Ulster Wargames Society first meeting of 2022.

Attended UWS club today for first meeting of the year (hopefully first of uninterrupted schedule this year) where a couple of games were put on and some mighty waffling with various chaps.

Did not book a table myself this time as unsure if able to attend until last minute but Field of Battle game covering Minden planned for next meeting.

A 20mm Burma game was put on by Phil with some very nice figures and great to see a couple of venerable Airfix 'bamboo huts' in action. 

Rules were I believe a home brew set set at 1:1 skirmish level

Other game by 'Two Davids' and John was a FOGR game of the Siege of Vienna (think was 1200pts apiece on 8' x 4' table), 

Again some really nice 15mm figures that my snap shots fail to do justice too especially the winged Hussars.

The forces (2 reduced Companies plus supports)

Turks at the gates of Vienna

Renaissance version of LADG tried - TYW Early Catholic vs Swedish

Had a run out with new LADG Renaissance supplement today against Stephen using my Thirty Years War Catholic army against his Swedes.

We choose to use early (pre 1632) versions of these forces to test Tercios, Late Tercios and Caracole Cavalry along with Salvo Foot and Regimental Guns.

We found this to be an excellent (not just because its free) addition to the LADG rules and felt very like FOGR with its match ups and outcomes, but with much less rules overhead. 

Bit different having Battle Units which are essentially 2 standard units acting as single entity for movement and cohesion but shooting and fighting with separate dice but works fine in play.

Only real bind was having to refer to standard LADG rule book for bulk of rules which are not amended, but still played pretty smoothly.

Swedish Foot are pretty mean (just as in FOGR) not so much with shooting here but with the excellent Salvo trait which gives them Impact and Furious Charge at contact (charging or charged) and small added bonus from Regt Guns.

Tercios are not self supporting units as they are in FOGR but have highest cohesion level in game (8) giving them some added durability.

Support somewhat works differently but easily through formation groups including a chequer board formation which he period feel well.

Caracolling Cavalry was interesting option although mine were overwhelmed by more numerous Pistol types, and was very interesting to note that they can actually evade (which is very plausible although not intuitive for heavy armoured units)

Some different costs for PIP usage and of course much more shooting in game with all the muskets but all worked seamlessly and gave plausible outcomes overall.

A very enjoyable game and expect we will use these a good deal in future.

Field Of Glory Napoleonic - French vs British in Spain

(Had to re-post this as original gone awol for reasons unknown)

Another game with FOGN today at Stephens.

I used French in Spain 1808-1812 list and Stephen fielded British from same period (with a Spanish ally).

Another fun game and I do so love the 'scenario' set up for this (really must try to adapt if for other sets) with my French adopting Prepared Defence and the British selecting Probe.

Such a lot of variation via a very slick and easy method.

Stephen felt that FOGN lacks distinct National Characteristics compared to some sets, but I think that the British are pretty unique with their hybrid Reformed Line formations (and British Training for allies like Portuguese).

The Veteran British in Extended Line formation are pretty tough if charged by French infantry as a lot of dice in shooting and re-rolling any 1's. 

Pretty much like last game it was decided on a single wing as 2 Large French infantry units on my left got pummeled before I could get to grips with Spanish foot on my right.

'Highlight' was my shooting with 13 dice from 3 units needing 5's to hit and scoring a truly impressive 1 hit, could have been worse I suppose 😉.

Pretty hard to recover from any set backs in FOGN which of course plays into its 2-4 hour game play time frame and equal points 'tourney' style.

Field Of Glory Napoleonic - Prussians vs French 1814

Game with Stephen using FOGN (as I know he prefers points/list type games) which we have not used in a goodly while.

I choose Prussians circa Autumn 1813, Stephen choose 1814 French which thankfully my list also covers (I much prefer historical match ups even in point style rules).

I had forgotten just how much I am impressed by the initial set up system in FOGN with the use of various 'stratagems'.

As it turned out with but ended up choosing Flexible Defence but with French as nominal attackers.

Terrain once again fell pretty much in favour of my opponent after selections, positioning and repositioning rolls.

The game was very enjoyable with FOGN doing pretty much what it says generating a Corps sized game with decent period feel that is playable within 3-4 hours.

No real national traits but sort of seems appropriate at this level

Once a Divisional formation starts to suffer losses to its constituent units morale especially with Wavering units it is nigh on impossible to recover but this certainly makes actions such as shooting or melee decisive within the game.

French had 2 Divisions of Cavalry which massed on my right and eventually crushed my wing aided  by a Young Guard Division.

On my left I had 2 Divisions assaulting up a large hill but they did manage to turn this wing but too slowly as losses mounted on right.

FOGN has victory system that stops any 'flogging a dead horse' type games as if one side losses are much higher than their foes the game ends and so French won after inflicting 30% losses whilst sustaining less than 10% themselves. Closer loss ratios mean games carry on.

We found the rules easy to get back into overall only really having queries over Pursuit rules a couple of times, they fairly well written and no errata I could find which is in itself unusual even with a 2nd edition.

Only took a couple of pics as engrossed in game 

Prussian left facing ridgelines and a 'strongpoint' town

Assault on the hill in progress as Young Guard pile into my Landwehr on right 

Fuzzy shot of Prussian right assailed by French cavalry and Young Guard

L'Art De La Guerre - another double dunter with Romans and Sassanids

Ever the glutton for punishment I had two games again of LADG at Stephens today (just as well this is such an enjoyable set of rules).

First game saw my Early Republican Romans face historical Carthaginian opponents under Hannibal.

This was a very close contest that went to Carthage in the end after my Iberian Ally was crushed on my left.

My Legionaries had pretty poor rolls throughout whilst two lowly units of medium Javelinmen rolled nothing but sixes and fives !! 

"Its a game of skill !!"

Second game my Sassanid Persians faced a contemporary Late Roman force as Stephen wanted to use his newly painted Forged In Battle figures and very nice they are too (think this is 3rd version of figure manufacturers he has painted up for this army !!).

This game was pretty much decided at start by the terrain set up which saw most terrain we have ever had on a Plain (A coast line, 2 fields 2 plantations, a hill and a marsh) and with several centrally placed pieces really cramming my mostly mounted force into middle (I of course failed to move or remove any with my 2 attempts)

This one took much longer than I expected to complete but Sassanids succumbed in the end as the Roman Heavy Infantry just take too long to defeat, I did manage to punch a hole with 2 Cataphracts but not quickly enough as flanks imploded.

Combat Commander - Father vs son

Played a game of CC Europe with son today using the Commando School scenario from original game set. I played as Russian defenders against Germans.

Great game with this ever excellent board wargame. 

Things swung to and fro with usual excitement engendered by random events and card play.

Germans simply ran out of time as game ended on first sudden death roll just as they were putting pressure on main building objective, this gave Russians a VP win.

Field of Battle 3 - 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

I Ain't Been Shot Mum - South of Cherbourg

Played one of the introductory scenarios from IABSM with Stephen 'South of Cherbourg'.

This is an all infantry scenario with regular Whermacht defending against advancing US troops. Been ages since we have seen Stephens Yanks on table with any rule set and ages since we have played IABSM.

Very enjoyable it was too despite less than stellar card sequencing for Germans even with two 'Tea Break' cards in deck, I had two turns I got virtually no activations whilst Yanks had several.

Must say this sort of system really appeals to me as I prefer this to standard you go I go styles overall and IABSM works pretty well for the Company-a-side game it covers.

We failed to finish (spent way too much time waffling about our frustrations with ongoing Covid crap) but did get to see lots of action.

The on table 60mm mortars teams (3 of the buggers) seemed pretty effective especially compared to my largely ineffectual off board 81mm mortar battery.

This of course assume we were doing things correctly which not a given after so long away from rules, and still find some parts rather under explained despite this being a third edition.

We fluffed the auto spot and close combat rules somewhat forgetting that close combat is automatic when units end up 4" apart.

Still a fun outing and whets appetites to revisit them again in future.

The table set up from US entry point (the road)

Action around the walled farm

German 2nd Platoon sections just prior to being routed by US firepower

Our close combat mistake at the track/hedge (these two sections should have 'meleed')