Monday 16 August 2010

1809 - Une affaire de postes

Last Saturday I was invited by Stephan  for an Old School game using a collection of 15mm Napoleonics in his safe keeping at his home. Stephen (really, with an "e" this time, just to confuse me) joined us later and Stephan moderated and umpired a scenario based on the Battlegames 20 table top teaser "An affair of outposts".

Stephan had cleverly adapted the scenario. We had to form three march columns each and with those troop dispositions we had to enter the "unknown" table/terrain and try and secure a line of outposts at the opposite table edge.
We each had four half battalions of infantry, two companies of light infantry and two squadrons of cavalry. I played Austrians and Stephen got the French. We used a slightly adapted version of Grants "The Wargame" rules. I took a couple of (mediocre quality) pictures of the game which I like to share with you.

On my flanking columns I put my light infantry and cavalry to secure my flanks, supported by a half battalion of infantry. These last were initially to reinforce the centre column of infantry.

-The right column encountered Stephens left flank comprising his two cavalry units. As intended my troops secured my right flank succesfully.-

Originally I wanted to push forward centrally to the opposite table edge with cavalry and light troops guarding the flanks, meanwhile trying to evade the enemy and not get pinned. Once on the opposite table edge I wanted to deploy/spread out left and right and establish a line of outposts. Stephen thwarted these plans by deploying his cavalry on his left and forming an attacking force of infantry on his right flank

-Stephen's columns speeding forward covered to the front by his light infantry.-

-In the foreground my flanking units doing their job. In the background you see (in white) my Austrians forming a firing line to receive the French infantry attack. I moved my left cavalry unit in reserve behind a hill as a support for my infantry.-

-My left flank, forming firing lines, cavalry in reserve,
as the French form attack columns and advance relentlesly.-

-Endgame: the French columns received an unhealthy dose of musketry and the Austrian cavalry charged over the hill in to the flanks of the attacking French seen here retreating.-

At this stage it seemed that what evolved in to a full fledged battle was over, leaving the way open for the Austrians. Having other commitments we stopped the game here, supposing an Austrian victory.

So went my first real "Old School" game with a real opponent. Probably the first game ever where I hadn't had the difficulty of second guessing myself (as Stephan aptly put it). I do thank Stephan and Stephen very much for their hospitality and for welcoming me open armed into their small wargaming fraternity.

All in all, a wonderful afternoon, which convinced me I was on the right track with my "Dietsche Unie" project. And I haven't even mentioned the fondling of each others miniatures, discussing rules and other gaming projects and so much more.

Happy gaming
Pjotr

8 comments:

  1. Nice! Good that you had fun, too. :)

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  2. Great to see the dear old Austrians handing out a few licks of their own. I notice a lot of Minifigs there, but I am curious about the Grenzers. It seems Minifigs don't do a Grenze figure, so I'm curious as to the origins of yours. I have a reasonable-sized Austrian army, but no Grenzers for the moment.
    Cheers,
    Ion (Archduke Piccolo)

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  3. A delightful little game, sounds most enjoyable.

    I notice that many of the units are being followed by dice showing '6'. Some kind of marker perhaps?

    -Ross

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  4. Nice to see my venerable and much rebased figures getting an outing! Much enjoyed reading of their exploits.
    They started out for Napoleons Battles and have gone through PoW, Shako - twice and Feu Sacre at least once oh yes and a brief foray into Grand Armee.
    The Grenzer are a paint job on the standard Line Infantry man if I recall correctly. Since they are 2nd Generation Minifigs - the ones that followed the strips - it was a reasonably easy job to do.
    They look good arranged for Grant - maybe I'll tell Stefan to keep them like that - I know there a couple of hundred more for each side in the bags unpainted to boost numbers. Must try to get a game in while I am in Brussels at the beginning of October.
    Best
    Graham
    Abuja
    Graham

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  5. Glad you Gentlemen like the show!
    - Ross, indeed the dice were a way to track morale, since we couldn't remove individual officers as called for by the Grant rules.
    Now Graham has set the bar higher, and we'll have to come up with rules for artillery adapted to 3-figure strips...

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  6. A wonderful sounding/looking game!

    Best Regards,

    Stokes

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  7. Lovely report Peter.
    It's good to have a game to inspire you to keep on track with your projects. Well done and thanks for posting it up.
    Phil

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  8. Thank you all for your comments and support. I'm glad Graham enjoyed seeing his Minifigs in action.

    Pjotr

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