A tale of two games

Over Easter we fought the same battle twice but with different sets of Napoleonic rules - partly experiment and partly reuse of an idea! In this battle a scattered French force has three aims; consolidate its troops, hold the bridge separating them and retreat their siege train over the bridge and off to safety. Two Austrian forces are aiming to stop them. 

We played this at Divisional level with Lasalle 2 and Corps level with Blucher. Both scenarios are below and posted on the Sam Mustafa Facebook group.

Game 1 - Lasalle 

View from the west end

The French deployed in strong defensive positions, although crucially held back most of their cavalry meaning they did nt influence the initial Austrian advances.    

 

The Ratisbon bridge

French guarding the train

The Austrians pushed forward, cutting the road at the exit point and putting some pressure on the defensive lines.  

Austrians attack the train defenders

Repeated attacks were made on the bridge but the garrison defending the village of Ratisbon were able to hold then off. Unfortunately the rest of the division holding the road were pushed back with heavy losses.  

Bridge garrison holds firm

The game ended with the Austrians on top - the siege train had been intercepted east of the Ratisbon bridge and much of the road to the west of the bridge was in Austrian hands.  

The train under attack

Game 2 - Blucher

Austrians attacking from the east

In this version the French decided to push out from their defences and look to disrupt the Austrian attacks, especially around the bridge area. This resulted in a fierce cavalry battle near the bridge as the Austrians looked to once again cut the road near the exit point.       

Train scuttling down the road

Austrians try to cut the road in the west

The Austrian steamroller in the east moved remorselessly forward but was slowed by needing to deal with a series of French cavalry and infantry attacks.  

The Austrians were able to cut the road west of Ratisbon but made limited progress with their infantry in that area. The eastern Austrian force kept the French back-peddling but were unable to stop the siege train crossing the Ratisbon bridge. The game ended when the French hit their army breakpoint.    

Conclusions

Both games played similarly but with a few key differences:

• In game 2 the French tried harder to disrupt the Austrian attacks - this kept them further back but did mean taking losses.
• Blucher naturally has more movement in it as you tend to play more turns and usually get to activate more often if you are careful with Corps organisation / leader abilities. This helped the  French get their wagons further in game 2.
• In both games assaulting garrisons is very tough - in neither game was the Ratisbon bridge in much danger.  

 

Monks of the mountain

Latest units off the painting table are some Sohei (warrior monks) for Test of Honour - a samurai skirmish game I'm playing in Fishponds. The game uses about 10-20 figures per side on 4 foot table somewhat based on WWII skirmish 02 Hundred Hours. The action is driven by a pot of activation chits with players drawing in turn to see if they can activate a hero or normal trooper. 

Starting as a temple defence force they grew steadily and were able to field large armies capable of defeating samurai lords. Also in the force are some Ikko-Ikki religious fanatics. All 28mm Sohei figures from Footsore Miniatures.      

Sohei naginata wielders

Sohei musketeers

Sohei temple guards

Ikko-Ikki

Sohei leaders

As Emperor Shirakawa lamented - there are three things that even I cannot control: the waters of the Kamo river, the roll of the dice, and the monks of the mountains.

Khartoum - Turn 8

We're very much in the home straight now with both Columns approaching Khartoum, the Desert Column is one turn in the lead. This week the Nile Column had to cross its main forces over the river whilst the Desert Column was attacking the outer defences, having made the crossing in last week's games.

Nile Column - crossing at Metemmeh

The British begin with half their forces across the river and the remainder making their way across on boats. The aim is to hold the bridgehead and see off the Mahdist attacks. The British deployed themselves on the far bank the Egyptians moving up in support in the boats.  

Bridgehead across the Nile

The Mahdists opted to surround the bridgehead and attack it from all sides - a risky strategy as they could be hit in piecemeal attack.  However their moral was high and they shrugged-off British fire and charged straight into the square.     

Mahdists attack the square

Before you could  say "Isandlwana" two units of British had been reduced to a single corporal holding the line. Things were perilous with half the bridgehead gone when the Egyptians  landed and went straight into action. 

Corporal Jones holds the line

Luckily the luck turned and Mahdists became bogged-down under Egyptian fire, eventually falling back. Remarkably the British held on but with heavy losses for an 8-8 Draw.  

 

Desert Column  - the outer defences

The outer defences of Khartoum included a small fort/blockhouse and some rifle positions on steep slopes with good fields of fire. The defenders strung some riflemen across the ridge and occupied the blockhouse in the centre of their position.

The British chose to attack the western end of the ridge with most of their forces whilst using a unit of Camel Corps to screen their flank. 

British advance

   

After a hard struggle the British were able to push the Mahdists rifles off the ridge and take the position. Most of the Mahdist strength lay beyond the ridge and so there was a fierce counter attack against the Camel Corps. They clung on but were unable to fully take the position leading to a Mahdist Win.   

The ridge falls

The ridge is retaken

Campaign Position. 

So a major struggle for the British on both fronts but they press on despite the losses. In the next game the Desert Column will lead the assault on Khartoum.   

Around the world in several games

On top if the current Sudan campaign I've played a few other games over the last couple of weeks. 

Medieval Japan

The first is some samurai skirmish using Test of Honour. The game scale is fairly small with either individual figures of blocks of 3. Activation is done using drawn from a bag with leaders have more possible actions available than ordinary troops.       

A peaceful looking village

The rules are fast and furious with options to act honourably /dishonourably, special events and a wide variety of troops / weapons.   

Persian Civil War - The Society of Ancient battle day

 I also made my first visit to the SOA battle day just off the M4. The idea is to play the same battle but using different sets of rules. Some games have spare places and there is a chance to wander about and speak to the other players about their games. 

 

The game I played - Armati II

This years game was Cunaxa - a Persian civil war scenario from 401 BC. In the real game the outnumbered rebel forces under Cyrus the younger attacked the larger Royal army under Artaxerxes. The battle is possibly best know for the presence of 10,000 Greeks under Clearchus, who ended up on the wrong side and had to march back to Greece through occupied territory.    

An interesting feature of the day was the number of games using grid or hex based systems. I would say about half the games featuring this mechanic.

Pillage - Ransacking the dark ages.

The final game in the round-up is another game of Pillage. In this game I was attacking and had to attack a fortified tower surrounded by a high wall. The aim was to get a flag to the top of the tower within 10 turns.  

The distraction unit - guys in red shirts

Ladders up - my Helmsdeep moment

I weas able to win the game in turn 9 by attacking the outside wall of the tower while some sacrificial troops kept the defenders best troops busy.   

 

I reach the top of the tower

Khartoum - Turn 7

Turn 7 began with the news that Khartoum was now cut off and supplies were dwindling, so both columns needed to keep up the pace. The Nile Column had to  take the fortified town of Abu Hamed and the Desert Column had to cross the Nile at Gubrat. 

Desert Column - Gubrat Crossing

The game begins with the British having got about half their troops across the  river when a Mahdist force arrives to attack them. They must hold the bridgehead, land the remaining troops and then survive for 12 turns in total.    

British well set in their beachhead  

The British formed a hollow square against the Nile with the Gatling in one corner. The mounted troops and Egyptians began on the boats.  

Mahdists advance 

The Mahdists focused their main attacks against the left and front of the square with only the Beja camels against the right side. The first half of the game was smooth sailing for the British with multiple Mahdist units pinned and the Egyptians and some Camel Corps safely landed.  

The attack closes in but is contained

Disaster struck though with two British units breaking in successive moves and a large hole opening up in the square which led to the loss of the Gatling. The timely intervention of the Lancers and some recently arrive Camel Corps stabilised the position, allowing a narrow British Win.  

The Gatling is lost but the day is saved 

Nile Column - Abu Hamed

The Mahdists have made Abu Hamed a bastion to defend the Nile, with defences in place and artillery stationed in towers. The British are reinforced by their Gunboat. The British have 12 turns to take the town.

The British massed most of their troops near the Nile with a small force demonstrating in to the left of the town to keep the Mahdists honest. They commenced with a bombardment as they slowly advanced on the town. Losses were not heavy on the defenders but their morale was a bit shaky and several units withdrew from the front line.   

British approaching the town

As the British approached the town, time was running out for them and a Mahdist win looked likely, so they threw some cavalry into the fight. It met with some success but at heavy cost.   

Egyptian Gendarmes charge 

The final two turns were tense - the British had a single unit that managed to reach the objective in the town centre but the Mahdists had a unit that might be able to challenge them and stop the win. Sadly for the Mahdists it became pinned and was unable to to move, leading to another narrow British Win.        

The British grab the objective 

Campaign Situation

As we head into turn 8 both columns are short on supplies and time. The Desert Column is ahead as it attacks the outer defences of Khartoum currently in Mahdist hands. The Nile column is behind and must move its troops across the Nile to begin its final advance.