Might & Reason SYW Zorndorf Scenario

Played another superb game with Might and Reason rules this time a Seven Years War bash using Zorndorf scenario contained in rulebook. We used 15mm troops and I fielded Russians against Frederick and his uber mensh (they are very potent in M&R). Terrain a nightmare for both sides and it totally done for isolated right wing Russian cavalry who were hemmed in by impassable terrain to rear and flanks (River and woods)  and were facing Prussian cavalry under Von Seydlitz. Nowhere to evade to and wiped out in two turns with neighbouring Infantry too slow to get to support them. On Russian left their other cavalry at least outnumbered the superior Prussian mounted but an untimely lull (ie inactive) period followed by compulsory mad attack saw their Currassier destroyed leaving only lowly Irregular Hussars and Cossacks to face heavier cavalry and supporting Infantry.  Prussian manoeuvreabilty (ie ability to oblique) and heavier firepower then swamped the exposed Infantry on Russian left. Only a brave but futile charge by a brave Russian Infantry unit yielded any success for Fermors men as it sweep away a Prussian Line unit. Mantueffels Grenadiers shot enemy to pieces and then decisively charged Russian line foot who crumbled before them (their 8sps very tough to blunt) Russian losses mounted and exceeded army breakpoint leading to Decisive victory for Freddies forces.

Lots of iPhone pics

Central Russian Infantry deployments

Predicament of right wing Russian mounted visible (top left)

Central Prussian deployment

Prussian Artillery and Infantry pound Russian across stream (Russian return fire was paltry)

Seydlitzs Mounted force

Prussian right and Russian left wings

Massed Russian Infantry struggle to deploy as Seydlitzs approaches doomed opponents

Russian left Cavalry wing

Russian lines static due to Lull results

Seydlitz retires with minimal damage after annihilating enemy mounted

Initial clash on Russian left goes in their favour but Prussian Infantry join fray

Same wing a few pulses later with Russian cavalry now absent entirely !! and Grenadiers being shot to bits by Prussian foot.

Russian infantry enfilades Prussians prior to charging

Ponderous Russian advance on right

Musketry and Artillery exchanges continue on left

Russian left under severe pressure and about to fold

Glorious but futile Russian infantry charge destroys a Prussian unit but leaves them stranded  in precarious posistion..........................

Last stand...........

Found rather distressing picture on my iPhone from Saturdays debacle showing my right flank Infantry formation, Austrian Regts Gutenstein & Stahrembourg, who are trying form a large square (well triangle actually) whilst being relentlessly surrounded by dastardly Irish Regts (on left) Garde De Francais & Swiss Regts (centre top) and some French horse (approaching on right)

Their sacrafice allowed Imperial left wing to flee the field intact if somewhat demoralised, of such are wargaming memories made of..................................

Might & Reason 10mm WSS again

Played a 'proper' game today against Stephen using Might & Reason and my 10mm WSS stuff. Stephen choose French I the Imperial Austrians. Yet another great game with these excellent and fun rules. French pretty static first few turns (lots of Inactive results) whilst Austrian wings (in columns) seemed jet propelled. However when it came to combats the Austrians were simply taken apart by French Cavalry ! Maison Du Roi charged into my Prussians in the Imperial centre and destroyed them and a heavy Artillery battery to a man in 2 turns ! On Austrian left French horse were compelled to charge and again managed to annihilate another unit of Austrian foot and Artillery battery. This wing them became stalemated as fairly equal forces faced each other with a river one flank and a wood on another. Loss of Prussians in centre left the French elite horse to threaten flanks of other Imperial foot who struggled to deploy whilst elite French foot and their Irish 'Wild Geese' contingents bore down on them. On Austrian right wing their Currassier brigades got into good flanking position but again came of worst in melee (story of the game for them). They then went impetuous (compulsory attack result) and rode to their doom. Similar to French horse on their right wing although the did manage to break of. Game was scheduled for 7 turns before rolling for nightfall and how the Austrians needed it but by turn 7 they had lost 12 units (4 above their break point) and so rolling for Army Morale they inevitably failed (only snakes eyes would have extended game). French lost a mere 3 units. Not a result Prince Eugene in command of Austrian anticipated and in fact he had to flee to safety behind his left wing as nearly captured by marauding French horse.

Prince Eugene was Good commander with 180pts of troops (mainly average types) Marshall Marsin was Average French commander with 210pts of troops but several were veteran or elite (Maison Du Roi horse a 8 strength points are awesome)
Brigadiers (sub-commanders) were fairly even with French have a couple of  +2 horse leaders and 4 Valiant types Austrians had couple of +1 leaders and a -2 duffer but no valiant types.

Great game throughout with very plausible sequence of events and both of us thought that despite is simplicity its not simplistic and it felt like a 'real' battle. We both really like Might & Reason and are considering doing Great Northern War in 10mm now !!!



French deployment

Austrian deployment

French left wing horse

French centre

Doomed Prussians in Imperial centre with Cavalry support

French centre advances with Maison Du Roi cavalry lingering to rear

Austrian left wing volleys French horse

Prince Eugene (on road) in danger of capture by Maison Du Roi as last Prussian unit is about to succumb !







Austrian right wing prior to folding with Currassiers in trouble on right



Might & Reason 10mm WSS part deux

Played out solo game tonight. Whizzed through another 8 turns (most only single pulse though) with night falling with neither side having acheived victory. Imperial forces had lost 4 Horse units and French only 1 but nothing decisive. Stephen hoping to attend my gaffe on Saturday so a proper head to head outing for these armies (will amend terrain a tad) using Might & Reason.
Game plays smoothly and quickly with minimum fuss which suits it grand-tactical scope.

iPhone pics yet again



Opossing Horse wings back off from each with casualties aplenty
(2 Austrian Currassier subsequently lost)

Austrian foot advance in centre

Cavalry clash on other wing with Prussian infantry moving

to support Austrian horse

More Austrian foot on left wing

Irish 'Wild Geese' advancing to the fray

French foot advance in centre after dithering about inactive for several turns



Might & Reason 10mm WSS

Hoping to play Might & Reason (or possibly PK Field of Battle) with Stephen soon so a solo play test to get rules back into my brain. Quick read over then plonked 2 army builder armies from Sun King module onto table. French with average CiC at 210pts and Imperial Austrian with Good CiC at 180pts.
Used a terrain set-up (ala FOG) from M&R Yahoo group which worked quite well.
One turn of 4 pulses played thus far but French pretty inactive as most of their Brigadiers have turned out to be pants (ie -1 or -2). No shooting yet and only one Cavalry vs Cavalry melee on Austrian left which saw 3 Currassier units bounce off 2 Elite (Maison Du Roi) and a lowly unit of Dragoons. Hope to more turns done tomorrow if possible. Great system.



Initial deployments French on left

Imperial Currassiers advance 

Imperial right with Prussian brigade on hill

French left anchored on town

French centre



Might & Reason : The Sun King 10mm

Might & Reason game with my 10mm using The Sun King variant for Malburian period. Played it solo which is still pretty good due to activation rolls. Used slightly amended table from 15mm game.  French versus Imperial Austrian.

Lots of action across field with French having Poor command being slow bringing their superior numbers to bear.
I really like the Command and Activation system in this ruleset (a nice but different way from Field Of Battles card system). The action is fast and furious once units get into combat. Whilst shooting seems impotent (only sixes are hits) in practice units can be decimated over a couple of turns. I really like these rules.






Overview of both sides locked in battle after 6 turns

Firefight in centre

Austrian horse on right fall back damaged from Elite Maison De Roi

Swiss Brigades advance towards town

French reserves slowly deploy

Austrian Cuirassiers engage enemy

Intend to try this game again using King Of The Battlefield, Polemos, Warfare In The Age Of Reason and possibly Black Powder.