French raid in the Ohio valley

Today we played a game of Sharp Practice set in North America during the time of the French & Indian wars. The game was based on the “Sweep the Table” scenario from the main rulebook, where in this case the French raiding party attempted to burn the crops and/or buildings of the local farmers. The British were however, doing their level best to prevent this.

On hearing a loud crashing noise coming from the nearby woods the local militia, under the command of Sergeant Sam Sung, deployed at the edge of the village, overlooking the woods.

The local farmers, commanded by Mr Chris P. Bacon, moved into the graveyard adjacent to the church. The men hoped that standing on graves wasn't going to be a portent of doom.

Out of the woods crashed two groups of French Marine Infantry, under the command of Capitaine Alex Craiment, intent on doing a bit of arson.

Supported on their left flank, by two groups of Milice Canadiene woodsmen, commanded by Sergeant Lepeugotnogo.

The Marines fired a volley into the graveyard completely wiping out the farmers. First blood to the French.

 
The second unit of militia, commanded by Lieutenant Myres deployed out of sight of the French, hoping to be able to move into the graveyard.

A group of Huron deployed at the far end of the table looking to raid the British encampment,

Whilst the New Jersey regiment was heading the wrong way,

And taking some long range rifle fire.

The marines advanced into the crops, shooting up the militia who were very reluctant to engage with them, drawing double ones in succession for movement. This was likely a result of there being some fresh corpses scattered around.

The woodsmen advanced, torches in hand, towards the fields.

The militia finally got into a firing position, pouring lead into the poor marines. Unfortunately, the Capitaine was hit and knocked out. This was looking bad.

At this point the Rangers turned up, forcing the marines to pull back and killing the poor Alex Craiment. With the French morale at zero they were forced to withdraw after only setting one field on fire. It was a very bad day.

Re-run of Cynoscephalae

As I was feeling lazy, I despatched my elite reporter back to Greece to watch Tony and Chris slug it out in a re-run of Cynoscephalae during the 2nd Macedonian War. This time Tony took the Romans and Chris the Macedonians. With Chris winning the scouting Tony deployed with his heavy infantry equally split centre and left, and his cavalry and Cretan archers holding the right. Chris matched Tony’s dispositions so once again we would see phalanx versus the Quincunx!

Chris advanced his whole army quite quickly, planning to get the phalanx into action.

Tony moved to meet him but “refused” his right, keeping his inferior and outnumbered cavalry back

and sending his veteran Cretan archers into the rough terrain to harass Chris’ veteran cavalry.

This week we finally remembered to use the QRS, and the javelin throwing between the lights was less effective than previously as targets now enjoyed the +1 to their save. All helps when you are psiloi!

The centres crashed together and once again the Romans made their pilums count, although the Velites also scored hits with their javelins.

Chris’ line broke as one phalanx retired to rally, and the Romans scenting a kill destroyed another.

The disaster for the Macedonians continued on their left. Chris veteran cavalry ponced about ineffectually throwing javelins at the Cretan archers sheltering in cover. Chris’ mood got blacker when the Cretans killed one of his veteran cavalry, meaning his General had to save and re-deploy, and he was almost in tears when the same unit of light infantry archers killed a second cavalry unit. The wing was finally shattered when the third veteran cavalry unit was killed, all without laying a glove on the Romans.

The game was up for the Macedonians when in the centre another phalanx was broken sending its accompanying light troops running as well.

All in all the most satisfying victory for Rome. They lost two units of light infantry but destroyed two phalanx and three units of veteran cavalry plus some lights. We only had one “interpretation” issue with the rules when Tony tried to charge an enemy unit diagonally through a Macedonian light cavalry unit. Not sure about this one! We all agreed the two armies look very good and next time I would like to use the Successors as Seleucids, and get some of their elephants, scythed chariots and cataphracts into action. I’m sure it will still end badly. I recall the Airfix Guide to ancient wargaming written by Phil Barker in the late 1970s. He observed that the Successors copied lots of troops from other armies but never quite worked out how to use them, whilst the Polybian Romans had a pretty limited order of battle but everyone knew what to do!

That’s it for this week.

Simon

What A Tanker on Tabletop Simulator

With Dave back and Mal away, we decided to return to the Panther Hunt Tabletop Simulator "What a Tanker" scenario. However, we added some oil barrels centre table, to act as a 'King of the Hill' objective.

Dave & Steve took the 4 Shermans, while Rob took the Panther and Phil took the diminutive Panzer II.

 

Easter Game of To the Strongest

After a prolonged leave of absence our much-refreshed reporter made his way to Greece, to witness an Easter Bank Holiday TTS game between Polybian Romans and late Macedonians loosely based on the battle of Cynoscephalae during the so-called 2nd Macedonian War. Tony chose the Macedonians leaving me with the Romans.

The Macedonians set up with a pike heavy centre, cavalry on their left and light troops facing the broken ground on the right. I countered with infantry left and centre and cavalry and light archers on the right. 

The Roman right marched boldly forward planning to take the battle to the Phalanxes.

The cavalry also moved forward, seemingly oblivious to the fact that they were outnumbered and of lesser quality. The Roman left stood rooted to the spot halted by a “1” chit which can’t be re-drawn for a group move. Tony countered charging his cavalry to engage and edging the pikes forward. Turn two saw the Roman left again fail to move….was treachery afoot? The cavalry realised their mistake, but it was too late, and two coins were duly handed to Tony. However, the Roman light troops were doing their job and their javelins soon took their toll on Tony’s skirmish screen. Most importantly with a final throw one unit of Velites inflicted a disorder on one of the phalanxes and the Roman heavy infantry charged through.

The disorder meant the Romans struck first and landed two more telling blows which destroyed the phalanx. 

All wasn’t going well for Rome on their right. Tony’s veteran cavalry made short work of the second Roman cavalry unit and the so-called heroic General was soon fleeing to the relative safety of a unit of Cretan archers. More disorders were inflicted on the Phalanxes and Tony began to pull them back to re-group. My attempt to turn and take them in the flank failed. It was all getting very tense and either side could win. It seemed to rest on whether Tony’s victorious cavalry could turn and roll up my army with a flanking attack or could the Romans destroy the Phalanx. With one mighty effort the Roman heavy infantry charged forward and shattered a second Phalanx leaving the camp open. As the Romans marched in Tony’s final three coins were duly handed over.

All in all, a very tense game. Tony expressed his surprise that I had launched a suicide attack by my cavalry. In hindsight a stupid thing to do. They should have stayed back shielding the Roman flank. The pikes have some big advantages but are quite brittle, and once disordered lose their “first strike” advantage. My lucky strike by the Velites might have proved a battle winner.

Next time I might use my “Successors” as Seleucids. These boys can have scythed chariots, elephants, cataphracts, Galatians and Imitation Legionaries. What an army!”

Simon

Strength & Honour on Tabletop Simulator

Rob had kindly set-up Scenario 10: Bedriacum, from the Strength & Honour rulebook, on Tabletop Simulator. This looked like a right ‘handbags’ job, with the Vespasians bringing 6 Legions & 2 auxiliary cavalry and the Vittelans effectively bringing 7 legions & 2 auxiliary cavalry. This did look like being a real slog!

However, Mal on the Vittelan right, rapidly pushed back Phil’s auxiliary cavalry, eventually driving them off the table. This forced Phil to weaken his legionary front, by diverting a legion to deal with the rampaging Vittelan cavalry. This in turn left the Vispasian Legio VIII and Legio III outnumbered and being driven back, with Legio VIII becoming disordered.

On the Vespasian right, Rob’s advance was hampered by the dark in the early turns, but eventually managed to close with Steve’s left flank Vittelans. Rob’s luck started in classic form and he rapidly swept away Steve’s cavalry. However, it then rather ground to a bit of a stalemate.

Things seemed to rally for the Vespasians on their left. They drove the second Vitellan cavalry unit from the table. This gave the Vittelans 3 Disaster cards (1 for each cavalry unit & 1 for the Syrian’s praying to the Sun God!!). However, the sneaky Vittelans prevented the Vespasians from calling ‘Homunculus Est’, by virtue of having an odd Strategy token lying around!

This was the time for Steve’s curiously quiet Left Wing to spring into action! They rapidly drove back a couple of Rob’s units, inflicting 2 further Set-Back cards (on top of the 14 accumulated so far!), before calling ‘Homunculus Est’ themselves, thereby winning with 19 points accumulated vs the Break level of 17! So, far from ‘hand-bags’!!