Westphalians v Bavarians – part zwei
I decided to do a rematch using more or less the same troops as last
time but with an extended table. Some crossroads and a village are the main
features, plus a few hills and wooded areas. Main idea was to take and control
the crossroad. Each side had 2 infantry and 2 cavalry brigades. The Bavarians (with completed basing this time)
had a heavy battery as their main advantage. The Westphalians had a brigade of
heavy cavalry as their main advantage. The heavies ended up being the
difference. Very powerful against poor old light cavalry.
Brett came along and he controlled half the Bavarians. Richard placed
his heavy cavalry brigade directly in front of the Bavarian light cavalry as
soon as he saw the opportunity. The combat ended up being mostly one-sided and Richard
opened up a flank by turn 5 so another clear win to the Westphalians. Horse
artillery (1 per cavalry brigade) was effective and used aggressively on both
sides.
We discovered a few more clarifications were needed regarding the
countercharge sequence and evade distances but overall it was a smooth game.
Once the fighting starts, a lot can happen in a turn when morale starts taking
effect. The importance of having rear support and secure flanks kicks in. The
Reserve move phase is also important as it allows each side to move any units
that haven’t moved that turn to push into gaps or even exploit them. Brett and
Richard started to appreciate the skirmish rules a bit more and used them quite
well.
A couple of times we thought of adding a few interesting rules but then decided
it defeats the point of having a simple set of rules to play a complex period.
They may, one day, even get to 2 pages long.
But I think, at least for now, keeping it easy and fudging the tricky stuff is
good enough.
Cheers,
Mick
Westphalians lined up
Bavarians lined up
Table view
First turn movement
Advancing on the village
2nd turn movements
Westphalian Light Cavalry
Cheeky bugger Horse Artillery
Westphalians forming a battle line
Fighting starts for the village
Westphalian Heavy Cavalry push back the Bavarian Light Horse
The gap created by the heavies
Firefight starting
Heavies pushing around the Lights again
Mirror image on this side of the village
Westphalian guns send a Bavarian line unit packing
Heavies dispatch one cavalry unit with ease – one to go
Refusing the line, just as the Bavarian village defenders run away
No more Bavarian cavalry on this flank as the Westphalians smell victory
Close up of imminent defeat
One Westphalian unit routs – albeit temporarily
Reserves push into the stalemate fight for the village as the game is called in favour of the Westphalians
Notes on rules
The rules in their current form
