AAR: Sanctuary - a 15th century skirmish

A battle report using the Lord of the Rings ruleset depicting a 15th century peasant ambush on a bishop and his retinue.

 

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Introduction

With a teaser being posted earlier it is now time for yet another installment of our late 15th century campaign using the rules from the Lord of the Rings Strategy Battle Game.

As in earlier battles the scene is 15^th century Sweden which at the time was torn asunder in what is maybe best described as a civil war with foreign (i e Danish) interference. Peasant soldiers as well as full time professionals were found on both sides with noble families forming (and breaking!) alliances as they saw fit through-out the war.

This time a rebel bishop is on the road with a small retinue of mounted men-at-arms and mercenary Lübeck soldiers when some Unionist peasant allmoge soldiers attack.

For this fight we played most of the Unionist allmoge peasants as seasoned warriors. So even though the bishop’s retinue included some high quality troops the peasant allmoge could almost match them man to man in fighting skill. In gaming terms both sides were about 500+ points.

The scenario we played was a slightly modified “Take the High Ground” scenario. We played it as an ambush with both sides trying to rout the other, with extra points being given for controlling the high ground in front of the church at the end of the game. The latter as we had a hunch that the cowardly bishop would claim asylum (“sanctuary”) in the nearby church straight away if things got dangerous…

The opposing forces

The Bishop and his retinue (Rebels)

Non-playing Character
1 Bishop

Rebel Warband 1 (R1)

1 Rebel Noble

Rebel Warband 2 (R2)

1 Knight Captain on Warhorse

8 Men-at-arms on Warhorses

Rebel Warband 3 (R3)
1 Veteran Captain in full plate

5 Lübeck Mercenary Soldiers (including 2 handgunners and 1 archer)

Rebel Warband 4 (R4)

1 Veteran Captain in full plate

9 Lübeck Mercenary Pikemen

The Bishop and Noble together with the retinue of men-at-arms and Lübeck mercenaries.

The Peasant Allmoge (Unionists)

Unionist Warband 1 (U1)
1 Unionist Knight on Warhorse

Unionist Warband 2 (U2)

1 Peasant Veteran Captain

10 Peasants Allmoge Soldiers with halberds

Unionist Warband 3 (U3)

1 Peasant Veteran Captain

10 Peasants Allmoge Soldiers with crossbows

Unionist Warband 4 (U4)
1 Peasant Levy Leader

10 Peasant Levy with spears

The Unionist Peasant Soldiers with their Captains.

The initial set up

A 6x4' table.

Deployment

Deployment with the Rebel and Unionist Warbands, and the High Ground marked in yellow.

Men-at-arms in the front of the Bishop's column...

...with Lübeck pikemen forming up the rear.

The Unionist peasant soldiers lying in ambush.

The Game

Turn 1 (Peasant priority)

The Peasant Allmoge suddenly appeared on the right flank of the retinue’s column and started to advance up the hill.

With a yell of warning the Knight Captain of the Sture family led his mounted men-at-arms to counter the threat. The men-at-arms spurred their horses and turned on the lowly peasants, galloping across the open area in front of the church.

"We are under attack! Monks, please care for our most honourable bishop while we sort out this small interference."

The men-at-arms charge across the hilltop...

...against the waiting peasant soldiers.

However, the veteran allmoge peasant soldiers steadily held their ground, took aim with their heavy crossbows and let loose against the men-at-arms with horrifying results. Two men-at-arms fell with crossbow bolts punched though their armour while two others had their horses shot from under them, throwing the riders to the ground.

The peasants' crossbows seriously thins the ranks of the men-at-arms.

The bishop lifted his long robes and moved as fast as he could towards the safety of the church while his retinue advanced on the peasants. Getting a glimpse of the advancing peasant levy the Lübeck archer shot one peasant dead.

The bishop is rather safe than sorry and run for the church.

Turn 2 (Retinue priority)

The men-at-arms’ charge was in disarray from the peasant crossbow volley. Realizing that they would suffer more of the same before they could reach the unsportsmanlike crossbowmen the men-at-arms turned on an closer and easier target. With the Lübeck pikemen moving up in support the men-at-arms charged downhill towards the peasant levy. Their bad luck continued, however, as one of the horses took a wrong step jumping down the hill side throwing yet another armoured rider crashing to the ground.

The men-at-arms shy away from the deadly crossbow bolts looking for easier targets.

The two men-at-arms previously having their horses killed struggled to their feet only to be killed by yet another volley from the allmoge crossbowmen.

Yet two more of the men-at-arms suffer the effect of the peasants' crossbows.

In return, the retinue’s handgunners shot the Unionist Knight’s horse from under him as he was moving to meet the retinue’s cavalry charge.

As some of the (now few!) remaining men-at-arms crashed into the peasant levy yet another rider was killed by peasant spearmen as the two Captains fought each other with no conclusive result.

The men-at-arms clash with the peasant levy.

The peace and quiet of the countyside is no more. 

Turn 3 (Peasant priority)

The Bishop was welcomed by the monks who offered him sanctuary in their church, which he hurriedly accepted.

"Pax vobiscum and all that. Can you take me inside?"

Trying to get the upper hand the Pikemens' Captain yelled “with me!” and charged the peasants. Not being caught out the opposing Peasant Levy Leader wrestled the initiative back, however, and led his men in a charge against the Lübeck pikemen.

The peasant levy takes the fight to Lübeck pikemen.

The Peasant Levy took advantage of their leaders’s initiative and also charged the men-at-arms who had trouble negotiating the steep hillside.

As both sides advanced the Lübeck mercenary handgunners again fired but this time to no effect.

Both sides advance under fire.

The Peasant Levy now pressed between both pikemen and men-at-arms fought bravely. Two peasants died fighting the professional pikemen but the Peasant Levy Leader got through and killed a pikeman up close and personal. Also the Levy managed to keep the men-at-arms at bay.

The Peasant Levy stand up to the men-at-arms.

Turn 4 (Retinue priority)

Although in small numbers the men-at-arms' superior skill and armament started to make itself felt as they fought down the hillside hacking at the Peasants Levy at their feet. They were joined by the Lübeck Captain and a few of his pikemen who left the others behind to charge the Unionist Knight. Being attacked from many directions the Unionist Knight, earlier unhorsed, was killed together with two of the peasant levy. For a moment it looked like the peasant left wing would collapse but the Peasant Levy Leader in his outdated armour fought furiously killing one of the six(!) pikemen surrounding him and keeping the others from advancing.    

The Unionist Knight is killed.

"Is this all you've got?" The Levy Leader laugh at the odds.

Time was of an essence for the retinue’s men-at-arms as the Veteran Peasant Soldiers was advancing on them, halberds ready. One halberdier fell to the Lübeck handgunners but that could not stop them from closing in on the pre-occupied men-at-arms.

The Peasant Veteran Soldiers close in on the men-at-arms.

Turn 5 (Retinue priority)

The Unionist crossbowmen had their field of fire blocked by the swirling melee and the high ground and started to move up the hill.

The men-at-arms used their gained momentum to attack the peasant halberdiers and remaining levy while some pikemen returned to where they came from to try and take care of that most troublesome Peasant Levy Leader. Trying to get to grips with the men of the retinue one peasant halberdier leaped down the rocky hillside but as others before him lost balance and fell on his face. A very treacherous hillside indeed!

Again the ranged combat was sporadic with one peasant halberdier being killed by a handgunner’s bullet.

Lübeck gunners reloading.

Although completely surrounded the Peasant Levy Leader again won the upper hand, this time against seven opponents! The peasants’ good fortune continued as a single peasant of the levy fighting a man-at arm standard bearer, the Pikemen's Captain, and a pikeman not only held them off but managed to get his spear though a weak spot of the standard bearer’s armour, killing him instantly. Simultaneously, peasant halberdiers managed to drag the other standard bearer, carrying the Sture heraldry, from his saddle and unceremoniously killed him on the ground. In rage from seeing his family banner on the ground the Knight Captain fought on, decapitating a peasant halberdier.

The peasant soldiers drag the rebels' banners in the mud, and their bearers with them. 

Turn 6 (Peasant priority)

The unionist crossbowmen took position on the hilltop, dominating the area in front of the church.

More peasant halberdiers continued to pour into combat with the retinue as the Rebel Noble and his small group of hardened warriors closed in on the Peasant Levy Leader holding up the rebels advance.

The Lübeck archer managed to fell a lone peasant halberdier on the hill while his companions failed to find their mark.

The Peasant Levy Leader facing impossible odds. Again.

The Peasant Levy Leader standing next to the plowed field finally found some worthy opponents in the Rebel Noble, a Veteran Captain in full plate armour and one of the men-at-arms. Never the less he still came out on top with a supreme display of swordsmanship, pushing his opponents back!

The peasants fighting the Knight Captain and pikemen weren’t as lucky though as three of them fell with mortal wounds.



The battle on the hillside in full swing.

Turn 7 (Retinue priority)

The fully armoured Peasant Captain failed to sieze the initiative as his retinue counterpart together with the mounted Knight Captain once again charged into the peasants. As the last peasant crossbowmen took position on the hill the Peasant Levy Leader again found himself surrounded by retinue warriors.

The Lübeck handgunners and archer opened fire on the peasant crossbowmen on the hill but failed to find their mark. In return a devastating volley of peasant crossbow bolts flew across the hilltop killing two out of the three mercenaries.




Arrows, bolts and bullets fly over the open ground.

Having fought overwhelming numbers at the peasants' left wing for quite some time the Peasant Levy Leader’s time was finally up. Surrounded by high quality fighters the Rebel Noble found an opening and brought the Unionist to his knees where he was hacked to death.

On the hillside the Knight Captain together with some pikemen held their own against the peasants, killing a halberdier.

Both sides were now getting dangerously low in numbers.

The Man of the Match is finally brought down by the rebels.

The Knigh Captain of the Sture family fights on against a seemingly never ending tide of peasant soldiers.

Turn 8 (Peasant priority)

With all but a few soldiers now locked in combat the fighting swayed back and forth on the crest of the hill and on the hillside down towards the farmstead and plowed field.

The peasant crossbowmen now firmly in position shot down the last Lübeck handgunner opposing them across the open hilltop, now being in total control of the area in front of the church.

In a swirling melee with both sides desperately trying to get the other to flee the battlefield a peasant halberdier was killed together with two pikemen from the retinue. Also, the Knight Captain having been in the thick of it all battle finally run out of steam and was dragged from his saddle, wrestled to the ground and killed.  

The Knight Captain goes down.

Turn 9 (Peasant priority)

With the Knight Captain dead the Bishop’s retinue was now below its breaking point. All was not lost however as they still had three capable leaders in the field. As the men looked towards their captains for encouraging calls to stand fast all three of them instead promptly turned tail and fled!

Running away? Not very inspiring leaders.

Now leaderless and outnumbered the remnants of the Bishop’s retinue fled the field of battle leaving the Bishop locked up in the church, only protected by the laws of sanctuary.

The Unionist Peasants had won!

"My Lord Bishop. It looks like you might have to stay in here for quite some time."

Conclusion

What a blast! A great game with many feats of courage and cowardry along the way. Early on it looked like it would be a walk in the park for the ambushing peasant soldiers as their crossbows seriously weakened the men-at-arms charge with their devastating first volley. Also, with the Peasant Levy Leader(certainly the Man of the Match!) holding up the advance of the Lübeck mercenary pikemen and others for ages it looked like the retinue would fail to come to serious grips with the peasants, leaving the few surviving men-at-arms to take on the peasants by themselves. As battle was joined the slightly higher quality of the retinue fighters made its mark however and at the end the peasants were only a few casualties away from their break point. But with the retinue below their break point in what turned out to be the last turn all three of the retinues remaining leaders - quite chocking - failed their break tests so the unionist peasants never had to see what their morale would stand for. Also, with the hilltop in the firm grip of the peasant soldier crossbowmen it ended as quite a solid victory for the unionist peasants.

Now, if only the Bishop would come out and play…

"Bishop, come out! We just want to talk to you! Promise!"

Easter Greetings and a 15th Century AAR Teaser

This week we played a 15th century skirmish battle with some Swedish peasant allmoge soldiers taking on a bishop and his retinue. A full AAR is to follow in awhile. But first we will enjoy the Easter holiday and hope you all have the oppurtunity to do the same.

Can't leave you without a preview though.




The Bishop's retinue on the march.

Just a little something

Just a quick one to let you know that we've been busy adding some new terrain to our collection.

Some pieces being more labour intensive than others. The major pieces are primarily for our 15th century project and will be saved for a propper battle report. For now we show you this wagon from Perry Miniatures.

Swedish Soldiers of the Napoleonic Wars in 1813

In our last post we showed you some WIP of swedish cavalry for the War of the Sixth Coalition against Napoleon. All intended for Napoleonic skirmish gaming.

Swedish forces were part of the Northern Army in the campaign 1813-1814, under the command of Swedish Crown Prince Bernadotte.

Our cavalry was a spontanious result of finding some miniatures that with only minor adjustments could pass for swedish cavalry. And once we started on the cavalry we couldn't stop ourseleves from discussing miniatures for swedish infantry aswell...

Swedish infantry uniforms are notoriously difficult to get right. The uniform regulations changed very frequently but were only seldom realised on the field before the uniforms were supposed to change again. Compared to the continental armies the Swedes had old fashioned uniforms, the shako not being in full use until 1815 for example.

An overview of the Swedish uniform of the Napoleonic Wars can be found HERE. From a modelling perspective there are some changes to the uniform for the 1813 campaign compared to the uniforms worn during the disastrous war against Russia in 1808-1809 (where Sweden lost close to half its territory, i e Finland!). By the time of the Leipzig campaign the Swedes (finally!) remade their impractial bags with one shoulder strap into proper backpacks. The jacket had two rows of buttons instead of one. Also, sources indicate that trousers were worn over the gaiters,  opposite to the traditional view of troops fighting in Finland. The characteristic hat with an upturned brim was still in use, although officers and some units made sure to "upgrade" to more modern shakos as the campaign went on, no doubt trying to save themselves some ridicule from their allies...

One source for uniforms of the 1813-1814 period is the Swedish officer Carl Johan Ljunggren who not only wrote a 300+ pages excellent diary of his experiences during the 1813-1814 campaign but also made eye witness drawings of the troops he encountered, including French prisoners of war, British rocket troops and Russian cossacks. And Swedish troops aswell of course.

Ljunggrens picture of Swedish troops,
with Swedish Line Infantry to the right.

Knötels picture having studied the Ljungren illustration.

After some deliberations it turned out that miniatures of Austrian line infantry with British marine heads are a good enough starting point for our Swedish infantry.

The Austrians carry alot of bags, a coat and a water bottle. But this can work for the Swedes aswell.
Ljunggren writes on the 17th October 1813, advancing through the suburbs of Leipzig, that because of the mud:

"Hade icke våra trossvagnar redan varit efterlämnade, så skulle de tvifvelsutan stannat här; men som allt syftande på den för bataljs levererande erforderliga största rörlighet, så hade man på länge ej sett trossen; hela vårt bohag bars på ryggen".

or in English:

"Had not our supply wagons already been left behind, they would doubtless have stayed here; but as everything aimed to ensure the maximum mobility needed to deliver battle,  they had not been seen in a long time, all our belongings were carried on our backs".

Below is a quick test to give you an idea what we're aiming for. The yellow collar indicate the Skaraborg regiment.

2012 draws to a close

Looking back it was a good year.

We started a few new projects (most notably 15th century and Napoleonic skirmish wargaming) that turned out to be great fun.  We also added alot of new terrain pieces to our collection.

During the year our origins in Warhammer gaming made its presence felt. Parallel to our historical wargaming we found ourselves playing warhammer (and some 40k) aswell. Just when you think you're out they pull you back in...

A big thank you to our followers and the ones that took the time to comment.

See you all next year!

We'll leave you with snapshots of some work in progress. Napoleonic Swedish cavalry (some dismounted) for Song of Drums and Shakos.

Mörner's Hussars (WIP)

Scanian Carabiniers (WIP)

On a roll!

Things are going our way on the tournament scene at the moment. At the Quest for Atlantis tournament - a great Warhammer tournament in Uppsala, Sweden, with 50 players - our participating members took 1st and 11th place (1st and 4th if you counted battle points alone). The second Warhammer tournament win this autumn. Congratulations!

Robert's Daemons taking on Empire knights and demigryphs.

Rickard's Vampire Counts cornering some Ogres.



Last but not least we have to show you this:
Some Dwarf "Miners" from the army that won
Best Painted at the event. Made by Bengt Jonsson.



AAR: The Famined French - A Napoleonic Skirmish

A Song of Drums and Shakos Battle Report

Introduction

Time for yet another documented game of Song of Drums and Shakos (SDS), a Napoleonic skirmish game from Ganesha Games by Sergio Laliscia. An introduction to the game can be found in our first AAR, found here.

For this game we used one of the scenarios in the core rule book: ”Foraging Mission”. Unfortunately our logistics department failed in getting some cows and sheep on to the table but that didn’t stop the French and Prussians from having a go at each other. :-) I guess the cattle were at the other end of the corral, off table...

Anyway, the fight was the result of a french foraging mission running into a few more Prussians than they bargained for. The Prussians were normal line infantry (musketeers) while the French consisted of light infantry (légère) of some elite status. 

The Scenario stipulated that the Prussian sentries moved at random until combat (ranged or hand to hand) were initiated or any Frenchman came within line of sight (being dusk vision was some what reduced). When the alarm was set off all sentries reversed to normal rules and the rest of the Prussians, still in the cabin, could try and activate as normal to come out and join the fight.

In order to take advantage of our full 120x120cm (48x48”) board we used the measurements intended for 40mm miniatures (that are supposed to play on a table of that size) but with our 28mm miniatures.  

The opposing forces

French Light Infantry (Légère)

1 Light Infantry Officer

1 Light Infantry NCO

1 Drummer

2 Light Infantry Chasseur

2 Light Infantry Voltiguer

1 Light Infantry Carabinier



The French Foraging Party

Prussian Line Infantry (Musketeers)

1 Line Infantry Officer

1 Line Infantry NCO

1 Drummer

10 Line Infantry Musketeer



The Prussian Defenders



The initial set up

The table

The deployment



Prussian sentries guard the corral and the cabin while the French appear in one of the woodland areas.

The game

With hunger in their stomachs the French foraging patrol observed the Prussians. The French seemed to outnumber the Prussians. But how many were in the cabin?

The calm before the storm. The Prussian sentries circle the premises.

Chosing speed over caution the French burst from the woods. The Voltiguers with their distinct yellow markings on their shakos together with their NCO moved towards the cabin to keep the rest of the Prussians at bay while the majority of the French advanced on the two sentries by the corral.



The French burst from the woods.

The alarm was raised straight away as the French chasseurs advanced and opened fire on the surprised Prussians by the corral. One of the two sentries took a mortal wound and fell while the other Prussian to no avail fired at the French carabinier storming towards him. First blood to the French!

Much to the dismay of the French the Prussians in the cabin reacted very quickly and efficiently to the turmoil outside and all of them appeared in the yard in a heartbeat. It turned out to be a lot of Prussians!

Prussians. A lot of Prussians. Maybe the French bit of more than they can chew?

The Prussian sentry at the corral face the wrath of the French Carabinier.

The French Voltiguers took up positions overlooking the cabin as the strong Carabinier knocked the lone sentry to the ground by the corral.

The very next moment the Prussian lost all momentum as one of the sentries, private Günter, appeared from behind the cottage, dragging his feet. What had he been up to? The initiative was lost to the French with the Prussians still in their starting blocks. 

The French Carabinier killed the Prussian on the ground to the sound of the Voltiguers opening fire on the Prussians in the yard. The Prussian Officer apparently still startled by private Günter's performance failed to issue the necessary orders  leaving them exposed in the middle of the yard yet again.

The French voltiguers taking shots at the Prussians.

Having killed the last Prussian by the corral the attackers consolidated behind the stone wall. With no live stock in sight they realised they would have to fight the Prussians instead of sneaking off with some much needed supplies.

The French voltiguers continued to fire on the Prussians to no or little effect as the Prussians finally got their act together and formed a strong firing line by the fence. Again Private Günter dragged his feet and failed to join the line. Most definitely drunk! 

The Prussians getting their firing line in order...

...well, almost. Private Günter fails to get moving yet again.

The French in the corral got their volley off before the Prussians killing the Prussian NCO with a lucky shot. The Prussians responded with a powerful volley splitting their fire between the voltiguers and the French in the corral, knocking Frenchmen to the ground. Both sides reloaded and fired again. Even though no casualties were made it was obvious that the Prussians now had the upper hand and that the French were very lucky to have survived the exchange so far.



The Prussian NCO bites the dust as the French fires from the corral.

The Prussian response is terrifying.

The French suffer the might of a strong firing line, both at the corral...

...and amongst the trees.

With the Prussians formed in line in a very good position the French needed to come up with something fast or be mowed down by Prussian volleys. In an inspired move the French NCO brought his voltiguers in a sprint to outflank the Prussian firing line. Being marksmen the légère voltiguers, now close, then fired and killed two of the exposed Prussians. At the same time the French in the corral kept up pressure by firing another volley, knocking a Prussian to the ground.

The French voltiguers rush forward...

...to outflank the Prussian line...

...with great result.

Realizing the danger the Prussians musketeers fired on the voltiguers as the Prussian officer and drummer moved out of harm’s way. But with the French on their flank the Prussians couldn’t get their full numbers to bear and their sporadic fire didn’t put any of the French out of action. However, being up close and personal the French NCO now lost momentum and didn’t manage to get himself out of the field of fire. Luckily for him the Prussian Officer also faltered in this critical moment and didn’t manage to get his soldiers into action. The French in the corral fared a bit better and fired yet again but to no effect.

Being only a few steps apart both groups now frantically tried to reload and get into order. The French voltiguers managed to line up reloaded and ready to fire only moments before the Prussians formed a new line facing them. The French voltiguers let loose, killing one Prussian and knocking another to the ground, thereby disrupting the Prussian newly formed line.

The Prussians scramble to reform and face the threat on their flank...

...but the French voltiguers get their shots off first yet again.

As the Prussians again redressed the line two musketeers fired killing one of the French voltiguers in a most spectacular fashion as bullets hit his head! Less experienced troops might have fled the field at the sight but the now single French voltiguer and his NCO fought on with grim determination. The loss of their brother in arms seemed to affect them however as the voltiguer didn’t manage to reload. With the Prussian officer again failing his troops in a most dire situation the French however didn’t suffer from this.

Not only the Prussians take casualties from the close range fire fight

Watching the close range fire fight from the corral the French officer – a bit late! - grasped the overall tactical situation on the field. With the Prussians occupied by the voltiguers on the flank he now ordered his soldiers to advance from the corral towards the Prussians to add extra pressure. Would it be too late? There was a risk of the advance being too late if the Prussians managed to take care of the French voltiguers before the French from the corral closed the distance across the open field.

The French leave the relative safety of the corral...

...having along way to go across the open field.

The Prussians fired a volley at the voltiguers at close range but the lucky French NCO was only knocked down and was determined to fight on. As the French officer continued to move his soldiers across the field and the single voltiguer struggled with his musket the Prussian line managed to reload and fire a volley yet again but the very lucky NCO again found himself on the ground, again with no wound to take him out of action.    

Down but not out.
The French NCO survives yet another Prussian volley
as the French from the corral close in.

Arriving at the farm yard the French carabinier followed by a very enthusiastic drummer boy jumped the fence and moved into combat with some Prussians giving a French chasseur a free field of fire to the Prussian officer. The shot went off but only resulted in the officer being knocked to the ground. In a similar manner, the French voltiguer fired an aimed shot at the Prussian line but failed to take his target out of action. At close range. A fine marksman indeed…

Close combat erupts in the yard.
With the musketeers preoccupied the Prussian drummer takes the brunt of the French charge.

The Prussian officer got to his feet and managed to get some of his musketeers to turn around and join the furious melee that now took place in the yard. A single Prussian fired on the French NCO that again simply refused to lie down and die. 

In the close combat the strong French carabinier knocked the Prussian drummer to the ground and the French drummer boy reached down and slit his throat. No collegial spirit amongst the musicians! Having reloaded the French single voltiguer fired but again failed in his marksmanship. The French chasseur standing just outside the fence didn’t fare any better and failed to get off another shot.

Desperate hand to hand combat in the yard.

The Prussian officer knew that in order to get anything done you have to do it yourself. With his sabre he attacked in a strong fashion and managed to knock his opponent to the ground. Was this maybe the change in fortune that the now hard pressed Prussians needed? Their good flow ended abruptly, however, as the other Prussians failed to take advantage of their officer’s good initiative. Instead the Prussian officer was pushed back from the French attack and as a Prussian fell to the musket fire of the voltiguers the Prussian officer, with half his squad gone, realized all was lost and surrendered, presenting his sabre to the French.

The French had won!

The Prussian officer surrender.

Conclusion

Another great game! Even though we still make mistakes from time to time we are getting a good feel for the game mechanics. It was an intense fight with the French coming out guns blazing and in the early stages getting the upper hand, clearing the area of the corral quite easily. With the Prussians then getting their line in order – and being many more men – it looked like the day would belong to the Prussians. The group in the corral had an awful long way to go across open ground and the voltiguers were too few and too close, exposed to the Prussian volleys. It all changed with the French voltiguers’ flank move. It made the Prussians having to reform and divide their focus. The French almost lost it anyway by taking too long to start the advance with the rest of the men from the corral. A few more turns would have knocked the French voltiguers out of the game putting the rest of the French in a very vulnerable position indeed. With the help of a few Prussian turnovers in critical moments the French managed to complete their pincer move and came out on top.