Northern Conspiracy October 2017 Game Day

Last Saturday fellow blogger and club-mate Ed M hosted an EPIC-sized 28mm alternate Waterloo scenario of Prussians vs. French in the Ramillies Gap. The game featured Charlie's excellent rules, Napoleon's Rules of War with some modifications specifically added by Ed for the game. For more photos and information, Ed has a lovely article on his blog about the game day from the game master's point of view.

The game was a one-day campaign and game all wrapped up into one. The order of march was determined prior to the players arriving, but approach marches were up to each player. I was commanding Prussian 1st division with Byron my 2iC commanding the right brigade, while I was on the left - tasked with taking the town. Opposite us was the French primary push complete with the young guard and it's accompanying grand battery!

The French artillery hit early and often. I was able to return the favor against French infantry in the town with my 12-pounder battery, driving them out. Towards the end of the day more French reinforced the town. With the battle drawing to a close I made a push into the town with a multi-battalion force while the Prussian grenadiers supported the attack on the right neutralizing a young guard battalion that was worn down from ranged fire. My attack was only partially successful with my regulars locked in a struggle for the town with the French.

Across the battlefield there were losses and gains on both sides, most of which still in the balance when we ran out of time. This was an epic fight fought to a draw - everyone won since we all had a great time. Many photos below....

 Prussian center advanced guard approaches the battlefield...

Main bodies of French and Prussian forces in the center. The French, first to the town, secure it.

The main forces engage each other, first with artillery, then cavalry, then combined attacks. Prussian position battery clears the front of the town.

The Young Guard arrives, secures the town and advances to attack  the center.

Towards the end of the game here is a series of left-to-tight panoramic photos. Left of center, the French dragoon division arrives and threatens Prussian 2nd division. Prussian reserve cavalry responds. In the distance, 3rd division presses the French light cavalry.

In the Center the struggle for the town continues. Prussian grenadiers holding the town's left flank, French Young Guard hold the town right.

 Right center, Byron's command at a stand off with Dave's French.

Extreme right, Mike, Michael and Kevin press against Earl's French.

Napoleonic Game Day Test Game

Last Friday a few of us got together to help our friend Ed M. test some of the components of a HUGE Napoleonic game he's running at the upcoming club game day in October. Ed wanted to get a significant amount of the troops onto a table larger than he can fit in his game room, so he asked to use my 12-foot table. I was happy to help! Ed's write-up of the game with more photos can be seen on his blog. The scenario is an alternate Waterloo campaign featuring Ed's beautiful French and Prussian figures. I'll leave more of the description of the game for the reader to discover over at Ed's excellent Blog.

Left to right, French marshals, Earl, Ralph and Peter in the opening moves of the game.

Prussian marshal Mike in the background and CinC Bob in the foreground. I rounded out the Prussian test team.

The best shots I could get of the full expanse of the table. It's tough to get far enough away from a 12-foot table in an 18-foot room! That's a LOT of figures. For game day this table will be 18 feet long, so there should be good room for manoeuvring. Where there was on the flanks in this game it was quite interesting.

Obligatory eye-candy shots of Ed's beautiful figures.

The game started out with Bob being uncharacteristically aggressive with his Landwher cavalry, with predictable results. Earl's infantry and Artillery were deadly and when they couldn't finish the job Ralph's joined in on the fun. Deadly.

On our left flank Peter's cavalry charged Mike's cavalry across a stream, jumping it like it was a casual steeple chase course, sending Mike's cavalry to the rear in disarray with Peter's cavalry in hot pursuit breaking through the Prussian lines causing Bob to commit some reserves there to clean up the mess.

On the left flank I sent my Landwher infantry off on an errand to secure the town on our left while Earl's cavalry secured the French flank opposite me. My attacks against Earl's infantry there were unsuccessful, and lucky for me the game was called due to the hour before his cavalry could sweep into my Landwher.

It was a fun night and I believe Ed got what he needed for information in order to make the club's game day game even better.

For blog purposes I'm only counting this as half a game hosted. Ed did all the work, I just provided the table and some terrain. Thanks for the fun game Ed.