WIP VIENNA 1683

 

I have got the figures ready, the objective markers are done,  the scenario is clear.....just need to give the rules a run. I have a home grown set that are fairly brief and bloody that I have used consistently for the last 10 years for my big games in the period 1680-1720. There are tweaks for specific battles and in general they work ( it wouldn't be worth all this effort of they didn't!)
With this dry run, I learnt some valuable lessons.

I think it's ready. Time to gather the All the Brothers.

The Relieving force- From the Right: Imperial Foot, Imperial cuirassiers, Bavarian cuirassiers and Dragoons, Saxon Cuirassiers and at the far end with all those flags, the Bavarian and Saxon foot.

The Turkish command tent- The Turkenschanze! An Orta of Janissaries in front!

In one corner of the table- a bastion of Vienna. It plays no part in the game- it's just for visuals. But it faces the Grand battery!

The Ottoman left center- Janissaries holding the woods, in front of Kara Mustafa's tent ( just visible in red)

The layout- It turned out to be quite a tough job for the allies to break through.  Although the Ottomans look outnumbered, they only had a few units less than the relieving army

They arrived late......they looked good...they did it in style....and they made a difference.
The Poles under Sobieski!!
In the course of the game they completed their wide sweep. When the game had finished, they were a turn and a half away from a poorly defended Grand Vizier's tent.

Imperial Pike and Shot foot. 

The table from way above. ( The bottom left corner is the Poles).

Saxon and Bavarian Cuirassiers!

The Bavarian infantry along with the Saxons assault the town of Nussdorf.

The clash in the middle- the Imperial Foot and Horse advancing and meeting stout resistance.

The Allied right...the Poles finally getting started

The Turkish center...holding on...Bavarian Dragoons sniping at them. There were three pockets of resistance that held up the allies: the village of Nussdorf, the one above and the woods in front of the Grand Vizier's tent.

Tufenci holding the woods- an area that resisted until the end.

The Poles rumble forward.

The Saxons and Bavarian Cuirassiers ( Max Emmanuel, The Elector of Bavaria behind them)

Heavy cavalry clash- Cuirassiers vs Sipahis.

The village of Nussdorf, the right anchor of the Ottoman defence. Janissaries in the middle. The allied infantry would assault the town and be driven back four times. Ottomans still holding at game's end.

Saxons and Ottomans trading fire.

Assaults going in....and failing.

Allied pressure all along the line. In the very top right hand corner the cavalry unit just visible ( with a bit of blue) is the front unit of Poles moving around the Ottoman position after driving their Tatar opponents away.

The gap that appeared in the Turkish lines- and the Grand Battery ahead with little to stop the allies.

The last Sipahi Unit trying to hold up the Saxon cuirassiers.

Pancerni moving fast

The Poles sweeping along the flank.

View from the Vizier's tent- The Imperial infantry getting closer.

Last charge of the Sipahis....the final act of the day. They were stopped dead. 

The game got through 8 turns- and the Ottoman defence was close to crumbling- the Poles were headed for The Grand Vizier's Tent- and the Saxons were only two moves from the Grand Battery....but it was late...and all the objectives were in Ottoman hands....as was Nussdorf.....On the upside, the game  works....just need to tweak it a bit more- and call all the Brothers!

Time to get this game going!!