Stones River scenario with Regimental Fire & Fury

Game today at Stephens using Regimental Fire & Fury rules.
Stephen had set up a scenario cover action in late 1862 at Stones River.
We rolled for sides and I commanded the attacking Confederate force of some 4 Brigades against a similar number of Union Brigades.
Really enjoyable game with this flavoursome Civil War rule set with lots of action and plausible outcomes to all Combat and Move systems.
Not as quick playing as FOB but to be honest much better than Picketts Charge which after a few games we are finding has just too bloody shooting.
We failed to finish the game completing 6 of the scheduled 12 turns with Rebs having taken the Significant Objective but nearing High Casualty level at twice the rate of Yanks.
Would have been interesting to see if Union could have retaken the objective.
I must acquire these rules..........

Regimental Fire and Fury American Civil War bash (pic heavy)

Played in a multiplayer game of Regimental Fire and Fury today at John Bs to 'bust the cherry' of his new table in his new man pad and as compensation for not making it to Warfare Show for second (!!) year running.

Richard M, Stephen P and his brother Stephen B also in tow.

Scenario was set up by Stephen B(I think from a Johnny Reb scn) being a hypothetical  Rebel defense of a creek on the approaches to Savannah in 1865 against oncoming Yankees.

I played on Federal side commanding a large Brigade of Veteran Regiments backed by a Battery of Rifled Artillery. 

Richard M had a Brigade with some Crack units and Stephen B  a third Yank Brigade that was to come on third turn.

Facing me was Stephen  P with 2 Brigades (mostly Green with couple of Veteran) backed by 2 Artillery Batteries and defending the creek line in combination of hasty works, fences and walls.

John B had 2 more Reb Brigades but all Veteran in similar defensive positions backed by more Artillery and a single unit of Cavalry.

Aim was for Yanks to capture 2 of 3 fords across the creek.

Richard M was on our right flank and I on left.

I decided (in one of my better moments) to forgo the obvious advance straight forward and to move my Brigade in March Columns to the center so as Union strength was concentrated and we could threaten the two fords on our right essentially ignoring the ford defended by Stephen Ps Green bunch.

This meant I had to run gamut of Rebel Artillery taking some losses on my columns but was greatly aided by a fortuitous roll of 10 which generated a double move allowing my Brigade to fairly scoot along road.

I left 2 Union Regts in extended line in fields to hold off Stephen Ps units and they effectively held up two Brigades with my Artillery in support. 

This allowed me to form along the central stream just as Stephen Bs reserve Brigade arrived. 

So Johns 2 Brigades were now facing the whole massed Union assault.

We took some heavy casualties on approach to Johns lines but he was forced to deploy his forces in an unsupported line whereas we could approach with good support lines (ie in more depth)

We managed to throw in a co-ordinated assault of 6 units although I had one unit checked and both Fords were carried.

My second assault pushed back the Rebs although I had a flank protecting unit severely battered.

Richards tough as nails Crack units were unstoppable and pushed well beyond ford objective into wooded area decimating the defenders.

Stephen B also pushed hard towards the road with my Brigade supporting his left.

The Rebs called it a day at this point as 2 Fords taken and their own losses mounting with little prospect of them being able to retake lost objectives.

A great game with a set of rules I really enjoy being a nice balance of complexity and speed of play.

Crack troops very tough indeed and we thought too much so but then they are few in number.

A highlight was Stephen B 'christening' Johns table by spilling a 10 yr old whiskey shot on it :-)

Johns table and room really good and hope to get a few games in against him.

Table overview with Rebs in defensive lines on left

 Stephen Ps Brigades await my Brigade

My troops arrive but begin to head along road to center of field

Reb Generals Stephen P and John B stunned by my tactical brilliance

Stephen B shows Richard his Brigade (hidden in tin) with Johns book collection as backdrop

Johns Brigades arrayed

My Brigade haring along road after moving with Elan

Rebs having to redeploy reserves into front line

As rest rest of Union army pushes forward

Stephen Bs Brigade (left) and Richard Ms (right) pushing into teeth of Reb lines

With bulk of my Brigade now redeployed and pushing forward in the center

Contrast between thin line of Rebs and depth of Union assault

My flank guards hold Rebs in place as they cannot give up that ford

Action (and debate) heats up on our right

Stephen P moving some units to his left with my two flank guard units and Artillery masking bulk of his units

First Yank assaults pile in

Later on right as Richards Crack units turn enemy flank in woods

Rebs still having to leave units to defend ford on their right

Union carries the center despite going into teeth of some heavy fire

 Richards Crack troops mopping up and unhinging Reb line

Regimental Fire And Fury game

An American Civil war game at Stephen's today using the Regimental Fire & Fury set.
Scenario was an 'official' one outlining an encounter preluding 2nd Manassas set in August 1862 (I think it was called Brokenaws Meadow or similar ?).
I took the Rebs against Stephen with Feds.
A sort of meeting encounter although with onus on Rebs to do bulk of attacking.
Both sides started on table with only 3 Regiments, the Feds having some on table and off table Artillery batteries in support.
Feds are from Iron Brigade and Rebs are also Crack but much smaller. Both sides get reserves as game goes on with numbers advantage to Rebs.
Rebs are good quality overall with the initial 3 Crack Regts and all the rest Veterans.
Feds a more mixed bunch with some Trained troops but several Regts are rather strong.
Main objective is a field pretty much in centre of table but both sides score for inflicting over a third casualties on enemy forces.
The game lasts 9 turns with visibility decreasing every couple of turns as dusk then night falls.
Our game ended up in a bloody draw with glorious Rebs in possession of the field.
Stephen (ACW buff) tells me the game played out pretty much as per history with Feds inflicting losses on Rebs but suffering themselves with Rebs taking the objective and Feds being forced essentially to quit the field prior to big attack next day.
RF&F is a very slick set of rules that plays pretty fast once you get going with them and am tempted to purchase them despite not having a single ACW figure.
Having played the original F&F helps of course as a few differences/nuances but with core system the same.
Fun game and nice to try ACW period again.

ACW with Regimental Fire and Fury rules

Played very enjoyable game at Stephens today using Regimental Fire and Fury rules. I played original F&F many moons ago but never tried this version. Essentially the same system as F&F but  a different unit & ground scale. Very slick and playable with big moves and ranges (some Rifled Artillery can fire out to 60" at 15mm scale !!) and once we got going it went along a decent rate of knots. A few queries during game easily answered in the comprehensive and well written/illustrated book (I feel another purchase coming on !)

Stephen had set up a scenario Gaveston from a 'Guns Of Gettysburg' scenario book covering an action just prior to 2nd Bull Run in 1862. Really good with small but mainly Veteran Rebs supported by Artillery on a hill against Feds with more troops but mainly Trained status although they have the Iron Brigade (Crack status) who are really mean. Sort of an encounter game with Rebs (2 Brigades on table 2 as reinforcements) appearing on flank of Union line of march (some Brigades have to dice to activate/advance or charge).
Objective a long fence line near the table center. Rebs set up behind a defensible railway embankment (unfinished apparently) but I felt they would have to advance to contest the objective as Feds have better small arms and less numerous but more potent Artillery. So that is what I did with 2 central Brigades as the 2 reserve Brigades appeared on either flank. Initial success in driving off a Regt of the Iron Brigade was however thwarted as another Iron unit drove off 2 Reb units. Crack status very nasty especially with bigger units. A stalemate on my left ensued as opposing Brigades faced of and similarily on the my right, although here 2 Green Rebs units were in diffs with a sole Veteran unit having to charge 2 large Fed units to restore temporary order.
The Iron Brigade became firmly fixed on the objective and seemed likely to flank my other Brigade (which as across the fence line but stuck on a protracted musketry duel with Union units ensconced in a wood.
Reb casualties were mounting (especially after a 5 stand unit was eradicated in a flanking charge) as we had to call it quits, still undecided but looking like Union numbers would tell.
Great stuff with a very nice set of rules.

Union Brigades strung out on road to Goveston

Rebels center lining the embankment (guns in front due to be deployed on the hill)

Central Brigade on hill at start

Then advancing to the fence (and beyond)  as well

The Iron Brigade deploy from the road

Rebel reserve arrives on right

More Union troops start to re-deploy

Union begin their advance

To be met by Rebel counterparts

Rebs gearing up to try to stall the Iron Brigade

Lining the objective in 'Come take it of us' mode

Union left 

Rebel Veterans chase 2 large Union Regts back across the fence but are looking rather isolated

Union holds the wood

Iron Brigade on the objective having driven off and put a lot of hurt on the Rebs

Stalemate on Reb left (Rebs getting ready to hurl themselves forward)