2nd schleswig-Holstein War - Battle of Sankelmark (advice needed)

[Spicker]

I am in need of a bit of advice.
Next year is the 150th anniversary of the 2nd Schleswig-Holstein War (Denmark being defeated by the Prussian-Austrian coalition) and I have been asked by the local library to do a battle in commemoration. We are a few gamers doing the project and we are thinking about doing the Battle of Sankelmark (or Battle of Oversee as it is also known).

Now, which rules would you recommend? Any changes you would recommend for the system?
So far we have considered Black Powder or an adjusted Rally Round the King. The Rules needs to be simple and quick rather than detailed, as the game will be played by non-wargamers at the library (trying to lure in some new gamers, by playing the historical card).

To give a brief summary of the forces involved:

Danes had at their disposal:
- 7th Brigade
-- 1st regiment, 2 battalions of 4 companies each
-- 11th regiment, 2 battalions of 4 companies each
- 2 guns
TOTAL: 16 companies, 2 guns

Austrians had:
- 20th Brigade
-- 14th Regiment, 4 battalions of 4 companies each
-- 27th Regiment, 4 battalions of 4 companies each
- 9th FeldJäger Battalion, 6 companies
- 9th Hussar Regiment, 3½ squadrons present
- 8 guns
TOTAL: 38 companies infantry, 8 guns, 3½ squadrons cavalry

I was hoping to use a system where the basic stand represented a company or a ½-company (in order to represent some of the deployment described in the eye-whitness accounts of the battle). Miniatures will be 10mm.

Any advice and/or suggestions will be much appreciated.

[Phil Robinson]

You could give Neil Thomas's 19th century rules a look.

[Emir of Askaristan]

I'd second the Neil Thomas rules.

Very simple, perfect for the period and iirc Oversee is one of the scenarios in the book. If not that specific battle then one from that war.

[Spicker]

Thank you very much guys, much appreciated. I bought the ruleset and the Oversee scenario in the book is exactly the battle of Sankelmark I was after.

I have also been recommended 1859 (LINKY). Any thoughts on this rule system?

[Dr. Zombie]

I have played the war of 1848 with Warmaster rules. And it worked really well. We played it more or les straight out of the box. We only removed the magic fase. And I think we replaced it with a cannon fase.

[julesav]

1859 is a fantastic set of rules with loads of good historical info too! But it's not the one I'd choose to use with 'non-wargamers'! It does have a nicely mapped scenario for Oversee in the book. The biggest issue I had is that the 1864 rules are sort of additions/amendments to the 1859 ones also in the book. I found it hard to grasp the 1864 rules without first playing some 1859 battles.

The Neil Thomas rules will work well for Oversee as it is an 'open-field' encounter - I've struggled with how to manage urban fighting in the NT rules.

good luck, post some pictures please!

[Emir of Askaristan]

Out of curiosity what figures are you using/planning for this period?

[Spicker]

We are planning to use Pendraken's 10mm miniatures for the two armies. The alternative would have been QRF's 15mm equivalents, but I thing the group has settled for the 10mm alternative (in order to give a good massed battle image). I have yet to actually see any of the miniatures, but based on other miniatures from Pendraken's range, I do not think we have anything to worry about.

[Emir of Askaristan]

Ah.....
I'm strictly a 28mm man, (I know, I know it causes problems, even when there are actually rages for the period), but I has my reasons!

Good luck with the games, I and many others will be keen to see your results, so please do post.