Now, these are from the same stable as 'Seven Days to the River Rhine' and 'Iron Cross', so activation is a thing.
A nice set, with some nuances and differences related to how machine guns work and companies thereby activate - though an interesting set.
None of these today ...but they were in the box
Two things struck me as memorable :
Stands are companies, so formations are battalions- always a good thing for BIG battles.
I was particularly interested in using the rules for East Africa stuff. I do like this segment of the period, and Peter has done some excellent work here with his own version of One Hour Wargames rules and some great scenarios and period feel.
A lot of discussion on rules interpretation, but the game was very entertaining nonetheless.
Miniatures used are 10mm Pendraken (I think) from 'da bruvaz' ' excellent collection(s).
French infantry in late uniforms sans les red trouseuuursss...
German infantry in late uniform mit keinen spikey helmets!
Linear deployment, but do not let that obscure the degree of move / counter-move that is coming
German guns
A German battalion deployed - complete with MG company, which can detach, pivot, or fire straight ahead
Movement on the French left
A lot of chits being used. There are slight differences in activation.
French guns
French moves in the centre as they are forced to cover from German fire on their left.
Moving troops take to cover as MG and Artillery fire start to take their toll. There are nice reserve rules to exchange lost units for fresh - which can really tip the odds when required for the losing player
Hill assault
Not at the battle...but in the box...
In the box...it'd just be rude not to take a pic...
We didn't get the game finished, but the rules were fascinating, for a period / genre which should see more interest. As I'd mentioned, the East African theatre does hold a lot of interest for me here.
What can be said about her majesty. What a life! What a Queen. A very sad passing indeed. The end of an era that both she and her late husband helped shape.
L'Art de la Guerre (LADG) by Herve Caille, is a definite favourite amongst the guys, and, since I was never a big Ancients player, I have avoided them completely :O
However, I have obtained a copy (1) to see what all the fuss is about and (2) since there is much talk of their suitability for C17th fighting (with a rough expansion out there, and an official Renaissance book to follow).
I took some pics of the '2 Steves' game below, just before I got the rules.
These are actually fantastic value:
Without going into too much detail, much of the 'broken stuff' surrounding DBx series games is fixed. I do remember throwing dice during the DBA period, and kind of missed DBMM, so the relief that many feel with ADLG is somewhat lost on me.
The book is 260+ pages of rules which simple to learn and hard to master, plus lists spanning hundreds of years - for ancients and medieval.
200 point games have 20+ elements per side - and gameplay is very smooth.
Certain elements have to be played in certain ways, and there are 'chess' like approaches to play, but it all makes sense, and still gets a good game in, in a few hours at most.
There's a lovely wee terrain and army placement phase that sets everything up for set piece battle - all seems smooth.
I mentioned that the rules were originally French, right?
A few of Steve's wonderful 15mm armies presented here. He has the largest collection, of best painted troops ever seen in all o' Christendom. His stuff is eminently better than the dodgy painting you see in most rulebooks and magazines :
Burgundians
Late Romans
Assyrians
The guys had a War of the Roses army facing Burgundian (I think) - with the Burgundians fielding both Charles the Bold and Anton the Bastard on the same battleground.
Following a Terrain placement phase, and setup, the armies were ready to engage:
English set up after terrain placement on their left
'We few, we happy few, we... where'd everybody go???'
I sense a few flanking actions with a massive melee in centre...might be coming
'There be Pavisse...es...es.'
Charles the Bold, or Anton the B'stard
Early push from the Burgundians...despite how it looks, they are seeking a flank
...even as the English loose their light horse against t'other flank
'Get stuck in lads'
It all goes tit up on the English left
The English centre is going to break like a wave
...there it goes...
Anton the B'stard, or is it Charles the Bold
At the far end of the table here, you can see Burgundian moves against the English camp, which would net them 4 VPs - plus all the damage they have already dished out. Once they hit VP soak, the game will end, so it's all to play for.
In the end, the Burgundians had dished out enough damage, that it was very close to English surrender. I had to leave early, but the guys were able to get another game in on the same night. Great game
I have 20mm plastics, which will work for ADLG, though I may be convinced to dip into 15mm again. The size and scope of the armies seems to make it work with an eminently suitable set of rules that actually make the period work very well.
Our annual July game (which folds neatly in with the Christmas / Easter and 'any excuse for a piss up' games), are now back with a vengeance.
John and Stephen set up Salem Church, for 4 players + ref, with the excellent Fire & Fury (Regimental) - which definitely has some advantages:
There is clear and unarguable attrition, as in the ACW accounts, so it feels like the ACW - though there is a 'cold steel' charge rule, which inevitably means that there are distinct advantages in charging home without shooting . We debated this for hours...well, minutes anyway (many minutes)...at least in terms of how 'ACW' it was, and whether it was a game balance thing.
(Yes, those are curtain tassels attached to the hat...)
The setup used the excellent 15mm collections of John & Steve.
The Union was forced to attack Reb positions - inevitably perhaps coming unstuck on one flank. A Reb drive on their left threatened to make good on the scenario conditions, after the Union had captured / and lost the church, but neither side was going to win in the end - neither the Union capturing the Church, nor the Rebs the toll house. In the end, it became a hard fought grinding draw - but a great day - followed by wine, beers, Indian food and John's (not) gay beer.
NOT a gay beer
Reb positions at the church, with skirmishers along the walls. It's not a big position, and thereby only holds skirmishers at this scale.
Union attacks straight at the centre, with cold steel charges for the most part, with some smoothbore/RM discipline from the Rebs
Billy Yank was determined to say the least
Union attacks in the centre initially - but they can expect reinforcements
Federals hold the church...for a time
Building attacks on the Reb left
A mass battle in itself on the Reb right - was turning into a bloody stalemate - though the Union were still concerned enough to send multiple reinforcing regiments in that direction...
'Here they come again boys!' Union attacks are hard and fast, but, the Rebs can still counter-attack as the turns wear on, on their left...
Terrible melee on the left flank (my dice rolls were terrible anyway)
The bloody centre
Reb pressure tells terribly on their left flank...but it's too late
