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Comstar
Apr 20, 2007

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Has anyone got any experience in playing as the British in the Peninsula/Napoleonic war at the division/corps level in a wargame? My opponents (not just the French) have more and heavier artillery, better cavalry(?) and more infantry. I don't understand what I'm supposed to build my army as (the game is Field of Glory Napolonic 2nd ed, but I *just* got Black Powder rules for the Peninsula too today).

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Comstar
Apr 20, 2007

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Is there a guide I can read on what where and how much a 3D printer and files cost for napoleonic war games and terrain? 18 and 28mm.

Comstar
Apr 20, 2007

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Edit- the site says

quote:

Additionally, you’ll also receive the Glory Hallelujah! Black Powder supplement signed by the author. This book describes the history, armies, key leaders, doctrine and tactics of the American Civil War, and includes a comprehensive set of army lists and optional rules for recreating the battles of that war in miniature. To claim a signed copy of this book, your pre-order must be made before Sunday 27 December.

What size battle can you fight with 15 regiments and cannon? Is that about one Corps or a Division?

Comstar fucked around with this message at 11:09 on Dec 21, 2020

Comstar
Apr 20, 2007

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muggins posted:

15 regiments would be ~four brigades, around the size of a division.

If you went 1:1 ratio, how big a unit in ACW terms is it? A regiment?

Comstar
Apr 20, 2007

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Serotonin posted:

I still don't see it as an issue because they just announced today cavalry, caravans, skirmishers, zouaves etc. I'm buying in for sure on the strength of these freebies.

Where is the announcement? I can't find it, just a single picture and the teaser video from a few days ago.


Also, there are SO MUCH WHINING about this system. It's too big (15mm is not 10)! It's too small (15mm is not 18)! I don't like the hats! There should be more hats! I don't like how they only have 1 pose! I don't like how its 9 pounder guns! I don't like how its 10 men per strip! How dare they make a new system and not yet finish the entirety of WW2 armies from 1939 to 1945! I don't like that era! I already have a 2mm/6mm/10mm/15mm/18mm/25mm/28m/32mm/54mm army! Why aren't you concentrating on MY era whine whine whine.

So many people seems...personally insulted by it. I have never seen so many negative comments about a games system so petty that can be fixed by either buying other figures from dozens of other manufacturers or rule sets, just re-modeling them yourself or waiting a month or two for more figures to be announced (most of which are IN the teaser trailer!).

Now I haven't got into Warlord's games at all beyond having a boxed Waterloo set I have not opened, I guess if you've been burnt into buying a system and not seeing it supported will do that.

I do hope the rules are...adjusted a bit. I've never played Black Powder but the Napoleonic rules seem...a bit disjointed to read. I got a $10 pound voucher for getting the pre-order set and I used to the Waterloo rules in PDF...and boy could they use a better layout, structure and editor. Reminds me of OD&D by Gygax.

Comstar fucked around with this message at 18:24 on Dec 23, 2020

Comstar
Apr 20, 2007

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Painting tutorial for the Warlord 15mm ACW infantry. Another huge bonus of a small shoulder to shoulder unit - you can paint it a hell of a lot quicker.

Also this video shows you can't easily cut the 10 man unit into 5 with just a hobby knife and they are smaller than other manufacturers whose 15mm is often closer to 20mm.

Anyone ever re-fought Pickett's charge and won? Or is the Sealion of the ACW, doomed to failure every time.


I joined the Australian ACW wargame group, and the first post I see is one advocating Texas to leave the union...yeikes.

Comstar
Apr 20, 2007

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Q&A on Warlords Epic Scale ACW army

I had typed out every answer...when the browser ate it :(

New news:

The original idea was based on the old ads at the back of comic books in the 60's for 1000's of ACW troops in a foot locker (I know EXACTLY what he means).



They did this scale to fit lots of troops on one frame, uniforms on both sides are the same, you can fit a lot on one frame.

Special figures like Zouvers, Iron Brigade, Horse handlers and wagons will be in resin.

Iron Brigade is coming.

Cavalry will be armed with Sabre/Revolver/carbine.

A Napoleonic version would be great but one game at a time.

The rules in the box is a stripped down Black Powder book with extra rules from Glory Hallelujah (not including the background and scenario's).

(That old add I found at here and the figures look like this:

)

That lead to this where you could buy army surplus unit's...in 1-1 scale



Warlord is missing the bus here, they clearly picked the wrong advertisement.


Comstar fucked around with this message at 04:00 on Dec 27, 2020

Comstar
Apr 20, 2007

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An indepth battle report for my first battle at the League of Ancients FOGN 2021 Tournament. My Anglo-Portuguese vs Richard Stubbs (who is a somewhat known Australian comedian) and one of the top ranked FOGN players world wide) Russian Grenadier army as he attacks the Line of Torres Vedras.

https://comstarshistoricalwargames.blogspot.com/2021/01/league-of-ancients-janurary-2021-field.html

Will the British infantry be able to hold the reverse slope as a Russian horde comes over the crest? Can a single British Cavalry brigade hold a bridge vs an entire infantry division? Will the line hold? Check out the blog battle report to find out.

Part of the battle pics:





Comstar
Apr 20, 2007

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Battle report: League of Ancients January 2021 Field of Glory Napoleonic tournament. Battle #2




Following his first failed attempt to breach the first line of TORRES VEDRAS in SOUTHERN PORTUGAL before nightfall, EMPEROR NAPOLEON has sent one of his Marshall's forward with a large AUSTRIAN CORPS of infantry, cavalry and artillery to attack elsewhere on the line.

The VISCOUNT LORD WELLINGTON has placed his defenses on top of two hills and entrenched his troops to defend a road that leads towards LISBON.

Will the huge mass of Austrian infantry overwhelm the thin red line on the ridge, or can the British IMPETUOUS HUSSAR LIGHT BRIGADE lead a charge to GLORY or be a charge to their armies DOOM....


Check out the battle report on my blog to find out for my pics and the battle report and result.








Would people prefer I put the entire battle report here, just link it, or link it with a few pictures, like I did in this case?

Comstar fucked around with this message at 14:35 on Jan 19, 2021

Comstar
Apr 20, 2007

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zokie posted:

Congrats on your first “win”! I really enjoy your battle reports so please keep on posting them. But I must say that maneuver with the 95th looked pretty risky from the get go.

Lure the enemy off the hill defence and strike with cavalry. Classic Napoleon strategy I think. I walked into that like it was the Battle of Endor.


The next battle was against someone less experienced than I am...

Comstar
Apr 20, 2007

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JcDent posted:

I generally like 'em in thread.

They're...really long though. With a lot of pictures. I don't want to overwhelm the thread. If no one minds (check the blog to see the length of it) and someone else asks for it, I'll post it here.

Comstar fucked around with this message at 15:30 on Jan 19, 2021

Comstar
Apr 20, 2007

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Austrian Infantry army attacks the Lines of Torres Vedras
League of Ancients January 2021 Field of Glory Napoleonic tournament. Battle #2

Wellington looks toward the Austrian Army, and places his battalions with care.
One of the redoubts with Portuguese Militia is to his right.

Following his first failed attempt to breach the first line of TORRES VEDRAS in SOUTHERN PORTUGAL before nightfall, EMPEROR NAPOLEON has sent one of his Marshall's forward with a large AUSTRIAN CORPS of infantry, cavalry and artillery to attack elsewhere on the line.

The VISCOUNT LORD WELLINGTON has placed his defenses on top of two hills and entrenched his troops to defend a road that leads towards LISBON.

Will the huge mass of Austrian infantry overwhelm the thin red line on the ridge, or can the British IMPETUOUS HUSSAR LIGHT BRIGADE lead a charge to GLORY or be a charge to their armies DOOM....



Looking north from the hill with the two redoubts, towards the Austrian lines.

The battlefield was centered on two redoubts built as part of the Lines of Torres Vedras, north of Lisbon. Napoleon could not remove the last English army from the continent until it was taken. Portuguese Militia occupied the left western one, Portuguese Line Infantry the right eastern one. To the north west was a small farm, and to the direct west a small village. Both area's had been fortified into strong-points as part of the defence line. A large vineyard was to the rear of the hill, and was very difficult terrain to cross. Cavalry and artillery would find it near impossible to move through towards the defenders line of communication if they approached it from the east.
A small rough field was to it's north, and a small rise and forest were near the Austrian army form-up area. Several roads crossed the area.Intelligence indicated that the Austrian army would be attempting an ENVELOPMENT attack on one or both flanks.


The Anglo-Portuguese (with Spanish, German and Scottish troops) formed up early.

The Allied army deployed in a longer than normal arc. A lack of a river to defend one flank was thought to be a mistake, but at least the vineyard covered one flank, and the western village the other. I decided to defend the left side with the LIGHT DIVISION as it was my most vulnerable, and the strong-points were on that side. The FIRST DIVISION defended hill redoubts and stayed hidden on the reverse slope of the hill. The CAVALRY DIVISION was in reserve, south of the east-west road and close to the LINE OF COMMUNICATION.


The famed LIGHT DIVISION defends the left flank.

The Light Division was conceived as the flanking unit of the army. While the first division would HOLD the enemy, the Light Division would attack on the flank and use the movement and firepower to cause damage. This was the first battle I've played where that plan actually worked....Spanish Guerrillas occupied the western town. The strong-point to the north was defended by the Loyal Lustrian Legion with it's attached artillery battery. Between the two fortified building areas the 95th Rifle's were in extended line. The Division reserve was a superior elan Highlander infantry unit with skirmish attachment. If the enemy attempted to envelope my left flank, the light troops would hold them off in the strong-points while the cavalry would come to their support.


The Calvary division in reserve.

The Cavalry division was made of a unit of IMPETUOUS BRITISH HUSSAR'S to the west (closest to camera), a unit of IMPETUOUS HEAVY DRAGOONS and a unit of (poor) Portuguese Dragoons (furthest from the camera).


The Line of Torres Vedras redoubts covered the road juncture and line of communications.

A Portuguese Militia unit held the left side, and a Portuguese Line infantry unit the right. The other units of the division, remained hidden on the reverse slope of the hill.


Lord Wellington stands on the hill waiting for the attacking corps to arrive

Placing the Corps commander on the hill tactically didn't make much sense,. but it was THEMATICALLY IMPORTANT DAMMIT. So starting on the hill in full view of the enemy he did.


THREE Austrian Divisions move forward.

Three Austrian divisions moved onto the battlefield. A small cavalry division guarded the western flank. Two infantry divisions advanced together in Austrian Doctrine, in one solid block.


Austrian Heavy and Light Cavalry.

The left unit was a SHOCK HEAVY CAVALRY Brigade, with attached Brigade Commander AND Horse Artillery battery, making it the most powerful unit on the battlefield. The gun battery made it superior to my own SHOCK HEAVY DRAGOON unit. The Hussar unit was not as good as the British Hussars from Bad Cav Island, but were not IMPETUOUS.


Middle Austrian Infantry Division

The smaller infantry division had attached artillery and skirmishers, but was UNREFORMED, meaning they had no inbuilt light infantry companies in the battalions and attacked in slow lines, rather than the French thought of attacking in faster column. Therefore, they had a large drop in firepower compared to British and Portuguese Line units with their dedicated light companies and attacked light battalions firing in two lines instead of three.


The larger Eastern Infantry Division

The right flank Austrian infantry division was larger, and I suspected the Austrian envelopment division would be coming to support it on my far right flank, probably with a lot of cavalry.


The Austrian camp and line of communication

I was highly unlikely to be able to reach it, though the Spanish Guerrillas would like to think they could have made it.


With the Austrians deployed, the reminder of the FIRST DIVISION is reveled behind the hill.

It was made up of two large Infantry Brigades with attached artillery batteries and light infantry companies. A third smaller unit of Highlanders with superior elan was the division reserve.


As the Austrians advance, the allied army moves to refuse the flank and block the gap between the redoubt and vineyard.

I suspected the last enemy division would be coming to my right flank, so moved the cavalry and light division up to attempt to flank the attacking enemy, while the First Division would hold the hill with the Portuguese dragoons in support.


The redoubt militia in top hats look towards the advancing Austrian Infantry.


THE CAVALRY ARRIVES

As expected, but sooner THAN expected (they arrived the first turn they could), a large Austrian SECOND CAVALRY DIVISION appeared on my far right flank.They were obviously going to attack my Line of Communication.


The Infantry attack gets into position.

As they approached the eastern redoubt, the Austrian infantry split up and moved towards the base of the hill. They did NOT move to directly assault the hill...which vs British Trained Infantry on a ridge line...was probably not the best battle plan. I believe the Austrian general had never actually attempted to attack British troops on a ridge line.


The East Cavalry Division advances to match the infantry line.


The Austrians pause to firm up their line of battle.

The Vineyard now showed it's use. It served to completely block the enemy cavalry from getting behind my lines, and the infantry between it and the redoubt could form in DEEP TACTICAL FORMATION and be very difficult to force out. And the Austrian shooting was going to be less powerful vs British Line with artillery and skirmish attachments...


The Allied army forms a Hinge.

With good terrain to fight on, I moved the Light Division and cavalry to positions to flank the enemy Corps. The Highlander units moved to fill in the gaps with the Portuguese dragoons as the final reserve for the defence line.


The Unreformed Austrians attempt to win a firefight with British trained infantry and light infantry backed up by artillery.

At this point, two infantry divisions were attempting to engage a Highlander unit between the two redoubts, the Portuguese in the redoubt and two large British infantry brigades on the hill. Those of you who know your history, can foresee how this will turn out for the Austrian's. The Austrian's should have moved to close range as soon as they could, a lesson they would learn too late. In front of the left most redoubt, the IMPETUOUS HEAVY DRAGOONS moved to a position to charge the Austrian left cavalry division. The IMPETUOUS BRITISH HUSSARS were behind them, with the Rifle Brigade in a position to support the Highlanders.


CHARGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The IMPETUOUS HEAVY DRAGOONS charged and were themselves intercepted and counter-charged by the Austrian HEAVY SHOCK CAVALRY.


The right flank Austrian Cavalry is stuck between a hard redoubt and rocky vineyard.

On the far right flank, the enemy infantry attack was getting nowhere. Out shot by British trained infantry and not able to maneuver between the redoubt and vineyard, they were unwilling to get closer.. The cavalry that did to get close fell back after taking damage from British muskets and artillery.


As the heavy cavalry fight, the infantry decide attacking the hill is not a idea they wish to partake in.


The Heavy Cavalry fight is a draw.

Despite the horse artillery battery in support, the fight between the two heavy cavalry units ended in a draw. Both units were wavering and spent. The Austrian light cavalry brigade to the north east, sensed the British weakness and prepared to charge. The Spanish irregulars were moving into a position to be behind the Austrian army and were now behind the enemy heavy cavalry.


Approaching the decisive moment of the battle!

On the left, the Austrian Hussars charged the spent British Dragoons, weakened from their previous fight. In the centre and right, the Austrian infantry and cavalry was disrupted and out of order from the British fire and shells coming down the hill.


Get in close range went the cry!

The Austrian infantry finally got close to the allied line to engage at close range, as the British Dragoons are charged by the Austrian Hussars on the left. However, the attacking infantry is still being disrupted by the gunfire coming out of the redoubt and down the ridge line. The Allied army is barley impacted beyond the spent and tried dragoon brigade.


THE DECISIVE MOMENT HAS ARRIVED. HUZZAH!

The Highlander unit on the road took too many causality's and broke as did the Heavy Dragoons. However, only the Rifle brigade was somewhat rattled and fell back. Every other unit passed their tests. The IMPETUOUS BRITISH HUSSAR'S then charged the Austrian light cavalry in the flank. Tired and weakened from their fight with the Dragoons, they broke.And ran into the next Austrian unit. Who saw their fellow cavalry routed, and routed too. Into the next unit. And the next. And the next. A FAILURE CASCADE ripped through three divisions of troops.


RUN! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES! THE BRITISH HUSSAR'S ARE COMING!


The result was that 5 enemy brigades disintegrated and the remaining units were all disrupted from seeing the rest of the army fall apart


The victorious IMPETUOUS BRITISH HUSSAR'S observe the results of their charge.

With so many units broken and routed, and only 2 allied units destroyed, the battle was over.
Anglo-Portuguese DECISIVE VICTORY


The is the first and so far only battle I've fought were all the divisions did exactly what they were designed to do. The First Division held the pinned the enemy, while the Light division flanked and the cavalry committed the decisive charge at the hinge of the enemy using the carefully husbanded reserves, to archive a decisive victory and the enemy army destroy for minimal (though not zero) causalities.The unreformed Austrians, despite having attached skirmishers and artillery didn't have the firepower to match the British infantry units on the hill. They would have better luck I think attacking on my left where I didn't have the redoubt and hill, and attacking the strong point would use their numbers better. If nothing else, charging up the hill as soon as possible.


Final score card 21 to 4.

Comstar fucked around with this message at 23:31 on Jan 19, 2021

Comstar
Apr 20, 2007

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Tias posted:

Beware of doxxing... Drismam?

What? Is posting the somewhat illegible score card a bad thing now?

quote:

Historicals: Wargaming vicariously through others as my country perishes in a plague.

I'm wondering how long it will be for someone kickstarts a wargame to see if you change history and take the Capital building or have Whatif's of what happens when different National Guard units decide to intervene on different sides.

I really need to finish my game of Pandemic Season 1 that was...paused by the Pandemic. We never did find out what happened.


Anyways, we all wore masks. The restriction was lifted the next day. Next Tournament will be in March. This was the replacement for the one that usually runs at Cancon in Canberra over Invasion dayNational Very Long Weekend day. I had another battle report 75% completed when Blogger ate it :(. The Austrian's attempt a 2nd time to break through the The Lines of Torres Vedras.

Comstar
Apr 20, 2007

Are you happy now?
Apologies for the bad formatting - trying to convert blogger code to bbcode is a bit of a nightmare this time for some reason.

Reading the battle on https://comstarshistoricalwargames.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-third-attack-on-lines-of-torres.html my blog might be easier.

The third attack on the Lines of Torres Vedras
(LoA Tournament game #3, Jan 2021)

Following his second failure to break through the LINES OF TORRES VEDRAS, the
EMPEROR of France, NAPOLEON, has launched a third assault to break the
ANGLO-PORTUGUESE army and complete his CONQUEST of EUROPE.



Losing patience with the repeated FAILURE of the subservient allies of Russia
and Austria, The Emperor commits a full Corps of FRENCH infantry to
launch a PROBING attack to discover a weak point in the defenders line.



Will the mass of SUPERIOR infantry, HEAVY artillery and OUTNUMBERING
cavalry break the lines this time, or will the outnumbered defenders
continue to HOLD THE LINES OF TORRES VEDRAS...



Viscount Wellington with his ADC's and staff, observes the French advance guard from a ridge line.

In my third game of the League of Ancients January 2021 Field of Glory
Tournament, I faced a French 1805-07 army lead by Paul Graham, who was
also at his first tournament. Despite playing less games, he was much
more familiar with the rules and was able to correct and help me with
them several times. My apologies for getting so many wrong.

[timg]https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-axwoMZP7xY4/YA6pBisDkuI/AAAAAAAAJys/sq8akmwUyEUDNVf82gks382uArSwJkJgwCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/IMG_6229.HEIC][/timg]The Battlefield, facing North. The town of Torres Vedras is in the south east corner.


Two small ridge lines acted as the line of defence for the allied army. Two
rough and very difficult to move through forests lay to the north. Two
steep hills were north of the town. A river running low circled the town
but was fordable in most places. The main road ran north-south.

[timg]https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wfFVq_G6d5c/YA6pBkvGU2I/AAAAAAAAJys/JL_KEXnLFBopgCpHldhC5TjAR8CDzBeHACPcBGAsYHg/s4032/IMG_6230.HEIC][/timg]The town of Torres Vedras, looking North West.

[timg]https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e7/Lines_of_Torres_Vedras.jpg][/timg]The location of the battle, and the area of the previous two. The attacks had so far failed to penetrate past the first line.

[timg]https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u9MtvHrGMuM/YA6pBmY-TNI/AAAAAAAAJys/roSsTkiKRhkxbZkC3Of1QzmFCNTJPkPogCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/IMG_6232.HEIC][/timg]The Allied army deploys into the defence line as the French vanguard approaches.


I gave serious consideration to just deploying my entire army behind the
bank of the river but decided it would leave my line of communication to
exposed on the road, even if would be defended by two redoubts and
covered by flanking fire.

I could have given up the town and not split my army up, but following my
experiencing vs Richard's Russians where I had done that and lost the
bridge without fighting for it, I decided to put my Light Division on
that side of the river. With all but 1 unit as light troops, they could
cross it if needed.

The first division held the centre, and the cavalry division on the left to hold that
side. I expected to be outgunned again so stayed behind the ridges.

[timg]https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gs4AypiAJ9c/YA6pBi8QzkI/AAAAAAAAJys/N7ymu5W0znEczSMz6eLzxceZJfmAkm2_QCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/IMG_6233.HEIC][/timg]
The First Division holds the centre.


I placed the two redoubts on either side of the main ridge. The
Portuguese conscripts on the left, the Portuguese line infantry on the
right on the road to the LoC. Behind the ridge were two large British
infantry brigades with attached skirmish and artillery batteries, and the division reserve Highlander brigade with superior elan.

Again, I did something stupid but it just looked right, and put the Corps Command right on the hill facing the enemy.

[timg]https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5n6HXD9lKFs/YA6pBimVdGI/AAAAAAAAJys/YskMlF0-vvUWAjDu8VGFqwv6P1vSKXzjwCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/IMG_6234.HEIC][/timg]The actual town of Torres Vedras.

The Light Division held the town. The Loyal Lustrian Legion with an
artillery battery on the river corner, the 95th Rifle brigade the
bridge. Behind them was the division reserve Highlander brigade with superior elan and the Spanish irregular guerrillas occupying the town.

I didn't really need to put the irregular's IN the town, but it seemed
the right place to put them. I probably should have put them in FRONT of
the bridge, as they were the only unit I had that can move out of my
deployment zone. In fact I now think I should have put them on my far left flank and moved them into the forest there. My handling of the these troops has been poor all tournament.

[timg]https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dTfkIxekQU8/YA6pBmXJVII/AAAAAAAAJys/VumysGRgwzEQicuJFwYGK_vEzP5-8So2QCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/IMG_6235.HEIC][/timg]The Cavalry Division in brigade formation.

This time I remembered to put all the cavalry in one brigade formation for
ease of movement. What I still should have done is put the heavy
Dragoons with their own brigade commander off by themselves and had the
division commander move the light cavalry units separately.

[timg]https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bpDUUwN0WHk/YA6pBvjKvoI/AAAAAAAAJys/3jzzMhKSsJguEDesyBqstbsopjQ70KmpQCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/IMG_6236.HEIC][/timg]Watching and waiting for the French assault.

Corps Command started on the hill again. Wellington did this deliberately several times in real history and it actually worked to
slow or prevent a French assault! French Marshal's had a complex about
seeing Wellington on a hill and assumed his entire army would be lurking
behind it every time.

[timg]https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TDlHRVnhDZo/YA6pBqUd4-I/AAAAAAAAJys/_ZoV6Ifyao8sGb6wNM1D7EMuagltlQCYQCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/IMG_6238.HEIC][/timg]The French vanguard deploys into line.

Seeing my army laid out for them, the French clearly decided to attack my
centre. They had to go around the forest to do it. On the left side is a
heavy artillery brigade, a large infantry unit with cavalry and
artillery battery, a small unit with the same support and a dismounted
dragoon unit.

On the right is a light infantry brigade, a line infantry unit with artillery (and both with
cavalry detachments) and a light cavalry unit.

The amount of cavalry the French had as attachments and in mixed divisions
meant my skirmishers would be useless as medium range, and the heavy
artillery was designed to destroy my redoubts!


[timg]https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZaHkQ9IHu4k/YA6pBsco8DI/AAAAAAAAJys/z1FUL6DM2csPuYlKqXah3rJGBSkGVpa1ACPcBGAsYHg/s4032/IMG_6239.HEIC][/timg]The French 1st Division
[timg]https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bBeAo4Tan8s/YA6pBkXnA3I/AAAAAAAAJys/RHX8b5pHYqQR9zXPygx1H9HzVsf4n2UNQCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/IMG_6240.HEIC][/timg]The Advance Guard division.

[timg]https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--5cq1DSMF9M/YA6pBp3F9uI/AAAAAAAAJys/unBK16P0k_gdLJC0l6AI_7gJBiuQTFh_gCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/IMG_6242.HEIC][/timg]The Portuguese conscripts nervously watch the French Heavy Artillery to their north.
[timg]https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YC2MvQccXuE/YA6pBhMowHI/AAAAAAAAJys/ckTmSO2CQsMjH9HGA-oDd7PB2YG3Lal5wCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/IMG_6245.HEIC][/timg]As the French line advances, the British cavalry move forward, and the Highlander unit moves to cover the flank of the redoubt.

I had two divisions baring down on 3 infantry brigades. I needed to break up or slow down the left one.

[timg]https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2CU5sJ59osY/YA6pBmvUzpI/AAAAAAAAJys/1vLbAYSi21wWYTxeDWpxWHLnjLGB8SoJACPcBGAsYHg/s4032/IMG_6246.HEIC][/timg]The Light Division reserve prepares to cross the river. A French cavalry unit guards their own flank.

I knew there were two more divisions of enemy troops coming,, and I
thought they might go for the town, so I didn't move out of it. Memories
of losing the 95th Rifles to a charging cavalry unit made me cautious. I
decided to use the Guerrillas across the river, and send the Highlander
reserve brigade tro support the redoubt.

[timg]https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-twykJKlWClw/YA6pBkFArpI/AAAAAAAAJys/jNYj4BWltMkTaFSjxNLO3RrYm6Sl1zu-gCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/IMG_6247.HEIC][/timg]The Allied cavalry division watches the advancing French.
[timg]https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WFWrWmc3meM/YA6pBpSSF6I/AAAAAAAAJys/pSPtTFemZlEupibWgWWJkN6G9ndOBrrHACPcBGAsYHg/s4032/IMG_6248.HEIC][/timg]The 1st Division moves to it's firing positions.
[timg]https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SrWFhG51fyc/YA6pBnCxQJI/AAAAAAAAJys/LRZ5PJLpKQQNZHtn3l7imvwYmm0C-pAiwCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/IMG_6249.HEIC][/timg]The two French divisions prepare to attack the line. The Heavy Artillery unit deploys and prepares to fire on the redoubt.

The French were clearly aiming for my left flank and the conscript unit
inside the western redoubt. Their cavalry on the right hang back to
cover their flank. The heavy artillery spent the entire game trying to ploy forward and failing every time.

[timg]https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0z7DhpBLgzg/YA6pBhC8CTI/AAAAAAAAJys/pr_gbRoeCW8Jo1wQJJQ9f2kOGw7iJz6NwCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/IMG_6250.HEIC][/timg]The allied cavalry splits up. The IMPETUOUS HUSSARS move to the left to perhaps get behind the French line. The heavy Dragoons and Portuguese Dragoons prepare to cover the flank.

I was thinking I MIGHT be able to get the Hussar's through the forest and
headed to cut his Line of Communication. It forced his infantry to go
into square and slowed down his attack.

[timg]https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Enfe0r-q3Ds/YA6pBjKwgHI/AAAAAAAAJys/B4vnz2sfuSACeRKb5UALq_XBH2j-6NKSACPcBGAsYHg/s4032/IMG_6251.HEIC][/timg]The French infantry move to attack the ridge line while the heavy artillery bombards the western redoubt.

I think he needed to wait for reinforcements here- he had 2 small units facing two large ones of mine.

[timg]https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YN8WunhijvY/YA6pBkd1oTI/AAAAAAAAJys/66Z7zxCRYKImLth9_egFhv8EbkP-tpUngCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/IMG_6252.HEIC][/timg]The Spanish Irregulars cross the river.

This was also maybe to get nearer his Line of Communication. The irregulars
can move backward as fast as they go forward, so could always come back
if needed.

[timg]https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iDHWQR0yxMU/YA6pBrPwZ9I/AAAAAAAAJys/4R_2NZaNQeI92t6cm7igzRFledYWxeQ-ACPcBGAsYHg/s4032/IMG_6253.HEIC][/timg]The Heavy Artillery rattles the Portuguese Conscripts.
[timg]https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AHLE1ahkoNw/YA6pBiUVfNI/AAAAAAAAJys/1WONle5uYz4g8emSJNnS2KioRvljiUNhQCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/IMG_6254.HEIC][/timg]The French Vanguard advances closer, covered by artillery and cavalry.

The enemy attack that was so powerful is breaking up into small advances. Neither side has the strength to push an attack.

[timg]https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YI46fnsAOjQ/YA6pBnI6fNI/AAAAAAAAJys/UhX8VpOKpjAeJj3jHC-7RP6gyvIbA2TawCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/IMG_6255.HEIC][/timg]The first wave of French reserves arrive down the main highway. Two infantry units and another cavalry unit.

I needed to see where these guys would go before committing anything. I guessed they were headed for the other redoubt.

[timg]https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KnGXLFg2V7s/YA6pBpeRFrI/AAAAAAAAJys/WONDmrS-6OwOJj5iFAtdNnRcy3JAvV-egCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/IMG_6256.HEIC][/timg]French
artillery fire and skirmishers fail to cause many causalities but do
prevent the British infantry from moving their artillery on top of the
ridge line.

I was getting more disrupted, but I was VERY lucky with the conscripts-
needing a 5+ and being forced to re-roll 6's they held on! Also I'd
moved by Portuguese Dragoons into a position to hit his vanguard unit in
the flank. I don't know why his other unit to the top left didn't
advance faster.

[timg]https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RLsH9IImtdc/YA6pBrtCd3I/AAAAAAAAJys/l5riEd9yvxU_vs47QLTXt0qU5qEAT3F-gCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/IMG_6257.HEIC][/timg]The IMPETUOUS BRITISH HUSSARS move to try and get behind the French lines, forcing their flank guard to form square and cease their advance.

This may be why. He's been forced to put a flank into square, and I could in
theory hit the large unit IN the flank with the Hussar's.

[timg]https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g6yj2KNv7g8/YA6pBhWqJwI/AAAAAAAAJys/vzLXYQfTNiAs5V2Lpx_AGMtKx0u3PH9kwCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/IMG_6258.HEIC][/timg]With
their flank slowed down to form square, the mass French advance is
breaking up. The heavy artillery fire is failing to damage the redoubt.

I got very luck with my morale rolls here, but he was making his too.

[timg]https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6G8VJ9zvsl8/YA6pBlww0xI/AAAAAAAAJys/r6oZ2gbYqrQQSW3TP7DgR5jVkGhBWGidwCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/IMG_6259.HEIC][/timg]The French reserves force the Spanish irregulars to move back to the safe side of the river.

I thought at this point they were surly going for the town. With a 2nd division still to arrive they might have had the strength to do it.

[timg]https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_3DhH3DLWww/YA6pBu7d53I/AAAAAAAAJys/i4WP7QI1-2M7MMFcybTjZVxJ4w_btPd5QCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/IMG_6260.HEIC][/timg]The British skirmishers disrupts down the French advance.

I did manage to get enough hits in to disrupt his centre. Two large
tooled up British Infantry units on a ridge line should do that.

[timg]https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eJJ_lEACPLo/YA6pBmzWlqI/AAAAAAAAJys/XZM8cmujSTMyVD62X4eMzjcxIFWBV6DbwCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/IMG_6261.HEIC][/timg]The French light troops in turn disrupt the British line, while the heavy artillery continues to pound the redoubt.

Though he was doing the same damage to me. The redoubt and staying BEHIND the
ridge line was what saved my army here. Otherwise the heavy artillery
unit would have been blasting me away.

[timg]https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tNZvxEoxgOg/YA6pBpY0-BI/AAAAAAAAJys/uKYR3eF0ltcJ20XJWMLhTTPS0GB_lTyoQCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/IMG_6262.HEIC][/timg]The left flank attack is slowing down due to the presence of British cavalry, as the allied centre re-orders itself. .

I could have maybe charged with BOTH units of cavalry here- Light and
Shock heavy might have been enough to either break the square OR pass
through. However, he'd placed his square in a position so that
my cavalry didn't have enough room TO hit another unit on the other
side, and would have just bounced.
I need to remember that tactic. I should have done it on my right flank later.

[timg]https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IfkIwv1EtuY/YA6pBnmgLZI/AAAAAAAAJys/trnZTANSEy82yBETcLZaUM5iNn73VJb5wCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/IMG_6263.HEIC][/timg]The
French reserves move down the highway towards the second redoubt while
the Light Division's Highlander unit moves to support it.

He redirected his reserves to attack the redoubt. I had my Highlander unit
there, so it would have been a tough attack to succeeded in. And my
Light infantry could move into the river and do some damage from a
flank, though not too much.

[timg]https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hzDKh6QFjU8/YA6pBlejxkI/AAAAAAAAJys/ITt3d3LhkocgL5xg4-TxV6iJdojh1ckRwCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/IMG_6264.HEIC][/timg]A heavy French Cavalry division arrives as reinforcements while the
French left infantry is stuck in square but is starting to climb the
left ridge.

His reinforcements arrived and it was two heavy cavalry units. Probably an
equal fight to my British cavalry, so long as his infantry in square
didn't cause any issues to them. His large unit is still being very
hesitant to advance and can't move faster than it's flank guard in
square.

[timg]https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wIgshBdbZps/YA6pBggsR1I/AAAAAAAAJys/u6UssTTWYIIUUJrXQUnHeroNiPa7yce-wCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/IMG_6266.HEIC][/timg]The French reserve division moves to attack the main defence line.

He as now moving away from the town and towards a position to hit my ridgeline unit.

[timg]https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qn_lNcwLP1g/YA6pBhL3jMI/AAAAAAAAJys/sKo2f2AZAYsED3ohYXXEMd-fpPRGCWhdACPcBGAsYHg/s4032/IMG_6267.HEIC][/timg]PORTUGUESE DRAGOONS! PREPARE TO CHARGE!

I didn't NEED to charge my Portuguese Dragoons, but I thought now or never.

[timg]https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--3UvidEqD-g/YA6pBhfvdMI/AAAAAAAAJys/AHArhQkKZSsMtwxsA_OYqQtBEhxU4j2kACPcBGAsYHg/s4032/IMG_6268.HEIC][/timg]CHARGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

They had to pass in front of the artillery who were able to support the
infantry, who DID manage to form square, but still were wavering by the
end of it.

[timg]https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6rMKoa8_JVg/YA6pBpzOXmI/AAAAAAAAJys/d7RlqphfpjUY1_HzwFz8oWr-QjJoNjBagCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/IMG_6269.HEIC][/timg]RETREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Despite wavering the French brigade, the Portuguese Dragoons are forced back and rout.

I'm not sure what happened, but my Dragoons routed, I think because of
having to cross in front of the artillery. I was lucky it didn't impact
the rest of my army.

[timg]https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hifRyFDOkEk/YA6pBteKKcI/AAAAAAAAJys/rwlUsfJ9VdczmG-NNurBSD3kWinBaf9agCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/IMG_6270.HEIC][/timg]HUZZAH!!!!!! FOR KING AND COUNTRY! The British Infantry charge down the hill at the wavering French infantry.

It DID mean my infantry were now able to charge over and down the hill towards his wavering unit!

[timg]https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7ILA4hot3J8/YA6pBm7__pI/AAAAAAAAJys/QGg_R6dN-qcccgqPiDz4cxHpqp1HxSEHgCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/IMG_6271.HEIC][/timg]ROUTED! The attack destroys the French line! Several units nearby are also disrupted by this event, but do not break themselves.

They unsurprisingly lose that fight, though this time his centre didn't
collapse when it lost that critical fight, it did disorder the other
units there. I could probably have charged his other infantry unit and
rolled up his line.

[timg]https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nf1P1TdKtfI/YA6pBnpBvjI/AAAAAAAAJys/Dy6DJLGJbJYrHyhkCabPl1u2aY42LJTSwCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/IMG_6272.HEIC][/timg]The French centre is holding while the reserves move to attack the ridge
line. French cavalry on the left hold off the light division from advancing into their flank.

I think I could win the fight on the right - my Portuguese inn the
redoubt, the Highlanders and the large British unit next to them. His
centre was under pressure and my left was still holding him off and
would be fighting from a redoubt and another Highlander unit. His
reinforcement heavy cavalry will still 2 turns away and stuck behind his
infantry, though they would be able to defeat my Hussar unit.

My Light Division was not really doing much. I should have moved the
Rifle's into square and just moved towards the enemy flank. His cavalry
wouldn't have been able to do much and it would have caused damage to
his infantry attacking my centre.

[timg]https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RlH0gjgjDFs/YA6pBm38GtI/AAAAAAAAJys/1Ue0IOOfbds_nnUyNV728F1aehYMprh-wCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/IMG_6274.HEIC][/timg]The British left flank cavalry force the French right into square. French fire fails to unnerve the British Dragoons.

I was lucky my Dragoons weren't getting hit by the infantry in square, I
should have moved them back a bit, but that might have had the same
impact. They were stopping the large infantry unit from advancing past
the square guarding their flank.

I should have probably charged the rear unit as it was an irregular unit and would have been easy meat.

[timg]https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BgPqvNFVjlE/YA6pBs2HNvI/AAAAAAAAJys/dNiuI7NXDwoJNBIwfOwO5985mnzYD5giQCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/IMG_6275.HEIC][/timg]As night falls, the French attack is stalled.

We'd run out of time at this point, but I think I had the advantage. His
vanguard division was disrupted, and my right side was facing better
odds than before. His Heavy Dragoons had arrived too late.

[timg]https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zi_jix5xigs/YA6pBkpIVuI/AAAAAAAAJys/jbqa1jnO9Xkp5JDxpkCNik66p2GMRztyQCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/IMG_6276.HEIC][/timg]The
left is stuck in square, the centre is disordered and the right has
taken too long to get into position and is still facing fresh troops. The battle is OVER. THE LINE HAS BEEN HELD.

It's a narrow 1 point victory, and both armies have only lost 1 brigade each, but I'd say I won the battle. The line held.

[timg]https://1.bp.blogspot.com/proxy/9QfNpyTBk23o3Aaj-n-0KZaPVLqUYUNNcPFVIuDOjs6CzHAJHD0IB6bMEx5r47KU53eAZCHzM4M330Hn6QLwhjS1HR84HtDi=s512][/timg]The remains of the Lines of Torres Vedras in modern times. Napoleon never broke through.
[timg]https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i2SBuBUIejg/YA6sVC5TTQI/AAAAAAAAJzE/q2sdhKaXua08WdjPX-cr7xrVy1X5Rd1ZQCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/IMG_6313.HEIC][/timg]Final Score 13-12.

Copy of the French army list.

Comstar
Apr 20, 2007

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Cessna posted:

This army would also work with a game called Saga. This game initially covered Dark Ages stuff like Vikings and Saxons, but it’s been adding Ancients recently. It uses a relatively simple system for most of the game, but also has a system that uses things called “battle boards” and dice with funny symbols – you roll the dice and allocate them to give your units bonuses and such. They just came out with a supplement called Age of Hannibal with covers the Punic Wars but, like above, could easily be adopted to Imperial Rome.

It seems a popular system, but the dice and battle board scare and confuse me so much. I suspect I'd get paralyzed trying to decide out which dice to put where (not to mention the symbols seem very confusing to look at). It doesn't help I don't understand why they use that system in the first place?

Comstar
Apr 20, 2007

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A British Army training exercise - Anglo-Portuguese Army vs Anglo-Portuguese Army Field of Glory Napoleonic.

You can read it with better formatting, more comments and see my previous battles and thoughts on MY BLOG
(LoA Tournament game #4 Jan 2021)


With LISBON safe and secure following three successful defenses of the LINES OF TORRES VEDRAS, Lord WELLINGTON has decided to conduct a TRAINING EXERCISE.

The exercise is designed to test the offensive power and maneuvers of his ANGLO-PORTUGUESE army.

Two different corps of troops will conduct a MEETING ENGAGEMENT while umpires will observe and report the results...


Portuguese, British and Scottish troops observe the approaching "Red enemy force" from a hill top.

For my 4th game in the League of Ancients January 2021 tournament, I played another Anglo-Portuguese Peninsula army 1809-11 army Dave has defeated me multiple times, though I did get one victory when he was/is teaching me the game in my 2nd ever game.


Dave literately wrote the book on how to win Field of Glory Napoleonic battles...and he was using the same basic army list as I was. I did not go into this battle with much confidence...

Dave, knowing full well my love of a redoubt defence, blocked my 4th use of it in this tournament of using a prepared defence. I blocked his ability to do frontal and prepared attack. We both choose to do a PROBE mission. As Richard had told me in the first game, probe is a good choice for smaller armies, as it allows you to see where the enemy deployment is, and know where any flanking advance will come from.

So effectively we had the oldest, more favorite scenario I have ever had in wargaming - THE MEETING ENGAGEMENT.My first computer wargame I ever got was Kampfgruppe in '88 on the Amiga 1000. Meeting engagements were my favorite scenario from then on.

A strong, defensible position. the hills on my right flank were rough with a marsh to their north. The village sat on my right flank and a forest and a gentle hill on my left. A difficult forest was to me far left. Another village was to the north. A minor river, rough, was to the far west.

As we both had a Probe mission, we had to roll who was the attacked and Dave won, so I still ended up being the defender. I decided to try and fight on a narrow front with one flank covered. I ended up with some rough hills and a village on my right that would make it well nigh impossible for anything to come that way.

My left had a forest I wanted to move my light infantry into (I have 3 brigades of light infantry).

I decided to hold the centre. The Light Division reserve would arrive first and deploy to the left where the forest and hill were, and the Cavalry Division reinforcement would arrive later at some future point, all in the centre.


The First Division deploys in depth.

With a narrow gap to defend, and working on the assumption that Dave would be advancing on me, I placed my two large British units on the road, blocking it completely. Behind them I put the Portuguese conscripts with the Highlander's to the right, able to enter the forest if needed. The Portuguese line infantry defended the town.

I should have put the Highlanders behind the main units, and the Conscripts in the town. The Highlanders are the divisional reserve, and the conscripts would have been a better "lure" in the town, though I strongly suspect Dave would ignore the town anyway. Putting the conscripts in the town also means the guard a flank and not be near anyone else.


Two Angelo-Portuguese divisions advance.

Dave had 4 divisions, which is useful in a probe mission. I'm glad I didn't try and attack!


My left flank is weak

Dave was obviously going for my left flank.


Corps Command looks over the infantry line towards the Red force. Some of the conscripts behind him aren't sure which way to face, which is perfectly in character.


The attacking "Red" force moves on my left flank

The very obvious advance on my left confirmed my choice to bring on the light troops there.


The Light Division arrives from reserve. The Loyal Lustarian brigade on the left, the 95th in the centre on the hill. The Spanish guerrillas in the rear. The Highlander unit is on the right, as the other Highlander unit moves into the forest.

I decided to sit on the hill - Dave didn't have much more artillery than I did, and no dedicated corps level artillery unit.

What I SHOULD have done is move down the hill and lure him forward. Then have my cavalry come through and change beyond it.


More enemy "Red" units arrive - enemy cavalry

Dave's cavalry division moved into the centre on the road, but his KGL veterans with officer moved to support his infantry.


Uhhh...what where which way now?

Dave's attack then made a massively complicated change. Units started going every which way and facing every direction.

It looked to me that the centre would be vulnerable if I could flank his forces moving around the forest...


Forward out of the position!

It looked to me I had a chance of getting on the flank of his advance, so moved out of my defensive position and moved my (now arrived as soon as possible) reinforcement cavalry up to directly support the infantry.

I would to attempt to flank him as he moved forward and use my cavalry to cover my right flank. The Light division would hold the hill and forest on the left.

Forward!

Dave's troops form line.

After all the complicated and mystifying maneuvering, Dave had got everything right where it needed to be. I do not think I could have performed such a complicated change in direction.

What I should have done is STOP HERE and get my light infantry into the forest and hit than angle he has north of it.


Under fire.

I'd advanced forward and my one large unit was under fire from two small units, but not in arc to fire back.

I can't recall or workout why the Conscripts behind them were also disordered. The large unit to their front might have taken two hits.


The armies line up. In the back right cornor you can see a Portuguese Division arrive for Dave's as reinforcements.

My Light Division was holding the hill. I should have moved forward, but there was ONE cavalry unit on that flank that was scaring me from advancing. My cavalry was all tangled up on the right behind my Portuguese troops. I had my heavy cavalry moving left.

I should have advanced anyway. What I really needed was to get the light infantry in the forest and hit his angle. And I needed my heavy shock cavalry to move faster left.


The British and Portuguese light cavalry move right, tangled up behind the Portuguese Line infantry.

My line was all wrong, I'd advanced to far forward with the left large unit, I should have moved it only 3 inches and the unit to the right 6. And the Portuguese needed to be further right to allow the cavalry space. If my cavalry was in FRONT I could have perhaps moved my infantry to close range.

The large unit on the left, despite having a charismatic commander with them, couldn't reform from their disordered state.

Note Dave's infantry is not in a straight line but is deployed in a staggered formation.


On the left flank, his advance has stopped.

I was hesitant in moving my infantry forward, but I had cavalry support right behind them. I'd got two units into the forest but the Spanish irregulars weren't going to hit much.


My line unit is wavering!

I couldn't re-form my unit despite getting 3 dice to do it a turn and his heavier firepower of and my split firepower wasn't doing anything against him. I didn't have enough room to pivot the unit as it would move it further away and I couldn't advance closer as a wavering unit either!


My left flank moves forward.

I got my left flank moving forward, now I had my cavalry unit here. I needed to engage this flank before my centre fell apart. The Loyal Lusterian brigade turns right to get into the forest.


The center isn't working either.

My unit is still wavering (still failing every morale roll!) and my troops in the forest aren't through it yet. I'm shooting at his elite light infantry unit and not causing enough damage to worry it.

What I should have done is put my unit into deep tactical and free up room on the right of it.


Right flank is still tangled up

I'd finally got my light cavalry untangled but now it faced a super heavy shock Dragoon unit!


CHARGE!

With my left infantry unit wavering the elite Red Force Riflemen charged, as did his Heavy Dragoons. This was going to be bad. Neither of my units was getting flank support, though the infantry was getting rear support. The Hussar's weren't getting that because the Portuguese dragoons needed to be behind them.


Light Cavalry, vs Super Heavy Cavalry


Elite Troops charge into wavering foot infantry


RUN AWAY! EVERYONE RUN AWAY! E V E R Y O N E .

The results were catastrophic. Both large line units, the Hussars, the Portuguese Dragoons ALL ROUT.


This is as bad as it looks. M

Both remaining units left in the centre and now wavering and going to be very easy meat even if they manage to rally.


Way to late to do anything

My left flank was way to late to do anything.

RESULT: Complete Defeat!

Of the 4 battles at this tournament, this was the only one that I lost in a complete rout. According to the score I did some damage or rout one unit(?) but I don't recall seeing it.

Dave would complete the Tournament coming 2nd.

Comstar fucked around with this message at 13:38 on Jan 31, 2021

Comstar
Apr 20, 2007

Are you happy now?
Does anyone know anyone who does 18mm Napoleonic Spanish Guerrillas? I got a unit of Spanish irregular horsemen from Stonewall figures but I need some infantry that I'll paint myself, because it's not many figures and bad paint jobs won't matter. I've been reading The Spanish Ulcer: A History of the Peninsular War and I think I chose the wrong army. The hammering I've been taking in battles would be MUCH better represented by having a Spanish Army.

Get 25,000 troops together from whatever mismash lost the last battle, try and fight a defensive battle, have your own army demand to go on the attack, lose 5000 men and 15000 civilians in the ensuring fiasco, and then get lynched by the survives for losing. AND DO IT ALL AGAIN NEXT WEEK. And Keep coming back and the French don't hold an inch of ground beyond the length of their bayonet and needing an entire brigade to get one message from one corps to another. it would be very thematic of how I keep playing and losing, with the odd victory.

I've got enough troops now for my FOGN Anglo-Portuguese army but I need more magnetic bases to finish them.

Updates from my blog.



Once I get the army ready in a few weeks I can finally start some solo campaigning.

Comstar fucked around with this message at 14:49 on Feb 4, 2021

Comstar
Apr 20, 2007

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Lemony posted:

So, I've been considering doing some historical wargaming, but I have issues with most of the common scales. I saw that 2mm is an option for Napoleonic period stuff. From what I saw, the scale appeals to me for both cost and ability to scale armies closer to realistic sizes. If anyone has any experience, I'd be interested in rule set recommendations and good sources for models.

I know a lot of games these days do 6mm/15mm/25mm and the movement, range and scale is based on the base size. 2mm...I know of Blucher. I have not played it but it's praised a lot if you want to play a single player Waterloo or Battle of the Nations. And 2mm I know means you can start doing a 1-1 figure to man ratio, which is very cool.

Comstar
Apr 20, 2007

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What's the threads opinion on Warlord Games SPQR?



They are re-releasing it just two years after the first edition which from reading some comments on other boards were not well received as being badly written and not play tested.

Warlords is temporarily offering free new rules with every unit box, so they must feel it needed the update pretty badly.

I need some heavy infantry and spearmen for my Oathmark army, and the Gaul will hopefully work as Militia and Human archers. And I would like a small unit skirmish battle for solo play/campaign play SPQR promises it has.

Has anyone has experience in it, and might have some clue on what's being changed for the new edition?

Comstar
Apr 20, 2007

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long-rear end nips Diane posted:

It's awful, the combat rules just don't work at all as written and there are a bunch of other problems besides.

Just get the models if you want the models.

Is warlord the one who sell figures that come straight from Astrix the Gaul? If I’m going to get some I should add them too- Romans too, though from memory the comics make them look like imperial and not late republic ceaser legions.

If they don’t, I now need to know who does.

Comstar
Apr 20, 2007

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lilljonas posted:

Rest of the World
Orders to the Rest of the World will be subject to a minimum order value of £50.00. Orders for these regions below the minimum order value will not be able to be processed. All orders up to £150.00 will be subject to a £25.00 shipping fee. Orders of over £150.00 will offer free courier shipping.

During the checkout process, you will have the option of adding one of our best-selling plastic box sets to your order free of charge. This offer is designed to offset the shipping cost.”

This is presumably going to change how much other online stores sell this for I guess? Also, how wide is the choice to get the "free but you're paying a lot more for shipping" box?

Comstar
Apr 20, 2007

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So I got a game of Field of Glory Napoleonic today. Was supposed to be a 8 person tounrment but no one else showed up so I played the organizer.

The red lights indicates a routing brigade.

.

Battle report later, if I have any motivation to write it up.

Comstar
Apr 20, 2007

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1809-11 Anglo-Portuguese vs 1814 Spring Prussian army
In an alternative history, the FRENCH EMPEROR, NAPOLEON has decided NOT to attack RUSSIA, but instead send THE GRAND ARMEE to SPAIN, to end the threat from BRITAIN, and their alliance with the Kingdom of PORTUGAL.

To assist his invasion, Napoleon has ordered the KINGDOM OF PRUSSIA to supply a full corps of their army. They have traveled the many miles to arrive to the north of Portugal.

The DUKE OF WELLINGTON, knows that an enemy force is approaching from the north, but does not yet know their composition or size. He has sent a small, elite force of the ANGLO-PORTUGUESE army to probe the enemy force, and advise on the size of the threat bearing down on him....



I had signed for a FOGN 500 point tournament at Conquest 2021, but everyone else had worse things to do than spend time playing with model solders. So I got a normal 800 game vs Djando the Organizer that he very nicely offered to give me a game instead.

As I had expected to play a smaller game with a smaller army, I had not had time to finish basing everything, so I had to go for a very small army. The observant will note it's VERY small - an army value of only 20. Djano was playing the largest possible conscript army possible.

Could an army of elite British Infantry be able to attack an army of lower elan and training when outnumbered 3:2 in Infantry, Calvary and Artillery?

Read the full battle report on MY BLOG to see the full story!
How it started:














How it ended:





I would post the full report here, but I can't work out how to convert blogger code to BBcode with working picture links :(

Comstar fucked around with this message at 15:18 on Apr 6, 2021

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Apr 20, 2007

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I need some tree's for wargames (historical, European) and Rangers of Shadowdeep/Oathmark. What companies make nice 28mm scale trees?

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Apr 20, 2007

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So I just become a victim of the algorithm. My wargame blog has been blocked/soon to be deleted because it was reported for violating PHISHING policy. The link i go to then tells me:

quote:

Blogger's spam-prevention robots have detected that your blog has characteristics of a spam blog. (What is a spam blog?) Since you are an actual person reading this, your blog is probably not a spam blog. Automated spam detection is inherently fuzzy and we sincerely apologise for this false positive.

We received your unlock request on XXXXXXXX. On behalf of the robots, we apologise for locking your non-spam blog. Please be patient while we take a look at your blog and verify that it is not spam.

My blog was killed by robots.


So...seeing as Google is going to kill my blog for being a human, whats a good platform to have a new blog on? One that does not require any HTML knowledge and I can have blackjack and hookers and not have my memories deleted by a Necron :(. Maybe one that can import my old posts too.

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Apr 20, 2007

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Jobbo_Fett posted:

I use blogspot but I don't know if that's part of the Google group that almost killed your blog to begin with.

I'm pretty sure that's under blogger and Google?

Anyways, my blog got unlocked, for who knows how long. I still need a solution to getting off Google if there's a better way. I guess that would be Wordpress?

Comstar fucked around with this message at 14:58 on Aug 3, 2021

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Apr 20, 2007

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Endman posted:

As you mentioned later in your post, feudal command and control is very rarely expressed in these games in any meaningful, mechanical sense.

What IS the mechanics of feudal command and control?

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Apr 20, 2007

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Southern Heel posted:

re: EPIC Black Powder - I'm very dissapointed to hear it's only one side, bum.

Well there's nothing stopping anyone buying a single smaller box for each side - you don't HAVE to buy a box big enough to refight 1/4-1/2 of the entire Battle of Waterloo!

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Apr 20, 2007

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I don't get the outright hostility that seems to be coming towards Warlord for their new Waterloo range from some Forums and Facebook posts I've seen. Per figure it's what, 1/3 to 1/10 the price compared to others in the 15-18 size scale? They have to start somewhere after all. If it's successful enough (which looks like it will be) we'll get Prussian's next (after some Skirmish Rifle, Highlander and I'm guessing some Imperial Guard for the French. I'm surprised they didn't START with the Guard first).

Are there other armies you can pass off by painting them different colours and giving a different flag to stand under? I would think another reason to go 13.5mm (as opposed to 18) is you can more justifiably do that, and the item costs are a lot lower. It's got to be a hell of a lot cheaper than the 28's and a lot more mass on the field you can fit now.

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Apr 20, 2007

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Endman posted:

That said, I hate the insistence of most rules that you should use a 6x4 foot table. That's enormous, and I've never seen someone have a dining room table that large. Do people in the UK just have these enormous tables lying about the place?

Warlord games seem to assume you have an 8x6 foot table! I saw a Diorama at Gettysburg of the *entire* battlefield that I think was smaller.

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Apr 20, 2007

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If I want to make a Bolt Action army list for 8th army in North Africa (from Operation Crusader to Tunisia), what rule books exactly do I need? I can't find anywhere to tell me - do I need the main rule book AND the British army book AND the North Africa campaign one? And if I want to use more than 1 tank, I think I need Tank Wars as well?

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Apr 20, 2007

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Class Warcraft posted:

You'd want the British army book, Duel in the Sun, and Western Desert. You don't need Tank Wars.

Follow up question- which book covers what army list? I'm confused on what's spread across all 3 books.

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Apr 20, 2007

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Springfield Fatts posted:

If you go to https://wg.easyarmy.com you can see all the platoon lists and which source book it's from. You need to make an account but it's free to use once you do.

OMG that makes it so easy! Thank you Goonsir!

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Apr 20, 2007

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Endman posted:

A question for anyone who plays Lasalle/General d'Armee/Black Power/etc: what basing scheme do you use for 28mm figures?

I have 45mm x 40mm bases for six infantry figures each, which I think is a decent compromise between realism/aesthetics and utility, and I generally mount a gun on the same, but facing the short end and with separately based crew. I haven't worked out what I would do for cavalry however.

I thought most rules dictate how big the stands need to be. I do 6 infantry/3 cav/1 gun+4 figures myself. 8 infantry on a stand looks amazing, but that's a lot more painting involved.

quote:

e: also how many bases do you use per battalion? I'm leaning towards 3 due to space constraints.

Infantry needs to be 4 units so you can form a square. One stand is light company on the left, one stand is grenadier, one for the commander/flag/drummer and one centre company is what I do.

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Apr 20, 2007

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Has anyone had experience of using an early war Bolt Action army vs a late war one? I just remembered I had a great-uncle who apparently got off a boat onto Crete and was immediately captured by German paratroops, and for him, the war was over. He did get back eventually.

So I'm interested in building a Commonwealth army for North Africa/Greece/Crete, but the heaviest AT gun I can get is a 2 pounder/25 Pounder. If I ever got the army done I suspect everyone else here plays mid-late war. Are the army points balanced for that sort of thing (by throwing enough shells at the enemy that they get pinned) or would it be pretty hopeless? I understand if you can't damage something it can ignore pins, so would an early war army fight a late war heavy tank?

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Apr 20, 2007

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It's not like Warlord won't make more figures at their EPIC scale if it makes them money. The Prussian's are coming, you can use some of the British and French as other minor nations at Waterloo too.

And it's not like you can't get other manufacturers OR 3D printing to be the same scale - I have old wargaming books complaining that the 15mmish everyone used was now outclassed by the 18mm grognards now complain that Warlord is not using.

Before I started researching it, I hadn't ever heard about the battles in 1814 (apart from ones Sharpe took part in) - it was Waterloo, Austerlitz, Borodino and the retreat from Russia. And I'm sure most newcomers would only know about Waterloo and someone's retreat from Moscow. I still know very little about 2/3's of the 20 years of warfare that went on and that's after reading half a dozen books (though I know a lot now about the war in Spain and Portugal) and Military History thread.


Long before my time in Historical, but what did they start Bolt Action with? D-Day and a Tiger and Sherman or so?


Which reminds me. I really need to get those fake 3 Tiger's they sell from Kelly's Heroes and use them as my OPFOR. Note sure if I'd ever use them at a Tournament but the reactions when someone notices might be hilarious.

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Apr 20, 2007

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zokie posted:

Using British tanks painted in Caunter camouflage for the battle of Gazala because it is the coolest thing ever, but you know it’s wrong because you bought all of those spiral bound books on British tank camouflage with handmade paint swatches from the author that still accepts payment by mailing cash in an envelope. That’s just a choice to be respected!

I just got a 1/2 dozen vehicles for a Bolt Action army for Libya/Greece/Crete - I need that book. I can't find out what the trucks/ Bren Gun Carriers and tanks used in Greece were painted. The 1 or 2 movies I can find don't really show them. The German photo's of destroyed tanks inevitably don't show much beyond it being a pale sandstone and blacked metal.

Also, can someone explain how Caunter camouflage was supposed to work? Was the idea that the enemy would be so distracted by the colour scheme that they couldn't actually identify the tank they were shooting at?

"What tank is that Fritz? I can't tell, but it can't be a tank because whoever saw a blue tank with green go faster stripes on it"?

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Apr 20, 2007

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This is the season for my Christmas present:



Anyone had any experience using it?

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Apr 20, 2007

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Does anyone have any info on the new Warlord game coming out that somehow merges Bolt Action, Blood Red Skies and one of their naval games into one huge campaign?

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Apr 20, 2007

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So I just got 5 kilo's of 13.2mm Napoleonic armies (British, French and Le Haye Sainte). Reminds me when my brother got SPACE MARINE the original Epic scale boxed set of 6mm Space Marines, Rhino's, Land Raiders and buildings - it kicked of near 20 years of playing GW games. Sadly, Warlord hasn't added a tutorial mission pack so you can start small and work your way up to a full corps level battle - trying to read the A5 rulebook isn't as easy as reading a much better (if otherwise simpler game) like an A4 Oathmark manual.

For some reason the French box wasn't shrink rapped, hope it's not missing anything.

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