Glory is Fleeting - First Try

For the Centurions game on Saturday, September 21st we tried a game of Glory is Fleeting. Glory is Fleeting is the third edition of Field of Glory – Napoleonics.  The edition is relativily new published in late in 2023. Several of members of the Centurions have copies of the rules and have read them through. This was our first attempt at playing them out.

Jim Fitzgerald set up an 1813 game loosely based on the Battle of Großbeeren.  A Prussian force faces off against a French and French Allied force as they emerge from the wood line in Northern Germany.  In theory, both sides had three infantry brigade divisions and one “heavy cavalry” division and were relatively equal in point values.

For a game that is supposed to be more tactical the fact that units represent a brigade of infantry seems counter intuitive from the get go.  I am letting that slide for the time being, but yes I will come back to it.

My command of Prussians include one regular unit with an artillery attachment and a skirmish attachment, one reserve unit with a skirmish attachment, a landwehr unit, and a unit of superior hussars.

The two sides started just over 24 inches apart and the French were the aggressor in the game.  As the right flank of the Prussian Army I made a conscious decision to move it aggressively and attempt to flank the French to my front.

By the conclusion of turn 2 I had my hussars in a flanking position and balled up the French attack.  On turn 3 my target for the infantry charge ran away under withering artillery fire an it took another turn to move into position to charge on turn 5.   

In the center a cavalry brawl occurred and was a stalemate leaning towards Prussian victory, while the left flank the French and Allie’s were able to use superior numbers to take control of that flank.  We did not play turn 6 due to time constraints but it would have decided the game.

Initial Thoughts:  I didn’t hate the rules as much as I thought I would after reading them, that doesn’t mean they are good rules, however.   It was a learning game, we did lots of the little fiddly parts wrong, which may have effected the outcome.   It isn’t a tactical game.   The game is more suited to early periods of the Napoleonic Wars, 1792 through 1808.  The game might be interesting for a Seven Years' War game.

I didn't hate the rules as much as I thought I would after reading them, that doesn't mean they are good rules, however.   I had to say it twice as a notorious rules hater, some of my collogues will not believe that I have said that.   That being said it time for tough talk.   Fleeting Glory, is in essence a complex version of Napoleon's Battles in much the same way that Command Decision is a more complex version of Spearhead.  I play Spearhead over Command Decision because the added complexity of the latter does little to improve on the first.  What bothers me most about games like Command Decision is that groups that play the more complex game seem to often ignore the more complexity of the games to basically play the less complicated game with one maybe two changes.   That's what I feel like at the moment.   There are lots of little rules complexity that can easily be ignored that will speed up game play, but at what point do you go back to the less complicated game?   

An example of this is the rules on fire, the rules play in the following order, Bombardment, Skirmisher Fire, and finally Volley Fire.   The rules have restrictions that any unit that can fire during Volley Fire, may not fire in either bombardment or skirmisher fire phase.   There are range restrictions on skirmishers and a requirement that there is a base width alley for fire.   Squares cannot do Skirmish Fire but may fire for effect in Volley.   I could go on but I hope you catch my drift.   To speed up the game those restrictions are quickly forgotten.  That doesn't look at the basic fire restrictions on who can fire where.   

The next problem in the rules is that it often contradicts it self, in one rule squares can only move straight forward, and in another squares can move in any direction if they pass a Command Test.  I have found half a dozen examples of this, basically little rules, but it leads to another problem.   Half the rules are written in Arial the other half in Times New Roman.  Which typeface takes precedent.   My guess is the Arial additions were changes that never gotten reformatted and should be considered the later rules. 

We did several things wrong, most notably Skirmish Fire, but that is overlooking lots of the command rules that we never fully used.    Anyways in Skirmish Fire we allowed units on both sides engaged in volley fire to do skirmish fire.   If we had done this correctly many of the questions about skirmish fire would have been ignored because that wouldn't of happened.   We also handled the pool of skirmish makers wrong and we did not cancel out skirmish fire makers properly.     

We rarely used Command Points, outside of myself, they may have been one maybe two points used for anything other than a rally.   For something that is so core to the game, why is that?   Was it because it was a learning game, a small game, little opportunity was given to use them, or D all of they above?   I am going to add an option E and F.  E: at one point there were a lot more rules that provided reason to use command points, but to streamline the game and speed up play they were removed.  F both D and E.   My choice is of course F.

It will be interesting to look at group moves, and closer inspection of the use of Command Point opportunities in the rules.   It is kind of a choice, is the level of complexity of Command Points worth it if there is so little use for them?

One of my colleagues hates games like SAGA or SPQR because they are skirmish games ramped up to play a tactical level game.   Glory is Fleeting is the reverse of that, it is a Grand Tactical Game bath tubbed down to a tactical game.   It leaves me perplexed that the same individual that hates SAGA likes Glory is Fleeting, I just don't under stand the logic.   The tactical unit during the Napoleonic period was a battalion, or collection of companies for the Austrians, not the brigades that are used on Glory is Fleeting.  While I want a tactical game, this is not it.   By Tactical I want to be making decisions a Brigade Commander is making, not an Army Commander, I already have that in Napoleon's Battles.

Within Glory is Fleeting there are lots of complexity in Army organizations that go out the window in post 1808 era of the Napoleonic Wars.  Everyone has skirmishers is reformed, artillery, cavalry...   This is another one of those are we just ignoring the complexity of the rules based upon our choice of period, 1809, 1812, and 1813 questions.   If you play the 1806 in Prussia campaign many of these different unit types are present on the battlefield.   I could make the same argument for 1792 or 1799 or ...   Finally would these rules with adjustments finally work for our long considered Seven Years' War games in 10mm?   

I know we will be playing these rules again, and yes I will be giving them my all when I play, but I have to wonder if they have long term future in our group....   

Order of Battle:

Prussians [1042 pt.s]:
* Corps Commander - Skilled & Charismatic, 2 CP, @ 66 pt.s
  12pdr Field Artillery - Small Average Drilled Heavy Artillery @ 72 pt.s
Total Cost - 138 pt.s
*3rd Bde. - Skilled, 2 CP, @ 46 pt.s
  Musketeers - Small Average Drilled Reformed Infantry @ 48 pt.s
  Reserve - Small Average Drilled Reformed Infantry @ 48 pt.s
  Landwehr - Small Poor Conscript Reformed Infantry @ 20 pt.s
  Hussars - Small Superior Drilled Light Cavalry @ 60 pt.s
  Artillery Detachment - Drilled @ 20 pt.s
  2 Skirmisher Detachments - Drilled @ 8 pt.s
*4th Bde. - Competent, 1 CP, @ 26 pt.s
  Musketeers - Small Average Drilled Reformed Infantry @ 48 pt.s
  Reserve - Small Poor Drilled Reformed Infantry @ 36 pt.s
  Landwehr - Small Average Conscript Reformed Infantry @ 32 pt.s
  Landwehr Cav - Small Average Conscript Light Cavalry @ 32 pt.s
  Artillery Detachment - Drilled @ 20 pt.s
  2 Skirmisher Detachments - Drilled @ 8 pt.s
*5th Bde. - Competent, 1 CP, @ 26 pt.s
  Musketeers - Small Average Drilled Reformed Infantry @ 48 pt.s
  Reserve - Small Poor Drilled Reformed Infantry @ 36 pt.s
  Landwehr - Small Average Conscript Reformed Infantry @ 32 pt.s
Hussars - Small Average Drilled Light Cavalry @ 32 pt.s
Artillery Detachment - Drilled @ 20 pt.s
2 Skirmisher Detachments - Drilled @ 8 pt.s
Total Cost - 202 pt.s
* Cavalry Division
  Skilled & Charismatic, 2 CP, @ 56 pt.s
  Dragoon - Small Average Drilled Heavy Cavalry @ 56 pt.s
  Dragoon - Small Average Drilled Heavy Cavalry @ 56 pt.s
  Landwehr Cav - Small Average Conscript Light Cavalry @ 32 pt.s
  Landwehr Cav - Small Average Conscript Light Cavalry @ 32 pt.s
  Artillery Detachment - Conscript @ 18 pt.s
Total Cost - 250 pt.s

French and Allied [1080 pt.s]:
* Corps Commander - Skilled, 2 CP, @ 56 pt.s
 12pdr Field Artillery - Small Average Drilled Heavy Artillery @ 72 pt.s Total Cost - 128 pt.s
* 1st French Div. - Skilled, 2 CP, @ 46 pt.s
  Legere Rgt. - Small Average Drilled Light Infantry @ 48 pt.s
  2 Ligne Rgt.s - Small Average Conscript Light Infantry @ 80pt.s
  1 Artillery Detachment - Drilled @ 20 pt.s
  2 Skirmisher Detachments - Conscript @ 4 pt.s
Total Cost - 198 pt.s
* 2nd Italian Div. - Competent, 1 CP, @ 26 pt.s
  It. Light Rgt. - Small Average Drilled Light Infantry @ 60 pt.s
  2 It. Line Rgt.s - Small Average Drilled Reformed Infantry @ 96 pt.s
  1 Artillery Detachment - Drilled @ 20 pt.s
  2 Skirmisher Detachments - Drilled @ 8 pt.s
Total Cost - 210 pt.s
* 3rd French Div. - Competent, 1 CP, @ 26 pt.s
4 Ligne Rgt.s - Small Average Conscript Light Infantry @ 160 pt.s
Artillery Detachment - Conscript @ 18 pt.s
2 Skirmisher Detachments - Drilled @ 4 pt.s Total Cost - 208 pt.s
* Light Cavalry Division
  Skilled & Charismatic, 2 CP, @ 56 pt.s
Chasseur - Small Poor Drilled Light Cavalry @ 36 pt.s
Chasseur - Small Poor Drilled Light Cavalry @ 36 pt.s
Artillery Detachment - Drilled @ 20 pt.s
Total Cost - 148 pt.s
* Heavy Cavalry Division
Skilled & Charismatic, 2 CP, @ 56 pt.s
Dragoon - Small Average Drilled Heavy Cavalry @ 56 pt.s
Dragoon - Small Average Drilled Heavy Cavalry @ 56 pt.sArtillery Detachment - Drilled @ 20 pt.sTotal Cost - 188 pt.s

Battle of Lindenau - AAR

At the Centurions extra Saturday event at the Source Comics and Games I ran a 25mm Napoleonic Game using Rank and File:Horse and Musket Rules 1740-1900.  It has been a while since the 25mm Napoleonic Collection was out of the box and on a tabletop so the extra session was an opportunity to do something different.

As a group we have long discussed tactical rules for the Napoleonic period, heck I have a box with 56 different rule sets in it as we have hunted for something.   Nothing has really caught on.   We looked at Rank and File for an American Civil War project in the early 2000's, but Regimental Fire and Fury has become the defacto set of rules for that period.  I have written my own set of rules for the Napoleonic Period; however they are too much in depth for a club game.   That lead to the decision to give Rank and File a try.

The scenario was loosely based around the Austrian III Corps attempt to lure the French into battle near Lindenau on the west bank of the Elster River near Leipzig Bavaria.

Austrian Order of Battle

Austrian Third Brigade Marching on.

  First Division
    First Brigade
      Grenzer - 24 Figures
      Jagers - 20 Figures
      Light Artillery
    Second Brigade
      Landwher - 20 Figures
      Landwher - 20 Figures
      Light Artillery
  Second Division
    Third Brigade
      Line - 32 Figures
      Line - 32 Figures
      Line - 32 Figures
      Line - 32 Figures
      Medium Battery
  Heavy Battery

Russian First Division

Russian Order of Battle
  First Division
    Line - 16 Figures
    Line - 16 Figures
    Line - 16 Figures
    Line - 16 Figures
    Medium Battery
  Second Division
    Line - 16 Figures
    Line - 16 Figures
    Line - 16 Figures
    Line - 16 Figures
    Heavy Battery

French First Brigade

French Order of Battle
  First Division
    First Brigade
      First Regiment
        Line - 24 Figures
        Line - 24 Figures
       Second Regiment
        Line - 24 Figures
        Line - 24 Figures 
      Medium Battery
    Second Brigade
      Fourth Regiment

French Defensive Position near Lindenau

        Line - 24 Figures
        Line - 24 Figures
      Fifth Regiment
        Line - 24 Figures
        Line - 24 Figures 
      Medium Battery
  Second Division
    First Brigade
      Legere - 24 Figures
      Line - 24 Figures
    Second Brigade
      Light Cavalry - 8 figures

  Cavalry Brigade
    Heavy Cavalry - 12 Figures
    Heavy Cavalry - 12 Figures

The game opened with the Austrian and Russian forces marching on from three designated points. The Russians from the north road, the main Austrian Force in the center and the Lighter Austrians in the south road.   

The French broke up their batteries prior to thee game and then attempted to form a grand battery to control the center of the table.  

Noel, Fitz and Steve

The Russians made a conscious effort to avoid the center of the table and hug the left edge.  A battalion of French attempted to take a fence line to have cover against the fire.

The Austrians began the slow plodding march from the west end of the board towards the center.   Did I say slow plodding march, okay just wanted to make sure everyone was aware how slow they moved.   

• Note: I explained Marching (Double movement) a couple of times to the players and emphasized it to the Austrian Players however I didn't force it upon them.

Austrian Light Brigade moving through the woods

The artillery duel began in the center as the French grand battery attempted to break up the Russian Attack.

French First Brigade deployed

The Russians pushed on the Northern Flank and by turn two had pushed back the French advance elements out of the fenced area.

For the next several turns the Russians and the French on the North flank traded fire and the Austrians slowly plodded along in the center.

The Russian heavy battery deployed and began trading fire with the French grand battery.

The French in a gambit through out a Light Cavalry Regiment in an attack against the Russian flank.   The Russians formed square and French whithered under the fire before bouncing.

The advance elements of the Austrians finally engaged the French as the main body of Austrians pushed up the center.

At this point the battle was done, but we played another two turns.   The Austrian main body made contact, unscathed, with the French elements outside of Lindenau.   

Russians preparing to Deploy the Heavy Battery on a Hill

THOUGHTS ON THE GAME
The scenario was conceived for a tabletop that was 10' x 6', we tried to squeeze it on a 10' x 4' table and it didn't work.

The French took some liberties with the organization of their command and paid for it as the game wore on.

The French reinforcements, another Brigade of French Line, never made it to the tabletop.  They never were in position to need it until it was too late. 

The main body of Austrians

The Russian Medium battery blowing a Battalion of French
from the fence

The French were static and thought defending the wall the best option. 

The Austrians plodded along.   I felt bad they didn't move faster but I was not going to force them to double move. 

The Russians were Battalions of 4 stands, were they fragile. 

Austrian Lights deployed and moving against the French

Marty moving the main body of Austrians

The main body of Austrians starting to strike home

Wider view

Austrian Light Division

The Center of the Battle, the Russians are on the left

Noel, Andy, Bruce and Steve

The French Center being pushed back.

Looking Ahead to 2012

As October 15th comes to a close I am looking ahead to next year. Gaming wise this year has been a disaster to say the least with a total lack of time and ability to push lead minimized by the personal issues that have haunted my footsteps. But the end of a number of issues is in sight, there is light at the end of the proverbial tunnel and it doesn't appear to be an oncoming train. So yes I have thought about my projects for next year.

I will be running two games at Con of the North and partcipating in a couple of others. The first game is a 25mm Brother against Brother Scenario for my 1861 (Early War) collection of figures I am painting up. The second game is a 25mm Horse Musket and Gun scenario featuring my French and Austrian Collection in one of the lesser know battles of the 100 Days Campaign, la Suffel. So I am busily painting up figures for both of those games. In addition I am working on adding enough terrain to make those an interesting as possible and still be playable. No Roman Hedges in my future.

My next project is my 1862 Battles on the Peninsula game I am looking to run, hopefully at a spring ReCon. I am working slowly on figures for that as well. My plan is to use the ACW variant of Rank and File, but if Horse Musket and Gun works I may just stick with that in effort to not teach people too many rule sets.

Speaking of Horse Musket and Gun I plan on doing far more work on that over the winter. Many discussions with Kelley and what's left of the group in Stuttgart really made me reconsider how some of the mechanics are working. The result of these email exchanges have lead me to consider making two rule sets rather than one. The First Rule Set is for Mass Battles the second is more of smaller skirmish (small action not 1 to 1) game. I have been trying to combine the two into one game and honestly I think that has been my problem.

With that in mind I am going to attempt and run what I hope will be a large 25mm Napoleonics game on Saturday June 16th. My goal is to have a table 30 to 40 feet long and 3 five foot wide sections as the field of battle. That is a lot of space, the question is do we have enough figures and more importantly enough players to make it worth while.

On the figure side of that question, I have just shy of a Corps of French Infantry, light Artillery, Command and Cavalry. I will be adding 6 more battalions of painted French from the Old Glory Painted, leaving me short six battalions of Legere for a French Corps and a Division from the Second Corps. Artillery well I am going to have to bite the bullet and buy some more figures, probably a mix of War Games Foundry and Old Glory 1st Edition. Legere however is a tough question, I wouldn't mine some of the Plastics, but man are the poses hideous. In the Vitrix I figure I would be throwing out 1/3 of the figures.

I also have a division of Minor and by Minor I mean minor, French Allied. You got to love the minor Confederation of the Rhine states. With them and the other figures I am planning on buying that should give me two full French Corps. Fitz has a Division of French, short Artillery. Keith and Violence both have a Brigade of Bavarians. Joel Gregory has a French Corps.

On the Allied Side I have a workable Austrian Corps. Fitz has a Russian Corps, short Artillery, Joel Gregory has two Prussian Brigades and a mix of Austrians.

Jim has informed me he has 300 to 400 unpainted Prussians, BJ and Ray have decided to paint Russians and I have way to much unpainted and half-painted lead.

So if we get everyone to show up it could be well worth while game. Especially as a couple of other players hem and haw about participating.

I am also painting up a good deal of Austrians and Swedes for the Era of the War of Austrian Succession. Yeah I know Swedes foe the Hat's War, I love punishment. I have a good Start on an Austrian Brigade and Swedish Battalion. I am hoping to try a game of BaR by the end of next year. As a continuation of this I have a French Brigade and a British Brigade technically for the F&IW but who's counting.

I am really taking a long hard look at my AWI collection and wondering what to do with it, as the Wilderness Wars Rule seem to be too fundamentally flawed to continue with and I have way to many figures painted. Maybe a BaR variant?

Well off to bed, after listing a small sample of what i will be working on for 2012, and I am already looking at 2013 with reverence and awe, as the 200, 150, and 70th anniversaries. I see Gettysburg, Leipzig and North Africa in my future.

The Plan for November

As I continue to concentrate on 25mm figures I have decided I need a plan or at least a theme for each month in an effort to convince me to paint more figures.

For November it is 25mm Napoleonic Artillerists. Or maybe Artillerists in General, but for now Napoleonic Artillerists.

On the Napoleonic Front I have about 100 Austrian Artillerists and 24 French Artillerists laying around waiting for paint. Obviously I don't need 100 Austrians but a good 40 wouldn't hurt. I am going to have to pick up some additional French Artillerists, but I guy has to do what a guy has to do. For the Seven years war I have about 30 Prussian and 30 Austrian Artillerists

Maybe I can convince my friends they two need artillerists painted and November is the month for it.

Painting Plan - Napoleonics

Well I really need Plans (and Painting Plans) for a number of periods I have made my semi-official not going to change my mind plans for at least another week plans for the Napoleonic period. Historically I have changed plans every time the winds blow. Which has caused me to get like ten tonnes of lead and not whole crap load of that lead is unpainted.

That doesn't mean I don't have a a lot of figures painted, I just don't know what to do with everything anymore, since so many projects died. (I can say the same for a number of periods, but this is the one I have the most lead for.)

Wars of the Second Coalition (1798-1800)

General de Brigade (1:20) in 15mm

Mounting figures for Napoleon's Battle for Infantry and Artillery and 1/2 stands (2x1) for Cavalry.

Alexander Suvorov's Italian and Swiss Expeditions

Please note I am still looking for a partner in crime for this project. Jim is interested but time and figures are limited.

Crisis on the Danube (1809)

Napoleon's Battles (1:120) in 15mm

Mounting figures for Napoleon's Battles with 1/2 Stands for Cavalry

I am painting up the Austrian Army and the French Allied (starting with Bavarians and Saxons followed by the less units of the French Allied.) Will be using my 1815 French Infantry for the French.

I find this probably the most interesting campaign as the Austrians suffered from poor leadership is certian places but good quality troops capable of going toe-t0-toe with the French. For a wargamer a lot of possibilities.

Wars of the Sixth Coalition (1813-1814)

Napoleon's Battles (1:120) in 25mm

This is sort of a lie, units actually will be organized at 1:30 but the math of 1:30 and 1:120 allows us to play either scale. My Goal however is to have this the dominate game (NB) in 25mm for a number of reasons. (Size of the table needed, space requirements, figure requirements...)

The killer in this plan will be the 240 figures of cossacks needed to do something along the size of Leipzig.

I have Austrian and French (plus some minor French Allies), Fitz has British, Russian and French, Joel Gregory has Austrian, Prussian, and French. There are some others with British, a few Russians and some French.

It would be Assume to do Leipzig in 25mm for Napoleon's Battles on October 16-19 in 2013, the 200th Anniversary. But that will take a lot of work and coordination. It is definetaly doable, the more I think about it the more doable I think it is.

100 Days Campaign (1815)

Horse Musket and Gun (1:30) in 15mm

For this I am planning to have the entirety of the campaign painted by 1815. I have Two French Infantry Corps, the Guard Corps, 1 1/2 of the Heavy Cavalry Corps completed. I have the Hanoverian Army Complete and one Division of British Infantry and the Heavy Cavalry Completed. In addition I have all the odd ball units completed. For the Prussians I have most of the Artillery Completed and a good start on all the landwehr. An odd assortment I know, but it happened to be organized around the figures I owned and what we needed for other games.

I am not sure WHY I got dragged into this campaign in the first place, oh yeah I remember a failed Campaign, not really a very interesting campaign but I now own the figures and I am committed.

Other Armies

That leaves two Armies/Figures that I really need to figure out what to do with.

Russian Army 1807-1813. I have a large number of figures both before and after the uniform change.

Austrian Army 1813. A fairly complete force.

I plan on looking at the Austrians for the Invasion of France 1815 in Horse Musket and Gun and what the reorganization would take. The Russians I am leaning towards completing painting and selling them off. I have a goodly number of figures in a variety of paint jobs. But they just aren't going to be any sort of focus for me.

Who knows what tomorrow will bring.

Storm over Bavaria

On Saturday May 8th, at the Levee Café in Hastings, MN five members of the Centurions gaming group meet to refight the Battles in Bavaria during the “Storm over Bavaria” April 19-23, 1809. I would like to thank Fitz, Joe, Chris and Noel for an incredibly enjoyable game.

Austrian III Corps, IV Corps, V Corps, IR Corps and IIR Reserve Corps, slightly more the 1000 figures representing approximate 90,000 Men squared off against Oudinot’s II Corps (partially commanded by Lannes), French III Corps, Two independent Divisions, the Bavarian Army (VII Corps) and the Württemberg Army (VIII Corps), slightly less than 1000 figures representing 90,000 Men. The Austrians had great number of Infantry, but fewer Cavalry, and was on equal footing for Artillery.
For those keeping track at home, the Austrian Organization made one tiny-tiny mistake, we doubled up V Corps. So the Austrians had III, V, V, IR and IIR as an organization Louis (4) activation was going to sort of haunt the Austrians throughout the game. However for clarity purposes I will be call command of Austrian command of Joe IV Corps, which it was supposed to be.

The battle was played on three tables. The two outer tables were 18’ x 30” wide and the central table was 18’ x 6’ giving a total playing space of dang near 200 square feet. The outer tables which were separated physically from the inner table by 3’ were considered directly connected for game purposes.

The game started on the morning of April 19th with Austrian III Corps moving into position near Hausen. Davout’s III Corps was in position, a defensive position, near Teugen. For game purposes each of the Corps rolled a D10 to determine when they marched on. A Score of equal or below the turn number allowed you to march on. While Oudinot’s II Corp marched on on turn one, most of the rest of the forces were closer to turn 8.

April 19th was a boring day as Troops marched into position across the board. It was interesting given free will (and for the most part not a lot of knowledge on the specific campaign) how the players tended to follow the historic precedent. Had we actually had a bigger tabletop (something at some point I would love to try) I think we would have ended up with actual historic battles, not approximations.

We did movement during the night, turns represented 2 hours, all command radius were cut in half and activation numbers reduced by 1 and units could move no closer than 12”.

The Austrian players discovered a small whole in their plan. It took so long to move Austrian III Corps into place, two turns at night, that moving V Corps from their planned river crossing was out of the question mathematically. The problem with the low activation numbers and the decision to focus on the Austrian Center was tactically sound but a strategic mistake. In retrospect as the Austrian player the biggest single error I made.

April 20th, using the weather rules opened with down pouring rain. V Corps attempted to take the river crossing south and west of Hausen. We knew at 9PM turn that it was a bad idea, and yes it was. The Cavalry attempted to open a hole in the French Line was repulsed and what little bridgehead we had was gone. The decision was made to leave a brigade plus the shattered Advance Guard Division to hold the far side of the bridgehead and move the rest of the V Corps east to another bridge head.

The Austrian II Reserve Corps sat waiting for the time to move against the French Reserve Division holding the second bridge head. They waited most of the day trading fire but never able to disorder the French Legere brigade that held the bridge. Late in the day the First Grenadier Battalion went forward in an ALL-OUT attack and was defeated, the second Grenadier Battalion took the bridge later in the same turn.

On the other wing the Austrian IV Corps battled with the Bavarian Army. An early charge of the Bavarian Light Cavalry Brigade seemed to open a hole in the Austrian Line, but in their exuberance the Bavarian Light Cavalry ended up a mile away from the battle (failed control roll with no target to their front).
Later the Austrian Light Cavalry Charged the center of the Bavarian Army, breaking two brigades and opening a good sized whole before swinging around and taking two Bavarian 12# batteries from the rear. By the end of the Day the Bavarians were strung out and the Austrian IV Corps was attempting to reorient itself to attack the flank of Davout’s III Corps.

In the Center Oudinot’s stripped down II Corps and Davout’s III Corps made a slow plodding move against the Austrians. In a well coordinated attack the Cavalry from Oudinot’s II Corps charged home, forcing the Austrians to square before bouncing home. The French Attack in the next turn caught three Austrian Brigades in Square. Across the line the French Attack was successful, four Austrian Brigades Routed as well as their light Cavalry Brigade in the center. The Center Collapsed.
Charles attempted reorganize the line but it was too late. The Austrians were forced to retreat, the initiative Charles had in the campaign gone.

We called the game a minor French Victory, while they were able to defeat the Austrian Forces, the Austrians retreated in good order with realitivily minor losses (two to three thousand) most of which would be reconstituted in the coming days.

http://s433.photobucket.com/albums/qq56/the_goldy_gopher/2010%20May%2008//

Napoleon's Battles in December

It’s the day after Christmas; you know you are going to be bored of your relatives and looking for a lot of GAMING EXCITEMENT.

Well look no further….

Saturday December 26th,
10 AM until we can’t take it no more.
The Source Comics and Games

Napoleon’s Battles in 15mm
Wagram (Light!)

In a desperate attempt to avenge his first defeat Napoleon has called up every military asset he could muster and is now ready to throw everything, including the KITCHEN SINK, a few BATHTUBS and if he had them a couple of Hot Water-Heaters at the defending dogs. Those mangy mutts won't know what hit them.

The Archduke Charles knowing that Napoleon and the entirety of the Military Might of France is crossing the river is counting on the Imperial Army, two dozen drunken collegee students on summer break from University of Vienna who think they are going to Key West, a couple of pickle farmers from down the street, and 12 boys from Siiberwald to hold them smelly froggies off. We'll see who lets the dogs out! Where oh Where has that little Archduke John gone?

I must be honest, it won't be completely Wagram, as we would need nearly 250 square feet of table space and we only have 100 square feet, but gosh darn it we will make do. Besides I have a freshily painted Bavarian Corp that needs to see the tabletop for the FIRST TIME, not to mention like 30 Regiments of Austrians that have never been on the tabletop.

Game at the Levee Café was another great success

I am happy, as well as greatly relieved, to say Saturday's game of Horse Musket and Gun (infantry action of the Battle of Liebertwolkwitz) was in my opinion a stellar success.

I need to provide a great number of Thank You's for the success.

At the Levee Café I got to start with my brother Brian Johnson, the Executive Chef and General Manager, who opened the Café early, made a special breakfast and laid out our lunch, as usual my brother thanks. For the other staff whose names I don't remember we do appreciate you going the extra mile and poor Emma who had to deal with 20 Geeks all day and did so with a smile.

For the figures I have to thank Joel Gregory, who provided the lion share of the figures including a number of buildings on the table top, Jim Fitzgerald who provided the Russians and a couple of brigades of French, and Keith Dalluhn who provided the Bavarians; Jeff Knudson who provided some of the buildings on the table top.

Everyone who showed up to play, as everyone should know I am so bad with names I am always happy to remember my own name on most days.

We had at the height of the battle I believe we had 20 players pushing slightly more than 3200 figures on 152 square feet of table top. We completed 6 turns (18 phases) in just over 8 hours. I am happy with 6 turns, even though I wanted 8 turns. Considering most players were new to the system six turns isn't bad.

I feel I also learned a lot about running such a large (25mm) game and the space requirements. We could of used another 24 Square Feet and that might have change the flow of the game some.

I'll post more on the game later.

Austrian Artillery,Generals and upcoming painting.

On Saturday I received my latest order for Litko, bases which will be used for my 25mm Austrian Artillery and Generals and ADCs first.

The Heavy Artillery Batteries are now mounted on 2 1/2" square bases with four artillerists. Three of the four bases have a 12 lbs artillery piece and the fourth has a large diameter howitzer.

The Medium Artillery Batteries are now mounted on a 2 1/2" wide by 2" deep base with three artillerists. They have a variety of 6 lbs and 8 lbs guns.

My Light Artillery Battery is also mounted on a 2 1/2" wide by 2" deep base except it only has two artillerists on the base. I have used 2 smaller 6 lbs guns because at the moment I do not have any 3 lbs or 4 lbs guns.

For the Generals I have mounted up Two Divisional (or other Senior Commander) bases with three mounted Officers, six brigade commander bases with two mounted officers and now have an even dozen singly mounted Officers.

A couple of the single mounted officers are Generals once I pick up a few more ADC figures will be remounted as Brigade Commanders or higher. But I had to make do with what I had.

I am looking at my box of unpainted lead and trying to determine what I need to paint up next. I will be ordering a few figures from Foundry in a couple weeks to fill out my Light Division Cavalry (A couple command packs, a few packs of Dragoons/Chevaleger, and two packs of Uhlans.) But between now and when they arrive I should get something else painted, especially for the Allied Side. I think I am going to focus on a Battalion of Austrian Line Infantry for the Ruess-Greitz Regiment. I have the Command (eight figures) and 24 musketeers, which is slightly more than one battalion, so I may add in three packs of figures to complete the regiment when I order the figures.

I also have at least three battalions worth of landwehr that I should at least consider painting, a number of Jagers and Grenzers but not enough to do a battalion of either. So the Line infantry are probably my priority.

On the French Side I mostly have unpainted or half-painted guard to work on, while I remount a number of figures from Tom's Collection that I picked up a while back. While I would like a few battalions of Line and Legere I just don't currently have the figures.

Future Gaming at Chez Johnson

After the success of our last game I have received my wife’s special permission to host a game about once every two months at our house. So in pulling out the calendar and check the busy social schedule for the rest of the year, I only wish I was kidding on the busy part, here are the dates and plans for the upcoming games.

Saturday September 26th: 25mm Napoleonic Gaming using Horse Musket and Gun
Friday November 27th: American Civil War using Fire and Fury

The goal for each of these games is to have about 8 players give or take a couple. The gaming table is 16’ long and if I can get off my ass 6’ wide. If we assume a deployment space of at least 4’ wide that gives us a space for about 4 players a side. That is on the tight side of course, where 6’ is a much better deployment zone but beggars can’t be choosers.
The biggest challenge faced is parking, a downfall of living in a Rental Community I guess. There are only about half-a-dozen parking spots nearby and another dozen within a couple blocks. I would love to see some carpooling action, make life a lot easier.

The Napoleonic Game will be open game and we will use any available 25mm Napoleonic figures that are mounted similarly to mine or are close enough that we can make do. Right now between myself and Fitz I think we can field the following:
Austrian: 2 Commands / -
British: - / 1 Command
French: 3 Commands / 1 Command
Russian: - / 1 Command

That gives us roughly four commands per side. We might be a little light here and there but it should be doable. Several others have indicated an interest in painting figures and bring theirs along which would greatly “increase” the size of commands back to regulation sizes.

For the American Civil War game I have just listed Fire and Fury and not a scale. I have about six regiments of 25mm Figures painted and another six somewhat ready but needing the final detail work. Of course I have no Dismounted Cavalry and no Artillery at the moment, but that is a something fairly easily added. So that being said I would love to do the game in 25mm, but I need to get more figures painted. There is some time yet to make a decision on the final plan for this game.

As a full back plan, I have more than enough 15mm Confederates Painted (Okay I can field most of the Army of Northern Virginia at 1:33) and a decent amount of Union so if worse come to worse the game will be in 15mm.

Austrian Roll-Call

I have the following Figures Ready and Painted Today:

1 - Austrian Mounted Officers (3 Figure Base)

5 - Austrian Mounted Officers (2 Figure Base)

8 - Austrian Mounted Officers (1 Figure Base)

48 - Austrian Grenadiers Stands

7 - Austrian Border Infantry Stands (Grenzer) - 1 Battalion plus command for a Second Batalion

7 - Jaeger Stands

7 - Hungarian Line Infantry Stands (1 Battalion)

40 - Austrian Line Infantry Stands (6 Battalions and 4 loose stands)

17 - Austrian Militia Infantry Stands (3 Battalions)

7 - Austrian Uhlans (2 Figure Stands)

8 - Austrian Chevauxleger (2 Figure Stands)

2 - Austrian 12-pound Artillery Stands

7 - Austrian 6-pound Artillery Stands

1 - Austrian Light Howitzer Stand

I really don't have a whole lot of unpainted Austrians left laying around. I have roughly (subject to change)

24 Austrian Militia Infantry Stands

24 Austrian Line Infantry Stands - pre-1809 Uniform

36 Austrian Artillery Stands (Short cannons)

20 Austrian Dragoons/Chevauxleger stands - short command figures (2 Figures)

Weekend Painting Projects

I spent the weekend at my in-laws which meant I had some quality time with figures and paint. My in-laws leave an hour from no-where and other than visiting family and friends there isn’t anything else to do, so to keep out of trouble yelling “Packers Suck” in the local bars I paint figures.

This weekend I worked on 25mm Napoleonic Figures, specifically Austrian Figures.

I finished up the Austrian 33rd Infantry Regiment, or Infantry Regiment Graf von Colloredo-Mannsfeld if you prefer, a Hungarian Infantry Regiment in Dark Blue cuffs. I don’t remember why I choose this regiment years ago to paint I am guessing because it routinely was attached to the Reserve Corps over the years. However I finished up the last few figures I own and will probably pick up a few more to truly complete both Battalions at 1:30.
The Figures turned out pretty well, other than the Dark Blue Cuffs look black from more than 6-inches away. I have historically chosen a lighter blue for situations like this but I just went with the more correct color this time.

The other figures to get paint were Austrian Artillery, I completed three batteries or six stands. This includes two stands of 12-pound Artillery, three stands of 6-pound artillery and one stand of a small howitzer.
I am not sure why the Artillery took so long to paint, I only had 18 figures but it took a lot of time on Saturday and I am not the most happy person in how they turned out. For such a well sculpted figures (Foundry) they detail was all lost in the painting. I blame the painter, what that’s me.

I really should focus on the Austrian Cavalry since that is what we are indeed short, but I have such a hard time getting excited about painting something so pointless on the tabletop as 25mm Cavalry. At 1:30 we just don’t have enough space to put out too much more cavalry than we already have and since people don’t want to play Napoleon’s Battles I can’t get excited about painting the Heavy Cavalry.
I have about 45 Austrian Dragoon’s half painted, I suppose about six to eight hours worth of work left to complete those figures with a game coming in April maybe that enough incentive.

Napoleonic Skirmish - revisted.

Over the past week and a half I have had a number of continuing conversations concerning Napoleonic Skirmish, specifically 25mm Skirmish; and I feel that I should take a few more minutes and attempt to clarify my positions.

If you are interested in Napoleonic Skirmish, great I look forward to seeing all your figures painted and see how your game is played. Please don’t ask me to rebase my figures so *I* can run a game that you are interested in. This is your project not mine. I’ll probably play a game or two but I do not currently plan on painting anything up or running any games.

If you ask me for my opinion on your project don’t be shocked when I give you *MY* opinion. I don’t think I have ever sugar coated anything in my life (except maybe some cereal) and I am not about to start now.

Many suggestions that I have heard *AREN’T* skirmish in my mind. Just because you singly mount a few figures doesn’t make it a skirmish game. In a skirmish game you control each figure individually and each figure can do a unique action during the course of a turn. Many games require your units to operate in unison, all move, all fire, all reload, and so on and so forth; how is that skirmish? Other games your fire factor is figured by the number of figures so it is pointless to shoot single figures.

Other games are designed for you to put so many figures on the table that there is no way you could operate it as a skirmish game and actually get anything done.

Other suggestions that I have heard involve the concept of a “heroic skirmish” game. You know the games where your unit of 10 figures of Sharpe’s Rifles take on 250 Spaniards and win easily.
The best response I have heard to this is the fable of the sandwich.

Two brothers watch their mother make a delicious sandwich. The first
brother asks their mother if she is making a second sandwich and she tells them
no you have to share. So she hands the first brother a knife and tells him
to cut the sandwich in half. He is greedy so he makes on half larger than
the other half. Than the mother turns to the second brother and tells him
he can choose which half of the sandwich he wants.

This is the issue I see in this suggestion. One player only wants to paint up a dozen figures while expecting the other partner in the game to paint up several dozen figures just so they can lose on a regular basis. How is this fun for the other player?
Now I understand that in some cases an individual is such an avid painter that painting up 100 figures is nothing so they paint up the entire project and chose to always play Sharpe’s Rifles. But what happens when another player show’s up with his “Sharpe’s Rifles” how will that work?

Several people have suggested using a skirmish game to use figures they are painting for a battalion level game. IE As they paint up figures for BAR-Napoleonic use those figures for a skirmish game. Sounds good, but I have several questions:
BAR Napoleonics, at 1:10, is going to require 72 figure French Battalions and 144 figure Austrian Battalions which is well just a little large for most people. Why not play at 1:30 where many people are already playing in the twin cities. The games are more manageable and still have the massive formation look. Plus you don’t need a gym floor to refight a small engagement.
Second at 1:30 you need 120 to 150 figures for a brigade (small command at Battalion Level) compared to 120 (plus) figures to play a skirmish game (the ones that many people suggest anyways) so ummm you have already painted up virtually everything you need to play a battalion level game we are already playing. How is this using your figures sooner?

Another issue that anyone who wants to take on this type of project is how do you get people excited about it? Most of the people I have heard from are looking for a partner in crime so to speak. The issue is their vision is such that they don’t match up with other people vision. (Mass Skirmish vs Heroic Skirmish vs Early vs late vs pass through project vs…..)
As I have stated this is not a project that is going to excite the masses no matter how you paint it. This is a project that one maybe two people are going to have to do and hopefully get four or five others to play. I am willing to play a game or two, but I am not at the moment willing to paint up units for historical Napoleonic Skirmish.

Now as I have repeated stated one of the interesting options that many of the historical players often over look and shake off, flintloque.

Flintloque has several nice advantages to it:
It isn’t historical, no arguments over what is or isn’t historical in the game, it is all Fantasy.
To me it is the it is the most playable “skirmish” set of rules out there. Players command smaller units (up to 50) figures but more likely 25 figures, a much more playable level.
The figures all have actions, unique actions and each figure acts independently of other functions. This figure is taking an aimed shot, these two figures are firing down range, this figure is moving over here and firing and these figures are running towards cover.
You don’t even have to play with fantasy figures, you could substitute historical figures and play without elves, orks, and other fantasy creatures and still have a more playable game than most of the historical written rules.
Heck I might be convinced to paint up a unit of Ferach Elves for the game, maybe two.

That is not to say I wouldn't make a couple of small changes to the rules, like changing the ranges from Metric to English measurements, and stuff like that to make it easier for the masses to play here int eh Twin Cities.

Some more painted figures

I have completed the following units

Napoleonic
Italian Cavalry - 1st Chasseurs-a-cheval Regiment (8 Figures)
Italian Infantry - 1st Line Regiment (24 Figures)
Italian Infantry - 3rd Line Regiment (24 Figures)
French Cavalry - 7th Cuirassier Regiment(12 Figures)
French Artillery - 8 Stands (16 Figures and 8 Guns) Horse Artillery

In addition I have a few more stands of Artillery at least 50% painted (sorry didn't have my painting guides with me so detail work was left off)
Italian Artillery - 1 Stand (2 Figures and a gun) Horse Artillery
Italian Artillery - 2 Stands (6 Figures and 2 guns) Foot Artillery
Saxon Artillery (1809) - 1 Stand (3 Figures and a gun) Foot Artillery
Saxon Artillery (1809) - 2 Stands (4 Figures and 2 guns) Horse Artillery
Berg Artillery - 1 Stand (2 Figures and a gun) Horse Artillery

As well as the following units that are about 50% complete because I ran out of time.
Italian Infantry - 4th Line Regiment (24 Figures)
Italian Infantry - 2nd Line Regiment (24 Figures)

Some Figures I have Finished Painting Recently

15mm Napoleonic
French Light Cavalry - 12 Figures - 3rd Lancers a Cheval
French Light Cavalry - 12 Figures - 4th Lancers a Cheval
French 6# Artillery - 6 Stands - 6# Horse Batteries
Italian Light Cavalry - 8 Figures - 1st Dragoons
Italian Light Cavalry - 8 Figures - 2nd Dragoons
Italian Guard Infantry - 8 Figures - Chasseurs of the Guard
Saxon Line Infantry - 8 Figures - Prinz Anton Line Infantry Regiment

Hopefully I can get a bunch of stuff done fairly quickly.

Updated Project Priorities

After much discussion, primarily with Fitz but others were involved to, I have set my painting priorities for the winter. I have decided on focusing on two projects; the unending Napoleonics for Napoleon's Battles/1:30 and Seven Year's War in 15mm. Most of the other projects are just going to sit for now. My goal is to get a lot done between now and say Valentine's Day.

For the Seven Years War Project I will be working on my Swedish and some Austrian Allied, mostly the Swedes. And I have determined that I will paint all the figures for this project myself. I will use other resources for the Napoleonics projects I have going.

1) Drottningens Livregemente
Three battalions of figures are cleaned and primed black waiting for me to put paint to brush.
2) Blu Hussarenregiment
I own the figures and they are still in the bag.
3) Gul Hussarenregiment
I own the figures and they are still in the bag.
4) Nylands Dragoon Regiment
I own the figures and they are still in the bag.
5) Hästjägare
I own the figures and they are cleaned and on bases.

For the Napoleonic Period:

Off being painted in Sri Lanka:
· Austrian Cavalry - Archduke Ferdinand’s Hussars
· Austrian Cavalry – Stipsic Hussars
· French Cavalry – 1st Chasseurs a Cheval
· French Cavalry – 6th Dragoons
· French Cavalry – 10th Dragoons
· French Cavalry – 2nd Regiment Guard Lancers “Red Lancers”

Off being painted by Tom Zwirn
· Austrian Infantry – Archduke Karl’s Legion – Prague Students
· Austrian Infantry – Archduke Karl’s Legion – Mahrisch’s Volunteers
· Austrian Infantry – Croatian Inserrecto
· French Infantry – Sailors of the Guard
· French Infantry – Conscript Grenadiers of the Guard

Figures I am working on
· Italian Line Infantry Regiment 1
· Italian Line Infantry Regiment 2
· Italian Line Infantry Regiment 3
· Italian Line Infantry Regiment 4
· Italian Line Infantry Regiment 5
· Italian Line Infantry Regiment 6
· Italian Line Infantry Regiment 7
· Italian Light Infantry Regiment 1
· Italian Light Infantry Regiment 2
· Italian Chasseurs a Cheval Regiment 1
· Saxon Line Infantry Regiment Maxmillian (1809)
· Saxon Line Infantry Regiment Frederick (1809)
· Saxon Cavalry – Prinz Clemons Chevauxlegere (1809)
· Saxon Cavalry – Herzog Albert Chevauxlegere (1809)
· Saxon 8# Horse battery (1809)
Many of these figures are primed and have many of the Initial colors painted on them. It is just about doing the detail work.

More Figures sent to Tom Zwirn Painting Machine

I sent some more figures to Tom Zwirn to get painted.

1. Archduke Karl’s Legion – Prague Students (32 Figures)
2. Archduke Karl’s Legion – Mahrisch’s Volunteers (32 Figures)
3. Croatian Insurrecto (32 Figures)
4. French Sailor’s of the Guard (16 Figures)
5. French Conscript Grenadiers of the Guard (32 Figures)

The downpayment is a pack of Seven Year War Prussian Musketeers (48 Figures) with more packs being sent as soon as they are available.

Hopefully I can make a dent in my stacks of unpainted lead sometime this upcoming year.

Don Cossacks

Last night I completed the first block of 16 Don Cossacks that I am planning to paint up for the game on November 22nd. Other than the lance pennants (which the Don Cossacks didn't have) the unit looks pretty good, from a distant.

The paint job is not the greatest and I rushed a few things. These are defiantly the figures you look at from three feet away rather than up close and personal. I primed the figures brown and painted over the top. The uniform I used my standard Prussian Blue and than dabbed color on the bits and pieces. For the lance pennants I painted four blue, four green, for red, and four another shade of red. I figure I will use yellow, light blue and orange for the next twelve figures.

I prepared the next group of 12 plus my command stand which I plan on priming up tonight and getting ready for painting this week.

Figures given to Tom to paint.

30 - Peasant Cossacks
24 - Tyrolian Jagers
24 - Pseudo Uniformed Troops
16 - Billman
36 - Armed Mob.

This should be a good start for the my forces to face The great Pasha Beybey.

My Evil and Nefarious Plan

I admit to being a sucker for the slightly off beat projects that come up from time to time and of course I may have found one true to my tastes.

Chris Combs (The great Pasha Beybey) has a fully painted Ottoman Army that he uses in a number of games and periods. Considering the Ottoman costumes haven’t didn’t change from before the Seven Years War until after the Rebellions in the 1850s (A period of over a hundred years). I think this is a great plan and good reuse of figures. However Chris’ problem is that his Army is completely over matched against Non-historical opponents. IE he always is fighting Regulars in weird settings.

So I pulled out my collection of unpainted lead and went what the hell can I paint up that would be interesting to fight The great Pasha Beybey.

In searching I found I have the order of battle for the Austrian, I mean Hungarian, Army that fights the Turks from 1808 to 1812. And then I started looking at the list and going I bet this would be a great game if we can find the right rules.

The Core of Hungarian Army is Two Hungarian Infantry Regiments and a battalion of Hungarian Grenadiers. I assume there is some artillery in this group but none was listed.

The cavalry is a Dragoon Regiment (called the Hungarian Dragoons so I am doing some research on that one) and the other two Irregular hussar Regiments that were virtually taken on the regular roles.

Other units involved include several Border (Grenz) Regiments including four battalions of Grenzer Landwehr. There is also several Hungarian Insurrection units. And if Hungarian Insurrection wasn’t bad enough I also get Hungarian Militia which are untrained Insurrection troops. I am not sure who would have the worse army. The Ottomans or the Austrians?

To make matters worse I have made an agreement with Tom Zwirn to get the whole thing painted. What have I done…..

Wait this could be entertaining. The big challenge will be finding rules since neither side mustered very large forces.

You could also throw in Marmont, Russians and a few other items and you get trouble with a capital T.