Back to the Peninsula

The Volley and Bayonet rules have a great scenario generation system included. For me it works well, but it doesn't always suit the needs of every 'gamer.  For this reason I at times try to create a fictional scenario that might be challenging, that might appeal to others. It is however something of a black art (which is a euphemism for 'I'm not very good at it').

This week I tried to create something very different, set on the Peninsula, using my 25mm Spanish and French armies. The setting was a French attempt to clear a road for its future advance. There was a somewhat tired garrison of Spanish troops in a town (M4), and the French advance was led by some second rate French dragoons, also M4. Reinforcements for both sides fed into the battle on predetermined turns. The Spanish force included some guerillas, for which I created some bespoke rules.

Some candid shots from along the way..

The issues were:

1. The guerilla units were too strong... sharp shooters who could be deployed in any terrain feature, and could be redeployed in following turns if 'eliminated' by melee contact. If destroyed by shooting, they were permanently removed from the game, if contacted in melee they simply melted away, able to reappear next turn (just not in the same terrain feature).
2. The French 'escalation' was too slow.. they needed more troops earlier in the game. They had 10 turns to clear the town and road along the 6' length of the table.
3. Rating the dragoons as M4 made them too fragile, and even though the opposing Spanish cavalry was also M4, they were a part of the larger divisions. The French were an independent cavalry division. The M4 rating made their exhaustion level too low, and so they were far too fragile.
4. The French needed a greater cavalry superiority if they were to successfully push along the entire length of the road.

That said, it was great to get to push the 25mm napoleonics around the table again, and as you might expect there was plenty of wargamer chat and banter to make the evening enjoyable (and oh, did I mention sausage rolls?). I am again remind however that these figures would now be older than many of the 'gamers in our city.

1815 and all that ...

Not much 'gaming thee past few weeks.. other things in life sometimes take priority .. but there was an 1815 napoleonic battle fought with the Volley and Bayonet rules. Just a few random photos of Keith's beautiful 6mm armies.

A week in 'gaming ..

It's been one of those weeks. A return from a relaxing long weekend away, and then three Volley and Bayonet games. It happens sometimes.

The first game was a refight of a section of the Battle of Perryville with Andrew. The scenario had been downloaded from Keith's website in 2000 (the date is printed on the footer of the page). It is't currently available on Keith's revamped site. It's a small action, but I was fascinated by the nuance it captured. The game ended as a draw (neither side achieving its victory conditions before night set in), but the Union only survived because the turn limit was 5 turns, and the fact that last move was a night move. I didn't manage to capture photos during the game, so these photos are of the game at the end. The number of yellow and red disorder markers on Union stands reflects the chaos that had ensued. The game was played with my 15mm ACW armies.

The second game was a Franco Prussian war game. The armies are from Adrian's 15mm collection. The scenario was set during the later Republican phase of the war. I was one of the French commanders, and it would be fair to say the result was a French disaster, in part because of my inability to roll 6's with the dice.

The last game was a 6mm Napoleonic game, set in 1809, using Keith's 6mm armies. Again I didn't keep a record pf progress during the game, so the photos are really just eye candy to reflect beautiful figures on lovely terrain.

I feel somewhat blessed to have such great friends and 'gaming companions who are so generous in sharing their time, their expertise, their laughter, and their beautiful armies and terrain.

Peninsular action: a 25mm napoleonic game

Four friends, a collection of 25mm Napoleonic figures, a table, a good rules set, some beers, and sausage rolls. Some of us are easily pleased. It was time to introduce Murray to VnB napoleonics, given that he'd only played ACW games until now. So Adrian, Jon, Murray, and I, got together to play a small simple scenario designed entirely to allow some good old fashioned 'gaming rather than necessarily generating a novel and challenging scenario. It turned out however that there were challenges aplenty.

I dragged out my age old 25mm napoleonic armies, French and Spanish. They were painted 40+ years ago, in the age when black undercoats, washes, and highlights, weren't a thing. As friend Keith pointed out some years ago though, they are an artefact in themselves, and en masse on the table they still look the part.

The Spanish are on the defensive (now there's a surprise) on the right of the photo, already in position, and the French are attacking from the left.

The French forces attacking from the left, the Spanish in position atop a long ridge, anchored by towns at either end. The French attack is massed on their right (the bottom of the photo). I left the beer can in the photo because .. well .. you know

Spanish dragoons

French brigades advance against a thin Spanish line supported by light troops

The Spanish line is attacked, and driven back by fire and assault with the bayonet. One of the French cavalry divisions (Chasseur and Hussar) has advanced to exploit the situation. The Spanish defending division (which included the dragoons)was exhausted, but so too was the smaller of the two French attacking divisions

The Spanish withdraw to shorten their line and adopt a defensive position

The French right pushes around towards the Spanish, but fire along the way brought a second French infantry division almost to the brink of exhaustion

The as yet uncommitted French infantry division in the centre

The French left attacks the Spanish right (top centre of the photo), as the Spanish commander had thinned out his right to reinforce his own left

Some pretty bloody cavalry action on the French left.. a Spanish dragoon regiment counterattacks, and eliminates a French dragoon regiment

The Spanish had performed exceptionally well .. linear based Spanish with a mix of M4 and M5 troops, against M5 French on massed bases, is hard work. 

And what a great 'small game'... an evening well spent.