1780 - Black Powder

Had a first look at the new rules from Warlord (courtesy of Generaljimbo) this weekend and even got some American War of Independence figures on the table. As with all new rules the first moves were a bit slow as we got to grips with the mechanics. Probably more a reflection of our brains than the rules.

The rule book is a splendid production with lots of lovely piccies in it but is a bit expensive at £30.00. The game mechanics are relatively simple but were not loved by all. The main bone of contention being the command and control rules based, I think, on the Warmaster system. Are they a requirement in a game or not? I think they add to the realism but can lead to a slow game for individuals in a multi player game. Undoubtedly we make enough mistakes on our own not to need them. The mechanism here is a bit strange due the use of two D6 determining actions slightly altering the odds from what might be expected, the use of a twelve sided die might be better.

One aspect I particularly liked was giving verbal orders to a unit. “The regiment will advance in column along the road and form line at the edge of the road.” Naturally they were a bit slower than anticipated. I need to be more authoritative.

Anyhoo the scenario of The Battle for Ashland Ferry began with a mixed brigade of British grenadiers, light troops, rangers and a gun holding the town and ferry. Naturally the rebels needed to capture the aforementioned and began to enter the table on move one along two roads. Being forced to be in road column a round from the light battery did quite a bit of damage on a militia unit as it marched along. Once on table the command and control mechanism kicked in with one brigade unmoving on the hill and another unable to shake out of road column. As the redcoats entered from the opposite side further artillery fire put paid to a Maryland regiment.

Light Dragoons lead the redcoats out of the woods.



Marylanders guard the pub.


The New Yorkers eventually find their way down the hill.

Due to further poor dice throws both the British supporting brigade and a Hessian brigade began to picnic in the woods rather than advance to meet their foe. The light dragoons being lost to long range fire before being able to charge.

The token French brigade proved much more able to throw low and as if on manoeuvres marched forth and into line very nicely. By the time the Hessian managed to emerge from the undergrowth the French were there to meet them and being caught in column of march (a bit of a theme seems to be emerging here) the Hessians took quite a beating. A squadron of hussars enjoyed the German confusion and taking out one unit proceeded to hit another in the flank. Much to the chagrin of Jim all hits were actually saved and the Hessian survived.

Hessians advance in column


...and are caught by the French.

French Hussars threaten the Hessians.

In the centre the Americans eventually got moving and charged into the grenadiers holding the hedge (lack of fences in the terrain cupboard) and after a prolonged melee even the strength of the grenadiers failed against overwhelming odds.

Despite the assistance of a large green ball the grenadiers fail to hold the centre.

As far as the group is concerned the jury is still out with regards the use of Black Powder. Personally I liked them and would persevere with them. They are very open to tweeking, in fact the authors suggest it. For our small units perhaps reduced movement and ranges might be beneficial. (a full move could be 36” for foot!) whilst long range fire is 18". Also I would reflect the better control of “professional” soldiers over militia, but having redcoats I would say that.

Todays cheeses were Little Derby and Shropshire Blue. (I am assured from a dairy in Shropshire).

Wine and Cheese

I hope noone has been offended by the Wars of Wine and Cheese. The use of cheesy and winey names for my imagiNation regiments are a result of gaming with the cheese loving and freely drinking Birmingham Wargames Society and not intended as an "Allo Allo" type slight on our continental friends. Wine is not aften an accompaniment to our afternoon games (usually an ale or two) but is not unknown. The last wine I recall being an indifferent red called "Rorkes Drift" bought specially to accompany the game. Cheese and biccies have however been mandatory for a number of years now - cheers Richard!

I was pleased to see the first entry on the new BWS forum was not game of the month but Cheese of the Week. Which was, unfortunately, Stinking Bishop - not recommended!

http://hubpages.com/hub/Stinking-Bishop

The Butler did it!

Yet again the bane of the wargamer stalks Castle Vallejo. Project dispersion!!!

January has seen no recruitment to the imagiNation armies, too cold for the press gangs of Colonel Boursain no doubt.

Instead an old club project has raised it's head in the form of 28mm American War of Independence.

Many years ago we started this and it petered out due to a lack of rules we liked. However we going to try again, possibly using Will's AWI rules from freewargamerules or even a variant of Volley and Bayonet.

Either way it's splitting out the old twenty man units into twelves, not a natural division.

As always some bare lead turned up in the dungeons (ie a box in the shed) and I have sploshed some paint on it to give me a unit of Butlers Rangers. Not the prettiest unit in the world but no doubt will throw just as many dice as their more attractive enemies. Co-inkadinkally there were eighteen figures in the box giving a formed unit of twelve and a skirmish unit of six. Serendipitous.

I calculate this will be our tenth "tricorn" project in all conflicts and scales. Is this confirmation that the C18 is the "best" period for the wargamer?

The Battle of Spatlesse Bridge

The beautiful and wiley opponent General Bojallay, my daughter Georgia. Having arrayed the forces of Weinpfalz.

the tale continues................

Count Olaf placed both hands flat on the large oval table and looked at his generals. "There must never be a bridge between our land and the frightful Fromagere," he said. "The pontoon at Spatlesse must be destroyed before the cheese-eaters have time to fortify the town and encroach into the water meadows." General Bojollay was first to his feet. "Give me the honour my Lord, and in ten days I will have the bridge in a million pieces." "Thankyou Bojallay." Count Olaf bowed to his youngest general. At only 53 General Bojallay had not suffered the ignominy of most of Weinpfalz's military tradition. "Very well, take two regiments of infantry and a battery; and please bring the pontoon back in fewer pieces than a million. It may prove useful." "and perhaps a few horse sire?" "Yes, yes. Bring the pontoon back in a weeks time Bojollay and we'll hold a ball in you honour." "Fail, and he hold your balls in a vice," whispered witty General L'Ambrusco.

Within two days Bojollay led his small force down onto the watermeadows of Spatlesse only to find that he was expected.


Being out of focus may account for the totally ineffective fire of Fromagere arillery. No casualties are inflicted in move one.


Rashly, the Fusilers de Brie march over the cause of the conflict to meet the Weinpfalzers.



Patiently the Weinpfalz dragoons wait for the Fusiliers to form line.... and then charge. Huzzzaahh!

A less than withering fire takes only a couple of dragoons from their saddles and the resulting melee proves indecisive and goes on for a second round. The dragoons cut down a few poor infantrymen but with artillery support for the Fusilers honours are even and both units must withdraw to rally

(at long last I get to play with a set of rules bought in 1977)

On the Fromagere left the Roquefort Regiment are more cautious and form up along the riverbank. The Spatburgunders march up in fine order and receive a volley at short range. A furious firefight ensues.



With an evil laugh of triumph General Bojollay follows up the retreating Fusilers and takes control of the bridge head. A wild volley from the head of column lays down three more Fusiliers and brings their total casualty count over 50%.


With one regiment retreating with fewer than half of it's men remaining and the other also near that mark the forces of Fromagere declare discretion the better part of valour and make their weary way back to the city of Roquefort and quite possibly a year's latrine duty.

As the pontoons were loaded onto their wagons General Bojollay wondered whether a triumphal arch on the small hill in his country estate would be too ostentatious. Perhaps he might even get to dance with Countess at the celebratory ball

Odd time of year

...between Christmas and New Year is always an odd time of year. I usually go into work but the past few months have been so busy I thought "*** it," I'll have the week off.

Naturally I was hoping to paint for the December unit is way behind schedule Of course Christmas has got in the way, visiting, eating, visiting, drinking, visiting, eating etc etc. Also new books in one's stocking. I received "Slaughterhouse Five" which I hadn't read since a student - so that was Christmas evening sorted (with a nice Stilton and glass of port). Even better than I remembered.

Today however I was rebasing Napoleonics and 6mm to boot. I think the fourth rebasing that these guys have been on. Now on regimental bases of two inches square, quite a change from Charge!. A couple of corps in an A4 lever arch box file! Piccies will follow once complete.

Even worse I was perusing Plastic Soldier Review and the Impetus site whilst digesting another ample lunch. Mmmm interesting; now what period/continent have we not tried? And there was a review of Zvezda Samurai. Very pretty too and a 9/10 review from PSR. Perhaps a little look at ebay wouldn't hurt, Aaaaaaarggggghhh caught again. Now I wonder if Amazon has an Osprey on XVI century Japan, 'cos I don't have a clue.

Christmas begins

The family tradition, when I was a child, was that the Christmas tree and decorations would only begin to appear after December 13 - dad's birthday. This year was the old man's eightieth so the great day has taken up even more of our thoughts than usual. And began with a game of golf on a frosty Saturday morning!

Today we made our way to Birmingham to visit the Frankfurt market! Odd but true.

Gluhwein and pretzels in the English Midlands.

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Bunker Hill (again and again)

Unfortunately my camera has gone awol so no piccies of a fun afternoon with Birmingham Wargamers.

General Jimbo set up a very nice interpretation of Bunker Hill terrain so with 15mm armies and a set of Volley and Bayonet we set about changing history.

We began the first game at 14:45. The main force of red coated Brits advanced manfully through the disordering terrain ignoring the inaccurate fire of the light guns in the redoubt. The British grenadiers and light troops moved around the flank of hill.

14:55 hours - two British regiments assault the corner of the redoubt to bring two line units against one militia. With a morale rating of 5 only a throw of 6 could fail; of course Jim throws two 6s. With sterling defensive throws against the now disordered red coats the initial attack is repulsed. On the rebels' left the fire of the Grenadiers and light troops prove ineffectual. The militia however prove to be good marksman and the Grenadiers take casulaties.

15:00 hours - two more British regiments charge forward to assault the redoubt, only a throw of 6 on their morale test could prevent a break in on the redoubt - Jim throws... two sixes. The melee goes with the yankees and two more red coated regiments are routed. Derisive laughter can be heard from behind the breastwork. The grenadiers also charge and push back one of the brave colonial units but do not break them.

15:10 hours - An heroic militia regiment charges into the flank of the Grenadiers and with musketry support destroy the already weakened Brits

15:15 hours - Game Over

At this point we usually set up again and swap sides - however Richard and Jim are determined to reverse the embarrassing performance. Red Coats and Red Faces.

Always funny to see four consecutive morale failures. Quote of the day paraphrased from Dame Edna; "God has given me the gift of laughter ... at other peoples' misfortune."

The next game lasted a little longer as the Brits manoeuvred onto the flanks and blasted the poor colonials with well aimed musketry and long range artillery before charging in. Even the rebels gave a good account themselves before being overrun.

We agreed to swap sides for the third and final game.This led to much manoeuvering and hanging about by the Brits who hoped for better results from a thin skirmish line and a couple of cannon. Eventually a charge from one side of the redoubt managed to rout the weak and weakened militia. Equilibrium was restored.

Today's cheese was a very tasty Caerphilly.