This project has been paused while I pushed forward with 15thC WotR and 17thC Scots plus a bunch of medieval buildings. However, with Captain Blood joining me for a game of 1570s Never Mind The Billhooks in the morning, I thought “why not try an 1870s version in the afternoon?”.
I’m very much a late entrant to NMTBH, and having still only played a couple of games I’m fortunate that Richard will guide me through the nuances of the rules. My ignorance notwithstanding, I very much like NMTBH and am especially taken with its focus on manoeuvring, as for bigger games this provides for a substantive challenge missing from the Rampant stable of rules. I do know that there are much more complex rules available, but them’s not for me.
Anyways, I knocked together some alterations to try and bring a 1570s game into the 1870s, and we played the very first game of Never Mind The Prussians.
BRITISH
Regiment of two Companies of Regular Infantry
Regiment of two Companies of Rifle Volunteers (Green part-timers)
Regiment of two Squadrons of Yoemanry Cavalry (Green part-timers)
BAVARIANS
Regiment of two Companies of Regular Infantry (veterans)
Regiment of two Companies of Skirmishers (veteran Jaegers)
Regiment of two Squadrons of Heavy Cavalry (veteran Cuirassiers)
The scenario was much like the first game I’d played using Rebels & Patriots, but this time the British had to hold a key bridge. A small Bavarian force was advancing north from the South Coast, tasked with taking and holding the bridge for their artillery that would in time be following up. The British objective was decidedly similar, expecting that they would want to move their own artillery south to drive (pummel) the dastardly invaders back into the sea. Should the British not be able to hold the bridge, then their secondary objective was to retire in good order, so as to hold the next bridge behind them.
It’s just after dawn, and all is quiet in the village:
Somewhat behind schedule, as a pre-dawn raid would have been better, the Bavarians make a rush for the bridge:
Alerted by sentries, the British infantry rush from their overnight lodgings:
While the Bavarians advance at pace, with Infantry heading for the bridge, Skirmishers for the river-side copse, and their heavy Cavalry galloping towards the adjacent ford:
The Bavarian Infantry advance into a hail of red-coated rifle fire:
The Bavarian Infantry, rather than moving at speed onto the bridge, pause to exchange rifle fire with the British. Is this incompetence or some clever tactic? Perhaps drawing in the redcoats so that the Skirmishers and Cavalry can continue their flanking manoeuvre?
The Bavarians, somewhat weakened by rifle fire, are charged in the flank by the British Light Cavalry:
Meanwhile, the Bavarian Skirmishers and Cavalry cross the river:
Much to Bavarian surprise the British part-timer Rifle Volunteers stand their ground to shoot, causing casualties to the Bavarian Cavalry and breaking the Skirmishers. Meanwhile, the companies of Bavarian Infantry - still short of the bridge - succumb to either the British Infantry’s shooting or the British Cavalry’s sabres, and are lost. All just as the Bavarian Cuirassiers break in amongst the Rifle Volunteers to create havoc:
Without Infantry in support, the Bavarian Cavalry cannot possibly hold the bridge. With the action lost, they will now have to extricate themselves, leaving the British in possession.
A win to the British.
So how did it play? Good in parts. I certainly need to give more thought to some of the intricacies of NMTBH, and how they might need to change as I’m keen to give it another go.
03 May 2008, 11:10:36 AM
