Last night the "thrifty three" had a great Seven Years War game pitting Prussians against Russians.
Top photo is scenario,bottom is my dispositions(Russians)-I "disappeared" for 15 mins. leaving Paul and Graham to come up with a plan for their troops(Prussians)
Don't know where Graham has got to,but this shows Paul placing his centre and left.
My plan was simple-attack with my left,hold in the centre and right,theirs was to attack my left flank,mess me about in the centre and make a slow attack on my right,through the woods.
We're off!! my swift advance with my Cuirassiers threw Graham off balance,and stopped him in his tracks-which caused a "log jam" which prevented Paul from deploying his gun battery and Dragoons-oh dear,how sad,never mind!!-My cavalry advance was just a feint,and I soon got them back to their original positions,and started an advance with my infantry-hurrah!!
The table at about move number 4.Paul is moving cautiously through the woods,but I am about to unleash my Hussars!!
With orders to "harass and harangue" any thing that comes through the woods-they did a splendid job,taking casualties off Paul's Dragoons but receiving no casualties in return.Paul likened them to Carthaginian Numidian Cavalry-and so they were!!
Graham's attack is still in "limbo",and now I am moving my reserve Dragoons on to his left flank by the lake-by this time Paul was worried,mainly because I am aiming my attack against his battery!!!
Paul has cleared the woods,and I immediately attacked him with my Dragoons,and beat him,forcing him back to the woods!!-isn't wargaming wonderful????-I also attacked his horse artillery battery with my Hussars(skirmish) and forced them to retire-bloody marvelous!
I have a feeling that all is going too well(??!!)
Graham has finally got his act together,and is pouring volley after volley into my infantry and artillery-a desperate assault on my village failed miserably,and I was moving my cuirassiers around his right flank,again,causing him to "baulk"-I love wargaming,me!!
Yet another "lull" on my left flank,while Graham decides what to do!!-in the background you can see that I have wiped out Paul's lake-side battery,but am being attacked by his Dragoons.My other Cuirassiers are making their way through the central woods and onto Paul's infantry flank!!
Paul has now crossed the lake,and engaged me frontally,whilst his reserves are moving through the woods to out-flank me-weight of numbers are now telling-great tactics,great wargaming!!
(note the Curassiers about to charge his infantry!!)
My left flank exposed infantry and artillery are beaten,and Graham,at last ,is putting in a determined attack-on the other flank Paul has got his reserves into position on my right flank,so all is lost!!!-a great game,and well done to Paul and Graham.
We might have a full complement next week,but no idea,as yet,as to what we will be playing.
This morning,Alan and Cameron came along to introduce Cameron to wargaming.To make things simple I chose a straightforward "bash" involving Vikings and Saxons.
Top photo is the main Saxon position,bottom is the village which Alan had to capture,Cameron was to attack the Church position-I was,obviously, in charge of the Saxons.
The Viking Longships approach the Saxon shore-both Alan and I kept Cameron right,showing him movement,troop types ranges etc.
Alan has landed his troops and spent no time in attacking the village(which was held by Fyrd!!)
Meanwhile my Saxons are moving forward to support the "village people" and try to divert some of Alan's Vikings away from the attack.
Cameron is moving his troops tentatively forward,being guided by Alan,against my Saxons,who have formed a "Shieldwall" between the rocks.Cameron was slowly picking up the simple rules we use,using his archers to weaken my line,before he chose to charge into the "Wall".
A frantic melee ensued for three moves,before I started to gain the upper hand-HOWEVER,bloody dice let me down at a crucial moment,and Cameron started to push me back!!!!
Back at the village,it was "throwing out time" only it was me that was being thrown out!!
The Fyrd were no match for the blood- thirsty Vikings,and the village was taken-woe is me!!
Cameron's troops are pushing me back,and he still has an intact second line!
My counter-attack just bounced off Alan's Vikings,so,with the church in danger of being ransacked by Cameron,and the village in Viking hands,I capitulated(they can't touch you for it!!)
Cameron seemed to enjoy the game,and has asked to come again for another,so he can get used to the rules etc.
Meanwhile,roll on next Sunday!
Last night saw the "Fab-Four" fight a most interesting and colourful game set in Ancient Greece.
Top photo shows the scenario,bottom shows the table before any movement.
A rare photograph(and one for the archives!) of Brian actually moving troops forward to the attack!!-he was in charge of the Plateans and Boetians,Graham was in charge of the Athenians,whilst Paul was in charge of the Spartans,and I was in charge(??) of the Corinthians-all was set for an epic struggle.
After some preliminary skirmishing,we had all got into our required positions-this shows Graham's advance from the ridge,against the Spartans-wonderful stuff!!
Getting nearer!-but not as near as Brian and I..............................................
Standing shield to shield and toe to toe,our little metal warriors(actually all the figures are from Warrior miniatures!) fight it out,with the fortunes of war(ie dice!) swaying backwards and forwards-exciting and tense.
It was the same on the Spartan flank!-Graham had arrayed his Athenians in two lines,but the Spartan fighting points were superior,and Paul had a "cunning plan" up his sleeve.............
An out-flanking move "par excellence!"-could Graham order his back line to face this threat in time??????
Meanwhile, back on my flank,I have broken Brian's line,but,and it's a big but, he has untouched units ready to help out-touch and go stuff!!!!
An over-all view of the table at about move number 10-the space at the bottom left of this shot is where my Corinthians should be,but Brian's counter attack with his Plateans has destroyed my line and my troops are running away!!-however Paul is doing well on his flank(although not too well on the hill!) so a draw was called for...............................................
and unanimously agreed!!-this final shot shows the state of the armies on move number 12(?)
This was a well played game,thrilling and exciting to the end-well done lads.
Roll on next Sunday-no idea yet as to what we will be playing(Brian is on holiday,but Dave should be back in the frame)-but I have been working on a project!!!!!
What a game we had last night!-Chris brought his Fleet and Marine Legion up from Yorkshire,I supplemented it with some of my figures,and pitted them against a huge Barbarian army,and a "ding-dong " of a game ensued!!
Top photo is the scenario,bottom is Chris laying out his MDF fleet and beautifully painted Legion-he looks happy now,but will he still be smiling when the game ends??
We're off! The Romans,commanded by Chris,Graham and Paul are dis-embarking,as the Barbarians commanded by Brian,myself and Dave,move forward to engage.
A lucky shot from Graham's Bolt Thrower has set a hut on fire,restricting any movement through the Settlement-and this was just move number two!!!
As the Roman line was being formed,I launched my chariots against it,with some success,but mostly some failures!!-so far we are not doing so well!!
The Roman line is now fully formed,but I am massing the warbands in the centre,ready to deal a crushing defeat on them!-Our "Secret Weapon" now came into play,the "butcher of Oakhampton" aka NIRAB,was ordered to unleash the "hounds of hell" through the trees and attack Paul who held the Roman left flank!!-hurrah(or was it??)
There they are,lurking in the woods-poised and ready to strike-come on Brian,come on Brian,come on Brian!!!-please,pretty please,double pretty please!!-move the bloody things!!
The Romans are looking pretty smug-as well they might.Graham has secured his flank against Dave(who asked for and received a couple of warbands from the reserves) who has just lost his CinC figure!!,the centre is being pushed back,so it's all down to the "Butcher of Oakhampton"-come on Brian,come on Brian,come on Brian!!!!!
We are now shifting our troops to guard the right flank against Graham,my centre is in real trouble,and Brian has now decided to let a couple of his warbands have a look at the "nasty" Romans!!-who then unleashed all kinds of hell against them-they did not like it and retired back to the woods!!!!!
The desperate fight for our left flank! but, outnumbered,and out-general'd we had no chance of winning it.
As Chris looks on,Paul moves his victorious troops forward,and it is all over!-to be fair to Brian,he did put in a good attack(eventually!) but was beaten back by Paul's "scorpion" and pila from his Legion!
All in all a great fought game,with usual hilarious banter and down-right rudeness to each other-wouldn't change it for the world!!
Roll on next Sunday,could be the battle of Marathon,but who knows?
Our thanks to Chris for bring his troops this far North!-hope you can come again soon.
I learned today,via Charlie Wesencraft,that a friend and fellow wargamer,Paul Kirby, died yesterday from cancer.
Our heartfelt sympathies go out to his wife,Sue,and his family.Paul was a real gentleman and will be sorely missed by all of his friends in Charlie's club-Mike,Dave,Mel,Phil,Ron,Tony and Bruce,as well as all of us in Westerhope Wargames Group.
It is very rare that I am lost for words/speechless,but I really don't know how to write up last night's game!!
The scenario called for an attack/defence type game against a defended town(Oakhampton) but no attack developed..............................
Top photo is "Scenario" and bottom is the table as the"boys" saw it-they had to make their own dispositions and plans.Graham and Brian were the Royalists,whilst Dave and Paul were the Parliamentarians.
Both sides move their troops to their pre-ordained positions,as per their battle plans-the town was lightly held and the force set to attack it looked formidable-I won't tell you the name of the player who was to attack but his name is an anagram of NIRAB!!!!
On move number 4 we had the first cavalry clash,Paul and Graham contested the flank until move number 14!! great stuff.
"NIRAB" is contemplating moving some of his troops,but,well, it's best not to be too hasty!!
Meanwhile the Parliamentarians are moving into good positions!
Then,at last "NIRAB" moved an infantry regiment forward,got it shot to bits,and retired it!
The cavalry battle is still on-going on the far flank,surely a mass attack is forthcoming(??) on the town.
As the cavalry fight on...........................................
The defenders clean their muskets,sharpen their pikes and pick their noses!!(and await a massive attack??)
An overview of the table showing the lack of action in some sectors,and the on-going cavalry action in others!!
Tumble weed time!-the defender were now polishing their balls(musket and cannon!!) to amuse themselves whilst awaiting the massive attack,which surely must be forthcoming now!
As the game drew to an end,Graham is finally beaten on the cavalry front,and Paul can deliver the "coup de grace" on his infantry,and Dave actually attacked "NIRAB" with some cavalry in front of the town,forcing him back,and with cries of "woe is us" the Royalist were defeated!
What was that????????
The laughter was in abundance,to say the least,and the banter was as good,so I suppose the night wasn't a complete washout.
Roll on next Sunday,when our "Yorkshire" mate Chris is bringing up his Romans and fleet for a big game.
This Sunday we will be playing an English Civil War game,but I will be adopting a different approach to the whole game set-up.For years now I have been writing the scenarios,placing the terrain on the table and putting the armies in their respective positions and formations,only for the "boys" to come along and in the first move march the figures left,right and centre,up and down and roundabout,into different positions and formations!! So, what is going to change?
Well,I will still write the scenarios(unless,God forbid, one of the "boys" comes up with a one to give my poor old brain a rest!) and put the terrain onto the table,complete with the number and type of troops each side have,give an objective(s) and let them decide where and in what formation they want to place their troops!!
The games will take a little longer doing it this way,but it will solve a problem and ease my frustrations.
Top photo is the scenario,bottom is the table(denude of troops!) as the "boys" will see it as they arrive on Sunday.
