General D'Armee 2 - 'Franquemonts Attack' scenario

Game at Stephens today and it was back to GDA2 playing a GDB scenario 'Franquemonts Attack' 1813 with my Prussians defending.

We managed 7 turns but not close to finishing the scenario (16 turn limit) so very much in balance

We did see some strange rolls on first two turns with Stephen generating no ADC on turn 1 then my entire army going Hesitant on turn 2 !! thankfully too early for these odd occurrences to effect things.

And sad to hear of passing of Donald Sutherland one of my favourite film actors, so many entertaining performances over the years..........

 

General d'Armee 2 - Ligny (St Armand) scenario

Another game using GDA2 today at Stephens trying the Ligny scenario from 100 Days supplement.

Tough scenario for attacking French (Stephen) as 4 villages (tough as nails) and defensive cover from fields and streams. 

Prussians (moi) hampered somewhat by having several Recruits and only 3 Brigades on table at start with one other as an on table reserve the other as a reinforcement but both these only activate on turn 6.

We managed 6 full turns (despite waffling about old job memories for over an hour prior to even placing any figures !) and then discussing how to use the 'Now Is Your Time' CinC Tasking as unclear to us at what stage the enhanced shooting occurs (I think it is preemptive but Stephen thought it was in later Volley phase - except for the one lead charging unit). Again not entirely clear from rules as could be interpreted either way.

As one can likely see we clearly enjoy the rules overall but frustrating that most every game throws up a rules problem we struggle to decipher/know how to play due to imprecise wording.

Ulster Wargames Society - Talavera scenario with General d'Armee 2

UWS meeting today and game with GDA2 set up by Dave S who put in a lot of work bringing all the units (fully labelled), terrain and paraphernalia.

We had 7 players with French led by Mr B with Dave S, Jeremy D and young Mark as attackers and British led by moi with Dave T and Dave B in defence.

Mr B and I sort of umpired as well as others all new to rules.

Great game with lots of incident the highlight being Dave Ts lowly Spanish Cavalry (3 small recruits campaign types) dispersing a column of French foot. They got very lucky as column failed an attempt to form square then lost the charge phase but in combat it was still 5 dice each but French managed only 1 hit to Spanish 3 so imploded.

These plucky/lucky Allies then caused all sorts of problems in amongst the French forcing them into squares and then almost unbelievably defeated some French cavalry !! This incident almost caused a coronary for French CinC and to raise the white flag, throw in the towel, flee the field (mistakenly thinking whole cavalry brigade was retreated/routed/broken) but we managed to talk him out of it/bring him back from precipice.

Said Spanish later suffered from casualty accumulation whole brigade dispersing but by this time potent British cavalry had arrived from reserve (they narrowly failed to destroy a square) and they had more than done their duty.

In center a French foot brigade stormed up the steep slopes (using Post Of Honour CiC tasking) lead by an Elite battalion and forced the withdrawl of opposing British Brigade on three separate occasions (a virtual juggernaut) and were almost on reverse slope but in danger of being isolated as we ended game (with these types of rules is that very hard to fully finish a game).

Initial set up (note British cavalry on right went into reserve as no mounted could cross that hill as rough ground)

Not that they were needed as cowardly French hiding on reverse slope opposite (the sheer cheek especially facing Mr Welseley !!) 

French push on right targeting Spanish on low ground as rest cower like curs

Glorious Spanish mounted thrust into French lines (French cavalry arrive from reserve but where pushed back)

My British on right push forward to try to sting the French into action (their cavalry did come out to play). Note French 'juggernaut' forming and about to storm forward along dry stream bed.

A game of 'two halves'

British basking in sunlight as clouds of doom covered the French (note however French columns storming up slopes) 

French left has been forced to activate after right wing is thwarted

Also at club Paddy. Leslie and Phil played a game based around KG Peipers last stand at La Gleize using Bolt Action (but different activation system ?) and 20mm kit. No idea how this went but lots of tanks visible.

General d'Armee 2 - Pick up game 1815 French vs Prussian

Another game of GDA2 today using the 'pick up' lists in rules to generate an 1815 game of 5 Brigades each with Stephen (who really likes the rules) using French and I my Prussians.

I decided to use my Divisional and Regimental supports to field several Veteran foot units (allowing my Light Inf to the possibility of skirmishing in open) whilst Stephen used his to field a second Cavalry Brigade with attached Horse Battery.

To start we rolled for Generals and I ended up with a Commissariat (so only 1 CiC Command and French gained an Adjutant) I also rolled 1 Bold and 1 Poor commander the French had 1 Bold.

Had used FOB terrain cards to generate terrain and it was fairly open with only 1 Village (which could be avoided an only a tactical objective (not a Victory location) and a couple of hills and woods on periphery.

I had rather Poor ADCs rolls (again) so ended up with several Hesitant Brigades each turn but still managed to gain Initiative several times (once I rolled 5 dice to Stephens 2 but still managed to win with my 2 lowest !)

We played 5 or 6 turns and main action was between opposing Cavalry Brigades (Infantry never got to grips beyond Skirmishing) with both using Glory (I bounced back Unformed he remained Unformed) 

We both then used the Post Of Honour CiC command and Cavalry clashed again, I managed to win forcing the French to Retreat and Falter.......but (uh oh)........my CinC managed to die also Faltering my Victorious Brigade (!!) reducing my ADCs by 1 and being replaced by a Blusterer with another ADC loss, even when I win I lose !! using CinC aggressively is of course a risk but French survived Prussians did not (both at risk as fought 2nd round of combat)

We had to finish at this juncture but did not fancy chances of Prussians with only 3 ADC........

French Support Cavalry Brigade pushes forwards with a...um...Forwards tasking

It is faced by my Reservist/Recruit Brigade (front line units went into square)

A potent support option 

Prussian left flank, I tried to use Redploy to advance here three times but went Hesitant thrice

My Reserve Cavalry have entered battlefield to counter the French mounted support and bounced back from initial clash

Central Prussian brigade (2 Veterans with a battery attached) holds up French, note my Jager able to skirmish in open as Veteran

Opposing cavalry forced to reform prior to reengaging with Post Of Honour charges

Oh look another Hesitant status

And for the Veterans................

Yup you guessed it a third brigade refuses to obey orders 

Bold commander at least obeyed commands

French effort clearly coming from their left (right refusing)

 

General d'Armee - Echmuhl(ski) scenario

Another outing for GDA2 using one of the included scenarios Eckmuhl 1809. 

However as neither of us have any Austrians we substituted 1813+ Russians and Prussian units which worked as gaming exercise despite the glaring historical inaccuracy.

We started late (discussing Masters  of the Air series of all things !) and only played about 4 turns as lots of discussion of some recent clarifications by author that revealed we had been playing some aspects of charge phase incorrectly (units essentially have a 2" zone of control all round which you cannot circumvent by charging past on flank - all fine and plausible but not how we had interpreted/read rules).

There is a really good game possible with GDA but sort of concealed under a veil of vagueness with some aspects of rules at times. 

Command several large pseudo-Austrians (ie Russians) line central stream

Opposing gun batteries line up on opposite heights

Right of 'Allied' deployment with one of those tough villages (thankfully being on periphery and not a victory objective it was not a factor) 

More large units on Allied left (Prussian figures)

As French ignored village (cowards) I used Redeploy tasking to push forward on that flank

Leaving 'Prussians' on left to hold up French (they were later aided by reserve Cavalry which usually thwarts any infantry advances)

French used Forward tasking to push their right flank Brigade up quickly

Central Allied brigade also used Redeploy to counter attack but quickly stymied by loss of Skirmisher Screen faltering the brigade

Time ran out at this early and inconclusive juncture (with the French cavalry reserve still uncommitted)

General d'Armee - Libertwolkwitz scenario

Another bash with GDA2 today trying the Liberwolkwitz scenario from 1813 supplement.

Whilst the default for this is French defending against Russian/Austrian force there is an alternative to replace the Austrians with Prussians so that is what we went with as neither of us own Austrians. 

Another tough day at office for Allies as they are faced with adjacent villages (the capture of which is sole way to victory) and these we are finding are akin to fortresses.

I assaulted one village with a brigade of 3 Veteran Prussian foot and the unit that attacked the village started fresh with no hits but a combined defensive fire from three units inflicted 7 hits prior to combat and although I passed 2 out of 3 morale tests inflicted I ended up unformed. 

The target garrison fired 5 skirmish dice, the adjacent garrison fired 7 (using skirmisher tasking) and an artillery unit adjacent on other flank fired 5 CDs with a standard volley (canister vs column and artillery assault), my supporting units are not priority targets for skirmish or artillery firing so all able to deluge the lead unit with all available fire.

In first round of combat (5 dice each as I was Veteran with Glory but Unformed) it was a draw with us both taking 3 casualties and both decided to stand and fight a second round with both sides throwing in a fresh reinforcing unit.

I actually had 11 dice vs 9 (due to being Veterans vs Line) and won the combat 6 to 5 .......... but ............ instead of this resulting in my forcing the 2 defending units back in retreat and faltering the enemy brigade, whilst occupying the village, it was instead deemed a pyrrhic victory as my lead unit was dispersed due to reaching 12+ casualties which meant defender ignored the adverse result and instead my brigade faltered.

To add to woes I rolled three sixes in combat so village caught fire and of course the edge determined was that facing my units so now no direct route into village !

Close but no cigar and this used numerous ADCs (Forwards, Glory, Re-Rolls etc) and the best foot units in the game and still they got mullered, villages are proving so formidable.  

We have not managed to successfully assault a village in any game thus far and are struggling with how best to deal with them as shooting cannot do it, and pretty hard (and time consuming) to isolate them from their supports or to weaken them more than attackers, and even good quality attackers need to be very lucky to overcome the garrisons as at contact its one on one.

The 'twin fortresses' with veteran Prussian brigade approaching

Allied left with large Russian brigades mainly skirmishing against superior French troops (French Light Infantry brigade defending woods) I did not have enough ADC to push these forward anyhow.

French guns causing hits on advancing units

Allied left which was soon forced into squares by approach of French light cavalry (Austrians have mounted to counter with but not Prussian option)

So many dice emanated from villages and supporting guns

The assault starts with Glory tasking added. I also used Infantry Assault but we were unsure if this is even usable in a town assault ? made no difference as no charge phase and everything shot at lead (ie sole) charging unit anyhow. Artillery able to ignore unit to their front and second garrison also. The fire was withering with the artillery assault and skirmish taskings.