Another DSLB Big Battle in Nettuno

Thanks to Renzo, a group of 8 players met in Nettuno (near Rome) for a Big Battle scenario I prepared for them. Pics and batrep (in italian) at this link:

http://leaquilegaeta.jimdo.com/

A great website about SDS and DSLB from New Zealand!

Don't miss it!

http://miniatureaddiction.info/peninsular-battle/

Great job Roundie.

DSLB batrep (with pics!)

Fabrizio and his group of players are staging a 1815 Campaign in these early months of 2014. They play with 1/72 figures on a very nice battlefield. After their last battle (last week) Fabrizio was so kind to send me some pictures and a quick batrep.

At game start, the French win the initiative and occupy the village in the centre of the battlefield. Unfortunately, a quick turnover prevents them to properly support their avant garde.

The British counterattack and succeed in taking one of the village's sector at a heavy cost.

The French are unable to keep the pressure, and the British stabilize a front line and advancig on the right, destroying a French battery. The French withdraw to secure positions.

The situation for the French is critical, and they try to relieve the pressure with some cavalry charges... to no avail.

A strong attack on the French left. The Imperial division seems to be on the eve of collapse.

One final counterattack by the French gets no results, and the game is over due to the break of the French forces (10 BP vs 7).

A special thanks to Fabrizio and his guys for the pics!

DSLB Big Battle

A great day of gaming yesterday in my living room, for the occasion transformed into a game room to accomodate a 300x180 cm table. We played a fictional scenario (French vs. Russian - 1812) that I designed to test some rules to play DBLS in multiplayer. Diego and Federico came from Rome; Marco, Stefano and Simone from Arezzo, Filippo from Florence and Narciso from Canino (even if he came quite late and could not take part actively in the battle). Andrea and Massimo (who were playing another game in the *original* gaming room) acted ad judges for the dice rolls of both the Commanders in Chief.
On the Russian side, Filippo was the Corps Commander and the 3 Division Leaders were Stefano, Simone and Marco. On the French side, I was the Corps Commander and took the 1st division (due to the absence of Narciso) and Diego and Federico commanded the 2nd and 3rd divisions.
The preparation of the table, Armies and game aids took more than a day as I wanted to identify all units with labels (below).

We started at 10.15 AM, and the Battle was over at about 5.30 PM (9 turns) with a clear Russian victory.

My battle plan before the battle - after watching the deployment - is in the above picture: while I (I Division) tried to take the hill in front of me (hills are orange), Diego had to split his II division: one brigade had to advance to the centre of the battlefield, while the second had to support the main attack by Federico's III division on our left. The intent was to crush the Russian division on their right, and roll the Russian front from the west, while we kept the other two Russian divisions pinned in the center and right of our deployment. Almost all my calculation went wrong - as we'll see  - and we suffered a bad defeat in the end.

The opening moves of my Division: my columns try to reach the hill, but the Russian III Division commander (Simone) is quicker and reaches the crest with a couple of battalions and his Cossacks. Marco (top center) Commander of the Russian II Division - is moving his troops.

The other side of the table, with Federico (left) watching his III French division fast moving towards the enemy, and Stefano (Russian Commander of the I Division) reading and order just received from his CinC (Filippo). The plastic glasses you see on the table were the containers of the Command dice that each turn the players received from the CinC according to the distance from the Corps Commander.

 Federico's advance continues, and he's now ready to attack the hill. My advance - on the contrary - is stalled.

 In the centre, Diego's French II Division is engaged by an unsupported attack of a Jaeger battalion, near the St. Nikolaj church.

 The attack is successful and a battery is destroyed, but the Jaeger battalion is also routed by Diego's counterattack.

 A view of the battlefield from a lower position (I love this kind of pics).

 The situation on our right at about mid-game (before pizza came for lunch :). My opponent Simone controls the hill, and he's ready to launch his attack. I took position behind the stream (lichens indicates where fording was not possible).

 Towards the end of the battle, the situation on my side was compromised: I tried to retreat and form a second line with the remnants of my (Shaken) division. The Cavalry I received from the Reserve (bottom centre) was too little too late...

Our entire line is about to collapse: Diego's center division is broken, and Federico- notwithstanding a foothold on the hill he had to take - has no more resources to press on. His Division is also shaken.

The final turn on our left: Federico gaines the crest of the hill with 2 battalions, but everywhere else the French Corps is in pieces. With a final score of 51-16 victory points the Russian side gains a smashing victory.
About 120 units (Infantry battalions, Cavalry regiments and Artillery batteries) took part in the battle, for a total of about 1200 figures. The multiplayer rules and Command system worked very well according to all the participants, and we had a clear result at the end.
A great day.

DS LB Battle report

As I promised in my post celebrating the 100.000 page views of this blog, here is an AAR of my last solo DSLB battle.
After a looong time without playing Drums & Shakos Large Battle I decided to set up a battle using the rules for pick up games and the Army lists included in the rulebook. No research this time, just open the boxes of my 15mm Naps and.... play!

 I went for French vs. Russian in 1814: two brigades for the French and 3 smaller Brigades for the Russians plus a Reserve for both.
TURN 1 Above, the Russkie entering the table: a Cavalry brigade (Uhlans and Cossacks, with a Horse battery) and two Infantry Brigades in the foreground. One Brigade passing by a farm, with the Grenadier Brigade following on the bridge. A Reserve Brigade (Cavalry and a Heavy Artillery Battery) is near the CinC on the other (right) side of the river.

 The French entering on the opposite side of the table: 2 Infantry Brigades (1 Elite and 1 Conscripts, in pure "1814 style") and a Reserve made of Cavalry and Artillery. The Conscripts Brigade is in road column, the Elite Brigade is ready to deploy in the middle of the table.

 Another view of the Russian Division, with a close up on the small Grenadier Bde (centre) and the Reserve Brigade with the CinC (left).

 Some play aids: Disorder markers (green, yellow and red cubes) Reaction markers (brown cubes) Proximity rule violation markers (red arrows) measurement sticks, French (blue) and Russian (green) dice and two average dice for the Conscript units Quality rolls.

 TURN 2 The Russians taking position: Infantry wheels right along the road  and Cavalry opens to take possession of the hill.

The French Brigade quickly advancing to deploy (thanks to a couple of Group Orders and 3 actions gained). The Conscript Brigade deploys one Battalion in Attack column (top right).

 TURN 3 Ooops this is really blurred, sorry.... The Russkie cavalry is now on the hill (moving quite slowly as you can tell) and also the Infantry Brigade seems to be sleeping, while the French (below)...

 ...have both Brigades almost fully deployed. The Conscripts mostly in line and the Elite in Attack column. A unit from the French Reserve (Dragoons) is sent by the CinC to help the Elite Brigade, facing an entire enemy Cavalry Brigade on the hill in front.

 TURN 4 After a lot of struggling the Russian Cavalry Commader succeeds in deploying his brigade on the hill with the Horse Arty just between two Uhlan Regiments. Cossacks screen the flanks. The Infantry Brigade deploys in the centre, but its right flank is dangerously "in the air", as the rightmost battalion fails its activation...
On the French side the entire line is now formed, and the CinC sent in another Dragoon regiment from the reserve, to deal with the Uhlans on the hill. An exchange of artillery fire causes the Russian Horse battery a DIS (green cube).

TURN 5  A clash of sabres and lances on the Russian left wing: the French Dragoons charge the Uhlans and destroy them, opening a hole that the Cossacks would be called to close. At the same time the Horse battery manages not to be destroyed by the frontal charge of the other French Dragoon regiment. All along the line the Eagles march forward. The Russian Infantry commander manages to deploy a battalion on the far right but it is already at DIS 3 (red cube) and therefore about to rout.

 TURN 6 French Dragoons charge again the Horse Battery, this time destroying it. They are both quite spent now (DIS 2, yellow cube) while the remaining Uhlans and the  regiments of Cossacks are still unscathed. In the Centre, the Elite French brigade moves forward pushed by its Elan and sends a Russian line battalion back with losses. In the very centre, a terrible exchange of artillery fire sees the Russian battery taking damage, while on the far right of the Russian line the crumbling battalion of the prevoious turn is routed. The Russian CinC commits the whole Reserve and prepares the Grenadier brigade to enter the fray.

 TURN 7 Disorder and casualties mount as you can see from the yellow cubes on the table. The French push forward, breaking the Russian first line in dfferent points, but the Russian General manages to build a very strong second line, forming a Grand Battery just outside the Farm wall. The Russian Cavalry brigade reforms downhill, while the Grenadier brigade opens up to cover as much ground as possible, and the Russian Cuirassier Regiment, sent from the Reserve breaks a French Elite battalion in the centre.

TURN 8 French Dragoons are exhausted (DIS 3) and have to withdraw, leaving the wise Russian cavalry Leader in command of the hill. The Grand Battery fires routing another French Elite battalion in the centre. Both sides reach their breakpoint, but the French Division has gained more ground, being in Russian zone 2 with two units in command and with less than 3 DIS. Therefore the game ends with a French marginal victory, but it was very close....

A great SDS batrep from Sweden

http://northern-wargaming.blogspot.se/2012/10/aar-famined-french-napoleonic-skirmish.html

I'd like to share this batrep coming from Sweden. It is one of the scenarios of the SDS rulebook (great table guys!) made by Mattias.

Enjoy!

Second SDS Big Battle session

2011 gaming activity will start tomorrow evening with the second part of the SDS Big Battle we started before Christmas. We took some pictures of the first session, but they got lost in the warp somewhere (surely I did something wrong)...
During the first session, the French attack at the Palace was quite costly in term of losses, but squad after squad are coming up through the woods and one of them (my Grenadiers) reached the wall on the left side of the Palace, putting 2 ladders in place. Isolated French soldiers reached the big gate, and are now struck there trying to break it, but I think they'll need the help of the 4 Sappers that are still inside the woods with the French Commander.
During the week end I should be able to post the conclusion of this battle and some pics...

Texas invaded!

...by many, very small soldiers with strange hats and long muskets...
LTL has posted on his blog another batrep (take a look at it, it's like a short movie!) of a scenario they played yesterday. He and his friends played SDS for 8 hours using 6mm Baccus miniatures.

Worth looking

http://tacticalminiaturesgaming.blogspot.com/2010/10/song-of-drums-and-shakos-hill.html

Thanks again LTL!

Great SDS Batrep (6mm!)

Here is a link to LTL batrep:

http://tacticalminiaturesgaming.blogspot.com/2010/10/song-of-drums-shakos.html

I like very much both the idea of a "portable" set in 6mm, and of the comic-style comments in it.
Great job, LTL!

Big Battles

Since about a month, the Friday Night Big Battle became a tradition in my Lab.
I posted here a report about one of them; after that we played twice (and next friday we'll do it again). We play 2-3 vs. 2-3 players, generally each with a 400 points squad, but when someone is missing we improvise on the spot something with the illusion of keeping the game balanced :)
In my opinion, it is really a nice way to play SDS, because there is interaction between allies, a lot of coups de theatre (sorry for my bad french) and the "Joker rule" gives a further element of unpredictability to the game. Now I'm thinking to add a new card (the Queen of Hearts I think) which - when drawn - gives the last player who got a turnover at the first attempt of activation the chance to grab the initiative again.
Next friday I'd like to introduce a gun (using the rules of MDS scenario) with its crew (my Austrian 4 pdrs. gun is ready for the job).
I'll let you know how it goes... in the meantime 3 pics from the 2 last BB.

Battle Report (Smolensk 1812) and link

Stefano informs us that a BatRep is available in their website (click "Ganesha Games, Drums and Shakos") at:

http://www.decimalegiogemina.com/battlereports.php

(Italian language only, but many pics!)

An intersting link

http://movealongnownothingtoseehere.blogspot.com/

This is Paul's blog and there is a very interesting SDS first battle report. Very nice terrain and minis...
Well done Paul, carry on!

Big Battle Report

Last friday we met in my Lab to play SDS. 5 friends were supposed to come, so instead of preparing 3 tables (we play SDS in 28mm on 90x90 cm tables) I decided to try a big Battle, three vs. three, on a 180x90 cm. table. Each player would have a 400 points squad. Paolo, Antonio, Marco and Carlo joined me for a pizza before the fight, the sixth player could not come (sorry, Luca). Therefore we decided to play 2 French/Bavarians vs. 3 Anglo/Russians, with the French deployed on the defensive around a farm and the Allied attacking. A small 150 points squad was added for the missing player: it was played by Antonio and Carlo (French side). On the Allied side, Paolo had a British line/rifle squad, Marco had a Russian squad and I played with a British line one. We entered the table from one of the short sides, and the farm was at the other end of the table. The Objective (a bunch of crates containing... ammunitions?) was just behind the farm. To decide the order of activation, each of us chose a card (I was the 3 of hearts), and then I shuffled them, adding 2 jokers. When our card was drawn, we moved until the end (or a turnover occurred). When a joker came out, the party that did NOT move last had the right to 1 single activation (3 dice) immediately. This variant gave a real thrill to the whole game!
Early moves: I took the centre of our battle line and pushed forward with my red jackets. Marco with his Russians was on my left, and Paolo on the right with his rifles. Antonio deployed his Bavarians in front of the building, part inside a wood and part behind the surrounding low wall. Carlo placed his french veteran squad on the right of the farm, also inside the low wall. The small support squad (2 of spades, as can be seen on the roof of the small building) was deployed as an advance guard to slow our progress...

Here is a pic with the Franco-Bavarian first line (the farm is further behind - i.e. on the right). Antonio's Bavarians in the wood, the advance guard behind the small building and the French veterans waiting behind the low wall.
After a couple of moves, my Brits take possession of the fence around mid-table (with some losses...). The Russians follow slowly...
And Paolo's line+rifle squad is hampered by Lt. Jenkins indecisiveness (2 turnovers straight away!)
My boys defending the fence (one fell down and my Officer was quite behind).
A view of the Battlefield from the Franco-Bavarian position, with the cornfield on the left (and Lt. Jenkins card - an ace of hearts - at the far bottom of the hill).
Heavy musketry fire between the French Voltigeurs and my Brits behind the fence.
A view from the Russian side, pressing the enemy on the left flank. Antonio is moving his Schuetzen out of the wood, to exploit the long range of their rifles and then back...
The defensive line waiting for our attack.The farm is in the foreground. After heavy firing the small French advance guard is dissolved (here one of them can be seen retreating to the safety of the low wall).
The turning point on the right flank: Lt. Jenkins rifles align with my (shaken) squad. We are ready to jump forward!
Boldly, I take possession of the wood, dislodging the Bavarian Schuetzen (here retreating to the low wall). Carlo's French veterans wait for the Russians to come to close combat.
My move was a bit .... too early (or maybe my mates were too slow?). In the above pic my squad is hidden in the small wood, Paolo's squad is entirely behind the small building behind me, and the whole Russian squad is behind the fence, about to go forward.
With a last HURRAH! my boys come out of the wood (bad idea Sergio) and are decimated by the Bavarians. Before routing however, I manage to kill the Bavarian Officer, forcing the Schuetzen to test Morale, and shaking their line, but nothing more. On the other side, the Russian come to the wall and engage the French veterans in a confused meleé.
The final stages: after discharging all their weapons (you can tell it by the yellow markers on the table) both sides are engaged in hand to hand combat. The French veterans resist well to Lt. Jenkins British attack (see the Highlander in the front line), but the Russian Grenadier of the Guard (top, represented by a Pavlov miniature) is too powerful to be stopped, and kills a couple of defenders, forcing the French squad to withdraw.

And this was the epilogue. We had a great time. The boys liked the Big Battle so much, that tonight we'll do it again!
Happy Easter Everybody
Sergio