Russian left their Cavalry Divisions engaged the opposing Guard Cavalry and results were mixed with both sides suffering or being successful in equal measure but with further decrease to Russian Morale.

Prussian on extreme left held their own by forming into squares which the Old Guard cavalry struggled to deal with, at least for a spell.

Russian fortunes took a nose dive (the swing from great to poor results ie dice was stark and swift) however as Guard quality shone through with a couple of Squares routed or destroyed (lowly Landwehr just not up to task) and Prussian cavalry was swept away.

The Guard Infantry proved unbeatable in center and French left as their assaulting columns took both villages (loss of 8 morale to Russians) and thumped opponents.

Again Russian reserves shored up front but Army Morale was now gone.

Russians survived first Army Morale card but things really went to pot for them as they handed their entire Morale pot to French and only lack of Army Morale tests allowed them to remain in action.

We called time as Allies simply no way to recover such grievous loss and victory went to the Emperor.

Another super game with FOB easily handling a fairly large game (90 units) and engaging all players.

It was notable that Russians were vocal early on but got rather quiet as game progressed.....................

 

Rather a lot of pics (as testing new phone camera)

Old Guard Infantry Division initial advance

 

Old Guard Cavalry advance against Prussians

Russian Infantry Divisions await 

French Line Infantry move forward in center

Old Guard Cavalry suffer initial reverses against Prussian squares as Prussian Cavalry arrive

Allied lines hold fast all across the battlefield

Russian Dragoon and Hussars Divisions face French Young Guard mounted force

Prussian cross stream as Old Guard cavalry rout

Things looking poor for French on both wings as central cavalry melee begins (much verbal abuse hurled from Allied lines)

Cavalry engage in center with mixed fortunes for both sides

Emperor surveys from hill alongside his Guard Artllery batteries as Russians on his left advance

Thundering of hooves and clashing of sabers

Russian try to extert pressure on faltering Old Guard

Forces engaged all across the field

French disengage temporarily from Prussians

Before rallying and getting back to it

Central cavalry engagement getting confused and messy with neither side gaining advantage

A major change of fortune for Prussian contingent as revitalised Guard Cavalry push forward 

Old Guard on French left have crushed the advancing Russians and central cavalry melee has started to go way of the French 

Russian lines starting to crumble with numerous Routing or destroyed units

End is nigh for Allies as Army Morale has collapsed (and taunting has hit mute button) 

Also at club

Chain Of Command in 28mm run by Jeremy and engaging several players. Normandy setting I think.

A Battlegroup 20mm game with Dave P and Adam

And a sci-fi (no idea as to system/rules) run by Charlie

Vimierio 1808 with Field of Battle 3

Game at Hughs to blood his newly installed wargames table and his Napoleonic British.

Used FOB3 (shock ! horror ! gasp!) and an adaptation of a GDB scenario based on Vimierio Spain 1808.

Hugh of course used his Brits so I was attacking Frenchies.

I massed my units on my right mostly ignoring the ridge and Hugh adjusted his deployment to match mine.

Hugh advanced off the ridge on my left where he had a numbers advantage but it was into a devastating fusillade of fire from my veteran Legere and a supporting gun battery and he lost a unit outright and another routed compelling him to retire back onto the slope. 

Around the vineyards I had my 2nd rate troops in attack columns trying to force back a crack unit of British Rifles (95th) but they proved way too tough for lowly militia to deal with.

On my right I charged a British Line unit with two attack columns but failed miserably (I rolled a D12+1 vs a D6 then a D12 vs D6 then another D12 vs D6 but still lost the melee even  use of Tactical Advantage cards could not inspire my troops !!) and was repulsed.

However in center my artillery was playing havoc with British routing or destroying units although the British artillery also decimated a Ligne unit.

Both armies Morale pools were modest (Brits 19, French 20) and we were bleeding morale steadily.

Thankfully British ran out of morale first and gifted me three morale (I had only 5 left of my own), and so when Hugh pulled an inevitable Morale Card he had to test and failed forcing the British (under Arthur Wellesley no less) to yield the field with much cheering from the French ranks and guldering from moi.

Usual high and lows, groans and yelps of delight or despair that one gets with FOB.

Action near vineyards as Royal Artillery pummel my lines

Struggle in vineyards as my 2nd rate types manfully take on the 95th

The 95th were too strong and I am under pressure on right after failed charges

French Ligne unit routs after pounding by guns and volleys of muskets

British set up on ridge but failed when trying to turn French left

Skirmishers try to soften up the 95th

Initial deployments (I massed to right)

British had 2 Brigades on table at start with 3rd arriving to right of village

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 24 for French and 25 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.