Seven Years War - Koenig Krieg

Hanoverian Infantry

This month's meeting at the DWG, saw "Mr Steve" get his lovely SYW toys out on the table to fictional clash between an Anglo/Hanoverian - Allied army vs his Franco-Swiss using the rule set Koenig Krieg

http://www.siegeworksstudios.com.au/cart/index.php?dispatch=categories.view&category_id=255

The last time we played with these rules was back in September 2013, so needless to say we were a bit "ring rusty" when we got going, and some of us had never played the rules at all. If you want to get a better idea about them then follow the link to our previous game where Steve H posted a bit of an overview.
http://devonwargames.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/seven-years-war-koenig-krieg.html

One of the principle drivers in the rules is the gaining of the initiative and using it to do something with your units immediately or to force your opponent to commit to an action before they necessarily would have chosen to do so. Actions are therefore not simultaneous and the classic situation is to fire before your opponent thus hopefully inflicting casualties that reduce the return fire, or to force an opponent to use his initiative with a force that allows you to approach to a closer range without interference.

In this battle the Allies were plus one on a d6 roll vs the French straight d6, giving the Allies a slight advantage.

French line to the left, Allied to the right - "here I am, stuck in the middle with you!"

As you can see in the picture above, the two sides faced each other across couple of valleys one with a town in the centre the others on each flank being broken with woods on the valley floor.

The French on the left of picture chose to keep their better Swiss infantry in reserve, with the Grenadier brigade nearest to camera, their basic French infantry and levies in the centre forming two brigades and their Foreign allied brigade further along, As with the Allies the French massed their cavalry on their left flank facing off against their Allied counterparts.

French Grenadiers hold the extreme French right flank

French line infantry with artillery support

The terrain caused both armies to choose a similar deployment. The interest in the game developed as the two armies wrestled to gain the upper hand in different sectors of the battle. The choices made in the initial deployment started to influence the success gained, or not, as the game went on.

French cavalry massed on the left flank

The only off table reserve force was held by the French, looking for an opportunity to force an advantage in the town sectors or to support an attack on the Allied left flank using the next best brigade in the French army, the Grenadiers.

Allied massed cavalry massed on the Allied right flank

The beginning of the battle saw the two armies seeking to grab a terrain advantage in the centre table area. The town sectors and hills gave advantages in protection and combat and became valuable pieces of real estate.

Hanoverian infantry and artillery massed in the centre

The French despite their initiative disadvantage managed to make good use of their successes by doubling up to the town and grabbing two thirds of the buildings, and their cavalry getting the best views out over the lower lying land.

A small but very effective British brigade of infantry with their heavy dragoons beyond the next infantry brigade

The French line infantry and Hanoverian Guards fought for control of the town

The Allied force had mixed success in the early clashes with their cavalry winning the first melees and pushing the French off their hills.

The French got possession of more of the town and had more artillery in support

The Hanoverian Guards sent into contest the town leaving their lower quality line comrades to defend in the open, had a torrid time as French guns and line infantry occupying more of the buildings poured on a withering fire that wore down the large elite battalions as the game progressed. The French were then moving fresh infantry into the towns to relieve damaged units and thus keep up the attrition.

More Hanoverian infantry held back to stop any flanking move on the Allied left 

The Hanoverian infantry had a small toe hold in each town sector 

The Allies sought to take advantage of their early success with their cavalry, by following up with the British infantry and break the Foreign brigade in the French centre.

The British and Allied infantry prepare to move forward in support of their cavalry to their right

Unfortunately the French grabbed the initiative pouring in galling cannon and infantry fire onto the British line and disrupting their attack.

The Allied cavalry make a general move towards the French

British cavalry break though onto the ridge forcing the French Foreign brigade to turn, whilst British infantry move forward

In addition the French cavalry started to win a few melees and cause the French left to stabilise just as the French Grenadiers and Swiss Line started to develop their attack to the right of the town.

In response to the cavalry attacks pressed on the French left, the Swiss and French Grenadiers attack the Allied left

The British infantry bring up artillery to support their attack in the centre right

French artillery played on the four battalions of Hanoverian line infantry, causing casualties on two of them as the eight battalions of Franco Swiss infantry closed on them. Meanwhile the fighting in the town was swinging to the French line infantry and with a rousing cheer the French charged in a bayoneted the surviving Hanoverian Guardsmen, clearing the sector nearest the French Grenadiers of Allied Infantry.

As the French infantry gain the upper hand with the Hanoverian Guards in the town, the Swiss lead the move to flank it

However it all proved too little too late as the janitor was threatening to lock us in and I had to get back to cook tea.

The Hanoverian line comes under French artillery preparation fire 

So based on the final situation who do you think would have grabbed the battle honour had we been able to play on?

Leave your thoughts on a comment.

The French attempt to stalemate the Allied cavalry attacks whilst their infantry start to apply pressure on the Allies left flank

Thanks to Mr Steve for bringing his figures along and running the game, or should that be "herding cats"? Also thanks to Ian, Steve L, Nick and Tom for playing.

Devon Wargames Group goes large with X-Wing

My original scenario had involved Jar-Jar Binks having to be rescued from a moon however I soon realised that both sides were planning to combine into one joint fleet and that also the inhabitants of the moon were prepared to blow themselves up just to get rid of this annoying tw*t. (Honestly, how much funny tobacco had George been smoking to come up with this character {apparently my lawyers have advised me that the answer is zero and it was a committee decision and nothing to do with Mr. Lucas}).

 

Therefore, here is version 2.

In a Galaxy far far away (I cannot do the scrolly thing so just use your imagination), two intrepid Rebel spies, cunningly disguised as journalists from Evil Dictator Monthly had arrived at Darth Vader’s Star Destroyer for an interview with the great man and whilst he was busy buffing up his helmet they naughtily stole the secret formula for his new improved asthma medicine. Making their excuses they quickly fled back to the rebel base which was hidden somewhere on the twin moons of Whipton.

Vader now had to urgently track them down as his current asthma prescription was running out, so he sneakily sent a package by Parcel Force addressed to: The Rebel base, care of the Twin Moons of Whipton, for a next day delivery, before 10.00am. Three weeks later it arrived and whilst Luke was signing for the delivery, the scouts who had secretly been following the delivery shuttle raced back to report on the location of the base. The waiting invasion fleet was now despatched, strengthened with one of the new Decimator ships and to make sure that everything went to plan, Vader went with them.

Meanwhile on the twin moons the Rebels had checked the senders address on the package so they knew now that they were in trouble , two A-Wings were therefore sent up and kept on constant patrol looking for the first signs of the expected Imperial fleet’s arrival , soon enough they picked up something on their scanners.

The A-Wings moved out to investigate the blips on their screens which turned out to be two Tie Interceptors on reconnaissance for the fleet , everyone then automatically said “Don’t let them get away to report back “and headed into combat . Quickly one of the A-wings was destroyed but the other ships then did very little damage to each other until the first wave of Imperial fighters started to arrive at the end of the board.

Strangely both sides scouts then simultaneously broke off to head back and report , the Rebels had spotted five Tie fighters lead by a Tie Advanced flying at maximum speed towards the Twin Moons and the Interceptors had seen five X-Wings just leaving orbit.

The two fighter squadrons engaged in combat along with the remaining scouts, A Tie Interceptor exploded and both sides took damage before the Imperials broke away and headed for the moons because they had just spotted another wave of rebel ships taking off consisting mainly of B-Wings and Y-Wings and which could be a much bigger threat to their plans; rather than follow them the X-Wings chose to engage the second wave of Imperial fighters that had now arrived, another five Tie fighters and Darth Vader himself in his Tie Advanced.

The battle split into two parts, the first Imperial squadron raced past the Rebel fighter-bombers, turned around and headed back, the Rebels tried to ignore them and flew flat out towards the now arrived Decimator; all their ships had been loaded up with missiles with the intention of tackling this big ship however the Tie fighters easily outpaced them and were snipping away from their rear. After three turns of this the Rebels realised that they either had to abort their plan or be destroyed so they turned back to take on the Tie’s following them, this was bad news for the Tie’s with two of them lost in exchange for the Y-Wing

Meanwhile further up the board the second wave quickly lost a Tie Fighter to the X-wings in first contact and then a pell-mell melee ensued whilst the Decimator, now accompanied by the remaining Tie Interceptor flew steadily on.

The Imperial second wave unfortunately at this stage got tunnel vision and concentrated on finishing off the 2 X-Wings fighting with them instead of following their orders and protecting the Decimator . The rebels had concentrated all their nearby remaining ships on taking it out and over several turns the prolonged fire from two X-Wings , the A-wing and two B-Wings quickly wore down its shields and then …

Boom !

Knowing it was now a lost cause the Imperial’s collected up their remaining ships and retreated with no one being too keen to be any where near Darth Vader .

Overall both sides’ losses were quite similar, with four rebels lost against six Imperial but the Rebels better shields helped them stay in the fight and survive long enough to take out the Decimator. 

Imperials = 15 ships

Rebels = 11 ships plus lots of unused toys

Points = 280 each

Thanks to Steve Land for the additional ships and all who took part

This was a Mr Steve production.

Stay tuned for 7YW in February.

Hold the Line - Maurice

Every now and then you play a wargame that really holds the tension throughout, with swings one way and then the other, finally culminating in a dramatic climax. Such was the game we played yesterday at our first meeting for 2015.

I designed the scenario around the the board game scenario from "Hold the Line"from Worthington's Games.
http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/35342/hold-line

The scenarios in the game provide a rich source for games easily converted to Maurice, and this one uses the orbats and set up for the "Long Island" scenario.

So my map illustrates the set up positions for the British and American troops, together with the objective positioned behind the defences protecting the American embarkation point.

Two thirds of the American troops are strung out on the ridge defending the approaches and need to stop the British getting the objective and avoid a morale defeat whilst trying to break the British morale if they can. The playing through of the card decks in Maurice act as the clock in the game, so the Americans can win by simply avoiding defeat until all the cards have been played

I determined the forces to be:

The British represent the powerful forces under Howe that conducted the 1776 campaign around New York with (Lethal Volleys) designed to encourage the British player to shoot his way on to the objective.

The American force represent those troops dedicated enough to resist this British Army, more comfortable defending than manoeuvring (Steady Lads), but with that determination to fight to save the revolution (Rally to the Colours).

With the terrain very much favouring the Americans but with the American army split with four battalions of Regular Trained (Continentals) occupying the defences together with their gun, and the remainder having to occupy the ridge line, the game presented challenges for both sides.

The American defences on the approach to Manhattan Island

With all the troops in position and the cards dealt, we were off.

Howe's Army climbs the ridge seemingly opposed by a single militia unit

The British came on in a two deep line with a third line of units forward of their right flank as seen above. The Americans opted to put their militia forward supported by the continentals, knowing the copses along the ridge would disrupt the British formation.

The rest of Washington's force behind the ridge line

Probably one of the biggest threats to the American position was the British cavalry which due to a lack of an American counterpart gave the British commander a threat of getting them in behind the rather stretched American line. Fortunately for the Americans, that threat never materialised.

Howe oversees his British elites (Guards and Light Infantry) and Hessian's

As the British climbed the ridge they were met by some very effective firing from the militia. The combination of the British and American ability cards made the combats very entertaining and the initiative swung back and to for a couple of turns; until the British players brought the numbers to bear, together with some cute card play causing one American militia unit to charge its British counterpart whilst carrying three disrupts.

In another combat the American player attempted to avoid a volley phase hoping to rally off disrupts on another militia unit only to be forced into a volley phase by British card play.

The loss of the two militia units was also costly on army morale with a five point loss. The Americans struck back with the destruction of a Redcoat battalion and the playing of "Death of a Hero" card causing three points loss to the British.

First Clash, the militia trade volleys with the 33rd Foot

As the British pushed the Americans back off the ridge we were close to the re-shuffle card appearing to set up the final deck.

Continentals support the militia

The firing was general across the line as the British attempted to force their domination of the situation. The Americans resisted tenaciously losing a continental and militia unit but taking out another British unit in return.

Firing erupts along the American ridge line 

As the reshuffle took effect, both sides were exhausted as we entered the final phase with the British having just one card to hand and the American with three cards.

Hot Work and Hard Pounding - Who will break first?

The battering both sides had inflicted had reduced the American Army morale to five points and the British to nine. The slight lull in the battle allowed both sides to reassess their respective positions with the British looking the more crestfallen as they felt victory was beyond their grasp.

The British push the American line back

As the Americans attempted to retrograde march back towards the defences, conscious of the British cavalry threat, they played the "Retrograde" card, allowing them to drop back a whole move instead of just half.

Still the fighting continues as the American line falls back on its defences

The British responded by closing in on the forward American units and shooting themselves into combat using their Grenadiers and Guards to attempt to "seal the deal".

The last line of defence - The militia casualties at left back of the picture shows the cost

The final deck was coming to an end but so was American morale as with just two points remaining the Americans lost one combat along their line bagging the final points with the loss of that last American unit. The British were exhausted with just six points of Army morale left but able to claim a marginal victory.

The Guards and Light Infantry attempt to turn the American flank - Howe observes the progress

This game played out very well and kept everyone involved through out, leaving me to exclaim that this was the best game of Maurice I had seen, and that is after I can safely say that I have always enjoyed playing this rules system. Sam Mustafa must be congratulated for producing a very fine game that is always a pleasure to play.

If you fancy giving this scenario a go, you might want to try getting that British cavalry to work, and the Americans decide on how they would fall back differently.

Yesterday was my first game in 2015 and if it is a sign of things to come, I can't wait.
Much thanks to Ian, Martin, Steve M and Phil for putting on a very entertaining days battle.

The Battle of Dunkeswell Down 1488 - The DWG 2014 Xmas Game

This is a DWG - Deus Vult Production of the Battle of Dunkeswell Down 1488

A gathering of the hosts, with the nibbles out and the vanguards of both armies set up

Every now and then we like to go large at the Devon Wargames Group, and our end of year Xmas game always seems to be a good excuse for the club to come together in one game and get all the toys out on the table.

These kind of games are played in a very light hearted spirit, especially at this time of year, and as your humble game reporter, I am often left to come up with a title and background to our clash of arms.

A few last minute conversations before bringing the rest of the forces to the table

So to set the scene, following his victory at Bosworth, King Henry has only reigned for just over two years when he was killed in a hunting accident. All that inbreeding within Royalty finally took its toll as it is rumoured he tried to reload his crossbow the wrong way round with the bolt pointing towards him and well, you know!!

Lancastrian mercenaries

With the unexpected death of Henry Tudor, the whole country braced itself for another round of blood letting to decide who would be King and so it was that two new "wannabe's" emerged from the Houses of York and Lancaster the Duke of Exeter and the Earl of Torbay, cousins from different strands of the Plantagenet line, going back to a common ancestor, the love child of Edward III (1312-1377) and a certain barmaid who worked in the Rose & Crown in Honiton where Edward had his lodgings on a trip to Exeter to cut the ribbon on the new bridge liking the City to St Thomas's.

Archers to the fore with one of Warwick's battles in support

Fact is often stranger than fiction, but it turns out that these two families are still in Devon today and both Andy and Nathan were able to represent them in our game being distant relatives of the two nobles in question and Edward and the Inn keepers daughter. This also explains the unusual DNA discovered in King Richard III's bone analysis earlier this year. Andy and Nathan are involved in the search for Richard's relatives and have both had mouth swab cell samples taken last month.

Loose and darken the sky

So to the clash that nearly re-wrote the history books on the Wars of the Roses. A few notes first will help the reader get a sense of the dynamics at play in this titanic struggle in the Blackdown Hills on the Somerset/Devon border.

First, this battle involved a lot of cousins and close neighbours and the inevitable blood feuds had sprung up during the long years of war. In our re-fight any opposing nobles engaged in fighting units with blood feuds could issue personal combat challenges to decide the fates of the forces in their battle. This was a rule that got used a lot in our game and quite a few old scores were settled and several nobles ended their days as foot stools in their nemesis's campaign tent. In addition, any enemy nobles defeated gave personal honour in the form of points to the victorious noble along with any enemy units driven from the field of battle.

Second, given the nature of warfare in these troubled times, you could never be really sure who was on which side, rather like what goes on in modern politics today. Thus there were rumours circulating that at least one noble in the other camp was liable to change his colours when the opportunity presented.

Yorkist commanders discuss tactics with Sir Thomas, Lord Exmouth. in his unusual black and white surcoat, with his familiar arms, the white snowman.

With the commanders and their forces set up, the respective leaders constructed their orders of march with the van, centre and rear battles nominated. This would be the order that the various battles would arrive on table or be held off on potential flank ambushes.

First contact, Lancastrian billman face off a Yorkist cavalry attack

With Andy (Baron Blackmore) leading the House of Lancaster and Nathan (Baron Goodyear) for York, the units started to arrive on table and it seemed to groan under the weight of all the metal and a few plastics.

The Yorkists made an aggressive thrust at the opposing van with a charge of massed mounted knights into the opposing billmen and archers. The fighting became confused and bloody and both sides struggled to gain an advantage.

The centre is soon engulfed with Yorkist knights at the tilt

As the struggle between the vans continued, more forces started to appear on either side of the fighting units as the opposing lines advanced to support their neighbours or grab important terrain.

The Lancastrian pretender arrives with his battle array

The Yorkist knights start to gain the ascendancy in the middle of the Lancastrian line

With the fighting close to the centre of the Lancastian line at full tilt, the left flank was surprised by a Yorkist flank march of mounted and foot troops.

surprise, surprise, well I didn't expect that!! - the Yorkist flank attack on the Lancastian left

The Earl of Exmouth is caught in the flank by forces under the command of his Son, Lord Thomas, a blood feud indeed!!

With both armies deployed and battle royal joined in the Lancastian centre and left flank, the Yorkist forces had the upper hand. The fighting was fierce as the Lancastian left deployed their "Darken the skies with arrows" tactic. Yorkist archers were decimated in the arrow storm.

Try not to throw 1, 2 or 3 - Oh dear, how sad, never mind!!

Calls of "Yield" were issued by Yorkist commanders as they sought to enforce their advantage.

The Yorkist mounted knights continued to threaten the centre ground 

Warwick tries to contain the situation in the centre of Lancastian lines. Rumours of his death earlier in the war were greatly exaggerated

Both commanders "girded their loin"s and sent heralds along their respective lines promising wealth and titles for one last push.

Baron Goodyear seen "Girding his Loins" during the battle

Desperate to swing the fight in favour of their respective camp, treachery started to reveal it's dark plan. Sir Stephen of Cardiff, a Devon noble banished to estates in South Wales for unnatural relations and concepts in animal husbandry, revealed his true Yorkist sentiments and added to the woes of the Lancastrian centre. In response, the Sir Lancelot of his Peers, Sir Stephen of Lympstone a man who preferred to do most things on the back of a horse suddenly announced, after gutting the Lancastrian centre with his "mounted joustabouts" that he really was for Lancaster and hoped for a spirit of forgive and forget to prevail.

The bloody battle rages between father and son as the Lords of Exmouth engage in mortal combat

The stress of the consequences of failure were starting to tell, or perhaps it was the desire to get down the pub for a Xmas tipple, either way, the personal challenges started to fly. It started with the most personal of blood feuds as Sir Jon, Baron of Exmouth, fuming with rage at the disloyalty of his son, The Honourable Sir Thomas, issued a personal challenge and, although chastising the errant lad with a breath taking display of swordsmanship, left the lad standing and returned to the cheers of his followers. This was to prove a mistake as Sir Thomas, boiling with rage led his men in a fanatical charge breaking two of his fathers units and capturing the old man.

Arrows were flying in all directions

The Lancastian left in trouble

Lancastrian billmen head towards the left flank in a bid to hold it

The day started to lose the light as the fighting broke down into personal little fights all along the line. No quarter was asked or given, noble footstools were being fashioned throughout the opposing camps as personal challenges were decided.

With the battle very much in the hands of the Yorkists, Baron Blackmore decided to make one last desperate roll of the dice. He issued a personal challenge to his opposing contender. Sir Nathan, Baron Goodyear, Lord of the Isles, Protector of the Faith and Lord High Commander of the King's Chamber Pot. The Baron Goodyear, never known to back down from a challenge to his honour, said "no thanks, not when I'm winning and about to get the job of being King".

In the face of such implacable determination, the Lancastrian forces broke contact as darkness fell, quitting the field and headed off towards the rallying point at the Queen's Head.

Warwicks retinue charge into the fight

The day was for York and the honour went to a young noble Sir Thomas of Exmouth who bagged double points for taking his Dad prisoner in a blood feud and breaking two of the enemy units.

Baron Goodyear ignores the catcalls about being frit and prepares to acknowledge the accolade for his victory 

Baron Blackmore, fumes as his personal challenge is refused

So as the dust settled and the armies returned to their camps, it was left to the camp followers to pick over the debris of battle. Their resources had been pillaged by the two opposing sides and their winter supplies entirely consumed as the two forces engaged in this mighty struggle to be known as the Battle of Dunkeswell Down.

It's true, "an army marches on it's stomach"

And what became of the two pretenders to the crown? I hear you ask. Well Baron Blackmore fled to France dying two years later in poverty and madness after his defeat but instilling a burning fire for revenge in his young son who returned to the westcountry, but lost his titles in a game of dominoes, trying to raise funds for a new campaign.

The victor of this tale also suffered an ignoble end failing to get back to Westminster for his Coronation after picking up a dose of the pox after a night out in Exeter to celebrate his recent victory. The rest as they say, is history.

Let the ballads say that much fun was had at the DWG 2014 Xmas game, with much laughter and banter prevailing. Thanks to Gamemeister Chas for pulling the scenario together and managing to herd cats.

Happy Xmas to all and here's looking forward to new games in 2015