Emperor of the Battlefield game.

Game with Stephen today and I choose to try EOTB rules which we briefly tried once last year. 

Just went with a basic points based game (rules include points system but only single generic list) at 650pts which is enough for a decent Corps sized game (Shako/Glory is Fleeting vibe).

I used Spring 1813 Prussians and Stephen the French.

There is quite a lot involved in the set up and deployment particularly with your chosen Order Of March and relevant placement of Divisions (a sort of game in itself) and you generally start game with several Divisions off table/enroute that you can only attempt to bring to field one per turn.

These reinforcing Divisions arrive in March Columns in a fairly condensed arrival 'box' although one can bring them on deployed but at increased risk of failing to arrive.

We found that Divisions remained in such fast moving March Columns for quite a long time certainly compared to just about any other rule set we have used, well that is until Artillery gets in range.

The movement/shooting and combat systems are all slick and the interactions between Column/Line/Square have good Napoleonic feel.

Whilst we did not complete game (too much discussing the various deployment/points options) we encountered only one or two rules issues (eg wording bit ambiguous re Rallying) and nothing game breaking.

Think these will be used again

Only a couple of pics as engrossed in proceedings

Defender gets to set up bulk of terrain but restricted by 'legality' of distribution 

I did get a Cavalry Brigade to arrive deep on right flank on second turn (aided by an ADC and road) which forced French infantry to deploy in to squares, but cavalry alone cannot deal with same

Infantry Divisions face off in early stages (we both later brough Cavalry on to this side of battlefield)

Later I set up St Nicolas Farm (for Saturday at club with PzGr) so as I could sort what terrain items I need to bring.

Chain of Command 2 rules arrived today (PDF obtained yesterday) only a very brief skim through but some really nice pics of WWII kit stand out, will get fuller read of actual rules in due course.

Vassal - Commands & Colors - Ticinus River game completed (and a purchase)

Another Commands and Colors Ancients game on Vassal versus Mike completed with a victory for my Romans (on a roll at present) at Ticinus River.

I was lucky early on to get a card that boosted my medium cavalry and allowed me to inflict a good deal of hurt on Cartho heavy cavalry force and thereafter it was a matter of picking off light units.

Mike was pretty unlucky with his attacks overall despite having superior force and three generals

Next up is Battle Of The Trebbia with this light but fun C&C system

End of battle 

Also ordered new edition of Chain Of Command despite not being a set I overly enjoyed (preferring IABSM) but new changes do sound positive and anyhow its another set of shiny new rules :-)

Balance Of Power - a solo try with Napoleonic forces

First wet day in ages here in NI so decided to give a set of rules I have not tried an outing today and a wee change from WW2.

Set is 'Balance Of Power' from Crusader stable of rules and are a very light set designed for large games (sort of very much simpler version of the 'March Attack' set from same author - Mark Simms) with units essentially Brigades/Divisions organized into Corps formations so very big engagements possible.

Designed to cover period of French Revolution through to about 1875.

They are a very slim set with no more than 8 pages of rules an example of play and a QRS and so do have a few 'gaps' but easy to fill in same.

Units are small (2 of my 40mm bases per unit) and rated solely by Combat Value with for example Regular foot being a CV of 5, Conscript CV 4 with Mounted usually 1 CV lower and Artillery similar.

No morale or rallying, skirmishing (nor voluntary backwards movement) but with bit more to the shooting and combat than first meets the eye, with reserves being key.

Movement is fairly quick with foot moving 8" and cavalry 12" and with facing changes allowed at start and end of move so pretty fluid. 

However charging (alternating phases) comes before movement phase and only allowed to turn up to 45 degrees prior to charge.

Units can avail of standard Column, Line and Square  

Firing, which is conducted simultaneously, is per stand using a D8 system to inflict CV losses (muskets fire only to 3") and Melee is a combo of CV and a few modifiers to generate a bonus to opposing D6 rolls with loser taking hits and falling back or Routed (ie destroyed) if CV level reached in losses 

Therefore a column fires with 1 stand (as 2 deep) whilst a Line fires with 2.

Cavalry charging Line allows the Foot a chance to form Square and woe betide the Cavalry if they do as a whopping +6 modifier applies (+4 to Cavalry if foot stuck in Line) and foot gets to shoot prior to Melee resolution. 

There is an Orders system for Corps Formations system but rather 'sketchy' with players basically deciding how detailed or simple they wish their orders to be, although Reserve and Retreat orders are specified and you do have to roll to change Orders modified by Commander quality. 

I set up a scenario from said 'March Attack' based on Prussian 'Advance To Plancenoit 1815' which although it has but a single Corps a side I fudged making each Division equivalent to a Corps for game purposes (and worked fine).

Game was certainly devoid of much in way of  specific Napoleonic (nor any other period covered beyond changes in weaponry) detail or chrome but was very fast and furious (despite controlling some 33 Prussian and 27 French units) and actually quite fun.

Panzer Grenadier Deluxe - 'Mairy' scenario played

Game at Stephens today and we went with PZGR again this time using 'Mairy' scenario from rule book (a slight re-do of older version of scenario) with Stephen using his Yanks in defence against my attacking Krauts.

Another great outing with these rules and we fair whizzed through 11 turns (despite usual waffling prior to game) which is great.

Only 'problem' was our not reading scenario correctly and so my Panthers deployed off-road which is not correct as only entry points are the two roads (lined with bocage) or a central wood (but that would entail rolling for bogging for AFVs).

But it did not really impact enjoyment that much as hidden US anti-tank guns (including one in ambush I never got to reveal) got drop on Panthers anyhow with two being brewed, one damaged and fourth becoming low on ammo.

We also thrashed out a couple of remaining terrain issues (re hedges, buildings and cover) and feel they allow a fast paced yet flavoursome game overall (will likely go with these for next club game).

They just sort of suit our 15mm kit.

M10 reveals itself from hidden status (we forgot roll for bogging when it emerged from wood)

Grenadiers and GIs exchange fire 

An artillery mission crimped my style on approach to town

Krauts engage Yanks in town 

Panther brewed by 3" AT gun

My other two Panthers moving forward

 

Some 6mm WWII solo action

Continuing dabbling whilst on current WWII kick and decided to get my 6mm kit out on table for a change adapting a RF scenario 'Cristot' from Normandy supplement.

Tried Blitzkrieg Commander IV first off and whilst its pretty slick and easy overall I found the tank combat aspect rather less than satisfying.

Then I tried a really venerable old set No1 Wargames Command Rules for WW2 (from 1976) and conversely the tank combat in this was great (been ages since I used a set with hit percentages and armour levels in mm of thickness) but the infantry end of things much less so with very slow movement (20-30mm). 

In the end I re-jigged OOB slightly to accommodate Spear Head which I always come back to for this scale (my stuff based primarily for SH) and trying a slightly less rigid order system (essentially allowing Attack orders not to be constrained by direction arrows) which worked fine as a lighter approach.

 

I Ain't Been Shot Mum - solo session 'Action At Galmanche'

Gave IABSM 3 a solo try out today using the included 'Action At Galmanche' scenario (which I last played during 2020 lock down) as possible contender for club game but feel system not really multi-player friendly with unit card activation system.

But its certainly works well as a low level 'not quite skirmish' game (although sadly somewhat overshadowed now by Chain of Command in Lardy world).

Plenty of Big Men in this one (8 on British side and 6 Germans) so lots of options (once their cards and associated Platoon cards get into deck) although the Allied Blinds card seemed to take ages to appear.

Had forgotten that quite a lot of markers needed in game but system overall fits its level well (of course solo not optimal for blinds/hidden stuff).

German Pak 40 opened up on a Sherman early on (Blinds in open easily revealed) but failed to achieve any damage or shock despite using aimed shots and was then pummeled by return HE fire by Sherman and mates whose card appeared immediately with result that 3 crew died and 3 shock inflicted.

British infantry however up against it with Germans dug in along wood edge and Brits in open or light cover (hedges).

Did not complete game (other things planned for table) but must revisit this set again for 2 player as it has a lot to offer and we did play quite a few games with set several years ago (time really does fly !)

Huns dug in along wood edge (technically still hidden on 'terrain blinds')

Two Sherman Troops revealed and advancing

British PBI taking shock in open

Adjacent Platoon prudently taking cover

Pak 40 engaged Shermans to no avail

Reserve Zug defending building 

More Huns defenders dug-in along woods

These units engage advancing PBI

Initial deployment of a spotted blind

Took seemingly ages to get Blinds card to get any movement for Brits