I played the following game,using my 15mm ECW figures,on Friday,and thoroughly enjoyed it! I took my time,and planned what I wanted to achieve from the game,used my tried and tested very simple solo rules,and got a result-what more could you ask for?
Top photo shows the lay-out,with the town of Brockwell,in the centre being held by Royalist troops,who are also defending the surrounding area.
The bottom photo shows the initial assault by the Parliamentarians,who I had planned to pin the town troops and make an out-flanking sweep,with their right flank troops,eventually to drive the Royalists out of the town,and drive them away altogether!!
This shows the out-flanking troops,heading towards the Royalist left flank,which was lightly held!!
Rupert's and Hopton's regiments held the town,and with the benefit of cover,were giving the attackers a bit of a rough ride!!-other regiments were also getting involved,in what was turning into a very entertaining game!
In this shot,Maurice's horse are taking on Cromwell's horse-the simple expedient of throwing a dice each,and the highest score wins-resulted in this instance of Cromwell's horse receiving a "red dot" against them(on a wipe board-see later photo!)-two "red dots" would result in a minus one from their dice score,and three "dots" would mean the unit leaving the board!!-very simple and brutal,but a result !!
Top photo shows the "out-flankers" about to get to grips with Newcastle and Percy's regiments,whilst the battle for the town "hots up"-this,to me ,was thrilling stuff!!
Under intense pressure(and three "red dots") Hopton's regiment has gone!!-and the Parliamentarians have gained access to the town-BUT,they were fired on,losing their officer,which put them on 3 "dots"-resulting in them leaving the board-the town is saved!!
Newcastle and Percy's white coats are taking a right old pounding,but Royalist reserves are moving up,and the flank is saved,as well as the town-by this move I was exhausted!!!
This is the final shot of the board-the Parliamentarians have "shot their bolt" so to speak,whilst the Royalists have fresh troops,and still control the town-so a victory for them!!
This is the white board,showing the state of the various regiments-remember that 3 "red dots" results in that unit leaving the board-at the end of the game the Royalists lost 4 units while the Parliamentarians lost 8-a resounding result.
It became obvious that I need more cavalry and guns,but the game was a real success to me,the only problem(if you can call it a problem) was remembering whose turn it was to move!!!
I will be playing future games,adding more to the simple rules,such as elite type units,morale features etc.
Well,at last I have finished the 15mm figures that I have so far-Christmas is coming and I have requested that family buy me some more guns and cavalry,so will have to wait to finish the whole project.
However,I do have enough to stage my first English Civil War game,and thought I would post the set-up,and play the game later on this week............................
This is the set-up,I will be calling the game the battle of Brockwell(the town c/w scratch built houses and a church!) which is in the middle of the picture,and being defended by the Royalists.
Two views of Brockwell,from the front and from the back-with the New Model Army about to mount their first attack!!
New Model Army,and detail-quite apt,I think-being my new model army!!!
Detail of "Yellow" regiment defending the right flank farm.
The view from the Parliamentarian gun position.
I am looking forward to fighting a campaign based on the town of Brockwell,taking into account the casualties and positions of the troops after this first battle-and will,of course, keep posting information.
No it's not Panto season yet!!-we fought the battle of Torgau 1760 last night,organised by Paul(to save me from melt-down!!)
The battle was one of Frederick's classic march around the flank of the enemy and throw them off-balance!!-and it worked!(well done Paul)
This is the scenario-I was Frederick,Brian was Zeithen,Graham was Lacey and Dave was Daune(who was not informed of the out-manoeuver by the Prussians until move number 3,when he was allowed into the garage!!-hence,"he's behind you!"
Top photo is the table at move number 2,with Brian and Graham,predictably, sending their cavalry forwards,whilst the Prussians under my command are moving in a "stately" manner towards the unsuspecting Austrians!
Bottom photo is the Austrian army looking the wrong way-could Dave sort them out in time??
Yes he could,and did!resulting in a most furious battle for the position-great stuff.
Brian and Graham are hotly contesting this flank-I moved my cuirassier squadrons across to help out,just as Graham moved his Russian infantry and artillery across the whole board to support Dave-it then became obvious,that,whoever won the ensuing cavalry battle,would dominate the flank and win the game-luckily it was the Prussians-hurrah!!
Dave and I slugging it out!!-Dave is a "wily" opponent,and you know if you're against him it will never be easy-and it wasn't!!-this was wargaming at its best,as far as I'm concerned.
This is a general shot of the table,at about move number 9-one of Dave's regiments failed a morale test and fled off the board,leaving,as they say, an ugly hole!-through which I prepared my allied infantry to pour!!
Graham's cavalry had all but disappeared,and a combination of Brian's cavalry and infantry,plus my cavalry was about to drive along the front,destroying all hope of an Austro/Russian victory!!
One final shot of the table,showing that the Austrians are still holding their own,but with no chance of a clear victory,the Prussians were declared the winners!!
This was a great game,so well done to us all,especially Paul who organised and refereed the whole thing!!
A word of warning-never let a 20 month-old play with balloons beside a video recorder-God knows how many more there are inside!!!
Roll on next Sunday-we will be playing a Napoleonic game at Dave's house.
Last night we had a full turnout for this fascinating game.
This is the scenario and table before any movement-Brian and Paul were British and Rangers,whilst Dave and Graham were french and Indians-I was referee,because I have damaged my knee!!
Move number one,and both sides are moving to contact-I had stipulated that the regular troops couldn't begin to fire on each other until they were both in position(just like history!) however the irregulars could,and did!!
Top photo shows Graham,employing the time-honoured tradition and tactics of the Woodland Indians,by making them queue,in an orderly fashion, to be shot by Paul's Rangers!!!!!
Bottom photo shows how it should be done-skirmishing in the woods,using stealth and cover to minimise casualties-Dave and Brian kept this up for a couple of moves,until Brian's Rangers got the better of the Indians and they retired(it's good being retired!)
Two shots of the Regulars forming up,ready to open fire.............................
BOOM!! both sides opened fire,with devastating volleys,however Dave had weakened Brian's guards regiment,with artillery fire,and with a couple of very good dice throws,killing an officer as well as creating lots of casualties,and the subsequent morale check saw them retiring(I'm not even going to say "it's...!)-this was a blow to the British,but Paul had reserves in hand-hurrah!!
In a reversal of fortune,on Paul's flank,Graham's Indians have now forced his Rangers back-what a tussle!!
On the other flank,Brian has forced Dave's Indians back,and he is attacking the fort!!
But what of the regular troops slugging it out in the centre??
Well,the strain of combat,forced the French Guards to flee!!,and one of the central regiments also took to their heels,leaving an ugly hole(!!) into which the British were preparing to advance,so the game was given to the British!!-this was not a complete victory,though,as the Fort was still in French hands!!-good game "boys"
Roll on next week,when Paul is arranging a 7YW game,and the week after that,Paul,Dave and Graham will be staging a grand Napoleonic game!!
My 15mm ECW project is now well under way,and I thought I just might show my attempt at painting these "little devils",from bare metal to finished item!
This is my latest Royalist regiment-20 figures,on their painting bases,and ready to go!
It must be mentioned that I have a strange painting ethos-I look at a figure and work out how FEW colours I can get away with,without it looking too "crap".
The above three photo's show the remarkable amount of detail on these tiny figures-there's no way I could paint it all in!!
After painting the faces and hair(same colour!) I have blocked the main clour in,ie green,and now for the clever(??) part,as far as I am concerned!!!
I have painted hats,boots,muskets,pikes,scabbards and cross belts all the same colour,ie brown!
saving me an awful lot of time and effort!
Brown complete,on with a flag,and almost ready to be based,just a touch of gold and a splash of red,and we're off!
Based on a 100mm by 30mm card base,ready for flocking..........................
Flocked and totally finished!-because of this fast(and crappy) painting technique,I can knock one regiment out per day-I know,I know,it shows!!
Now onto the game preview for Sunday..........................
This is the scenario,we haven't played this period for some time,mainly because we haven't got the correct figures for the French and British! but our Marlburian figures will have to do.
This is the table as the "boys" will see it as they arrive on Sunday night-we will pick sides on the night!
Apart from the fort,this settlement will also be an objective for the British!
Roll on Sunday.
