General d'Armee - Echmuhl(ski) scenario

Another outing for GDA2 using one of the included scenarios Eckmuhl 1809. 

However as neither of us have any Austrians we substituted 1813+ Russians and Prussian units which worked as gaming exercise despite the glaring historical inaccuracy.

We started late (discussing Masters  of the Air series of all things !) and only played about 4 turns as lots of discussion of some recent clarifications by author that revealed we had been playing some aspects of charge phase incorrectly (units essentially have a 2" zone of control all round which you cannot circumvent by charging past on flank - all fine and plausible but not how we had interpreted/read rules).

There is a really good game possible with GDA but sort of concealed under a veil of vagueness with some aspects of rules at times. 

Command several large pseudo-Austrians (ie Russians) line central stream

Opposing gun batteries line up on opposite heights

Right of 'Allied' deployment with one of those tough villages (thankfully being on periphery and not a victory objective it was not a factor) 

More large units on Allied left (Prussian figures)

As French ignored village (cowards) I used Redeploy tasking to push forward on that flank

Leaving 'Prussians' on left to hold up French (they were later aided by reserve Cavalry which usually thwarts any infantry advances)

French used Forward tasking to push their right flank Brigade up quickly

Central Allied brigade also used Redeploy to counter attack but quickly stymied by loss of Skirmisher Screen faltering the brigade

Time ran out at this early and inconclusive juncture (with the French cavalry reserve still uncommitted)

Colonial Twilight - some solo COIN action

As Ulster summer seems to be over already and raining again here today, I had an enforced break from reading wargame rules in garden (and associated chores) whilst basking, so decided to have a quick solo session with a COIN game and selected Colonial Twilight (it being a favourite).

Played the Full scenario and as usual a cracking game (even solo) was had with things being very close throughout.

FLN had early advantage but on 3rd Propaganda card the French were a mere 2 VPs from an auto win.

The FLN surged again and looked to be well on way to victory but some judicious (and lucky) French card play and actions saw them reel the insurgents back in line and the game ended on last Propaganda card with both sides 6 shy of their winning margin so a draw !

Great game.

End of 3rd Propaganda card and French just 2 from a win

End of game and a rare drawn result

General d'Armee - Libertwolkwitz scenario

Another bash with GDA2 today trying the Liberwolkwitz scenario from 1813 supplement.

Whilst the default for this is French defending against Russian/Austrian force there is an alternative to replace the Austrians with Prussians so that is what we went with as neither of us own Austrians. 

Another tough day at office for Allies as they are faced with adjacent villages (the capture of which is sole way to victory) and these we are finding are akin to fortresses.

I assaulted one village with a brigade of 3 Veteran Prussian foot and the unit that attacked the village started fresh with no hits but a combined defensive fire from three units inflicted 7 hits prior to combat and although I passed 2 out of 3 morale tests inflicted I ended up unformed. 

The target garrison fired 5 skirmish dice, the adjacent garrison fired 7 (using skirmisher tasking) and an artillery unit adjacent on other flank fired 5 CDs with a standard volley (canister vs column and artillery assault), my supporting units are not priority targets for skirmish or artillery firing so all able to deluge the lead unit with all available fire.

In first round of combat (5 dice each as I was Veteran with Glory but Unformed) it was a draw with us both taking 3 casualties and both decided to stand and fight a second round with both sides throwing in a fresh reinforcing unit.

I actually had 11 dice vs 9 (due to being Veterans vs Line) and won the combat 6 to 5 .......... but ............ instead of this resulting in my forcing the 2 defending units back in retreat and faltering the enemy brigade, whilst occupying the village, it was instead deemed a pyrrhic victory as my lead unit was dispersed due to reaching 12+ casualties which meant defender ignored the adverse result and instead my brigade faltered.

To add to woes I rolled three sixes in combat so village caught fire and of course the edge determined was that facing my units so now no direct route into village !

Close but no cigar and this used numerous ADCs (Forwards, Glory, Re-Rolls etc) and the best foot units in the game and still they got mullered, villages are proving so formidable.  

We have not managed to successfully assault a village in any game thus far and are struggling with how best to deal with them as shooting cannot do it, and pretty hard (and time consuming) to isolate them from their supports or to weaken them more than attackers, and even good quality attackers need to be very lucky to overcome the garrisons as at contact its one on one.

The 'twin fortresses' with veteran Prussian brigade approaching

Allied left with large Russian brigades mainly skirmishing against superior French troops (French Light Infantry brigade defending woods) I did not have enough ADC to push these forward anyhow.

French guns causing hits on advancing units

Allied left which was soon forced into squares by approach of French light cavalry (Austrians have mounted to counter with but not Prussian option)

So many dice emanated from villages and supporting guns

The assault starts with Glory tasking added. I also used Infantry Assault but we were unsure if this is even usable in a town assault ? made no difference as no charge phase and everything shot at lead (ie sole) charging unit anyhow. Artillery able to ignore unit to their front and second garrison also. The fire was withering with the artillery assault and skirmish taskings.

General d'Armee - Lutzen scenario

Game at Stephens today and he choose GDA 2 for another bash this time using the Lutzen scenario from 1813 supplement.

I have have played this several times with various rule sets this being first try with GDA 2 system.

I was of course attacking with my Prussians against defending French.

Story of game (at least the 5 turns we completed) was my awful ADC rolls, I had six dice but managed to only generate 2 ADC three times with a 4 and a 3 rounding out my allocations, really poor especially for attacking force. 

French had more than double my total (despite roll 1 dice less ie 5 per turn).

For shooting it was much more even rolls although good ADC level meant French able to avail of Artillery Assault every turn (one turn cancelled due ti Brigade being hesitant).

As in our last game we are found Garrisons to be very potent (and as this scenario requires Prussians to take at least 2 it came to fore again).

They cannot be out shot as they roll 5 skirmish dice (7 if skirmish tasking) from any point of any side of the built up area (up to 8" at 360 degrees) and do not suffer any Discipline Tests, whilst attacking skirmishers are reduced by 2 dice, musket volleys have no effect and even artillery is reduced to a single casualty dice. So softening them up is not really viable in game time frame.

So really these built up areas must be taken by direct assault (no issue with this) but its an 'uphill' struggle as well as attacker can only charge with one unit and as charge phase is ignored (bar any defensive shooting) supports are nullified and then in combat Garrison seems to generally rolls more or at worst even number of dice.

We are find defeating them is pretty tough and this is just for standard villages not strong points or fortified villages. 

We assume we are playing Garrisons correctly, but they do seem rather strong and a lot of ADCs, units and effort required to even try to contest these areas.  

Otherwise game flowing very well now with minimal rules look up, although concept of battle line/brigade operating areas and use of redeployment tasking still has us confused at times.

A few pics of action (trying out new phone and apps)

 

Prussian infantry under Losthin prepare to assault village (unsuccessfully as usual) 

Lack of ADCs led to my having several Hesitant results

Prussian left wing where main assault was to take place but again stymied by lack of ADCs 

Garrison well supported

Jagows Brigade Hesitant again (just too few ADCs for Brigade re-roll)

Prussians had decent amount of skirmishers

Foot artillery concentrated in center but ineffectual against village

Prussian center

Prussian left

Prussian Light cavalry on right holding a French brigade in place (with another Garrison)

French right defending high ground and village (with Garrison)

French left facing my Light cavalry

The central village ('castle'), my guns did damage the infantry lines which slid to hide behind the village 

Stand off on my right

Three Prussian foot brigades (with two gun batteries in support) arrayed

 

Ulster Wargames Society - General d'Armee 2 'mega' game !

UWS meeting today and I played GDA2 with Andy (who wanted to try the new version) using his huge 28mm collection of British and French.

Scenario based around an action in southern France in 1814 (Nivelle ?) with me as British and he using his French.

Andy put on a massive game with just the two of us playing (but with enough kit for easily 3-4 a side)

It was essentially a multi-Divisional/Corps battle (think I had in region of 6 Divisions with maybe 10-12 Brigades !) although not having read the Corps Level Rules we just used the Divisional system and 3 CinC Commands each and a bit of muddling through.

Indeed I kept half my forces off-table (no real room for them at start) and never deployed any to the table (3 Cavalry Brigades a British foot Division and a Division of Brunswickers).

French were nominally the defenders and also had huge force (again several Divisions and numerous Brigades).

Several units were surrogates (Brunswickers standing in for Spanish and some French Guard units making an appearance) 

Whilst this may all sound OTT it was in fact fine and we got a good workout with rules (and indeed physically running around the 12'x 6' table).

A very fun game was had even though the on table British ended up rather outnumbered.

French foot had little impact on game as unable to cross halfway (and never used any re-deploy) except when attacked by my lot.

But Andy launched what seemed an relentless number of cavalry charges which my cavalry managed to soundly defeat or my foot formed square to thwart them. 

By games end (ie when we ran out of time) he had one mounted Brigade completely Dispersed and three Faltering (another had used 'Stand With Me' to recover) whilst I had a Cavalry Brigade Faltered after a previously victorious unit succumbed due to reaching casualty limit.

I did launch an Infantry assault near one of his Redoubts but this failed to close to combat.

All in all we completed 6 turns which was quite impressive considering the numbers of Brigades and units we controlled but may have been different had we implemented the Corps Level rules or indeed had other players taken part.

Ton of pics (mine and Andys). Andy had printed out several sheets with all the OOB/Stats but I cannot recall the details/names of most units.

View from French center as Old Guard Cavalry arrive along road as reinforcements (as if needed !).

One of several cavalry engagements as House Hold (?) Cavalry and Carabiners (?) clash on French right, with Brits pushing back two Brigades before falling to a third

Similar scene on French left (The French mounted were completely mullered here) as I use 'Post of Honour' to enhance chances

Both sides have just Reformed ready for next encounter on French right

French center as British Guard Brigades approach alongside Hanovarians (these went into square as several Cuirassier appeared).

French redoubt on left later repelled British infantry assault.

Yup its horsie action again on French right just as the French light cavalry Brigade was forced to Retreat and Falter (it subsequently Dispersed after failing its Falter roll despite having a Brigade re-roll)

More French lights on their left are outclassed by Elite British cavalry

So much French cavalry..............yikes

Central French redoubt remained untouched throughout

British cavalry rushed forward with a Forwards order as Skirmishers and Artillery pin French foot

French Battalion defends stream

View from British left (yours truly photographing right flank action )

British cavalry (who saw off two French Brigades but lost out to third) advance along side infantry

View down French lines from their right

Elite British heavy cavalry whose impetuous 'Charge On' nearly got them in trouble, but thankfully my dice were good today (I know who would have thunk !?) got them out of the proverbial.

Early view from French left

And from British right

The Brit heavies certainly look impressive

French defend the town and stream

How my single cavalry Brigade managed to stymie this lot is the stuff of legend

Thankfully this further mass of French mounted had little room to deploy and was forced to replace Retreated Brigades.

British foot forming to conduct unsuccessful assault on foreground redoubt 

Hanoverian and British foot prepare to form square as more Cuirassier cross the stream

This foot Brigade took casualties from long range French artillery with central Battalion soon being charged by Cuirassier but they managed to pass test and formed Square to repel the French

British Foot brigades (including some Highlanders) on my left were slowed by several Hesitant results

My leading cavalry unit enters combat with Glory and Elan whilst mates meet a French charge. Thankfully I won both these combats flinging enemy and supports back

Eyeing the redoubt position with Brigade deployed in depth 

Skirmishers have just reformed at rear after being forced to flee from French mounted

28mm are certainly a sight to behold especially when seen in such numbers

Also at club were other games, with Phil doing a WW2 game, Dave P and Adam played a small WW2 Battlegroup game and the 'Two Daves' had another FOGR bash but I had no time to see any details or take any pics.