Black Powder: Delaying Action, Part 3

The Russian grenadiers now emerged from the valley and immediately went into action, one battalion formed line and opened fire at the Bavarian Dragoons, while another charged the forward battery and wiped it out. Ont the Bavarian right, the Russian squares fired at the Chevau-Légers, but without much effect.

On the Bavarian left, although the Russian dragoons retired, things began to look bleak. The Russians we outflanking the thin blue line, which began to waver. We maybe should have ruled they were in dead ground for the Russians on the back of the ridge, but this was only my second, and Kevin's first, game, so as earlier stated, we are not quite at grips with the rules, yet.

On my right, one of my line battalions, appalled by the slaughter of the artillery crews, charged the  Russian grenadier column, but the fight was a draw, and the melee continued. I wanted the two battalions on the far right to advance and attack the Russian squares, and again I should have let them use Initiative moves before doing anything else - I really need to get used to that rule, as it will do away much of the frustrations arising from failed Orders.

The situation on my left flank. The Bavarian general had repositioned himself to take control of the brigade, but a little too late.

A Russian dragoon regiment doubled behind the infantry and got in position for attacking my shattered line from the back.

A general must know when a battle is lost, and the Bavarians sounded general retreat to avoid being totally surrounded. Here is the situation on my right, when the signal was given.

Of course, it was only a matter of time, before the Bavarians would be overrun, as the Russian force was more than twice the size, so things just took their natural course.

My thoughts after the first two games:

It looks and feels very 'napoleonic' - we still have to fully get to grips with the rules, but as more games are played, I, at least, should begin to have learned more of the basics by heart, so I can begin to focus on the more detailed aspects.

It is, of course. a 'light' game, as rules for this period go, but that just makes it easier to use for quickly arranged gaming appointments, as you don not have to read up on a thick volume of rules before getting stuck in, so that is fine.

I am yet to see a decisive charge, so maybe it is not as effective as I first thought, but we shall see about that...

Black Powder: Delaying Action, Part 2

It is getting late, again, as we just came back from the movies (Solo: A Star Wars Story), but I thought I should continue the AAR from last night's game of Black Powder.

The Bavarian light brigade stubbornly refused to move forward through the forest (on hindsight, I should just have let them move on Initiative, but I have not got the hang of that rule, yet...), while some of the line infantry deployed in line to receive the approaching Russians (now hidden in the valley) with some hot lead, and the artillery crossed the bridge.

The Russian line firing over the heads of their companions should not have been allowed to do so, as only artillery can shoot over troop formations, but I did not bother to check at that point.

One Bavarian battery advanced far enough to open up on the massed column of grenadiers advancing across the valley, but it seems they forgot to aim in all their haste (what is the chance of that roll??

Well, at least the cannon cannot explode or something (I think...).

Bavarian shooting was very bad that day in general - two battalions forming line and firing point blank at the Russian dragoons without causing a single casualty is all the testimony one needs for that!

The Bavarian brigade general managed to rally the battalion that fell back a bit earlier.

The Bavarian cavalry brigade went into action, but the Russian infantry formed squares, stopping the attack in its tracks.

This is it for today, we are again close to midnight, and I have some windows to close, and a dog to let in, before going to bed.

Black Powder: Delaying Action, Part 1

I had a gaming appointment this evening, so i spent half the afternoon setting up the table and the armies for another run of Black Powder, this time against Kevin.

Kevin does not have his own 1:72 army, yet (although he has purchased some late Prussians), so I was putting him in command of my early Russians, facing my Bavarian division.

The Russian army is about twice a s big as the Bavarian, so I decided to play a scenario where the Bavarians have to hold back the Russian force for as long as possible,, to prevent them from uniting with the Austrians.

I arrayed the two armies, ready for final deployment when Kevin arrived.






Kevin got to move first, and the Russians, making extended use of column formations, advanced into the valley

The Bavarians also advanced - the light infantry spread out and entered the forest on the ridge, while the left flank tried to seize the high ground, but failed.

A Russian dragoon regiment swept forward, but failed to make contact with the Bavarian infantry., while the Russian Jägers outflanked the Bavarian line.

Enfilading fire by Sharpshooters is devastating, as proven by the swift annihilation of a Bavarian battalion, while another was driven back with heavy casualties.

It is midnight here, now, and I need some sleep - I expect to continue this AAR tomorrow.

2018-05-06, Black Powder: Testing the Rules

Sunday afternoon I was visiting one of my oldest friends and gaming buddies, Michael, with my entire family, and I was bringing my 1/72 Bavarians, some terrain, and the Black Powder rules for a test run.

Archduke Michael had dusted off his Austrians and we set up two roughly equal forces (we do not tend to fuss about with points values).

I had prepared army lists with troop types and profiles for both sides, so we could get stuck in fairly quickly.

We played on my new 3x3 mat, using cm. instead of inches, each battalion 8 figures (1 rank = line, 2 ranks = attack column, 2 files = march column), cavalry regiments only 4 figures (normally, I would use 8 figures, 2 bases, for the possibility of using different formations, but for some reason I never got around to paint the second half of the Bavarian cavalry regiments, so Michael just mirrored that).

Our initial setup. The Kaiser's line infantry came on in massive columns, with the light infantry and light dragoons spread out on their left flank, while the Electorate's finest were deployed more thinly, with light infantry in skirmish formation up front screening the line infantry advance, and the cavalry (Cuirassiers and Chevaulegers) placed on the right, ready to advance on the enemy position.

Archduke Michael opened the ball with a blunder, sending half of his line infantry and artillery marching off towards Vienna.

This unforeseen turn of events of course made the Austrians a bit reluctant to advance - the remaining line infantry brigade was rearranged to make up for the loss of the entire right flank...

...whereas the Bavarians sounded general advance, the center forming into line for more firepower.

The Austrian commander desperately sent off one aide-de-camp after another to order the German infantry brigade back onto the field, but with little effect. The Bavarians closed in on the weakened Austrian position which started some spread fire.

The Bavarian cavalry brigade thundered forward to the sound of picket fire from the skirmishing light infantry.

The Austrian light infantry formed squares, which halted the attack. Luckily for the Austrians, one of the aide-de-camps had found the stray infantry brigade, and it now reappeared behind their right flank.

The Bavarians kept closing in on the enemy position, while the Austrians built up a massive infantry column on their right flank.

Two Bavarian battalions charged one of the Austrain squares...

...and broke it.

In response, the Austrian light dragoons closed in, but the Bavarian attack columns quickly reformed into square.

The light Austrians formed attack column and retired a few yards.

The massive Austrian  attack column charged the skirmishing light infantry, which evaded (I did not do this entirely correctly, but pulled them a bit to the side - they should have moved directly backwards, but this is what test games are for). The Hungarian infantry in the center also advanced to point blank range of the Bavarian line.

The Bavarian line steadied itself and delivered a full strength volley. Not enough to shake the Hungarians, though! The light infantry formed into attack column to be able to support the line against the expected attack.

The Bavarians on the left flank charged the Austrian massed infantry and took some beating, but held their ground.

We had now reached dinner time (we were barbecuing tenderloin and some mushrooms, potatoes, and cabbage), and decided to call it a day.

One or two turns more would probably have seen some decisive action - I fear my leftmost infantry would have been annihilated, but hoped to be able to break the enemy center, and bring up the regiment lingering in the field at centre left to prevent the massed Austrians in turning my line.

As we left the battle, it may have swung either way.

We both liked the ease of the game flow, and we agreed that a lot of the situations arising 'felt right'.

I did not discuss this, but one aspect I find less enticing is the emphasis on decisive charges. I think it is too easy to just bunch up a heavy mass of attack columns and drive forward - if you get 3 moves you can move from well out of reach of muskets and only suffer closing fire - but I have to play more games to fully get the impression of how it affects the game.

Shall we play Black Powder again. Yes. Will it be our first choice of  Napoleonic rules? Maybe - for me it depends heavily on what else I come across, and how this holds up against other sets. I am definitely set on playing nappies on a regular basis, again. It was my first and foremost wargaming love, and there is not much I enjoy more than a gaming table filled with soldiers in neat rows and colourful uniforms!

1:72 Napoleonics - My Russians

This Russian army is an attempt to model something around 1800. The bicorne-wearing infantry are the Prussian Guard Jägers from the ESCI 'Prussian and Austrian Infantry' box.

For some reason lost in the mists of time, I painted one light battalion with bicornes, and one with the later shakos.

More infantry, and two Dragoon Regiments. I have no idea, why I chose such a light green for the tunics. They also have the 1805-style helmets - for 1800 I think the Dragoons wore bicornes as well, but, well...

This Corps is somewhat stronger than my Bavarian Division, so I may have to leave some of them out, or take some French allies for the Bavarians, if they are to square off.

All in all, I am all set for some Black Powder action - I just need an opponent (or, alternatively, play solo).

1:72 Napoleonics - My Bavarians

This Bavarian 'Division' (all HäT Industries minis) is ready to field (although I shall probably double the Cavalry regiments.

I think this force has a perfect size for trying out the Black Powder rules. I don't know, yet, if it will be against Archduke Michael's Austrians, or maybe my own 'inter-war' Russians under command of Grand Prince Kevin.

1:72 Napoleonics - My French

With Black Powder added to my rules collection, I thought it was about time that I dusted off my 1:72 plastic Napoleonic armies.

Back in the seventies, with wargames not nearly as readily available as they are now, I wrote a set of rules for playing with some of my friends, using quite large(ish) battalions of about 20-25 miniatures.

Later, I adopted Warmaster for playng this era, and we started out with units of 12 models, but later reduced the battalions/cavalry regiments to eight soldiers.

I think we can easily adapt those small battalions for Black Powder, counting the shown formations as 'Attack Columns', and forming a single rank for 'Lines' (and two files for 'March Columns').

Eight models is the minimum required for forming a 'Square', so that should work fine. Of course, we can later enlarge infantry unit size by doubling the models, or even more - but we shall have to see about that.

I know Michael has a sizeable Austrian force, and I have  nicely sized French army (although some of the paintjobs are WIP, as it shows in the photos).

French Line and Light Infantry. I shall have to pull out some red and blue, at least.

Fench Line and Old Guard Infantry.
Again, some units are not quite finished...

French Dragoon Regiment, some Line Chasseurs in early (Hussar-style) uniforms,
and a single Italian Infantry Regiment

French Cuirassiers, the Chevaux-Légers de Berg (too many models - I painted them back in the 'big unit' days,
and the Lanciers Hollandais of the Guard

Some Artillery and Staff

I intend to invite Kevin for a scrap, and see if I can get him interested in this scale for Black Powder (honestly, I don't feel like painting an entire Nappie army in 28mm).