tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31414452285111658412024-03-05T06:24:25.177+00:00König und KaiserAn account of two imaginary 18th Century states and their wars with each other, as fought with lead figuresCWThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08145880616920091517noreply@blogger.comBlogger169125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3141445228511165841.post-7823284060742545562012-05-04T06:27:00.002+01:002012-05-04T06:27:50.689+01:00Movin' on over!<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hello, all! As you may have gathered from the long silence here and the activity over on <a href="http://generalheadquarters.blogspot.co.uk/">my other blog</a> I have had to admit that there's only so much time in my hobbying for blogging, and running one is really the maximum possible. As such, my continuing 18C imaginations will still be continuing, but I'll simply do them over on my main wargaming blog and tag them all. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There's even a big-scale outing for the Prussians and Austrians posted up at the moment, for you to enjoy!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Will hope to see you there!</span>CWThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08145880616920091517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3141445228511165841.post-56243020721226357472011-10-03T06:11:00.004+01:002011-10-03T06:54:54.643+01:00Battle of Weissenburg<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYDnB-49NsKqNbiInNiQ02owDBp5Nz3WVIcKRSGDJbOv9740-vBT1HF_cVHyPo3TQiN3Dx7sh_DLUun1uUmGUx19Jd1odI0lvwM9wiU_HccqS8WloLkALVKtOxk8pHK8BfNGaX-eT-90s/s1600/HPIM2800.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYDnB-49NsKqNbiInNiQ02owDBp5Nz3WVIcKRSGDJbOv9740-vBT1HF_cVHyPo3TQiN3Dx7sh_DLUun1uUmGUx19Jd1odI0lvwM9wiU_HccqS8WloLkALVKtOxk8pHK8BfNGaX-eT-90s/s400/HPIM2800.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659133887126114162" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">The major Strathian offensive of the war, as the Duke invades Meldenia. Above, we see Strathia entering from the right, while Meldenia approaches from the left - both armies are following the course of the river towards a plateau of raised ground.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM8buzgD80hMWiyPNMqhnDlNR6ciJId5Dk53w0vlffXr51GnfSnBRStLGDpcw6WgDFiPwgvmEZm-VRVOFOjALGh6d6j3QMHZ8J26C9HBnBuSi84s2499QSNvAAhN9k5Sdt8RNcXz2Q_FM/s1600/HPIM2801.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM8buzgD80hMWiyPNMqhnDlNR6ciJId5Dk53w0vlffXr51GnfSnBRStLGDpcw6WgDFiPwgvmEZm-VRVOFOjALGh6d6j3QMHZ8J26C9HBnBuSi84s2499QSNvAAhN9k5Sdt8RNcXz2Q_FM/s400/HPIM2801.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659133882882257730" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">The Meldanian Army, led by the Duke Cristoph Von Melden, in a succession of lines thanks to the cramping effect of the river.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8t9XTwMIwO3PKNRJVD75ELADCHlmrWy4BYvYjqucuBiZwI4ea1wh_kozSVuKUy3XNGtZF8VznOwa3LrOTEdoFYr30i-v0cWyIAOajRbel0lkH8zEjoazI6S7GQe1O6BghZLIbTY9DmTE/s1600/HPIM2802.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8t9XTwMIwO3PKNRJVD75ELADCHlmrWy4BYvYjqucuBiZwI4ea1wh_kozSVuKUy3XNGtZF8VznOwa3LrOTEdoFYr30i-v0cWyIAOajRbel0lkH8zEjoazI6S7GQe1O6BghZLIbTY9DmTE/s400/HPIM2802.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659133878441340626" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">The Strathian Army, mostly entering on the same bank...</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDWuCx2m3L4tAJPGSw3hUzbJAiDeeGi904lyyO9gKwZF1kOH7O2c9HJtuAOCYDD4R664xCLDQvECEoHBZErpO7wnkgeDSoScfjmuCniPrR8ntmgDzoOdFzkQYOxOF65VKYmzh7fnQXvJo/s1600/HPIM2804.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDWuCx2m3L4tAJPGSw3hUzbJAiDeeGi904lyyO9gKwZF1kOH7O2c9HJtuAOCYDD4R664xCLDQvECEoHBZErpO7wnkgeDSoScfjmuCniPrR8ntmgDzoOdFzkQYOxOF65VKYmzh7fnQXvJo/s400/HPIM2804.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659132737016042562" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">... and across the river, a small mixed-arms detachment. Its aim is to place cannon over the river on the Meldenian flank, enfilading the line.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieq4bh44BKgBe6s3mXh26HEryrCTc4WfrVx_mUGCQvbU6XqIGGiliyiGz1yETcfT5ZDQOxjZGx2qEDZ6_Ysu76fqO6V1mH7vIIIs5ElHr9RVkJxpq8ad-3wWckiHNkCtWuOqic1RbVjGE/s1600/HPIM2805.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieq4bh44BKgBe6s3mXh26HEryrCTc4WfrVx_mUGCQvbU6XqIGGiliyiGz1yETcfT5ZDQOxjZGx2qEDZ6_Ysu76fqO6V1mH7vIIIs5ElHr9RVkJxpq8ad-3wWckiHNkCtWuOqic1RbVjGE/s400/HPIM2805.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659132730529913298" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">The approach - the Meldenians gain the hill, and the Strathians advance. Cannon-shots are exchanged along the main battle-line. The village and the bridge over the river fall to the Strathians, and the cross-river detachment swiftly clears some fields of lurking Meldenian Croats. </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWQHaBLE2Hn8xLMapufrfkbl5Yz7fz5tVewTBFSrG9MFyWmTQIP1_wEZLqBw6PJc6xIFPvWHZ7fLuBdOh7SFEzpYqsqzo4z_m_5w-79-6EH-bWjtqUzEuR8sV0Hl8hlrZatFsUV5TerAg/s1600/HPIM2806.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWQHaBLE2Hn8xLMapufrfkbl5Yz7fz5tVewTBFSrG9MFyWmTQIP1_wEZLqBw6PJc6xIFPvWHZ7fLuBdOh7SFEzpYqsqzo4z_m_5w-79-6EH-bWjtqUzEuR8sV0Hl8hlrZatFsUV5TerAg/s400/HPIM2806.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659132729140484242" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">The Strathian Duke then sends his guards and grenadiers to his right flank, seeking a double-flanking move. The Meldenian line, luckily heavily stocked with infantry, responds by pulling in both flanks. Will the promised contingent from Meldania's ally, Buvalia, get here in time? </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqgeIWQP-R-TNkbWy4ufsCg75UJihTiv5-w4a19gU6gXcoGrzX_nMtw26Dm_Gjvi4mzUfEpz88x0hhm-2yZj813Lotz8NOKts1etqgef-5v2Jt6zYhcCGuZIbdKexgt7zNLOfSO6eNILE/s1600/HPIM2807.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqgeIWQP-R-TNkbWy4ufsCg75UJihTiv5-w4a19gU6gXcoGrzX_nMtw26Dm_Gjvi4mzUfEpz88x0hhm-2yZj813Lotz8NOKts1etqgef-5v2Jt6zYhcCGuZIbdKexgt7zNLOfSO6eNILE/s400/HPIM2807.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659131645149456530" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">They do! Rushing up at speed from the Meldenian Rear, the Buvalian force moves down the river and detects a previously unnoticed crossing-ford. Suddenly the Strathian flanking cannon are looking vulnerable.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJEtNpjg4ukKaHKHmGMfNF-alIcTWwNJBf5k6M3zvBMR09NAyAwid5IDhsMuZF0NiUExdcYV5ZYlsMQqVkudGjO6Gs3I7UzjJnr0KMH8WboRGSRtR8bZKlXBsprQwQuDQBz6oeRwSoR-Q/s1600/HPIM2809.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJEtNpjg4ukKaHKHmGMfNF-alIcTWwNJBf5k6M3zvBMR09NAyAwid5IDhsMuZF0NiUExdcYV5ZYlsMQqVkudGjO6Gs3I7UzjJnr0KMH8WboRGSRtR8bZKlXBsprQwQuDQBz6oeRwSoR-Q/s400/HPIM2809.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659131640870918962" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">The carefully-tended fields, recently swept of Croats, turn into a close-fought battlefield as Strathian infantry battle to contain Buvalian horse and foot at the crossing.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrLLFxw_w4Z6Q4YO9z0KJU4OZDw6gwKifV9Abvf98yAjjr2tUU6hKdR5c7yRsrPtjl5C8OY4OwdGqlDRA08kdxexHiyQZdtPuI0qB2ETd9_qApyBPeYD9rKktlOQwIynZkLldPvEt_PTw/s1600/HPIM2810.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrLLFxw_w4Z6Q4YO9z0KJU4OZDw6gwKifV9Abvf98yAjjr2tUU6hKdR5c7yRsrPtjl5C8OY4OwdGqlDRA08kdxexHiyQZdtPuI0qB2ETd9_qApyBPeYD9rKktlOQwIynZkLldPvEt_PTw/s400/HPIM2810.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659131638291191154" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Back at the main battle-line, the Strathian line is becoming stretched as the Meldenian artillery punches holes through the blue line. Reserves have blocked the flanking attack, so the Duke of Strathia throws in his last reserve in: four brigades of cavalry, launched like a fist into the centre of the Meldenian line to smash it wide open.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6aqe8D5QCHmQEg8PTntZqB4-0Nbr2IIRFJm0o1iRj8K8q_ZX3w9PRXN5QFZq1SHeTYvdszjddKKF0sOGom_O66N3aFsFMhLEsVc0CuD3ybdiJgla1vfKpB238A3aju0x5Y15C4tBz4SA/s1600/HPIM2813.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6aqe8D5QCHmQEg8PTntZqB4-0Nbr2IIRFJm0o1iRj8K8q_ZX3w9PRXN5QFZq1SHeTYvdszjddKKF0sOGom_O66N3aFsFMhLEsVc0CuD3ybdiJgla1vfKpB238A3aju0x5Y15C4tBz4SA/s400/HPIM2813.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659131630726372338" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Meldenia holds out! The white line holds firm, and the oncoming horsemen are shot down by the score as they advance up the slope, raked by musket volleys and canister from the supporting cannons. The overstretched Strathian army can take no more and begins to fall back, leaving behind some of the flower of its troops dead on the ground</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLRhSTpGPwr_ICYj0KkwiY6YYCgrJ-q6hCt84QgjotKtCzYBamhQ-8P_tqjGVyBfSGMrndo-sz4ytekUrYJ0YYW-1k1kdnZGjn1ZZnuSVaZt57r0OiVYXSFZ35LE0sYGCV1UshPogXuR4/s1600/HPIM2817.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLRhSTpGPwr_ICYj0KkwiY6YYCgrJ-q6hCt84QgjotKtCzYBamhQ-8P_tqjGVyBfSGMrndo-sz4ytekUrYJ0YYW-1k1kdnZGjn1ZZnuSVaZt57r0OiVYXSFZ35LE0sYGCV1UshPogXuR4/s400/HPIM2817.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659131629779707762" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i>"Your Grace, you must flee this accursed field!"</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>CWThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08145880616920091517noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3141445228511165841.post-45451591544899089612011-08-19T06:20:00.003+01:002011-08-19T07:02:17.695+01:00Battle near Palmsa<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh62h65EUkkrtdF6aEplw9pIhqUkuMdZt3Eg4NVTNPmVlRf9cJryVLWIgf_ScuVgMwITSilAZ9bTlPZOFwtPe2SH0OpXZbc-QJDHL4t9FPa_tZtcYc36KIbMbFjn2q75mKd_1C3qgHp9KA/s1600/HPIM2784.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh62h65EUkkrtdF6aEplw9pIhqUkuMdZt3Eg4NVTNPmVlRf9cJryVLWIgf_ScuVgMwITSilAZ9bTlPZOFwtPe2SH0OpXZbc-QJDHL4t9FPa_tZtcYc36KIbMbFjn2q75mKd_1C3qgHp9KA/s400/HPIM2784.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642435533303378066" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;">The war is on! Strathia is up against an alliance of three enemy states, and the Duke Von Halburg himself is poised to invade Meldenia with the main army of the Duchy. To the south however, the secondary army is waiting under Count Von Stresswitz, guarding the main city of Palmsa from the Sarvanian Army (the two lower army markers you can see facing off against each other on the map above.) Sarvania duly advances, unable to resist the chance to put all of Strathia's plans into chaos by forcing a siege on their capital so rapidly in the war.</div><div>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhberQgLUHJ-4b5dUgvZc_q_am3-NyzwuriSC20hyDUBdbsulyC9hVwNd8Fan4j4dYRmfsptRqOOJz32rwuukUDlkgQV4w7U7E4yNkdQg4KbMNQUSpp2kQ1x_8S690V8D9swAf7bjU2AaI/s1600/HPIM2785.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhberQgLUHJ-4b5dUgvZc_q_am3-NyzwuriSC20hyDUBdbsulyC9hVwNd8Fan4j4dYRmfsptRqOOJz32rwuukUDlkgQV4w7U7E4yNkdQg4KbMNQUSpp2kQ1x_8S690V8D9swAf7bjU2AaI/s400/HPIM2785.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642434952003377554" /></a>The white-coated Sarvanians enter the filed of battle from the bottom of the picture, while the blue wall of Strathians wait silently for them - both flanks anchored on a small village and a stream on each side of them. There's only one route for the Sarvanians to take - headlong!
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiKrKrD0D5_nSPYU-_vN8golbQ9iqXu8uMCXk2IeK7vQ35sj0IQ254CRxooV8kwrau4S12JrIj5w25DaaIfC8mtCDRHtCQPw2Coufn4o22zHOKa2X4YQolpXLhwlzmlKsGTzZ3NrFMGHE/s1600/HPIM2788.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiKrKrD0D5_nSPYU-_vN8golbQ9iqXu8uMCXk2IeK7vQ35sj0IQ254CRxooV8kwrau4S12JrIj5w25DaaIfC8mtCDRHtCQPw2Coufn4o22zHOKa2X4YQolpXLhwlzmlKsGTzZ3NrFMGHE/s400/HPIM2788.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642434947573598370" /></a>The Sarvanian infantry attacks in double-ranks, keeping its Grenadiers and lively Hungarian-style regiments to the fore. On the open flank, the Sarvanians move artillery up and a screen of infantry, thus bringing the village under bombardment and blocking the superior Strathian cavalry.
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhacNtxLMKCBvzfiPvm2SbJM3WVAqy3WPIcl5LHjj5DzriN-scfThm7GoToCkFeB5qLZlP1zl3Jx474dv2FMSgxvImCHRpwelPNN5f8xRs7BH4yooy3RTvWq1ReKAD27jDorgbLR9AUoOA/s1600/HPIM2790.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhacNtxLMKCBvzfiPvm2SbJM3WVAqy3WPIcl5LHjj5DzriN-scfThm7GoToCkFeB5qLZlP1zl3Jx474dv2FMSgxvImCHRpwelPNN5f8xRs7BH4yooy3RTvWq1ReKAD27jDorgbLR9AUoOA/s400/HPIM2790.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642434944560826770" /></a>Kapow! After enduring a hail of incoming cannon-balls, the Sarvanian line hits home. The bluecoat Strathians reel back, with some units cracking up under the strain and fleeing for the rear as the Hungarians press home and threaten to put their swords & bayonets to use.
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBXK3qa-DbVVoniAqAJJSiYvmxpP8c3idPhSA2o4QWXRNnh-akyen88wZ8oc2EXcUapItmuGd67TzeRX7YO42Nrg4ofIfhgONZcLBaZdJHhxdFFes_tN93xtA9psKLtY7DxJdPsCFzNhw/s1600/HPIM2796.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBXK3qa-DbVVoniAqAJJSiYvmxpP8c3idPhSA2o4QWXRNnh-akyen88wZ8oc2EXcUapItmuGd67TzeRX7YO42Nrg4ofIfhgONZcLBaZdJHhxdFFes_tN93xtA9psKLtY7DxJdPsCFzNhw/s400/HPIM2796.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642434936537453170" /></a>The fight goes on, but bogs down. Count Stresswitz keeps a steady hand on things and rallies waverers, plus sends reserves in as required to blunt the Sarvanian attack.
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfxJTDA7RZHkMiKR1Uul3Gyq4i3_DjSeev5rgUeaukifLhzdLycys7jaNuJR3LhfUvagh4GFV5IWYCL6eRv7W_3uvjRZmC2NS0VqzHZCPmKnvbsI74iQPCxdNs_RIOOrumT9d5584QJJ0/s1600/HPIM2798.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfxJTDA7RZHkMiKR1Uul3Gyq4i3_DjSeev5rgUeaukifLhzdLycys7jaNuJR3LhfUvagh4GFV5IWYCL6eRv7W_3uvjRZmC2NS0VqzHZCPmKnvbsI74iQPCxdNs_RIOOrumT9d5584QJJ0/s400/HPIM2798.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642434933082732914" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;">General Von Kreist, Reichskanzler of Sarvania, has had a pretty good day by his standards. His obligations to the League are fulfilled, and the strength of the Strathian military whittled down a fair degree - as are his own. True, some might say he just did the bare minimum and then retreated, or that his attack was beaten back, but what do they know? The Strathian position was a tough one, and the slippery Count still had his grenadiers in reserve - clearly no decision of decisive nature was going to be reached, and in the best traditions of 18th-Century Military Theory are clear: bst to withdraw and count on the damage done collectively adding up. Now, all eyes in the region turn northwards to the anticipated Strathian invasion of Meldenia...</div><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>[A quick word on forces in the campaign: The Strathian army is huge, and by points-standards it is as large as the other three allied armies added together. However, as the other three countries can rebuild every year in normal DBA-Campaign style, the Strathian Player can't. His large army will, in a protracted war, be ground down until it also reaches the same size as any other participant, when it will then recruit normally. If The Duke of Strathia fancies remaining the regional top-dog, he'll have to do it fast!]</i></div></div>CWThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08145880616920091517noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3141445228511165841.post-37116610360766183252011-08-16T06:36:00.004+01:002011-08-16T06:47:18.006+01:00The League of Strathia<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSe3vio9b2svTFBX-jiEAkRphDZVwlQUBi4fqFJU7rNvFYCLxslDo0GAivrlyxQyrA2Dabxvpi-hcLlOMLvkphUHevS8MbAhtyhdP3wUxWCfW57Aus83wvL4jG3iVnDt0kOe2gFUjA4oA/s1600/img012.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 283px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSe3vio9b2svTFBX-jiEAkRphDZVwlQUBi4fqFJU7rNvFYCLxslDo0GAivrlyxQyrA2Dabxvpi-hcLlOMLvkphUHevS8MbAhtyhdP3wUxWCfW57Aus83wvL4jG3iVnDt0kOe2gFUjA4oA/s400/img012.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641323883043547826" /></a>
<br /><div>What with all the talk of vast new campaigns, new army collections, etc. it's actually been some time since some games were published here! As I realised this with a start, I decided to get something quick and simple done and issued asap, rather than saving away and leaving huge gaps where nothing was really happening. So: here is my new 'quick' DBA-style campaign, between some local rivals. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>Allow me to introduce four minor countries, huddled together in a minor enclave off the Baltic coast. Going clockwise, there is the Freistadt of Buvalia, a mercantile state sitting at the mouth of the River Mannow; there is Sarvania, the large and landlocked country to the southeast; next is the dominant local power, the Duchy of Strathia; last, the coastal and rugged Duchy of Meldenia.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>This group of countries used to be under Strathia's control in the 'League of Strathia.' However, the greedy Duke Franz Von Halburg has taken a bit too much from them all, for a bit too long. The states have united, and declared war on Strathia to end the League. Can the Duke maintain Strathia's control? Will the rebelling alliance hold together long enough to secure victory? And if so, which of the three will emerge as the new dominant regional power?</div><div>
<br /></div>CWThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08145880616920091517noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3141445228511165841.post-78340438159327713232011-06-12T13:59:00.003+01:002011-06-12T14:14:07.485+01:00New Model Army?Recently, while noodling and footling around with different imaginations for my planned big grand campaign, I found myself at a quiet moment painting-wise. As I have been posting on my other blog, I've recently finished up and squared away a large WW2 project. Now, with my spare evenings, I seem to be at somethting of a loss without as many projects. This got me thinking about something I swore not so long ago I simply wouldn't do: collecting another Seven Years' War army. <div><br /></div><div>Uncertain if this was a good idea or not, I began to look into it and pondered what to get. I settled pretty rapidly on a Russian army, who (barring small exceptions) posed the other main enemy that Frederick the Great found Prussia tangling with on the battlefield. The general outlook is good: natty uniforms with a nice green-and-red scheme; stackloads of artillery; stubborn infantry who just never seem to quit; comically (on the games table, at least) inept commanders more interested in fighting with each other than an enemy; cavalry with hordes of light horse in the form of the Cossacks. In short, a force which would sit nicely alongside the Austrians and Prussians I already own and have enough of an individual character to make it hold it's own. Browsing and planning the Essex Miniatures' website (my supplier of choice for 15mm figs) has seen me work out a three-batch system which allows me to grow the army progressively over time up to the final planned size, which would mean it could compete with the two others.</div><div><br /></div><div>All that I need to do now is convince myself I'm really up to painting hundreds of tricornes and coat-facings once again! (shudder...)</div>CWThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08145880616920091517noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3141445228511165841.post-43194329641178807522011-05-20T19:50:00.002+01:002011-05-20T20:37:12.940+01:00Down the Wargame 'Rabbit-Hole'Good grief, but I didn't think a wargames campaign would take up so much time purely in the setup! I've surprised myself, to be honest, but wanted to at least check in to say progress is ongoing. I'm currently working with a massive hex map I've made, by printing and taping twelve A4 pages together to produce a massive folding map of a fictional area. Whether the map covers a fictional continent like Europe or some minor Baltic Enclave beneath the notice of history, I haven't yet decided (or much see the need to ever decide!)<div><br /></div><div>I am currently detailing the countries as per Tony Bath's advice, which is strangely 'against the grain' as far as I'm concerned. Normally I'm all in favour of reducing detail in a campaign to make play smooth and easy, but this system of Tony Bath & Co. goes the very opposite way. Everything, down to the population of farmhouses and the national budget is detailed by following his advice! Contrary to my expectations, this actually helps with the detail, as I feel I 'own' the creation far more with this sort of detail at my fingertips. Quite a pleasant surprise, I must say. I shall post again soon, with some map info and the basics of how one of my countries works. Back to the Exchequer!</div>CWThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08145880616920091517noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3141445228511165841.post-17854408204982846412011-04-08T06:11:00.003+01:002011-04-08T06:37:21.430+01:00Campaign Plans<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><u><br /></u></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It's been quite a while since I was wargaming anything SYW-related, to be honest, but the itch has not gone away. I have resolved on a new project for my nations of Aschenbach and Luftberg, in order to re-launch the enthusiasm. I was campaigning over the small province of Muckenmire, but things have degenerated and slowed so much it seems pointless to become bogged down in it. Time to man up, accept it's halted, and park it for a while. Maybe in the future I can pick it up again (the advantages of detailed record-keeping!)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So, what now? I had toyed with the idea of a large campaign which took on board some of the lessons I had learned from the Muckenmire campaign. I liked the hexes & movement, but felt I had allowed too small an area and clogged it with fortresses - possibly realistic, but something of a struggle to campaign in for a game. I also had higher ambitions, as a flip through the old rulebook 'Warfare in the age of Reason' by Tod Kershner saw the campaign system catch my eye. For those who don't have this, it's basically a full SYW campaign map, with the whole of Europe shown, plus the American Colonies & Indian Subcontinent included. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I liked the notion of something big-scale, but there was one problem: I had Prussian and Austrian armies, but no others - and I had sworn a solemn oath to myself that after long months painting the pair of them, I was never again painting a large 18th-Century army! I abandoned the idea, but the potential still remained and I turned it over and over in my mind. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Finally, another two sources of information/inspiration arrived! On a whim, I got the 'Campaign Cartographer' software for myself to let me draw good-quality maps (after just one too many uninspiring hand-drawn black & white effort) plus I ordered a copy of the old-style classic 'Setting up a Wargames Campaign' by Tony Bath.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBU0ZP4wmidC2wGoFiMgT5UYZnMzcIJ-bQFX5YFEiwHWfyGSApdexhrZH8zMfiKdhZfN3BAyKiVLR4dulWbqYzXJPoHGgmuqWvVBNsFlEnChk_GEdsk6Mibo59S6f4CE4IftPwWxpXVuk/s1600/tony+bath.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBU0ZP4wmidC2wGoFiMgT5UYZnMzcIJ-bQFX5YFEiwHWfyGSApdexhrZH8zMfiKdhZfN3BAyKiVLR4dulWbqYzXJPoHGgmuqWvVBNsFlEnChk_GEdsk6Mibo59S6f4CE4IftPwWxpXVuk/s320/tony+bath.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593079565643125778" style="text-align: justify;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I am currently reading through this and sketching out ideas, but I think that I am generally clear on the plan I have: Aschenbach and Luftberg fighting each other through a large map littered with minor principalities and duchies (who, through the influence of their powerful neighbours, just happen to have extremely similar uniforms) plus some colonial footholds that the two superpowers can scrap over through land and sea! I'm still reading onwards, but I shall keep you updated on my progress so you can see how things develop.</div>CWThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08145880616920091517noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3141445228511165841.post-91016795690418935252011-01-27T06:12:00.004+00:002011-01-27T07:06:48.251+00:00Battle at Grossenbasch<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><u><br /></u></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">After a break over the xmas holidays, I thought I'd share some pics from a one-off fight I'd had. At random, I decided to just put each full army on a big table and fight out a stand-alone battle. Normally I have been recently doing this on the floor of the living room, but the knees don't take well to it! Instead I broadened out the dining room table by the simple method of putting down some sheets of MDF board to widen it from a small-ish rectangle into a large square area - and then I crammed every bit of scenery I had onto it, to make the terrain as challenging as possible.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqPhJAOHLSKEiRhN7J9v5Haab_Q_HgBnGLm9xFn0xOi6aefUjpZeeVqI7zYPVlzPo0ufOZTdazvNq33sGvWuJLasD4Tqwxyexb8ahtbejdgBMdbfWNBRg6CUEi-u6UpBcGaGbrE1w3AJc/s1600/HPIM2368.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqPhJAOHLSKEiRhN7J9v5Haab_Q_HgBnGLm9xFn0xOi6aefUjpZeeVqI7zYPVlzPo0ufOZTdazvNq33sGvWuJLasD4Tqwxyexb8ahtbejdgBMdbfWNBRg6CUEi-u6UpBcGaGbrE1w3AJc/s400/HPIM2368.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566746116990596402" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">After a brief setup, I was off! Each army advanced from it's setup area, rapidly gravitating towards the defensive positions around - of which there were many. Below is the Luftberg army in it's deployment zone, about to occupy a small hill to its front.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYcYJgRABIhjO5BWgebk5KEr9X2EZ4g83mUYRC8G2ZckF8n1mb2eqSLSSb1vg3K1GrRk-6__f6pqv9uhuY9RyGKouTXMlOEeUKiPw6iD1TJv9Yh7-sZsDPK2rx5LnJFFd-7OtnIjMxfzE/s1600/HPIM2372.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYcYJgRABIhjO5BWgebk5KEr9X2EZ4g83mUYRC8G2ZckF8n1mb2eqSLSSb1vg3K1GrRk-6__f6pqv9uhuY9RyGKouTXMlOEeUKiPw6iD1TJv9Yh7-sZsDPK2rx5LnJFFd-7OtnIjMxfzE/s400/HPIM2372.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566746102933696162" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Below we have the Aschenbach army, which has the space for a more linear setup to the front, and guns packed on a hilltop behind.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigxb3qMrxCelWaxSgWmFhwwhWUgy_fc0fWZMNiyOf3WZtGTdgQ-5HCvhFo3ImY_Kg0wjFH1a4UvClrZjcO1ZSrnNwiAoXQKu429Otr9h-L0PLc-ML11SYe4K2dmAZtkoP-LunYRn-PROE/s1600/HPIM2373.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigxb3qMrxCelWaxSgWmFhwwhWUgy_fc0fWZMNiyOf3WZtGTdgQ-5HCvhFo3ImY_Kg0wjFH1a4UvClrZjcO1ZSrnNwiAoXQKu429Otr9h-L0PLc-ML11SYe4K2dmAZtkoP-LunYRn-PROE/s400/HPIM2373.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566746107160659634" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The battle opened with the speedy Aschenbach advance in the centre, between the two areas of woodland. The centre offered only a narrow corridor for advance between these obstacles, so brigades of infantry went through one after the other. The object for Aschenbach became to have the two leading line infantry brigades swing left and right, leaving the enemy centre set up for the third brigade (made up of Grenadiers) to break through. The terrain is tough however - a stream on the left, a hill to the right, and an enemy-held village right in the centre!</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHlfRA-hUpSAkGYf_iSle8ImUhdQ2bU-MoGrBUlgtvdi9_8Xori4-vulEhArqKtpErmL-kScx95hjttnnXG_g8CFthCVorW8TUAM54BDzC74uMi8_1NUK1snaH9qVrHozXY2EdZbWTt6Y/s1600/HPIM2375.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHlfRA-hUpSAkGYf_iSle8ImUhdQ2bU-MoGrBUlgtvdi9_8Xori4-vulEhArqKtpErmL-kScx95hjttnnXG_g8CFthCVorW8TUAM54BDzC74uMi8_1NUK1snaH9qVrHozXY2EdZbWTt6Y/s400/HPIM2375.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566746126452973314" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Disaster looms! The Aschenbach infantry cause terrible casualties, but by trying to swing out and widen their front, they expose their flanks to enfilade fire as the Luftberg line bends back and becomes concave! The bluecoats flee, and the Luftberg line begins to advance. With Croats also sniping from the trees, could this be a total collapse for the Aschenbach army?</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz4OQQitqFH3qzRtSskm2J6hYpQ393wUPq-qT_WP-6OGhcMGmIPFhFdNZ4DePQOhYuUjSb1lRc8YcDXxE00g6mgIrIeRhUSgSMsFrGQ2FYIXwSsdwteWXUhWjMD5EQb2zPjSfCGPDw0fg/s1600/HPIM2376.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz4OQQitqFH3qzRtSskm2J6hYpQ393wUPq-qT_WP-6OGhcMGmIPFhFdNZ4DePQOhYuUjSb1lRc8YcDXxE00g6mgIrIeRhUSgSMsFrGQ2FYIXwSsdwteWXUhWjMD5EQb2zPjSfCGPDw0fg/s400/HPIM2376.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566751752863335058" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The grenadiers occupy the gap between the two woods, and crush the Luftberg advance with their steady volleys. The advancing tide is turned back, with the possibility of breaking the Aschenbach army part now rapidly fading - those grenadiers have sealed up the bottleneck like, erm, a cork in a bottleneck!</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsPS8mUG8L5YZMfDeheC3oFHd8zoPGvx_qo-Kvv84VdUg1CyYD7RanguOGUmJgiRlbadrt5zERoIEP72ICPICpld9-7xpfdzF23R-cN_laGqLGCc3fR-xeoDJGWVamxS8_UUFXG2_pACA/s1600/HPIM2381.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsPS8mUG8L5YZMfDeheC3oFHd8zoPGvx_qo-Kvv84VdUg1CyYD7RanguOGUmJgiRlbadrt5zERoIEP72ICPICpld9-7xpfdzF23R-cN_laGqLGCc3fR-xeoDJGWVamxS8_UUFXG2_pACA/s400/HPIM2381.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566751761276377042" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Sensing a loss of Luftberg strength, the grenadiers advance out to press on the enemy line. Luftberg units prove equal to the chance with their supporting batteries however, and the Grenadier advance is held - also thanks to some pretty aggressive counter-charging by the lively Hungarians!</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHKhoe1dMeKwwIm9hMXEqk4hNyugwxwO_JZoHDkarc9r6wP6sIw3Q62iGjxbosFL5zBJPTBpZSfx7heZnFXNJODcMWJTMI943AaVn3T_koU9ashppnlYRb4fCMcyanKGA4ApCFz9TPq7Y/s1600/HPIM2383.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHKhoe1dMeKwwIm9hMXEqk4hNyugwxwO_JZoHDkarc9r6wP6sIw3Q62iGjxbosFL5zBJPTBpZSfx7heZnFXNJODcMWJTMI943AaVn3T_koU9ashppnlYRb4fCMcyanKGA4ApCFz9TPq7Y/s400/HPIM2383.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566751768917864818" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">And so, with the see-saw infantry battle over, the battle peters out in a standstill. The cavalry on each flank maintained a watchful hold on each other, waiting for one side or the other to gain an advantage in the centre before attacking. Sadly, that never came decisively for either side. The ground in the centre was certainly torn up, with an Aschenbach advance, then a Luftberg one, then a second Aschenbach attack, followed by yet another Luftberg counter-attack. As it turned out, the grenadiers were battered enough to pull back and hold the line long enough for all the batteries of artillery to be lined up in a protective screen. Each army had lost heavily, but neither had prevailed. I suppose the Aschenbach King can simply go home dissatisfied, but the Luftberg General will have a job writing to his Emperor and spinning this as a victory!</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-CNrGLbPoPSClg85CPlPwuEjddlFDwJRH9ov6mRY91P5p5Z96WbLcEahVJo6wb1c57FlfOXFkCmNDWZlQ72cfTuMNYBhoOGtQUnaonbbdZXS30WrGyQ3cyAbFAjZCgHCiprPDh-0E968/s1600/HPIM2384.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-CNrGLbPoPSClg85CPlPwuEjddlFDwJRH9ov6mRY91P5p5Z96WbLcEahVJo6wb1c57FlfOXFkCmNDWZlQ72cfTuMNYBhoOGtQUnaonbbdZXS30WrGyQ3cyAbFAjZCgHCiprPDh-0E968/s400/HPIM2384.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566751775559323218" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div>CWThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08145880616920091517noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3141445228511165841.post-61358311063282855562010-12-08T11:32:00.002+00:002010-12-08T11:50:26.447+00:00Hochkirch Re-fight Pics<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Scandalous neglect! Sadly much real-life activity plus a total lack of opportunity has kept me from playing any games for a while, but I did recently manage to squeeze a half-sized battle onto my dining table, to re-fight the battle of Hochkirch. I won't give a large or detailed description, but shall post a few snaps I managed to take. The battle proved to be a real knockabout affair, and almost all the action took place in a 2ft x 2ft area on the Prussian flank, where the Austrian columns hit. Had I known, I would've simply written off a large portion of the field and scaled-up the area of interest, but there you go - you live and learn! </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju4Ktulz2ZD7NnaQ0kJnJckhkwBoj9DtzGMzX_7SL2TbAhfd8GO99N2a-Ak8J3sFco7YLxjsMz0xh72SzWnPjHOk5nYKEUvH1zWQjmUrfXTjrbqcpNdjOD4ldC6azCSs9DjGy25bv7w6A/s1600/HPIM2362.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju4Ktulz2ZD7NnaQ0kJnJckhkwBoj9DtzGMzX_7SL2TbAhfd8GO99N2a-Ak8J3sFco7YLxjsMz0xh72SzWnPjHOk5nYKEUvH1zWQjmUrfXTjrbqcpNdjOD4ldC6azCSs9DjGy25bv7w6A/s400/HPIM2362.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548274261267744626" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; ">The full battlefield - Prussians deployed facing to the right, while the Austrians appear at the bottom of the table.</span></u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "><br /></span></u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG-aeS31XislN3u2QWOivO35r3JAHqr8dnbqP7PFj-zp9ZYBWooldFRr5gwXL0G5c0THaj2R_HLNL8N1Tbz5WjWUhyI3-TwaPIJFnqCSYQS2jpVHKQJB9leREk3_THH6RV1qGfZTu7jUA/s1600/HPIM2363.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG-aeS31XislN3u2QWOivO35r3JAHqr8dnbqP7PFj-zp9ZYBWooldFRr5gwXL0G5c0THaj2R_HLNL8N1Tbz5WjWUhyI3-TwaPIJFnqCSYQS2jpVHKQJB9leREk3_THH6RV1qGfZTu7jUA/s400/HPIM2363.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548274270199867394" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></span></u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; ">The Austrian attack columns</span></u></span></u></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><u><br /></u></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZYDyy7IqlhwAZRrL3hUxkSuIbHYYrJjOKlmSwN4z4dgQlS0PIz85uYpvgJmLpqFa22gtVMvmrI8ibPDZWf5L3cpqSH7D0-nSLweypfOlSo5VUAkiMPecp2Hw_ZhZ4S37vK51682E4q8A/s1600/HPIM2365.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZYDyy7IqlhwAZRrL3hUxkSuIbHYYrJjOKlmSwN4z4dgQlS0PIz85uYpvgJmLpqFa22gtVMvmrI8ibPDZWf5L3cpqSH7D0-nSLweypfOlSo5VUAkiMPecp2Hw_ZhZ4S37vK51682E4q8A/s400/HPIM2365.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548274278788632018" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></span></u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; ">The Austrian attack columns - as seen from above</span></u></span></u></span></u></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju4Ktulz2ZD7NnaQ0kJnJckhkwBoj9DtzGMzX_7SL2TbAhfd8GO99N2a-Ak8J3sFco7YLxjsMz0xh72SzWnPjHOk5nYKEUvH1zWQjmUrfXTjrbqcpNdjOD4ldC6azCSs9DjGy25bv7w6A/s1600/HPIM2362.JPG"></a><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTBwTDkaPEoo__ZXe-DUbjuEanpltkr9c9W0SMfQwNoTiaHvMA3xDQSEQPxuzJmzuiEE9u_TyEHQQxer30cGGNztd_1Ts4pxeZHbVD8bQbQ8Otjjz_vaKp1KzhSmkghCMcXF6OFoDfb3I/s1600/HPIM2366.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTBwTDkaPEoo__ZXe-DUbjuEanpltkr9c9W0SMfQwNoTiaHvMA3xDQSEQPxuzJmzuiEE9u_TyEHQQxer30cGGNztd_1Ts4pxeZHbVD8bQbQ8Otjjz_vaKp1KzhSmkghCMcXF6OFoDfb3I/s400/HPIM2366.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548274289061702562" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; ">The Austrians attack the Prussian line around Hochkirch village.</span></u></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi9P9lVcXj82AbthC_ALFyn9WCNc9BwZgEHhLcG-kLZzcBtZHvFJuDdC3nz56WGsVlfThbxnKUeVNvhGnQUSns9dVQ_SJcSk96eOdV0tnHejEvQFR60EQZTdfSy1kRnAXfoFFOkvQ7YGI/s400/HPIM2367.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548274302099805922" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; ">The Prussians held them in a hot fight for a while, but the Austrians turned both flanks and steadily overwhelmed them by superior numbers.</span></u></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div>CWThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08145880616920091517noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3141445228511165841.post-56928105187386154882010-09-27T06:05:00.003+01:002010-09-27T06:17:24.730+01:00Moving on to the next battleDear god, it's been nearly a full calendar month without any postings! Whatever is going on? Well, sadly the boring real world gets in the way now and then and weekends are fully-booked, which brings all opportunity for gaming to a crashing standstill. Shame, but there it is! <div><br /></div><div>I have been toying with ideas however, primarily one about doing a historical re-fight. It dawned on me that my newly-completed armies could represent very good forces in a SYW-style refight. If I doubled the scale, a very big battle! </div><div><br /></div><div>I checked online for some scenarios, and found a bunch of them available online for free via Sam Mustafa's excellent website for his rules 'Might & Reason' (championed here on my website on several past campaigns!) The link is:</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.sammustafa.com/honour/might-reason/mrscenario.html">http://www.sammustafa.com/honour/might-reason/mrscenario.html</a></div><div><br /></div><div>After tabling the forces and relative sizes, I realised that the Battle of Hochkirch from 1758 was a plausible candidate for my dining room table, if I halved the unit size (i.e. represented each unit with a single base rather than the normal two.) I'm currently tinkering with scales and reduced areas, plus also trying to work out how to represent the landscape on the table (it appears that the battle map was basically a large sloping hill, with around seven different contoured heights given on the scenario map.) I was planning to make the terrain by putting some books under my grass-green throw-rug, but having 7 books mounded up at one end of the table and none at the other seems a touch ridiculous! Still, I'll contrive something roughly close enough to the historical map to let the refight go ahead - after all, with time so difficult to find, no little technical problem will cost me the chance for a tabletop scrap! So far, next weekend looks free, so I'm off to polish my breastplate and have my sabre sharpened up. </div>CWThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08145880616920091517noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3141445228511165841.post-70795162301613047882010-08-19T06:15:00.005+01:002010-08-19T06:54:41.551+01:00The Battle of Berkhoek<div style="text-align: center;"><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></u></div><div style="text-align: left;">I have cracked the use of Battlechronicler, so I can now supply explanatory maps and cut down on text - always far better to get the casual blog reader to follow a battle report, I find!</div><div><br /></div><div>The situation starts with the Aschenbach army behind the small stream near the village of Berkhoek. Their right is on a wood, while their left is near a marsh. The cavalry is on the left, while there is a small field redoubt between the cavalry and infantry to protect the line further.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbzishALPpTpmGolnBrhj53UhLjIHRRPDyBda9rHh-P1suinfCg3ttQ2dVDkvURg0r8HWvm9xHykrxZ3GhoNJcfEVZKWSucPLvxqwzTdi4OHbqjQbUbJX0sU85x4Ypv30X3apK1LHSk-E/s1600/Berkhoek_Turn_1_Luftberg1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbzishALPpTpmGolnBrhj53UhLjIHRRPDyBda9rHh-P1suinfCg3ttQ2dVDkvURg0r8HWvm9xHykrxZ3GhoNJcfEVZKWSucPLvxqwzTdi4OHbqjQbUbJX0sU85x4Ypv30X3apK1LHSk-E/s400/Berkhoek_Turn_1_Luftberg1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506985624508322210" /></a>The battle opens with an artillery exchange, with some troops falling on each side.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbd6o7QW8XSf_XV2a1qv4cPwD5D-1FvNtOEsf-ZfUQ_X_zM-e8664-S1aHuLSbNeqyZi_INGot7bNPtcVDFjiUyoT4yhdmBA6bZRTrXy-t0aXSRccmatK7vhCFCMsA8BpmV-vg5JpH2D0/s1600/HPIM2279.JPG"></a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9nBjWfS8qzW8kRORyWlkY2TIOfQqAp7pc38Y8CqfBZn-jXHDrZOKSeYZV8rY-Ywguh1cdHOAtFfS0o8e_JJBLVC_7s0vRHDj5sV6d52lFyiZb1Rd8UAgRZ8y8F_OSIh0FRTHqD7g5rUU/s1600/HPIM2278.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9nBjWfS8qzW8kRORyWlkY2TIOfQqAp7pc38Y8CqfBZn-jXHDrZOKSeYZV8rY-Ywguh1cdHOAtFfS0o8e_JJBLVC_7s0vRHDj5sV6d52lFyiZb1Rd8UAgRZ8y8F_OSIh0FRTHqD7g5rUU/s400/HPIM2278.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506988194273244018" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The Aschenbach line, seen from the redoubt.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbd6o7QW8XSf_XV2a1qv4cPwD5D-1FvNtOEsf-ZfUQ_X_zM-e8664-S1aHuLSbNeqyZi_INGot7bNPtcVDFjiUyoT4yhdmBA6bZRTrXy-t0aXSRccmatK7vhCFCMsA8BpmV-vg5JpH2D0/s1600/HPIM2279.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbd6o7QW8XSf_XV2a1qv4cPwD5D-1FvNtOEsf-ZfUQ_X_zM-e8664-S1aHuLSbNeqyZi_INGot7bNPtcVDFjiUyoT4yhdmBA6bZRTrXy-t0aXSRccmatK7vhCFCMsA8BpmV-vg5JpH2D0/s400/HPIM2279.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506986349483566786" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbd6o7QW8XSf_XV2a1qv4cPwD5D-1FvNtOEsf-ZfUQ_X_zM-e8664-S1aHuLSbNeqyZi_INGot7bNPtcVDFjiUyoT4yhdmBA6bZRTrXy-t0aXSRccmatK7vhCFCMsA8BpmV-vg5JpH2D0/s1600/HPIM2279.JPG"></a><div style="text-align: center;">The full Luftberg army, deployed in classic linear style.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDiNmhQtdGrN_AfR3uyJoSEe9FCJm3srFMkkxF6BxmlvVyW2BmYtuKcO2wWh7TqfwbFzkpNLBMcfALayl0SXnBCRl4LeJU3mFLGeNfwjumMja3J8iOfXRXT6aeigp1N_4VD2OxbiPxwzE/s1600/Berkhoek_Turn_3_Luftberg1.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDiNmhQtdGrN_AfR3uyJoSEe9FCJm3srFMkkxF6BxmlvVyW2BmYtuKcO2wWh7TqfwbFzkpNLBMcfALayl0SXnBCRl4LeJU3mFLGeNfwjumMja3J8iOfXRXT6aeigp1N_4VD2OxbiPxwzE/s400/Berkhoek_Turn_3_Luftberg1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506985629660771362" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 314px; " /></a></div><div>The advance got underway - Luftberg planned to pin the front and quickly deliver a flanking blow with the cavalry, which would roll up the enemy line. The Right-Wing cavalry advanced rapidly, splashing through the stream in front of the enemy horse and taking heavy fire from the redoubt.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRTh5V3ucOFpMaE-32ZPsUenGPnNxZZD7jkRhqhq5eLZPuJOAucEzaBgsXycpq1uB3XvWhbyqDdbRbh2JYTMA0UPAyzL8exV2mhBkQ6BbhhHezItBIwkbaBoioAXnpS7Qi2dWcLnzyWmU/s1600/Berkhoek_Turn_4_Luftberg1.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRTh5V3ucOFpMaE-32ZPsUenGPnNxZZD7jkRhqhq5eLZPuJOAucEzaBgsXycpq1uB3XvWhbyqDdbRbh2JYTMA0UPAyzL8exV2mhBkQ6BbhhHezItBIwkbaBoioAXnpS7Qi2dWcLnzyWmU/s400/Berkhoek_Turn_4_Luftberg1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506985632066435666" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 314px; " /></a></div><div>The cavalry press on and attack the enemy dragoons, flanking them and forcing them back. Elsewhere the left-wing cavalry continue to languish and make slow progress, while the infantry lines trade long-range volleys. The grenadiers push heroically forward however, showing the aggressive spirit necessary!</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWIvcITG-Hvt3_2wlEtjm9uFXeR6Zbiu7uOYD9NIetVNCfUjW91ONY7lVkwCS3GmH52nXlEVWdcHur_Z2_nGpAbPPerKt4C1Yav4X52PBc3WvGbZL5IDKUjI0dLDE8rjsNgk7d9KUlxic/s1600/HPIM2282.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWIvcITG-Hvt3_2wlEtjm9uFXeR6Zbiu7uOYD9NIetVNCfUjW91ONY7lVkwCS3GmH52nXlEVWdcHur_Z2_nGpAbPPerKt4C1Yav4X52PBc3WvGbZL5IDKUjI0dLDE8rjsNgk7d9KUlxic/s400/HPIM2282.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506986358937702978" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The cavalry battle in progress.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOW6EJdD_4Aj6JVqKruKX2cyKcGylqi0d5tlzNFrrIEvYL0gP60nPVl5g5YbeplUgOiWFLdmNs2f6l-WlLz3FvGF45lcKYKwpn7pkgUdvLvqQ_e0XckgylMp4xeIrpf1R3SuaNfzaQ1pU/s1600/Berkhoek_Turn_5_Aschenbach.jpg"><br /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjetSwgwrWQoroYOvGtOKPJ4dAYOl1G771MqaIhXrt3TmfCkgY4FC3v4xKMTc7f4XDtpGwNpYHDoD0D2dk1-2anyWw2U00skRYl1zgBo939PGo_PCYVO1C7u69VGFGe2I9PZqsAJcMjphI/s1600/Berkhoek_Turn_5_Luftberg1.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjetSwgwrWQoroYOvGtOKPJ4dAYOl1G771MqaIhXrt3TmfCkgY4FC3v4xKMTc7f4XDtpGwNpYHDoD0D2dk1-2anyWw2U00skRYl1zgBo939PGo_PCYVO1C7u69VGFGe2I9PZqsAJcMjphI/s400/Berkhoek_Turn_5_Luftberg1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506985645184014178" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 314px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Presumably inspired by the example, the Hungarians cross the stream too, after the Grenadiers - one battalion of which charges and captures the artillery guns next to the redoubt in heroic style, but sadly the redoubt's defenders make further advance impossible without exposing their flanks to deadly fire. Where are the cavalry - they're surely meant to protect against this sort of thing!</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhByR7yVV9J1159PzMhliIqJE9msTOl5H8DxAHeqlxuSjjU0Jb_Tz4eFpLoGTmMH_knXu5RBtPX_Hyz-61uo_79euUiiojHH9Ys0uFv2I9kIYtuFy1TitkQ4pQCDLCmZtJ1IVrJ4QyFggE/s1600/HPIM2283.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhByR7yVV9J1159PzMhliIqJE9msTOl5H8DxAHeqlxuSjjU0Jb_Tz4eFpLoGTmMH_knXu5RBtPX_Hyz-61uo_79euUiiojHH9Ys0uFv2I9kIYtuFy1TitkQ4pQCDLCmZtJ1IVrJ4QyFggE/s400/HPIM2283.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506988158475390994" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div>The infantry lines stutter forward towards each other, with battalions being repeatedly halted in disorder by the hot fire. Aschenbach is naturally doing better here, outshooting it's more poorly-drilled rivals.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOW6EJdD_4Aj6JVqKruKX2cyKcGylqi0d5tlzNFrrIEvYL0gP60nPVl5g5YbeplUgOiWFLdmNs2f6l-WlLz3FvGF45lcKYKwpn7pkgUdvLvqQ_e0XckgylMp4xeIrpf1R3SuaNfzaQ1pU/s1600/Berkhoek_Turn_5_Aschenbach.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOW6EJdD_4Aj6JVqKruKX2cyKcGylqi0d5tlzNFrrIEvYL0gP60nPVl5g5YbeplUgOiWFLdmNs2f6l-WlLz3FvGF45lcKYKwpn7pkgUdvLvqQ_e0XckgylMp4xeIrpf1R3SuaNfzaQ1pU/s400/Berkhoek_Turn_5_Aschenbach.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506985636091257634" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 314px; " /></a></div><div>Aschenbach's line is straining as the casualties mount, but the reserve Fusilier battalion from the depot in the rear finally arrives to help out. Likewise, a battalion of IR7 refuses the flank to keep the line together.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDDxa_6CtEkyV11i3FhacksPcjT8NAr9_eZzojoMruvObOLfmmgsFHTZH2Vta1gL8liigVse1L3dxIZIa3esC-ZlicilLf0JQQ7wGDVW_rnixn3mi_d_hvyRU6FGhFYpBwi1fuIeeuzYU/s1600/Berkhoek_Turn_6_Luftberg1.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDDxa_6CtEkyV11i3FhacksPcjT8NAr9_eZzojoMruvObOLfmmgsFHTZH2Vta1gL8liigVse1L3dxIZIa3esC-ZlicilLf0JQQ7wGDVW_rnixn3mi_d_hvyRU6FGhFYpBwi1fuIeeuzYU/s400/Berkhoek_Turn_6_Luftberg1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506986323841416674" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 314px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>At last! The left-wing cavalry finally roll an excellent move and ford the stream, heading deep into the enemy rear. The right-wing cavalry are stalemated, and a second attempt by the grenadiers to charge some cannons is halted in a storm of grapeshot. The line is holding, but only just - and there's nothing left to stop this cavalry attack threatening to descend. Von Hartling decides to withdraw slowly, hopefully avoiding the enemy cavalry before it can get a successful orders roll. Disaster strikes however, when Von Hartling completely fails his own orders roll - his army is a sitting duck!</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAa4MMc0SfFap9Yh68hQaUQYeLl3ytgpSeMdXtR45oS5ANpgAWE67IWh2CTjTlKFTou7yoiAF3UDuU6tL3HCbXxUpOnaXNd1IzegWEARHZm3TBZzUnh9L02q4_fHFrbDxsO6omzGGppzU/s1600/Berkhoek_Turn_7_Luftberg1.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAa4MMc0SfFap9Yh68hQaUQYeLl3ytgpSeMdXtR45oS5ANpgAWE67IWh2CTjTlKFTou7yoiAF3UDuU6tL3HCbXxUpOnaXNd1IzegWEARHZm3TBZzUnh9L02q4_fHFrbDxsO6omzGGppzU/s400/Berkhoek_Turn_7_Luftberg1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506986337525491906" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 314px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Nooo! The cavalry commander on the Luftberg left wing gets the second full-effect orders roll - two turns in a row now! This incredible streak of form sees his horsemen descend onto the backs of the hard-pressed bluecoats, who promptly shatter like glass.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTVQDlLsrcNs_2VJN7-dV8UK2D55pCBG3HT125LvinMMYZljU7j26PCQO1YKWAdvwQifUzmHHo5pNXqH7P8oRSf_LPnSaQANtLhXynMzJmlClzB72FbYY2fXbX_dLSnO7J2Ibbi_c5928/s1600/HPIM2295.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTVQDlLsrcNs_2VJN7-dV8UK2D55pCBG3HT125LvinMMYZljU7j26PCQO1YKWAdvwQifUzmHHo5pNXqH7P8oRSf_LPnSaQANtLhXynMzJmlClzB72FbYY2fXbX_dLSnO7J2Ibbi_c5928/s400/HPIM2295.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506988172226723922" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-netKCi9k11okxGkA1fa2yli_XXNdfveM_Qei568hi8BLPh1ctX3oIwSSEaKqzKEj_KX-SCZ8nDZHv2xRw4dyRNBCfxcVcqPMQSM2eI9uiiRio-uTv0LLGSE5LhCE86S7aECJowS6KcY/s1600/Berkhoek_Turn_7_Aschenbach.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-netKCi9k11okxGkA1fa2yli_XXNdfveM_Qei568hi8BLPh1ctX3oIwSSEaKqzKEj_KX-SCZ8nDZHv2xRw4dyRNBCfxcVcqPMQSM2eI9uiiRio-uTv0LLGSE5LhCE86S7aECJowS6KcY/s400/Berkhoek_Turn_7_Aschenbach.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506986327816574802" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 314px; " /></a></div><div>The disaster is total - two battalions are scattered, while a third is surrounded along with the surviving gunners. Caught deep within the milling hordes of Luftberg troops, there's nothing for it but to send out a white flag and begin the genteel process of negotiating an honourable surrender. Von Hartling does however use the time for this wisely, snatching his remaining infantry clear of the wreckage, abandoning the redoubt and falling back behind his cavalry as a screen.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOTkFXm8L9OyUF6tHCK1aRl3_ro7yHYE5QUZMXcT2mhqalCTF_6_eD5_6ggyLNXfeYDyhh4wDQCMukG9gYwwa8LY62c79a64NvLOHJb4aRFU12Qd-lKiWAHWwxl8zDZfqx5_GxX3IE1cs/s1600/HPIM2286.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOTkFXm8L9OyUF6tHCK1aRl3_ro7yHYE5QUZMXcT2mhqalCTF_6_eD5_6ggyLNXfeYDyhh4wDQCMukG9gYwwa8LY62c79a64NvLOHJb4aRFU12Qd-lKiWAHWwxl8zDZfqx5_GxX3IE1cs/s400/HPIM2286.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506988180857922914" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Gentlemen, another glorious victory to the Elector Von Luftberg - champagne!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>CWThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08145880616920091517noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3141445228511165841.post-40193818784578646332010-08-17T06:29:00.002+01:002010-08-17T06:32:21.725+01:00Technical ProblemsApologies for the delay, everybody. The battle is fought, but I am intending to post photos & the report along with maps using the Battlechronicler software - worth googling as it's a free download for your wargame maps etc. to put on your blog. Only problem is that I'm still going through the 'teething troubles' stage, getting the hang of how to use it. The results should be along soon, hopefully, so please bear with me!CWThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08145880616920091517noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3141445228511165841.post-13601508519857044042010-08-06T06:51:00.003+01:002010-08-06T07:18:55.842+01:00Up-and-coming Fight<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u><br /></u></span></div>Thanks to everyone who commented on the last post - my long-held objective is complete! And now, with perfect timing, the Muckenmire campaign has thrown up an interesting (and large) battle.<div><br /></div><div>Winter approaches, so both sides are largely clearing up the province by engaging in the time-consuming and static pursuits of siegecraft. Von Krumper is now camped outside Veldhuizburg, Von Zaub is away investing the large and isolated city of Oosterheide, and Von Hartling - well, it's not going so well. After entering the province and sweeping a few towns away from the enemy, the dire autumn weather forced a halt and consolidation, building a depot to let him move deeper into enemy territory. Upon completion, he crossed the river Konigveldt and approached the garrisoned town of Vincken for a siege. Sadly for him, there was a late-freeze in November that restored full-speed movement in the province before the serious winter snows set in. With the roads passable, no less a force than the Elector Von Luftberg's army itself (newly arrived in the province and looking for trouble) began approaching fast. </div><div><br /></div><div>Keeping up the siege was impossible, and hasty withdrawal to the Konigveldt river the only option. However, Von Hartling wasn't about to give up without a fight. The road back to the river is one of 20 miles, but two-thirds of the way back the road is hemmed in - by woods and the river to the north-west, and swampland to the south-east. At this bottleneck, the outnumbered Aschenbach army can make a stand and hopefully bloody the noses of the Elector's men. </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjql532ZXi5Q1oKm_nBsgTyngekj32llSNEqOJ5BpoTXZ8Hu2eDPVEjw4uXs2MDNqYcjSEhjLKVWReEZbqgM4Asq7qQjQB968ety-2rLxIX0_6i4EQDRdCLyDvVgSI2lcR-HSzWwOz49cI/s1600/Luftbat.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjql532ZXi5Q1oKm_nBsgTyngekj32llSNEqOJ5BpoTXZ8Hu2eDPVEjw4uXs2MDNqYcjSEhjLKVWReEZbqgM4Asq7qQjQB968ety-2rLxIX0_6i4EQDRdCLyDvVgSI2lcR-HSzWwOz49cI/s400/Luftbat.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502174410516685938" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 237px; " /></a></div><div>Forces are as follows below. The Aschenbach army has every advantage of terrain and position, but is heavily outnumbered: parity in artillery, but facing odds of two-to-one in Infantry and three-to-one in Cavalry.</div><div><br /></div><div>Aschenbach - Von Hartling commanding</div><div>IR4 Von Hoffman Infantry Regiment</div><div>IR7 Von Dunckel Infantry Regiment</div><div>FR8 Von Grappel Fusilier Regiment (one battalion late-deploying)</div><div>DR1 Von Fleiger Dragoon Regiment</div><div>#2 Artillery battery</div><div>Rudimentary fieldworks</div><div><br /></div><div>Luftberg - Von Luftberg commanding</div><div>Pilsen Grenadier Regiment</div><div>IR2 Doppler Infantry Regiment</div><div>IR5 Von Trapp Infantry Regiment</div><div>IR7 Von Stiegl Infantry Regiment</div><div>IR9 Bartok Hungarian Infantry Regiment</div><div>KR3 Klimt Kurassier Regiment</div><div>DR2 Krauss Dragoon Regiment</div><div>HR2 Schiele Hussar Regiment</div><div>#1 Artillery Battery</div><div>Siege Train (not on field)</div><div>Pontoons (not on field)</div><div><br /></div>CWThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08145880616920091517noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3141445228511165841.post-89100772851693090652010-08-02T06:22:00.003+01:002010-08-02T07:03:00.190+01:00Painting: Completed!<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhARoLnJ2Zz6uCNXNQZ5chVoPWTuyjgGcDHmQgEWV6J59Hnbps22Gm4GZir007mFTq5MpJzDkhfNlmM392qF2aH-n_44irpequqLJClf-9zjAFNbeiVPziybBLWUYLcHD5aHdvwyMvvLlA/s1600/HPIM2265.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhARoLnJ2Zz6uCNXNQZ5chVoPWTuyjgGcDHmQgEWV6J59Hnbps22Gm4GZir007mFTq5MpJzDkhfNlmM392qF2aH-n_44irpequqLJClf-9zjAFNbeiVPziybBLWUYLcHD5aHdvwyMvvLlA/s400/HPIM2265.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500679790220528050" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></span></u></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">It's done! In a post I sometimes never thought I'd type, here it is: I have completed my Seven Years' War armies! First conceived in 2008, and now - roughly one and two-thirds of a year later, they are now completely painted and based. I had thoroughly sickened myself of painting after an earlier burst that broke the back of them, and allowed me to play games with a few left over - I just couldn't face mopping up the remainder. Little bits were done here and there, slowly nibbling away at the pile, but that was all. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Then, yesterday morning, I suddenly had the impulse out of nowhere to just get my head down and finish it off. One lazy Sunday transformed into a frenzied paint-a-thon later, and it is over. The final Aschenbach units are complete, painted and based! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Doubtless when they make the film of this deranged painting project (it's all in my mind's eye, so why not?) I'll be on-screen looking all windswept and conflicted, trying to decide whether to go back for one last mission(painting session) before final retirement. I'll be living in some log cabin in the mountains, where I've no doubt sought refuge from the horrors of the war(gaming.) I'll tell my boss(conscience) that I'm through with it - I'm out, and have no more interest in coming back. He'll tell me that if I don't do it, nobody else will - and, just before he walks off to leave in his jet-powered helicopter (yes, he has one of those) he tosses a single, battered figure at my feet. I look down, and pick it up: a Prussian Musketeer, Advancing (Catalogue Number SYWP1 , Essex Miniatures.) Slowly clenching it in my fist, perhaps delivering a skyward shout to the uncaring gods, I know that once more I'm back in the game, damn them. Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in... <i>They pull me back in...</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">In retrospect, I probably need to go have a bit of a lie down! Ponder all the games to come, and all that! :-) Here's some eye-candy of the second army.</div><div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhz3ViXJRDjyekWdglgCaZKXEj3M1Q08B4maBPb7y9GniVH5sodpwGcn_2n3y9Q3z-z265SjMolaqTLuBHuQZnm8C0owfYx9SSCe7rRQpxHPfAxQO98hI9QuyzBuxZejkcR8enEjsEAwY/s1600/HPIM2266.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhz3ViXJRDjyekWdglgCaZKXEj3M1Q08B4maBPb7y9GniVH5sodpwGcn_2n3y9Q3z-z265SjMolaqTLuBHuQZnm8C0owfYx9SSCe7rRQpxHPfAxQO98hI9QuyzBuxZejkcR8enEjsEAwY/s400/HPIM2266.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500679795785753938" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Cavalry above - Cuirassiers & Dragoons</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOow8FHm32-29hAjBLlVOTmrfoaODgACg-6fOMmxflfaGBHiCR7y1UQ47Cr9IgsrErFdnxx76y9DRlsyv4FAwUNQMkP3CDmc9uknxdanke6uO6kYaZqSkHu9_UduGossFnYAIvShr8Nw8/s1600/HPIM2267.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOow8FHm32-29hAjBLlVOTmrfoaODgACg-6fOMmxflfaGBHiCR7y1UQ47Cr9IgsrErFdnxx76y9DRlsyv4FAwUNQMkP3CDmc9uknxdanke6uO6kYaZqSkHu9_UduGossFnYAIvShr8Nw8/s400/HPIM2267.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500679810601565282" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Generals & Grenadiers</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiCNzW1pAQ8G8-eSu5GuW1OJ6m8PTSMMGv4r4Qj9dnrQZLxnn7kExpUsO0buYEmcFnd-aOr32RzvBahB7p2XTA1f6H3Mccov1WMfDoNox3MosIaD0PCop3_ySYT_bSomPfA1d8B4itOzE/s1600/HPIM2268.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiCNzW1pAQ8G8-eSu5GuW1OJ6m8PTSMMGv4r4Qj9dnrQZLxnn7kExpUsO0buYEmcFnd-aOr32RzvBahB7p2XTA1f6H3Mccov1WMfDoNox3MosIaD0PCop3_ySYT_bSomPfA1d8B4itOzE/s400/HPIM2268.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500679817985031058" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Fine regiments of Infantry, Grenadier mitre-caps shining in the foreground</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJX_BSSxYdzKojoNJjBWt7O6ABdRo91vMGcg3IUXtZxfT0Zy4gQq9IfdnWgw8_o4ulATazTPlx3coQ87yiSgxKu4nsRZml-eCGs1ghPbujGOKPkpVk76tBTVMD0S4rjMlQfKBbLMIGbHU/s1600/HPIM2269.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJX_BSSxYdzKojoNJjBWt7O6ABdRo91vMGcg3IUXtZxfT0Zy4gQq9IfdnWgw8_o4ulATazTPlx3coQ87yiSgxKu4nsRZml-eCGs1ghPbujGOKPkpVk76tBTVMD0S4rjMlQfKBbLMIGbHU/s400/HPIM2269.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500679823149927362" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Infantry in foreground, plus Fusiliers and Hussars behind</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh69rvq98apT96SU4dURU7B3HTi2hOsI-9_TEvUDUxLRKOWgQLrpDRmTwdH0RQsQkCBZVVo586T2w8IKSRk3TmOrmn1mdfcU5sxc6nocPn-_KpxRSdnwo_5UMccS0GRgbYK-GTbRNiKocM/s1600/HPIM2270.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh69rvq98apT96SU4dURU7B3HTi2hOsI-9_TEvUDUxLRKOWgQLrpDRmTwdH0RQsQkCBZVVo586T2w8IKSRk3TmOrmn1mdfcU5sxc6nocPn-_KpxRSdnwo_5UMccS0GRgbYK-GTbRNiKocM/s400/HPIM2270.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500680602216379826" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The Artillery</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7f3fHsRogT6KRYvL5-3uuMIy8gQoWyoeerSbnYzqZsyLUML92V6sAWL5nnUmeBSL6_l3sKDRaAYkXoFVmhwKrYwJQqJItSdH-kfo5Am-11BsM8lTETI0TCJszhJ6da2Jf1vTSYWyRp4M/s1600/HPIM2271.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7f3fHsRogT6KRYvL5-3uuMIy8gQoWyoeerSbnYzqZsyLUML92V6sAWL5nnUmeBSL6_l3sKDRaAYkXoFVmhwKrYwJQqJItSdH-kfo5Am-11BsM8lTETI0TCJszhJ6da2Jf1vTSYWyRp4M/s400/HPIM2271.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500680608642018946" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Meet Otto - the flag-bearer in IR7 (Von Dunckel) who enters my personal painting valhalla, as the very final figure based out of the approximately 719 painted and based to complete this project. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">(Also, Thanks to all who ever read the blog or posted on it over the long struggles with kind words of encouragement - it made a big difference!)</div>CWThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08145880616920091517noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3141445228511165841.post-31332095862166691682010-07-29T06:40:00.002+01:002010-07-29T07:00:02.937+01:00July activityWhere does the month go? I've been busy with much 'real life' stuff, plus when I have been able to progress with the Muckenmire Campaign, it doesn't immediately generate any action - curses on this muddy weather, slashing everybody's movement! Still, even with this delay I believe a big battle could be soon approaching, as Elector Von Luftberg himself has arrived with his army of reinforcements.<div><br /></div><div>More generally in the hobby, I have been listening to the excellent 'Meeples & Miniatures' podcasts, which I would recommend to anybody with iTunes and (like me) has a long-ish commute each day to and from work. They basically just ramble on over any topic that takes their fancy on wargaming, and the result tends to be very entertaining. A recent discussion was on the board game 'Commands & Colours: Ancients' which I haven't played in ages. There was discussion of period variants, plus the way that numerous gamers had converted the game from a card board and wooden counters into effectively a quick-play wargame with miniatures. My interest has been tweaked - I may have a root around for a SYW-version I can use my miniatures with. The ability to fight a decent wargame-like battle on a limited-size board and complete it in 60-90 minutes would be a nice 'filler' game, so we shall see!</div>CWThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08145880616920091517noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3141445228511165841.post-36932477886511482572010-07-19T06:12:00.003+01:002010-07-19T06:36:23.414+01:00Highway Robbery!<div style="text-align: center;">Taking up the action just south of Veldhuizburg, I laid out a large map area for just two cavalry units a side to fight out a large-scale skirmish on - the Luftberg cavalry of one Dragoon and one Hussar regiment making their escape south down a road, while the Aschenbach cavalry of one Cuirassier and one Hussar regiment dash to stop them.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc4SXledhkYNm_gN13xZAR_b9WTVPP3R_XuzHrZNKtqCIFJ1TIwQA2hD9RLyWLRYoVBr3StdmbakFM8om2kTdGae_J5T8xFjCb4MVBHFxMzPvWct5naOMDx0ZQGX7sM8Fn7hXYi0cWmEk/s1600/HPIM2193.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc4SXledhkYNm_gN13xZAR_b9WTVPP3R_XuzHrZNKtqCIFJ1TIwQA2hD9RLyWLRYoVBr3StdmbakFM8om2kTdGae_J5T8xFjCb4MVBHFxMzPvWct5naOMDx0ZQGX7sM8Fn7hXYi0cWmEk/s400/HPIM2193.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495481780643149874" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The Luftberg cavalry crosses the Schelve and heads south down the road (bases turned sideways as they're in column.)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnsGicj-ga6qHMNiRfprON-gnJcZn_KNOJIjE9OzVSwpGhAokEQQf-QSiPePezmXi6ApPTwBo8K1Nl8n5kaMQMeit2tUf5RPIsEXdu-6-OXKjsLr7g5sMumhQFJp2L8uGiRFlSNGmQzAM/s1600/HPIM2189.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnsGicj-ga6qHMNiRfprON-gnJcZn_KNOJIjE9OzVSwpGhAokEQQf-QSiPePezmXi6ApPTwBo8K1Nl8n5kaMQMeit2tUf5RPIsEXdu-6-OXKjsLr7g5sMumhQFJp2L8uGiRFlSNGmQzAM/s400/HPIM2189.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495481773247138370" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Oncoming Aschenbach cavalry races in from the east (partially obscured by the mist. Some would say the camera didn't focus, but what would they know?)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRko_Hg87KHU2x-SNSdjDLr1q9MU7OysVT7r_pk_BKpCpEHIs-h8SxR-Nsia1X_mveT8I-e6aEG7zKdxrexbravDH-GEWz8ukH_FKCQkrw0E3P0oH8bTfB6gexPIZK42VWfqVqKFYet9E/s1600/HPIM2194.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRko_Hg87KHU2x-SNSdjDLr1q9MU7OysVT7r_pk_BKpCpEHIs-h8SxR-Nsia1X_mveT8I-e6aEG7zKdxrexbravDH-GEWz8ukH_FKCQkrw0E3P0oH8bTfB6gexPIZK42VWfqVqKFYet9E/s400/HPIM2194.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495481795950720626" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The Aschenbach cavalry moves fast, and manages to cut the road in front of the Luftberg column, just next to a small cornfield.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQpnQAXfe3nGmsINLrxcffTo-3rPF60IL7xrCd4y1yh_zqcfzsKoCkd9F2ydmjjSfBIEoYrrWglOTRWOOmDRXws5RN-xfoK6yxYCSIyIN2HR82a4TRRyBa-BcYRP49FJ_wJdmjqG8jh8o/s1600/HPIM2195.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQpnQAXfe3nGmsINLrxcffTo-3rPF60IL7xrCd4y1yh_zqcfzsKoCkd9F2ydmjjSfBIEoYrrWglOTRWOOmDRXws5RN-xfoK6yxYCSIyIN2HR82a4TRRyBa-BcYRP49FJ_wJdmjqG8jh8o/s400/HPIM2195.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495481800980371842" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Luftberg hurriedly deploys, and the Dragoon regiment steps sideways onto a little rise of ground nearby.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlthAPGfj4-JBvl-ueXAIo2a6RhWiplCQY2WHpDK5CBL0spTlgxgbGU801X4IXm2gwHYXpzhy7TTN4pKRcjGb87sbjIhXw869DFgfXa2-1KTSLFIaMocjYkKSKiIqzFK-Sa32g_kSw-L0/s1600/HPIM2196.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlthAPGfj4-JBvl-ueXAIo2a6RhWiplCQY2WHpDK5CBL0spTlgxgbGU801X4IXm2gwHYXpzhy7TTN4pKRcjGb87sbjIhXw869DFgfXa2-1KTSLFIaMocjYkKSKiIqzFK-Sa32g_kSw-L0/s400/HPIM2196.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495482981348507330" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The Hussars and Cuirassiers clash, with the heavier troopers winning and the Hussars falling back.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivgP9xaAv4ACrqkf8m3W3TwhhO6ssyD2lztgolbvavbLiNmetJkqsefiVOPxi4oSA0ghsqXZOmpbhh0O1pXqdvNmnaU4rtJmrs4AqTXIOUlA7TLcglRY3VYnXpZO0bUMIkAKdsWcNrC6M/s1600/HPIM2197.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivgP9xaAv4ACrqkf8m3W3TwhhO6ssyD2lztgolbvavbLiNmetJkqsefiVOPxi4oSA0ghsqXZOmpbhh0O1pXqdvNmnaU4rtJmrs4AqTXIOUlA7TLcglRY3VYnXpZO0bUMIkAKdsWcNrC6M/s400/HPIM2197.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495482990712784466" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The opportunistic Dragoons charge down onto the flank of the tired Curiassiers and send them reeling back in disorder through the crops. A stand-off ensues, with each side rallying as best as they're able. Luftberg eventually moves it's Hussars off southwards, behind the Dragoons.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQl18Ve7VLoZ27ebMuCA9FPHlQEFeAkMllxOoOpnCEpR8DVHnC6k4TQU82uOZfkW9K9I4SAdQa88NBwAG6dcWVmxn4p_U5IrtBJ1Jet9tOZGR2YsfLM9bVkjT04tffDzRPVo51MbRMsGM/s1600/HPIM2198.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQl18Ve7VLoZ27ebMuCA9FPHlQEFeAkMllxOoOpnCEpR8DVHnC6k4TQU82uOZfkW9K9I4SAdQa88NBwAG6dcWVmxn4p_U5IrtBJ1Jet9tOZGR2YsfLM9bVkjT04tffDzRPVo51MbRMsGM/s400/HPIM2198.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495482999137179730" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This leads the mobile Aschenbach Cuirassiers to swing round the revealed flank and hit the Dragoons again - it breaks them, sending the broken remains fleeing south. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh02vWwRj7n_EI-LC177Swyxhm1C6J5yVrpZ4zaT6y7AsHUvuueKq0sCpe9xRp1rzOL_ruZtJ5orhF8kgwQscTPvqQKAAOJ9FiNn5g9nKD3mJpUY-vfq3fqC7QvRz6z4JIi0Bc2Bni60_M/s1600/HPIM2199.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh02vWwRj7n_EI-LC177Swyxhm1C6J5yVrpZ4zaT6y7AsHUvuueKq0sCpe9xRp1rzOL_ruZtJ5orhF8kgwQscTPvqQKAAOJ9FiNn5g9nKD3mJpUY-vfq3fqC7QvRz6z4JIi0Bc2Bni60_M/s400/HPIM2199.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495483005572263202" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And with that, the fight is over! Luftberg's cavalry slip the noose and escape being penned up in the siege, but in doing so their Dragoon regiment has been routed by the enemy. Plaudits all round! I'd recommend trying this as a quick skirmish battle - I actually used a playing area large enough for both my entire armies, so moves had to be carefully thought through to prevent the four units I actually used just slipping past each other. The Black Powder rules also worked very nicely, with lots of flanking and reforming: just what you'd expect from a cavalry battle.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>CWThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08145880616920091517noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3141445228511165841.post-92226113858023237352010-07-10T08:40:00.003+01:002010-07-10T08:53:48.696+01:00The Cavalry Trap<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8vNTOFVXEJjUlMF-pFlEGYKdMRuucgf_HKK3v93-t-cWaUb7dc5MJVDkSPkdl2WWo8AaJrAl5GEym-EnxcIkmd-3pF-ok9gHqIcP_D0OXgd3oFRGj8TLw93Ay0RftnD19LkUgUPPPS3U/s1600/Veldhuizburg+Siege.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 285px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8vNTOFVXEJjUlMF-pFlEGYKdMRuucgf_HKK3v93-t-cWaUb7dc5MJVDkSPkdl2WWo8AaJrAl5GEym-EnxcIkmd-3pF-ok9gHqIcP_D0OXgd3oFRGj8TLw93Ay0RftnD19LkUgUPPPS3U/s400/Veldhuizburg+Siege.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492179266874703730" /></a><br /><div><div>The action converges on Veldhuizburg now, as autumn draws on and a crossing over the Schelve becomes the principal prize for Aschenbach arms. Bitzhelm is well prepared for defence, with one of his remaining Infantry battalions in the works for defence, while his still-numerous cavalry (which never really got into action at Dolderburg) are also close at hand in the surrounding countryside.</div><div><br /></div><div>The Aschenbach General Grenwitz has approached south on the Dolderburg road, and has commenced siegeworks with camps, parallels, etc. However, on his own he lacks the numerical strength necessary to properly seal up the town, and so his ineffective works can only screen the eastern approaches. In the west the land is still open and teeming with squadrons of the rival cavalry, who spend days in running skirmishes - Aschenbach trying to contain the besieged</div><div>close in to the works, while Luftberg tries to constantly break through the cordon and raid out on the supplies trundling down the Dolderburg road to Grenwitz's troops.</div><div><br /></div><div>Miserable stuff for the besiegers, being thwarted like this. Von Krumper's approach gives cause for hope, however. He'll bring the numbers needed to clamp the western areas shut and</div><div>allow the siege proper to begin. However, Veldhuizburg - with it's back to the Schelve - is still not quite trapped thanks to the bridge Southwards. As Bitzhelm's Infantry fill the Garrison to capacity, the Cavalry will simply pull out southwards over the river. Grenwitz has plenty of time to ponder all this, at great length, and devises a suitably inventive plan.</div><div><br /></div><div>He writes to Krumper, explaining the problem and suggests the following: As Krumper approaches to within a few miles of the scene, he sends his pontoons southwest to the Schelve and gets his Cavalry across, with orders to cut the Road and bottle up Veldhuizburg from the south. This way the garrison will be overloaded with useless Horsemen when Krumper's troops finally lock down the siege with a full investment - which will probably result in Veldhuizburg's rapid fall through starvation through the excessive pressure on the supplies. </div><div><br /></div><div>Krumper decides to risk it - a cavalry-heavy fight beckons, as once his pioneers are spotted at work the Luftberg cavalry will struggle to disengage in the fields west of Veldhuizburg, fall back through the town, and then escape down the South road. Failure will probably doom Bitzhelm's whole force to siege & surrender, while failure risks a prolonged siege against a small rearguard which could well bring disaster if Aschenbach tries to persist with it through the rapidly oncoming winter. </div><div><br /></div></div>CWThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08145880616920091517noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3141445228511165841.post-30674263649605325242010-06-30T06:05:00.005+01:002010-06-30T06:37:54.992+01:00Veldhuizburg<div style="text-align: center;">I've had a moment of creative diversion that I thought I'd share. As the campaign focus moves to the river-crossings of Veldhuizburg on the River Schelve, I found myself sketching out maps for the small city/large town of Veldhuizburg. Here's a plan of the place:</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAPSX9riZ8j-XjoK-rtS3yWNHQ5sz-tigi6fkU7dPR9khOpGfT4Fkl_hx_txPtBH2ZMGXX_Jbrkt6FXtd2eCEErWOJuNXPjQrrhZt_fE_d_zBj39v91wGtV6HiArVICAxjgkC-hYwSYyY/s1600/Veldplan.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAPSX9riZ8j-XjoK-rtS3yWNHQ5sz-tigi6fkU7dPR9khOpGfT4Fkl_hx_txPtBH2ZMGXX_Jbrkt6FXtd2eCEErWOJuNXPjQrrhZt_fE_d_zBj39v91wGtV6HiArVICAxjgkC-hYwSYyY/s400/Veldplan.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488429208751852050" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 303px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>It sits on the NE bank of the river, with a bridge across to a small (unwalled) docklands area on the opposite bank. Surrounding terrain is generally low-lying with scattered woods and marshland. I've also wound up doing my model in 3-D, and here's a view below:</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn_A-PMiWrl4ErKTGFiYRacdkvYQMxAXBdqXNXqhoTnfu7wEo13rrDBZPiE78AgnsBzMzcowyt_R9XQarVvoRi-uDHb2_FYzPWT82oQHOixUQ4vNERTTIIPgkuI58HnEBR5CJTssWO3AI/s1600/Veldiso.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn_A-PMiWrl4ErKTGFiYRacdkvYQMxAXBdqXNXqhoTnfu7wEo13rrDBZPiE78AgnsBzMzcowyt_R9XQarVvoRi-uDHb2_FYzPWT82oQHOixUQ4vNERTTIIPgkuI58HnEBR5CJTssWO3AI/s400/Veldiso.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488429199052035106" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 316px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>As you can see, Veldhuizburg has a bastioned wall around it's perimeter, designed in accord to the scientific principles of the age. There are no ravelins around the works however on account of the relatively smaller size of the fortifications (outworks cost money, you know - do you fancy writing to the Elector about it, mister Burgomaster? I thought not!) The ditch in front has been cut into the river Schelve to create a moat around the walls, and a small Glacis to the front has been made by mounding up the sandy soil into a ramp (presumably, the money for Ravelins is taken up in paying some poor devils to constantly shovel the sand back into place and prevent the whole place slumping down!) The town layout is also on the classic Dutch fortress-pattern of streets radiating out like spokes from a central assembly area, allowing the garrison reserve to reach any point on the walls swiftly. On a whim, I made the central area a grassy little quadrangle to serve as the garrison parade-ground, town market, or promenading gardens for the well-to-do.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>[Just as an extra note, I should add that the whole thing was drawn up easily on Google Sketchup, the free download for drawing 3-D pictures you can obtain, and can be used even by untrained amateurs like me!]</i></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>CWThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08145880616920091517noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3141445228511165841.post-28905099552194985122010-06-23T06:50:00.002+01:002010-06-23T07:18:47.770+01:00Rain in Muckenmire<div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://kistenet.com/brandon/Paintings/Thumbnail%20Enlargements/Landscape%20with%20a%20Windmill%20-%20Aernout%20van%20der%20Neer_small.jpg" /> </div><div>Wouldn't you know it - after much delay in the real world, the exact thing happens in the 18th-Century world! Aschenbach's campaign of invasion into the province of Muckenmire has been hit by a most inconvenient spell of bad weather. The normally hot august weather has been ruined by some unexpectedly heavy rain, which has turned the entire theatre into a muddy, shapeless mess.</div><div><br /></div><div>Fresh from his bloody nose at the Steenwijk, the stunned Von Krumper has taken stock and called for a re-concentration of his forces, with the aim of taking Veldhuizburg further up the River Schelve and obtaining a crossing to the southern bank. If the capital of Brederdam can't be taken by a direct approach, it can be cut off and encircled from the rear! Veldhuizburg is also an easy target on account of the only defenders being the Luftberg army under Von Bitzhelm, still recovering there from their earlier defeat at the hands of Von Grenwitz. </div><div><br /></div><div>Only a small holding force under Tobias Ludwig stood in the way, with his small detachment of Luftberg infantry & cavalry dug in at the Katherijne Bruck bridge over the Langendijk canal. He should have been brushed aside by the main Aschenbach army, except - he wasn't. The Aschenbach troops never even made it there. Thanks to this foul weather and trying to haul a siege train through it, the attack slowed to a crawl and never even landed a blow. In fact, the closest thing to action all month was when Von Krumper ordered the depot for his aborted advance to be torched - the first time for weeks anybody in a blue uniform has felt warm! </div><div><br /></div><div>Enough of this miserable trekking around. Time to go to your billets in a handy requisitioned farmhouse, hang up your gaiters by the fireside, then engage in some drinking, gambling and pipe-smoking for a few days until the rain lets up.</div><div><br /></div>CWThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08145880616920091517noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3141445228511165841.post-519468622998597702010-05-31T06:45:00.000+01:002010-05-31T07:03:02.904+01:00Plans for ProgressHello Everybody, and sorry for the (relatively) long time since posting. The real world will have this way of demanding attention! Anyway, I thought I'd check back in with my Wargaming doings.<div><br /></div><div>A few weeks back I hit on the idea of keeping a hand-written, pen & paper record of the campaigns I was running. This has been adopted for a few projects of mine, which at present stand at the Aschenbach/Luftberg campaigns (fully detailed here, obviously), a refight of the Wars of the Roses (covered on my other blog), a fictional-setting American Civil War campaign (also on the other blog) as well as a planned Sci-Fi Campaign (not blogged at all, but a lot of groundwork getting done!) All this is pretty busy stuff, and I find it takes up a lot of time. However it's a lot of fun and highly rewarding, plus it carries two advantages which are not instantly obvious.</div><div><br /></div><div>First is that the written record performs much like the blog on a specific topic - it makes you regularly act on it! Most wargamers will, I believe, only have a general-purpose wargaming blog and while this compels them to wargame if they want to keep posting, they can flit from idea to idea/project/scheme at will, and so a few can fall aside. By writing it out as a dedicated record, you're likelier to keep at it!</div><div><br /></div><div>Second is that while all this has made my work slower and progress more gradual, it has made it far better. Take Aschenbach & Luftberg, for example: I fought out and posted on the Battle of the Steenwijk recently, and haven't done much since due to other projects getting in the way. It used to be this would mean forgetting what was happening & losing interest, or having to stick with something when my attention had moved elsewhere temporarily, causing irritation & more loss of interest. As it is however I opened my Campaign journal and found an instant reminder of where every battalion was and what each commander was doing, so I instantly resumed the story from where I had left off.</div><div><br /></div><div>Anyway, I feel a small announcement is in order to mark the spectacular victory gained by Luftberg over the Aschenbach enemy that has triumphed more often than not in pitched battles. The Elector Von Luftberg finally has a subordinate who can win clear-cut victories in the field against the enemy king, which is no small matter. As such, the Elector of Luftberg has announced that Felix Von Hentsch is to be promoted to a Marshal of Luftberg, and issued with a jewel-encrusted baton immediately so as to display his prestigious new rank. Sadly the expense of the jewelled baton means reinforcements will be a bit delayed, but no doubt Marshal Von Hentsch will understand...</div>CWThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08145880616920091517noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3141445228511165841.post-38606830837180642112010-05-12T06:53:00.002+01:002010-05-12T07:07:19.369+01:00Anyone know about this?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3wn52iJh2-fThSeBrujX-P9C-OCcW78p0FRIihn0I90S_L4wfq9GnUCK9WeI1124S7xySU_3KjUxLsiZX79n4xkVRFtdsWXK6kBpPsIhrHEk6KbOyKxQT90Vx4iydJNFOaInlxYlPMHc/s1600/RiseofPrussia_v3_2D_highres.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 100px; height: 139px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3wn52iJh2-fThSeBrujX-P9C-OCcW78p0FRIihn0I90S_L4wfq9GnUCK9WeI1124S7xySU_3KjUxLsiZX79n4xkVRFtdsWXK6kBpPsIhrHEk6KbOyKxQT90Vx4iydJNFOaInlxYlPMHc/s320/RiseofPrussia_v3_2D_highres.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470258263200114274" /></a>Hello all - for the first time in months I'm posting this on a desktop PC, since my last one had a meltdown and I was forced into my 'lifeboat' of a laptop to keep using the internet! The newly-established PC has the game-managing software 'Steam' on it, and it threw up a rather interesting hit when I browsed about in the store...<div><br /></div><div>Does anybody know about the game 'Rise of Prussia' by Paradox Interactive? I had heard about their previous games, set in the American War of Independence, but this was something of a new discovery for me. (Apologies for no link, but I haven't quite got the knack of it yet for postings!)</div><div><br /></div><div>Anyway, I thought I'd point it out as it's been out for about 2 months and I had heard nothing about it anywhere - I imagined a strategy game about continental Europe in the SYW would be of interest to some, and so thought I would point it out!</div>CWThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08145880616920091517noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3141445228511165841.post-88886900255718013392010-04-24T14:54:00.004+01:002010-04-24T15:53:35.685+01:00The Battle of Steenwijk<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u><br /></u></span></div>Time for the big push, as Von Krumper crosses the Noordschelve river to put himself on the same bank with the Luftberg army, beat it, and then be in the provincial capital of Brederdam by dinnertime. A long month of buildup has seen him leap into motion, with the river carefully surveyed for crossing points and the pioneers prepped with a bridge of boats to make the move. All this preparation didn't go unnoticed by the enemy however, so by the time the bridge was assembled the Luftberg army under Von Hentsch was ready and waiting, with a cordon round the expected bridgehead. Von Krumper selected a crossing near a small tributary waterway, the Steenwijk, which formed a bell-shaped enclave which could be easily defended from counter-attacks.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Z9xKQwCgrlrAwRNQCC7bZkqGQI_8_2qDGlIC_JVRnwMcXHSZWpYXWN6TkV16wKmI_R8DEbEp-I1bS66TSfw0PmFmS3A5DrpBARp4SGEVmFH7P2JmgR3ewhuyJVWJ2tml_h-2_mDsxo0/s1600/HPIM1977.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Z9xKQwCgrlrAwRNQCC7bZkqGQI_8_2qDGlIC_JVRnwMcXHSZWpYXWN6TkV16wKmI_R8DEbEp-I1bS66TSfw0PmFmS3A5DrpBARp4SGEVmFH7P2JmgR3ewhuyJVWJ2tml_h-2_mDsxo0/s400/HPIM1977.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463703287224753634" /></a>Von Hentsch planned to have his infantry and artillery on some low rises back from the river as his apparent main line, but this was all just a lure. With the Aschenbach troops drawn on, hopefully with their right flank in the air, the Luftberg killing blow could descend from his left wing, a regiment of Cuirassiers and another of Dragoons, along with a full regiment of infantry.<br /><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSbwZhv6foZSemIYMizx7xkEHTLW2hhQbyFIQab0K3xzHQeQ9KjcLRNXMIhhXtRYSclpUQFcRCmNrD3ClXVO9_9H26L8Xj3QW2XpyZq3JXe4ckiFm8bPV1y8p3br742RXhmhh_Jk4bW_s/s1600/HPIM1981.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSbwZhv6foZSemIYMizx7xkEHTLW2hhQbyFIQab0K3xzHQeQ9KjcLRNXMIhhXtRYSclpUQFcRCmNrD3ClXVO9_9H26L8Xj3QW2XpyZq3JXe4ckiFm8bPV1y8p3br742RXhmhh_Jk4bW_s/s400/HPIM1981.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463703301003908274" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div>Things start well enough with the columns of Aschenbach infantry crossing over, led by a screen of Hussars and then the Grenadier Guards in the lead.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-5PXHRaQRQUCn5FeRleyg6ZU7lcWCecPuS1WHeH4cY9AeTSpN4MDRMLANQKeDU2sefhzQ6O_SvAwx4dlHCISvBpIxqgi8m3qVFbu0vKwTLkkCCvEmqfjGUdBWVznO3JGzw3c9CrKuyrk/s1600/HPIM1983.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-5PXHRaQRQUCn5FeRleyg6ZU7lcWCecPuS1WHeH4cY9AeTSpN4MDRMLANQKeDU2sefhzQ6O_SvAwx4dlHCISvBpIxqgi8m3qVFbu0vKwTLkkCCvEmqfjGUdBWVznO3JGzw3c9CrKuyrk/s400/HPIM1983.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463703309858425074" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div>Like clockwork! The infantry cross over and deploy into two lines of a regiment each, plus a battalion in reserve. The only disruption comes from the odd long-range cannon shot and the crackle of musketry from the Croats and irregulars in a small copse over the Steenwijk.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOu4D5USz7wM1gq_UYiGFyPs7WGyCo4LUqW4Nze00h9HJrL3dzLshOFs9i4sFw2sfiKUlNFi3zhmuEX6OllcQ-BVvb7Da_Vh_cspWVBGEsUO57XfEFP-FcTZj_MGVrGPGARb_uDFIW6iI/s1600/HPIM1986.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOu4D5USz7wM1gq_UYiGFyPs7WGyCo4LUqW4Nze00h9HJrL3dzLshOFs9i4sFw2sfiKUlNFi3zhmuEX6OllcQ-BVvb7Da_Vh_cspWVBGEsUO57XfEFP-FcTZj_MGVrGPGARb_uDFIW6iI/s400/HPIM1986.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463703317391662818" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div>Devil take the hindmost! The lead battalion of Grenadier Guards takes it's orders to full execution, powering on ahead to tackle the enemy line with no thought to the slow and careful deployment behind in the main body. Boldness or Rashness? Time will tell, although the Luftberg line is rattled as Schrammel's infantry regiment takes a pounding.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2b6AOOb6PED8VbXy2c-Oh_c3wLL2nrRMtKB7D0bWjTNBpQkLFYtyVNiSRFATg4mAnOXOrOnmUQodhoCYLmaPHB8IIG3ytCfP07fzzfNa0TdEFBxU03rHK2opR7Y-QxYqhBrqduQ0jmVI/s1600/HPIM1987.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2b6AOOb6PED8VbXy2c-Oh_c3wLL2nrRMtKB7D0bWjTNBpQkLFYtyVNiSRFATg4mAnOXOrOnmUQodhoCYLmaPHB8IIG3ytCfP07fzzfNa0TdEFBxU03rHK2opR7Y-QxYqhBrqduQ0jmVI/s400/HPIM1987.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463703322287147730" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The hussars try and drive off some Croats to their front, occupying a small bit of woodland. Sadly the Croats prove infuriatingly effective, raining a constant, debilitating fire onto the horsemen and also into the flank of the infantry from across the Steenwijk. Such disorder is intolerable! The Aschenbach deployment out of the bridgehead starts to struggle.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsJnxbUhuJWb0cl64WMyCQ1TU2LeHZY3v5VwOIC8JBS-tMqgNEwtcnOpq_q4DlfWe8N8WHEWnYxkAP5JcoBxmYrgcRUHcskb5b49XH_HV8j6t25vrLfXSNissshVvFnDLBuWoKv5qyzS8/s1600/HPIM1988.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsJnxbUhuJWb0cl64WMyCQ1TU2LeHZY3v5VwOIC8JBS-tMqgNEwtcnOpq_q4DlfWe8N8WHEWnYxkAP5JcoBxmYrgcRUHcskb5b49XH_HV8j6t25vrLfXSNissshVvFnDLBuWoKv5qyzS8/s400/HPIM1988.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463704564196433026" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>And then, the cavalry are loosed! The two battalions of Cuirassiers charge, supported by the Dragoons, and sweep into the flank the blue infantry were about to occupy. The Hussars, milling about in front of the Croat-filled wood, are sent bowling back and the horsemen crash into the lines of infantry battalions, causing mayhem. Even the king Von Krumper himself gets a nasty scare as squadrons suddenly bear down on his command post!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQXA9vpSN8kJy9c2OgeEMEvCdkhDCIrNNN09lRu8v3iVF-WZXlI8uFC5pH5rJx1pCZ0ZIUKY6f8nqPvEiGNGa_e2IpXoqRj_ZmJNR-xrWLz2Bs9hvORRfKkFZJLW2YE23Y5cN4d6POqQY/s1600/HPIM1998.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQXA9vpSN8kJy9c2OgeEMEvCdkhDCIrNNN09lRu8v3iVF-WZXlI8uFC5pH5rJx1pCZ0ZIUKY6f8nqPvEiGNGa_e2IpXoqRj_ZmJNR-xrWLz2Bs9hvORRfKkFZJLW2YE23Y5cN4d6POqQY/s400/HPIM1998.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463704578614148738" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div>With all the attacking weight being taken by the cavalry across those flat, marshy fields, the Luftberg infantry struggles to keep pace with the fight. Still, the Grenadier Guards are taught caution by letting themselves get flanked and hit in the front by musket and cannon fire. (When will these damned Grenadiers stop rushing headlong into trouble?!)</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSmlDQP2yNo111kVUlWcNY9MQQE9BZ0sQNSnQc0L2q15MI-9U1QlyIKRCVc2VtpDBU4GUEPI_rsBDkEikn3-Uta06FlNObteI3HVnU97EzBtkxQ1B5oeCXnx6Arv-8fMgivgOm-ldJZkc/s1600/HPIM2001.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSmlDQP2yNo111kVUlWcNY9MQQE9BZ0sQNSnQc0L2q15MI-9U1QlyIKRCVc2VtpDBU4GUEPI_rsBDkEikn3-Uta06FlNObteI3HVnU97EzBtkxQ1B5oeCXnx6Arv-8fMgivgOm-ldJZkc/s400/HPIM2001.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463704581253204034" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Vexed with shot! The Aschenbach infantry units pushed back into the bridgehead find no respite to reform, thanks to the skirmishing fire of crack-shots across the stream. The bluecoats volley back, but it's pretty ineffective and saps the strength now needed to hold off the Luftberg cavalry.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitj8SvzuhWCZFqmQkznnTSw_4UfRxcFAAzzeY67y-nJG9wkPD5gvGvBezC8E7ZUtLU-egaKRAtE_-ZLYuAFd0dMx4UOv0KCUdIzCMQ9pCbZ-YcMU_PGiB7zEbZQkjuyW1n7qRW_OoqHCo/s1600/HPIM2002.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitj8SvzuhWCZFqmQkznnTSw_4UfRxcFAAzzeY67y-nJG9wkPD5gvGvBezC8E7ZUtLU-egaKRAtE_-ZLYuAFd0dMx4UOv0KCUdIzCMQ9pCbZ-YcMU_PGiB7zEbZQkjuyW1n7qRW_OoqHCo/s400/HPIM2002.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463704590390978162" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The battle in full swing. The Grenadiers manage to pull themselves back from the tip of the breakout, while the infantry battalions wheel round to fire on the horsemen trying to form for another charge. Both armies have now ended up turned through 90 degrees, fighting at right-angles to their artillery lines. The gunners on both sides of the river send shots ploughing lengthwise down the lines of infantry and cavalry alike. Can nobody get any elbow-room to move around here?</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8XI7udG9yicoR_NMCUpfOjeuR2nI-wczShdDDlYBuBZyXaQLZo0SaZuUIXau0NJzTWzafMs7S2pTwB8kdlrTgcFg88a6SZFHiMeZT6bg-3gz3W8coHzmdxsay9-98NF6KKYRhdgnf_7Q/s1600/HPIM2007.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8XI7udG9yicoR_NMCUpfOjeuR2nI-wczShdDDlYBuBZyXaQLZo0SaZuUIXau0NJzTWzafMs7S2pTwB8kdlrTgcFg88a6SZFHiMeZT6bg-3gz3W8coHzmdxsay9-98NF6KKYRhdgnf_7Q/s400/HPIM2007.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463705702477856354" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Realising drastic action is needed, Von Krumper calls across his reserve regiment of cavalry from the far bank to try and counter the Luftberg horse. They make it over, but fail to deploy out of column. Desperate to give them some protection and win some room to deploy, he is forced to commit his last untouched reserve unit - the second battalion of the Foot Garde. The grenadiers follow their black-and-yellow regimental banner forwards and fire volleys into the disorganised Luftberg Cuirassiers, buying the Cuirassiers the protection they need.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJnk8YhPXeSpmKgA9kSNPO7f1Ny9SRU3c3PF6-Rn32OAitjZkgnYG4H0VcZ5bMsZgnNNyzQNAQLdNldV9XWulyz8bDy3x_z7Vd-FvquevWbp89_sPWaLt3RQU4pcfe-avcb7P0bTkDkdg/s1600/HPIM2009.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJnk8YhPXeSpmKgA9kSNPO7f1Ny9SRU3c3PF6-Rn32OAitjZkgnYG4H0VcZ5bMsZgnNNyzQNAQLdNldV9XWulyz8bDy3x_z7Vd-FvquevWbp89_sPWaLt3RQU4pcfe-avcb7P0bTkDkdg/s400/HPIM2009.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463705711455526002" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The Luftberg horse falls back, a spent force. None of the four battalions have been broken, but each one has three hits marked on it and all are disordered. In other words, they're blown, exhausted, incapable of further offensive action. Why, my little nephew Otto could ride them down on his hobby-horse! However, several battalions of Aschenbach infantry have broken up under the charges, the slowly tightening arc of whitecoat infantry, and (above all else) they can't get any peace to recover from disorder or casualties thanks to the endless lashing fire of the irregulars across the whole bridgehead</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimkoqw95tGyLtX3AIuOlfwSx6h3hzD5yNQA_z3jPjzv9sURz19ImmmfohlO3HEKjwM4v3evCXI7Kn_mY8EexhvqX65tctXL-TNh-n5yq7FukepZcrcsKwC5ye_QFTVno7qYgzFpfRKeuw/s1600/HPIM2013.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimkoqw95tGyLtX3AIuOlfwSx6h3hzD5yNQA_z3jPjzv9sURz19ImmmfohlO3HEKjwM4v3evCXI7Kn_mY8EexhvqX65tctXL-TNh-n5yq7FukepZcrcsKwC5ye_QFTVno7qYgzFpfRKeuw/s400/HPIM2013.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463705720412511170" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Losses are heavy for Aschenbach, and many of the remaining units are badly shaken and set to rout if pushed hard. Von Krumper has had enough of this grim field, and orders a withdrawal. The Cuirassiers trot back across, never used in the day's fighting. Following them come several shaken battalions of infantry, glad to get across to the friendly shore. Last out are the hussars and the Grenadiers, forming a tough rearguard that proves off-putting enough for the exhausted Luftberg infantry to fail to pursue. A dejected Von Krumper recrosses the Noordschelve from his untenable bridgehead, the breakout a failure. The poor fellow seems stunned by the calamity!</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBKrC-AQ2pGzvmn2mBKNe1spDzkrPQppi8C_F69218cBI_ktufqOmd_Lv1h6WSGedQU2-BIG3rKdTyrjkMC5-sDlAupp-bYIqy9HayOa2WuGnZac7Y4WdYQ85GLOqJFr1YXowvjv3X20E/s1600/HPIM2016.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBKrC-AQ2pGzvmn2mBKNe1spDzkrPQppi8C_F69218cBI_ktufqOmd_Lv1h6WSGedQU2-BIG3rKdTyrjkMC5-sDlAupp-bYIqy9HayOa2WuGnZac7Y4WdYQ85GLOqJFr1YXowvjv3X20E/s400/HPIM2016.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463705728177376306" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div>Over at Felix Von Hentsch's headquarters, it's celebratory schnapps all round! The enemy have lost three out of their seven infantry units and failed to get across the river. Rarely has there been such a spectacular and crushing defeat for Von Krumper, and this represents a personal triumph for Von Hentsch - now in the glory of his greatest and most clear-cut victory!</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpD-7VOPq_-ZyvIDhe-dKFXxBLB4QpV9DMrASh3gqlXuiLdRR3q4SbaJBeK2SIwcgw4UZbXvExm9s4NS9LYEzY0_iCeAlcE3s4s1tpiodOJErVlrNoQIiy7hE8u6Mw6I9nQjdBj7vbuxg/s1600/HPIM2018.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpD-7VOPq_-ZyvIDhe-dKFXxBLB4QpV9DMrASh3gqlXuiLdRR3q4SbaJBeK2SIwcgw4UZbXvExm9s4NS9LYEzY0_iCeAlcE3s4s1tpiodOJErVlrNoQIiy7hE8u6Mw6I9nQjdBj7vbuxg/s400/HPIM2018.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463705739572169762" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div>CWThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08145880616920091517noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3141445228511165841.post-17966455634483519582010-04-15T08:48:00.002+01:002010-04-15T09:09:19.665+01:00Fun on the RiverTime to gear up for another fight, this time as the main Aschenbach army crosses a large river and the Luftberg army tries to fling them back. I'm currently on holiday this week, but as it's for my relatives visiting I am not getting much time for wargaming, frustratingly enough! Still, there's a fair bit of preparation to do, so I'm busying myself with that - making little pontoon bridges out of card, and such.<div><br /></div><div>Let's take a look at the forces on hand for the fight:</div><div><br /></div><div>Aschenbach Army (HRH Von Krumper commanding)</div><div>IR1 v. Zaub <i>Garde</i> Regiment (2 battalions)</div><div>IR2 v. Klink Infantry Regiment (2 battalions)</div><div>IR3 v. Grumble Infantry Regiment (2 battalions)</div><div>IR6 v. Rechnung Infantry Battalion (1 battalion)</div><div>CR2 v. Kurbitz Cuirassier Regiment (2 battalions)</div><div>HR1 v. Ritter Hussar Regiment (2 battalions)</div><div>Artillery Battery No. 3 (2 sections)</div><div>(Also various impedimenta, such as siege guns, baggage, etc.)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Luftberg Army (Graf Felix Von Hentsch commanding)</div><div>IR4 Negrelli Infantry Regiment (2 battalions)</div><div>IR6 Karlovic Croat Infantry Regiment (2 battalions)</div><div>IR8 Schrammel Infantry Regiment (2 battalions)</div><div><div>CR1 Haas Cuirassier Regiment (2 battalions)</div><div>DR1 Raab Dragoon Regiment (2 battalions)</div><div>Artillery Battery No. 3 (2 sections)</div><div><br /></div><div>Overall, this gives two closely-matched opponents. Aschenbach has grenadiers, better infantry and good commanders, while Luftberg has the better cavalry force, skirmishing troops and is defending a river. Sounds like a decent fight, at least! </div><div><br /></div><div>I decided to make this one a bit bigger than normal, and realised that I could field each unit at a battalion level instead of my usual 'unit=regiment' scale. As such I have been painting and basing my Aschenbach Grenadier HQ bases, plus digging around for a few extras. I have managed to cover everything with the exception of two things - I have only one unit of Aschenbach Hussars and Luftberg Croats, so fielding two battalions of them was something of a problem. I decided in the end to have one battalion/squadron of Hussars in play at one time for the Aschenbach player, considering that one battalion would need to remain off-board to guard the pontooneers, siege-gun artillery park, and so on. If the hussar squadron in the fight is destroyed I will allow another one to enter, it's role guarding the rear-areas doubtless now being taken over by disorganised bands of straggler hussars and demoralised troops which were routed off the field. </div><div><br /></div><div>For the croats I have raided my spares-box for odd figures and found some old models of line troops in tricornes, advancing in skirmish-like poses. I've discarded them as I was unable to fit them in with the revised unit formations, but I can put them to use now - they will represent the citizen militia from the capital Brederdam, which Von Hentsch will have doubtless swept up in his force when he marched out of the city, to act as irregulars, local guides and scouts through the sandy flatlands at the mouth of the river. I'll give them a quick paint into 'civilian' coats and colours, and they should fill out the Croat bases to give me two skirmisher units. </div><div><br /></div></div><div>As soon as I can get a few hours of quiet-time, I'll be battling away. Photos and report to follow!</div>CWThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08145880616920091517noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3141445228511165841.post-5280636141115219882010-04-08T06:20:00.002+01:002010-04-08T06:48:35.169+01:00Muckenmire's DefendersThe Luftberg army has the unenviable job of defending the province from invasion, and starts out dispersed across a fair part of it. The general from our last campaign, Felix Von Hentsch, has been glowering away in the provincial capital (in my mind, he's been 'bumped' to a backwater posting as military governor, following his mixed success in the Spitzplatz campaign. Looks like events have pulled him back to centre-stage!)<div><br /></div><div>The Elector himself, Ulrich Von Luftberg, will start off-map. There's no reason the Elector would go to such a dismal place without reason, so he'll turn up a few moves into the game with the bulk of the army - rushing reinforcements to the province and hopefully turning the tide. </div><div><br /></div><div>Also present will be the ever-irrepressible General Ludwig and the Graf Von Bitzhelm, each commanding a force of their own and (naturally) sized appropriately to reflect their social status. </div><div><br /></div><div>On a practical level, I wanted a dispersal of forces at the start, but wasn't quite sure how to do it. I ended up totalling the entire army's points value under the old 'Might & Reason' ruleset, and then broke it up as a percentage. I went with:</div><div><br /></div><div>40%<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Main (reserve) army of reinforcements under Luftberg</div><div>25%<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Provincial (garrison) army under Von Hentsch, at the provincial capital of Brederdam</div><div>15%<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Secondary provincial army under Bitzhelm, at Hertbosch</div><div>10%<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Flank-guarding detachment under Ludwig, at Vriezenveen</div><div>5%<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Garrison</div><div>5%<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Garrison</div><div><br /></div><div>I ended up assigning troops into what turned out to be pretty reasonable proportions, with some infantry and cavalry present in most, along with artillery in the big armies. While Ludwig gets a big force such as five infantry, three cavalry and one artillery units, people like Ludwig get a simple pairing of an infantry and cavalry regiment. The smallest units of all, the garrisons, turned out to be a left-over infantry regiment (stuck in the city of Oosterheide) and a hussar regiment (which was turned loose into the countryside as a raiding-group.)</div><div><br /></div><div>The campaign is poised to be moved on shortly, and the next big encounter seems set to be Von Krumper's attempt to cross a river in the face of Von Hentsch. He's done it once before, but can he manage a contested river crossing against an alert defender, under 'Black Powder' rules? I'm off to ponder the special rules required for such a tricky operation!</div>CWThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08145880616920091517noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3141445228511165841.post-79402919048994785852010-04-01T06:15:00.003+01:002010-04-01T06:58:42.012+01:00The Invasion plans<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNb2m3Y-mQRfK6SNsk_CdqvnjrLP2BYyphmM1xNGZ4peOmb6ESCHbG-9uMk_aBU3n-jWfTEeHoNYz81HN6iBNI345CGph11Trf-tobL2yZhSjE3GGv9dYuNK7g74ccVl7Zx5bV__iCwvU/s1600/Asc+Invasion+Plan.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 229px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNb2m3Y-mQRfK6SNsk_CdqvnjrLP2BYyphmM1xNGZ4peOmb6ESCHbG-9uMk_aBU3n-jWfTEeHoNYz81HN6iBNI345CGph11Trf-tobL2yZhSjE3GGv9dYuNK7g74ccVl7Zx5bV__iCwvU/s400/Asc+Invasion+Plan.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455033796298010530" /></a><br /><div>A whole fortnight has passed since I last posted, due to real-life work, wargame record-keeping bogging me down, plus numerous other projects rumbling on at the same - there's always something! Anyway, what's needed is a campaign overview to show how things have been developing for the protagonists.</div><div><br /></div><div>Aschenbach are invading, and to avoid the single easily-isolated army I split the total force into three roughly equal parts. Von Krumper would take his third (styles the 'main' army, because - well, he's the king, basically!) and head directly for the province capital of Brederdam, stuck on it's little island in the mouth of the mighty Schelve river. Krumper would take the eastern road and then cross the northern fork of the Schelve by pontoon bridge, arriving on the island and besieging the city by it's landward side. Approaching directly from the north would mean attacking over a river, and the swampy ground north of Brederdam didn't exactly promise a happy fate for any siege guns hauled into it! His advance has gone well enough, but sadly he has been compelled to stop and build up supply depots to operate across the river. Something of an unfortunate delay, but now he's gathering himself for the river crossing (which is next for the gaming table.)</div><div><br /></div><div>In the centre of this province would go the second army, led by the grizzled old veteran, General Von Grenwitz. His job is to try and clear the province north of the Schelve of all enemy troops. At best, this means capturing the city of Oosterheide, but at a bare minimum it means protecting Von Krumper's advance in the east and keeping Luftberg raiders off his flanks and supply lines. It swiftly proved that Oosterheide was strongly garrisoned with a regiment of infantry, and therefore that a siege was only going to succeed if the Luftberg army completely failed to intervene - a highly unlikely turn of events. Sure enough it proved so, as once Von Grenwitz occupied the town of Dolderburg he received news that a Luftberg army under the Graf Von Bitzhem was crossing the Schelve to his south and rushing up the road, looking for a fight. Well, as you'll have seen from the last battle report, he gave it one! The two armies met a short distance from Dolderburg and Luftberg was defeated, the battered remains pulling back to the town of Veldhuizburg on the Schelve river.</div><div><br /></div><div>So much for the two armies, but what of the third? Well, the third and final component was placed under Von Hartling and held back for a delayed entry. It was felt that there was a serious risk that the line of the Schelve river could become a kind of impregnable moat for the defenders, and so Von Hartling is to enter in the west of the province, which lets him come out behind the line of the river where it curves north. Any Luftberg defence which had formed in the first few months would be outflanked, and the river line could be rolled up like a carpet - genius! Well, so Von Krumper naturally thinks. </div><div><br /></div><div>The map above (which is hopefully enlarge-able, although I can never work these things out) should give some sense of where they are - Krumper is the easternmost arrow, Grenwitz is the central one, while Von Hartling's planned entrance is shown in the west as a dashed route. I will post more maps soon, when I cover the province's fractious defenders.</div>CWThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08145880616920091517noreply@blogger.com2