Something Completely Different

Something completely different for gaming on Friday night this week.

Dallas has quite a few ACW models painted from a period many moons ago.

As we have been enjoying Black Powder games, the decision was to switch it up a bit with an ACW game and let some old miniatures relieve past glories.

So, Dallas, Lee and I would command the Rebels. John, Paul and Brent the Union aggressors!

But we had Stonewall and Jackson... :-)

I would be commanding the Confederate left flank and would be facing off against the Union troops of Paul. I'd be outnumbered, but had no fear. I trusted in my dice.

We closed up and exchanged fire. Both sides inflicting casualties, but the rallying cries of Stonewall & Jackson were stronger keeping the Reb spirits up and aim true.

And then the dreaded SS dice failed Paul... 1's and 2's abounded. I was getting the upper hand.

Meanwhile Dallas and Lee worked a right hook coming around the flank of the remaining Union forces and soon broke them (ably supported by my artillery I might add!).

And with that, the battle was won.

Hooray for Dixie!

Enjoy a few in game shots.

The Great Bear

Friday gaming. But a distinct lack of drinking related photos.

Is that why Dallas's typically aggressive play style was dampened?

The other difference is that Lee & Paul were missing. From that I can only conclude that Paul & Lee are pissheads.... :-D

But on to the report....

Le French Commanders Will & Dallas, clearly tired of thrashing tommies, found themselves facing a Russian horde commanded by Brentkov & Johnski.

Will the Great Bear provide a more sporting challenge?

The forces deploy for battle and, surprisingly, the Russians take the initiative and rush forward!

Straight into some cheeky French Hussars who were alone on the flank ready to cause mischief. Bye bye Hussars. Shooting is annoying, but the French strike back quickly.

Lancers quickly destroy the Russian Cossacks (but only after quite some prodding does Le Dallas go through with it!).

The Light Brigade starts piling on the wounds and disorders.

But... low and behold... Russian Hussars are 0.0001 degree outside a French Line Battalions 45 degree front arc. After some magical winding movement they strike the French Battalion in the flank.

This should be game over. The French Centre rolled up!!

But no, the heroic dogged French weather the storm of lances and sabres and stand their ground! Twice! Tough fighter rocks!

Meanwhile French lances are skewering all sorts of Russians.

But the bastards just won't break!! Most Russian units have wounds, something like half are shaken (with stamina 4!).... but still they won't break.

The pressure continues to mount and finally a Russian Battalion breaks starting the flood of failures. Vive La France!!!

A close run thing. Russians are bloody tough!

Lot more charges into the flank this game. Particularly with good use of "Follow Me". Something we haven't done enough off in previous games.

Dallas, next time we need to check John's dice. The number of high rolls for break tests was uncanny!

Great game as always.

Back into it

Gaming wise :-)

Last Friday night saw the return to gaming for 2018!

And back to Black Powder.

900pts per side. French vs. British.

The difference.... this time I would be commanding the British. Uh oh... the British winning streak in 2017 was, well, non-existent.

I'd be commanding them with Brent whilst Dallas & Paul commanded the French.

We assembled our forces. Quite the mix for the British based on what was available (or able to be proxied).

3x Line Battalions
1x Highland Battalion
1x Light Battalion
1x Rifle Battalion
1x Cacadores
1x KGL Light Battalion
3x KGL Line Battalion
2x Portuguese Line Battalion
1x Hussars
1x KGL Hussars
2x Royal Artillery
1x RHA

Split across 5 Brigades, each commanded by an Officer with a rating of 8. Div Commander had a rating of 9.

Don't ask me what the French had.... other than loads! :-)

British forces deploy (refused flank)...

Forces of France deploy and seize the initiative by taking first turn. Suits the British just fine though, particularly as two French Brigades fail to move! :-D

Not that I was laughing for long... my very first order roll..... double 6. Blunder! Next roll.... 1... crap. All 3 KGL Line Battalions retire from the field..... Well, there goes that flank!

Still, the main British line advances and attempts to use its firepower to slow the French advance. It's at this point that I pay closer attention to the French force. The bastards had upgraded 6 Battalions to large!?! And it only costs 8pts to do so!?! Well, this just got a lot tougher.

The centre starts to turn into a mess of lines, squares and close combat as both sides Cavalry makes it's presence felt..

The large French Battalions are just too much though. Although most of the French Battalions have multiple casualties on them, some super saving throughout the game prevents them from being shaken.

Not so for the British who slowly start to collapse.

But, not before the highlight of the game. Sensing victory... one of the large French Battalions (who had done nothing all game!) sighted one of the Portuguese Line Battalions.

Thinking they'd be an easy beat up - they charged in.

At the end of that first round of combat..... 1 completely broken Large French Battalion and 1 soundly victorious Portuguese Line Battalion! :-)

But that was pretty much it. Victory for the French. But, just a few rolls going slightly differently and I think would have been a very different outcome.

Some lessons learnt though and it was good to try out the British (especially considering how much I have now invested in them!).

Next time! Needs to be a British victory.... I think it can be done.

Thanks for reading.