A Mapless Mini Campaign - Battle 1

 

I started a three battle mini-campaign over the weekend, squeezing in a couple of games between work and domestic distractions. I was inspired to use my ACW figures by Ross Mac's recent games. The rules for the mapless mini campaign are from Mark Cordone, originally posted on the PW FB page, and are his intellectual property:

For the first game I rolled a 5; Seize Ground. I used inspiration from OHW to layout a battlefield but gave a slight advantage to the defenders (CSA) who started a little closer to the objective (the hill). The winner must have control of the objective once both sides reach exhaustion point (EP).

The chocked gully on the right of the hill is impassable

The CSA grabbed the objective whist the Federals attempted to out flank them

Despite reducing the CSA to EP, the Union Army could not get on to the hill

The Blues reach EP and victory goes to the Confederates

So the Confederate Army wins the first battle and, buoyed by their success, go on the offensive, pursuing their retreating adversaries...  

General Wells - An early defeat

 

The General, from H G Well's Little Wars, has been my Army Blue Leader for some years. Here follows a brief description of an early battle from his illustrious career in which he was defeated - it has to be brief as the General doesn't like to dwell on it.

Battlefield promotion to the first reader to spot the actual field of battle

Army Blue arrived from the South; their objective, to push through the defending Army Red (advance 4 units across Red's baseline). Red has reinforcements arriving (on a die roll) between turns 7 and 9; Blue has an additional unit arriving on turn 7 and another on turn 8.

Red established his defence on a ridge

Red's Light Infantry hold the LH BUA and hold out for a LONG time

Blue manages to get a unit across Red's line (top left) but otherwise is struggling

Red is reinforced on turn 7 by 3 regiments from Army Black (top right)

Blue is unable to break through despite his own reinforcements

A few holes have appeared in Red's line but Blue is unable to capitalize on them
General Wells admits defeat and withdraws.

A nice scenario and a tough nut to crack for Blue - thanks to Old Trousers for the inspiration regarding turning this battlefield into a grid. David Crook has also played this battle on a grid and you can find details on his blog.

This and that

 Below are a few of the things I've been fiddling around with between game reports - hopefully something may be of interest...

First off, I found a couple of buildings to make on Hugh Walter's Small Scale World blog (here) that are quite fun and would look nice for a 20th Century game or Railway layout (if made better then I managed of course); Matchbox cars for scale.

I tried an Inter War period Portable Wargame using block units made from MDF bases with images from the Junior General site stuck on to them which worked ok and seemed a good way of testing out a period for which I didn't have two completed forces - not everyone's cup of tea but really no different from playing a Boardgame (and its a very cheap option!)

Many years ago I created a game called Giant! - I've since lost the rules (that were on the back of an envelope) however I found some of the figures (6mm from Irregular and Bacchus) and scenery (6mm buildings from Irregular) which are quite fun. The stand-in Giant is a Prehistoric Man in 28mm.

At the time I'd started making a couple of Fantasy game armies in 6mm (my eyesight was better then....)

Army of the Dead

Elves

Talking of Giants, here are a pair from many years ago - both are still available (Hinchliffe from Broadsword Miniatures, and MiniFigs from Caliver Books)

On the Left Hinchliffe Giant from 1980. On the Right MiniFigs Giant 1973

Next post will hopefully be a game report...

Arnor Project - Battle of the North Downs

Harl the Helmless led what was left of the fleeing Arnorians towards the North Downs after their defeat at the hands of Angmar's vanguard (see HERE). 

The Orcs were moving faster than their quarry and caught up with them at the very feet of the hills. The Downs Guard, regular soldiers of Arnor, could see the two forces from their earthwork defenses.

Men of Arnor turn to give fight

The Orcs, once again led by their fierce Captain ('Orrible 'Ornblower), rushed forward and battle ensued.

The heavily outnumbered Arnorians fought bravely but slowly gave ground, falling back to the more defensive position and the fresh soldiers guarding the Downs.

The Arnorians finally reached Exhaustion Point, but were at least now uphill of their enemy and able to defend themselves. The Orcs fought on but they too fell at last to exhaustion.

The battle of the North Downs was over.

Next time, attention turns to the main force of Orcs whose passage West has bypassed the hill country and now begins to progress South towards the City of Fornost.

SKOMC Part 4

 Year 7

In Year 7, the Mythicans struck back at Pseudo-Klasica. Terrain randomly rolled for this battle was board No.2 in reverse (see HERE). 

Pseudo-Klasica fielded 4 Infantry units and 2 units of archers. Mythica, 3 Infantry, 2 cavalry and a unit of archers.

The defending Pseudo-Klasican General, with his left flank covered by the woods, awaited the onslaught.

The Mythican General led the assault in person, and the Pseudo-Klasicans were soon reduced to Exhaustion Point. 

Surrender would mean losing the campaign and the absorption of their territory into that of Mythica; the Pseudo-Klasicans fought on.

The Mythicans, desperate to finish the war, closed in...

and suddenly, it was all over

Mythica wins the battle and the Simple Knock Out Mini Campaign.

That was fun! There will be some adjusting of the Campaign rules, utilizing ideas from Mark Cordone, before the next one of these is played.

Next up, another battle in Arnor...

SKOMC Part 3

 The situation at the end of Year 4 of the Simple Knock Out Mini Campaign was as follows:

Psuedo-Klasica had absorbed Mooritania, and Mythica taken Keltica. The two remaining powers were now embroiled in a protracted war, each hoping to achieve total dominance with a knock-out blow...

Year 5

In Year 5, Pseudo-Klasica attacked Mythica. The random terrain once again generated a board with a river (crossable only at the bridge) but to the horror of the attacking General, the second die roll rotated the board so that he was forced to cross the river just to get onto the battlefield...

The Mythicans rushed forward and took control of the centrally positioned hill whilst the attackers queued to get across the bridge.

A fire fight between the two army's archers ensued. Mythica then committed infantry on the flanks of the hill. The Pseudo-Klasican General was forced to personally lead a charge at the hill to quell the arrow storm.

The Mythican Infantry made short work of the attacking archers, and the Pseudo-Klasicans found themselves exhausted before they could even get all of their force to bear.

The Mythican's closed in

And suddenly it was all over

Year 6

In Year 6, the tenacious Pseudo-Klasicans attacked Mythica again. This time the terrain was more favourable. 

The Mythican General spread his force wide and attempted to out flank the more tightly bunched aggressor.

The two commanders met in a clash in the centre of the field, but the Pseudo-Klasicans didn't seem to have their heart in it, and were soon on the back foot.

Ground down by the battering from the flank, the attackers were reduced to Exhaustion Point, and then soon afterwards, routed.

Two attacks and no conclusion. Will the Campaign reach a denouement anytime soon?