Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => Age of the Big Battalions => Topic started by: DintheDin on March 12, 2018, 06:35:30 PM
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Hi gents,
Last week we played with Miltiades a Russo-Turkish war 1768-1774 scenario using Honours of War rules.
The Turks were sieging the Moldavian town of Nuștiu, held by the Russians.
The Turks have already pierced the wall and are ready for the final assault, when a Russian cavalry relief force arrives and the Turkish cavalry intervenes.
I devised some extra simple rules for the siege.
Here is the OOB of the two forces, as balanced as possible, using the HoW points system:
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Here are the initial positions of the troops.
The fact that Nuștiu fortifications are designed like a perfect Vauban fort as well as the location of this city in Moldavian territory, are two of history's best well kept secrets, as the scenario is fictional :D
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Part of the walls is badly damaged by the Turkish heavy bombardment of the previous day.
Improvised barricades are defended by a unit of Russian guards.
A second unit, in reserve is ready to rush wherever needed
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In the Ottoman camp, Inert Pasha, the supreme commander
Inert Pasha was not the Sultan's best choice, as it has been proved to be a dithering commanding general.
So it would be wiser not to interfere with his sub-commanders (as the HoW rules dictate in this case).
He prefers to stay behind with his entourage of Deli and Turkomans and watch in relative apathy the progress of the siege eating sunflower seeds.
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Nice report , D . Your handling of the Vauban fortifications is interesting , a difficult problem on the table . I have these rules but have yet to use them , this might give me the impetus to do so . Cheers .
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The first attack of the Sekhan brigade
A brigade of Sekhan and Nizam-i-Jedid troops is approaching the walls!
A screen of Sekhan skirmishers shoot, attempting to force the defenders keep their heads down.
This part of the walls is defended by one unit of militia and one of standard Russian infantry with two light guns on the walls and two medium guns defending the main redoubt
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Nizams and Sekhans attempt to escalate the walls under withering fire!
The fort defenders resist doggedly and manage to repulse them everywhere.
Already one Sekhan unit is annihilated and the Sekhan Brigade falls back to reform
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Wow...that does look impressive... :o
DV
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Janissaries attack!
While the Ottoman batteries aim at the main redoubt, the Janissaries march in columns, drums and trumpets playing the "Forwards" march and, banners flying, they head against the damaged wall and the redoubt!
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Thanks Belissarius and DonVoss, please stay tuned, the continuation may be proved much more interesting...
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With blood draining cries, the Janissaries are thrown against the redoubt and the gap defended by the Guards!
They start escalating the walls! Money and honour to the first who is going to put foot on the battlements!
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Sekhan second attack
Meanwhile, the Sekhans attempt a second attack.
Fruitless for a second time, their brigade is exhausted.
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The Janissaries capture the main redoubt!
After a fierce fight in the wall gap, both the Janissary unit and the first Guards are annihilated!
The second Guards hasten their pace to man the improvised fortifications!
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But the Janissaries manage to overwhelm the main redoubt defenders!
They are on top of the redoubt and one Russian battery is overrun!
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As the Sekhan brigade is badly mauled, the pressure on this section of the walls has ceased.
A russian battalion forms column and is rushing to reinforce their colleagues fighting in the wall gap!
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The invaders annihilated!
The green janissary unit descend the redoubt to attack the Guards' rear.
The Guards get the initiative and turn around to face the Janissaries' flank!
The second janissary unit, still on the redoubt is facing a wall of Russian muskets!
This time, luck was on the Russian side both on the moving and shooting phases!
The janissaries receive devastating volleys, take five hits and are gone!
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The cavalries enter the fray!
Two Ottoman cavalry brigades foraging nearby, alerted by scouts reporting enemy cavalry activity, enter the table!
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Great report. And great looking game.
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The two Russian cavalry brigades diced to enter, but, for the moment, only one manages!
If the second doesn't come quickly, they will be at heavy odds!
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An overall view of the table at this phase
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Great report. And great looking game.
Thank you! Continuing my narration...
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Meanwhile, Inert Pasha is shouting incomprehensible orders to the riders passing by.
The Delis and Turkomans near him are negatively influenced and do not manage to move yet.
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The fort is safe!
The fort defenders mop up the last Ottoman infantries, both Ottoman foot brigades are done for.
A sky-high Hurrah! is heard from Nuștiu!
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The cavalry clash!
At last! The second Russian Cavalry Brigade, enter the table!
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A full Russian and Ottoman cavalry fight!
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A bird's eye view of the cavalry fight
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A bloody fight and the ottoman player had a better dice.
One Russian cavalry brigade is done for, the other fall back to reform.
So do the two Ottoman cavalry brigades.
Both are too exhausted to fight more...
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What a fantastic battle, thank you for sharing. The Fort is incredible! Are the figures 25mm?
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It was a very nice game. Both sides tasted victory and defeat... The result was a draw: The Turks failed to take the city but the reinforcing Russian cavalry also failed to defeat the enemy and so the Ottomans did not raise the siege. I enjoyed it very much. I became familiar with "Honours Of War"...
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Nice Battle my friends. The new roads are nery good
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What a fantastic battle, thank you for sharing. The Fort is incredible! Are the figures 25mm?
Thank you for your kind words! The figures are 15mm.
My fort is handmade by paper, you may see it all at these links:
A Vauban fort (Part 1) - the Gate
http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=98636.msg1224671#msg1224671
A Vauban fort (Part 2) - The Grand Bastion
http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=98652.msg1223330#msg1223330
A Vauban fort (Part 3) - Complete
http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=98689.msg1226614#msg1226614
A Vauban fort (Part 4) The city in the walls
http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=98709.msg1224156#msg1224156
It has served us perfectly in at least half a dozen games and, if needed, I'm ready to launch an expansion :)
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Nice Battle my friends. The new roads are nery good
Thank you! I promise we play a similar battle together!
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It was a very nice game. Both sides tasted victory and defeat... The result was a draw: The Turks failed to take the city but the reinforcing Russian cavalry also failed to defeat the enemy and so the Ottomans did not raise the siege. I enjoyed it very much. I became familiar with "Honours Of War"...
As you said. We had a very enjoyable game, I must write down the extra siege rules we used.
Let's make a resume of the final result:
The Ottomans had more losses, both their foot brigades were done for.
The fort defenders lost a guard unit, a regular unit and a medium artillery battery.
One of the Russian cavalry brigades was done for and the other was in a bad state to continue fighting.
So, the Ottomans remained masters of the plain and continue their surveillance, but, for the moment, they are not able for a direct assault...
The fort was saved, but another Russian force must be sent for its relief.
Food rations and ammunition are getting low...
I heard that two big Ottoman cannons are on the way and the Sultan is sending his Grand Vizier with foot and horse reinforcements to replace Inert Pasha!
What will be the reaction of the Russians?
We may see what will happen at the next scenario...
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A comprehensive AAR there , D , it looked like a good fast paced game . Nice to see the Russian and Turkish forces on the tabletop . Those card / paper based buildings and tents really work well in 15mm scale . I presume you made the Vauban fortifications from foam board and then applied the brick finish from printed paper , it all worked really well .
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A comprehensive AAR there , D , it looked like a good fast paced game . Nice to see the Russian and Turkish forces on the tabletop . Those card / paper based buildings and tents really work well in 15mm scale . I presume you made the Vauban fortifications from foam board and then applied the brick finish from printed paper , it all worked really well .
Thank you! It was really a fast paced game and, until the last rounds we could not foresee the outcome!
This is a modular Vauban fort I had designed, I have given the links in a post at the top of this page in case you would like to see all my work together.
I used Photoshopped paper for the outside, taking pictures from real old, grungy walls, bricks and pavements and creating A4 sheets so as to dress pieces of cartdboard.
The walls are not from foam, they are hollow! They have a cork spine and the rest is cardboard. The final structure of these Vauban walls is light yet sturdy and does not warp, it survives four years now under harsh treatment ;)
We enjoyed the game so much that I smell a sequel!
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5 years later, but I still enjoyed looking this entire battle over.
Well done!
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5 years later, but I still enjoyed looking this entire battle over.
Well done!
Thank you! I am so glad this thread continues to trigger interest! Cheers!
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Dear DintheDin,
we are planning to play a series of linked battles, from a C. Grant Campaign book,
using Honours of War.
One of the battles is actually a siege scenario. May you please write/post your Siege
home rules? Infinite thanks!
Cheers,
Stefano
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Dear DintheDin,
we are planning to play a series of linked battles, from a C. Grant Campaign book,
using Honours of War.
One of the battles is actually a siege scenario. May you please write/post your Siege
home rules? Infinite thanks!
Cheers,
Stefano
Stefano,
It is really a honor to ask me!
I had devised these rules only for this siege, played in 2018, I thought about them just on the spot, a few minutes before the game start...
Never written them down
But I'll try my best to remember lol
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Ok, then:
Quick rules for the final assault during a siege. Please note that they are not meant for a siege taking days to make trenches etc.
Creating a breach on the wall:
You decide how many cannon hits the wall must take to collapse and make a breach.
Every time you bring a 5 you have a hit on the wall.
You may also use indirect howitzer or bombard fire for hitting the defenders on or behind the walls, as per the rules.
Scaling the walls with ladders:
A group carrying a ladder stops at the base of the wall to set the ladders (in the meanwhile receiving hits).
When the defenders are exactly under the walls, cannon fire over the wall (not enfilading fire) hits only with 5.
The ladder is set successfully if they dice for 3,4,5,6
Next round, before they attempt to climb, the defenders have a saving throw.
With 5 or 6 the ladder is repulsed and the attackers may make an attempt next round.
If not, the attackers manage to climb the wall. They are received with fire.
If they survive, melee where the attackers have a -2 factor.
If they win, they take the place of the defenders.
It looks normal that the defenders in this portion of the wall are a smaller group than the attackers, so give them a -1 for shooting and melee. If shooting at the attackers with the ladders while they are coming but are being shot at the same time by another enemy group, give them an extra -1 for shooting while trying to take cover.
That's all.
Feel free to modify any factors at your will.
Eagerly waiting to receive news from your battle! Cheers!
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Dear DintheDin,
these are excellent suggestions, I will try them out soon.
If anything else comes to my mind, I will come to you for advice.
Infinite thanks!
Stefano
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Dear DintheDin,
these are excellent suggestions, I will try them out soon.
If anything else comes to my mind, I will come to you for advice.
Infinite thanks!
Stefano
Stefano,
I'm glad if I could help you!
You are welcome!