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 

Wavre with Shako II (and believe it or not a rare WIN !!!!!)

Another game using Shako II rules today at Stephens with the published Wavre scenario.

I of course used my Prussians to defend against Stephens French.

The scenario has rather complicated terrain with bonuses for Prussians defending the river Dyle crossings in the town sectors and lots of marshland all along both banks of the river, and differing levels of possible French victory.

We both realised that our respective mounted units were essentially superfluous as just no place to operate (pretty tough to effectively deploy and use artillery as well).

That said Stephen did get one unit of French Hussars across the bridge near Limal which had to stay in column on a road, but managed to destroy a unit of Landwehr before dying itself.

French need to push across bridge at Limal (which is very weakly defended by a single unit of Infantry and a Skirmish stand) on their left flank whilst attacking the tough Prussian positions at Bierge and Wavre.

The defenders of Bierge managed to thwart 5 separate assaults by staggering back the attacking French columns but on their 6th attempt the volleys failed and French then managed to take the town sector.

By this time a massive French force was bearing down on the flank of my central force at Bierge and after a brave stand they eventually broke. 

However this had taken 10 (of the scheduled 12) turns to achieve and as French had ignored garrison at Limal until too late they had insufficient time to capture this town thereby denying themselves even a marginal victory (taking Bierge and Limal) so Prussians triumphant (yee hah !!!).

A tough task for the French this one but Prussians somewhat lucky at Bierge as had it fallen earlier things may have been very different.

Fun game with Shako today without the head-scratching we had in some recent games, we will of course not play it again for ages and forget what we decided re any issues :-)

Congestion at Wavre on Prussian left

French forming up to assault Bierge in Prussian center

The isolated defenders at Limal on Prussian right, as French prepare to seize the bridge

French Dragoons redeploying (fruitlessly as it transpired)

Prussian guns firing (to little effect) on French side of Wavre

Central Prussian command deploys to meet oncoming French

French Hussars lead the way along the road through marshy area

French piling up along road and marshes to threaten Prussians around Bierge

Prussian light cavalry try to help but realise they cannot (not allowed to enter marsh)

Overview of action at Bierge and Limal 

Wavre scenario map (note each square is 8") with marsh extending 8" either side of river along its length. Town sectors on river contain bridges and have enhanced defences.

Shako II - Utitsa scenario played

Played Shako II today with Stephen utilising the Utitsa (Borodino area 1812) scenario from the Field of Glory scenario booklet. 

Stephen used Russians in defence so I was attacking with the French.

My Cavalry Brigade (1 Lancer and 1 Chasseur) on my right tried to sweep around behind Utitsa mound but were confronted by an Infantry division but in the end I destroyed a unit of Cossacks before seeing my Lancers destroyed in turn. This led to a morale test for my Brigade which of course I rolled 1 for and the Chasseurs fled the field.

On my left my reserves were contesting matters with the Russian Jager division in the large wood and their own reserve formations, these sort of cancelled each other out although I was reducing the Jager.

A struggle around the mound then ensued between Infantry divisions. I suffered from Russian heavy artillery cannister fire despite eventually destroying both batteries.

A key match up saw 3 French columns manage to contact a single Russian unit in Line but this unit rolled a crushing volley which staggered and forced back my units. I then lost a couple of units in adjacent melees and had to test Divisional morale which of course I failed removing the Division directly attacking the Mound.

We called it at that point as French lacking sufficient strength to take the Mound

We struggled again with some of the rules around attack orders/formation changes which are frankly somewhat contradictory, and wondered how we never seemed to have these problems in past games !? old age in action ??

Table prior to set up from Russian edge

French initial advance

Russian artillery causes Stagger (yellow puff)

Jagers defending wooded area (Russian reserves waiting to arrive in distance)

The Mound defended by stout Grenadiers and heavy Artillery

Up close and personal around the Mound

French reserves arrive on left and engage the Jagers as Russian reserves also arrive

French formation attacking the Mound would soon flee

A tiny bit of Shako II

Tried a 'pick up' game of Shako II today at Stephens with his Russians against my French circa 1812. We last played these rules in Feburary 2020 (Quatre Bras scenario) but both kind of struggled to deploy our Divisions today. I think this partly down to the 'pick up' style game orders of battle, its generic terrain generation and rather odd table size (64" x 40" in 15mm).

We both placed a Cavalry division in reserve and I had a light cavalry division on a Flank March.

My Flank March arrived on turn 3 but really had no place to go on arrival (likely needed a much better plan). We were also unsure what happens if the flanking units are 'blocked' by enemy units up close to arriving table edge as not really defined other than one can charge into contact from off-table, but what if units have to fall back or recall ? are the destroyed ? do they rally off-table ? we have not encountered this before.

Stephen brought on an off-table reserve of 4 Cavalry with a horse gun which was literally crammed up behind a defending Infantry Division and I had my heavy Cavalry as an on table Reserve from start. 

We realised that the interpenetration (or actually lack of interpenetration) rules meant these mounted units were very unlikely to get used as essentially badly blocked (especially the Russian Division) and requiring a lot of 'work' to move elsewhere. 

The rules allow Mixed Divisions (something not usually seen in the scenarios we have played) which would be a much more flexible use of cavalry (ie in direct support of Infantry Division) but neither of had considered this historically justifiable. However I think the use of the term Division in Shako is a tad more flexible in what it represents.

We sort of gave up on the game (and plunged into waffling session) once we realised we had less than optimal deployments but plan is to re-try next week with Utitsa scenario.

French left with Cavalry in Reserve position. Note clogged deployment of Russians at top left as Cavalry 'stuck' in behind stationary Infantry division. French outflank due to arrive following turn into flank of own Infantry !

Shako II a Seven Years War playtest

Stephen has been making some amendments to Shako II for SYW games and we gave them a bit of play test today.

Used the SYW armies from Shako 1 (but by heck are they huge and not very historical !) and I fielded Prussians against Austrians.

Nothing too radical mainly making supported Formed Infantry better able to stand frontally against Mounted (without recourse to Square) by being able to stop Mounted closing into melee if Staggered by 'closing fire' and with Cavalry reduced by 1 for each class to help achieve this (we both feel 6/2 Cavalry is too good in Shako).

All this worked fine although we ended up changing 'battle' Light Cavalry (eg Prussian Hussars) to count a -1 versus medium or heavy types.

Austrian Croat units fielded as Skirmish stands seemed a bit too Napoleonic so we have decided to field them as single Skirmish stands (rather than 2) but not sure whether to keep them as 1 hit wonders or give them 2 hit defence ?
We also gave them a +1 combat bonus in rough terrain such as woods.

One thing we could not really fathom (despite reference to numerous text books) is whether SYW Artillery was the equal of later Napoleonic types (is a SYW 6pdr equal to a 6pdr from 30 or so years later ?) or just less numerous and less mobile ?
We went with only allowing them 'bounce through' to a second rank as opposed to standard Shako limit by range, but not sure if correct ?
Not sure artillery could dominate in SYW the way it could later ?
Artillery in Shako can move (in lieu of firing) as far as Infantry so maybe just having SYW types immobile once they deploy would limit their use sufficiently (which is what I do in FOB), hard to know best approach within Shako system.

We did not use Shako orders system for simplicity but discussed that if a Brigade was entirely made up of Light Cavalry it could have an 'Engage' order allowing them to use Evades.

More play testing required I expect to flesh out some stat interactions as reduction/increases in Combat stats also effect Rally/Stagger outcomes, but otherwise the basis seems sound.

Quite fun discussing the various changes and interactions, consequences and our historical outlooks, especially for two eternal rules tinkers like ourselves :-)

Stephen also got to use a new 'fleece'mat he acquired and with which I was impressed enough to order from Amazon (a green fleecy blanket thinner and less 'shaggy' than the one I have) for under £20 for 150cm x 200 cm.
Having 2 will aid us for club games.

Shako II - Quatre Bras scenario

Game using the ever excellent Shako II today at Stephens.

Stephen selected the Quatre Bras scenario from the rule book to get us back into the rules.

And what a playable breath of fresh air from our recent travails with Bataillie Empire, with minimal rules queries and an enjoyable action packed game that did not feel like pulling teeth !

Scenario depicts main phases of battle after initial stand by Prince of Orange with French in possession of Gemincourt and Dutch-Belgians in Bossau wood bulk of both forces are arrayed on table with Reserves arriving on first couple of turns with Cookes British Guards arriving on turn 6 and Kellermans Cuirassier on turn 7 of a scheduled 12 turns.

Stephen had set up table and deployed his forces and I was shocked at how close the deployment areas were with us both setting up within effective Artillery range.

A dense mass of units meant not much in the way of manouvre possible (but in keeping with the battle) and a hard slog and pounding in store.

French Division Foy in centre suffered right of the bat from attention of Allied guns as they advanced with Bachelu in charge of French right but facing the Elite Highlanders and 95th Rifles.
The French left wing under Jerome arrives on first turn and essentially down to them to assault Bossau Wood.
Pires Light Cavalry appear on road near Gemincourt but nowhere to deploy until battle spreads so I placed them in Reserve behind the ridge but they still took a couple of Staggers from Artillery ball bounce-through.

A violent tussle ensued in Bossau Wood as French in massed columns preceded by Skirmishers assaulted the Dutch Belgian forces.
Several attacks driven back by point blank volleys but others crashed in pushing the Allies back.
Stephen managed to pass all his forced interpenetration rolls (no passage of lines in Shako except for Skirmishers) but eventually the French forced Morale Checks on his Dutch Division with it going Demoralised and then Broken (ie removed from table) but not without loss to the French.

Of course beyond the wood a fresh British Division had now arrived to support the British right alongside a Cavalry Brigade in reserve, so Jerome went over to defensive in wood.
Foys Division was being slowly but surely ground down and several desultory assaults by French were easily beaten off and his Division was in tatters.

Pires Cavalry however now had room to deploy and threaten the Allied Infantry.

Bachelus Division on French right pushed ahead but despite some success (including dispatching the 95th Rifles !) could not best the Elite Highlander Battalions and his Division too was battered and bloody.

As Kellermans Cuirassier arrived we called time with the game unfinished but the fresh Allied reserves would I think have made any further progress towards Quatre Bras crossroads unlikely even though the French Cavalry was as yet uncommitted.

Great game with great set of rules and as the preceding verbiage shows the emphasis was on action and tactics not rules problems/interpretations/headaches.
Think we were both maybe a bit lax with units deviating from Attack Order direction and also with Artillery 'firing in support of their own Division' (only Army Guns can freely select targets) but we both agreed that Shako has never delivered a 'bad' game for us.






Division Jerome advances to Bossau Wood

Division Foy in centre suffering from cannon fire

Division Bachelu attacks on right across the stream

Lots of Staggered (yellow puff) units and casualties from artillery

French assault develops on right 

First British Reserve Division deploys on their right

95th Rifles holding edge of wood  

Centre of Allied army with Wellington to right of Quatre Bras village

The battle for Bossau wood in full swing 

Columns repulsed, columns advancing, blood and mayhem...................

Pire's Cavalry cross stream as Division Foy runs out of steam

British Reserve stands poised to intervene if required

French have Bossau Wood 

And go on to Defend orders as this awaits them beyond the wood............

Foy's advance stymied

So many hits and Staggers with little damage to Allied centre.

95th Rifles counter charge and destroy a Legere unit but are now exposed in open and were subsequently routed by follow up unit.......Huzzah !!