Bavarians and a few other things done.

So not quite on plan but only 2 days off, I have managed to complete the Bavarians for Age of Reason (Maurice). So 4 regiments of foot - I did these with paper flags (I couldn’t face painting the parallelograms again - also the Virgin Mary on the Colonels colour is a challenge).

The Lieb Regiment - Top. Kurprinz Regiment - Bottom. 

Then 2 battalions of the Schallenberg Regiment - I am not sure that I have actually got the uniforms correct this time. All of the command figures have reversed uniforms, but when I had the WRG book on this period, I think I only did the sergeants and drummers in reverse. 

A regiment of hussars - I did have to paint the flag on these - so a few light cavalry. 

While I had the paints out I painted some destroyed artillery markers - a couple of these are press moulded (don’t tell anyone). 

The Russian chapel/church was also given a coat of paint - I picked this up from Ironclad miniatures because it was the cheapest one I have seen. After painting it I think it is probably better suited to mid 19th century onwards, but it will do for now. 

I now have a load of basing to do (and 7 generals to paint) - the whole Saxon army and the Bavarians at the top of this post. 

Now the plan is to get a game in soonish, so I actually use these things!

Morts

Progress on the Bavarians

I have started the last of the 15mm Age of Reason miniatures. The Bavarian sergeants and drummers for 4 battalions and the second battalion for the Kurprinz regiment (light blue cuffs). 

This last push is going quite well - current have 2 battalions of Schellenburg regiment on the painted table - dark blue cuffs. Hopefully these will be finished around the weekend - but we will see. 

Back to the grind stone. 

Morts

Light Infantry - Done

In the set of rules - Maurice, due to the fact they are really intended for the Austrian War of Succession or the Seven Years War, they have rules for light infantry. Because they also have imagi-Nations rules I thought I would get a light infantry unit for all the armies I have. 

So apart from some basing - here are the Saxon and Bavarian light infantry. Rather unimaginably red and green for the Saxons - green and light blue for the Bavarians. 

Rather pleasingly the Saxon army is finished - all needs basing now (a bit of a chore with these, but hey Ho). The Bavarians have got 4 infantry and 1 unit of hussars to do - then the 15mm early eighteenth century stuff is done.

Morts

So bits have been painted

It has been back to work and still looking for a new job/career - basically source of income. However I have managed to finished some bits and bobs. 

A unit of Saxon cavalry - Roundway Miniatures (actually British Heavy Cavalry) for a GNW army. 

An ok job on these - not too happy with the flag, but the actual design is difficult to copy in 15mm. I will be basing the whole Saxon army when the imagination light infantry-skirmishers are painted in the next week or so. Just a few more bits to complete for the 15mm GNW are finished off. 

The final three Shieldwolf Valkyries have been completed - still experimenting with speed/contrast paints. 

Not sure they are speeding up the painting process - the speed paints. But I plan to do a whole army (celts) with them at some point. 

All done with bases completed - I think they’ll look ok on a battlefield. 

I my depressed state about missing out on UK GamesExpo, I picked up a pack of plastic cyclops by Dark Alliance - I have some of there not Lord of the Rings trolls. About a tenner for 12 minis - 3 each of 4 poses, not bad as they are the size of an ogre (mantic hero one for scale).

I would say that the quality of these is a step up from the trolls I have - sculpting and production. At least 6 of these will become monster infantry for a fantasy Greek army … and I am sure that I will find extra use for them in other games too. 

Planning a game this weekend - hopefully I won’t be ill this time!

Morts

A few things done.

I finish off the Saxon Guard du Corps for my GNW armies (or Imaginations). If I’m honest these are not my best - this is not the first time that what should be the best painted unit in the army is a little bit meh. I should know better, a bit more patience. Never mind they are done now.

I also started on some of the Shieldwolf Valkyries - I’m trying to do these with contrast/speed paints.  Sort of preparation for the Celt army, which is planned for the future. 

For less that a tenner including p&p I picked up a box of techlog Dark Attack 54mm miniatures - 6 skeletons, 4 orcs, 5 elves and 5 dwarfs.

These were brought so I could use the Orcs as giant trolls on Kings of War - and as can be seen they are big chaps. The skellies are going to be used as undead giant trolls/ogres. The orcs will be used as is, but the skellies will need some work, especially on their weapons. The elves and dwarfs will be sold/moved on. 

Off to the moor for a couple of days now for Ten Tors. 

Morts 

Some 15mm Saxons and Russians

 The continued push to finish what is in the painting queue - I completed a unit of Russian infantry, mainly because I had 3 painted pikemen from a reorganisation years ago, so it was only 9 figures to do. 

I’m not sure if they are participating accurate, I did have a quick look in the Osprey Peter the Great’s Army. So the flag and cuffs might be off a bit - but it’s not end of the world.

I also finished a Saxon unit - again 5 of the marching troops were part of the first Saxon unit I painted years and years ago. I have to finish the final at the top and the turn the flag up the right way.

So a bit of work still to do - d’oh. 

Morts

Saxon Artillery and other things

After possibly 12 months plus of sitting on sticks ready for painting (and multiple years of sitting in bags and boxes), I have finally found the time to paint the Savon Artillery for the Great Northern War army. 

3 medium/heavy guns and a very light gun - apparently the Saxon guns had black carriages with yellow metal work - the crews have got red hat lace, although I found source which said it is white - but I had already painted them by then. Painting this lot has encouraged me to try and finish off the rest of the army - so along with the already prepped Guard du Corps and Cuirassiers, there are now 2 line infantry units and the “light” infantry for Maurice prepped too. While fiddling about a few painted pike men were found, so another Russian foot regiment is in the works. I have also got out the Bavarian units to ready for completion. Might try a game of Maurice in the near future - want to get (at least) one in before Christmas (but realistically one with be a good effort as things get busy).

On to the other things, while browsing eBay I came across a Mythic Battle Pantheon Aphrodite model for a bargain price, but I wasn’t sure of the size. 

As you can see - a nice model but she does tower above the Croc Games Athena demigod miniature. Part of me is not sure if I missed out on getting Hermes and the Persephone models, as I waited for her arrival - anyway she can still be used in Of Gods and Mortals.  

Morts

Some Saxons

So after the visit to Corfu and seeing Schulenburg’s statue I thought I might do some more Saxon for the Great Northern War. So I did. 

A couple of units in firing line - paper flags. The texture on the bases will be done when all the units are painted. Got some artillery, a couple of cavalry and infantry to do. Roundway minis are pretty easy to paint quickly. 

Must have a game of Maurice soon. 

Morts

Saxons - but not the usual ones.

Like a butterfly I have gone off task of painting things for Kill Team/40k and painted some more Saxon infantry for the Great Northern War (imaginations) collection. 

We have the command figures for Saxon Guard (white//Cream flag) and Kurprinz Regiment (Yellow flag).

The Saxon Guard have white hat tape. 

The Kurprinz have yellow hat tape (I am not sure if this is accurate but I makes them a little easier to differentiate).

There is something nice and easy about painting 15mm - the process seems quicker to get more acceptable results. 

I haven’t forgot the Kill Team stuff as I did pick up the new source book - Moroch. 

As it has rules for Phobos marines and the traitor guard (so I can use the Blackstone Fortress guys) - now  I was a bit too impatient buying this as when I decided to get a copy the auction prices were pushing £20 plus postage, so when was offered at £14.90 including p&p I went for it … have I have since had offers from sellers of less than £12 quid as the early adopters got a copy … d’oh!

Now I just have to assemble my Reiver/infiltrator team.

Morts 

A little painting done

I have managed to paint a Blackstone Fortress adventurer - the Navigator. 

I am pleased with how the purples came out - I think that I now have enough adventurers to actually play Blackstone Fortress - perhaps a go before Christmas.

Below 5 regiments of 15mm Saxon cavalry for Age of Reason games - well Maurice or GaPa. At the back are 3 regiments of dragoons - some of which are survivors of my old British and Dutch armies sold off long ago.

The cuirassiers are refugees from the old French army  - all of these are Roundway miniatures. The standards are a little rough - but very small to paint. 

Morts 

Tinners’ Trail and beer …

Steedo invited Keeno and my good self over for some beers on Friday. I suggested that we give Tinners’ Trail a try, as Keeno would give it a go (not really a gamer, but loves Kernow). If I recall correctly Steedo bought it so he could groom Keeno into a gamer. 

So we gave it a whirl and had some beer (more on that in a bit). 

The game plays over 4 rounds. Each round players take it in turns to play an action - costing different amounts of action points - until 10 points are spent. Then scoring for the round is done - the order you finish the round in changes the value of the victory points you can buy. The actions can be build a mine which involves a bidding process (with potentially some bluffing), installing wheel pumps, building boats or later in the game railways and of course selling pasties. The aim is to earn money from mining copper or tin - each round a new price is randomly set for the price of each item. Mining can be expensive as you need to pay to pump the water out - for example if there 2 water tokens in a mine then it will cost £2 to mine each unit of tin/copper out. 

In our game Steedo and Keeno went into an early lead in round one, while I was building mines … in round two I was able to do a fair bit of mining when the price of copper was high … getting into a nice lead. Round three saw Steedo make a push for catching up. However I managed to strip mine the north Cornwall coast - so I managed to stay ahead. Round four was more difficult as there were few mines left and couldn’t mine, so I was worried that Steedo would be able to catch me. However Keeno managed to bluff Steedo into buying an overpriced mine …

The final board - Keeno 132,  Steedo 234 and me on 25something. The game was interesting - lots of elements to balance out - I think I was lucky that I didn’t mine much in the first round, then was able to in the second. I think Steedo was trying to experiment with the various different actions, which hindered his scoring at times. It would be interesting to see how it plays with more players. 

The bees tried were Fullers London Porter - a full flavoured beer - reminded Steedo on the Guinness West Indian Porter. Otter Head - a strong local ale, which we have had before, but suffered by following Ludlow Brewery’s Stairway - a light ale (with Eastern European hops), still a 5% beer which was the best of the night. There was something with peaches in it, but the less said about that the better.

Morts 

Hit the target! Now more work to do.

 So I managed to complete my target of finishing off the last of the Cossacks. 

So painted with a blue/yellow scheme if I want to use them as light cavalry for Maurice imagi-nations campaigns using the GNW forces as a base.

Of course now I have this lot to base up as well before they can visit a table of battle. Whenever I get around to organising one of those ... with a new kitchen going in soon, me thinks this might be later.  

Morts

Target for the end of January

So I have managed to paint another unit of Russian dragoons - the last one huzzar!

Which means my target is to finish the last of the Cossacks, before the month is out. These Cossacks might be used as auxiliaries for the Swedes as historically a number did, partially leading Charles XII more south and the disaster at Poltava. 

Why all this re-interest in 18th Century Russian, well initially it was to get the off the painting table (because I haven’t undercoated anything due to it being too cold to use the sprays outside) and then because I have been watching Catherine the Great (with Helen Mirren) and “The Great” (a not very historical take on Catherine’s early life in Russia). I have to say I enjoyed the Helen Mirren series - classic period drama stuff, but I am also enjoying the “The Great” - although some of the changes they have made do grate a bit with my inner pedantry. 

I am also quite enjoying painting the 15mm figures again (which is just as well as I have some WWII to start in that scale). 

Morts 

A little more progress in the Age of Reason

Well I’ve been into work as the internet is so poor at home - no furlough for me ... sometimes think it would be nice. Work is actually quite intense online, but I have managed to complete another unit of Dragoons for my Russian GNW army. 

I have done an ok paint job for the Tschernigovski regiment. I now have one more unit of dragoons to go and the historical Russians are completed (after 30 or so years of being on or off the painting table). 

On other matters I am very tempted by a Kickstarter for Dwarf cavalry (by the same people who did the Hobgoblins I haven’t painted yet) ...  which then lead me to consider the old Grenadier minis Dwarfs mounted on bears. I will try and hold off as I thought I’d finish off the Dwarf forces. 

Stay safe  

Morts

Happy New Year and something painted

Well it’s been a little busy around here recently, what with yet another COVID  lockdown in the UK ..... unfortunately I am still having to go to work so nothing has really changed for me, in fact my work load has increased so I haven’t had much time to paint.

But I have painted a small unit of Cossacks and a Hetman for the Russian Great Northern War army - not the best I’ve ever done, but done nevertheless. A another group of Cossacks to go and a couple of dragoon units next. 

Still waiting for it to warm up a bit for some spray paint undercoating outside. 

Morts

GNW Maurice - Gross-Jägersdorf 1707 Battle Report

Steedo came over and chose to be the forces of the Kingdom of Sweden. Leave me the forces of mother Russia. 

Below a birds-eye view of the battlefield - initial depositions. The only change to was the relocation of the elites within there brigades.

The Swedes advance. The Russians bombard - well try to.

The Swedes charge in and the Russians counter charge!

The Swedes lose some elite cavalry (a bit of a shock that one). 

The Swedes go in again! This time two of the Russian dragoon regiments are broken for another Swedish unit. 

But the Russian cavalry has effectively been swept away. So the Russians bombard again (below).

 Then the Swedes charge the guns!

This was devastating - the Russian artillery wiped out - army morale dropping!

The Swedish cavalry then retreated as they couldn't break the infantry in front of them. 

From what I have read the battle was following the historical one - the Russian cavalry pushed a sided by the Prussians who then have to drop back in the face of the infantry. 

Below the Swedish cavalry try and fail to break the last Russian cavalry on the field (apart from the Cossacks - who just stayed around the camp!). Current unit losses are Swedes 3 Cavalry (including 2 elites) and Russians 2 Cavalry (1 elite) and 2 Artillery.

The Swedish Infantry working their way through the woods.

The infantry attack begins!

Exchange of volleys! Well actually Steedo played firefight twice to stop the Russians disrupting the attack. 

Elites, good rolling - helped by "a la Baionnette!" and the Russian line is struggling!

And it is all over the Russian morale collaspes! Frustratingly for the forces of the Tsar there were 4 battalions unengaged on the right - but unable to get into action. Well played Steedo who though it was all over at the start with the Swedish cavalry taking a beating.

I really enjoy Maurice - I find the game tactical and enjoyable. I couple of things we noticed in this one were elite infantry are game changers - I was unable to get the Russian elites from the far right flank to support the trained on the left where the Swedish elites punched through.

The pike rules worked well and reflected the Swedish "ga-pa" doctrine of the times - the -1 to hit on volleys coupled with the the 5+ needed to disrupt the elites won it for the Swedes and Steedo.

We also find that artillery is very week in Maurice and in the games we have played generally a target for knocking those army morale points down!

Overall a good game, which sort of reflected my perceptions of the Great Northern War well - small Swedish army taking out a larger Russian one - well up to 1708/9.

GNW Maurice - Gross-Jägersdorf 1707?

Another game of Maurice as the team can't get together for Linden Way.

This time it is Gross-Jägersdorf about 50 years early. The Swedes being subbed in for the Prussians, the Russians being the Russians- duh.

This scenario is shamelessly nicked from:

http://www.edinburghwargames.com/syw.htm

It is a word document at the bottom of the page - thanks for sharing. Please read up the general dispositions and run up to the battle from there - saves duplicating it. I have kept the brigade commanders names to help with deployment but no other reason.

I do have another version of  Gross-Jägersdorf from an old 18th Century Notes and Queries which includes the battle on the Russians left flank - I plan to do that when I have a few more Saxons painted up (Needs about 22 battalions on the Russian side!).

The following changes were made to make it in "period" -

1. The Swedes have tried to catch the Russians unprepared for battle (sound familiar?). 

2. The Swedes have 4 Cavalry units rather that 3 in the scenario - looking at the unit sizes it seemed right).

3. The Russians have a unit of Cossacks in addition to the forces in the scenario.

4. Objectives:

Swedes (Prussians): To break both Russian infantry brigades and drive them from the field. This would plunge the rest of the Russian army into confusion and force it to retreat. There is also a Swedish objective in the Russian camp.

Russians: To drive off the Swedes (Prussians), while inflicting heavier casualties on them than they inflict in return. There is also a Russian objective in the village of Metschullen.

5. Forces as follows with points and National Characterists;

Swedes (Prussians)- 70 points and 18 points National Advantages (Cavaliers and a la Baionnette). Army Morale 10

Schorlemer -

2 Units of Elite Horse

2 Units of Line Dragoons

This differs from the Edinburgh set up with an extra unit of Dragoons - but it seemed right.

Dohna -

2 Units of Elite Infantry

4 Units of Line Infantry

Russians - 86 points. Army Morale 15

Gaugreben - 

1 Unit of Elite Dragoons

2 Units of Line Dragoons

Leontev -

2 Units of Elite Infantry

2 Units of Line Infantry

2 Units of Conscript Infantry

2 Artillery Batteries

Manteuffel -

4 Units of  Line Infantry

1 Unit of Irregular Cavalry (Extra Cossacks) 

The Map

DEPLOYMENT

Swedes (Prussians): the infantry brigade is deployed to the right (east) of Metschullen village, on the southern table edge. The cavalry brigade is deployed on the left of the village, on a north-west to south-east axis, facing towards the Russians to the north-east.

Russians: Manteuffel’s brigade is deployed along the northern table edge facing the Nordkitten Woods. The rest of the army is deployed on a north-west to south-east axis, facing the Swedish (Prussian) cavalry to the south-west. Tyutchev’s gun battery may be placed anywhere within Leontev’s deployment box – historically it protected the Russian brigade’s left flank. 

Off to battle - must remember the rules for pikes (or ignore them again!)

Battle Report to follow!

Morts

GNW Maurice Scenario

Last night got to play Sam Mustafa's Maurice 18th century rules for the first time in about a year. I really like Maurice as a game - the use of cards make change from must of the systems I play and I feel makes it very tactical. 

The scenario we played was from Miniature Wargames issue 140 called River Luhe 1626 based on a possible thirty years war engagement between the Danes and Imperialists, however it was transposed 80 odd years later to the Great Northern War with the Swedes and Russians taking the roles of combatants respectively. 

The Map

The river is fordable for infantry and cavalry. Objectives for Swedes hold the bridges. For the Russians take both the bridges or one bridge and the road junction in A5. 

Swedes can deploy anywhere North of the river. Russians arrive as indicated in army breakdown, but rolling to see if the brigade arrive on the Western or Eastern road.

The forces were as follows:

Swedes - 75 points and 18 points National Advantages (Cavaliers and a la Baionnette) Army Morale 9

5 regiments of foot (1 elite)

4 regiments of horse (1 elite)

Russians - 74 points, Army Morale 14

Turn 1 

2 regiments of foot (1 conscript)

3 regiments of dragoons

Arrives Turn 3

3 regiments of foot (2 elite)

1 regiments of dragoons 

1 Artillery battery 

Arrives Turn 5

2 regiments of foot (1 conscript)

1 regiments of dragoons 

1 Artillery battery

In retrospect the Russians should have had some points on National Advantages and/or an extra infrantry unit.

Starting positions

Swedes take up forward position with infantry in the centre and cavalry on the flanks - classic dispositions for the period. First Russian brigade arriving on the eastern road.

Russians begin to deploy - Swedes watch.

Turn 3

Very aggressive move from the Russians as 3 regiments of dragoons charge across the river - picking up a disruption marker. An inconclusive initial engagement where the outnumbered Swedes held their own. The battle was mainly fought on the eastern side of the battlefield.

The Russians second brigade arrive - unfortunately this is how they stayed for the entire battle apart from the artillery! Two elite units did nothing!

Turn4

Swedish counter charge devastates the Russians!

The aftermath - 3 dragoon regiments broken! With some poor dice rolling the Russian morale drops by 8 points!

Turn7 ish

The 3rd Russian brigade has arrived - bombardment has destroyed one of the Swedish Horse regiments. The other crossed the river to take the Russians in the flank, only to discover bad going which wasn't on the map! The Russians have sent a dragoon regiment far behind the Swedish line.

A turn or 2 later 

The Swedes have marched their elite cavalry from the western flank to engage the dragoons. This should have been over quickly but for the playing of Valeur et Discipline - which kept Russian dragoons in the fight and weeken the Swedish Horse. In the end the Swedish Horse were finished off by a bombard action and the dragoons by a volley after an about face by the foot at the end of the line. Russian volleys had also broken the Swedish Horse at the extreme eastern end of the battlefield. The Swedes army morale was down to 1 point the Russians were on 5.

Turn 9 or 10 could be 11 ....

Russians use Capture Intelligence card and take the Confusion card ... They use the Confusion card to bring a unit across the river - they plan to isolate and destroy it thus breaking the  Swedish army and winning the game. But they bring across the Swedish elite!

They wheel to take the Russians in the flank! With the aid of the thick smoke the survive canister in the flank!

No volley phase!

They charge into the flanks - that negative 6 is a real killer

High rolling meant the Russians lose their 5 remaining Army morale points .... A victory to the blue boys of Sweden.  A damned close run thing!

A couple of rules errors forgot the effect of pikes -1 for musketry and +1 for charging foot.

A good game and thanks to Steedo for being the forces of the Tsar. In retrospect the Russians didn't use their second brigade (apart from the artillery) which contained 2 elites - this was a big error as if they had been deployed I think Steedo could have won on the western side of the battle field. 

Losses were 3 regiments of horse for the Swedes, 4 regiments of dragoons and 2 regiments of foot for the Russians.