Game 47 - Again with the Hexes, Fame at Last, and 1689 and all that...

So time is in short supply until Christmas (it's a real day job/course/lecturing kinda thing...and it's pretty hectic).

With that in mind, we opted to go adventuring with the hexes again as it keeps set up minimal and arguments few.

I've looked at Command and Colours options back in the day, and my eldest daughter was a big fan of Battlelore when she was eight. She's eighteen now, and of course too cool for such trivialities (her Dad is not)...and yes folks, it's been 10 years since Battlelore! Where the heck did that decade go?

Anyway...to the point! The Prometheus in Aspic blog has a fantastic version of C&C Napoleonics, complete with cards, BUT designed for the English Civil War. A few tweaks, and it became 1689 with hexes...(Check out the blog. It's excellent.)

Now as MSFoy also mentions, there are some relevant links for other people doing the same thing, and while perusing the latest issue of Miniature Wargames (Henry's final issue sadly ), I noted that the famous Arthur Harman has also got a nice set of rules called Memoir 1643 (see what he did there?) in the magazine. So we'll be returning to this style of game.

And now the fame; I noted with interest that this very blog gets a mention in Henry's 'Blogs of the Month' in his last MW issue (402). Thank you kindly sir (and I promise to fix the title text)...no really. (last minute edit - New title block by youngest daughter - clearly she is better at this stuff than the old man.)


The battle was a minor affair - some Dutch and some French, a few Irish and English brigades mixed in, victory to the first side to eliminate five enemy units, five command cards each....and FIGHT!

A couple of small forces, ready to roll the dice...I mean draw the cards.

Early French mercenary (Irish) attempts to break the centre...end badly.

Cavalry battle, which would last all day, developing on the Dutch left.

The first French assault.

'Give it to 'em lads!' English brigade first fire.

"Pour la Gloire mes amis! Pour La Gloire!"

A lot of focus on the French left. Swiss Guards and French elites in action.

...while they ignore the elite Dutch guards making inroads on their right ...

 ..as the cavalry is kept busy in their own fight.

 But by this time Allied fire has worn down the French, and they only need one more stand to win. A few vollies and it's over.

Great game, great timing. Really intuitive set of rules - with no time lost with movement/measuring. Hexes trump tape measures.

The 'Chaunce' cards add really nice random elements too. Inspired system, with an inspired adaptation for 17th century.