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 different kind of batrep

A very nice mini clip made by Simone with pics from our last DSLB Big Battle.
Captions are in italian but I guess you can understand them.

Enjoy!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFPGsSLXfRg&feature=youtu.be

DSLB Big Battle tomorrow

As I did last year around december, I'm organizing for tomorrow a DSLB Big Battle.
10 players will meet in my game room to play a fictional 1812 battle between a French and a Russian Corps, both made of 3 Divisions.
This time I'll set up a 300 x 180 cm table (about 9x6): the biggest ever in my flat (I had to move some furniture to get space). As last year, players will come from Florence, Arezzo, Canino and Rome and I designed some new rules to play in multyplayer with a CinC and 3 subordinate leaders per side.
If these rules will be "approved" by the group, we could release them soon.

In he pic above, last year's session with 11 players and 3 tables (east, centre and west). This year we'll have a single, big table and a single Corps made of 3 divisions. The main problem of last year's battle was that the CinC had little *power* over his subordinates. This year - with the new rules I wrote - subordinates will DEPEND on the choices made by their CinC to play, so I hope it will work better. For the rest, it's just standard DSLB. Massimo and Andrea will not play but will assist me in taking pictures, so I hope to post a batrep soon after the battle.

Black Powder in Rome (again)

To properly close 2013, I went to Rome on December, Saturday 28th to play a BP game with Diego.
He prepared a scenario set in Spain, where a strong British force attacked a Fench rear-guard with the aim of breaking the French siege of a nearby town.

 While Andrea, Massimo, Paolo and Diego2 played with hundred of Zombies, I chose to play the French side, and tried to organize a defense against the overwhelming British force. I must say I succeeded and, even if I lost the village, I delayed the Lobsters advance for a long time.

It was as usual a nice wargaming day (we also tried a new Greek restaurant for lunch) in the ARSM club in Rome.

Black Powder in Rome!

After 5 months from my enrollment as a Member of the ARSM Club in Rome, I took the opportunity to take part in a Napoleonic battle organised by Maurizio in the club HQ. Using Talavera as a guideline, Maurizio and the other lads built an impressive table (about 4x2 m.) with lots of 20mm miniatures. I asked - and was given - the Command of the Spanish brigades, deployed near Talavera. Above, the initial deployment of my forces (1 Infantry and 1 Cavalry brigades). We started at 10.30 AM, took a break for lunch and finished about 6 PM (even if I had to leave at 5 because of my train timetable). I was later told that our enemies (the French) won the day, even if marginally. My Spanish Infantry fought gallantly for 6 hours, but then - under heavy pressure - broke. In all, 8 players and a Referee (something I almost forgot) around a fantastic table, surrounded by other gorgeous tables and miniatures: a remarkable day.

French Line Infantry Battalion 1:1

Few months ago, I decided to have some small Napoleonic Armies in 10mm. Therefore I contacted my "usual" supplier of painted miniatures (Stonewall Miniatures) and a new one: Fernando Enterprises. So I placed the order to Fernando in mid may, and when I met Mark (owner of Stonewall miniatures) during the S.Marino Convention in may, I gave him a few packs of Austrian Infantry (Old Glory) to paint. Mark did his job quickly and half of the Austrian Army is now waiting to be based in my worshop.
A couple of days ago, I received my French Army from Sri Lanka (about 1300 figures) and this evening I could not resist to see how an entire Battalion (about 700 soldiers) would look on the table...

And here it is (I was really impressed): 720 soldiers in line on 3 ranks, with Grenadiers on the right and Voltigeurs on the left, drums beating and colors flying.

 The Battalion in line from another point of view. It's 36 inches wide...

A few close-up: the Grenadier company..

 Two centre companies, with the Flags/fanions in the middle and the Battalion Commander right behind the centre...

 ...and finally the left flank with the Voltigeurs, ready to be deployed as skirmishers if need arises.
After visualizing the line, I deployed the same battalion in close column.

And here it is, with part of the Voltigeurs deployed in front. The Commander now leads the column, with the flags (that I have to paint) right behind him. Below, a close-up on the middle of the column formation.

 I must say I am extremely satisfied with the quality of the painting of Fernando Enterprises, and also by their quick delivery (less than two months for painting all the above plus the Cavalry (Cuirassiers, Dragoons and Hussars), Generals and 50 Artillery crew, for a total of 1228 figures. As soon as Mark will deliver the Cavalry and Artillery, I'll also post pictures of the Austrians.

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....

Fresh breeze from the South West..

Last thursday night was the Premiere of my new Age of Sail game: 6 friends came to play and I organised a simple scenario giving them one ship of the Line each. In about two hours I explained the rules, we played and we got a clear final result. They all enjoyed the game, and play proceeded smoothly after the first couple of turns. I was so busy taking notes and explaining that I did not take any picture of the game. At the end we had a brief exchange of thoughts, and they made some suggestions that I'll follow, regarding Crew grading and boarding actions.
So yesterday I wanted to test these modification myself and put up an engagement between a Franco-Spanish and a blockading British squadrons.
Miniatures are 1:2400 Hallmark (painted by me), sea-mat from Magister Militum.

The Allied squadron (top right of the above pic): three French and two Spanish ships.
L'Orient (120 guns), Guerrier and Conquerant (74), San Justo and San Leandro (74).

 A close up on the British squadron: Britannia (100 guns, left), Mars (74 guns, right, leading the formation). Orion (74) and the "small" Chesterfield (40) follow.

Some play aids: the ships' Logs with allocated crews and the wind star (top right) indicating wind from South East, 6 strong. Some ships have already sustained some damage, as you can tell from the Damage die on the bottom right corner of a couple of the Logs.

 A close-up on the Log of French ship L'Orient, a Large one (120 guns). The French squadron Commander is on board, as you can tell from the Flag on the top left corner of the Log.

 A sudden wind change and the British squadron, seizing the initiative in perfect Line formation, passes behind  the Allied squadron, using all its firepower to damage the Spanish ships San Justo and San Leandro. The latter will also catch fire and abandon the fight for a while. After few turns however, L'Orient successfully boarded and captured the Orion while the Chesterfield - heavily damaged - was forced to flee.
Not bad, for a game that has no name yet....

The difference between...

Pictures I made with a smartphone, and pics made with a real camera and by someone who knows what he's doing...

 ...and the last pic is for my scratch-built vineyard (with grapes).

Thanks to Giuseppe, who spent a couple of hours in my gaming room shooting and trying to adjust the lights.

My new Terrain

In the last couple of days I've been cutting, assembling, flocking and ... waiting for the latex to dry, but the result is very satisfying. So yesterday evening, without waiting for some details I want to add to the cloth, I decided to "throw some miniatures" on the table, and below is the result.

Part of a Russian Division is trying to cross a river at a bridge, but a small French Brigade with a Battery in support discovered the maneuver and deployed to avoid it. In the meantime, the zealous French Brigade Commander sent a message to the Emperor, who was waiting for a chance to crush the Russians thanks to his superior troops concentration. This seemed a good opportunity. Above, a Russian brigade that crossed at a ford several miles upstream is joining the fight. On the hill the deployed French brigade with the battery in the middle, firing against the crossing Russians.

Napoleon with is staff (in front of the Chapel of St. Ludwig) supervises the deployment of an entire Corps, marching to the sound of the guns.

 A view from the Russian side of the river. Few buildings of the Village of Schaufferg will remain intact... French Voltigueurs and Russian Jaegers skirmish in front of a small pond.

 Division Commander General Shumbalovskij confers with his subordinates, while battalion after battalion the Russian cross the small bridge near the Old Water mill. The view is not encouraging for the battalions commanders.. On the left, a Brigade of Grenadiers waits its turn to cross.

 The skirmishing, seen from above. A single Russian battalion could deploy on the other side of the bridge, and they are now trying to push away some French Voltigueurs deployed behind a low stone wall.

The French columns arriving at the double quick on the Battlefield.

 Two more Batteries coming at the gallop  near a Vineyard (the infantry will have to stop and make room).

 A closer view of the Emperor's Staff...

 And - finally - a view from behind the Russian Brigade arriving on the Battlefield after fording the river some miles upstream. French skirmishers spotted the new threat.
I'm very happy with my new cloth. I have still to add some details near the rivers and between fields, but the overall feeling is very good. I have also to learn how to place the batting under the cloth and where to pull pins to avoid wrinkles. Ah, and I have also to ask a friend with a good camera to take pictures :)

Playing something different

A couple of weeks ago, I was reading some posts in the Napoleonic section of TMP and I was caught by a post from Steve who briefly described the main features of SNAPPY NAPPY with some enthusiasm.
Curious, I decided to buy it and give it a try.
Got the paper copy form Caliver, read the rules twice, and tried it (first solo then with my friend Diego).
The Solo Game

I quickly organized two armies: French and Russian. I took the OB of the Russian Campaign for the 2 French Corps and some random Russian Corps from the rules. Forces were unbalanced but that's what I wanted. I made a super-basic terrain (see above) took my measuring sticks in inches, and a fistful of d10 and I was ready to play this "Ultrafast" (as it says in the book cover) rules.
Well, before that to be honest I had to write down  the OB of both armies on a scratch paper, prepare some sort of markers for the orders, and identify all units on the battlefield with a number (or some color coding).
This is because one of the key of the game is a sort of fog of war caused by the fact that you mark off the "steps" of your units when you take hits (and fail Morale tests) but your opponent does not necessarily remember which unit is Firm, Disrupted or in Panic.
I will not describe the rules any further here, I'll just stress the second key of the game: the Morale checks.
When one of your unit takes a hit, you have to check its Morale until you pass or rout. This means that if you fail, you test again and again. That's why the game is said to be Ultrafast: in principle, you may lose a unit just taking a single hit (if you fail 5 times).

Above, the situation after turn 1: the armies are approaching each other. 2 quite big French Corps on this side of the table, and 3 small Russian Corps on the other side, plus a Cavalry Division and a reserve of grenadiers. With the exception of the 2 features mentioned above (secret OBs and Morale checks) all other game mechanics are quite standard (Command radius, Orders, linear movement, modifiers).

Situation after turn 2: armies are almost at Artillery range (9"). Units (Brigades) are made of 2 stands with the exception of Artillery which is 1 stand only. As I have no guns based individually, I improvised a bit.
A stand represent 2000 infantry, 750 cavalry and 24 guns.

Situation after turn 3: first gunshots, first blood. A Conscript Russian Units showed the ultra-fastness of the game, routing after a single artillery hit. First lesson learned: use Conscripts (and Militia, that is even worst) wisely.

Situation after turn 4: some musketry (1" range) and melee. Units that are charged may fire defensively, charging units may not fire. Note that in this game Cavalry fires musketry (but you need a 10 on a d10 to score a hit).

Situation after turn 5: Russians are in "All out Attack Mode", but French line holds. Russian losses mount. Orders (Attack, Probe, Screen, Maneuver, Defend, Withdraw, Rally) limit what your units may do on the battlefield but - as usual - they are a problem if you play competitively. The rules are a kind of guideline, but may be subject to hundreds of different interpretations.

  Situation after turn 6 (final): after 3-4 more Russsian units routed, I decided that it was over. General Barclay de Tolly called off the attack, and night fell. The rules do not specify any set of Victory condition.
Even considering that I played solo, often referring to the rules and that it was a first game, I did not feel this game to be ultrafast. Maybe the movement rules slowed the game down a bit: they are quite conventional, linear, with pro-rata modifiers for difficult terrain and 1/2 movement to about face (but only 1/3 to change formation !!!). One thing is for sure: once your units are engaged, they deteriorate quickly. And that is OK for me.
In general, a good set of rules if you play friendly games with low competition level players.
Many rules are simply missing (voluntary interpenetation, Generals movement, Victory conditions, Corps Morale), other are undefined at best (Orders).
A plus is that you can probably organize BIG GAMES with many players involved.
Comments are welcome!
Cheers

Old Campaign Map

Several years ago, when I lived in Bologna, I used to organize many Campaigns (from 4 to 8 participants).
I managed these Campaigs with basic methods and devices (written orders on paper, sporadic use of e-mail) but it was more than 10 years ago...
Moving some pics from my smartphone to Dropbox, I found the pic below.

It is the only pic I have from the last Campaign I organised here in Terni (when I had a group to play with): it shows the master map I used (yes, it is 1812 in Russia :-). As far as I remember, 6 players took part in this game. I conceived a nice and easy system for orders transmission, a system that allowed me to participate and not only Master the campaign. Once a week we met on Skype (chat) and we declared our orders, starting with myself. Three turns (approx. 6 days of campaign time) had to be planned and declared, so that the fog of war was still quite high (it was impossible to change the orders once written and shared on Skype).
When 2 Forces met in a point, a battle ensued.
We used a simplified combat system (DBN like) and fought the battle during the week, so that on the next monday we were ready for a new strategic phase (orders).
This was - and still is - the only Campaign played by my - former - group and the only long term activity that was finished (with a Russian Victory btw.....).