Gaming - ACW - Antietam Cornfield - using new ACW rules

 Yesterday saw a run out for the ACW collection . Des Darkin has released his regimental rules set ,known simply as ACW (link https://www.shedowargames.co.uk/  ) and I have picked it up . John and I decided to play the introduction scenario . 

 

 

Starting position Rebs behind fences and hasty works 

Red and Green markers represent Division and Brigade command staff officer - which are then tasked for a range of command option . However once used they don’t quickly come back - a key part of the game is managing this resource to keep your options open.

 

My Union forces ready to advance toward the cornfield - they will pick up fatigue crossing the fence and also doubling forward . I liked the mechanism that let you move at speed but accumulate fatigue - which you can attempt to rally off with staff officer tasking - hence make sure you save some .

 

My brigade in the East Woods deploys in open order - meaning it can move on the wood at full speed without fatigue penalties - I want to advance it to get on the flank of the Reb defences.

 

The dice holder record fatigues(red) and permanent casualties (black). Units move from fresh to worn to wavering to skedaddled depending on total accumulation, with various penalties to firing melee , and losing staff offices

My units absorb some serious fire but get into melee

One of mine pushes a reb defender away from the fence line 

 

However the Rebs push the other two back . I have to spend time rallying to get them to go again .

 We had played out 10 turns looking up a few things and working through it. There is similarity to other basic ACW concepts so we were picking them up quickly . I won the initiative 9 out of 10 roll and this let me reset my staff officers quicker than John so meant I was able to keep rallying etc . I liked the Command Clock mechanism which means each side is operating independently on their Staff Officer resource . Other than that we didn’t have any extremes of dice throwing which was good for this test 

Having had another read through I don’t think we got anything wrong . A few extra clarifications have been asked of Des and we had interpreted things correctly . They were - Staff Officer resource-rolls for initiative where we had various draws and rerolls . The other was around Open order troops opting to use Exploding 6’s at close range , I.e they hit on 5,6 .. but any 6 is then re-rolled and can hit again - yes this is fine it applies to all at close range . 

We will play again 

I fancy day 1 of Gettysburg with these .. 

10mm Vignette pieces

 I was asked to create some American themed 10mm vignette pieces using Pendraken kit . 

First up some Plains wars pieces 

7th Cavalry on foot 

7th Cavalry mounted 

Native Indians 

ACW 

Then some ACW pieces 

AZW - Zulus 1000 of em!

 Another 4 units completed for the Zulu army . Which takes me up to just over 1000 Zulus painted ./

‘Coming at You”

Beehive 

The Reeds

The White Tails

The 4 new units 

 

The full army 

The Horns of the Buffalo 

Not having to paint cavalry and artillery makes it a change alright 

Chest and Loins units 

Right Horn 

Left Horn 

I need to add some rifle armed skirmishers , and I have enough figures for one more unit and some commanders . But that’s enough for now I think . Martin and I are planning the campaign out at the moment.

Martins invasion forces are also completed 

Next solution is storage . The guys at Pendraken have made me up some Really Useful Box inserts so I can get 5 in 9 litre box

AZW - Many more Zulus

the Impi is progressing well with another 4 units being added. This takes me up to about 650 figures 

First up some commanders 

Cetshawyo on horseback with other foot commanders , and.another for commander . I have another 4 of these still to do . There is also a casualty marker piece of fallen Zulus. Of these bits are from Steve Barber 10mm. They are not a bad match with the Pendraken stuff and fill in some of the range gaps for me .

 

It’s been a productive week on the infantry side with another 4 regiments completed .

The first Veteran unit with mostly white shields. Uthulwans - “Dust Raisers”

The UVe - “Flycatchers”

The Indlondlo “Black Mambas”

An unmarried unit the “Leopards Lair”

 

The latest 4 laid out 

 

I have all the rest of the figures ready to prepare and basecoat to take me over the 1000 target and add another 4 regiments . Which should get done over the couple of weeks . I have other painting plans coming up so need to get these done .

We are tweaking the home brew set used for the mass Sudan battles and are doing a play test tomorrow.

So a few rough set up shots from today .

The local clergy in the form of the  De Witts having seen the increase in Zulu forces have a warning . “You’re all going to die !”