Hochkirch big bash with Konieg Krieg

Big bash game (delayed from Christmas period) with the chaps at Johns using KK3 again.

Stephen had organised a scenario based around area of Hochkirch battle 1759 which he also umpired. John and later Le Duc (his version of events at https://warfareintheageofcynicsandamateurs.blogspot.com/2022/03/tales-from-pommritz-cinnamon-dung.html) commanded the Austrian hordes under Duan whilst Mr P and I controlled the glorious Prussians under Seydlitz and then Frederick.

To keep things simple Grenzers types were not on table (off fighting in adjacent areas) and Stephen made all units 12 figures (generally they are 16 figs) which with hindsight made Cavalry a tad brittle but as it was same for both sides not an issue as we both had loads of cavalry.

Victory was to be determined by Austrians taking Hochkirch (at which they failed) or breaking Prussian army (which they came very close to doing !) and it was termed a draw as time was called on proceedings.

Lots of action across the field with Prussians aware that Austrians were likely to be allowed flanking arrivals and that Prussian reserves would be slow arriving having to be roused from their tents.

Mr P had a brigade of Grenadiers behind some light works which performed sterling service despite being assailed by multiple Austrian units, a nasty big battery of heavy guns (12 dice at cannister range !) and almost being surrounded. He ended up with a single base of 4 figs that simply refused to succumb a glorious deed indeed.

Elsewhere initial Prussian forces could only sell themselves dearly trying to slow the Austrian advance to allow reserves to arrive, and this they mostly managed to do.

On my left flank a gapdid open after several cavalry engagements and loss of a Grenadier unit but arriving Musketeers dealt heavy hits to some Austrian cavalry and further reserves were on hand to block the now damaged Austrians.

Had game continued the Austrian numbers would have been likely to tell and whilst Hochkirch might still have held out I think Prussians would have a further Army Morale test to survive which might have ended things differently, but a hard fought draw it was.

KK3 generated an enjoyable game with only a couple of situations we had not encountered before that needed some 'off the cuff' adjudication. 

The initiative system leads to lots of interesting decisions as to when to act or force enemy to act and it flowed pretty well for big game.

All in all a superb days craic with mates and a bunch of toys followed by an evenings almighty waffling in local pub and Indian restaurant.

Initial Prussian set up around Pommritz (and the Pink Palace house of ill repute), Hochkirch just visible at top left.

Hochkirch occupied and adjoining light works as Austrians approach

Prussian horse deploy to left of Hochkirch as Austrians appear on our right flank

More Prussian horse units move to intercept arriving enemy Brigades

Grenadiers at works find enemy to front and rear

More Austrians arrive on flank as town threatened

Prussians looking bit thin on ground at this stage

More Austrians under John push forward on Prussian left

Cavalry engagement hot and heavy on left

And on right Prussian cavalry under Mr P confronts the enemy foot

Prussian reserves have arrived to shore up left and a Cuirassier brigade heads to assist on right

Where pressure from Le Ducs flanking force is intense

Prussian right looking suddenly sparse

More numerous Austrian cavalry gains ascendancy on left (2nd line of fresh units key)

Remnants of Prussian cavalry continue to resist as Grenadiers move to support

Hochkirch garrison holds on in isolation (the single remaining stand of heroic Grenadiers just about visible behind church tower)

Cuirassiers deploy as more Grenadiers support the right wing

Prussian hold on town looking rather tenuous as game ends.

Koenig Krieg 3 - photo dump of solo further play test

Played through a number of turns in solo mode using same table as last game and retaining Prussian force as is with my Russians as new protagonists to further explore KK3 rules.

Still struggled to decipher some of the vagueness within rules but hopefully our last play through and house rulings will allow a decent game, which they should do as we will all be playing from same 'Hymn sheet' as such.

 

Koenig Krieg 3 - a little test game

Game today using KK3 (last used 2014 !) as a play test of rules for a planned multi-player SYW game on 12th.

So Stephen and I just used the points system to generate a couple of 1000pt armies with Stephen fielding Austrians and I the Prussians. We took as good a mix of troops as points limit allowed to test interactions.

Must confess am not a big fan of KK system as always found several loopholes that needed house rules.

And indeed there were a number of issues that needed addressed (of course this was point of play test) the main one being multiple unit musketry and its potential deluge of firing dice.

We did eventually thrash out how we would play these aspects (the musketry took a bit of thought) so hopefully good to go on game day.

There is a lot to like in KK with its (ahead of its time) activation system but certainly as written not really to my taste and feel there are more dynamic sets now for the period, but perfectly happy to use them with our house rules.

This picture sort of highlights the musketry issue. The 3 units are lined up facing each other so logic says they fire singly at each other (with max of 6 dice) however in rules as written nothing to stop all 3 units concentrating fire on central unit (ie with up to 18 dice) as no priority or proximity target rules. We found this unpalatable but proved a bit harder to thrash out than one would think especially when units offset from each other. We essentially introduced a target priority rule and an additional 'support' fire (1/2 available dice) if shooting obliquely.

Koenig Krieg try out Russians vs Prussians

Had a game at Stephens with our Seven Years War armies and he picked Koenig Krieg rules.
We have had this updated set for about 2 years (bought as a PDF) but never used so interested to give them a whirl.
A lot to like in the set with some good scenarios set-ups some decent army lists and several good rule mechanics for Brigades, Movement. Shooting and Melee.
But rather poorly explained in several areas with lack of definition of Charges, Defensive Fire and Interpenetration (no mention of latter at all !).
We spent a lot/too much time trying to fathom how several things worked.
But by far my biggest gripe (which I recall from original edition) is how Prussian foot gets 2 Operations compared to Russian 1 which allows them to move and fire.
This means my Russians can sit and wait and watch the Prussians toil forward and can do nothing but endure an opening volley from the boys in blue.
With generally superior Army Initiative this is exacerbated by Prussians usually getting in a second volley before my lot get a chance to reply !
I understand that this is systems way/abstraction to highlight superior Prussians abilities (in fact their 2 actions due to Cadenced Step) but it makes for an awfully frustrating game for Ivans as they have no counter to this.
I can see why they get Steadfast (can re-roll failed Morale tests from shooting) trait but it pails in comparison.
If shooting was simultaneous or if Cadenced Step gave extra moves things would lie with me better but too much work to change rules in this regard.
So whilst there was a lot to enjoy this aspect just makes playing against Freddies lot with Ivans rather less than satisfying.
Austrians (who have Close Drill) would possibly work better.
And the less said about French being allowed Class 2 and 3 Commander (Russians can only have lowly 0 or 1) the better !
We have other sets to try but this one I fear will struggle to be tried again

Still the armies looked nice on the table