Rule Amendments to Featherstone's Horse & Musket Rules

Been fiddling about using Featherstone's H & M rules and have come up with some slight changes to them to fit my armies and table. I allow Infantry to fire in 2 ranks but half the casualties caused - he only fires one rank - but as his figures are unbased they do not take up as much room as mine do .  It is harder to hit with Artillery - I have deducted 1 from the score to hit so a 6 is needed at long range (3' to 4') not the 5or6 he uses etc. The Artillery when it has hit throws 2 dice for casualties, at over 2' I have halved the score. He allows guns to fire a second time if they miss the first shot - I allow them to dice a third time if they miss the first 2 shots (the guns have 10 ammo counters one of which is used up each time it shoots- when all gone need to leave the table to resupply)  . Troops in open order get an extra 1 to their saving throw . I use a 'First Contact' Morale roll to reflect the brittle quality of the troops in the early months of the ACW ,  when a unit receives its first casualty of the game throw a D6 = 4-5-6 OK, 3-2 retire one move (6") facing the enemy , 1 Routs (12") facing away from the enemy and needs to be rallied. You can add +1 to dice for General present or Elites or deduct -1 for raw troops. Moral is tested when a unit receives 20% and each 10% there after when it has received 50% it will not advance - throw a D6 pluses/minuses as above 5-6 OK ,3-4 retire 1 move (6") 2-1 routs (12")  . All the other rules same as in the book , these rules are still in the testing stage and my next game will be played using them.

 

Union gun fires on Rebel infantry crossing a bridge .

 

 

Move counter and 'Chance' cards.

 

 

An Indulgence

Have add a link to a new blog I have set up to record my retirement . Nothing to do with wargaming but it records my day to day doings out and about with explorations by bicycle and on foot in my local area. There will be lots of pretty pictures (well hopefully), some flora and fauna and observations on local archaeology and landscapes . My constant battle with Horticulture will also be commented on (without strong language hopefully) and maybe comments on what I'm reading at the moment or even excursions to the cinema !. All blogging is an indulgence and this one even more so ! . Apologies before I start , pop across sometime and have a peek !.

The Author at Play.

 

The writer relaxes in his gaming room only to be interrupted by his spouse !

Back of Beyond Game.

 

I've had these rules for over a year and have never got around to trying them out , so when 'S' was coming around for a game it seemed a good opportunity to give them a run.

 

 

'S' brought along his Afghans who would be masquerading as Bukharin tribesmen and some Turks to help them out - I fielded a Bolshevik force of varying quality. 'S'  set up his tribesmen in the village and his Turkish troops would come on as reinforcements. My mission was to attack the village.

 

 

The village defenders .

 

 

My Naval troops move forward ! . I'm afraid I did not keep a blow by blow record of the encounter as things got hectic and we were learning the rules .

 

 

'S's reinforcements move onto the table .

 

 

The high point of the game (for me anyway !) as my forces storm into the village.

 

 

Oh Dear !!!!!!!

 

 

The result ! - don't have poor quality troops caught in the open by M/G's and dug in infantry !

 

 

The survivors take cover ! and are suppressed (hence the marker).

 

 

On the other flank my M/G  takes revenge ! (ammo box marker means they are running short of ammo - -1 to firing !)

 

 

By the end we were both paranoid about  M/G's and here 'S' s troops cower behind cover frightened about coming out ! . My troops started to run short of ammo towards the end of the game (when you fire if you roll more '1's than '6's you run short of ammo - do it twice and you've none left) and my casualties meant I had to take a Army morale test each move having failed this two goes running I had to retire off the table - Victory to 'S' !. The rules seem simple enough - D6 orientated and give a quick game - we rarely had to look at the rule book after the first few moves and each unit is randomly activated using a card system which adds tension to the game . We both learned lessons and think we will be giving these rules another try .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

O.S. Franco Prussian War Game (Part Two)

 

The French Chasseurs take casualties from the Prussian artillery and are forced to retire.

 

 

On the other flank the French Columns come under fire from the Prussian Jaegers.

 

 

Prussian reinforcements move onto the table.

 

 

The French columns melee with the Jaegers who rout !

 

 

The French have driven the Prussians off - but at a cost !.

 

 

On the other flank the French artillery opens fire - not to accurately though !

 

 

The French try to exploit their success !

 

 

The Jaegers are rallied by their C in C  and form up ready for the French .

 

 

The Prussian reinforcements move forward and engage the enemy .

 

 

The French are cut to pieces by the Prussian volleys and their Brigadier is a casualty .

 

 

The Prussians cross the stricken field .

 

 

On the other flank the Prussians hold on under artillery fire .

 

 

With casualties rising the French C in C issues the order to retire - the Prussians had won !

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First O.S. Franco Prussian War Game.

 

Having got all the figures painted of my initial order for FPW 30mm Spencer Smith , I thought it time to try them out on the table using Featherstone's Horse and Musket rules . I diced for the set up of units as the book suggests and the Prussians came on the roads and one unit off table in reserve . The French appeared more centrally and moved to exploit the Prussian set up by splitting their forces in half . However the Prussians move towards the centre to stop this and the Artillery moves swiftly down the road on the right and unlimbers ready to fire next move.

 

 

Prussian Artillery unlimbered and ready to fire.

 

 

The French columns advance swiftly and are joined by their artillery .

 

 

The Prussian Jaegers move into position to deploy in skirmish order to counter the French move.

 

 

The Prussian CinC  looks on with Teutonic satisfaction . Too be continued ......

 

 

 

 

Retire !

 

No I have not rolled a '1' on my moral test and am forced to retire - after 43 years in the same job I have been offered and have decided to take Voluntary Redundancy ! . After years of working outside in all weathers doing a manual job and suffering the aches and pains it brings I must admit I jumped at the chance . I started in 1970 for Westmorland County Council Highways Department at 16 years old and now Cumbria County Council (as it is now) are cutting back on Highway Maintenance personal I thought it time to get out , in the near future I am going to be a 'House Husband' and see how it goes . This will give me more time to wargame but not as much money to spend on it which is not a bad thing I believe . This will mean my wife can get a dog - she already has her eyes set on a Spaniel puppy - so dog walking is on the cards as well !. I have been looking through my 'Lead Mountain' and with so many unfinished projects I have enough to be going on with for quite a while I believe . Oh and there's the jungle I call the garden to sort out as well !.