Napoleonics again

So, our penultimate game of Napoleonic’s occurred last Wednesday and I don’t really have a lot to write up as from my point of view, the game was very one-sided. I was deploying against Terry’s French this week, and I had my traditional division of 4 line units and cannons. The Cavalry had been deployed elsewhere on the table this week. 

Wining the role to go first, I advanced forward and ended up with my units quite far forward, and a little surround by Terry’s forces. However, despite getting a couple of hits, mostly saved, he wasn’t able to disorder me, and so I was able to charge into combat. Combat went in my favour, but the highlight came in the next turn.

Terry had reordered his troops so that the Guard was to the fore. I, feeling foolish, brave, rash, insert your own word for stupidity, charged forward under initiative, and through a combination of good dice rolling, need 3+ to hit and having a single reroll in the first round of combat, I was able to inflict 5 wounds on Terry's unit. He rolled to save and came up with five ones.  Terry then promptly failed his test, and the unit fled. 

The battle carried on for a few more turns, and I broke Terry, however, his units were locked into combat, and so were not retreating. Which, as the combat’s carried on for several turns more I also subsequently broke, before I was able to rally my troops. Terry, was unlucky, the dice were not with him that night, and he really could have done better. However, on the flip side, I'm learning that Combat is our thing, and it's important to get the charge.

I'm really liking playing with the Russians, and it's gotten me hooked on Napoleonic's again. I need to get some other regiments. I've got two units of Jagers to paint, and now I want to get my own division of cavalry. So many projects, so little time.

Cannons to the left of me, cannons to the right of me.

   After last week’s success with attack columns, it’s time for another Napoleonic Training game. I was using the same force, though this week I had finished my Perry 12 Pounder, who were waiting to be based. I also had the Huassar’s again, who had underwhelmed me last week.

Terry was away, and so John and I took the field against Jim. Facing my division, was a division of four Dragoons units and a division of four line regiments and some artillery. I was a little worried about the cavalry as they could charge through and break me quite easily. 

We won the role, and went first. I was going to position my Hussars to try and stop any cavalry charges, to the horror of John. However, my dicing rolling was poor and there was going be no movement. My cannons opened fire and got a couple of hits on Jim’s front two units. I do like this ability for cannon balls to fire through units. 

In response, Jim, opened the floodgates and charged the cavalry forward.

But the dice were against him and he fell short, just in front of my cannons. As they had moved over my ark of fire, and I inflicted some more damage on them, including a disordering hit, which would soon off disappear at the end of Jim’s turn. 

In response, and being within initiative range, I charged forward. Jim counter charged, which dragged his unit forward, but annoyingly not out of support Range. I then inched the cannons forward, into short range and then moved my line regiments forward into support. 

My cannons opened and obliterated one of Jim’s cavalry regiments and inflicted damaged on the third. Combat ensured and a combination of the Hussar’s lancers rule, charging in, and Jim’s terrible dice rolling I was able to defeat him in combat, though I did become shaken in the process. Jim failed his morale check and the unit popped and was removed from the table. 

In response Jim charged his third unit forward, as I was shaken, my Hussar’s couldn’t counter charge,and as his units had to cross my cannons as they moved into combat, I could fire again. I inflicted another hit on them and they were now only one wound from being shaken, and that meant a broken division.

Despite, being at minus 1 for being shaken, I rolled five, fives and sixes, on my roll and was able to break the unit in combat. Jim didn’t disappear but was forced off, and I knew that I could turn my attention to the line regiments.

At this point, Jim changed his dice. They did a lot better from now on. However, turn 3, was here and in an two attack columns charged forward and into combat. I took three wounds from closing fire, and my unit was dangerous close to breaking, however, once again combat went my way, and I forced Jim’s unit back, shaken. I then changed formation, as Jim’s was about to charge. I changed to a line regiment, and waited. 

As expected Jim charged and I opened fire, causing two hits and one of them disordered them. Combat, again went in may favour, and I won, seeing Jim’s unit’s off. As a winner, and seeing the opportunity to shoot some enfilading fire down the flank of Jim’s unit I opted to change facing.

As you can see from the photo, the supporting line unit, still in attack columns could now charge a unit in the flank. I need two moves, but the dice failed me, I got one move. So, quick change of plan, and I opted to shoot.

My cannons took a pot shot at Jim’s opposite number, and did some damage. I then opened fire and broke at least of Jim’s line regiments, the division, and the army. 

I had a lot of fun, this week the Hussar’s performed marvellously, and so I’m quite happy with them, and am now thinking about getting some cavalry, both Dragoons and Hussars. We’ve got long term plans for Borodino, and I’m working on the 8^th Infantry corps. I think the 4^th Reserve corps, could be something that I get as well.

I do think that Jim was very unlucky with his dice rolls and couldn’t really get into the game, once the damage had been inflicted by the cannons.

Wednesday Night gaming

The French

So another Wednesday, and another chance to break out the Russians for a game of Black Powder. This time, I borrowed a unit of Russian Kossacks, from John, to add to the four-line regiments and battery of 12 pounders, that I’ve previously used. 

This time I was facing Jim, and he had a similar number of French, and divisions of Dragoons. John and I won the first turn and this time I had set my units up in the attack column. Shooting, as I have previously said, is not the strongest point for Russians. So, the attack column is worth it. Extra +1 to moving and in Morale saves is a price worth paying. 

So, I advance forward and did a bit of damage with the cannons. Then Jim advance, attempting to box me in. I thought he was going to some serious damage with his shooting, but due to some bad dice rolls, I was let off.

Charging forward in attack column

And then I began to charge in, over a period of two turns, I charged three units in, and with John moving one of his line regiments in, I was also being supported quite well. The combats, for the majority, went in my favor. However, despite Jim’s awful dice rolling he kept passing his moral tests. 

I foolish allowed one of my units to get charged in the flank, Jim’s dice rolling was, once again, poor and so I not only survived but was able to beat off his attack, and then follow up into combat with his regiment that had previously formed square. 

Ultimately, through the combats, I was able to break Jim. I did lose two regiments in process and the others were close to breaking but were locked into combats with Jim. These units were finally broken, but I still feel the victory was mine.

Le crunch

The cavalry kept failing their command tests and so their first, and the only action of the game was to countercharge against Jim’s dragoons, where they got driven off and slaughtered. Not a great impression. I blame them for being John’s models or nor being painted. J

So, looking forward, the attack column is most definitely the way forward for Russian units. It helps them move and survive better in combat, so when we get to Durstien, this is the way forward, I think. I also, now want to paint more Russians. 

Here's as photo of my Cannons being painted. Lovely models, from the Perry's.

The Russians are coming

So new year, and we’ve already got our first big game. It’s the battle of Durnstein. It took place in November 1805 and is a battle where the French forces fought the Russians. So this gives me a chance to play the Russians in Black Powder and, despite owning it for a year, give the updated Black Powder 2 Rules a bash. 

You can find out more, at this blog, which is a fantastic read http://obscurebattles.blogspot.com/2013/04/durnstein-1805.html

In terms of painting, I’ve only had to do a few things. Firstly, I’ve had to paint of officer to lead a division/brigade/army (I can never get the titles right) and 3 12 pounder cannons. Not a heavy painting load, but I did paint a regiment prior to Christmas. 

To help us play the game as smoothly as possible, and to know how Russians play in a game of Black Powder, we are playing a few games on Wednesday night to get use to it. 

John and I each had a division with a few Line Regiments and some cannons. John also had some Cavalry, forming the third division. Facing this, was a similar number of French. I was opposite Terry, and things went very well for me. I was able to advance forward and met Terry in combat. Shooting, is not Russian strongpoint, hitting on 5. However, combat, especially with a charge, and a free re-roll on the first turn of combat is a lot more fun, and though despite one of my regiments becoming shaken, I was able to see of Terry and break his division. 

I then turned to advance towards Jim, and to help John out. However, in a rash move on the first turn, Jim moved forward three full moves and stopped in front of John’s line. Though the firefight and combat were protracted John then got the upper hand and the battle was ours.

I only took one photo, which I hope you enjoy, but the game was fun. The Russians are a bit harder to play with as they have more negatives than say the Brits, but if you get it right, it’s good fun. Looking forward to playing the next battle on Wednesday.

I'll finish with a couple of tip progress pics of some Russians I'm working on for the big game.