Guildford Courthouse with Warfare In The Age Of Reason

Game at Stephens today and he selected to use the venerable Warfare In The Age Of Reason (now on their 3rd edition) and Guildford Courthouse scenario from scenario booklet.

I took the attacking British (Stephens SYW Brits standing in for AWI chaps), we managed a full 7 turns which was pretty good especially as not played rules for a good while and lots of waffling about Saturdays game and other 'important' stuff. All Stephens lovely 15mm figures

Only a couple of queries mainly to do with QRS have some additional entries to actual rule book but only one we could not reconcile was if Disordered units move a half speed (this was in previous editions but not mentioned in current edition). Don't recall noticing this before ?

AOR is a good old style set that plays quite fast for smallish games but does have some 'memory' issues (especially for charges) for units from turn to turn that need markers and would slow bigger games. 

All the 'action' systems are easy to understand and implement which is not always the case in more modern sets, but maybe feel a bit less dynamic than newer sets but guess that sort of suits periods covered.

British initial advance on Rebel first line (Militia and Skirmishers)

American 3rd Line on ridge (cannot activate until fired on or at musket range) around 'Courthouse'

Large clearing in woodland sees bulk of action in scenario

Fences have no effect in scenario (assumed to in poor repair/knocked down)

British have pushed Rebels back from initial line 

Broken and Routing Rebel units cause disorder on units behind

Large Rebel skirmishing riflemen unit (lower right) a real nuisance as able to Evade and keep coming back 

Highland unit (just behind fence) refused to charge twice !

A top of pic a unit of Insurrectionist light Cavalry are about to ride down some Loyalist skirmishers (they then pursued into woods)

US Militia in disarray but have held up enemy for several turns 

British pushing forward but with mounting casualties

Warfare In The Age Of Reason - Kolin

Game using latest version (3) of Warfare In The Age Of Reason rules today with game based on Battle Of Kolin (OOB at roughly 1/4 from earlier version).
Been a good while since we used AOR rules and yet the were very easy to pick up again and we had no problems getting into action with them.
I fielded the Prussians and Mr B the Austrians.
Really like the shooting and combat systems of the rules but they do feel somewhat less dynamic overall than newer sets we have used as they lack any inertia/multiple moves, Pips etc, but they certainly do work.
Brigades are activated by turning a card for each but every unit gets to move, shoot and fight each turn generally if they so desire.
As in any SYW set the use of supports is key for morale.
The Austrians were in large units being 16 figures vis 12 for Prussians (although scenario default is 18 figures) however this is a scenario for an earlier version and in V3 Austrians no longer have these large units by default (12 figures like every other nation) and we could soon see why as they shoot with extra dice and absorbs casualties better (ie harder to achieve 25% losses on them).
Only other minor issue we had was that Infantry to charge must pass Charge Initiative, which is excellent and reflects period pretty well, except that we found this less satisfying when wanting to charge a village/town as average Grade 2 Infantry need to 1-2 to go in.
We thought that they were more likely to charge in these circumstances as only real way to take built up areas was at bayonet point.
Easy fix is give -1 for charging such areas as Towns, Redoubts or similar.
Combat was pretty bloody especially in Cavalry actions.
Really like the Army Withdrawl system which is quite innovative (especially for its time).
We got to try pretty much every aspect of rules and had a very enjoyable game with mass charges, flags captured, Commanders killed and fought to a completion in 4 hours (Prussians forced to withdraw).




Prussian advance in centre

Cavalry approach each other on my left

Austrian centre

Prussian right wing

General advance

Croats holding town (I never managed to Charge these !)

Cavalry engages

Prussian Guard manage to attack Croats in another town

As centre advances into trouble

Prussian loses 2 of 3 Cavalry combats...........................

But do force Austrian gunners to abandon guns in centre, but 2 units broken by Austrians

Austrian Infantry advance on my right

Prussians outnumbered here (and large units proved too powerful)

Prussian Grenadiers deploy to shore up left wing

As Kuirassier shy away from oncoming foot

Struggle continues in centre

Croats still untouched in other town 

Prussian Dragoons routing

Warfare In The Age Of Reason 3rd Edition game

Game using newly published 3rd Edition Warfare In The Age Of Reason rules today against Stephen.

I used my Russians against Prussians in an encounter type game after rolling for terrain table set up as per the campaign system.

Not a great deal has changed in rules mainly some streamlining and clarifications type stuff.

We had a ding dong battle with Prussian foot showing their shooting and maneuvering prowess (they get to move half move at no effect and full move at -1 dice compared to others who suffer -1 dice if move half maximum and they also get +1 firing when Fresh).
Only the fact that the Russians had an extra Brigade of Infantry saved them as their right wing Cavalry were crushed by Prussian Cuirassier.
Sadly their own Cuirassier failed miserably to defeat the weaker Prussian Dragoons on left !

We enjoyed the tactical aspects of Age of Reason despite the lack in inertia.

To be tried again

Multi-Photo catch up

Some games played last couple of weeks but due to PC (hopefully sorted ?) and time woes have not been able to update blog.
Herewith a bunch of photos of the games.


First up several scenarios newly acquired Combat Commander: Resistance played

A game with The Duc using Panzer Grenadier Deluxe (and Rauray scenario)

And then a Seven Years War battle using Warfare In The Age Of Reason rules at Stephens