This was the second outing of the Blood and Plunder rules at the club. Since then more work has gone on to increase the size of the forces available, most noticeably the introduction of ships.
The scenario chosen was an amphibious affair. Half the table being sea and the other a village and surrounding jungle. The attackers were based on an English force of Freebooters, Musketeers, Militia, African Warriors and Warrior Musketeers. As you can see a mixed bunch. The force was split into two. One group crept up on the village through the jungle. The other was at sea in a sloop.
The defender were also split into two forces. The village was held by a force of Hostigadres and Milicianos Artilleros. Just off table were Milicianos Indians and Caballeria. Coming to their rescue was a Spanish ship crewed by Marineros and Soldasos.
The game started with the Hostigades lining the village opposite the jungle and the Artilleros manning their guns behind fortifications. Initially all the action was in the village, the African Warriors and Indians fired a volley and rushed the Hostigadres. Routing one unit and greatly weakening the other. The Land Commander here consolidated his resources here and held the edge of the village.
At sea both ships were going flat out towards the Village Pier. The Militia Artillery fired at the English ship with very little effect. However they kept on firing until the Warriors Musketeers who had got into the village overran them from behind.
At the same time the English ship tweaked its course so it was able to rake the Spanish sloop, doing great damage. However this ship managed to limp to the Pier and the Soldaso got ashore, if somewhat battered, and they then drove back the Indians.
The game was now into its final phase, The Spanish Indians were in the jungle driving the English back. However the English ship had pulled alongside the Spanish ship and took control.
It was now time to draw the game to a close. It was assumed that the English Naval Commander would be pleased with capturing the Spanish ship and would not want to share the prize money with anyone else. The English land commander would have to make his own way home.
Blood and Plunder by Firelock Games is an excellent set of skirmish rules.
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| https://www.firelockgames.com/bloodandplunder/ |
The command system is very clever and there are lots of decisions that have to be made each turn. This was the first time Gregory, Steve, Ian and Vince had played the rules and they picked them up quickly, but it should be said after they all made some costly mistakes.
We used 28mm figures for this game from a multitude of manufactures. This period is really fun to play and collect. There are many troop types to explore with a multitude of scenarios waiting to be played.
