Seasons Of Battle/Field Of Battle 2 - 3rd solo encounter (and a bit of Principles Of War)

Started next battle in Napoleonic Campaign solo again.
Bit of an odd terrain map with two waterways (one of which is difficult Class III the other ClassII) but interesting.
French got a minor forward deployment and ability to re-deploy after set-up (not a biggie when soloing)
Prussians got Morale Boost (Strength) and could force French to deploy a Command (again not a biggie when solo)
French really need a decent wing here to restore their fortunes as any loss will see their National Will expire and end the campaign.
Action still ongoing with Prussian coming at the French and managing to steal their way across the major rivers bridge.
Not much in way of damage although one French unit in Rout.













Initial deployments with major and minor rivers showing 1 dense wood 1 moderate wood and two open (orchard) types with 1 rough hill and other gentle

French deploy on central hill mass

Prussians opposite

Prussian Reserve Division in march columns on their right flank

And the whizz to the bridge behind thrust of colleagues

French defending hill line giving town to onrushing Prussians

Struggle begins on French left (note 1 Legere Regt deployed as 2 small Skirmish units)

French Cavalry push forward on right. Young Guard waiting to counter attack

Prussian left wing cavalry moves up

Good old 3rd Prussian Grenadiers in fray again and have routed a French Line Regt !

Also got in another game (well sort of) of Napoleonic Principles Of War today at Stephens.
I tried my 1812 Russians again (this time with a Cossack Brigade) against French.
Very interesting rules these, stylised and abstract in some ways and I still dislike the lack of Elite/Veteran feel to better troops, but the do have a good Napoleonic feel to them.
But in game terms the poorly led Russians are a nightmare to use  as the French can literally run rings around them and seem to have every advantage.
Seems Russians cannot co-ordinate an attack (plausible) but nor can they defend very well in orders system (not so plausible).
We spent a lot of time discussing the merits of POW system vis a vis other sets we have tried (to detriment of actually completing the game once more) but the discussion was enjoyable of itself, nerds do love to be nerds :-)
Russians (again quite historically) would appear to need to maximise Artillery so they can counter French skirmish advantage whilst sitting stoically still in a defensive posture.
And as their Artillery is slightly stronger than French this is viable.
They struggle to take the offensive across the board so will need to try to use short term counterattacks and their guns to annoy the French.

Napoleonic Principles Of War game played Russia vs France 1812

Game with Stephen today and we decided to give NPOW another outing.
We failed to finish the game but learnt a lot about these excellent rules.
We feel that they are probably a bit more historical than FOGN and yet smoother playing overall.
Still not a fan of Veteran/Elite just equals stronger but in scope of game it works.
The need to select best orders and indeed to make an optimum deployment from Movement Bases was very clear today.
French in 1812 are very good with decent unit strengths and better Command & Control than poorly led Russians.
Interestingly the superior French skirmishing ability is very well represented as each of their foot can fire out to 4" at half strength whilst only Russian Jagers have this trait,
So once Russians went to Hold orders they could not respond to French under Engage orders as out distanced.
Hard to change orders for Russians as well so lesson was they need to be aggressive on defence ie the need to issue Assault or Engage orders to get up close and personal with the French to nullify the skirmish ability.
We are to re-try the rules next game now we have a better grasp of concepts and basic system.
A nice feel to the rules for a 1-2 Corps sized battle without the complexity of FOGN.
Meantime a game of FOB planned for tomorrow with Le Duc........................






Initial move on 'blinds' creating a limited but useful fog of war.

Russian Infantry Division spotted and deployed opposite French counterparts

Russian Grenadiers Division facing of against 2 Heavy Batteries

Russian Infantry and Cavalry stuck on Hold

Napoleonic Principles Of War game

Played a game today at Stephens using the Napoleonic Principles Of War rules.
We played these many many years ago but never this revised 2nd Edition set.
I used a 1813/14 French army against a late British Peninsula type force.
We both really enjoyed the game despite having to re-learn the rules.
A nice playable set and we like the variable terrain system.
Use of Commanders quite abstract but the Initiative/PIP and Orders system is fine overall (sort of a hybrid of Shako and General De Brigade).
Pretty much at same level as Field Of Glory with units representing Brigades or Regiments grouped into Divisions and we both fielded roughly a Corps.
Certainly much simpler than FOGN but possibly lacking some of its nuances.
Not the same feel for differences between Guard, Veteran, Average etc as units are based on Strength Points which equate to combat power and morale.
So for instance my Young Guard are 14 strength whereas my Line Infantry are 12 and Conscripts 10 but they all fight, shoot and test morale exactly the same only these strengths levels making any difference.
But it certainly works and flows well.
Units are 3 figures on 3cm x 1.5cm with 3 bases per unit in 15mm so we used 2 of our 4cm x 3cm bases as being closest to this (although they are double depth for Infantry) and this worked fine (same as Shako II units).
Couple of twists in Army lists for British with a Light Infantry Division (cam move in rough type terrain at full speed) and several tough Infantry at 16 strength.
I found the use of Movement Bases a bit cumbersome but it does allow a bit of Fog Of War until the dummy bases are revealed.
Interested to see how Age Of Eagles compares.
All in all a decent set that we may well revisit (along with the 18th Century set)



French Young Guard attack columns approach British lines

French Line and Conscript units hold right flank

Chevaux Legere try to hold the British

Young Guard en evant...............

The British lines await...............