Sunday, April 29, 2012

Battle of Blasthof in 40mm -- No. 2

 This weekend saw the most gaming here at the Lead Gardens in a very long time. The wife seemed to tolerate the occupation of the dining table reasonably well for the entire weekend, (of course I sent her off with her girlfriends on Saturday night so it was clear sailing to set up another go on the Battle of Blasthof this time with the sides entering on the short sides of the 4'x5' table (see last post for the first battle)
 The French enter with their right flank passing Blasthof Farm which has been moved a little for this game to open the field a bit. Again I staged the entry of the infantry with random die rolls to activate units on the start line. 
 Also the British were given initial possession of Blasthof Bridge and a gun and the grenadiers of the 12th and Colonel Gerlach's Jagers tasked to hold it until reinforcements move up.

 This game also featured my new custom made measuring batten for "Charge" with moves and firing distances all marked on it so I could do less rulebook checking during the game.
A "QRS on a Stick!"


 Initial move saw as in the last game cavalry getting activated first. In this game the river figures much more in the game as a barrier even though I made it fordable along its entire length.
 French infantry moving in column of companies

French gun preparing to fire near Blasthof Farm
French advance while the Jagers and Hussars cross the stream to harass the oncoming column

Cavalry face off across Blasthof stream

Situation at turn three

British artillery get the range of advancing French horse and down several troopers

 The French goaded into charging rather than suffer further casualties from long range artillery, charge across Blasthof stream and up the long slope of the Blashofberg taking heavy casualties from artillery and a final blast of canister but still manage to overrun the gun.

 Meanwhile the 4th Horse send one of their squadrons across to charge the second squadron of the Royal Rousillion sending them retreating to the rear
 Unfortunately both the French squadron that captured the battery and the British face a turn of rally right in the teeth of full infantry volleys that cause heavy casualties.
 The infantry battlelines close on the bridge proper and volleys are traded.
The French Colonel Marquis de Villaroy orders an assault across the bridge...probably ill advised...
 But bravely they form up and charge across...
 While their second company engage the British downstream.
 A few survivors make it across the bridge but are easily defeated by the grenadiers.
The French loose 50% in the assault and are forced to leave the field and loose the battle.

So in debriefing these two battles this weekend, I found "Charge" works really well at this scale, though on this small table I think I will next time use half scale distances. I might even use the elementary rules for a change of pace. The I-go U-go format of the elementary game might be easier for solo play.
I also realized that in these two battles I was calling the French regiment "Lyonaise",  but it actually painted as the Lorraine Regiment...my mistake...I'm getting old and my memory is like swiss cheese sometimes. But the commander the Marquis de Villaroy is the historical commander of the Lorraine Regiment. I plan to name all the major command figures in the collection after historical commanders ( something I could only do with the marvelous and indispensable "Project Seven Years War" website as well as the equally indispensable "Not By Appointment" that many of us Horse and Musket enthusiasts rely on...as always many thanks!)

8 comments:

Ross Mac rmacfa@gmail.com said...

Still looking great.

Have you seen Pauly Wauly's solo 2/3rds version? I'm thinking about trying that rather than 1/2. I've only tried the Basic Version once and found it awkward remembering if a unit was returning fire or opening a new round. Also found it odd that a charge isn't resolved until the next turn.

Paul's main tweak was to replace the simultaneous written orders with an initiative die and altrnate moves but keeping simultaneous firing and melee. I haven't tried it yet but intend to once I get some more infantry painted up.

http://paulywaulyswargamesblog.blogspot.ca


http://paulywaulyswargamesblog.blogspot.ca/2012/04/in-addition-to-mounting-most-of-my.html

littlejohn said...

Hey Ross, that 2/3s version sounds interesting, I'll take a look at it this evening...thanks for the links.

Archduke Piccolo said...

Looking as formal and attractive as always. Great! Like you (I think), I use as much as possible historical links to my Imagi-Nations. Trockenbeeren-Auslese is not Austrian, but it is fairly Austrian, as much as Alt,ark-Uberheim is moderately Prussian. But the regiments serving in their armies one might recognise from their respective historical counterparts.

One's imagination can go only so far...
Cheers,
Ion

DeanM said...

Fantastic game and figures! Love the whole look. Best, Dean

WSTKS-FM Worldwide said...

Yep, well worth another go 'round. Nicely rendered.

Best Regards,

Stokes

Mark Dudley said...

I started doing my Prince August for Charge but recently have being using them for the War Game - reading your blog has got me looking back to Charge again.

For Charge I use:-

30 Infantry and 2 NCO for the 2 companies of infantry plus 2 drummers, 4 Officers (2 converted from the NCO with swords stuck on, 2 standards and 1 mounted officer. In all 40 foot and 1 mounted Officer.

For the War Game I use 36 man units for by adding the 2 drummers and standard bearers to the other ranks,leaving 4 Officers and 1 mounted officer.

I notice you have an 8 man Grenadier company added to your units is this your standard - will these be detached to form combined Grenadier units ?

Happy to swap more info/chat. My email is mark.dudley4 at btopenworld.com

Cheers

Mark

MurdocK said...

Your PA's LOOK excellent!

tidders2 said...

Charge ! Lovely looking Blasthof games.


-- Allan