Honours of War

Saturday saw my third game of the week. Greg and I decided to dust off my thirty year old 15mm Seven Years War armies and try a bit of old-school gaming using Osprey’s “Honours of War” rules. I had devised a semi-fictitious scenario pitching my French vs the Prussians. Historically they only met once in a major battle, being the heavy French defeat at Rossbach in 1757. Hence, I devised a scenario set during the lead up to Rossbach with a numerically superior French force trying to push through a Prussian blocking position.

The French had four brigades being light infantry on one flank and cavalry on the other, with infantry and artillery pushing through the centre.

The Prussians matched the French cavalry and decided to take the French infantry head-on leaving the French lights to wander around the woods.

Under Honours of War a key element is the influence of the Brigade Commanders. These are rated from “Dithering” to “Dashing” and on a die roll can end up doing nothing to being inspired and making double moves. Unfortunately, two out of four French Brigadiers were rated as “dithering” which seriously undermined their battlefield effectiveness. Hence the French artillery and light troops hung back leaving the infantry to march into the teeth of the Prussian infantry defensive line.

Firing and melee uses system akin to TFL’s shock, albeit in Honour of War no figures are removed. The battle for the centre saw the French infantry comprehensively destroyed by the Prussian artillery and musketry.

In return the French broke one Prussian infantry regiment and forced back the cavalry.

I conceded the game when it was clear the French centre had disintegrated and the cavalry failed to make the desired impact. It was only a matter of time before the French army reached its “break point”.

We both enjoyed the game. As with any Osprey set of rules there are a few issues, but I think this is one of their better sets. The rules are simple enough to handle “big battles” but to my mind have enough period flavour. I have found an active “Test of Honour Forum” which (a) shows there is a loyal cadre of players and (b) contains some useful stuff such as an improved QRS specifically for 15mm figures, scenarios and answers to rules queries etc etc. Tony has Austrians and Chris is slowly building a Russian force. Maybe we will see some Prussians vs Austrian/Russian action one day soon. I am almost inspired to build a British/German allies army to take on my French or a crap Reichsarmee force to ally with the French or Austrians.

Simon

Honours of War; Game 2

Sunday saw the second run-out of our refurbished Seven Years War armies, and Osprey’s “Honours of War” game. Although a fictitious scenario the battle was set the day after the battle of Leuthen in December 1757 where Frederick of Prussia has decisively defeated the Austrians commanded by the Archduke Charles. The action saw the Austrian rearguard trying to hold off the Prussians to allow the remains of the field army to escape intact to Breslau.

The Austrians set up holding a line between the villages of Rathen and Sahra.

The Prussian mission was simple, break the line. The armies set up with the two lines of infantry facing each other and the cavalry also facing off.

The Prussians as attackers set off at a smart pace but were soon under artillery fire, and had no reply. They just had to take the casualties.

The Prussian cavalry attack saw one regiment retire as the combination of Austrian cavalry and artillery fire took its toll.

The Prussian infantry marched stoically forward as Tony tried in vain to relocate his artillery on the flank.

Back with the cavalry the Prussians secured a decisive advantage as they broke two Austrian regiments in quick succession aided by the harassing fire of a Freikorps regiment who had taken the village of Sahra. The fourth Austrian cavalry regiment retired badly battered but just about still in the fight.

The infantry battle however went badly for the Prussians. The charge of the left flank Brigade into the Austrians went disastrously wrong as the infantry fire took its toll and then the melee saw them break.

At that point we called it a day. The Prussian cavalry on the right were victorious and the centre “superior” infantry Brigade largely intact. The Austrians still had two infantry Brigades largely intact albeit one was “inferior”. We decided it was an honourable draw.

So, what did we think of the rules? Fairly simple but with some nice touches of “national characteristics” and added “friction”. I have written my own QRS which translates everything into inches and distances for 15mm figures, and some more work is needed on this. I think the key will be in setting challenging scenarios for the period. All armies are pretty similar despite “national characteristics”, so just setting up equal points armies across the table will be a less-than-satisfying experience. However, if this means our twenty-five year old armies finally see some action I for one will be more than happy.

Simon