On the painting bench....WSS.

 I recently went back to adding to my favourite collection- my Age of Louis XIV or Marlburian. I hadn't painted any figures for quite a while- so many others to do!!  A few years in fact so in November I ordered some figures from Front Rank. I decided on Imperial Troops ( Hapsburg Austrians) as I only have two battalions and decided to add two more.

I painted the Daun Regiment and then the Osnabruck Regiment.

I find myself just adding units- even if they didn't serve in any of the theatres that I am gaming.

Assyrians and Elamites...at it again!!

 After the last game, Ross went back to his army lists ...and decided to make some changes to his Assyrian army. He did away with the large number of the 'Line Infantry' and bumped up the number of archers. He took the maximum number of 'Archers of the Guard" and made sure that he had as much firepower as possible. Then he picked up the phone and hurled abuse down the line. Realising that  he had mistakenly called the local Chinese restaurant, he apologised and then called me. I then received the full brunt of his poor attitude and the challenge for a rematch.

Assyrians and Elamites!

 So my Elamites were finally ready- done in one year! Ross dusted off the Assyrians and an historical match was fought. I found using the Elamites an interesting experience as they really had no hard hitting combat troops, just lots of firepower. The Assyrians on the other hand did have some good solid combat troops, but not quite the firepower of the Elamites.

My Kallipani chariots- which are really just troop transports with firepower.
Lots of firepower but not great if charged.

The wagons must get through!

At the Club Meet, ( Company of Dice) this month, Spyros and I put on a Pony Wars game with 'Spuds' joining us. Using The Men Who Would be Kings rules, we played an umpire run scenario where each player ( Spyros had A and B Troop and Spuds had E and F Troop) had two troops of US Cavalry commanded by a Lieutenant and they had to escort a couple of wagons off the table- lengthways- through Indian territory. 

The players first priority was to get the wagons off the table. Each one had a value of five points- which could be reduced by enemy action ( this would prove crucial in the final result). Each surviving trooper was worth one point. The 'Hostiles' were randomly generated and controlled by the umpire. Their main course of action was to skirmish, although if they outnumbered the Troopers by two or more to one- they could charge in to count coup and take scalps!!

Spyros' two troops and their wagons on the left. One of Spuds' Troops on the right.

The peaceful Indian village - about to be disturbed by four troops of US Cavalry and some bloody great wagons.

The trouble with the Swedes...........

 A look over a couple of the historical games that we've played in the GNW, (Holocwzyn, Lesnaya) showed that the Swedes lost those games both game-wise and historically.  Yet in the rules we use, the Swedes have significant advantages for moving quickly, charging fiercely and other advantages over troops who do not have the same tactical doctrine- especially in the initial contact. The poorer firing capability means that they avoid firefights and get 'stuck in'. 

There were good reasons for those defeats. Usually factors such as delayed deployment or poor deployment.

In our games the Swedes tended to suffer too many casualties and by the time they got into hand to hand contact- which they invariably won- they couldn't exploit the success. Or the dice didn't allow them to get stuck in early enough.

After giving the Swedes all the advantages and extra dice and better modifiers ......it doesn't mean that they will always win. Which is just as well- no one would want to play against them!

BUT in a small scenario, with the Swedes deployed and ready......it's a very different story!!!

The Swedish right flank. Four Squadrons of Cavalry..and one Regt. of Foot.

The Table.

The Scenario was for the Swedes to drive the Russians and Saxons from their defensive position. The key objective was the big hill to the right of the road at the center rear of the allied position. The Saxons held the middle. All drilled; good solid troops who can deliver deadly, steady volleys. All musket armed. The Russian brigade was split. Two were drilled and two were raw and all armed with musket and pike. One drilled and one raw were holding the far right flank, a section of the table that the Swedes ignored.The other two were smack bang in the middle of the table. The six drilled squadrons of Russian Dragoons were on the Allied left. Two guns out in front.

Predator!!

 One of my all time favourite movies- with Arnie. Predator is a classic....and is just crying out to be gamed. I saw online that someone had come up with the stats for Blood and Plunder for the movie 'Prey' which is American Indians against an earlier form of Predator...and while I was watching the movie Predator with my wife ...I looked online and found these beauties on Etsy!!