Shako - playtest of some Seven Years War house rules

Attended Stephens with a horde of SYW Russians to face his Prussians in a play test of several rules amendments for the period he has been sorting through for the Shako II rule set.

So not a proper game as such more of a line 'em up and try different aspects of house rulings.

Upshot was that several house rules that seemed worthy inclusions proved less so in practice and often just easier to use standard Shako rules.

Probably only real changes are that Infantry are able to stagger cavalry backwards with defensive shooting and hasty squares only 'available' to infantry charged on flank by mounted.

One we struggled with (as we do in standard Shako) is that units particularly heavy Cavalry can engage in multiple melees/breakthroughs and if winning can emerge totally unscathed (bar temporary Blown status). We had a couple of Prussian Cuirassier involved in Melees then Breakthrough Melees suffering no damage at all which always seems rather odd.

We discussed giving them a Hit for each melee/breakthrough melee they became engaged in but that seemed overly harsh so decided to give them a single hit when fresh even if they won a melee meaning they carried some 'hurt' for rest of game. 

Always looking for that elusive 'perfect' set 

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.

 

Field of Battle - Father vs Son SYW

Played a quick game of FOB3 with my son (who thankfully got home for Christmas this year) using SYW kit.

Used one of the Seasons of Battle terrain cards to set up table and just selected a force of Russians (22 units in 5 Brigades) and Prussians (17 units also in 5 Brigades), I commanded the Prussians.

Prussians had a superior deck and better leaders (with an additional Move card) whilst Russians had an average deck (and an extra Melee card).

Game was a fast and furious blood soaked affair.

Russians lost 7 units to Prussian 3 but did inflict a steady drain of hits on Prussians. 

Both sides ran out of Army Morale at virtually same time but Prussians pulled 2 Army Morale cards in a row and failed to stay on the field on second morale roll.

The game was great fun with lots of incident including Prussians losing 2 commanders in one turn which stymied their temporary advantage.

FOB is so very easy to teach and play. 

Table set up prior to deployments from Prussian perspective

Russian commander

Action in center

Russian cavalry charges in 

Prussian cavalry gain advantage on right but Commander shot from saddle to ruin plans

Bloody losses on both sides

Prussian Cuirassier on left fall back in face of Russian Grenadier Brigade

Ulster Wargames Club - Field Of Battle - Zorndorf

Put on another Field Of Battle 3 game today at UWS Club using my trusty old Zorndorf scenario (simply as I had scenario stuff easily to hand).

I umpired and had 5 players participating as Prussians (David T and Phil) against Russians (Jeremy N, David S and Leslie) on a 6' x 4' table with my smaller 3 base units, but we used standard 25mm measurements which fairly made the game crack along (I would usually use 1/2 or 2/3rds on a 6x4).

Zorndorf is essentially a straight forward slugging match (as it was historically) and so it transpired in this outing.

Prussians held back on their right with Schorlemers Cuirassier Brigade as it faced the inferior more numerous cavalry wing under Demiku and managed to engage this wing effectively throughout game despite Schorlemer being shot from saddle at one point 

On Prussian left their cavalry under Seydlitz and Bieberstein faced their counterparts under Gaugraben and this was a bit of and to and fro with Prussians gaining upper hand but just too slowly.

But the story of the game was with the Prussian infantry of Manteuffel, Kanitz and Dohna in the centre advancing against the Russian foot under Saltykov, Gallitzen and Browne.

The Prussians suffered horrendously from the Russian guns (so many 1s rolled vs high Russian rolls) early on and failed to rally on most opportunities.

Some Prussian Grenadiers did manage to assault and almost breakthrough the Russian center but were then repelled and finally destroyed and their supporting formations of Musketeers also suffered high losses and Dohna was also shot down.

This failure by Prussian foot saw their Army Morale dwindle to nothing and Frederick failed to muster their resolve (failed roll on Army Morale card) and they quit the field.

Another excellent game with FOB and it was very interesting to watch the battle develop from afar. FOB is easy to umpire as mechanics are basically simple and the card sequencing makes it easy to explain what players can do each time. The multiple dice types can be a bit confusing for new players but they certainly generate decisive results and aid fast play. The opposed rolls also keeps players engaged in game which is a real benefit in multiplayer games.

Winner and losers both expressed their enjoyment of the game and ultimately that is what its all about no matter the dice results. 

David B and John were engaged in a couple of FOGR games but I only managed to take pics of their second game which was an interesting match up of Monrose Scots against an Later Northern Parliamentarian force. Some lovely flags on display again.

Lasalle 2 - Another Omelette broken - French vs Prussians

Another game of Lasalle 2 this time with 'Le Duc' in our first post plague game as he wanted to see Lasalle in action (being a fan of Sam Mustafas rules in general).

So I set up scenario 4 again with Le Duc attacking with Prussians against my defending French.

Prussians had 2 infantry brigades each with 3 Inf, 1 field gun and a unit of Hussars, they had a cavalry brigade of 1 Dragoon and 1 Uhlan, also a brigade with 2 Grenadiers and a Howitzer battery, their force was completed by a brigade of 3 Russian allied infantry. These 18 units generated a basic 28 skirmish dice. Le Duc had the 'Valiant' trait for his General.

French had 2 infantry brigades of 3 veteran infantry with a field gun, 1 brigade of 3 veterans and a cavalry brigade of 2 Chasseurs. So only 13 units but still 27 basic skirmish dice. The General choose 'Charismatic' trait to assist with rallies.

So honours even re skirmishing and I think Prussians won 5 Initiative and French 3 out of 8 turns played with never more than 4 'Voltigeurs' ever placed.

Le Duc had not read the rules beforehand so very much a teaching game but Lasalle is very easy to teach and indeed to pick up its basic premises even when using the 'advanced' rules especially as a goodly portion is familiar from play of Blucher and Maurice.

Learning how best to use the MO is harder to assimilate but he seemed to be catching on as game progressed and once he realised the potency of cavalry in the game.

We had a ding dong cavalry battle on my right flank which was essentially an even dice fest which I managed to win taking out the Prussian Dragoons and Uhlans, getting 2 on 1 and/or a flank contact is very powerful and usually decisive.

This then forced his supporting brigade of Russians into squares which my artillery and infantry then pounded to destruction and subsequently wiped out. I was however lucky not to lose a Chasseur and infantry unit to enemy artillery fire on this flank.

In centre I had some trouble dealing with Prussian Grenadiers but once Russians collapsed they were exposed and lost 1 unit but timely support from nearby Hussars saved the other.

On my left the Prussians piled on the pressure with 2 brigades against 1 but its slow going with the woods. I had a unit destroyed early on and another forced into square by the Prussians Hussars. But this square manfully held onto until last turn with some superb dice rolls with lots of sixes in combat and decent rallying (its a game of skill I tell ya !) tying up several Prussian units and keeping them away from central objective.

I had placed a wood in front of the objective again (seems a no brainer) and this too stymied Prussian progress.

At games end the central objective was exposed but still French whilst the town was firmly secured and indeed 'Carnage' was marginally in French favour.

Le Duc seemed to enjoy the game and rules especially as he professes not to be offay enough with Napoleonic period to see major flaws or issues but just appreciated the fast and decisive nature of the game but with enough decision points to make for an interesting and fun game. His Blog post reveals his thoughts on rules https://warfareintheageofcynicsandamateurs.blogspot.com/2021/10/lasalle-2nd-ed-with-sgt-steiner.html.

Time for something other than Napoleonics next methinks................. 

Prussians advance with some annoying skirmisher deployed

French infantry advances to delay Prussians as cavalry prepare to engage on right

Initial Cavalry clash is indecisive (note Chasseurs have obtained a Huzzah marker from destruction of Russian infantry unit)

Prussians putting pressure my left and Grenadiers advance in centre

French firm on ridge as their cavalry have routed their Prussian equivalents

French delaying on left but suffering for it

With Prussian cavalry gone French are able to counterattack off the ridge against Russian squares and the Grenadiers

Heroic French square holds fast on left

It eventually succumbed to massed Prussian volleys after being weakened by charges from Hussars but it was just enough to protect the adjacent objective.

Lasalle 2 - 'Breaking the Omelette' scenario again, French vs Russians

Another game of Lasalle 2 at Stephens today playing scenario 4 which we had tried as initial outing with rules via Zoom last year (and which I recently played solo).

Stephen took French Guard attacking against my Russians (exact same as in solo game).

His army was essentially same as mine but with no Old Guard artillery and an extra unit of Guard Cavalry.

Russians massively out skirmished so Initiative was always (bar first turn) with French.

Stephen choose 'Energetic' command trait to see how that worked and I stuck with 'Steadfast' for Russians.

I placed a wood again in front of the central objective defended by the lowly Jager (essentially Conscript class) with two Infantry brigades defending the ridge and town with Hussar brigade in support.

French rushed forward their brigade of Guard Cavalry supported by Young Guard and Old Guard and this forced Russians into squares which were then prime targets for French guns and muskets.

I brought my Hussars into play forcing Old Guard into square but found the Guard Cavalry too tough to crack (the fact I failed to roll above 2 in any combat with them was not helpful).

Whilst Russians in this scenario do not care about losses as much as objectives they were soon mounting up and French deployed several 'Voltigeur' stands to further annoy the Russians.

On turn 7 (of 8) the Old Guard took the town after their heavy artillery decimated its garrison (4 disorders out of 5 hits !) and this along with 'Carnage' gave them Victory (they were poised to take central objective as well)

Of course my General fell wounded as Stephen rolled the required 1 when needed.

We both feel there are several abstractions in rules and agree its a fairly broad brush approach to the period lacking in several 'chrome' aspects but again it was a fun game that played slickly allowing us to complete the game in a single session, not always possible with other sets.

Are they the 'best' Napoleonic rules out there......no (and wont replace FOB or GDA for me), but they are great for a game based around the set scenarios with a points based force, minimal preparation and playable in reasonable time frame with low rules overhead which is a big plus for us overall.

Russian Jager defend central objective (the cart)

Russian defenders of the ridge and town

Young Guard brigades advancing with Guard cavalry (Old Guard to the right)

Young Guard brigade pushes through woods (this proved fruitless in the end)

Those damn 'Voltigeurs' being deployed to annoy and harass

Young Guard on French right redeploying from woods