Ok another report on a disastrous SYW game using 'Die Kriegskunst'. Apologies for some of the pics. Best I could do at the time.
The Field of Dreams....or is that nightmares?
A simple scenario, control the crossroads. My opponent Nige has never played a SYW game, nor DKK before. The game was a learning game for him to see the mechanism in practice and see what he thinks.
Two open woods, two low hills, a small BUA providing cover. Fields are aesthetic. We diced randomly for who deployed first. Russians lost and deployed. Both sides deploy up to 6" from their table edges.
Russian Right
Russian cavalry brigade - Veteran Horse Grenadiers with Line Cuirassiers. Infantry brigade of two Veteran Grenadier, and two Line battalions, with a Veteran, three-gun 12pdr battery dominating the centre.
Russian Left
Russian cavalry brigade - Cossacks and Dragoons on inferior horses. Infantry brigade of a Veteran Grenadier and four Line battalions, with as Veteran three-gun 6pdr battery.
Prussian Right
Two-gun 6pdr battery, two Veteran, two line and a Garrison battalion. The battalions are in a deep formation presenting a dense target and allowing a +1 modifier to the firer. The plan is to advance the front quickly though and maintain a better gap to deny firer advantages.
Prussian Left
Prussian cavalry brigade - 24 Veteran Hussars with two regiments of 20 Line Dragoons. Infantry brigade of two Grenadier battalions, (one Elite, one Veteran), two Line and a Garrison battalion.
Kev's First Shot
Ominous perhaps. Firing long range, first shot of the game, Kev rolls double six.
Russian Sleeping Giant Rolls Forward
Nige gives them order to Assault the BUA.
6 pdr Battery Pours It On
Prussian Cavalry Standing Solid.
Grenadiers Fire On the BUA Garrison
Lots of Smoke...but...
Grenadiers fire but have moved this turn and are firing at troops in cover. Prussians count only half their unit as able to fire as they are on the edge of a BUA. Lots of smoke but few casualties.
Russians Assault the BUA
As the Russians go in with the bayonet against the BUA, a desultory firefight breaks out between Prussian Fusiliers and Russian Musketeers. Unfortunately the Russian guns draw a bead on the Fusiliers too.
Fusiliers Falter
The Fusiliers try to charge but throw very poorly in the contact move and falter instead.
Grenadiers are in!
The Grenadiers push back the Prussian garrison and follow-up
Run Away!
Next phase, the Grenadiers rout the Prussian garrison. The Prussians roll poorly, fail to rally next turn and are dispersed. The leading Grenadier unit is now on 66% casualties too suffered from the Russian 12pdr cannon fire. The brigade takes a Brigade Morale Test for a friendly routing unit. Kev rolls poorly again The Brigade breaks. Next turn the Brigade tries to rally. Kev rolls snake eyes....they entire brigade disperses. OUCH.
Fusiliers Retreat too....
The Fusiliers taking 10% casualties in one turn, fail a morale test as Kev throws poorly again. They now have 25%. They retreat through their supports unforming them, Its looking lousy for the Prussians.
Prussian Cavalry Know Not What To Do
Another Double Six
DKK rewards double sixes. Kev throws his second double six of the game negating the fact that the firers are unformed. Its clear that it is one of those games of extremes where Kev throws high, then throws low.
Snake Eyes!
Kev's musketeers then roll a double one the next turn meaning they are low on ammo. Clearly they fired too fast exhausting their ammo supply when they scored double six the turn previous. :-( Mind you the Russians aren't getting it easy either. The lead Russian musketeer unit is now below 50% strength.
Snake Eyes Is Contagious
Nige rolls a double one for his 6pdr battery who are now also low on ammo.
Prussians Assault
Outnumbered by almost 5:1 Nigel's musketeer unit is charged by two Prussian units. They lose but only just as Kev rolls low and Nige rolls high, however they are now below 75% and so are dispersed. Tough fighters
Russian Centre
With the infantry holding firm the Russian 12pdrs are limbered and moved forward.
Prussians Assault
In an effort to get something out of the game the Prussians assault. A close range firefight ensues outside the BUA whilst the front line pushes forward to engage the enemy. Unfortunately the front line is forced to retreat after a bad morale test throw as a result of taking 10% casualties in one turn or firing.
With Prussian Fusiliers firing into the Cossacks at effective range the game ends.
Russian Victorious
...Another nightmare but fun to play nevertheless.
27 August 2006, 09:58:16 PM