Thinking about FPW Hex Rules

The Franco-Prussian War is the last of my collections that require rules for remote games.  So, time to get on with it!

In putting these ideas together I had the following principles I wanted the rules to reflect.

1. Ranged fire, whether small arms or artillery, was very significant on soldier behaviour, formation and impact.

2. I wanted units to degrade but not have to do any paperwork.

3. Units supporting others matter.

4. The morale impact of situations is baked in rather than on dice rolls.

At first, I was looking to adapt mechanisms from a board game where different units were reflected on a table.  Then according to the situation there was a column shift left or right which led to changing dice roll requirements.  What I have currently moved on to is a little different.  I have "Results Ladders" for shooting, melee and rallying based on advantages and disadvantages to the active unit.

For example, with the shooting results ladder below, all units firing start at zero then work up when applying relevant advantages and down with the disadvantages.  A "DP" is a disruption point. Units are removed on receipt of a third DP.

With a lot of lead flying around at greater volume, one impact is infantry being forced to go prone.  Or, in their movement, they can choose to go prone to shoot with their breech loading rifles.

An example using the shooting results ladder above:  A single French unit targets a Prussian skirmish unit at long range.  Neither unit have suffered any disruption.  The French are grade 2 and roll 3 on 1d3 and rise to five on the ladder. There are no additional advantages.  The target now rolls a 1 on 1d3 which puts it at four on the ladder. Further disadvantages are the target being skirmishers and at long range bringing the result down to two.  So, the Prussian infantry takes a disruption point and is forced to go prone.

The same process is used for melee but with different outcomes on the ladder... obviously.

The opposed 1d3 rolls represents the element of luck/chance. In the above example, the firing unit enjoyed a lot of luck. Whereas, the target did not enjoy equal fortune.  This gives a range of +2 to -2.

Hopefully, it will be apparent that other units supporting the shooter would have made the result more devastating.

This is very much a work in progress, done in the full knowledge that I bring nothing new to the discussion.

Next, a first solo test game.

The Battle of Fort Dan - A FIW AAR

For my first (yes first!) face to face game of 2026 in Postie's shed, Stuart put on  French Indian War fictional battle using his skirmish rules.

Fort Dan

Colin, Ray and I played the French who were attacking the British settlement and fort.

Dan, Lee and Surjit commanded the British defenders.

British troops bar the road whilst anxious civilians flee in the direction of the fort.

French troops arrive.

French woodsmen working their way through the woods on the left.

Actually, this is not really a battle report but more look a quick skip through a couple of moments in the game.

The British used a tactic, wisely, of shooting and retiring to keep distance and to draw close to friendly troops nearer the fort.  This frustrated the French who also repeatedly failed to win the initiative to move and shoot first.

British open up with volley fire and immediately go into open order.

British reserves make their way into a field to deploy in support of the front line.

Civilians hastily wend their way down the road.

Both sides had blinds in the woods on the French right.  They had to reveal each other once within 12 inches.  The French had two units of Indians against one unit of British allied natives and a unit of Rangers.

As was the case in this game, the British winning the initiative meant that they got a jump on the French with the shooting and charges.

Honours were pretty much even after the first melee.

The French allies then counter-charged.

Both sides inflicted horrendous casualties on each other but their morale held.

And the British hurled themselves into the fray again.

No one left!
Such was the ferocity that those that did survive (not many) ran off off into the darkness of the woods.

However, more French allied natives arrived in their canoes.

The canoes cause the British troops that had just come out of the fort to start scurrying back towards it along with the panicking civilians.

Meanwhile, the British defenders are doing a very good job of holding up the advance of the French troops.

The troops and civilians start their entry into the fort.

With French losses mounting without any meaningful result other than the capture of a cow, the French command decided that the raid was becoming too costly and retired.

A British win!

This was a very convivial occasion with lots of chat, mickey-taking and laughter amongst friends.  Well done to Postie for his superbly rendered table.  He always manages to produce a visual feast.

Where's the Wally?

No wargaming activity of any kind has taken place as this "Wally" has been enjoying a fabulous vacation with his better, and more beautiful, half.

The question for you is, where has this Wally been for his hols?

Follow the clues and make your guess.

It's Real, but it's not all what it looks to be.

Formerly walled but now just a small section remains.

Famously not a native, this oceanic mariner's remains lie in this tomb.

Famous for its tiles outstandingly on show in this locations big square.

Ole!

Put your guesses in the comments and I'll reveal all in due course.