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. 

What has been painted now!

A painting up date. Exciting I know so hang on to your hats. Or not.

For the on going Saga of Orc's Drift.

First up the new recruits for the Linden Way Militia. 

3 Archers. Originally Garrison Archers from the Harlequin/Black Tree Design Lord of the Rings range which was released before the Peter Jackson movies. I scraped off the Tree of Gondor from their chests.

8 Spearmen

These are also from the Harlequin/Black Tree Design Lord of the Rings range - but were the Men of Anfalas. I picked these up ages ago as I liked the Dark Age/Late Roman vibe they have got for a 1000-1500 point Warhammer army .... That plan got as far as the buying stage. With most being sold off unpainted, but I kept enough for a HoTT army - which was helpful when I decided to run the Orc's Drift scenario pack. 

Now they are going to from the basis of a Retinue for Lion Rampant and hopefully enough for a Dux Bellorum force as well. If I can sort the sabot bases rambled about recently.

I will do a muster for Linden Way a little closer to the game - when we have sorted a date.

Incidentally the figures are still available from Scotia Grendal Productions in the generic fantasy range.

These 3 are some of the civilians needed for Linden Way. From left to right a Black Tree monk, a Warlord Games Celtic boy and a Mark Copplestone sculpted mediaeval lady (I think was a give away with Wargames Illustrated years ago) who I picked up at a bring & buy ... Again years ago!

The final 3 are figures which have been half painted for 2 or 3 years. A couple of Asgard/Tabletop barbarians (still available from Alternative Armies) and a Satyr by Tin Soldier (bought from a HoTT army, but could now be used for Of Gods and Mortals, Song of Blades or anything else I think of).

Thinking of Of Gods and Mortals does anyone know when Croc Games Kickstarter Demi-gods will be available? Fantastic sculpts but I didn't do the Kickstarter so am still waiting :(

Any comments about the figures appreciated - I think I should have put tattoos on the barbarians... 

Next on to the painting list ..... Whatever I want ;)

Basing - dealing with duplication 2

Following up on the duplication ramble - basing and rule systems the bane of the wargamer.

Considering the time spent on painting minis for this game or that it would be nice to be able to cross over systems.

HoTT is 60mm frontage for everything but number of figures varies, Warhammer is 20mm or 25mm bases for individuals - excluding monsters. Then the Lord of the Rings SBG is 25mm or 40mm rounds 

.... I am considering creating some sabbot bases with 80mm frontage and 60mm depth with space for 3 by 2 infantry with any type of base (20, 25 squares and 25 rounds) and 3 cavalry on 25 by 50 rectangles or pils. It has to be said that some of the thinking behind this comes from having access to a laser cutter at work - all I have to do is supply the mdf and work out how to use the software. That bit is worrying as I can't work out how to put links on this blog - d'oh!

This will also be of benefit for the Vikings/Saxons for Dux Bellorum, Of Gods and Mortals and possibly SAGA if DK can get it together rather than buying a new boardgames every week ;)

I am not planning to change the DBA armies as they cover the same historical period - well roughly.

Greeks, Persians, Macedonians, Romans, Thracians, Celts and Carthagian.

Images - well some poor quality rough sketches.

Any thoughts on this would be nice - before I work out how to use the laser cutter!

Obviously this will require a fair amount of work - taking things off bases and putting back on bases.

I think it will give a nice looking game with more figures per base. 

Well there is a plan - put with all wargaming plans it has yet to hit reality. And of course doing this stops painting etc.

Lion Rampant - First play through.

After Ashak Rise we had enough time to have a quick play through of Lion Rampant.

This game was put together really quickly - using the terrain from Ashak Rise.

The retinues were:

High Elves (Snake-eyes)

Mounted Men-at-Arms 6pts

Mounted Sergents with bows 6pts

Expert Archers 6pts

Foot Sergents 4pts

Hobgoblins (Steedo)

Mounted Sergents with bows 6pts

3 Fiece Foot @ 4pts

Archers 4pts

The Elven Mounted Men at Arms a top a hill

 The activation mechanism in LR is a nice way to get the fog of war into the game. It does remind me a bit of Song of Blades and Heroes which is no bad thing. The game was the Bloodbath scenario from the rule book. First term for both sides was getting units into position - Snake-eyes probably didn't get his Foot Sergents close enough to the rest of the retinue to make a decisive attacks later in the game. Conversely Steedo didn't get his Archers moving either, but it meant they were well placed at the end.

First blood went to the Hogoblins, when they challenged and defeated the Elven leader!

The aftermath  - a wild charge by the Elves after the death of their leader!

We found the rules quick to pick up and play - which I am pretty sure we were doing right!

Also once units became battered archery was very dangerous as if a casualty was caused a courage test followed which could result in retreat and another figure being removed making the rally check  tougher next turn! 

Mounted Men at Arms - a really tough unit - smashed up at least 3 Hobgoblin units, but got battered and the 12 dice the archers were throwing took their toll.

According to the rules the game ended in draw ..... 

However, we ended playing through to last man standing.....when Snake-eyes says "I can't believe you really think you can win from here..!"

With most surviving units battered and just trying to stay on the table Snake-eyes marches his Foot Sergents at Steedo's Archers - who pepper them with arrows on the long march over .... Causing a courage test just as the Sergents get into attack distance - and Snake-eyes rolls snake-eyes again! Battered and the game is over!

Overall we enjoyed Lion Rampant a lot, quick to play and pick up. There was little fuss involved in playing, always a good sign. Will probably be using Lion Rampant for fantasy games as I don't actually have any historical figures for the period - so I am waiting on Dan Mersey's Rule variations which will be published in one of the wargames magazines in the future....

Ashak Rise - Battle Report

Well last night scenario 2 of Blood Bath at Orc's Drift was played. DK was the Served Hand Orcs and took the option to have King F'yar and his guard as well. Steedo and Snake-eyes took on the roll of Borinn Fimbul and the dwarf prospectors (or deserters if you perfer).   

Dwarfs in starting positions

Arrival of the Hobhounds of the Served Hand Orcs

Literally "let slip the dogs of war!"

The Dwarfs made a dash for the bridge - but the speed of the hounds was too much and unfortunately they didn't make it and were chewed to bits. This was one of the two key moments in the game. The hounds taking out the dwarfs before they had a chance form a blocking line on the bridge meant it was race against time to get tp the gold out! One the dwarfs could not win.

The hobhounds dashing over the bridge!

The remaining dwarfs head back to the house and gold. While the horde march on. The orc archers start lining up on the river bank to overwhelm a couple of dwarf crossbow troops in cover behind the wall.

The Hobhounds eye up their next snack

King F'yar makes his attack on the escaping dwarfs 

The Orc King and his mount make short work of Borinn's son and a clansman! The use of the Orc King was the second key to the orcs victory. The dwarfs had no answer to the speed of the wyvern.

The relentless march of the Severed Hand Orcs

Borinn makes an Escape attempt - but to no avail!

A highlight of the game here as the mule inflicts a wound on the wyvern - a nasty bite! Borinn did inflict a wound on F'yar only to have it saved! The next turn the mule and Borinn were in pieces.

This was basically the end of the game - there were a couple of dwarfs to mop up, which they duly did.

The narative of the game worked well - what was very clear in this game was that DK (the Orcs) was rolling very well and Steedo and Snake-eyes were rolling very badly (infact Snake-eyes managed snake-eyes twice!). The victory points for the game were grim reading the Dwarfs ... 35-2. The Severed Hand Orcs will be early to Orc's Drift.

Thanks to DK, Steedo and Snake-eyes for coming over. Next stop Linden Way!

Dealing with duplication

I suppose I am like many wargamers I buy figures because I like them, the "Ooo shiney" syndrome which when added to the I "need" a couple of those to finish off the army - "Mission creep".

I have a number of completed DBA armies - Greek, Persian, Thracian, Roman and Macedonian (and a couple of unpainted - Celtic and Carthagian). These can be morphed into HoTT armies as I have a number of bases of creatures from mythology. So this is all well and good.

To be honest the anicents aren't really the problem - HoTT armies are. I have accumulated 2 orc armies using Ral Partha miniatures. These figures can easily be used to fight Greeks or Romans etc. 

This is the Warband Army.

Made up of 3 Riders, 2 Shooters, 5 Warbands (including the general) and 4 Hordes (or Spears if I want to buff the army a bit).

This is the Blade Army. 

Made up of 2 Riders, 2 Shooters, 4 Blades (including the general) and 5 Hordes (or Spears). There is also the Orc Warmachine as artillery - not pictured. 

Then there are these 2 (effectively orc) Lord of the Rings armies. 

Angmar

Made up of the Witchking (either a Hero or Knight general), 2 Riders, 2 Beasts, 4 Warbands (including a general) 1 Behemoth and 4 Hordes.

Mordor

Made up of a Nazgul (either a Hero or Knight general), 1 Riders, 2 Spears, 3 Blades (including a general) 1 Behemoth and 8 Hordes.

There is also a 2nd Age Elf army - and recently I completed the Numenor/Early Gondor Cavalry. Plus Wood Elf, Rohan and Haradrim in very unpainted states in a box. The above discussion doesn't even to bring in the Warhammer Elf and Hobgoblin armies for even more duplication. 

The bottom line is that I don't need to store this many armies .... My current thinking is to sell off the Lord of the Rings stuff, perhaps keeping some for skirmishing ....

Any suggestions about the duplication dilemma would be appreciated. 

Yet another average film

Well I'm my weaken state I manage to watch The Last Legion with Colin Firth. Well an interesting if very cliched take on the Arthur myth. 

Some of the battle scenes were a little weak - the bad guys running to their deaths. There were lots of anachronisms with armour etc. The most of cast and probably the sets were refugees from ROME.  The story was predictable with female warrior, betrayal when they returned from rescuing Romulus. The film had aspersions to be epic - the walk over the Alps was like a scene from the Fellowship of the Ring. Unfortunately it wasn't epic - it was OK. So 3 average films seen over the weekend, will need to do better.