Over The Hills scenario played

Played the Gross Eckau scenario from the Over The Hills Version 2 book today against Stephen using my Prussians versus his Russians (scenario set July 1812).
An interesting scenario with Russians nominally in defence with Prussians attacking from two directions.
A proper run out with the rules as well highlighting a few issues mainly with implementing orders with mixed Brigades.
If an Attack order is issued then ALL Cavalry and Infantry units must move at least 1 full move segment towards the enemy and then once within Engagement range they must charge to contact.
This can be an issue with Cavalry who can charge to their doom (as one of my Hussars did) or an Infantry unit forced into square but then compelled by orders to charge.
We house ruled a few of these issues.

Also the flanking Prussian Brigade would strictly be out of Command of the C in C meaning half moves but allowed full moves but no change of initial order.

One major lesson we learnt (which we should have recalled from V1) is that built up areas are akin to mini fortresses !
A unit or units attacking a Wood & stone village suffer a -4 whilst the defenders gain a +4 so whilst the attackers gain a +2 for initiating the combat they are always up against it (unless a more powerful Elite unit) as they will generally only score 1 hit whilst defenders can cause 2 this means attackers are in dire straits in second round (as defenders no gain a further +2).
In our game I had 2 Infantry units attacking one in a built up area (and taking a couple of hit on way in from shooting and defensive shooting).
Attackers roll for both units but only use best roll and achieved 1 hit however defenders caused 2 thereby causing Morale test on my units which the passed (worst outcome) and then suffered a further 3 hits in total in second round retiring 1 move with one now Wavered,
The chances of rallying all these hits off are slim and so time consuming that effectively both these units were hors de combat (the wavering unit took another shooting hit and routed off table).
Tough proposition to take a built up area which was aim of scenario.

Skirmish formation (optional) for a full we found too powerful so reverted to Open Order.
Skirmishers move better (no problem there) shoot better (no real problem but seems odd they shoot at 100% strength) but also seem to shield units behind as -3 to hit them then half hit factor for bounce through.
We house ruled this to allow artillery to ignore the skirmishers.

Game not fully finished but two Prussian Brigades were teetering on Breaking (both within 2 Fatigue) so day went to the bloodied but unbowed Russians.

As Stephen pointed out this is exactly the same scenario as in Black Powder Clash Of Eagles (which I had not realised) and I suspect it possibly needed amending for use with OTH, maybe giving the Cavalry units separate Brigade Commanders, but of course this may not have been in keeping with the historical make up of the units involved.

Over The Hills Version 2 a quick trial.

Try out of new Version 2 of Over The Hills rules today at Stephens using my Russians against French circa 1812.

Both used points system to field 250pt armies which seems about right for a 6' x 4' table with 15mm.

A few changes from original set but nothing drastic that we noted.

Skirmisher advantage is now a positive bonus only rather than a + or - as in V1.

Units that fire defensively can have support shooting from friends as Infantry now has slightly extended firing zone.

There may be some other changes to shooting and combat factors but nothing that leaped out at us.


Rules somewhat better laid out than V1 but still a lot of Optional (but desirable) concerning Fatigue and Morale Tests in a separate section.
However familiarity with the rules would aid this.

A limited try with rules but enjoyable stuff.
A nice alternative choice for a Divisional sized game to GDB, GDA, FOB or BP.

Over The Hills with Orders

Played a game using Over The Hills rules with the Order Counter System this being the only Optional rule we had not tried.
I got one of the Kickstarter 'Cribbage' boards for recording Morale and a set of Order Counters so seemed fitting to give them a trial (also a new gaming mat in evidence).
I used late war Prussians and Stephen French.
I had 2 large Infantry Brigades and a Dragoon Brigade against 3 French Infantry (1 of which was Young Guard) and a Light Cavalry Brigade.
I set up the table and we diced for side and then deployment option which French won handily having the Light Cavalry.
Using the Orders gave another level of decision making and due to the 'restrictions' of certain orders generated a level of inertia, as units we would normally have charged with regardless found themselves unable to due to orders.
My right wing Infantry Brigade ended up facing two Brigades and the Young Guard and Stephen had his usual excellent dice rolls (especially on Ball-shot 'bounce throughs').
Using the new Morale Board it was easy to track morale and my right wing reached Break Point fairly quickly once Close Combat started and was Shattered (essentially a 'Must Retire' order).
My Dragoon charged in the center taking out an Artillery Battery and forcing several units into Squares.
However on my left I had a Brigade of Landwehr which after initially being on Hold began an Advance.
They were then Attacked by the French Cavalry with a unit being destroyed outright after failing to Form Square against a unit of Guard D'Honneur.
These losses tipped my whoe Division into Shattered status and the game ended.

Great set of rules and the Orders whilst adding another level of complexity gave a plausible game.

Yet another Over The Hills battle !

Another super outing with Over The Hills as Stephen wanted to try his Peninsula British against my French.
We decided to reduce the number of Artillery units to a maximum of 2 per 250pts (will likely allow Russians 3) as we find them pretty powerful and they can dominate a game if too plentiful.

British units are pretty tough having a base 8 strength (Highlanders 9) but with a really excellent trait of being able to conduct Defensive Fire AND Countercharge enemy Foot making them very to deal with (both feel that points wise they are a tad cheap but hard to fix) and means they act pretty historically.

French do get benefits for charging in Attack Column but this can be thwarted by not winning first round of combat (forced into Line or -1 fatigue) also we discovered today that when rolling to hold fire with units if a Column fails and shoots it too is forced to try to deploy into Line.

Game saw 3 Foot and 1 Mounted Brigade each with French having a mere 3 units of Line more than the British ie not enough to make a real difference.

Game was a bloody affair with French attacking mainly in Column and destroying a unit of Portugese Foot but losing 2 units to a counter charge by British foot on my left.

A steady drain of casualties occurred elsewhere with the superior British inflicting several hits more.

Both Cavalry Brigades cancelled each out being reluctant to charge with only their respective Horse Guns affecting the fray.

A French Brigade was shattered with its opponent a mere 1 Fatigue from a similar fate.
We called the game at that point.

Great stuff again