Well, I am up and running for wargaming! The new house has an old workshop in the garden which I have commandeered and tidied up for storing wargame stuff and which I can squeeze an 8 feet by 4 feet table into, using an old OSB wood sheet I found in the workshop on an old dining table given to me by a sister. I have enough room to get around it. For my first game, I went for my favourite period, the Franco-Dutch War of 1672-78, or what I call Sun King games. I used an old Table Top Teaser from Battlegames and adjusted to suit the period and expanded it to make it a bigger game, as a sort of celebration of the new location. Playing it solo, I determined whether the various commanders were cautious, average or bold, and this affected their decision-making during the action. I also used the random events which went with the original Teaser.
On one side were the Allies, Dutch and Imperial troops, on the other side, the French.
On one side were the Allies, Dutch and Imperial troops, on the other side, the French.
Allies:
First Brigade:
's Gravenmoer Horse Regiment (2 squadrons) Veteran [Dutch]
First Brigade:
's Gravenmoer Horse Regiment (2 squadrons) Veteran [Dutch]
Berlo Horse Regiment (2 squadrons) Trained [Dutch]
Second Brigade:
Ginkel Horse Regiment (2 squadrons) Trained [Dutch]
Waldeck Horse Regiment (2 squadrons) Veteran [Dutch]
Third Brigade:
Reede Foot Regiment (1 battalion) Veteran [Dutch]
Beaumont Foot Regiment (1 battalion) Veteran [Dutch]
Münster Foor Regiment (1 battalion) Trained [Münster]
Fourth Brigade:
Schwartzenberg Foot Regiment (1 battalion) Trained [Dutch]
Ingen-Nielant Foot Regiment (1 battalion) Trained [Dutch]
Starhemberg Foot Regiment (1 battalion) Trained [Imperial]
Light Battery Trained
Medium Battery Trained
Fifth Brigade:
Dünewald Cuirassier Regiment (3 squadrons) Veteran [Imperial]
Bamberg Cuirassier Regiment (3 squadrons) Veteran [Imperial]
Lodron Dragoon Regiment (2 squadrons) Trained [Imperial]
French:
First Brigade:
Mestre-de-camp général Horse Regiment (2 squadrons) Veteran
Melac Horse Regiment (2 squadrons) Trained
Second Brigade:
Foix Horse Regiment (2 squadrons) Trained
Roi Horse Regiment (2 squadrons) Veteran
Third Brigade:
Picardie Foot Regiment (2 battalions) Veteran
Anjou Foot Regiment (1 battalion) Trained
Fourth Brigade:
La Couronne Foot Regiment (1 battalion) Trained
Lyonnais Foot Regiment (1 battalion) Trained
Grancey Foot Regiment (1 battalion) Trained
Light Battery Trained
Medium Battery Trained
Fifth Brigade:
Condé Horse Regiment (2 squadrons) Trained
Villeroi Horse Regiment (2 squadrons) Trained
Sixth Brigade:
Gensdarmes anglais (1 squadron) Veteran
Gensdarmes bourguignons (1 squadron) Veteran
Chevau-Légères de la Garde (1 squadron) Elite
Seventh Brigade:
Asfeld Dragoon Regiment (2 squadrons) Trained
Beauffremont Dragoon Regiment (2 squadrons) Trained
The two sides look unequal, but the Allies have bigger Imperial units, and the quality of the units balances as well. Each brigade has a general officer and each side has a commanding general with ADC. The game is played end to end, rather than across the table.
The First Brigade of each side enters at points A or B astride the road on Turn 1. The Second Brigade follows in similar fashion on Turn 2. These units are all in squadron line. The following brigades start to enter on Turn 3, the foot in column, the artillery in draught, the remaining cavalry and dragoons in squadron lines.
The objective is to secure the immediate area around Mahndorp in order to control the route north ready for each army's main body following behind.
At the start of Turn 4, and each turn thereafter, roll 2 6-sided dice for the chance of a random event: Doubles mean an event, roll 1 6-sided die, odds means it affects the French, evens the Allies (except for Double 4). However, the effect only happens to a unit or units on the table, not those yet to enter it.
Double 1 = the pace is too much for one foot unit, roll a die to determine which one, lose 2 figures/hits/action points (according to rules used) OR halt for two turns.
Double 2 = random shot kills the commander of a unit, roll a die or dice to determine which one; unit must halt for one turn, then take a morale test to continue.
Double 3 = one brigade general's horse throws him, roll a die to determine which one; he is unhurt but he cannot issue orders or influence any of his units for that turn.
Double 4 = units are seen off the table to the south; all units of both sides within 12" of the edge must halt for two turns, after which it is clear it is a false alarm and they may act as normal thereafter.
Double 5 = one brigade general exhorts one foot unit to advance; roll a die to determine which one and increase its move by 25% that turn.
Double 6 = one battery has found the range of the enemy well, +2 to hit die for two turns (or whatever seems relevant to rules used); only applies if battery is deployed and has visible targets in range.
The game lasts for 24 turns.
Here are some photographs of the game.
The table from the west end.
The table from the east end.
Mahndorp with its crossroads.
The models are all Sarissa, painted for me by Steve of Tunnies Terrain (see his blogspot for other modelling items).
The French First Brigade - Mestre-de-camp général in front, Melac behind - brigadier a'Agneau can be seen between his regiments.
The Allied First Brigade - 's Gravenmoer in front, Berlo behind.
The Allied Second Brigade now enters the table - Ginkel in front, Waldeck behind.
The French Second Brigade moves on - Foix in front, Roi behind. The First Brigade has raced away over the hill and towards the north side of the town.
The Allied Dutch cavalry is manoeuvring for position to the west of the town.
A formidable line of cavalry draws up to counter the French on this part of the table; in the distance cane be seen a long column of Allied foot marching along the road.
Allied foot - Reede at the front, then Beaumont, and finally Münster. Reede has lost some men already - the victim of a Double 1 random event. I decided that the unit would press on and take the losses, rather than halt for two turns, given the urgency of getting up to Mahndorp before the French.
The commander of the French Second Brigade - brigadier de Beaufort - makes a bold move and heads his leading regiment - Foix - for the town, hoping to delay the approaching Allied foot on the other side. He keeps his second regiment - Roi - in reserve on the hill.
The French First Brigade moves around the north side of Mahndorp.
The French Third Brigade - Picardie's two battalions, followed by Anjou - moves along the road towards the town.
An aerial view of the table, with both sides still some way off engaging.
The Allied infantry column pushes on, with Ingen-Nielant entering the table.
Foix, now in squadron columns, dashes forward to enter the town.
The French First Brigade manoeuvring around Mahndorp.
La Couronne, from the French Fourth Brigade, joins the rear of the French infantry column.
Some of th Allied infantry begin to deploy for action to the south-west of the town, while others move off to their left.
The Allied cavalry is drawn up in formation, but are under orders to wait for their foot to come up in support before advancing further.
Foix is through the town and deploying for action.
Picardie, first battalion in the lead, heads off towards the south side of Mahndorp.
The French First Brigade is almost deployed, but faces double its numbers of Allied cavalry.
The French end of the table.
The Allied cavalry still delays its advance.
Reede and Beaumont press forward, as Münster manoeuvres in column beyond them.
The Allied commander and his ADC - the Dutch Luitenant Generaal De Amandel
and Kapitein Het Spek.
Foix is now south of the town and is urged forwards by its brigade general.
Picardie nears the town in support of Foix cavalry, with Anjou moving off to the right.
The French light battery moves onto the table behind a long column of French foot - La Couronne, Lyonnais and Grancey from front to back
The French commander and his ADC,
lieutenant général marquis de Lapin-Chasseur and capitain d'Homard.
The Allied right has deployed because of the threat from Foix and Reede opens musketry fire against the French cavalry, who have ventured a little too near.
The Allied artillery moves onto the table, a light battery and medium battery in draught.
The Allied cavalry still dithering about whether to attack the French, but their infantry is coming up in support and Liutenant General De Amandel is nearby, so perhaps the two brigadiers - Majoor Generaal Van Stoppwafel and Majoor Generaal Van Tompoes - will finally get moving.
French foot hastening forward to support the First Brigade of cavalry to the north of Mahndorp.
First battalion of Picardie positioned behind the hedges south of the town, with the second battalion moving up the road to their right, while Anjou follows behind. Their commander, brigadier de Claputis, can be seen encouraging his men.
Reede giving the lead squadron of Foix some musketry fire. They are clearly not worried about the cavalry as they have not gone into a defensive formation to repel a charge.
The French horse rise to the challenge and charge!
The table at the end of Turn 9, with the French in control of part of the town.
Foix were repulsed convincingly by Reede after some devastating musketry as the French horse charged. Nonetheless, the Dutch foot had been held up.
At last! The Allied cavalry start moving, although somewhat tentatively.
Ingen-Nielant and Schwartzenberg moving up.
The French push more infantry into Mahndorp.
A long view down the table from behind the French lines, with the looming Allied cavalry attack to the north of the town, while the French artillery his moving up towards the hill, and their Third Cavalry Brigade is just appearing on the road.
The opposing cavalry engage to the north of Mahndorp.
The imposing sight of Starhemberg foot regiment - Imperial Austrian units were much larger than those of other nations at this time - moving forward, with Ingen-Nielant deploying to its left into line in support of the Dutch cavalry.
Cavalry action north of the town. Berlo and Melac squadrons nearest the camera.
French foot hastening up in support, along with Roi horse regiment. Brigadier Dartois points the way for La Couronne and Lyonnais.
Mestre-de-camp général and 's Gravenmoer in action.
Majoor Generaal Van Vlierbessen leads his regiments forward.
The Allied Second Brigade bypasses the French cavalry holding the line of the road.
The Dutch cavalry won the initial clash, driving back their French opponents, but meet their supporting squadrons counterattacking.
The view to the north of Mahndorp. The Allied First Brigade has been repulsed by the French cavalry on this sector of the field, but the Allied Second Brigade has pushed through, past the French right flank.
With the threat of enemy cavalry looming, La Couronne and Lyonnais deploy for action.
The end of Turn 13, with the French secure in most of the town and the first Allied cavalry attack repulsed, but with their northern flank under threat from other Allied horse. Not much happened to the south of the town during Turns 12 and 13, owing to a random event on both turns which halted all units on both sides owing to troop movements being seen off table.
The cavalry action continues to the north of the town as the French Second Brigade charges forward to engage the retreating Allied horse.
The Allied Second Brigade divides, a regiment moving either side of the wood, ready to engage the open French flank, but Roi is hurried forward to counter the movement.
The French are making headway in the cavalry action. The blue counters indicate a squadron is blown, having already charged during the game and so less effective thereafter.
The remaining squadron of Foix is pulling back as the Allied foot advance.
Some extra weight for the Allied cavalry - Dünewald cuirassier regiment, three big squadrons of veteran cavalry - move onto the table, led by General-Wachtmeiser von Teig.
La Couronne and Lyonnais wait to see what Ginkel cavalry regiment will do.
The French Fifth Brigade, Condé and Villeroi regiments, wheel to their right, led by brigadier comte d'Epinards, ready to move across to counter the Allied threat to the French right.
The end of Turn 14 and the action is developing interestingly!
Starhemberg deployed for battle.
The cavalry action to the north-west of the town continues, the French driving back their opponents on the latter's supporting infantry.
Reede moves up to engage Picardie, supported by Beaumont,
Majoor Generaal Van Uitsmijter to the fore.
The Allied First Brigade has been soundly beaten by the French cavalry.
Roi and Waldeck engage to the north of the town.
The French Sixth Brigade enters the table - Gensdarmes anglais, Gensdarmes bourguignons and Chevaux-Légèrs de la Garde - led by maréchal-de-camp comte de Fèves.
The French Fifth Brigade moving off to challenge the Allied horse to the north east of Mahndorp.
More weight to the Allied side - Bamberg cuirassier regiment follows Dünewald onto the table.
Allied foot facing French cavalry, but the latter are weakened by their combat with the Dutch horse. Kapitein Het Spek is pointing out the possible threat to his commander, Luitenant Generaal De Amandel in the foreground.
Bamberg cuirassier.
Reede and Picardie exchanging musketry fire. This proved to be the undoing of Reede, which was shattered by the French shooting and broke and fled.
A last desperate charge by the remaining squadron of 's Gravenmoer
to hold up Mestre-de-camp général.
Roi has defeated one squadron of Waldeck; the latter's second squadron is about to engage the French.
The French Fifth Brigade moving to cover their far right against the Dutch cavalry threat.
The French Sixth Brigade wheels to the right to move across to support the Fifth Brigade, with th aim of concentrating a powerful mass of cavalry on that side of the table.
The French Seventh Brigade starts to arrive on the table - Asfeld dragoons first, led by their commander, brigadier Gaufrette.
The view from behind the French at the end of Turn 16.
The Allied cuirassiers move forward, an imposing mass of horsemen.
Mestre-de-camp général venture too close to Ingen-Nielant and come under heavy musketry fire which shatters the squadron.
Melac are ordered forward to threaten Starhemberg.
And come under heavy musketry fire, which forces them to recoil, although the Imperial troops shooting is not terribly accurate.
Waldeck has defeated both squadrons of Roi, but its remaining squadron is exhausted by its efforts.
Ginkel watches and waits as the French Fifth Brigade moves up to challenge them.
Beauffremont dragoons arrives on the table.
Bothered by the proximity of Melac cavalry, Starhemberg adopts a better formation against cavalry - in this arrangement, the pikes are assumed to be interlineating between the lines of musketeers, who close up and form three ranks instead of six, ready for volley firing.
In the distance, Ingen-Nielant adopts the same defensive formation. The Allied foot have now come to a halt on this sector of the battle, even though only Melac cavalry stands in their way.
Ginkel is now heavily outnumbered and the French cavalry are spoiling for a fight as their infantry watches on.
An aerial view of the area to the north-east of Mahndorp at the end of Turn 18.
An aerial view of the area to the north-west of the town at the end of Turn 18, with the Allies hoping their mass of cuirassiers will swing the action in their favour.
The long, slow column begins to wheel into position on the left of the Allied infantry line.
The Allied medium battery deploys close to the town in order to bombard its French defenders preparatory to an assault.
Condé and Ginkel come to blows.
Condé is worsted and driven back by Ginkel's first squadron, but Villeroi move forward against its second squadron.
The marquis de Lapin-Chasseur in the midst of French foot, horse and guns.
The French dragoons move forward to support Picardie to the south of the village.
The artillery opens fire and Münster beyond them start shooting into the town.
Lodron dragoons hurry up to support Beaumont.
La Couronne and Grancey change into column, ready to move to support Melac and Mestre-de-camp général, while the French light battery limbers up and sets off, the threat from the Dutch cavalry now countered on this wing.
The view from behind the Allies' left wing at the end of Turn 20.
Lodron dragoons dismount, horseholders to the rear.
Villeroi and Ginkel exchange rather ineffectual carbine fire.
And then the two squadrons charge home.
Villeroi, blown and battered, is victorious.
The French Sixth Brigade moves up to threaten the remnants of Ginkel.
Beaumont make a major change of direction ready to assault the town with Münster.
Melac begins to manoeuvre ready to meet the threat of the Allied cuirassier regiments.
Gensdarmes anglais charge home to complete the destruction of the Allied Second Brigade.
The Allied cuirassiers begin to threaten Melac, but time is running out for the Allies.
Münster and Beaumont firing upon Picardie's second battalion in the town.
An aerial view shows Villeroi hastening forward to support Melac at the top of the table, while French foot are deploying in support of their cavalry. The Allied foot look on as another cavalry engagement develops in front of them.
The French have got their medium battery into position and it opens fire on the stationary Allied foot.
Dünewald, fresh and superior in numbers and weight, clash with the blown and battered Melac, who are forced to retreat.
Beaumont charge the town, with Münster and the medium battery still pouring in fire.
Lodron dragoons rather rashly take on Picardie's first battalion and take severe losses.
Success to Beaumont! Picardie's second battalion is bundled out of its position and that part of Mahndorp falls to the Allies.
An aerial view of the table at the end of Turn 24, with all still in the balance. Neither side has gained control of the designated area, though each has a foothold in Mahndorp. The French are secure to the south of the town, with their dragoons coming up in support, but the Allied foot are pinned to the north-west until their cuirassiers take on the French cavalry. So, I declared the game a draw.
Dünewald cuirassiers have ignored the remnants of Melac and press forward.
The remains of the French Fifth Brigade and the Sixth Brigade had begun to manoeuvre
to face the oncoming Allied cuirassiers.
The long view down the table from behind the French lines.
A very enjoyable game, which hung in the balance for quite some time, and a pleasing start to a new wargaming room. The Allies were rather slow to engage their cavalry in the opening phases, but their commanders were over-cautious, while the bold move by Foix held up their leading infantry long enough for Picardie and Anjou to secure Mahndorp. By the time the Allied cuirassiers were ready to intervene, time was running out. Even so, the French had not gained a win, mainly because they were held up on their right by the Allied Second Brigade's initial breakthrough. The random events did not have much effect on the battle in the event. I also managed to tweak the rules a little to reflect my changing understanding of tactics at this time.
On reflection, I think I would either play the game again on a six feet by four feet table, though still lengthways, or double the movement rates until the two sides were within two feet of each other, either of which would make it more likely a victory decision for one side or the other would be reached.
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