Napoleonic Black Powder

This past weekend our good friend Curt came up to Saskatoon for part of the weekend and ran a Napoleonic Black Powder Game for Me and John.

[Begium, late June 1815]

SITUATION

Waterloo did not go well for the British. Generalfeldmarschall Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher died of hemorrhaging after being pinned under his horse at Quatre Bras. Von Gneisenau, Blücher’s Chief of Staff, took command of the Prussian forces and decided not to come to the aid of the British.

In the battle at Waterloo Wellington was killed and the British and allies were soundly defeated. The British army is now in full retreat towards Antwerp. A force of British have been detailed to hold off the pursuing French to buy time.

SCENARIO

British – hold the town of Boom and prevent the French from crossing the river.

FORCES

British

C-in-C Lt. Gen. Frederick Adam

1st Brigade (under direct control of Adam)
1/95th Rifles
1/28th Foot
RHA section
RA section

2nd Brigade – Brigadier Brown
42nd Foot (Royal Highland Regiment)
23rd Foot (Royal Welsh Fusiliers)
RHA section

French
(I’m not real clear on the French Order of battle… Marshal Ney was in command, and there was two brigades, each with three infantry battalions. Then there was a cavalry regiment and a bunch of guns, but I wasn’t really clear which belonged to which brigade… They’re French… I’m not sure they’re organized enough to have any sort of real “order of battle” anyway…)

THE GAME

I played the British and John played the French, while Curt played referee – because John and I like to argue about rules so much – someone’s got to keep the peace and make rulings… (I’m being “funny” here…). Originally I was to have just the three battalions Curt had brought up in a single brigade. I brought along my New Highlanders and was going to try and convince Curt to let me substitute them in for one of the British battalions. John started the smack talk early and was simultaneously dissing Highlanders and British Rules writers which unfairly favour the British, so Curt just said I should just add the Highlanders and my Brigadier to the order of battle and have two brigades of two battalions plus the guns…. (lesson to be learned – JOHN! – never trash talk the referees heritage before the order of battle has been settled on..).

(Remember: click on the pictures for a bigger version)


The 95th Rifles set up in a field. (You can find more pretty pictures of this unit on Curt’s Napoleonic Gallery)


The Belgian town of Boom – held by the British 28th Regiment of Foot and some guns from the Royal Artillery.


Apparently the commander of the French 1iere Brigade; General du Brigade Schmitz…?! Hmmmm… sounds German…?


The rest of the 1iere Brigade. Well… I’m not sure about the Horsies…? Could have been part of the other brigade… or, given that they’re French, It could be their lunch…


The other, presumably “2ieme”, Brigade, with the First brigade in the distance.

This second brigade got off to a bad start. The first turn they failed to do anything… The second turn they did nothing as well… The Third… or was it fourth…? They finally made one move forward. But then the following turn the Brigadier made a command blunder and they retired two moves back – knocking some of then right off the table.


Schmitz got his brigade moving on the second turn (German efficiency for you!) but was plagued with his own problems. The first being that curt had us rolling for random events throughout the game and on the second (or third?) turn one of his battalions was ordered off the table to deal with some skirmishers in the woods somewhere… The other problem was all this fancy steady advancing brought them closer to the British and they’re pretty good at shooting and stuff…


The view from the British 2nd Brigade around turn three… not much happening.


Around this time the battalion in the white started taking steady fire from two of the British gun sections as well as the Rifles and pretty much remained disordered until they broke and left the fireld of battle a few turns later…


The british firing on the French in white.

The French Guns are now deployed. Eventually Ney tired of his lethargic Frenchmen and rode to the artillery battery and cried “Follow Me!” and personally led them around the woods to where they were to deploy and pour long-range fire down for the rest of the game.


Eventually the Horse got going as well, also, I think, under Ney’s personal command. They took some fire from the guns in the village at this point and the next turn attempted to charge the Highlanders.


Some more pictures of Curt’s pretty Frenchmen.


The French guns. I’m thinking they maybe had their own brigade commander – and that’s him there with the telescope.


The French cavalry riding around on tomorrow’s lunch.


…aaaand there they are again getting ready to charge the Highlanders.


At this point the Cavalry have retired after trying to charge the Highlanders, but turned away after the Highlanders formed square. The French 2ieme Brigade has finally returned to the table and are making their way towards the British 2nd Brigade.


The French 1iere Brigade had some light infantry – they dispersed into skirmish order and made their way through the woods and fired on the 95th Rifles for a while.


The Cavalry tries to charge again and both the Highalnder and Welsh formed square so the cavalry just galloped around them.


The infantry followed hot on the hooves of the Cavalry and charged the Highlander and Welsh who were still in square. This didn’t work out so well for the British.


The Highalnders stood their ground, despite having two fighting dice to the French SIX!


Lot of shooting going on with little effect on the other side… thought this is about when the French in white broke…


The big Melee again…


The Welsh lost their first round and broke and ran. The highlnders lost their first round, and the second and the third, possibly a fourth…?! But just would NOT go away!

The French the defeated the Welsh turned to charge the guns but took some canister point blank and thought the better of it. I think it was eventually the cavalry that rode the guns down.


As it turns out I’d held off the French long enough and on turn six I was told I could retire anytime after turn eight. I think it was turn nine that I started to retire. I was a little worried that I might get ridden down by the French – but after their engagement with the 2nd British battalion I think all the Infantry and the cavalry regiment were shaken (taken hits equal to their stamina” and the Generals tried to rally them for a turn or two before charging in again – which gave me just enough time to get the 28th and the 95th and one section of horse artillery back across the bridge!

Huzzah!!

Well, it's kind of late and I'm to tired for any post game analysis... so let's just say: Totally fun game! Took a little while to get going with all the French command problems but got very exciting, very quickly thereafter.

Thanks CURT!

You should all go check out his own blog:

Analogue Hobbies

In the Naploeonic gallery you will find much better pictures of many of the units used in this battle and much more!

Coming soon on Tim’s Miniature Wargaming Blog:

Some up close pics of those new Highlanders…

Black Powder #2

John popped by again last night to have another go at Black Powder…

[New France, 1758]

SITUATION

British and French are still vying for supremacy in the new world…

SCENARIO

Another simple meeting engagement…. Except with more stuff!

To play a bigger game I actually added in a unit of individually based figures - which, because it's Black Powder and basing doesn't really matter so much, I can do...

FORCES

British

C-in-C General Angus Bottomwallow

1st Brigade
42nd Regt. of Foote (Royal Highland Regiment)
78th Regt. of Foote (Fraser’s Highlanders)
35th Regt. of Foote
1 Battery Light Artillery

2nd Brigade
48th Regt. of Foote.
Louisburg Grenadiers
Allied Indians (Small, Skirmish)
1 Battery Light Artillery


French

C-in-C Le Marquis d’Hiver

Premier Brigade
R. du Langedoc
R. de La Sarre
R, de La Reine
1 Battery Light Artillery

L-Autre Brigade
R. du Guyenne
Royal Roussilon
Corps de Cavalrie
1 Battery Light Artillery



THE GAME

We diced for who decided who set up on which side and who went first – in both cases me!


(Remember: Click on the pics to see a larger version!)


Overview of the battlefield. There was woods in both our deployment zones which caused us to start somewhat bunchedup, and not quite opposite each other. On the left are the French. At the right of the French line is Le Premier Brgade (in the foreground), and on the left (further away) is L’Autre Brigade. On the right of the pic is the British. The 2nd Brigade is on the left of the British line (closest) and the first is on the right (further).

As with last game, the first order I issued – a brigade order – full speed ahead – scoreed three moves and two of my regiments charged clear across the table – causing some distress for Jean and his Frenchmen!


At the end of my first move; the 48th Regt. of Foote and the Louisburg Grenadiers have advanced nearly clear across the table. The Indians have advanced to the front edge of the woods overlooking the open area that is presumably to be the field of battle. The Brigades guns have moved up but failed to deploy.

Further back the 78th Regt. of Foote (Fraser’s Highlanders) and the 35th Regt. of Foote have advanced in line to the hedge, the guns have moved up and deployed, but the 42nd Regt. of Foote (Royal Highland Regiment) – which was deployed in column and on the road (!?) – failed to move…!?


The 48th Regt. of Foote and the Louisburg Grenadiers causing much anxiety for Le Premier Brigade and Le Marquis d’Hiver (in his fancy purple coat).


The 1st Brigade plus the 2nd brigades light guns (in the bottom left) and General Angus Bottomwallow and his attendants.

I think the first brgades guns got off a long range shot at Royal Roussilon and caused them to be disordered (though they suffered no casualties).


General Angus Bottomwallow and his attendants. I’m not entirely sure why his server is turned away….? Perhaps he abhors bloodshed…?


The end of the French first move (much like our previous game), most of them having failed to act! R. du Guyenne did managed to pass by the wavering Royal Roussilon and timidly advance before the might of the British Army (which are actually mostly Scottish… but whatever…). The Corps de Cavalrie managed to advance in column of march, but failed to reform into line. The battalions light guns also moved forward and deployed.

Le Premier Brigades guns did manage to deploy but it took direct intervention by the Le Marquis d’Hiver, the commander in chief, to get it done.


The 48th Regt. of Foote takes fire from the French guns.


British guns take fire from their French opposites.


L’Autre Brigade – slightly out-of-focus, but managing better than Le Premier Brigade…


The British Indian allies and the Louisberg Grenadiers advance to protect the right of the British line, should the French Premier Brigade ever managed to advance out of their hiding place behind the woods.


The first British Brigade managed to form an nice big pretty line. Sadly there was no such pretty formations opposite them to exchange gentlemanly volleys of fire as the French clusterf@ck in the woods continued well into the third turn.


Another picture of the pretty line, executed by smart-looking precision drilled soldiers.


The British line again and the motley French shambling towards them.


The 48th by this point had advanced to within musketry range and was exchanging shots with R. Du Languedoc and takng fire from the French guns.


L’Autre Brigade attempting to advance toward their British betters.


More pics of the 48th exchanging fire with the French in their camp… R. de La Reine and R. de La Sarre apparently still in bed!?


The French Corps de Cavalrie stayed in column of march out in the open for a couple turns giving the British a couple opportunities to hammer on them – they had the most amazing luck, however. One turn I scored EIGHT hits and they saved seven of them…


Shocking the hell out of everyone present (including John who was commanding them!?)the French actually charged a not-disordered, not-shaken, supported battalion of Highlanders (yes, HIGHLANDERS!) to their front, unsupported… The Highlanders were apparently so shocked themselves they didn’t manage to score a single hit during closing fire!?

(I think the guns might have been able to get in on that closing fire… I’ll have to look into that)


Anyway, the jocks handed them their asses in close combat and sent the shattered remains of the French battalion scurrying back to their nurse maids.


So desperate was the Brigade commander to get his troops moving (or at least out of enfilading fire) he galloped over to the Corps de Cavalrie, shouted; “Follow me!” and led them off behind the hedge….


R. de La Reine and R. de La Sarre eventually got moving (around urn four or five) and formed a line and exchanged fire with the Indians and the Louisburg Grenadiers. La Reinne was disordered by the Grenadiers fire.


Then the Grenadiers were disordered….


The Brtish First Brigade firing on L’autre Brigades remaining battalion of Infantry and their light guns.


In something akin to military enthusiasm the French cavalry managed to charde the Grenadiers from behind (just like a Frenchmen…) and La Sarre managed to charge (the much smaller, skirmishing) unit of Indian allies. The Indian allies were driven off (put off by the smell of perfumes, mostly) and the French cavalry was driven back behind their safe little hedge.

(Hmmm… the Grenadiers probably could have had some traversing fire on La Sarre…)


Despite being in a nice orderly line the 1st brigade was feeling like they didn’t have much to shoot at (those unsporting Frenchmen all running away and hiding…) so the 78th Regt. of Foote (Fraser’s Highlanders) peeled off to go give some support to the 2nd Brigade as they looked like they might be in a bit of a spot of bother…

Shortly thereafter R. Du Guyenne, having suffered a number of turns of withering fire from the British 1st Brigade (and being disordered pretty much from the word go) finally gave up and retired from the field of battle thus breaking L’Autre Brigade.

Of course then we realized previous turn the British 2nd brigade, technically, should have been “broken” as well as the Indian allies had left (as if the British would have cared, those unreliable skirmishing fiends!) and the 35th started a turn shaken… ah well.

(mental note – rallying units that are shaken or close to… probably a good idea..!)


We called it a night and decided the British had delivered a morale-crushing defeat to the French… or did we call it a “minor victory”… Whatever….

The game moved quickly enough – despite pretty much doubling the forces used in out previous game. I’m not going to add any more stands of half stands to any of my Seven Years War units to make them be able to more easily make the various formations allowed in the game. Now that we’re getting the hang of it I could see getting into it and playing it a fair bit – with the right people. Maybe not a game I think I’d take to a convention and introduce to multiple new players… but maybe that’s just because I don’t’ really have a handle on all the rules – with a few more plays and reading the rules again I might be on top of it enough… we shall see..

Coming soon on Tim’s Miniature Wargaming Blog:

I could tell you, but then you’d know… and it’s a secret… (shhhhh! Don’t mention THE WAR!!)

Black Powder! (First Game)

So… Black Powder…

John Bertolini popped by last night to try out Black Powder. John’s actually played it before. He played a Napoleonic game with Curt back in November.

[New France, 1758]

SITUATION

British and French are vying for supremacy in the new world…

Sorry, I spent so much time reading rules I didn‘t really have time to come up with a clever scenario…

SCENARIO

Simple meeting engagement.

FORCES

British Brigade

Brigadier Angus Bottomwallow
78th Regt. of Foote (Fraser’s Highlanders)
35th Regt. of Foote
48th Regt. of Foote.
Rangers and Indians (Small, Skirmish)
2 batteries Light Artillery

French Brigade

Le Marquis d’Hiver
R. du Guyenne
R. du Langedoc
R. de La Sarre
Indiens et le Marine (Small, Skirmish)
Corps de Cavalrie
2 batteries Light Artillery


THE GAME

Hmmmmm…. I didn’t take so many pictures (must have spent too much time looking in the rule book…).

The table I have is 5’ across, 8’ long. A pretty big table by local standards (most seem to play on 4x6). I have a sense the rules were written for much bigger tables than even mine! I wondered if maybe we should halve all distances, John assured me things would be fine…

WE set up some troops and diced for who went first.

Turn One

Brigadier Angus Bottomwallow ordered his entire brigade to advance towards the French with all haste. They did so!

(Remember: click on the pictures for a bigger version)


Before John even had a go my troops were over halfway across the table… so much for maneuvering.

Overwhelmed by the ferocity of the British advance the french… did nothing…

Turn Two

Luckily I’d forgotten to move Brigadier Bottomwallow at the end of my command phase (I guess he, too, was a little overwhelmed by the ferocity of the British advance!) so was unable to get orders up to his troops and thus they held their ground. He did manage to reposition himself to take control of the situation the following turn

On the French move the Regt. du Langedoc advanced towards the highlanders on their side of the river. Regt de La Sarre advanced and formed into line to the right of Regt. du Langedoc. I think the guns moght have moved up as well. Then, to get them moving Le Marquis d’Hiver galloped up to La Regt. du Guyenne and cried “Follow Me!” and marched them up the road and across the river.

The French fired off their muskets to no effect.

Turn Three

The 78th Highlanders used initiative to charge the Regt. du Langedoc, The French closing fire was withering and the Highlanders were disordered, but made it into contact. The 35th, also using initiative, crossed the river and supported the Highlanders charge. The 48th … I can’t remember if they used initiative and simply advanced towards le Regt de La Sarre, or if they were ordered to charge in…?


The Highlanders and Regt. du Langedoc battled it out. I think the combat was a draw but the highlanders had to make a break test because they were shaken…


Hmmmm I think the 48th made it into combat and also fought the French to a draw…


The Highalnders, I belive failed their break test and fled the field, the 48th stuck around to fight another turn.


I think on the following turn the 48th lost the combat or had taken enough casualties to take a break test and they, too, departed the field of battle.

AT this point I think the British Brigade should have broken… but I hadn’t actually read that far in the rules so we played on a bit further…


La Regt. du Guyenne had made it across the river… in marching column… on the second turn… but they failed to do anything the third turn giving my battery of light guns two turns of firing at them. I think I only caused two casualties. On the fourth turn they did manage to form into line and charge the guns (with another “Follow Me!” order). Unfortunately the closing fire was devastating and La Regt. du Guyenne was obliged to make a break test and fled the field – along with Le Marquis d’Hiver…


After the 78th and 48th had departed, the 35th and Regt. du Langedoc exchanged fire with little effect. The 35th probably should have retired across the river (brigade breaking and all…)

The other battery of light artillery and the Rangers and Indians in the woods brought down enough fire on Le Regt de La Sarre that they were obliged to retire from the field as well…

A draw…?

It was fun enough. I’d definitely play it again.

I have to say I was totally happy with the DBA Extension for 1500 – 1900AD. I also hate reading rules. I find them dreadfully boring. As rules go, black powder is well written enough and for the first dozen or so pages was quite entertaining… by the time I’d reached page 50 and still hadn’t finished the rules for shooting – let alone close combat or morale or anything… it was getting a bit tiring… By the time I was at page 63 and still didn’t know how close combat or morale worked down right tedious (again, my preference – DBA – four pages…). The fact that I’d have to rebase my units (not going to happen) or add additional stands (see previous post) to my units to be able to make the requisite formations did not further ingratiate me to these rules… By the time John showed up Thursday evening I’d only gotten to page 70… hadn’t finished reading about morale, hadn’t gotten to any of the advanced rules or anything about stats for troops or how games even ended… and by that point I’d forgotten most of what I’d read about the command phase… but I decided to wing it – it’s similar enough to Warmaster (which I’d read before, but never played) and Cold War Commander (which I’ve played extensively, but not in the last two years… or so…).

In the rules there is a lot of commentary about “being a gentlemen gamer”. In an Interview with Rick Priestley, Priestley actually refers to it as “a book about gaming presented as a set of wargaming rules”. This was all fun for the first bit… and I was thinking some of the chaps I’ve played with could really do with reading these, if only for the commentary about being a gentlemen (good sport). But as the rules wore on I came to realize that all this talk was really pointing out how loose the rules are (and thus potentially open to abuse and/or disagreement) and while it would be nice if everyone playing the game actually read these bits (and actually took them to heart) I had a feeling that in our circle, as in many, I’ll be the only one to actually read the rules and will have to teach them to everyone else and they will gain none of the benefit of reading the commentary and in the end it only added pages to what I had to read through…

Anyway… I’ll have to finish reading it at some point… and they likely read through the whole mess again…

The other bonus to the DBA-x is that there is a fairly simple campaign system that I had imagined we’d be able to use at some point to play a 18th Century horse and musket imagination campaign with at some point…

Coming soon on Tim’s Miniature Wargaming Blog:

Hard to say… probably a painting update with some newly painted figures of some sort…