Solo board wargaming interlude - Combat Commander and Liberty Or Death

Had couple of solo sessions with couple of favourite board wargames I have not played in a while.

First up I played through a Combat Commander scenario set around action on 26th June 1944 near Cheux (from Normandy Battle Pack).

This was a cracking game (as it always is with CC) with Huns seeming as if they would run away with game as Time check ate the turns very quickly and they clocked up VPs.

But the Brits managed to turn things around (as can happen in CC) at last gasp with a couple of Melees that done for SS defenders and forced past their Surrender level (the VPs had turned in Brit favour as well with taking of an objective).

I really must get a face to face/live game again with this excellent system.

Early stages with several German units suffering effects of pre-game bombardment

Lots of open ground for British to cross but visibility limited to 5 hexes due Mist so doable

Brits have administered knockout punch in town destroying SS squads and taking lucrative VP location 

Punch was made to village centre but couple of stacks as others held back

Final victory track with Germans reaching surrender level (6) and Brits on 2VP (Huns had been at 10 at one stage)

Afterwards I then set up Liberty Or Death COIN game and am in early throes of this as have forgotten several of its rules/quirks so need some rules revision.

Pity I cannot get 3 other like-minded players for this

Playing full game (1776-1781) and first Winter Quarters card just completed 

General d'Armee 2 - Pick up game 1815 French vs Prussian

Another game of GDA2 today using the 'pick up' lists in rules to generate an 1815 game of 5 Brigades each with Stephen (who really likes the rules) using French and I my Prussians.

I decided to use my Divisional and Regimental supports to field several Veteran foot units (allowing my Light Inf to the possibility of skirmishing in open) whilst Stephen used his to field a second Cavalry Brigade with attached Horse Battery.

To start we rolled for Generals and I ended up with a Commissariat (so only 1 CiC Command and French gained an Adjutant) I also rolled 1 Bold and 1 Poor commander the French had 1 Bold.

Had used FOB terrain cards to generate terrain and it was fairly open with only 1 Village (which could be avoided an only a tactical objective (not a Victory location) and a couple of hills and woods on periphery.

I had rather Poor ADCs rolls (again) so ended up with several Hesitant Brigades each turn but still managed to gain Initiative several times (once I rolled 5 dice to Stephens 2 but still managed to win with my 2 lowest !)

We played 5 or 6 turns and main action was between opposing Cavalry Brigades (Infantry never got to grips beyond Skirmishing) with both using Glory (I bounced back Unformed he remained Unformed) 

We both then used the Post Of Honour CiC command and Cavalry clashed again, I managed to win forcing the French to Retreat and Falter.......but (uh oh)........my CinC managed to die also Faltering my Victorious Brigade (!!) reducing my ADCs by 1 and being replaced by a Blusterer with another ADC loss, even when I win I lose !! using CinC aggressively is of course a risk but French survived Prussians did not (both at risk as fought 2nd round of combat)

We had to finish at this juncture but did not fancy chances of Prussians with only 3 ADC........

French Support Cavalry Brigade pushes forwards with a...um...Forwards tasking

It is faced by my Reservist/Recruit Brigade (front line units went into square)

A potent support option 

Prussian left flank, I tried to use Redploy to advance here three times but went Hesitant thrice

My Reserve Cavalry have entered battlefield to counter the French mounted support and bounced back from initial clash

Central Prussian brigade (2 Veterans with a battery attached) holds up French, note my Jager able to skirmish in open as Veteran

Opposing cavalry forced to reform prior to reengaging with Post Of Honour charges

Oh look another Hesitant status

And for the Veterans................

Yup you guessed it a third brigade refuses to obey orders 

Bold commander at least obeyed commands

French effort clearly coming from their left (right refusing)

 

General d'Armee - Echmuhl(ski) scenario

Another outing for GDA2 using one of the included scenarios Eckmuhl 1809. 

However as neither of us have any Austrians we substituted 1813+ Russians and Prussian units which worked as gaming exercise despite the glaring historical inaccuracy.

We started late (discussing Masters  of the Air series of all things !) and only played about 4 turns as lots of discussion of some recent clarifications by author that revealed we had been playing some aspects of charge phase incorrectly (units essentially have a 2" zone of control all round which you cannot circumvent by charging past on flank - all fine and plausible but not how we had interpreted/read rules).

There is a really good game possible with GDA but sort of concealed under a veil of vagueness with some aspects of rules at times. 

Command several large pseudo-Austrians (ie Russians) line central stream

Opposing gun batteries line up on opposite heights

Right of 'Allied' deployment with one of those tough villages (thankfully being on periphery and not a victory objective it was not a factor) 

More large units on Allied left (Prussian figures)

As French ignored village (cowards) I used Redeploy tasking to push forward on that flank

Leaving 'Prussians' on left to hold up French (they were later aided by reserve Cavalry which usually thwarts any infantry advances)

French used Forward tasking to push their right flank Brigade up quickly

Central Allied brigade also used Redeploy to counter attack but quickly stymied by loss of Skirmisher Screen faltering the brigade

Time ran out at this early and inconclusive juncture (with the French cavalry reserve still uncommitted)

Colonial Twilight - some solo COIN action

As Ulster summer seems to be over already and raining again here today, I had an enforced break from reading wargame rules in garden (and associated chores) whilst basking, so decided to have a quick solo session with a COIN game and selected Colonial Twilight (it being a favourite).

Played the Full scenario and as usual a cracking game (even solo) was had with things being very close throughout.

FLN had early advantage but on 3rd Propaganda card the French were a mere 2 VPs from an auto win.

The FLN surged again and looked to be well on way to victory but some judicious (and lucky) French card play and actions saw them reel the insurgents back in line and the game ended on last Propaganda card with both sides 6 shy of their winning margin so a draw !

Great game.

End of 3rd Propaganda card and French just 2 from a win

End of game and a rare drawn result

General d'Armee - Libertwolkwitz scenario

Another bash with GDA2 today trying the Liberwolkwitz scenario from 1813 supplement.

Whilst the default for this is French defending against Russian/Austrian force there is an alternative to replace the Austrians with Prussians so that is what we went with as neither of us own Austrians. 

Another tough day at office for Allies as they are faced with adjacent villages (the capture of which is sole way to victory) and these we are finding are akin to fortresses.

I assaulted one village with a brigade of 3 Veteran Prussian foot and the unit that attacked the village started fresh with no hits but a combined defensive fire from three units inflicted 7 hits prior to combat and although I passed 2 out of 3 morale tests inflicted I ended up unformed. 

The target garrison fired 5 skirmish dice, the adjacent garrison fired 7 (using skirmisher tasking) and an artillery unit adjacent on other flank fired 5 CDs with a standard volley (canister vs column and artillery assault), my supporting units are not priority targets for skirmish or artillery firing so all able to deluge the lead unit with all available fire.

In first round of combat (5 dice each as I was Veteran with Glory but Unformed) it was a draw with us both taking 3 casualties and both decided to stand and fight a second round with both sides throwing in a fresh reinforcing unit.

I actually had 11 dice vs 9 (due to being Veterans vs Line) and won the combat 6 to 5 .......... but ............ instead of this resulting in my forcing the 2 defending units back in retreat and faltering the enemy brigade, whilst occupying the village, it was instead deemed a pyrrhic victory as my lead unit was dispersed due to reaching 12+ casualties which meant defender ignored the adverse result and instead my brigade faltered.

To add to woes I rolled three sixes in combat so village caught fire and of course the edge determined was that facing my units so now no direct route into village !

Close but no cigar and this used numerous ADCs (Forwards, Glory, Re-Rolls etc) and the best foot units in the game and still they got mullered, villages are proving so formidable.  

We have not managed to successfully assault a village in any game thus far and are struggling with how best to deal with them as shooting cannot do it, and pretty hard (and time consuming) to isolate them from their supports or to weaken them more than attackers, and even good quality attackers need to be very lucky to overcome the garrisons as at contact its one on one.

The 'twin fortresses' with veteran Prussian brigade approaching

Allied left with large Russian brigades mainly skirmishing against superior French troops (French Light Infantry brigade defending woods) I did not have enough ADC to push these forward anyhow.

French guns causing hits on advancing units

Allied left which was soon forced into squares by approach of French light cavalry (Austrians have mounted to counter with but not Prussian option)

So many dice emanated from villages and supporting guns

The assault starts with Glory tasking added. I also used Infantry Assault but we were unsure if this is even usable in a town assault ? made no difference as no charge phase and everything shot at lead (ie sole) charging unit anyhow. Artillery able to ignore unit to their front and second garrison also. The fire was withering with the artillery assault and skirmish taskings.

General d'Armee - Lutzen scenario

Game at Stephens today and he choose GDA 2 for another bash this time using the Lutzen scenario from 1813 supplement.

I have have played this several times with various rule sets this being first try with GDA 2 system.

I was of course attacking with my Prussians against defending French.

Story of game (at least the 5 turns we completed) was my awful ADC rolls, I had six dice but managed to only generate 2 ADC three times with a 4 and a 3 rounding out my allocations, really poor especially for attacking force. 

French had more than double my total (despite roll 1 dice less ie 5 per turn).

For shooting it was much more even rolls although good ADC level meant French able to avail of Artillery Assault every turn (one turn cancelled due ti Brigade being hesitant).

As in our last game we are found Garrisons to be very potent (and as this scenario requires Prussians to take at least 2 it came to fore again).

They cannot be out shot as they roll 5 skirmish dice (7 if skirmish tasking) from any point of any side of the built up area (up to 8" at 360 degrees) and do not suffer any Discipline Tests, whilst attacking skirmishers are reduced by 2 dice, musket volleys have no effect and even artillery is reduced to a single casualty dice. So softening them up is not really viable in game time frame.

So really these built up areas must be taken by direct assault (no issue with this) but its an 'uphill' struggle as well as attacker can only charge with one unit and as charge phase is ignored (bar any defensive shooting) supports are nullified and then in combat Garrison seems to generally rolls more or at worst even number of dice.

We are find defeating them is pretty tough and this is just for standard villages not strong points or fortified villages. 

We assume we are playing Garrisons correctly, but they do seem rather strong and a lot of ADCs, units and effort required to even try to contest these areas.  

Otherwise game flowing very well now with minimal rules look up, although concept of battle line/brigade operating areas and use of redeployment tasking still has us confused at times.

A few pics of action (trying out new phone and apps)

 

Prussian infantry under Losthin prepare to assault village (unsuccessfully as usual) 

Lack of ADCs led to my having several Hesitant results

Prussian left wing where main assault was to take place but again stymied by lack of ADCs 

Garrison well supported

Jagows Brigade Hesitant again (just too few ADCs for Brigade re-roll)

Prussians had decent amount of skirmishers

Foot artillery concentrated in center but ineffectual against village

Prussian center

Prussian left

Prussian Light cavalry on right holding a French brigade in place (with another Garrison)

French right defending high ground and village (with Garrison)

French left facing my Light cavalry

The central village ('castle'), my guns did damage the infantry lines which slid to hide behind the village 

Stand off on my right

Three Prussian foot brigades (with two gun batteries in support) arrayed