The Battle of Chotustiz - a Maurice Game

Steedo and Tiger-king came over for a game of Maurice. Maurice is a favourite of mine and Steedo likes it (I think), and Tiger-king had been asking to play a war game. So while my wife and sprogs were away I thought it would be a good time. 

After a bit of hunting around I decided on the battle of Chotustiz - at early battle in the career of Fredrick the Great. So Prussians versus Austrians, but in this case Bavarians versus Saxons. In the real battle the Prussians won mainly with their infantry.

The boys didn’t get free deployment - I had basically set up as shown on a map, infantry in the centre and cavalry on the flanks but allowed them some redeployment. We were playing to break each army. As it was Tiger-king’s first game, I did give him more help than Steedo. 

The initial deployments - Bavarians under Von Steedo on the left and Koenig Tiger’s Saxons on the right.

The game started, with some bombardments - the Bavarians getting the best of it, breaking a Saxon foot regiment and damaging a unit of Saxon hussars. Then Von Steedo started moving his cavalry on the right flank - the Saxons steeled themselves on the top of the hill. 

The initial Bavarian charge was absorbed, then the counter charged by the Saxons swept most of the Bavarians away…

The Saxon cavalry then moved to destroy the Bavarian batteries, however their charge was hampered by some previously unknown broken ground at the bottom of the hill. Unfortunately they had to retreat down the hill, with the intention to rally and try again. 

With the cavalry engagement on the flank, going in favour of the Saxons, but Koenig Tiger unable to exploit this, but Von Steedo then advanced his infantry in the centre - partly to protect his infantry and regain the initiative. 

Both sides infantry moved forward - this broke the Saxons cavalry who were threatening the Bavarian artillery.

Unfortunately for the Saxons, there seemed to be a problem with their power as a number of their volleys didn’t to the damage expected. The Saxons morale was also ebbing away, more quickly than the Bavarians - even though the causalities taken by both sides were are about the same. 

The Bavarians continued to put pressure on the Saxon centre, but a charge did relieve some pressure.

Unfortunately for the Saxons the continued Bavarian infantry pressure broke another Saxon unit, which caused the army’s morale to crack … a win for Von Steedo. 

Well I had fun running the game and Steedo was obviously pleased with the result. However I got the impression that Tiger-king, wasn’t as keen - he said that the card mechanics were interesting, but felt that it was a bit random - which I don’t think is correct. Now I accept that Tiger-king was rolling poorly, well more accurately low when in combat/shooting, when high is good and high when low is good - army morale. The frustration was visible - but this is part of all wargames, as the dice rolls are used to manage the unknowns and imponderables which crop up in war which can’t be accounted for. 

A good evening’s diversion for two of us, but perhaps not for the 3rd. 

Kesselsdorf - a Maurice Game

On Saturday evening Steedo came over to revisit Maurice (an excellent war game by Sam Mustafa), using the Saxons and Bavarians I had recently finished (after many years on the painting list). The scenario was adapted from the Might and Reason on Sam’s website. The actual battle was fought between the Saxons and the Prussians in 1745 - resulting in a resounding Prussian victory.  The Bavarians were being the Prussians in this game.

The map was roughly reproduced with row E and columns 1,2 and 9 missed out. The forces from the Might and Reason scenario were multiplied by 0.8 to match the figures available, giving:

The Bavarians 6 regular cavalry (1 elite), 1 irregular cavalry, 7 battalions of foot (1 elite) and 2 artillery. National characteristic - Oblique movement (probably not historically accurate, but not used much in the game.

The Saxons 4 regular cavalry, 9 battalions of foot (2 elite) and 2 artillery. National characteristic - Steady Lads (possibly not historically accurate - but as Steedo forgot to use it, not actually relevant to the game. 

Both armies started with 15 Army Morale Points.

The Bavarians (me), won the scouting roll so made Steedo’s Saxons set up first as the defender.

Initial deployments saw all the cavalry on the same side of the battlefield, except the Bavarian Hussars who were on the other flank, with 2 battalions of infantry - facing off against 5 battalions of Saxons. My plan was to break Steedo’s horse and get around the back of his position. 

The engagement started with an exchange of ineffective artillery bombardments. The battle was focused on the cavalry side of the field as I tried to force the Saxon cavalry to attack. I also moved the hussars forward to worry Steedo on his right … the only time either of us moved anything on that flank …

Which they did - and to my frustration Steedo had first blood as he broke one of my regiments. However the numbers did tell and the fact I took rally orders to remove disruptions. 

This meant that my Bavarians overwhelmed the Saxon cavalry and to my surprise Steedo moved his infantry off the hill (and away from his artillery) towards my 2 battalions on his side of the river. 

This move did destroy one of my battalions and the use of the dubious ploy of “death of a hero” left us tied on 5 morale points left each. But it also left a battalion exposed to a devastating flank attack and the Saxon artillery in a position to be ridden over! Which was the final move of the game as it broke the Saxons morale. 

The final shot of the unused flank - 5 battalions of unused Saxon infantry faced off against 2 battalions of Bavarians and a unit of hussars. 

The post mortem discussion focused on the lack of use of one of the flanks - on both I think Steedo could have used his infantry to screen off my cavalry - certainly after his cavalry had been defeated. I think I would have struggled force through on a firefight. We both ended up just focusing on one area of the battlefield (again), Steedo would have found some results by forcing a river crossing with his 5 battalions on his right. Making sure you rally troops is key and possibly where Steedo lost the cavalry encounter with multiple charges leaving his units weak. 

An enjoyable relearning game - so now I want want to set up an Imaginations Campaign - I like the idea of picking the National Characteristics for a country and tracking the army’s progress over a number of battles and wars. 

Morts 

Some painting for Kill Team and Maurice

Recently I painted the first of the Voidscarred Corsairs - 3 of these are Eldar Guardians with the load outs to make sure I could pick any of the Corsair options.

I went for a grey, with purple/yellow cloth - so there is some link to the Craftworld Eldar I already have. 

I have also finished the very last of the Age of Reason stuff - the minifigs named generals (which a were annoying packs as it wasn’t clear which figure was which general. 

These lads will be used as notables for Maurice - which I want to play again as I have re read the rules and start up a small imaginations campaign. Picking the National Characteristics for each army.

I also finished basing up the Saxons and Bavarians, so there is not reason why I can’t get a game going. 

Morts

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

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

Done some painting

So will a little break from work I have settled down and done a bit of painting. 

Actually completely finished - some grooty Treemen types. 

Done with speed paints and with a little dry brush - should be useful for many game settings. Nice quick job. 

Not painted, but assembled some Valkyries by shield wolf miniatures - picked up on a kickstarter a while ago - not totally sure why I assembled these. I have a few wings and bodies spare - but am short of left arms. They aren’t high on the get painted queue. But I think the assembly process helped get the mind to the painting space. 

The tractor units for the Kataphrons are painted and I have started on the bodies. 

I’m not sure if I’m going to do some chipping on these or not. I might wait until they are fully assembled. 

Some not brilliantly done 15mm civilians for the age of reason. 

Done with speed paints - just to get the job done. The top row are clutter for battlefields. The priests can actually be used in games of Maurice - with an effect on your troops - which is why I got them, can’t remember the rule now. 

So some stuff done. 

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 

Light infantry for Maurice

As a break from painting stuff for Kill Team - which I must have a trial game of soon - I thought that I would paint some 15mm light infantry for the Maurice forces. 

For the Russians 

I think that these are actually Turkish renaissance troops ,but I thought they looked close enough to Strelsi to stand in as light troops for the forces of the Tsar in imagination games. 

For the Swedes I have used Prussian Freight Korps. 

Grey coats and yellow facings. Not my best work - I might go back and increase the highlights …but as these are only proxy units for the rules rather than true to the period I’m not sure. 

Will be interesting to see how light infantry play in Maurice. 

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 

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

More mischief arrived

So the package from QRF arrived with rubber roads - latex which I might have been able to make myself if I had some latex (I have soon thickener somewhere but none of the stuff itself). The roads are ok, but could do with some trimming - I went for the approximate 1” width as this is good for 15mm roads and works for 28mm tracks. I reckon good enough value for money and a bit of a time saver (might buy some more or try making some in the future).

Also got some SYW light troops for my Imagi-Nations Maurice armies - As my armies are actually early 18th Century, they don’t have proper light troops, but for made up forces it would be nice to offer them as an option. The Bavarians have some Austrian lights , the Saxons some Hanoverians, the Swedes are using Prussian and the Russians have got some Turks - but these look like the Cossack figures .... I will have a look at the light troops uniforms for the actual nations and try to do a sort of homage to them.

Morts

A Game of Maurice - First game time in a while

Steedo and I had a quick game of Maurice in the afternoon (with copious cups of tea, rather than the copious amounts of alcohol). As it was the first game in a while, we played with identical armies (no special abilities) and mirrored terrain on each side of the river. The objective was to control both bridges - this was going to be a tough game for both of us.
The game started with the myself setting up first as the defender and Steedo as the attacker. I had set most of my army in column formation (Steedo had set up his whole army at one bridge) - but I didn't have any march cards to change formation or move, so I had to pass on the first few turns.
Steedo managed to get his cavalry across the bridge on my right flank while I still had my troops in column - and fortunately his attack was held off.

Meanwhile I had managed to get my cavalry across the other bridge and held off Steedo's cavalry (having almost been caught in the flank!). Steedo then resumed his attack on my right flank, which eventually led to the the loss of two cavalry regiments each and neither of us holding the bridge. We then returned to my left flank - where I managed to get both my cavalry units into an attack - one slightly disadvantaged my a ploughed field, however I had used the "Confusion" card to drag in one of Steedo's units to equal out the mud. This engagement was a win for my forces! Unfortunately for me we had ran out of cards and the game was called.

The final tallies were Steedo - 4 units lost, one objective held, 7 on the army morale. For myself 2 units lost, one objective held, 5 on army morale (but this was down to Steedo playing "Death of a Hero" twice, for 4 morale off me and later playing "Rousing Speech" to put 2 back on his!). In th spirit of the enlightenment we called it a draw and discussed who might win if we continued - possibly me as I might have be able to get around the back of Steedo's artillery, but the infantry fight would have been very attritional. In retrospect the capture of both bridges without any other way of get across the river made this a challenging battle in which the infantry played little part. Although I think the game played in a very historical way.
It was  really good to get Maurice back to the table - will need to get an Imagi-nations campaign sorted....... Too much to do and too little time .....

Morts