After the last battle between my 18th century nations, I had the bug to set out another game this time to something that I had been wanting to try for a while. I have a copy of HG Wells' "Little Wars", and as most of my readers know, Wells included a demonstration battle in the book to illustrate how the game is played. I thought setting up the "Battle of Hook's Farm" with my 18th century stuff would be fun and perhaps a little of the Wellsian "mojo" would color the game.
the original HG Wells sketchmap...
and
and
my interpretation for an 18th Century game...
The battle was set up as a classic Austrian vs Prussian matchup using the proportions of 4 Infantry to 2 cavalry to 1 gun plus a gun or Light infantry unit for each side. The Rules were, of course, "The Wargame" by Charles Grant.
Hooks Farm
The Hovel and the stony ridge
Firefly Church
So just some pics of the battle without much comment....
a dramatic moment...Austrian Dragoons overrun the Prussian artillery battery.
the final assault of Prussian fusiliers (actually Bleiherzeners...) on Hooks Farm...the assault ultimately failed, giving the Austrians the win...
The battle ended as an Austrian victory and then the battle was reset with some adjustments of the terrain and an increase of both armies to give a more balanced battle.
The second time the Prussians were victorious! A really fun exercise and now I'm hunting for other "classic" games to refight.
9 comments:
That looks like fun! Great pictures, minis and terrain. I also like your hand-drawn map. :-)
Did you make the stone walls we see here and in previous posts? They look great, with the stone texture (painted on?) and the white stones along the top.
Your battle reports and photos are just the best!
Fitz,
Yes, I made the stone walls from sections of HO scale cork roadbed for model railroads. I use the stuff for lots of different things like riverbanks, walls and even dormers for buildings. The stuff is easy to cut, has a 30 degree slope pre cut on one side so depending on how you glue the sections together you can get all sorts of use out of it. The walls are just two pieces glued back to back to make a wall with an angled stone coping on top. I use the natural cork color and just paint the top off white and draw in the stone with a marker. It is also used to make the ruined walls inside the buildings. (BTW if you are a Flames of War player, it also makes great dug in markers)...love the stuff!...cheap, versatile and easy to get!
For more classic scenarios, check out "Charge!" and "The War Game" . . . and Grant's "Table Top Teasers" which can be found here:
http://steve-the-wargamer-teasers.blogspot.com/
Also the BATTLEGAMES Magazine supplement "Table Top Teasers Vol. 1" shown here:
http://www.battlegames.co.uk/
-- Jeff
Jeff, Thanks for the links,...I had never seen steve-the-wargamer's Tabletop Teasers page...Very Nice!...and thanks to Steve!
This is brillian.I hope to set up the 1859 war in Italy beteween the Italians French and Austrians in this style
Fixed,
Yes I thought it might be fun to try it in several different periods.
Super pictures - looks like a great battle. Its nice to have a good old 'play with your soldiers'
-- Allan
I may have to steal your idea - it strikes me that Hooks Farm would make a good AWI scenario too...Thanks for the inspiration!
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