Making a Hole in the Collection

Well... strictly speaking I've made a breach.

Siege of Orléans in 1428 (Vigiles de Charles VII, 15th century) - Public Domain

Following a play test of my siege rules using my 2mm buildings and troops (see Testing Siege Rules), I decided to make some breaches instead of just removing walls.  So, this short post is just that!

A wall section in the raw!

They are very easy to take a hacksaw to, and cut crisply.  A sharp Stanley knife was then applied.

Grit and sand is then applied.  Then undercoated in black.

The rest is all just dry brushing - a darkish raw umber/white mix then sky grey and finally wraithbone (a kind of bone colour - off white).

A breached section in the middle of a curtain wall.

I just have to paint some siege towers that I received through the post yesterday.  They shouldn't take long... they're 2mm scale for heavens sake!

All models are produced by Brigade Models.

A Retreat from Moscow Game

A number of us Rejects gathered in Stuart's shed for Lee and Ray to present and umpire a Retreat from Moscow game using Sharp Practice rules.

Stuart and Surjit played the Russians, who were tasked with defending the road and preventing the retreating French from breaking through and continuing the retreat west.

David, Steve and I commanded the French.

This is not really a battle report. I didn't take many photos.  So, just a few pictures to show off the gorgeous game that Lee and Ray organised.

The Russians deployed on the left. They were behind fences, barricaded and in ruined buildings.
The French arrived on the road with each command one behind the other.

Ray's lovely French sledges.

The view from the French side.

French cavalry throw themselves at Russian barricades.

Russians have reinforcements appearing on the French flank.

Tweedle-dee and Tweedle-dum... I mean, our honoured umpires in a rare moment when us players weren't asking lots of questions and testing Lee's levels of calm.

The finishing positions at the point when the French morale fell to zero.

It was great to all get together with all the usual banter and laughter.

A beautiful looking table with superb miniatures and eclectic units.  Well done Ray and Lee.

Imagi-Medieval Campaign Part 1: Introduction and Background

Let me introduce you to the imaginary continent of Mitteleuropa.  Six players representing the aspiring empires of Austria, Batavia, Bohemia, Brandenburg, Franconia and Lombardy are all casting their covetous eyes over the rich territories of Mitteleuropa.

Mitteleuropa
The six players will each control one of the nascent empires: Franconia, Batavia, Brandenburg, Bohemia, Austria, and Lombardy.

Background Sometime in the early 15th century, powerful, yet fledgling, empires are preparing to launch themselves on an ambitious round of conquest in the unsuspecting region of Mitteleuropa. Rivals may ally but there can be only one victor with the goal being to dominate and prove themselves worthy of acclaim.  Each player has between 5 and 10 campaign years to make their mark.  The only fly in the ointment of the aspiring empire builders is the troublesome, dangerous and rapacious Lithuanian Confederation… and the occasional natural (and unnatural) disaster!

Being the master of Mitteleuropa will mean acquiring a number of titles, with the possessor of the most being the one to hold the title Ultimus Imperator.  The titles to win are:

Fidei Defensor - The player who donates the most treasure to the Pope.
Imperius Rex - The player who owns the most territories.
Castellan Dominatus - The player who successfully besieges the most castles.
Alma Habitatus - The player who has increased the value of their final possessions the most. This will be evidence of enhancing the prosperity of your subjects.
L’Homme de Guerre - The player who wins the most field battles.
Renaissance Man - The player who fulfils a range of tasks in different disciplines and wins the acclaim of others. These tasks being:

• Produce a painting or drawing.
• Write a poem at least 15 lines long.
• Display some musical talent.
• Produce a commentary on a scientific or astronomical event or development.
• Show speed in calculation and accuracy with the bow.

L’Homme sans Reproche - At the end of the campaign each player must secretly give to the umpire their choice for the one who has played the best campaign in terms of fair play, heroic conduct and honourable behaviour.

Campaign Elements As you may now realise, this is not a quick, over in a month, campaign.  More of a leisurely stroll than a sprint.  Each player must gain territory, build towns, castles and increase wealth.  All of that increases the treasure available to build armies.  I hope that the campaign is one of battles, sieges, alliances, chivalrous behaviour and non-onerous resource management.  In short, the players have to be good generals, builders and wise rulers.

The campaign rules are ones that I have written.  If you are interested here is the link to them: Founding Empires.  I won't pretend that they fabulously written... but they'll do!

The tabletop battles will use Flower of Chivalry as they provide quick games that capture a little of the  difficulty of commanding medieval armies.

Each area of Mitteleuropa that is captured provides an income shown on the map above.  This can be augmented with some investment - the towns etc. that I mentioned earlier.

There will be random events - some good, some bad.  The army lists are based on early 15th century troop types.  However, both can change with the passage of campaign time as technology and knowledge develops.

Apart from the fun of piecing the campaign together, I've actually spent a fair bit of happy time getting a range of spreadsheets in place to handle the vast majority of the umpire admin and to assist the player in doing their orders and building.  Fingers crossed it all holds together under duress.

Ultimately, it's all about having fun and creating purpose for some games.

Well, that's enough for now.  The next campaign post will set out the sides and their pre-turn 1 tasks.

Testing Siege Rules

In preparation for a campaign, I tested out siege rules that I have written to go with Flower of Chivalry.

Flower of Chivalry, published eons ago by the Canadian Wargames Group, are a simple yet flavoursome set... in my opinion anyway.  My slightly amended version of these are what will be used for field battles.  These, with my siege adaptations will also be used to assaults castles.  It just made sense to use the same base for both types of battles.

The attackers are making their approach.  Off picture are two trebuchets that are pounding the walls.

In keeping with Flower of Chivalry, the loser is the first side to reach zero on the Army Morale countdown.  The defenders can also lose if two of their units are driven off the table edge within a certain time limit.  This represents the poor fellows dispersing to escape the possible mayhem and murder wrought by the attackers.

The missing wall sections represent breaches.  knights are pouring in.  On the left, men at arms are assaulting the walls via a siege tower.  Doesn't look good for the defenders!

The defenders' Army Morale was driven down to zero at the point where their second unit was driven off the table.  The castle is captured and the population put to the blade!

As you can see I used my 2mm figures to enact this siege.  The figures are from Irregular2mm and the castle, towers and walls from Brigade Models.  

After thoughts

I got a lot out of this, both as rule writer and player.

As a player, the attacker could use more ladders (I only gave one unit ladders and they got beaten back!).

As for the rules, I made a couple of clarifications and a couple of additions.  The most important being the starting levels for the two armies' battle lust - this represents the exhaustion and morale of each Battle/Ward in an army.  Plus 7 is exhaustion and big minuses in combat; minus 7 is a collapsing morale with big minuses for morale checks.  The starting point is usually zero with the levels rising and falling depending on orders given.  Manoeuvre and charge orders add to the battle lust;  react and defend orders provide a minus to battle lust.  However, I found that adjusting it so defenders start at plus 4 and the attackers at minus 4 kept the attackers moving without exhausting too quickly and allowed the defenders to react and defend without morale falling too sharply.

Lastly, I have some breaches to model along with a few more walls to paint.

I guess that I will write more about the upcoming campaign in due course.

No Gaming in August, but plenty of butter and reading

August was a bleak desert for hobby activity, on every front.  However, I can't complain.  The beginning was taken up with stays at Lincoln, North Yorkshire and Bronté country, and the Lake District. The latter was more an homage to Beatrix Potter than Wordsworth - that probably reveals much about my level.

The second half was the annual pilgrimage to stay with my in-laws in Bretagne, France.  

Bretagne/Brittany is famous for a number of things including: crêpes, cidre, butter and high rates of alcohol consumption.  I made sure that I enjoyed daily visits to a crêperie to enjoy the first three on the list, and superb evenings eating and drinking well.

The best place in Concarneau to buy fresh baked kouig amann and gateaux bretons.  The latter being like a bakewell tart but with more butter. The former being a laminated pastry thing made almost entirely out of butter and sugar... amazing fresh and warm from the oven. Terrible for the heart!

My summer reading complimented my getaways.  For Yorkshire, I read Jane Eyre and The Professor by Charlotte Bronté. The former I had read before and remains my favourite Bronté novel.

For my stay in France I read House of Lilies.

Basically telling the story of the Capetian kings of France from the rise of Hugh Capet in 987 to the death of the last, Charles IV, in 1328.  A story that bumps and grinds against the history of England with their Norman and Plantagenet kings.

An excellent account that opens up the idea of playing out some of the many and little known battles fought within France and against their neighbours.

What was great for a history book was the inclusion of maps that located every one mentioned in the text.

With what seemed a fair amount of Wars of the Roses chatter, I decided to acquaint myself better with this bit of my history.  So, onto the Hollow Crown by Dan Jones.

I have yet to read anything by Jones and be disappointed.  This was no different.  He has a way of telling, what is a fairly complex, story in an entertaining, engaging and comprehensible narrative.  His family trees and maps were helpful and complemented the text perfectly. Not once did I get lost amongst the numerous Edwards, Richards and Henrys.

This not a detailed account of battles, though the battles feature... of course!  For me it was a clear telling of the story of the times taken from 1420 through to c.1509.  It compellingly told a story of wars created by the collapse of royal authority.

I would highly recommend both.

I must end by confessing that I quite enjoyed not blogging for a month.  I'm not sure what this says about me?

More 6mm Austrian Cuirassiers

Some quick painting done in the cooler hours of the day so the paint doesn't dry on the brush!

Two regiments of 6mm MDF Austrian cuirassiers for the French Revolutionary Wars.  The 5th and 6th regiments. Not that you'd notice at this scale.

Figures are from Commission Figurines.

They are on 60mm x 60mm bases.

There is something peculiar going on here.  Can you spot it?

Dōmyōji, Can Osaka Beat the Odds?

Following my success in our last encounter playing the Tokugawa army, it would have been churlish to refuse Jonathan's invitation for a rematch with a switch of sides.  For Jonathan's background to the battle and an account of our first game see here.  My account of that first clash is here.

Photograph from the game, courtesy of J. Freitag.

For this iteration, Jonathan commanded the Tokugawa army.  I led the Osaka defence.

Anyway, enough blah blah and onto the battle!

The initial deployment.  My left wing with archers in the woods next to the tomb, and two spears including one samurai.   The right wing with a spear behind the tomb, then a teppo unit and spear on the right.  The central command consisting of a teppo unit ahead of the main line, spears behind and samurai cavalry bringing up the rear right of the centre.

As the Tokugawa troops move into position and prepare to strike, the Osaka teppo in the centre retires and the left wing pull back to create a better defensive line.  The samurai cavalry turn to the centre and swing into the main battle line.

At this point, I should lay out battle plan.  It struck me that my most potent striking force is the samurai cavalry.  Previous encounters saw them caught standing.  I figured that if I could get them into action, I might be able to disrupt the enemy and slow down their advance.  At the same time withdraw my line back.  The hope being that I can survive long enough to be able to retreat some units off the table and avoid a crushing defeat.  So... let's see how that works out!

Fortune smiled on the Osaka army!  With the initiative, the samurai cavalry charge into the Tokugawa line recently disordered by teppo shooting.

Despite Tokugawa spears blunting the samurai's impetus, the defenders were thrown back.

The samurai pursuit was brutal; making sure that no arquebus firing teppo survived.  

However, Tokugawa samurai cavalry launch a counter attack.

The enemy horse is thrown back and the, now depleted, Osaka samurai pursue.

Now facing the Tokugawa cavalry and supporting spears, the samurai's falter.  However, their leader commits Seppuku giving the horsemen the drive for one last charge.  Alas, whilst their bravery will be recounted in song, their bodies will moulder in the ground.

Whilst destroyed, the samurai cavalry threw back the Tokugawa centre and inflicted great losses.  Their job done!  Can the rest of the army play their part?

As the Tokugawa centre licks its wounds, their left seeks to break the Osaka right.  Samurai cavalry charged into and threw back an ashigaru spear unit.  Fortunately for the defenders, they were unwilling to pursue.  Meanwhile, Tokugawa spear hurl themselves at the teppo unit.

But with the defending teppo supported by a spear unit, the attacker ashigaru are put to rout.

Nonetheless, the Tokugawa are determined to crack the Osaka right.  Samurai spear fall upon the defending teppo and ashigaru spear...

... only to be met by determined and savage resistance.  Unthinkably, the Tokugawa samurai rout!

On the right, the Tokugawa troops, having suffered from galling archery fire, decide to advance out of range.
Meanwhile, on the right, the Tokugawa cavalry ride down the teppo but again fail to pursue.
On the far right, Osaka spears fall on the damaged enemy samurai foot...

At this point, I faced a difficult decision.  Either stick entirely to my plan and remain cautious by retiring the army a little closer to the base line, or strike at the two more isolated Tokugawa units in the centre and possibly commit myself more than I originally planned.  After a short paralysis in my decision making, I opted for the latter.

... the samurai on the right are annihilated!  Now the Osaka troops seem unwilling to pursue.
Seeing opportunities to disrupt the Tokugawa advance, a central foot unit charge and rout a teppo unit.

Continuing to take advantage of isolated Tokugawa units, Osaka foot charge a spear unit and drive it back but fail to pursue.

And, on the left, two charging Osaka foot units wipe out a defending unit.  Neither show a willingness to pursue!

With Osaka units now within charge range, Tokugawa units seek to punch through the centre.  First, they cause a spear unit to rout but fail to make good the advantage with a pursuit.

Then another charges the teppo unit sheltering in the woods.

However, the teppo stand with grim determination and repulse the Tokugawa assault.
Meanwhile, on the right, the Osaka ashigaru spear crash into their counterparts.

Unable to stand the attack, the Tokugawa unit is forced to retire.  The ashigaru offer a feeble pursuit before holding their position.

In the centre, the Tokugawa see that the defending spears are tiring and much depleted.  With some ferocity they charge and show no mercy.  However, their efforts exhaust them and they are unable to pursue.

With the opportunity to profoundly damage the enemy on the right, the Osaka ashigaru tear into the enemy.  Destroying one unit and setting the other to flight to the ford in rout.

The Tokugawa cavalry on the right returns the compliments and annihilates the stubborn teppo.
With time and space now available, the command goes out to the Osaka troops to withdraw towards the castle in an orderly fashion.

However, the Tokugawa have other plans!
First, their samurai cavalry charges the remnants of a spear unit only to be thrown back.

So, leave it to the poor bloody infantry to level their weapons and wipe out the Osaka troops.

Back to the right flank, the Osaka ashigaru fall on the routing troops at the ford.  The result is carnage as the river runs red with Tokugawa blood.
On the left, two spear and one teppo unit race for home.  However, the teppo see that they are likely to be caught and try to withdraw with haste.  Alas, as their formation breaks apart so does their morale and they rout and disperse.

Unable to stop their exit, the Tokugawa watch helplessly as two units make it back to Osaka Castle.

The Tokugawa troops now move to eliminate the archers protecting the leftmost tomb and the right most spear unit.

However, the Tokugawa recognises that victory is now impossible.

The army clock show the Osaka with 6 and Tokugawa with 3.  

A minor victory for the Osaka is declared.  At last the Tokugawa are frustrated in their designs!

Afterthoughts

That was a superb contest.  Great fun.  The battle was fraught with tension; packed with action; and demanding on the brain.  The sort of game that I love.

Whilst my battle plan ultimately worked, there were a number of factors to take into account:

• My dice rolling in melee was far above my usually very mediocre performance.
• The number of pursuits both sides were able to execute was much lower than usual.  This stopped any one melee being a catastrophe for one side or the other, especially for the Osaka army.  This let them survive intact longer, maintain a good line longer, and ultimately withdraw in good order.
• The ability to get the Osaka cavalry into position and charge was a fundamental and critical moment.  This disrupted the Tokugawa advance and won at least two turns for the Tokugawa - valuable time and space.  This result was worth their sacrifice.

Jonathan, as the Tokugawa, did not make it easy for me.  When he tried to crack my right, I was really worried.  Again, later in the game in the centre he was one pursuit away from being positioned to cut off my withdrawal when the time came.  In this game, fine decisions and fine moments of chance played their part.

A measure of the amount of action was that I took 57 screen shots.  Usually a remote game takes about 20!  For this report, I managed to reduce the number shown to 29 (I think).

I'll let Jonathan's report reveal the final butcher's bill.

This was an exhausting and incredibly entertaining encounter.  A superb challenge.  Great job with this scenario, Jonathan.