Black Powder Test Games - Giga bites cafe - River Fight

Had a great time showing Steve Smith from NC and Wes Shores the Black Powder rules at Giga Bites on Saturday afternoon - Pictures to follow of the three test games - It was a fun series of games - Also some pictures of other stuff to be added On Volleyfire VSF

1. French Infantry  vs British Infantry

French repulsed

2. French Infantry and Artillery v. British Infantry and Artillery

French repulsed / British enfiladed one Polish column causing an important break from fire

3. French Brigades of Infantry and Elite Mixed Guards Brigade cavalry with attached artillery

v.

British Brigades of Infantry and cavalry with attached artillery
(Special unit of AA Captain Sharke and his band of rifles just for a change of pace)

Colonel Steve joined in and opened up with a blunder move for Napoleon's Brigade as an important attack stalled.

Salamanca retreat - Short version of Scottish Bill game

For a birthday game will be doing a replay of one part of my Scottish Bill's game -

Wellington's Retreat from Salamanca

British won initial engagement - But still 6 turns to go Pics below

Part 3 Battle of Maylo continued....

In the continuation of the Left flank of the Battle of Maylo - Luke and I reverted to Black Powder at his request. Apparently he did not take a liking to straggler concept in Wellington's rules.
He shifted the Russian Grenadier brigade to the left flank after part of his line brigade was driven off
and broken by excessive casualties. The French have stormed across the river to reinforce the right flank as a Russian Grenadier battalion occupied part of the village. So far the Russian left flank is in the hands of the Russians while the French / Polish infantry show a stiff determiniation to hold the Church and grounds to the the Russian Right.

Pics will follow we got a lot done in 3 quick hours - lots of heavy fire but no melees (having learned the lesson the hard way that to empty BUA's of troops firepower is key!

NAPOLEONIC BATTLE in RUSSIA: TARUTINO 18th OCTOBER 1812 our completion

Not much in this post fiddled with the BUA melee values which saw the French tossed out of half the modified village. Looks like this may be the last Black Powder Napoleonics for a while we are shifting back to In the Grand Manner for a while. Or Republic 2 Empire perhaps. Will post a pic of the captured village. Soon!

NAP: TARUTINO 18th OCTOBER 1812 (our Version)

This was a game based on the NAPOLEONIC BATTLE in RUSSIA: TARUTINO 18th OCTOBER 1812 (On a game played earlier in the month by my friends in Scotland link(s) here http://blenheimtoberlin.blogspot.com/p/nap-tarutino-18th-october-1812.html and here http://blenheimtoberlin.blogspot.com/2012/06/nap-tarutino-1812-game.html ) roughly on the Battle of Tarutino 18 October, 1812 played using Black Powder Rules. It was a surprise attack by the Russian Army on the vanguard of the French Army under Marshal Murat approx 65 miles south of Moscow. I based the OB on the troops I had available taking into account to some extent the proportions at the actual battle with the Russians having 2 more brigades and more artillery. What followed at his links are  notes on the troop ratings and BP rule changes, the player briefings, orders of battle and the scenario special rules.

Our Game developed a little differently as Andy deployed his French in typical "British" style of defense his walled manor hous absorbed the French assault much like Hugomont at Waterloo. (my thinking is that the walled manor for a Russian town should be reduced) But mistakes both in deployments and several key areas allowed the  Russian Surprise attack for three turns to falter without much success.


Battle was not finished in 4 hours due to redeployments and other delays in Scouting by Bavarian cavalry.

Thursday Night Black Powder

Well a better game was finished tonight - French assaulting 3 Brigades of Russians in a rear guard action that the French won. Stamina levels of 5 allowed us to work through the rules a little better this time, still a few mistakes. but they are getting. Some ideas about having all infantry and artillery steady for the first break tests perhaps even the second if elite. This allows for units to play a little longer , although my break test rolls would have made better command rolls. We also generally let a side go through its entire phase rolling for command. Finally started using the shaken rules properly. Still shaky on phasing with moving skirmishers next to Enemy Cavalry. I think infantry movement with 12 or 6 inches of enemy cavalry should trigger an out of phase opportunity charge.

Initial success by the Russian Cavalry was depleted as its one large manuever brigade of Infantry was broken by French artillery and Infantry Charges. We had several drawn cavalry melees.

And bombarding a BUA with Horse Artillery just doesnt work.

Black Powder Friday Night Fights

More Black Powder using amendments by Tyne Gaming Club in the UK

Russian Rear Guard Action vs French pursuit. Outnumbered Russian troops defend a village dominating an important supply route.

While liking the graduated fire ranges and the response rolls / The other amendments are a little too complicated otherwise.

Objective markers

Saw something someone had put up or objective markers and will add a few ideas of my own - again pics to follow.

Black powder again More complicated than I thought!

Finishing up that battle of last week with a few minor corrections tonight
Should be interesting with the Cuirassiers hitting that unit in the center and doing the melee right this time.

Well the Cuirassier melee was interesting Steven dashed out Huge losses bu my saving rolls saved me.
But eventually the Infantry Unit Broke - We had interesting melees with squares by infantry and cavalry at least cossacks with lances. Confusion reigned in our built up area Melee. One Russian Battalion held up 5 French/Polish Battalions before succumbing to the onslaught. (Course I kept giving a win to a drawn melee to the defenders) I think it was rules creep from Fire and Fury in SOA 21 last weekend. Anyway the French finally gained the upper hand.
Pics and commentary to follow - should get a couple more games in this month

The blunder move was extremely funny (number 5) Square to Line and charge - he rolled a blunder move with Cavalry in support - rather than get complicated - I let him charge with the infantry in Line and follow with his cavalry. I can see keeping track of markers can be difficult.

Still an interesting set of Rules!
Then Super Bowl Sunday - Go Giants

More Black Powder on a Thursday night

Well once again the French and Russian duked it out with the French getting the worst of it. The French forced several Russian units to retreat and captured to batteries but were unable to exploit their success as the Horse Battery was charged and chose to fire rather than evade, Caught in the open by Russian Line which broke and ran when countercharged by French Cavalry - French Cuirassiers doing aTerrifying Charge followed up in a sweeping advance but were unable to exploit the retreat. (Turns out I may have done the melees wrong - not enough dice for either the cavalry or infantry used the number of shooting dice for melee makes a big difference also i wonder what the modifier should be for infantry not in Square hit by Cavalry or Hvy Cavalry?) The Russians ended the day holding both villages on the flanks, Having broken 4 French infantry units including the French Hvy cav.

We utilized a couple of special useful rules - But made everyone 4plus on saving throws as we are still feeling our way around the rules. It went smoother this time even more. Pics to follow after I get back from Augusta.

More Black Powder! ATPD!

Well got in a little Quick game of Black Powder agian today - It was pleasant getting in some gaming time on a Saturday.  Steve came over again as well as my friend Daniel. I basically umpired and taught the system/modified per my nuisances. Using the SEWSC turn sequence with a bit of tweaking myself - The game ran rather smoothly. Since I wanted to try this out - I used my amended turn sequence and amendments - we rolled for units seprately but placed markers separetly for brigade orders - also the more I play it the more the rules (make sense) apparently you roll for melee saves on kills as well - I am simply applying the rally movement from CLS as FB 1, FB2 or rout move - it worked well (the melee support rule I still think needs tweaking) Made a couple mistakes - proximity moves are optional you may chose to or you may try to move more in the regular move phase. ( I prefer the locked in tactical phase - once your engaged it should be difficult to get out.)Because we only had the two players and limited troops (2 Brigades Infantry and a Brigade of Cav each - although the French Cav brigade never made it on the table (Poor maps of Russia) Russians were all stubborn and russian Hussars were bloodthirsty - We only had one blunder move the whole game - Daniel rolled for his 4 gun French Battery and it had to retreat one move almost all off the table.

French were taking advantage of the Russians inability to get his commands moving - The French maintained control of the village and the vital bridgehead until the end of the game. A Daring set of Charges by the Russians Using Cossacks as Shock Cavalry caught a French unit forming square in disorder. This was followeded by Flank and rear charges as the  Cossacks and a smaller unit of Prussian Cav caught both Batteries deployed facing the wrong directions.

The Russian Holy Icon gave the russians a major morale boost at critical times. pics to follow. In spite of some mistakes on the part of the umpire (too many dice for meleeing a BUA) Disordered Cossack retreating past a French square (does that count as an advance?) Although the Russian medium guns finally got deployed (next to a french square facing the wrong direction) and never fired a shot the whole game.

The French 4 gun battery caught the Cossacks mentioned earlier with enfilade fire and only killed 2 Cossacks which were saved in the morale save - Only mistake I made was letting the Russian Cossacks on Morale saves from hits roll as 4+, when they should have been 3+ or 2+.

Anyway finally getting a handle on the rules and the nuances of some it makes since although I still prefer a clearer winner on the melees and support only counting for break test rolls.

More Black Powder?!?!?Actually changed the game a bit

Once more into the breach - tba January 5th depending on schedules this time less river and less artillery. ANd perhaps more understanding of the rules - Really miss Bill Gilchrist's expertise on these rules. Who has provided remarkable clarifications even all the way from Scotland - Got a copy of issue 281 of Wargames illustrated and change the game a bit - Barry Hiltons Shervadino scenario complete with a Holy Icon and 2 priests and a Cossack foot commander left the table pretty much as is depicted on the map.

Same general objectives

The Redoubt - not shown

The Village

control access to the road network at the objective marker 4

Now the pics which again the french lost but had several Russian Units break

http://www.flickr.com/photos/48123396@N05/sets/72157628732457145/

First Break test of the evening

The Valiant French Legere in square that eliminated a Russian half battery

More Black Powder?

Perhaps some more Black powder gaming before Xmas? Played an Abysmal game from the french point of view tonight -  Rolled 3 blunder rolls in 5 turns - we did the artillery wrong forget the differentiation dice at close medium and long and probably had too many guns on the table. But I have all this artillery I hate to just sit there unused. Anyway Andy and I basically had to start over from scratch because we both had forgot everything we learned in 4 months since we played in August. Initial depositions for both sides

Russian Orders

The Four Bridges at Mantua – Brigadier General Tokeyesvich commanding
The year is 1794, and you command a force of 14 units moving to relieve the Austrian garrison besieged in the fortress Mantua you can expect no artillery support ort from the fortress as their supplies are running low. The Upstart French General Bonaparte has been making a name for himself at the expense of your Austrian Allies Situation - You have been at Mantua Mountain since early this morning. Your force has been sent ahead of the main Russian army with orders to seize the bridges and all crossings of the River Mantua at St. Mantua tuscany. You are supported by a force to the East, commanded by Brigadier Crown Prince Ifan, which is seeking to seize a ford over the Mantuasky tributary. Mission - Your mission is to seize the bridge crossing at Mantua, and thus allow the remaining army, which follows, to turn the French armies flank, and proceed with the march on Milano. Limitations - The Bridges must be taken intact – there is no bridging capability nearer than a week away. Reinforcements will not reach you for one day, and thus you must be able to hold the bridge, after taking it, against a possible major counter attack. Forces - These should be kept secret. These comprise about 14 units of mixed infantry and cavalry.
You ordered forward a scouting party onto Tuscany village last evening. They reported seeing the following troops –  in the areas marked A, B and C -a mounted unit of hussars on the low, long hill opposite Mantua mountain, at least one enemy infantry unit in front of the bridge, and activity on and around the bridges. The Fortress Mantua is near the (A) Your troops arrived under cover of darkness, and but were delayed as you rested with your mistress in the Local tavern (4) but are deployed and are ready to march on in line and assume positions along the river entering the board on the south-west side. Bridge Preparation- Men appear to be preparing the bridges for demolition. Time is of the essence if your objective is to be achieved. Maps of the area are poor so accuracy of your dispositions is questionable – your troops are at 1, 2 and 3

Russian OB

1st Brigade - Left flank

2 Battalions of Grenadier infantry

deployed Skirmisher battalion

one light battery 2 guns

2nd Brigade - Center

4 battalions of Line

1 Light Battalion

1 Grenadier Battalion

4 Medium Guns

3rd Brigade - Holding right flank (3)

Lancer regiment

Hussar Regiment

2 Light battalions

1 Horse artillery battery - 2 guns

Reserves - diced for each turn arrived turn 5 - No impact on Game

3 Battalions - Line

2 battalions - Grenadiers

French Orders

The Four Bridges at Mantua – Brigadier General Bellasario commanding
The year is 1794, and you command a force of 14 units moving to stop the relief of the Austrian garrison besieged in the fortress Mantua you can expect no artillery support from the fortress as their supplies are running low. The Upstart French General Bonaparte has been making a name for himself at the expense of the Austrian and Italian Allies
Situation - You have been at Mantua Little Mountain since early this morning. Your force has been sent ahead of the main French army with orders to seize the bridges and all crossings of the River Mantua at St. Mantua tuscany. You are supported by a force to the West, commanded by Brigadier General Bonaparte, which is seeking to seize a ford over the Mantuasky tributary.
Mission - Your mission is to seize the bridge crossings at Mantua, and thus allow the remaining army, which follows, to turn the Allied armies flank, and proceed with the siege of the Fortress Mantua.
Limitations - The Bridges must be taken intact – there is no bridging capability nearer than a week away. Reinforcements will not reach you for one day, and thus you must be able to hold the bridge, after taking it, against a possible major counter attack.
Forces - These should be kept secret. These comprise about 14 units of mixed infantry and cavalry.
You ordered forward a scouting party onto Tuscany village last evening. They reported seeing the following troops –  in the areas marked 1, 2 and 3 -a mounted unit of hussars on Mantua mountain  opposite Little Mantua mountain, at least one enemy infantry unit in front of the bridge, and activity on and around the bridges. The Fortress Mantua is near the (A) Your troops arrived under cover of darkness, and but were delayed as Bonaparte rested with his mistress in the local church (3) but are deployed and are ready to march on in attack columns and assume positions along the river entering the board on the North East side – your troops are at A, B and C.
Bridge Preparation- Men appear to be preparing the bridges for demolition. Time is of the essence if your objective is to be achieved. Maps of the area are poor so accuracy of the enemy’s dispositions is questionable.

French OB

1st Brigade - Left flank

2 Legere battalions

3 Line battalions

1  Howitzer battery 2 guns

2nd Brigade- Center left

Cuirassier Unit

Hussar Unit

Light Cavalry Unit

1 Horse Artillery battery 2 guns

3rd Brigade -Center right

1 skirmished Light battalion

3 Ligne battalions

2 Foot Batteries - 2 guns each

4th Brigade Right Flank

3 Ligne battalions

Brief discription pictures to follow after map French forces advance to the river but were decimated by Allied artillery fire - Allies occupied their high ground positions. French Skirmishers in intial deployment broke on their first break test roll. Allied artillery fire broke unit after unit - First die roll was snake eyes - hussar unit broke immediately just from one phase of artillery fire. After that everything was down hill for the french. A total of 2 cavalry units broke from artillery fire break tests, as did 5 infantry units. We were able to do one melee which because of the 6 inch support rule the Allies won and the defeated Swiss unit broke.

Definitely need to use some modified version of these break test rules. Also blunder rules really put a hurt on deployment. One blunder move put my mixed cavalry brigade right in front of my 1st Brigade artillery as well as placing limbered horse artillery in the line of fire for artillery - which then broke on its break test from suffering artillery fire. Also initially the Swiss brigade failed to advance so the only Brigade that actually engaged was the Center Brigade with the 4 guns

As promised pictures of the awful French defeat - Blunder roles are featured - with adaptation amendments sure to follow in due course - only one blunder move per phase and a break test rally recovery rule as per  amendments I have seen on line. Especially for units breaking with low casualties. Already wondering about markers for recoverying routers?

 Extra command stands marked Rally on me similar to Follow Me rule!

the initial break test - Snake eyes from artillery fire only one casualty was inflicted

where the nicely uniformed Russian Hussar officer located

 used to be a Russian Hussar Unit - granted playing as french.

the French Center brigade advances audaciously to seize the center bridges

The Skirmishing battalion that broke from its initial break test after recieving 4 casualties

French Brigade artillery finally getting into action

Spanish Elite battalion moving up to sseize the bridge crossing

the Spanish held off a column charge by swiss infantry

 The Far right Brigade never got into action the entire game

The First BLUNDER MOVE right in front of the artillery

The Cuirassiers would soon be following the Hussars off the battlefield

The SECOND BLUNDER move roll

Finally the Third BLUNDER MOVE ROLL

Final total

French Units Broken

2 Cavalry

5 Infantry

1 horse Artillery

Allied Units Broken

1 Grenadier Battalion

2 Line Battalions

Allied victory

Black Powder In Georgia

Andy and I tried out Black Powder - he too thinks it has some wierd rules but as always his a gamer and like everybody compares it to CLS, Which seems to drive everybody crazy. Anyway will post pics from
the game. I know Bill Gilchrist from Scotland was very pleased that I was "converting" to these rules.
Nah its only a pick up game and was handy and I wanted to do something different.

Finally Pictures I found for this game -

the initial Brunswick Cavalry charge against my front line units

Andy Charged the horse guns running them over and breaking the battery

Where upon on my phase i turned half the battery and enfiladed the impetuous russian battalion with Cannister at close range and broke them withh devasting fire the survivors went screaming back to their lines in dismay.

The left flank held in spite of a surprise cavalry charge.