Napoleonic General De Brigade Game.

 

At the weekend 'A' called around and we set up and played a small Gen d' Brig game to remind me of the rules. In the past we played them a lot using 15mm figures but this was my first time using my 25mm figures and the new edition of the rules. I had 2 brigades a infantry one and a cavalry , set up as above.

 

 

'A' set up his force of late Prussians , we had about 700pts each .

 

 

We had agreed on a simple head to head meeting scenario .

 

 

To start the ball rolling I sent my cavalry to attack his cavalry - from this moment on the game went down hill for me !.

 

 

My cavalry are driven back - then when he follows them up they break and flee the field !

 

 

My infantry advance and a protracted fire-fight begins in which my men don't seem to be able to hit a barn door !- and it gets worse !

 

 

In desperation because my right flank is exposed to his reforming cavalry , I decide to charge him !

 

 

Not only did my infantry fail to charge home but his cavalry charged and caused my flank unit to flee . This meant adjacent units had to take morale rolls - which they failed ! , this meant I had to take a Brigade morale test which my Brigade failed ! - and fled the field !

 

 

A sample of my dice rolling !. Although I had a run of bad luck - even 'A' admitted he was lucky , the game went well and although we were a bit rusty at times with the rules I am keen to have another go at them .

 

 

The victory feast for Generals that do not fear calories !

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Napoleonic Problems Part 2

On my other blog I was telling of my problems finding a suitable set of Napoleonic rules with which to play games using my 28mm Foundry figures (http://tinsoldieringon.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/napoleonic-problems.html) This has been highlighted by reading 'Incomparable' a regimental history of the 9th French Light Infantry during the Napoleonic wars . I am usually very careful what I read on the military side of things as it can send one off on a tangent ! but I fell into the trap as the book is very good and so I began thinking about my abandoned 28mm armies . Having the weekend to myself somewhat I sat down and listed all the various Napoleonic rules I have tried over the years and scored them out of 10 , to my surprise the rule set that seemed to tick the most boxes was - General de Brigade ! . The only problem was my collection was originally designed for a 'Old School' type system and the individual basing and paint jobs reflected this .

 

So I thought about re-basing them ! - I HATE  re-basing ! , then I remembered the movement trays I had got from 'Warbases' which would hold penny sized figure bases . I decided to do a bit of an experiment so I coated the figure bases and the trays with a fine layer of 'Basetex' waited till it dried and dry brushed it and add static grass.

 

 

Here is the result, I will leave the figures a high gloss but redo the bases as above .

 

 

Another photo of the first French regiment done - 65th Ligne. This is going to take a while but I think it will be worth it in the long run !.

 

 

A group of Generals meet to discuss how they will perform under the rules. I have had the new edition of the rules since they came out a couple of years ago but have not really sat down with them to study them properly , although I played the old edition a lot about ten years ago -a good set of rules but it is important not to let the games get to big as this can slow them down . So myself and 'A' are planning a small game this next weekend to try them out again - I hope to report on a successful game , Too be continued .......

 

 

 

 

 

French Napoleonic Horse Artillery

Having painted nothing but 15mm FOW vehicles for the last week or two I decided to have a change and do some more from the pile of lead that hides under my wargaming table .

Sorry for the poor lighting on these photos , I normaly photograph miniatures in the bathroom (!?) and my wife was having a shower so I was banned from using it .(trial and error has lead me to the belief that our bathroom has the best lighting conditions in the house !)

These figures are some of the Foundry figures I got in one of their deal about two years ago ( Foundrys prices have rocketed since then - so any more will have to be got off EBay) . They just need a coat of varnish to finish them . The bases are by Warbases.

Bavarian Limber .

Been looking for a limber for my Bavarian Artillery for ages. The trouble being that the Bavarians had a unusual limber with a high back like an armchair so not just any old limber would do . It turned out that the only firm to do one in 28mm is http://www.lancashiregames.com/ . Alan was kind enough to bring me one down to 'Warfare' at Reading and I've finally got round to getting it painted . Although of a different design type to Foundry it matches well . (click on photos to enlarge)

Finished Figures from the Painting Tray.

These figures have been waiting to get finished for ages , they are Aztecs in 28mm by The Assault Group . A bit plainer than Foundry but since that firm has stopped producing their Aztecs I  will have to rely on Assault Group for more reinforcements.

 On  my other blog I have been deciding what to paint in the next year . http://tinsoldieringon.blogspot.com/2011/12/wargaming-musings.html so I will hopefully get some of the back log of already purchased figures finaly done.

These are some Bavarian Chevaleger , I  have a lot of 28mm Foundry Napoleonics to finish painting in the coming year .

 They have been painted in an 'Old School' style (click on photo to enlarge) 

Bavarian Light Infantry

Finally finished off painting my Bavarian Light Infantry , Regiment 'La Roche'-here displayed on more of the superb bases from Warbases .

Each base representing a Company - the Bavarian regiments of 1809 only having 4 companies . Don't think the Light infantry carried standards or at least I  can't find any evidence for it . Hope to get these figures in action next week when a game is planned .

Small Napoleonic game (3)

Sorry no photos of the finish of this game . The battery went flat in the camera and doesn't want to charge again , it seems to be the fault of the charging unit and as its still in warranty it is being replaced - but I have to wait 3 days till a new one arrives. Well to cut a long story short the Austrians lost - making 2 blunder rolls in one move did not help ! their Jaeger had to retire and the French infantry charged and trounced the Grenz . The other Brigades Grenz blundered and had to retire . The French CinC advanced on all fronts and overwhelmed the Austrian battery - a sad veil was drawn over the shambles that was the Austrian army . A French win - helped by luck - Napoleon said 'give me a lucky general' ! and thats what he got this game ! .

Small Napoleonic Game (2)

Move 4 started with the Austrian Hussars making a blunder roll and had to advance to their right . The French cavalry charged them

The French infantry were held up by fire from the Austrian Jaegers and were disordered 2 moves running . The second French battalion moved up on its flank and moved into the rough ground to take on the Austrians .

The cavalry melee ended with the Austrian Hussars retiring back as did one of the French units .

This is the position at the end of move 4 , I'm slowly getting back into the swing of things with Black Powder , for Napoleonics it is perhaps  not as 'cute' as General D' Brigade but is quicker to play solo .

With another 4 moves to go , the French I think will have to be a bit more aggressive . The Austrians need to get more of their infantry into action .......

The little red gems are casualty markers - I need to make some proper ones with casualty figures

when I get around to it . To be continued ..... 

Small Napoleonic game (1)

As a break from painting and gaming SYW I have decided to set up a small Napoleonic game . I  will be using Black Powder as this gives I think a quick game and is easier to play solo than General De Brigade . I must admit my Napoleonics  have been pushed onto the back burner of late whilst I have been concentrating on other projects (see my other blog) . I also have not firmly decided which rules are my favorites , I  have been using - Black Powder , Gen D Brigade and a couple of Old School sets, all have their merits - and faults or rather drawbacks . I think I may settle for playing them all and just picking which one I fancy at the time . This game is a clash of advance guards to control a valley in advance of the main body of the army . The Austrians have the classic - Hussars/Grenz/Jaeger combination and the French - Hussars and infantry . The French have the edge command wise , but the Austrians are slightly stronger but have a weaker moral . I will play for 8 moves and then dice for the arrival (1st move 6, 2nd move 56, etc) of the main forces , the game will end then . I think it is important when playing solo to have a definite cut off point to finish a game.

The general layout of the encounter

Austrian CinC  watches the Hussars move up to position

The French deploy

The first Austrian Brigades moves into position

The French infantry move swiftly up the road

The French are lead by a veteran battalion

The Austrian form line and their gun opens fire

The French infantry moves smartly forward and deploys into attack column

The Austrian left is being threatened

To be continued.......